Winter Solstice and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Winter Solstice

This  year Winter Solstice falls on December 22nd, our shortest day of the year.  What is Winter Solstice?  At its most scientific, it can be defined per Wikipedia as ” Winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Winter solstice occurs for the Northern Hemisphere in December and for the Southern Hemisphere in June.”

I found a wonderful article in The Daily Telegraph, ‘What exactly is the winter solstice? By Cameron Macphail, complete with pictures of the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge that defined the day as “sunstill” according to ancient tradition. Read it to find out why.  Its a great article.  Don’t miss out on it.  But honestly, when searching out meanings for the Winter Solstice, you will be flooded with hits. Why?

Because its meaning and celebrations through the centuries makes it so much more than that simple sentence makes it out to be.

For many civilizations and cultures,  the shortest day also meant the longest night of the year. For some a time when spirits visited, the separations between worlds narrows, when the bonfires are lighted to keep the spirits away, and all draw close around the fires. As Cameron Macphail points out, animals were slaughtered so they didn’t have to be fed in the winter, feasts were held, pagan celebrations in hope for a short winter, and fruitful spring.

Because Yule is also a celebration of the return of the sun, for that is what happens once the longest night is over.  The sun’s rebirth starts the next day when starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs a bit higher and stays a bit longer in the sky every day.

From Yule by Akasha:

Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider.  Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun.  The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not “die” thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Gods. The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes Nature Spirits would come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit the residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration.  It represented the seed of the Divine, and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift… it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

Think…how many of these traditions are followed in some manner today.

 

No matter your Winter Solstice or Yuletide traditions, whether it be decorating with holly and the ivy or burning the yule log, may your long Winter Solstice night be filled with love, laughter, good books and cheer!

snowflake

Now for This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 20:

  • Winter Solstice and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • A Mika Advent Story Review: Not the Best Day by Brynn Stein

Monday, December 21:

  • Cover reveal ‘Unquiet’ by Melanie Hansen (excerpt and contest)
  • Anthology Spotlight: Men In Uniform (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Wild & Sexy with ‘Dom of Ages’ by KC Wells & Parker Williams (excerpt/giveaway)
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dom of the Ages by Will Parker and KC Wells
  • An Ali Advent Story Review: Loving and Loathing Las Vegas by Lex Chase

Tuesday, December 22 (Winter Solstice) :

  • Morticia Knight ‘Safe Limits’ book blast and giveaway
  • When It’s Right (Mile High Romance #1) by Aria Grace tour and  contest
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Sleeping Til Sunrise by Mary Calmes
  • A Paul Advent Story Review: Worth the Wait by Caitlin Ricci and Cari Z
  • A BJ Review: A Policy of Lies by Astrid Amara
  • A Stella Review: Reindeer Games by Kenzie Cade

Wednesday, December 23:

  • Coffee Sip and Book Break: Tina Blenke ‘Life Worth Living’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review: Down and Dirty by Rhys Ford
  • A BJ Review:  Turbulence (Turbulence #1) by Lyn Gala
  • A Paul B Advent Story Review: Son of Santa by Kate Sands
  • A Stella Review: Out of the Blues by Mercy Celeste

Thursday, December 24:

  • Sidewinders are Back with Part & Parcel by Abigail Roux (Riptide Tour)
  • A MelanieM Review: Part & Parcel by Abigail Roux
  • A BJ Review: Cinder by Marie Sexton
  • A Paul B Advent Story Review: Teddy Bear Christmas by CC Bridges
  • A Free Dreamer Review: The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles

Friday, December 25 (Merry Christmas!)

  • Caraway Carter ‘The First Time’ book blast and contest
  • Nicolas by Dianne Hartsock virtual tour and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Four Alternative Christmas Present by Tam MacNeil
  • A BJ Review: Turbulence by Lyn Gala
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Flesh Market (Bodies and Souls #1) by Kate Lowell
  • A Sammy Review: Rock Rod Studios Series by Emory Vargas

Saturday, December 26:

  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: An Assassin’s Holiday by Dirk Greyson
  • An Aurora YA Review: Reasons to Love a Nerd Like Me by Becky Jerams

 

 

 

 

 

A BJ Review: A Policy of Lies by Astrid Amara

 

 

A Paul B Review: Kenai (Watchers #1) by Caitlin Ricci and A.J. Marcus

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Kenai coverKenai is a young watcher.  He has known since he was young that he was meant to settle disputes between shifters.  He has also been told that being a watcher is a lonely life.  The watcher separates himself from his family and there is no prospect of love, much less a mate.  This as they say is how it has always been.   His life is one of prophetic dreams and settling disputes.  To keep himself from being distracted from his duties, Kenai lives in the forest of Washington in a single room cabin by himself.  This also allows him to shift into his cougar form.  The one dream that recurs to him is of a bear shifter fishing salmon from a nearby stream.

Derek is a bear shifter in the wilds of Washington.  While walking through the woods one day, a cougar bounces around him as he walks.  Annoyed at the playful shifter, he asks the man what he is doing.  Kenai states that he just wants company.  Derek tolerates the cougar for a bit until Kenai’s bouncing leads Derek to growl at him.  Kenai apologizes and heads home.  Derek follows him and asks if Kenai would like to go on a salmon run with him the next day.

