Love Flash Fiction? Check Out Renewal: Queer Sci Fi’s Fourth Annual Flash Fiction Contest (QSF Flash Fiction, #3) (Queer SyFy’s J. Scott Coatsworth and so many other wonderful authors!)

Renewal: Queer Sci Fi’s Fourth Annual Flash Fiction Contest

(QSF Flash Fiction #3)

QSF Renewal-Print

QSF has a new book out, the latest in our series of flash fiction anthologies:

Re.new.al (noun)

1) Resuming an activity after an interruption, or
2) Extending a contract, subscription or license, or
3) Replacing or repairing something that is worn out, run-down, or broken, or
4) Rebirth after death.

Four definitions to spark inspiration, a limitless number of stories to be conceived. Only 110 made the cut.

Thrilling to hopeful, Renewal features 300-word speculative fiction ficlets about sexual and gender minorities to entice readers.

Welcome to Renewal.

Mischief Corner Books (info only) | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads


Renewal Banner

Excerpt

Because these stories are only 300 words each, we’re not supplying long excerpts, but here are the first lines of several of the stories. Enjoy!

“Griselda pulled the weeds from between the rows of Valerianella locusta plants in the garden, careful not to disturb the buds that would grow into the babies that were her only real income-producing crop.” —The Witches’ Garden, by Rie Sheridan Rose

“I didn’t know how truly the world was in trouble until I went journeying to look for Anisette’s bluebonnets.” —Bluebonnets, by Emily Horner

“The ship’s drive malfunctioned at the worst possible time.” —The Return, by Andrea Speed

“Before we continue, there’s a rather macabre fact about me I should share.” —Rejuvenation, by Christine Wright

“When I died they buried me at the bottom of the garden and returned to the fields.” —Below the Hill, by Matthew Bright

“The world is ending and I can’t look away from your eyes.” —Sunrise, by Brigitte Winter

““Losing one’s superpowers to your arch nemesis sucks donkey nuts, I tell ya. And trust me when I say I suck a lot of them.” —Rainbow Powers, by Dustin Karpovich

“The day I was born again was damp, rainy—a good day for rebirth, all things considered.” —The Birthing Pod, by Michelle Browne

“Intwir’s twelve eyes roved over the container, taking in the cracked outer lock and the elasticated fabric stretched tightly over its exterior.” —In a Bind, by S R Jones

“‘You’ve reached Androgyne HelpLine. Press one to start service. Press two to interrupt or cancel service. Press three—’” —Auto-Renew, by Ginger Streusel

“The doctor tells me that my wife is dying, but I already know.” —I Will Be Your Shelter, by Carey Ford Compton

“‘San Francisco was the first to go dark, followed by Los Angeles.’” —When Light Left, by Lex Chase

“My fingers lingered on the synthetic skin, trailing soft patterns across my work.” —Miss You, by Stephanie Shaffer


Included Authors

‘Nathan Burgoine
A.M. Leibowitz
A.M. Soto
Abby Bartle
Aidee Ladnier
Alexis Woods
Andi Deacon
Andrea Felber Seligman
Andrea Speed
Andrea Stanet
Anne McPherson
Bey Deckard
Brigitte Winter
Carey Ford Compton
Carol Holland March
Carrie Pack
Catherine Lundoff
CB Lee
Christine Wright
Colton Aalto
Daniel Mitton
Dustin Blottenberger
Dustin Karpovich
E R Zhang
E.J. Russell
E.W. Murks
Ell Schulman
Ellery Jude
Eloreen Moon
Elsa M León
Emily Horner
Eric Alan Westfall
F.T. Lukens
Fenrir Cerebellion
Foster Bridget Cassidy
Ginger Streusel
Hannah Henry
Irene Preston
J. Alan Veerkamp
J. P. Egry
J. Summerset
J.S. Fields
Jaap Boekestein
Jackie Keswick
Jana Denardo
Jeff Baker
Jenn Burke
Joe Baumann
John Moralee
Jon Keys
Jude Dunn
K.C. Faelan
Kelly Haworth
Kiterie Aine
Kristen Lee
L M Somerton
L. Brian Carroll
L.M. Brown
L.V. Lloyd
Laurie Treacy
Leigh M. Lorien
Lex Chase
Lia Harding
Lin Kelly
Lloyd A. Meeker
Lyda Morehouse
M.D. Grimm
Martha J. Allard
Mary E. Lowd
Matt Doyle
Matthew Bright
Mia Koutras
Michelle Browne
Milo Owen
Mindy Leana Shuman
Naomi Tajedler
Natsuya Uesugi
Nephy Hart
Nicole Dennis
Ofelia Gränd
Patricia Scott
Paul Stevens
PW Covington
R R Angell
R.L. Merrill
Rebecca Cohen
Redfern Jon Barrett
Reni Kieffer
Richard Amos
RL Mosswood
Robyn Walker
Rory Ni Coileain
Rose Blackthorn
Ross Common
S R Jones
Sacchi Green
Sarah Einstein
Shilo Quetchenbach
Siri Paulson
Soren Summers
Stephanie Shaffer
Steve Fuson
Tam Ames
Terry Poole
Tray Ellis
Vivien Dean
Wendy Rathbone
Xenia Melzer
Zen DiPietro
Zev de Valera

