Tour Here Comes the Son by Dahlia Donovan (excerpt and giveaway)

Here Comes the Son

Dahlia Donovan has a new MM urban fantasy romance book out: “Here Comes the Son.

Special Excerpt:

“And don’t eat my slice. Why are you so distracting?”

“Have you seen me?” Iggy licked the chocolate spread from his fingers, sighing when the move was completely wasted on Lalo, who hadn’t bothered to turn around. “You’re hard on my ego.”

“Good.” Lalo finally glanced over his shoulder with a grin. “Yours has needed deflating since high school. You’ve got Nutella on your cheek.”

“Want to lick it off?” Iggy infused the question with all his charm.

“Are you this unsanitary on all your dates?” Lalo wrinkled his nose and turned back to his camera. “They put napkins in with the pizza.”

Iggy fell backwards with an aggrieved sigh, staring up at the stars in the night sky. “Why do I bother?”

“No idea,” Lalo muttered. “Don’t know why you bother either. You’re less obnoxious when you aren’t using your chili senses to spice up your life.”

They snickered together.

The slightly defensive tone in his voice caught Iggy’s attention. He sometimes forgot Lalo misread teasing for seriousness. Silently kicking himself for not being more careful, Iggy got to his feet and walked toward him as their laughter faded away.

Great job, Iggy; put your foot in it on the first date. You’ve only known Lal for years.

Iggy brought his hands up, giving Lalo plenty of time to retreat, and gripped him by the shoulders. “I bother because you’ve had my attention since high school. Not that you noticed or cared.”

“You were joking.”

Joking?

Oh, right, the misunderstanding a minute ago.

“I was.” Iggy tilted his head to put their lips closer, bending a little to close the two-inch height difference. “I’m not joking about wanting to kiss you.”

“Your face is still sticky.” Lalo’s green eyes glinted with mischief in the glow of the moon and stars overhead. He reached up to grip Iggy by his hair and tugged him into a kiss. “Mouth tastes of Nutella as well.”

Iggy smirked hungrily and sought Lalo’s lips again. He only pulled back when oxygen became an issue; they stared breathlessly at one another. “Ever had sex under the stars?”

“Not—”

“Damn it.” Iggy cut Lalo off when the telltale sensation of a demon on the prowl hit him, the strange, otherworldly rush of energy up his spine causing his hair to stand on end. “Fuck.

“Chili on the loose?”

“Chili on the loose.” Iggy gave him a crooked grin. “Rain check on the date?”

“Rain check?” Lalo scoffed, stepping away to begin packing up his camera. “I’m coming with you.”

 

 

Blurb:

When evil stirs in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, heroes come in both ordinary and extraordinary packages.

Ignatius Faber knows a few things for absolute certain. He’s half-demon, his father is the unequivocal prince of darkness, and demons want to destroy his city. And if he doesn’t make the first move on his crush, they’re never going to be anything more than a teenage fantasy that’s lasted into his thirties.

Lalo Pavia grew up hard and fast, orphaned at a young age. As an autistic, he’s learned to approach life cautiously. He throws his energy into gardening and photography—allowing both to provide a buffer between himself and the rest of the world.

Except for Iggy.

Can they find triumph, life, and even love in the middle of a city in flames?

Their fight for the mile high city has just begun.

Hot Tree Publishing | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | QueeRomance Ink | Goodreads


Giveaway

Dahlia is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour. For a chance to win, enter via Rafflecopter:

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Excerpt

Here Comes the Son

*contains explicit language*

Stowing both the journal and pen into his backpack, Iggy focused on the YouTube video playing on the library computer. The Siren. She was a beautiful, sultry vlogger who’d rapidly gained a cult-like following on her channel. No name, no history, no previous website. She’d sprung up from nowhere and catapulted to viral infamy.

Iggy hadn’t needed a cryptic dream warning him of another demonic invasion in his beloved city or the strange shiver up his spine to immediately put her onto his list.

The whir of the printer behind him drew Iggy away from the video as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. His dark-brown eyes scanned the library slowly. He’d apparentlyrun out of time for research; somewhere in the city,a demon had come out to play.

Time to hunt.

Strapping on his bag, Iggy dragged a hand roughly through his short black hair. He winked at the librarian who grumbled at him when he leaped over a book cart in his path on the way toward the front entrance. She blushed, a response he was used to with his inherited looks and charm.

As one of his best friends from high school used to say, he had wickedly devilish good looks. He told her to stop reading Regencyromances. From his jet-black hair to his deep-brown eyes, he knew his face balanced the angelic with the roguish.

I’d do me.

Blinded by the bright sunshine, Iggy took a moment to adjust after stepping outside. Denver’s Central Library had always been a favoriteof his for research, with its massive collection. Plus, he always thought the building seemed almost like a grouping of castle turrets.