At the salmon run, things progress between Derek and Kenai.  Both agree that whatever goes on between them is just for fun and nothing more could come of it.  However, when another bear shifter attacks Kenai, things change.  Kenai defends himself, pushing the bear shifter over a cliff.  Frightened what the other bear shifters might do, he runs to the city seeking refuge in a bottle of vodka.  Derek tracks him down but Kenai must perform his watcher duties.  Will the legends of the lonely watcher prove to be true?

This is the first book in the new Watchers series by Caitlin Ricci and A J Marcus.  The first part of the book serves both as an introduction to Kenai but also to this world of watchers that the authors have created.  It is a different twist on the supervision of paranormals as these watchers seem to be born into the role.  While this is a decent shifter book, I felt something was missing in the connection of the main characters.  I did however like how Kenai used the situation that he is called on to mediate to help him come to a conclusion about his relationship with Derek.  Overall, it is a good start to the series but I hope that more details are fleshed out  in coming books.

The cover art by Carmen Waters has Kenai in his cougar form with a shirtless man behind the cougar set in a forest.  It fits the book well.

Sales Links:   eXtasy Books |  Amazon

Book Details

ebook, 46 pages
Published December 8th 2015 by eXtasy Books
ISBN139781487406011
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesWatchers #1

Charity Release Spotlight: Bailey Bradford’s ‘Destined Prey (fundraiser, excerpt,giveaway)

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Destined Prey (Wild Ones #1) by Bailey Bradford

Thank you for joining us! This book was written as a fundraiser for Peyton Hollingsworth, a family friend of Bailey’s who has been diagnosed with cancer.

*All proceeds and royalties from this book will be donated to help pay the medical bills for Peyton Hollingsworth. While he is currently being treated at St. Jude’s for Ewing’s Sarcoma, and treatment there is free, there are accumulated bills from his treatment and diagnosis before being sent to St. Jude’s.

About Peyton:

Peyton is a funny, loving, 11-year old boy who loves playing outside, riding go-carts, and Batman. In April, we found out he had cancer. Peyton has asthma, and often had to have nebulizer treatments, so when he was having trouble breathing, his doctor thought it was asthma. But nothing worked to ease his breathing, and the doctor sent Peyton to the hospital for a suspected collapsed lung.

From one day to the next, it went from us thinking he had a severe bout of asthma to finding out that he had a tumor pressing his lung up until it was almost completely obscured, and he couldn’t get much, if any, air into it.

Peyton was sent to St. Jude’s and diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. The mass was attached to one rib, and was spreading. He has undergone radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, several transfusions and MRI’s, numerous tests and received numerous shots. It’s been a rough, rough time for the Hollingsworth family, and we are hoping to help them out.

While St. Jude’s doesn’t charge for treatment, the Hollingsworth family has accumulated medical bills from Peyton’s doctor and hospitalization before he was sent to St. Jude’s. Cherri, his mother, has been unable to work during this time, and the financial constraints are something they could really use help overcoming.

We are currently awaiting another MRI to be scheduled and done to see if all the cancer has been eradicated. We are hopeful and have faith that Peyton will be in remission and the cancer will not have spread or reoccur.

I will keep updating this as we get more information. We should know more within a few days, but I wanted to go ahead and get a jump start on this, so that we can help his family financially, so this will be one less thing that they have to stress about.

If you’d like to help, a Go Fund Me campaign has been set up: https://www.gofundme.com/okwdr0

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and donations.

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Destined Prey (Wild Ones #1) by Bailey Bradford
Release Date: December 18, 2015
(available for early download on December 14 from Rainbow Ninja Press).
Goodreads Link

Hi Bailey, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Give us a to-do list for one of your characters.

Ben is a coywolf shifter. He is also a mechanic. One a typical day, he’d get up, shower, have breakfast while bickering with his siblings, then he’d go to work. Business has been slower than he’d like, but it’s not too bad. Getting his hands greasy and taking an engine apart is his idea of a good time at work.

Ben’s to-do list:

  • Survive breakfast and don’t give in to the impulse to smack a sib.
  • Order the parts for the old Mustang I’m restoring.
  • Finish the oil changes and tire rotations scheduled, then have fun with the ‘Tang.
  • Stop by the grocers, glare at Gregg. He is not getting my man. Pick up a double chocolate cake from the bakery there for Jack, and his favorite ice cream.
  • Go home and fight off the siblings trying to eat Jack’s cake and ice cream.
  • Shower at Jack’s instead.
  • This one is rated x. Sorry, folks.

 

Blurb

Wild Ones book 1

Destined Prey

All Jack Tucker wanted was to come home for a little while and try to figure out where his life had gone wrong. Moving from Wyoming to New York hadn’t turned out the way he’d thought it would, and a bad breakup leaves him bruised in more than just the emotional sense.

He doesn’t expect to be glad he’s back on the Double T Ranch with his brother, Rhett, and he sure doesn’t expect to find the place crawling with coywolves, wolves, and coyotes. There seems to be some kind of animal-warfare going on, and he and Rhett are caught in the middle of it.

Coywolves—the hybrid of wolves and coyotes, hated by both, and more predatory than either. Add in the fact that all the battling species are shifters, and there’s bound to be trouble.

Ben Akers is part of his brother’s pack. The only coywolf shifters in existence, they find themselves under constant attack from wolf and coyote packs determined to make the Akers pack extinct. But coywolves don’t die out so easy, and when Ben’s life takes a surprising turn in the form of one sexy human named Jack Tucker, they’re both in for surprises, danger, and, if Destiny rules, an abiding love that most people—and shifters—only dream of.