Cari Z. on Writing, Characters and her latest novel ‘Off The Beaten Path’ (author interview and tour)

Off the Beaten Path by Cari Z.
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Available for Purchase at Dreamspinner Press

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Cari Z. here today on her Off the Beaten Path tour. Welcome, Cari.

✒︎

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Cari Z

How much of yourself goes into a character?

I can always tell the characters I personally resonate with most, because they’re not big and bold. They’re usually fairly quiet and tend to get things done without a lot of fuss, and they’re also complete badasses with at least one odd and unique skillset. *ahem*

Do you feel there’s a tight line between Mary Sue or should I say Gary Stu and using your own experiences to create a character?

I think it’s important for a character to be relatable, which often means not using a really personal anecdote or interesting incident from my own life, because really, how many people have been alligator wrestling? On the other hand, people read to experience new things, and so a judicious amount of my own life and personality needs to make it in there, especially if I’m relating something odd.

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write?  Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

I love research and making up my own worlds and cultures! This is probably why I write so few novels in the contemporary genre—I mean, yeah, I could Google Map Philadelphia and ask for beta readers to make sure I get it right, or I could research rainforests and jungles and then stick my main characters on an alien planet with, you guessed it, rainforests and jungles!

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

I loved historical fiction as a teen. Really, desperately loved it. Only later, when I actually went to write it for myself, did I realize how damn complicated that genre is. That hasn’t stopped me, persay, but it does make other stories more attractive sometimes.

Have you ever had to put an ‘in progress’ story aside because of the emotional ties with it?  You were hurting with the characters or didn’t know how to proceed?

I’ve had to put “in progress” stories aside due to complete and utter bafflement at what happens next, but only once have I put one away for emotional reasons. I wrote 70k in three weeks, the fastest I’ve ever gotten any story down, then got to a huge shift in the plot and realized I was depressing myself so much I couldn’t continue.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

I write stories with romance, so those conventions are not only anticipated, they’re demanded. That being said, I tend to go more HFN, because I don’t draw out endings and tend to stuff my romances full of adventure and thrills too.

Do you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

Oh yeah. Classics. Fanfic. Contemporary authors who aren’t me. I read it all. GIVE IT TO ME!

Who do you think is your major influence as a writer?  Now and growing up?

Huh. Well, as a teenager I wanted to write my own Horatio Hornblower books, so I’d have to say CS Forester was a huge influence. As an adult, I read very scattershot all over the place, everything from high fantasy to weird science, so if anything, eclectisism is my guide now.

How do you choose your covers?  (curious on my part)

Usually I don’t have a lot to do with my own covers. I tell the art department what I want and they provide something glorious and I’m very happy. With the cover for Off The Beaten Path, though, I didn’t like any of the models they sent me. I felt awful for complaining, but they were incredibly cool about it, and eventually I got to pick my own model. Hence the delightful man gracing the cover now 😊

Do you have a favorite among your own stories?  And why?

It changes! I like all of my work, even the early stuff because darn it, I learned from it and it helped me grow, but I’ve got to confess I’m especially fond of my science fiction romance Changing Worlds, which is also with Dreamspinner. I wrote it after doing the Peace Corps, and it encapsulates better than any of my other books the emotional dissociation I felt at the time. It’s one of my most true-to-my-life novels, despite being set on an alien planet.

What’s next for you as an author?

After Off The Beaten Path comes out, I have a break before the third and fourth books in the Bad Behavior series I’m writing with L.A. Witt come out in January. Which gives me time (maybe, what with a new baby due to arrive tomorrow, literally) to write a possible sequel for Off The Beaten Path!

Blurb

When Ward Johannsen’s little girl Ava shifted into a werewolf, she was taken into custody by the feds and shipped off to the nearest pack, all ties between father and daughter severed. Ward burned every bridge he had discovering her location, and then almost froze to death in the Colorado mountains tracking her new pack down. And that’s just the beginning of his struggle.

Henry Dormer is an alpha werewolf and an elite black ops soldier who failed his last mission. He returns home, hoping for some time to recuperate and help settle the pack’s newest member, a little pup named Ava who can’t shift back to her human form. Instead he meets Ward, who refuses to leave his daughter without a fight. The two men are as different as night and day, but their respect for each other strikes a spark of mutual interest that quickly grows into a flame. They might find something special together—love, passion, and even a family—if they can survive trigger-happy pack guardians, violent werewolf politics, and meddling government agencies that are just as likely to get their alpha soldiers killed as bring them home safely.