He paused on the corner of Broadway and Thirteenth Avenue. Spring was supposed to have sprung in the Mile High City. Not that the weather had noticed; they’d only just thawed out from winter.

And judging by the crisp air and gathering clouds on the mountains, they’d be inundated with another blizzard before the end of the day.

Jogging down Thirteenth, Iggy skidded to a halt on Lincoln. He tilted his head, trusting his finely honed instincts. Half a block down, he spotted an alley between a parking lot and the Art Institute that was shadowed more than it should’ve been in the bright early afternoon sun.

One step into the gap between the buildings, and he’d plunged into nighttime. The smell of sulfur swirled around him. He slipped his bag around his body, reaching inside for a spray can.

“Ah, Son of the Morning Star. Half-breed. I hoped you’d sense my presence.” Rastran stood at the end of the unnaturally dark alley. He leaned casually against the industrial air conditioner with one foot resting on a body, completely disregarding the dirt now staining his designer suit. Demons always enjoyed life’s luxuries. “Ignatius Faber, we’ve saved you for last. Your father’s brightest light. A beautiful irony. All of his hopes pinned on the one offspring who matched him most in appearance and strength. Pity he can’t see the monster he created.”

With a hardkick, Rastran sent the body rolling along the filthy ground to land barely a foot away from Iggy. Titus.One of his many half-siblings. Iggy hadn’t seen his brother in weeks. They’d all assumed Titus was on a hunt.

They generally kept in close contact, particularly since hundreds of other half-siblings had been culled over the past eight years. Titus and Iggy were the only ones left. Rage erupted deep inside him.

“I’m the monster?” Iggy calmly stepped over Titus, shoving grief and anger viciously down to remain focused. He had a demon to deal with. His fingers wrapped tightly around the canister of compressed holy water in his pocket. It resembled pepper spraybut worked to stun creatures of Hell long enough for him to send them home. “You should’ve stayed away from my city.”

Kicking a piece of brick at the demon, Iggy charged toward him, leaping over a dumpster. He caught Rastran in the chest with a kick, then doused him with the holy water. With the demon stunned, he swiftly dug the lighter from his bag and set fire to the expensive suit.

“Fuck off back to Hell.” Iggy stared intently at the brilliantly red flames rapidly burning the demon into nothing.

Flashy, fiery piece of shit.

Demons, as a species, seemed drawn to anything expensive or shiny. Titus had joked about their being the Kardashian brand of hellspawn. Iggy swallowed down his desire to both laugh and sob uncontrollably.

When the last bits of ash disappeared on a sudden brisk breeze, Iggy twisted toward Titus. With Rastran banished, lighthad returned to the alley. He didn’t have time to process his brother’s death.

His shoulders dropped with the weight of sorrow. A dead man in the middle of the city would draw attention Iggy didn’t need. He had no real explanation for how Titus had died.

Demons tended to kill without leaving a trace of evidence of their presence or method. Of their army of siblings, Titus had been the most dedicated to demon hunting. More than Iggy. Ironic, given fighting came a little too easily to Iggy.

With no way to transport Titus, Iggy gently removed the rosary from his brother’s neck and fled the alley.He left no clues to his presence, making sure to avoid any cameras in the area. Catching a bus on Lincoln allowed him to quickly return to where he’d parked his vehicle earlier.


Author Bio

Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Author Website: https://dahliadonovan.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005993479215

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/dahliadonovan/

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/DahliaDonovan

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dahliadonovanauthor/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8184061.Dahlia_Donovan

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/dahlia-donovan/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dahlia-Donovan/e/B00KFNZFHU?

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Summer Reading and the Perfect Romance Novel. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

Summer Reading and the Perfect Romance Novel.

 

One thing summer reading has always meant is relaxation and escapism.  Not for me books that offered the psychologically twisty horror plots or ambiguous endings.  Those get pushed to fall or winter.  Even some of the hard core action adventure may slide a bit, depending on the plot and characters.    Sometimes, I just want to recline and dive into a great fantasy world or romance that carries me away from everything happening in RL, listen to the ocean waves if I happen to be at the beach, and simply savor summer.

It will be gone all too soon as will the summer state of mind.

For me nothing says summer reading better than a romance story.  Two people finding each other, the journey, the temporary heartbreak, the realization of forever love, and then happily ever after.  The story that makes your heart burst and then puts it back together with puppies and sparkes and tissues and everything warm and glowly The novel with characters that pulls you in and you connect with them, and hold them close, and reread their story….over and over.  A story that sometimes turns into your comfort read.  That romance story.

The Perfect Romance Story.