Pages or Words: 43,000 words
Categories: Erotica, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Paranormal, with a dash of Western/Cowboy.

 

Excerpt:

Jack Tucker watched his brother retrieve the rifle from the gun cabinet in the office. “Um. Rhett? What’re you doing?”

Rhett didn’t even glance back at him as he loaded the gun. “What does it look like I’m doing? You been living in the city so long you forgot how a Wyoming rancher lives?” Then he did look over his shoulder at Jack, and Jack kind of wished he hadn’t.

He hated seeing that judgment in his brother’s eyes, and knowing he’d never be good enough for Rhett, never be the man his brother was. “No,” Jack mumbled, “I didn’t forget.”

Rhett sighed and turned until he faced Jack. “Look, that was uncalled for. I’m… I’m sorry, okay?”

Jack was so startled by the apology that he gulped and couldn’t think of a word to say.

Rhett grimaced. “Yeah. Well, okay. Gotta check on some tracks Eddie said he found leading from his property to ours. I’ll be back in a few hours.” He left, striding from the room without seeming to hesitate.

Jack groaned and closed his eyes. Of course Rhett didn’t hesitate—he never had. Rhett always knew what to do, and how to do it, and who he was, and that he was right… Except, he apologized to me, and it screwed my head right up.

“Worse than it already is,” he muttered. Jack couldn’t stop himself from touching his left side, where his bruised ribs throbbed as the pain meds wore off. He was lucky, very lucky, that Rhett hadn’t pushed him on the accident that had sent Jack running home from New York, and possibly into the unemployment line. His boss hadn’t been happy with Jack taking off, even with a medical note as an excuse. Jack hadn’t told Rhett much about any of that. As far as Rhett knew, Jack had fallen down some icy steps, and that was all he was going to ever know about the incident.

Jack replayed his brother’s apology in his head and somehow it mingled in with Alex’s. Cold fear trickled down Jack’s spine and his gut cramped hard enough to make him worry about the dinner he’d just eaten.

After several minutes of trying to calm himself down, Jack stood and left. He’d wanted to sit and talk with Rhett about finances and try to decide if he should offer to let Rhett buy him out. Jack wasn’t made to be a rancher. He wasn’t made to be a New Yorker, either.

Jack didn’t know what he was supposed to do in life, and at the age of twenty-seven, he kind of thought he should have an inkling.

His cell phone was ringing when he stepped into his bedroom. Without looking, he knew it was Alex calling. “Who else would it be?” he huffed. It wasn’t like he had any friends left.

Rather than check to see how many times Alex had called and how many texts he’d sent, Jack turned the phone off, then stuck it in the nightstand. He eased himself onto the bed, then took a couple of prescription pain meds and washed them down with the rest of the water he’d brought in earlier.

The glass was old and familiar, and he felt a pang of regret as he looked it over after he set it down. Green glass, nothing special about it, yet he remembered so much as he stared.

He could see his mom in the kitchen, fixing a pitcher of tea, talking to him, and listening as he told her about his day at school or the chores he’d had to do around the ranch. She’d always been so kind and understanding, Jack had to believe she’d have been okay with him being gay. He’d spent many afternoons in the kitchen, helping her prepare meals or just basking in her presence. Losing her had almost broken him.

For a few more minutes, he let his mind go back to happy childhood days. His dad wasn’t in nearly as many of those good memories, but Chauncey Tucker hadn’t been a bad man. His dad had been more like Rhett—stoic, focused on the ranch and less on the people around him.

Jack ran one finger around the rim of the glass. He was surprised, really, that there were any of the old things left.

The sound of gunshot startled him so badly he jerked and nearly sent the glass flying.

“Shit!” He winced as he pushed it back, then stood as quickly as he could manage.

Another shot rang out, then a third, and fear quickly overtook every other sensation he’d felt until then.

Rhett had always been an ace shot. If he’d had to use three bullets, then there was something bad outside—a bear or a whole pack of wolves.

Jack didn’t like guns, but he went and got one from the gun cabinet anyway. He loaded it as he walked to the front door, and hoped like hell Rhett wasn’t hurt.

As soon as he stepped outside, the fine hairs at his nape seemed to stand up and vibrate, like some kind of primitive survival instinct warning alert system. Jack froze, his back to the door as his heart slammed hard against his ribs.

Another shot sounded, and it jolted Jack into action. “Rhett! Rhett!” He rushed down the steps and toward the direction the shots had come from. “Rhett! Are you okay?”

When Rhett didn’t immediately answer, Jack ran, careless with the gun, aware of that but unable to make himself do anything other than find his brother as soon as possible.

“Rhett!” He stumbled over something on the ground and almost fell before he managed to flail enough to keep himself upright.

Pain tore down his injured side, but he ignored it as he called out for his brother yet again. He cursed himself for not thinking to grab a flashlight. The sky was overcast and there was no moonlight to assist him in his search, and once he was past the barns there was no light coming from the house or other structures, either.

Jack realized that the cattle in the closest field were making enough noise to drown out his voice or Rhett’s, making it impossible for them to hear each other.

The sounds of the gunshots must have scared the cattle. Jack worried about a stampede, but he’d never seen any of the critters take out a fence, so he dismissed the idea.

“Rhett!” His throat burned as he hollered again.

Lightning streaked across the sky, blinding Jack for a moment, then thunder followed and he couldn’t contain his startled yelp as his ears rang from the sound.