 

About the Author

Cari Z was a bookworm as a child and remains one to this day. In an effort to combat her antisocial reading behavior, she did all sorts of crazy things, from competitive gymnastics to alligator wresting (who even knew that was legal!) to finally joining the Peace Corps, which promptly sent her and her husband to the wilds of West Africa, stuck them in a hut, and said, “See ya!” She also started writing then because what else are you going to do for entertainment with no electricity? She writes award-winning LGBTQ fiction featuring aliens, supervillains, soothsayers, and even normal people sometimes. You can contact Cari at carizabeth@hotmail.com. In fact, please do. She’d love to hear from you.

 

Social Media Links:

AUTHOR’S WEBSITE http://carizerotica.blogspot.com
AUTHOR’S TWITTER URL (NOT JUST HANDLE) https://twitter.com/author_cariz
AUTHOR’S FACEBOOK URL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008212125132

Release Blitz for The Half Wolf by Jay Northcote

 

Buy Links: Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2wRSr2I

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ynPnww

 

NB: This book will be exclusive to Amazon for 90 days, after that it will be available at all major retailers.

 
Length: 65,000 words approx
 
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @Black Jazz Design
 
Blurb

 

Mate, family, pack, home… can Quinn and Kellan have it all?

Quinn grew up feeling out of place in the small town he calls home. Yearning for something he can’t name, he’s always felt different but never known why.

Kellan is part of a nomadic shifter pack. When they set up camp in the woods near Quinn’s town, the humans are unwelcoming and suspicious of the newcomers. The moment Kellan catches sight—and scent—of Quinn, he knows Quinn is special. But for the first time in his life, Kellan can’t trust his instincts. Quinn is human, and Kellan is a wolf shifter, so how can they ever be mates?

Their bond is instant and exhilarating. It breaks Quinn’s heart to know their relationship can only be temporary. Love isn’t enough when pack law forbids shifters to mate with humans. Tension explodes between pack and humans, and when Quinn discovers a shocking truth about himself that changes everything, he fears he’ll have to choose between the only life he’s ever known and the man he loves.

Author Bio

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.



Website: https://jaynorthcote.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jay_Northcote
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/dellamere
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/jaynorthcotefiction
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/JN-readers
Jay’s books: http://author.to/JayNorthcote

 

Hosted By Signal Boost Promotions

 

Falling Into Autumn and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Falling Into Autumn

 

We’ve passed the autumnal equinox and it’s officially fall.  Yes, my favorite time of the year has arrived.  Already the signs are out.  The Sugar Maples are showing their splendid fall colors, my beech trees are busy making a nuisance of themselves by pouring nut bits all over the back stone patio. Their beech nuts a boon for wildlife who are busy taking advantage and a pain for the paws of my dogs who keep stepping on them no matter how quickly I try to sweep them up every morning.  It’s a Sisyphean task to be sure.

Last night I started another fall task.  I started to clean out my Kindle.  Yes, I have to do that.  As a reviewer, or even just a prolific reader, it’s full of books I will never read again.  So the daunting chore begins to weed out the books overflowing my Kindle, choosing which will remain and which, much like my gardens, will be pruned away so I can quickly look over my library. Hah! You say.  Yah, yah…I know…it seems overwhelming and unlikely to me too.

My mental mutterings often go something like this “no, I’m not finished the series yet,  you get to stay”,  “hmm, uh no, I thought I had removed you some time ago”,  “Oh, I loved you so, I know I’ll read you again (no I won’t but I want too)” so I keep that one….and so on.  As you can imagine far more stay then actually get booted.  In the end I put the Kindle down, caught up in a book I need to read and review for the upcoming weeks because that’s as great an excuse as any, right?

Thank goodness they aren’t printed books because I’ve never thrown one of those away in my life.  Shifted boxes  into my  parents attic (yes, I know shameful at any age but there you go).  I think I’m going to go get them this fall, promise.

I won’t even go into my fall gardening chores…it’s still sunny and 80 outside.  Too many seeds are falling from the plants and things are still blooming.  That gets to slide too while I go look at mums in all their glory. I know just the place to plant them while I read and have a sip of wine.

That’s how I’m starting my fall into autumn.  Do you have any special plans for your fall days?  I’d love to hear them!  New giveaway coming soon!  Meanwhile enjoy our easing into Fall and this week’s books and tours.  Don’t miss out on Joker by JM Dabney.  I’ll be doing an author discovery on JM Dabney in the next coming months and reviewing all this author’s series…yes, I’m that much in love!