Summer is the exact time for the Perfect Romance story (not that any time of the year isn’t as well).  I found a Perfect Romance story this summer (thank you, Barb, our Zany Old Lady.). I should say I found it through a review here by Barb. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, although I just finished the audio, narrated by Ramón de Ocampo. This book has me wanting the ebook and even the paperback format.

The only problem?  It’s the author’s only story.

For me, it’s everything I want and need in a romance story.  I’ll go into that next week.

But for now.  Do you all have that perfect romance story?  What is it?  What makes it a perfect story for you?

While we are waiting for those answers next week.

Here are the answers from our Polls.  We  are 50/50 about  series and standalone stories.  We don’t care obviously.  About the type of stories?  Well, contemporary runs slightly ahead of SyFy/Fantasy/Other trilogy with Paranormal running last.

Some of the comments from our readers:

H.B.:

“I can go either way. I don’t mind series but I do tend to gravitate towards standalone stories more (because it’s just faster to get through them and find the next exciting read). I usually like to wait till a series is near completion or completed to even start it because I know if I start one and the next book takes months or years to write I will have to go back to re-read the series and for me going back to read 8-10 books just to prepare to read the newest addition to the series is time consuming and not something I want to do for any series I just thought was okay but didn’t quite blow my socks off.

I do want some warning that a book will be a series before I start and whether or not they could be read loosely as standalones or not. As for series that intersect with other series. I don’t really mind them. I’m usually good about reading stories out of order sometimes and connecting them into a time line that will work but can see how it can’t work for others.”

and

Jenf27

|”I love both series and standalone stories. But, I do want to know if I a book is part of a series. I get that sometimes a standalone story turns into a series later due to reader requests or the author’s muse. And that’s cool, but if it is already a series or already planned to be a series, I want to know. One of my especial pet peeves is when a series is convoluted and you can’t tell the reading order. Such as a series within a series or interconnected series. In those cases, it is helpful when the author publishes a reading order.”

So to both of you go a $10 Amazon gift card.  Please contact Stella at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com with the email address to use for your gift card. And Congratulations.

 

So now think about what is your perfect Romance novel, what makes it so, and send it in.  Let’s make that Summer  List of Perfect Love Stories!  Go!

Now here is our week ahead!  Happy reading and listening!

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 28:

  • Summer Reading and the Perfect Romance Novel.
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

Monday, July 29:

  • BLOG TOUR Rules to Follow by Susan Hawke
  • Review Tour – Trusting The Elements – Elle Keaton
  • Tia Fielding
  • An Alisa Review: Between the Covers Anthology
  • A MelanieM Review:Trusting the Elements (Never Too Late #1) by Elle Keaton
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Mercs and Strippers (Ore 5 #3) by Meraki P. Lyhne

Tuesday, July 30:

  • Review Tour – Alison Temple – Cold Pressed
  • Release Blitz – Tal Bauer
  • Tour Here Comes the Son by Dahlia Donovan
  • PROMO Jess Anastasi
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Shaman of Kupa Piti (Shaman’s Law #1) by A. Nybo
  • A MelanieM Review:Here Comes the Son” by Dahlia Donovan
  • A Stella Release Day Review: A Pocketful of Stardust (Aster) by JP Barnaby & Rowan Speedwell
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Beautiful Disaster (Geek Life#3) by Marguerite Labbe

Wednesday, July 31:

  • Book Blast – The Artist’s Boxer by Este Holland
  • SERIES REVIEW TOUR – Fairground Attractions by L M Somerton
  • PROMO A. Nybo
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review:  Ghost Train by AM Summerton
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Rocking Thin Ice by Z. Allora
  • A MelanieM Audio Review: Burn (Witchbane #1.5) by Morgan Brice, Kale Williams (narrator)
  • A Lily Audio Review:Burn (Witchbane #1.5) by Morgan Brice, Kale Williams (narrator)

Thursday, August 1:

  • RELEASE BLITZ Mason’s Run by Mellanie Rourke
  • J.P. Barnaby/Rowan Speedwell on A Pocketful of Stardust
  • Blog Tour –  – Mad About the Boy
  • A MelanieM Review:Where the Night Reigns by Emilie Lucadamo
  • A MelanieM Review: The Hate You Drink by NR Walker

Friday, August 2:

  • PROMO Wendy Quall’s Rockets and Romance
  • PROMO Marguerite Labbe on A Beautiful Disaster
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: Rockets and Romance by Wendy Qualls
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Intoxicating (Elite Protection Services #1) by Onley James
  • A MelanieM Audio Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and Ramón de Ocampo (Narrator)

Saturday, August 3:

  • A MelanieM Review: Breakaway (Scoring Chances #1) by Avon Gale

 

A Stella Review:How to Run with the Wolves (Howl at the Moon #5) by Eli Easton

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

Zeus loves his job on the new Mad Creek Search & Rescue team, and his inner Saint Bernard is finally being used to his full potential. When he sees a mysterious and wild-looking quickened—a dog shifter—at an earthquake site in Alaska, Zeus is compelled to investigate. Zeus falls hard for the primal beauty of Timo and of Alaska itself. Both call to his deep canine soul. But the Quimmiq pack’s laws are as harsh as the Alaskan winters, and Timo is out of his reach.