Or his shriek when six pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared between him and the fence line.

“Shit!” Jack skidded to a halt and hoped he could steady his hands, and force himself to do what he had to do.

 

Buy the book:

Destined Prey available Monday 14th December:  Rainbow Ninja Press

Destined Prey available Friday 18th December:  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Smashwords

 

Meet the Author

A few things about me…

I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.

And it’s really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I’ll just let y’all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there’s something specific you’d like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio.

Where to find the author:

 

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Tour Dates & Stops:

14-Dec: Decadent Delights, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, BFD Book Blog, Hearts on Fire, Mikky’s World of Books, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Unquietly Me

15-Dec

Open Skye Book Reviews, Nephy Hart, MM Good Book Reviews, I Read Selfies, Havan Fellows

16-Dec

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Carly’s Book Reviews, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Love Bytes, Divine Magazine, Wake Up Your Wild Side, A.M. Leibowitz

17-Dec

Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Happily Ever Chapter, 3 Chicks After Dark, QUEERcentric Books, My Fiction Nook, The Hat Party

18-Dec: Jessie G. Books, Bayou Book Junkie, The Novel Approach, Inked Rainbow Reads, Kimi-Chan, Molly Lolly, Book Lovers 4Ever

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Destined Prey’ by Bailey Bradford.  Must be 18  years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Coffee Sip and Book Break with DC Juris’ ‘137 Owens Street’ (excerpt and contest)

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137 Owens Street by DC Juris
Release Date: December 16, 2015

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Blurb

Matthew is going insane. How else can he explain remembering things he doesn’t own or trips his wife never took? Not to mention the visions, and the phantom in the café. But when the man in the visions reaches out to him with an explanation, and the phantom from the café tracks him down, things start to make a little more sense.

Morgan is a devout Christian. He believes in God, Heaven, Hell, and the Bible. But his world spins out of control when his husband Matthew disappears and a mysterious man tells a tale outside the realm of reality. How can Morgan put his faith in something so far-fetched? And what will happen to Matthew if he doesn’t?

Previously published by Breathless Press.

 

Pages or Words: 16,400 words
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Religious Theme, Sweet Romance

Excerpt

A burst of white light surrounded him, and he held his hand up against the glare reflecting from his car. His red car. Not the black one he’d gotten into this morning. He’d known something was off when he’d cranked it up, but hadn’t been able to place what. Now he knew—the color wasn’t right. He took a step toward the car, and a pair of arms encircled his waist from behind.

“Come back to me!” a soft, deep voice pleaded against his ear.

Matthew turned as quickly as he could, but the light and the man had vanished. He closed his eyes and leaned back against his once-again-black car, his heart hammering, his throat thick with emotions he didn’t understand. He’d recognized that voice the moment he’d heard it, yet now he couldn’t place it. Now his mind relegated it to the hazy depths of forgotten things, like half-remembered tunes that went like da-da-da-da-da-something…la-la…and nebulous gray snatches of faces from childhood. But in that moment, he’d known, and he’d thrilled in it. The voice had evoked a response from him so intense and swift, like suddenly finding something he’d been missing for years in some random place he’d looked a million times.

He wondered what the speaker had meant. Come back to me. He looked around quickly, cleared his throat, and straightened his clothes. Thankfully, no one else had seen…whatever had just happened. He took a deep breath and headed back into the office. So he was having visions of a different color car and hearing a mysterious voice. That didn’t make him crazy. At least, not if he kept it all to himself.

He went back into the building, to his office, and stopped in the doorway. Where was his Chinese dragon? He distinctly remembered buying a print of a colorful Chinese dragon and hanging it right there on the opposite wall. Right where anyone could see it from the hallway. Or…had he? Matthew walked over to the wall. No picture hanger. No hole. Had he dreamed the piece of art too?

Buy the book:  Torquere Books

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Meet the Author

Romance author, sci-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we’re talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake making, football watching, rubber duck collecting, drag show loving, full of fabulous with a Capital F kinda gal. She’s also an Ordained Minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate NY with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair

watching “Star Trek” and “Supernatural” repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er…research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink::

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Full Moon Dreaming, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Bayou Book Junkie, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Happily Ever Chapter, Sassygirl Books, Jessie G. Books, Nephy Hart, Velvet Panic, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, The Hat Party, Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Kirsty Loves Books, MM Good Book Reviews

 

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘137 Owens Street’ by DC Juris.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

 

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WillPride

A Werewolf Sort of Christmas and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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So, how many of you heard the news that for the first time since 1977 there will be a full moon on Christmas Day, coming to peak at 6:11am Christmas morning. This means, of course, that Santa, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas or whatever name you think of him by will have a full moon to deliver presents on Christmas Eve when the moon is starting to wax.

Of course, I thought of werewolves.  A werewolf type of Christmas.Wolf Howling at the mooon clipart

Christmas werewolves or shifters of any other  nature but mostly werewolves.  I swear it must be all those M/M books I read because I had thoughts of weres in red hats howling in delight running under a full moon, with a sleigh full of toys pulled by reindeer flying above.

Tell me I’m not alone.

Kendall McKenna’s werewolf Marines, Poppy Dennison’s shifters, J.L. Langley, Cardeno C,  so many just jumped to mind. I’m sure Paul, Stella, and the rest could give me a list a mile long.  What or whose werewolves jumped into your head when I said wolf shifters?  Do you have  favorites?   Or are you thinking was the color of the wine? White or red? Hmmmm.