 

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

Sunday, September 24:

  • Falling Into Autumn and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • A MelanieM Review: Drama Luau (Nicky and Noah Mystery #4) by Joe Cosentino

Monday, September 25:

  • RIPTIDE TOUR Avon Gale on The Love Song of Sawyer Bell (A Tour Dates novel)
  • RELEASE BLITZ Figure Study by Suzanne Clay
  • Anniversary Blog Tour for Caught Inside by Jamie Deacon
  • Fortitude Smashed. Interlude Press Tour
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Trans Liberty Riot Brigade by L.M. Pierce
  • An Alisa Review: Saved by AM Arthur
  • A Caryn Release Day Review: Creative Process by Jodi Payne

Tuesday, September 26:

  • Dreamspinner Promo Cari Z. on Off The Beaten Path
  • Release Blitz – The Half Wolf by Jay Northcote
  • Renewal Review and Promo Tour (Queer SyFy Scott)
  • Riptide Publishing Tour and Giveaway: Rank and File by LA Witt
  • An Alisa Review; Loose Ends by Jeff Erno
  • A MelanieM Review :Renewal : 3rd Annual Queer SyFy Flash Fiction Anthology
  • An Ali Review: A World Apart by Mel Gough

Wednesday, September  27, 2017

  • TOUR Golden by RL Mosswood
  • TOUR On the Way to San Jose by Jere’ M. Fishback
  • Release Blitz First Season (Harrisburg Railers #2) by RJ Scott & VL Locey
  • Review Tour – Amy Tasukada – Would It Be Ok To Love You
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Antisocial  by Heidi Cullinan and Iggy Toma (Narrator)
  • An Alisa Audiobook Review: Can’t Hide From Me by Cordelia Kingsbridge and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Thursday, September 28, 2017:

  • BLOG TOUR  Waking the Behr (Foothills Pride #7) by Pat Henshaw
  • Dreamspinner Dreamspun Desires Promo Louisa Masters
  • Dreamspinner Promo Skylar M. Cates
  • A Stella Review: The Half Wolf by Jay Northcote
  • An Ali Review A World Apart by Mel Gough
  • An Alisa Review: Revived (Foreverers #1) by Nina del Arce

Friday, September 29:

  • Dreamspinner Dreamspun Desires Promo MA Church
  • Review Tour for First Season (Harrisburg Railers #2) by RJ Scott & VL Locey
  • Review Tour – Joker (Executioners #2) – JM Dabney
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Joker (Executioners #2) by  JM Dabney
  • A MelanieM Review :First Season (Harrisburg Railers #2) by RJ Scott & VL Locey
  • An Ali Release Day Review: Rim Shot by Skylar M Cates

Saturday, September 30:

  • Blog and Review Tour – City Boy – Country Boy by A.E. Wasp
  • One Call Away by Felice Stevens Audio Tour and Review
  • An Ali Review: Country Boy (Hot Off the Ice #2) by AE Wasp
  • An Ali Review: City Boy (Hot Off the Ice #1) by AE Wasp

Check Out the Latest Release from A.E. Via…Prophesy (The King & Alpha Series) (sneak peak excerpt and giveaway)

PROPHESY

by A.E. Via
The King & Alpha, #1
Publication Date: September 23, 2017
Genres: Adult, M/M, Romance, Paranormal

NEW RELEASE!

SYNOPSIS:

An Enemies to Lovers
Shifter, Vampire True Mates story.

Justice Volkov is the youngest Alpha Zenith to ever lead the wolf shifters. Following in his father’s large paw prints was a responsibility he met head on. Now at age thirty-three, he is alpha of the alphas. As a direct descendant of the original Siberian pack, his wolf is bigger and stronger than Justice, himself is sometimes able to control. 

“His wolf howled long and hard but Justice kept it inside. It felt like a bass drum beating against his rib cage. The harsh breaths, angry snarls and the determined pacing inside him was overtaking him. All the while… his mate kept calling.”

Justice takes his role of leadership and his legacy very seriously. He has little time for romance, not to mention a true mate. His packs are his priority. With a human government trying to regulate them, an uprising of rogue shifters, and a violent team of scientists trying to experiment on them, Justice has his hands way too full. 

Chadwick ‘Wick’ Bentley is not enthusiastic when the captain of his escort tells him he has to leave his comfortable London home and go back to the States. As the Vampire King, he has no choice but to get his species back in line before they cause anymore chaos. At over two-hundred years old, Wick is no one to trifle with, but his smooth, charismatic manner makes him quite unique, despite the negative reputation vampires have. Wick has had nothing but time up to this point. He doesn’t feel the need to make issues pressing. Nothing is urgent in his life. Until he meets Justice. His beloved.

“Natural enemies can’t be mates.” Or so Justice thought. He knows his skepticism and rejection is hurting his mate, so while he fights their connection, Wick gets help from a source very close to Justice to help him win his beloved’s heart. Wick is a force all on his own, but when he’s blessed with a special gift from the Mother herself, not even Justice’s powerful wolf can prevent the prophesy from being fulfilled. 

This story DOES NOT contain/mention MPREG. 
No multiple pairings. It does not end on a cliffhanger and has an HEA. 

Warning: This book is MM paranormal: If you DO NOT like hot, alpha men shifting into large wolves, or vampires feeding from their mates, this may not be your read.

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SNEAK PEAK – EXCERPT

His animal growled and snarled inside him. Justice grunted and cursed while he fought to keep his wolf under control. What was wrong with him? What the hell was coming? He could feel it as sure as he could feel his beating heart, his racing pulse and his mighty wolf trying to get out and explore. He’d never had to reign in his animal so fiercely. Justice was finally able to open his eyes, not realizing they were squeezed shut in concentration.

“Justice! You’re forcing a lot of power, man.” Mac’s strong voice cut over the incessant presence trying to reach his mind.

Justice growled again. Something’s in my head. “Clear the room.” Justice’s voice was strained, spitting his words through clenched teeth. His wolf was clawing at him, ripping him apart, wanting out.

“Justice you’re scaring me. I can feel you fighting.”

He could hear his baby sister begging but he couldn’t focus on his siblings when he was barely keeping himself together. It had to be the Vampire King doing something to him. If Justice shifted and went crazy right here in a police headquarters, only the heavens knew what would happen to his people. “Get my family out of here.” Justice grabbed Alek’s arm in an authoritative grip. “Everyone. Out. Now.”

“We’re your betas. We won’t leave you, Justice,” Taleb snarled, looking in the same direction as Justice.

“Alek!” Justice thundered. He needed him to act for him.

“You heard your Alpha, Taleb. Warren, get them in the RV and back on the Humboldt pack lands now! Protect them with your lives,” Alek barked to the enforcers, who immediately began to shuffle Justice’s sister and his younger brothers out of the room and to the safety of their vehicle. Alek watched them down the hall until they turned out of view. His brother looked up and down the corridor before dipping back inside the room and locking the door.

“I think the Vampire King just turned the corner. Is it him doing this to you? I’ll kill him right now,” Alek growled.

“No!” Justice’s voice was sharper and stronger than he intended. He was still leaning hard against the wall farthest from the door for support, holding both clenched fists against his chest as if that alone could keep his wolf from bursting free. Justice closed his eyes and tried to center himself. He needed to breathe, relax. But with each second, the feelings intensified, an all-encompassing entity in his head.

“I can feel you too.”

“Oh shit. Was that you, Alek?” Justice grabbed his brother’s arm and yanked him to face him. “Did you just speak to me?”

“What? No? I am speaking to you now. Justice, goddamnit! You’re pushing too much energy.” Alek released a pained grunt. His brother looked like he wanted to break the window behind them and just get them the hell out of there. He’d never seen Justice behave this way, so out of control, and wasn’t sure what he was about to be faced with, but knew he may have to fight it alone because Justice was in a complete state of disorder.

It was an accented, smooth voice. “Something. Someone just said—” Then he smelled it. That faint, delicious scent that appeared last night was back, only it wasn’t diluted by nature’s elements. This time it was full strength, concentrated, and like nothing he’d ever smelled before. Impressive and so damn compelling. Justice’s thick cock pushed against his loose jeans and his wolf howled inside him, fighting to break free. His animal was so strong. Justice gritted his teeth together and hung on. Oh, Mother… please. Can’t… it just can’t. Justice heard footsteps right outside the door and his body began to shake from effort.

“Justice,” Alek warned. “You gotta tell me what’s going on, brother, so I can help you.”

How the hell was he supposed to explain this?

Justice saw the knob jiggle for a second before it was completely ripped from the door. Neither he nor Alek flinched at the show of strength. They had strength of their own. Justice thought dozens of vampires would storm the room, but only two walked in and Justice knew exactly which one was in his head. The Vampire King. The sexy, beautiful one. But how?

ABOUT A.E. VIA

A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for four years now, but she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of LGBTQ Romance for over fifteen years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having published a couple great new up and coming MM authors.

A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to her. Writing.

A.E.’s writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Stories that often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

Now that she’s gotten over her 10 books published hump, she’s kind of known now for her hardcore, play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring with different tropes, but she won’t push herself into a whole other genre. She’s head over heels for MM romance and has tons of more hot stories to tell.

Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com  for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter | Amazon Author Profile

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY


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An Alisa Review: Cursed (Alpha’s Warlock #1) by Kris Sawyer

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

 

Clyde Barrington is a werewolf with a curse on his head. Every night, he shifts from human to wolf and lives the life of a lonely predator, never fully accepted by his pack. When he saves a handsome stranger from a fire, everything changes.