It will be 2034 before the next full moon falls again on Christmas.  What do we call this December full moon?  In the Northern Hemisphere, where I live its called the Cold Moon, the Moon Before Yule, or Long Night Moon.  All of which are fairly self explanatory. But as a shout out to all our friends down under, and for a look at our differences in seasons, here is a list of the names for the full moon in the  Southern Hemisphere: Strawberry Moon, Honey Moon, Rose Moon.  I guess if you are from Florida or California that isn’t so strange.

So just in time for a werewolf Christmas, have you read J.L Langley’s With and Without Series , Cardeno C’s Mates Series, Kendall McKenna’s The Tameness of the Wolf series ,  just for starters.  Which ones would you recommend?

snowflake

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 13:

  • A Werewolf Sort of Christmas and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Somewhere to Be by Amy Yip

Monday, December  14:

  • A Nutty Christmas Anthology: Maddy Christmas’ by Harper Jewel, S.A. Garcia, Meg Bawden, Chris McHart (excerpt/contest)
  • In the Contemporary Spotlight: Parker Wiliams ‘Haven’s Creed’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Jaye McKenna a Guardians of the Pattern Bundle  Release(giveaway)
  • A Stella Advent Story Review: Hearth and Home by E.T. Malinowski
  • A Sammy Review: Unbound, Unbroken by Nasia Maksima (In His Arena #2)
  • A Stella Review: Midwinter Night’s Dream by Eli Easton

Tuesday, December 15:

  • In the Spotlight: G.A. Hauser ‘Along Comes a Man‘ book blast and giveaway
  • Rob Rosen ‘The Love Triangle Gone Wrong‘ book blast and giveaway
  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with DC Juris’ ‘137 Owens Street’ book blast and contest
  • N.R. Walker’s Red Dirt Heart Couple is Back with ‘Red Dirt Christmas’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review: Red Dirt Christmas by NR Walker
  • A Stella Review:  How to Walk Like A Man by Eli Easton
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Mission Mistletoe By Jessica Payseur

Wednesday, December 16:

  • In the Book Spotlight: Brina Brady ‘For Me’ book blast and giveaway
  • Bailey Bradford ‘Destined Prey charity tour and contest
  • Jimmy’s Erotic Adventure In Time And Space Continuum (Episode 1) (giveaway)
  • A BJ Review: Something Like a Love Song by Becca Burton
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Kismet by Cassie Decker

Thursday, December 17:

  • Dean Pace-Frech ‘Need Your Love’ book blast and giveaway
  • Coffee Sip and Book Break: Broken Record by Lilah Suzanne
  • Its a Return to Bluewater Bay with Stuck Landing (Bluewater Bay #11)
    by Lauren Gallagher (tour and contest)
  • A Stella Advent Story Review: Hapless by Therese Woodson
  • A Paul B Review: Kenai (Watchers #1) by Caitlin Ricci and A.J. Marcus

Friday, December 18:

  • Christmas Woe To Odes of Joy? Find out with Champagne Kisses by Lynda Aicher (tour and contest)
  • Karen Stivali ‘Moment of Silence’ release day book tour and contest
  • Audiobook Spotlight:Angel Martinez Audible Release: ‘Hell For The Company’  (excerpt and contest)
  • A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Hell for the Company by Angel Martinez, Narrator Vance Bastian 
  • A Stella Advent Story Review: Best Laid Trap by Rob Rosen
  • A F.D. Review: Kaminishi by Jan Suzukawa

Saturday, December 19:

  • A Mika Advent Story: Old Acquaintance by Avon Gale3 snowflakes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BJ Review: SPECTR: The Complete First Series (#1-6) by Jordan L. Hawk, 
Audio narration by Brad Langer

Rating:  5 stars out of 5      ★★★★★audiobook clipart bw

Audiobook cover of SPECTRSPECTR: The Complete First Series contains:
Hunter of Demon
Master of Ghouls
Reaper of Souls
Eater of Lives
Destroyer of Worlds
Summoner of Storms

What happens when an exorcist falls in love with the demon he’s supposed to destroy?

Unregistered paranormal Caleb Jansen only wants a normal life. But when the demon-hunting spirit Gray accidentally possesses him, Caleb finds himself in a countdown for his very existence.

Hotshot federal agent John Starkweather thinks he’s seen it all. But when he’s called to exorcise Caleb, he finds a creature that isn’t supposed to exist outside of stories. For Gray is a drakul: a vampire who drinks the blood of the demon-possessed.

If Gray can’t be exorcised within 40 days, the possession will become permanent. In the meantime, the three must find a way to work together. As they hunt down demons and save the innocent, the heat between John and Caleb explodes into passion. But when divided loyalties threaten his last chance at exorcism, Caleb discovers love may come at a price higher than he’d ever imagined.

I did a combination of listening to the audio and reading with this series, depending on what I was doing so this is not strictly an audio review. The narrator had a voice that was easy to listen to, and he did a nice job with the series. If you decide to purchase the full set audio from Audible, you may see a review there that indicates the audio is not unabridged. Rest assured, it is. There was a bit of a snafu when first released where a few sections were left out, that was corrected. Please don’t let that review stand in your way of purchasing the full audio as it is an enjoyable listen! The story takes place in the south, and there isn’t really a noticeable southern accent used (I’m Southern born/raised, albeit I not longer live there). However, that didn’t actually bother me. I’d much rather have that than listen to incorrect or overuse of particular southernisms as I’ve heard in some other books recently. So overall, a lovely series whether you read it or listen to it. Highly recommend. Now on to the individual stories, which all fit together wonderfully as a whole and should definitely be read in order!