 

In a world divided by the ancient feud between werewolves and warlocks, Clyde and Terry must learn to trust each other. When wolves start to disappear, their bond is tested by the fear of a pack now balanced on the edge of destruction.

 

Amidst a web of lies, deceits and betrayals, Clyde must decide where his loyalties lie, and choose between a forbidden love and the ties that bind him to his brothers. Is Terry an enemy to the pack, or the saviour that will lead them out of the darkness?

 

This was a different story.  Terry seems to be content following the crowd at the beginning of the story but quickly makes his real self known to Clyde and will push for what he wants.  Clyde and Terry quickly begin to build a relationship despite Clyde’s pack’s dislike of Terry’s warlock nature.

 

Terry and Clyde seem to build their relationship for the most part in the back ground and the conflict with Clyde’s pack is more to the forefront.  Clyde is heart broken when the truth about Terry is revealed and everything they thought was wrong.  I am interested to what happens in the next story after Terry comes back,, I’m still a little confused as to how it happened.

 

The cover art by Sidney Lowell is great picture and is eye-catching.

 

Sales Link: Amazon

 

Book Details:

ebook, 80 pages

Published: September 5, 2017 by Creative Minds Promotions

Edition Language: English

Series: Alpha’s Warlock #1

An Ali Release Day Review: Off the Beaten Path by Cari Z

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars
When Ward Johannsen’s little girl Ava shifted into a werewolf, she was taken into custody by the feds and shipped off to the nearest pack, all ties between father and daughter severed. Ward burned every bridge he had discovering her location, and then almost froze to death in the Colorado mountains tracking her new pack down. And that’s just the beginning of his struggle.

Henry Dormer is an alpha werewolf and an elite black ops soldier who failed his last mission. He returns home, hoping for some time to recuperate and help settle the pack’s newest member, a little pup named Ava who can’t shift back to her human form. Instead he meets Ward, who refuses to leave his daughter without a fight. The two men are as different as night and day, but their respect for each other strikes a spark of mutual interest that quickly grows into a flame. They might find something special together—love, passion, and even a family—if they can survive trigger-happy pack guardians, violent werewolf politics, and meddling government agencies that are just as likely to get their alpha soldiers killed as bring them home safely.
This was a unique take on the shifter world and I was engrossed in this story from beginning to end.  I read a lot of shifter books and I am always looking for something that I haven’t seen before and this book really fit the bill.  The world building was top notch and I felt the author did a very good job drawing the reader in to this hard scrabble world these werewolves live in.
In addition to the detailed and interesting world building. the author did a very complete job developing the characters.  I felt sorry for Ward right off and could understand his desperation to get to his daughter.  Henry was also well done and the two men were a great match for each other.  Their chemistry jumped off the pages and I was rooting for them the entire time.  There are a host of side characters and I also found them to be well done and their presence added to this plot.
If you’re looking for something creative and well written I would definitely recommend this story.  I’m not sure if this will be an ongoing series but I hope it is.  I would love to read more about these shifters.
This cover was done by Brooke Albrecht and I love it.  It fits the story perfectly and I think it’s visually gorgeous.
Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon
Book Details:
ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: September 18th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN13 9781635338980
Edition Language English

Words from International Literacy Day and Updated Recovery Links. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Words from International Literacy Day and Updated Recovery Links.

 

Last week we were focused on Hurricane Irma as she left a swath of devastation across the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, the Keys and Florida.  Recovery is going to take months, if not years.  The pictures that come from the path of the hurricane are heartbreaking as are the stories of the people just getting back into to their neighborhoods to see what’s left of their homes.  I’ve included an updated list of organizations where you can donate if you so wish below:

Charity Navigator – Your Guide To Intelligent Giving | Home

Charity Navigator’s Approved Lists for:

Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Friday evening, August 25th, as …

Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma made landfall in Barbuda on Wednesday …

Charities with Perfect Scores

Army Emergency Relief – Religion – Last Chance for Animals – Health

Also, I’ve not forgotten our International Literacy Day! Because of the Hurricane Irma our results from International Literacy Day slid to this Sunday. we had some wonderful comments that I wanted to include below from our readers:

 

📚 From H.B.I think it’s important to get children active in reading early in life. Here in the states it’s easier to do but I feel promotion should be upped so communities know when a event or program is occurring. As for abroad I suppose the same can be done. Also if we had more volunteer programs not just missionary organizations go abroad and/or raising money for equipment and videos may even help some communities.

As for me I’ve always read. My sister use to force me to do it, I wasn’t allowed to watch tv when I wanted to. Instead I would be forced to sit down and read or write. It was my main source of entertainment. It fed my imagination, served as an escape and stress reliever.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com

From Jen:I think the biggest thing we can do to promote literacy is to read to kids. We read to our kids starting when they were infants and they are both avid readers now. Supporting library programs, school programs etc. where books are read aloud. We also have the opportunity to donate books to our school and to a program for underfunded schools via Scholastic Books.

I’ve read a lot ever since I was young. Books open up new worlds to me and also teach me about people and cultures I might never know otherwise.

From Purple Reader:

Thanks so much for your attention to literacy. It is a necessary part of education, which I believe so strongly in. Being able to read really does free a person. That was true for me, and I’ve seen it in others. A whole new world opens up. Then comes the critical thinking skills to make sense of it all, the decision making skills to do the right things with it, and all in the context of a well grounded value system.

Reading is the first step, it opens the door that would otherwise be closed. But most times people cannot do it alone. I try to do my part by volunteer tutoring GED students at the LGBTQ center here. The people’s growth is amazing and I’m so proud of how they become solid citizens of the world.TheWrote [at] aol [dot] com

and from

Ami:

Well, I live in Indonesia, where the level of people reading is pretty low. It’s a sad situation really. We don’t have a very established libraries — I always feel jealous when I see one abroad. I guess my way of promoting literacy or books usually by speaking about it on social media. Or donate books when I can — cannot exactly donate my MM romance collection, different culture and all. Because books definitely change my life. I actually discovered about my asexuality by reading books!

Announcements: Our winners of the International Literacy gift certificates are Ami and Jen.  Congratulations!.

Next week we start to move forward into things autumnal, things scary and always bookish.  Until then happy reading.  Here’s a peak at this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue

Sunday, September 17:

  • Words from International Literacy Day and Updated Recovery Links
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, September 18:

  • Review Tour – Clare London’s Between A Rock & A Hard Place
  • Dreamspinner Promo Jacques N. Hoff on Tufted and Tatted
  • BLITZ Fate Heats Things Up by Sarah Hadley Brook
  • An Ali Release Day Review: Off the Beaten Path by Cari Z
  • A MelanieM Review: Murder and Mayhem (Murder and Mayhem #1) by Rhys Ford
  • A Karen Review: Between a Rock and a Hard Place (London Lads #5) by Clare London
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Tramps and Thieves (Murder and Mayhem#2) by Rhys Ford

Tuesday, September 19:

  • Dreamspinner Promo BA Tortuga on Finding Mr. Wright
  • TOUR A World Apart by Mel Gough + giveaway
  • RIPTIDE TOUR and Giveaway: Covet by Yolande Kleinn
  • A Caryn Review: The Druid Next Door (Fae Out of Water #2) by EJ Russell
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Manny Get Your Guy (The Mannies #2) by Amy Lane and John Solo (Narrator)
  • A MelanieM Review: Pop Tart (Asian Idols #2) by Shawn Bailey
  • An Alisa Review: Cursed (Alpha’s Warlock #1) by Kris Sawyer

Wednesday, September 20:

  • RIPTIDE TOUR & Giveaway: Bad Boy’s Bard by EJ Russell
  • Review Tour for Amy Tasukada’s Year One
  • TOUR Torin by Lance Withton
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: I Heart Boston Terriers by Rick R. Reed
  • A Lila Review: By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel by Meghan Maslow
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review:  Waking the Behr (Foothills Pride #7) by Pat Henshaw
  • A MelanieM Review: Year One (Would It Be Okay to Love You? #2) by Amy Tasukada

Thursday, September 21:

  • BLOG and Review TOUR Someone To Call My Own by Aimee Nicole Walker
  • BLITZ Figure Study by Suzanne Clay
  • A Free Dreamer Review Fortitude Smashed by Taylor Brooke
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Leaning Into Love (Leaning Into Stories #1) by Lane Hayes
  • A VVivacious Review: Caught In Between (Daniel and Ryan #8) by Tamryn Eradani
  • An Alisa Review: Someone to Call My Own (Road to Blissville #2) by Aimee Nicole Walker

Friday, September 22:

  • Dreamspinner Promo Jodi Payne on Creative Process
  • RELEASE BLITZ Waking the Behr by Pat Henshaw
  • Review Tour for KA Merikan – Manic Pixie Dream Boy
  • Review Tour for Marshall Thornton’s Night Drop
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: Why I Love Bodyguards (Why I Love… #3) by T.A. Chase
  • A MelanieM Review: Night Drop (A Pinx Video Mystery #1) by Marshall Thornton
  • An Ali Review:  Manic Pixie Dream Boy by  KA Merikan

Saturday, September 23:

  • A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Mahu by Neil S. Plakcy and Joel Leslie Narrator
  • Release Blitz Tour – Amy Tasukada’s Would It Be Ok To Love You
  • Release Blitz for Tour: PROPHESY by A.E. Via

 