Hunter of Demons – 4.5 stars

Right from book one, which I picked up free and read before getting into the series as a while, I could see that this paranormal is imaginative and different. The world building is solid and the two human characters captured my interest right away but adding Gray, the drakul, into the equation really upped the ante. I’m not usually all that hot on ménage, but this one is an exception. I adored the concept of this unusual threesome! Caleb and Gray’s internal dialogue was perfect. There are trust issues all around from the start. Between Caleb and John, since as an unregistered “mal” Caleb has always been leery of the government and isn’t pleased to find himself attracted to a federal agent. Between Caleb and Gray, because he blames him for his brother’s death. And of course John’s duty is to destroy Gray. Could there be any more tension among these three?! This was well-paced story and a quick read for me. The first is still free, I think. Read it and if you’re anything like me, you’ll quickly be chomping at the bit for the series as a whole.

Master of Ghouls – 4.5 stars

This one takes place just a few days after the end of book one. It starts off with a bang… oh, no, that’s a blow actually. In this second book, the mystery revolves around someone who is summoning demons and forcing them to possess folks snatched from the streets. We get plenty of heat, and we get to know the characters more. Gray and Caleb begin the first tentative steps towards understanding, but there is still a ways to go, while John and Caleb’s relationship deepens.   

Reaper of Souls – 5 stars

When an incubus murders an ally of a senator who’s very much anti-paranormal, John and Caleb are on the case. The mystery and action in this one was fast-paced, but it was something else entirely that made this my first five star of the series. This is the one where Gray truly became more of a character in his own right for me, where we come to see that his voyeurism of Caleb and John’s relationship is more than that. This one made me, someone who’s not big into threesomes, begin to long for that third party’s active participation. That little hint of it was like a combustion!

Eater of Lives – 4.75 stars

This one takes the prize for gruesome, icky, creepy bad guy. Cannibalism! The guys are on the case, Caleb’s forty days are running out, and John’s ex shows up to make the tension even higher. Emotions are really starting to run high in all three. I don’t want to give too much of the story away, so suffice it to say that the ending was very abrupt, yep a cliffhanger. Not a problem if you have the whole series, like I did, but I’m sure I would have been frothing at the mouth if I hadn’t had the next part in queue. The possession aspect of this series and the way John meshes well with both Caleb and Gray is just fascinating to watch unfold.

Destroyer of Worlds – 5 stars

And now we come to my most favorite book of the series. Now I know that even if I been one of those who had to wait a month for this next excerpt, it would have been well worth it. Fast-paced, plenty of tension, blazing heat, excellent characterizations, and twists galore. A betrayal that comes out of left field and turns everything on it’s head. But in this one we begin to get answers and the triad I’d been long for blooms. A heavenly delicious delicacy with a demon on top. Yum!

Summoner of Storms – 5 stars

John is finally forced to take off the rose-tinted glasses and face the knowledge that things he thought he knew and could trust in are smoke. Outstanding action and battle scenes with serious baddie ass kicking, lovely sexy, emotional, hot times, and a satisfying ending. Nonetheless, it left me wanting more of these three. And I am so glad that the author heard her fan’s please for more. Book one of SPECTR 2 is already available. Yay.

This series is awesome, highly recommended. If you don’t believe me already, pick up book one for free (Amazon, Kobo, B&N) and give it a read today.

COVER Art by Jordan L. Hawk: The covers which vary from Caleb, John and Gray are just STUNNING.

Sales Links:  Amazon Kindle |  Audible | Buy It Here | Goodreads Other Links


Book Details:  

798 pages

Audiobook
Published by Widdershins Press LLC (first published November 30th 2014)
edition languageEnglish
seriesSPECTR #1-6

Its Release Day for Maelstrom, A Whyborne & Griffin Tale From Jordan L. Hawk! Join us & Read an Exclusive Excerpt from Maelstrom

Maelstrom cover

Maelstrom (Whyborne & Griffin #7)
by Jordan L. Hawk
Cover Art by Jordan L. Hawk

Available December 11. Order it now at:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | ARe |Smashwords| Kobo | Nook | iBooks

 

About Maelstrom

Between his father’s sudden—and rather suspicious—generosity, and his own rash promise to help Christine plan her wedding, Percival Endicott Whyborne has quite enough to worry about. But when the donation of a mysterious codex to the Ladysmith Museum draws the attention of a murderous cult, Whyborne finds himself in a race against time to unlock its secrets first.

Griffin has a case of his own: the disappearance of an historic map, which quickly escalates to murder. Someone is sacrificing men in dark rituals—and all the clues lead back to the museum.

With their friends Christine and Iskander, Whyborne and Griffin must discover the cult’s true goal before it’s too late. For dark forces are afoot at the very heart of the museum, and they want more than Whyborne’s codex.

They want his life.

 

Exclusive Excerpt

I awoke to a sharp rapping on our door.

The bedroom was dark, without even the light of the moon to seep in through the window. A soft breeze stirred the curtains, bringing with it Widdershins’s distinctly fishy scent. We’d thrown back the coverlets, and I felt Whyborne stiffen beside me, his naked skin lightly filmed with sweat where our bodies touched.

“That isn’t Christine’s knock,” he whispered.

My mind sorted through possibilities as I sat up. A potential client in dire need? A neighbor in some sort of distress?

The knock came again, this time much more heavily. “Mr. Flaherty!” a voice called from the front yard. “It’s Detective Tilton. Open the door.”

Whyborne let out a soft gasp, and my heart started into my ribs in fear. Wild images chased themselves through my mind—the police bursting in, finding Whyborne and I in bed together. Hauling us off to jail. Standing beside him in a docket, both of us facing ruin at best, hard time in jail at worst.

“Go,” I said, switching on the light and reaching for my nightshirt.

He didn’t have to ask, sliding out of the room and into the darkened corridor. A moment later, the light in what was ostensibly his bedroom came on. He’d remember to muss the bed sheets, I told myself, even as I snatched up the pillow his head had rested on and arranged it behind mine, as if I’d used it as a prop. Damn, I should have given it to him, to exchange for the one in his bedroom, the dampness of sweat a guarantee he’d indeed slept on it.

It was too late now. I tied my dressing gown about my waist as I left my room and paused in the study. A photo taken by Iskander showed Whyborne and I on the couch together, and I tossed it hastily into a drawer for concealment, before making my way down the stairs.

Had my theft of the crime scene photograph provoked Tilton too far? Or, as with the investigation that had ended with me in his jail years ago, had my prying angered the wrong people?

“I’ve got the door, Whyborne!” I called once I reached the hallway, loud enough for Tilton to hear. Just a landlord assuring his friend and lodger that the situation was under control, and there was no reason to bestir himself from his entirely separate bed.

Tilton stood on the stoop, dark rings around his eyes. From the stubble on his face, I guessed he’d been roused from bed himself not long ago, and in too much haste to shave. I gave him a look of concern. “Detective Tilton, is everything all right? You don’t seem well.”

He shook his head, and for a moment seemed to be at a loss for words. “I’d say everything is far from all right, Mr. Flaherty. I’ve come about your client. Dewey Lambert.”

The tight knot of fear loosened in my gut. He hadn’t come for Whyborne and me after all.

Then his words registered, and a new kind of fear touched me. “Mr. Lambert? Is he all right?”

It was a stupid question; Tilton wouldn’t have been on my doorstep at this hour if nothing was wrong. “I’m afraid Mr. Lambert died tonight in his cell,” Tilton said, a tremor in his voice. “The circumstances surrounding his death were…odd.”

Odd. The same word Lambert had used when he came to me in the first place. And now the poor bastard was dead.

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: December 11th 2015 by Jordan L. Hawk
ISBN13 9781941230169
edition language English

 Would You Like Some Whyborne & Griffin Paper Dolls?

Here is the link to some fabulous Whyborne & Griffin paperdolls on Jordan L. Hawk’s website. Also wallpaper, so many great extras for all you Whyborne & Griffin fans!  Here is a sample:
Dolls-Promo-Image

                                                            About the Author

Jordan L. Hawk pic

Jordan L. Hawk grew up in the wilds of North Carolina, where she was raised on stories of haints and mountain magic by her bootlegging granny and single mother. After using a silver knife in the light of a full moon to summon her true love, she turned her talents to spinning tales. She weaves together couples who need to fall in love, then throws in some evil sorcerers and undead just to make sure they want it bad enough. In Jordan’s world, love might conquer all, but it just as easily could end up in the grave.

Jordan L. Hawk
Men, Monsters, and Mayhem!
Best-selling author of the Whyborne & Griffin series.

 

A Paul B Review: Believing In The Traitor (A Paranormal’s Love #14) by Charlie Richards

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Believing in the TraitorWalter Blackhorse has spent the past three months in a coma.  Waking up, he finds himself not in a hospital, but a well-apportioned room in a mansion.  As he regains awareness coming out of his coma, he remembers being shot by his now former boss as he was protecting beings that were other than human.  Having spent the past few years working for the man who Walter now realizes was holding these beings captive; Walter wonders what will happen to him next.  Whatever happens, he hopes that the sexy beast he finds out is a gargoyle is somehow included in these plans.

Treatise has been the gargoyle clutch tracker for some time.  He is asked the by the clutch second Tobias to help the man who has just awaked from his coma company.  Thinking this was just a babysitting job and a demotion, Tobias assures Treatise that he is there both to help the man’s recovery and to ascertain any information he may have on paranormals and what his boss might have been up to.  When Treatise walks into the room that holds Walter, he is overwhelmed with the man’s scent and realizes that Walter is his mate.  Treatise hopes the man is innocent, as the clutch leadership seems to think he is.

As things progress between Walter and Treatise, Walter still has feelings that he is not fully accepted into the clutch.  Having worked for the men who were holding shifters captive gives Walter some feelings that he might never be fully accepted.  This bears out when Walter leaves the mansion with the two friends he has made, who happen to be mates of the clutch leadership.  Both gargoyles confront Treatise asking why his mate had kidnapped their mates.  The three try to figure out where their men have gone and why.

This fourteenth book in the Paranormal’s Love series is another solid read.  The main issue is a matter of trust.  Walter feels that others in the clutch do not exactly trust him since he unknowingly worked against the paranormal world.  This is proven when a couple of mates disappear with Walter with no known explanation.  However, it turns out that the situation arose from both a comedy of errors and presuppositions that could have avoided the ensuing mess.

The cover art by Carmen Waters shows a shirtless Walter in a field.  It is a decent cover for the book and fits the motif for the series.