A Stella Review: How To Save A Life (Howl at the Moon #4) by Eli Easton

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Howl At The Moon by Eli Easton is one of my favourite series in the mm world . And it gets better with every new installment the author releases.
It’s really unavoidable to fall in love with each new character introduced and add to this, meeting all the “old” characters you loved in the previous books, that’s what makes the series a winner to me.
In How To Save A Life I learned to love Rev and the cute Sammy, two very different souls. Rev comes from money but walked away from his successful life in the family business when he realised how dirty his father’s affairs were. And then he starts a new life as the owner of a dog refugee in Arizona, until he meets first Milo and his friends (in book #3) and later a scared chocolate Labrador in a kennel. And piece by piece he understands he is missing something important. So he tracks down the dog and finds himself in the mysterious Mad Creek, the same town Milo lives in. And here he will see the same scared eyes of the cute Labrador in the hot Sammy. . From that moment Rev life will change again and it will collide with new people, a new unexpected love for someone who is new to human life and the desire to help a whole community.
It was a joy to read How To Save a Life, an engaging and well written story, full of love for dogs. There wasn’t a little detail I didn’t like. Highly recommended but I suggest to read the series in order to better enjoy the lovely world Eli Easton has created.
Cover art by Reese Dante is adorable and matches that of the rest of the series.
Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book Details:
ebook, 238 pages
Published August 28th 2017 by Eli Easton
Original TitleHow To Save A Life
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Howl at the Moon #4

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Finder’s Keeper (Heart’s Gate) by Shira Anthony

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

The truth might ruin his dreams—or make them come true.

When Zane moves into an old gothic brownstone, he discovers the house comes equipped with a caretaker—Kit, who lives in the basement. Zane is immediately drawn to the charming and attractive Kit. But Kit is much more than he seems. He is a two-hundred-year-old half-human, half–red-fox spirit who guards a Gate between the mortal and spirit worlds—a fact Zane should recognize, but doesn’t.

Orphaned at a young age, Zane never learned he comes from a long line of mystical Keepers. Kit needs Zane’s help to protect the Gate, but how can he tell Zane of his legacy when that will crush Zane’s dreams of traveling the world? If he takes up the mantle, Zane will be bound to the Gate, unable to leave it. But when Zane realizes Kit’s true nature, and his own, he’ll have to make a choice—fight to protect Kit and the Gate, or deny his destiny and any chance of a future with Kit.

Finder’s Keeper is one of those stories where one of the main characters arrives at a place, in this case an old brownstone bequeathed to him and his twin sister by an unknown uncle and immediately feels a connection.  Ties to that place and to the handsome man he finds making him coffee and breakfast the next morning. Not instant love feelings but something that goes deeper.  An emotional tie that somehow Zane can’t explain away, not that he really wants too.

I have to admit to having felt those from time to time.  I’ve never really tried to categorize them.  But you walk into a place, across a landscape or gaze into a stranger’s eyes, if even for a passing second and there’s a spark of recognition that isn’t possible, or a feeling of coming home when you’ve never been there before.  In a way, Anthony uses that as a basis for her story of Finder’s Keeper only here the relationship between house and family, Gate and Keeper is almost cellular as well as spiritual.

Anthony makes it more realistic for Zane to accept his feelings for the house and its caretaker by having Zane and his sister orphaned at a young age as well as giving a difficult romantic history for Zane.  All of which would make a house and new location suddenly look like a very attractive path if you’re looking to make a home. Especially if you feel as though you’re being led there.  Which Zane is.

I liked all the characters Shira Anthony fills her story with and there’s quite the collection here, including Lor the demon, and Zane’s sister who I really could have used much more of.  I hope that’s rectified in the next stories.  I even really loved the romance here. I don’t think instant love has a place here.  As set out by the author, their attraction and yes, love for each other is believable.  The only thing that semi-irritated me towards the end was the dithering Kit did over the relationship binding, ignoring what Zane was telling him.  Once yes, but repeatedly? That started to feel forced.

Oh Kit, he was amazing.  I loved the Kitsune element here and hope that somehow the author will find a way to bring Kit’s father into future stories.  Anthony has built so many intriguing minor (who knows) story threads into Finder’s Keeper that I can’t help but hope they will be fleshed out in future sequels to come.  Lor the demon alone needs his own story too. And he’s not alone.

I’m loving this new Dreamspun Beyond line from Dreamspinner Press.  If you love paranormal or supernatural romances, then Finder’s Keeper, the first in a new series from Shira Anthony is just the thing for you.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson.  I just love this cover.  Just the right element of spookiness and a gorgeous otherworldly model.  Perfect!

Buy Links: Dreamspinner PressAmazon  | Kobo Barnes & Noble

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Beyond #4, 236 pages
Expected publication: September 15th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635338782
Edition Language English
Series Heart’s Gate #1 setting Cleveland, Ohio (United States)