Sales Links:  eXtasy Books |  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details

ebook, 107 pages
Published December 1st 2015 by Extasy Books
ISBN139781487405564
edition languageEnglish
seriesA Paranormal’s Love #14

A Stella Review: Prickly By Nature (Portland Pack Chronicles #2) by Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade

RATING 4 stars out of 5

Prickly by Nature 2In the four months since hedgehog shifter Avery Babineaux started investigating the disappearance of a young female werewolf from the Portland Pack, he’s discovered his life’s passion. Now he’s apprenticing under established PI Corbin Reid. Avery hopes his training with Reid will help him finally bring Lacey home, but detective work isn’t without its perils, and the potential dangers strain his relationship with his new mate, Dylan.

Dylan Green would be perfectly content with his mating and his motorcycle shop if it wasn’t for his constant worry about Avery’s safety and the fact that Avery’s never home. Proud as he might be of Avery’s determination to prove his worth and fulfill his promise to Lacey’s father, Dylan can’t stand the thought of Avery being hurt. Yet what right does he have to demand Avery give up his job when it’s clear Avery’s found his true purpose? Still, Dylan wishes he could, and the appearance of a new police detective who sets his sights on Avery only adds to the tension.

Something has to give, but stubbornness runs in both their veins, and it might take a catastrophe for them to find a compromise they can live with.

Pickly by Nature is the second book in the Portland Pack Chronicles series by Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade. As I already mentioned in the review of the first book, Prickly Business,  I love that this series is not the typical Piper’s work.  I’m not very familiar with Kenzie writing yet, but I don’t miss a story by Piper and the mystery is a new theme and so welcomed.

We meet Dylan and Avery again months after the ending of Prickly Business, that left a lot unexplored. Avery is more frustrated than ever in his researches about the human trafficing people who took away the young Lacey. He has joined a PI, Reid, to learn the job and get his investigator’s license. His relationship with Dylan is solid because they are mates but these struggles are hard to take to both for them and it’s pulling down their life together.

I couldn’t have enough of the MCs, I laugh a lot at Dylan protectiveness, almost scary but considering the mating bond it can be overcome. Avery is the same adorable guy, loyal and strong in his researches, he is frustrated because he’s pretty much going nowhere.

What I particularly like in this series is the great cast of characters, the books are not focused only on our MC’s couple but there are a lot of friends and family around them,  interesting and with great personalities, for what I saw so far. I like the choice of the kind of shifters with Sven being a reindeer, Reid a hawk and of course Avery himself a hedgehog.

There is a lot of potential for the next coming books. A lot of characters need to have their own stories. The next book will be about Jayden and his mate (I can’t tell you who he is but I can’t wait to read their story).

About the writing, I’m always dubious and curious about co authored stories, but these two girls work amazing together, even knowing which character each of them wrote, it was impossible to see a difference (in the writing style) in the POVs. They were really well done.

As I said I loved this book, but there were a couple of things I want to talk a little. First of all I felt too much angst through all the story and it brought me down and didn’t let me fully enjoy it. Then I don’t like more than two (the MCs’ ones) POVs. I would have preferred to not have a third one, maybe it could have been told in a different way, maybe not. My “issue” was that Prickly Business was a great surprise, probably a little too much to be overcome. This time I already know where this second installment would have gone and that the mystery would have been solved exactly how I was hoping. That’s why I wasn’t able to give Prickly by Nature more than 4 stars, cause it was really good, I’m not saying the contrary, but being a series, and most of all both books have the same couple, it was inevitable that I would make a comparison.

I want to highly recommend the whole series.

The cover art by Reese Dante is  clearly well done and fitting. The only remark I want to make is that I would have preferred something not so similar to the cover of Prickly Business.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 260 pages
Published November 16th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
original titlePrickly By Nature
ISBN 1623801613 (ISBN13: 9781623801618)
edition languageEnglish
series Portland Pack Chronicles #2

settingPortland, Oregon (United States)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Advent Story Review: Elf on the Beach by TJ Nichols

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Sleigh Ride Advent StoryRoone is an elf who is on his one year elf mission during which he gets to decide if he wants to remain human forever, or if he wants to return to the North Pole to work in the “family business.”  It’s two weeks before New Year’s Eve, the last day of his mission, when he finds himself on the beach in Australia, taking surfing lessons from his gorgeous instructor, Kyle.

Roone has the hots for Kyle and is determined to learn how to surf. He’s equally determined to put a smile on Kyle’s face and help him find the magic of Christmas. Raised in foster homes, Kyle has no recollection of Christmas being anything but lonely and sad. He was never given anything he wanted, especially the gift of his mother coming back for him.

But Roone’s happiness and belief in the magic of Christmas is contagious, and Kyle begins to have little glimpses of what might be when Roone reveals he’s an elf.  The untrusting side of Kyle is dominant, however, and that may mean the end of Roone’s chance for a little more happiness before he leaves.  Or is it the end?  Readers will enjoy this tale as we see just how powerful belief can be.

I like the twist the author gave to the elves having their chance for a one year mission before deciding to work at the North Pole.  And I love the way the magic slowly happened in the story, and the ending was surprising and fun.  I also enjoyed the engaging characters and the non-traditional (no snow) setting.  This is a great little stocking stuffer to put a little magic in someone’s heart.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 41 pages
Published December 1st 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634769594
edition languageEnglish
series Sleigh Ride – 2015 Advent Calendar