Timo’s pack of dog shifters left their Inuit village generations ago and have lived wild ever since. Not trusting the “one-skinned,” and with their numbers dwindling, the Quimmiq are on the verge of extinction. Timo is shocked to discover a whole group of “two-skinned” working as a rescue team, and he is particularly fascinated by Zeus, a gentle giant. He senses what Zeus feels for him… but it’s forbidden.

Can Mad Creek save this lost quickened clan? Perhaps—if they can learn how to run with the wolves.

I was waiting for a new story in the Howl At The Moon series since forever! As soon as  I got How To Run with the Wolf in my hands, I started it and read it quickly. It was a beautiful journey I will surely do it in the future again.

This series is different from the usual shapeshifter stories, cause quickens are something else. Especially with this plot I was very much bewitched with Timo and the Quimmiq, the author outdid herself, this new release is so packed with amazing scenes, characters, feelings, important themes like the climate change. She took me with her in the beautiful world Alaska is. Moreover it’s clear from her words how much she’s a dog lover, it pours from the pages, that’s one more reason why this series and well, everything she writes, is a success. Don’t miss it, all books work great as a standalone too but of course better read them in order. And don’t stop, read them all, cause they are always better and more emotional and addictive.

And then she went and said at the end of the book that she’s writing a spin off of this series set in Alaska about the Quimmiq people and I am over the moon since then.

The cover art by Reese Dante is amazing and fitting like all the others in the series, I can always see the Mcs on them,

SALE LINKS: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal LinkExclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 231 pages

Published July 19th 2019 by Pinkerton Road LLC

ASIN B07VD891ZV

Edition Language English

Series Howl At The Moon #5

Howl At The Moon Series


How To Howl At The Moon (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK
How To Walk Like A Man (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK
How To Wish Upon A Star (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK
How To Save A Life (Book #4) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Don’t Miss Out on the Review Tour for How to Run with the Wolves (Howl at the Moon #5) by Eli Easton (excerpt and giveaway)

ds

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal LinkExclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited
 

Cover Design: Reese Dante


Howl At The Moon Series


How To Howl At The Moon (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK
How To Walk Like A Man (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK
How To Wish Upon A Star (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK
How To Save A Life (Book #4) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

 
Blurb 



Zeus loves his job on the Mad Creek Search & Rescue team, and his inner Saint Bernard is finally being used to his full potential. When he sees a mysterious and wild-looking quickened—a dog shifter—at an earthquake site in Alaska, Zeus is compelled to investigate. Zeus falls hard for the primal beauty of Timo and of Alaska itself. Both call to his deep canine soul. But the Qimmig pack’s laws are as harsh as the Alaskan winters, and Timo is out of his reach.

 
Timo’s pack of dog shifters left their Inuit village generations ago and have lived wild ever since. Not trusting the “one-skinned,” and with their numbers dwindling, the Qimmig are on the verge of extinction. Timo is shocked to discover a whole group of “two-skinned” working as a rescue team, and he is particularly fascinated by Zeus, a gentle giant. He senses what Zeus feels for him… but it’s forbidden.
 
Can Mad Creek save this lost quickened clan? Perhaps—if they can learn how to run with the wolves.
 

 

CHAPTER 12 excerpt


Zeus

The next morning, Zeus woke again at dawn. He looked at the ceiling of the little hut, knowing today was the day. This morning, in fact. Real life called, and it was time for Zeus’s human, adult side to take the reins.

Timo had hopped into bed with him again last night, both of them so tired they’d fallen asleep immediately. He’d rolled away at some point, too hot to puppy pile, and now he lay on his stomach, face turned away.

The bed was so warm and cozy, with Timo’s radiating heat and the cool morning air in the room. And Zeus’s dog was still sore and tired. But all good things must end. With a sigh, Zeus got up. He put on his clothes and went out to take a piss.

When he came back inside, Timo was sitting up, rubbing his face. “It’s early. Let’s sleep some more.”

Zeus shook his head. “Can you drive me back to Yakatuk this morning? I have to get back to my team.”

Timo’s face fell. He blinked a few times, then looked away, gazing at the wall and yawning casually as if he didn’t care. But Zeus didn’t quite believe it.

“Timo?”

“I will come back.” Timo hopped out of bed and moseyed to the door of the hut, rubbing his naked hip as if there was a sore spot there.

Zeus averted his eyes. Eventually.

Dressed, there was nothing else for him to do but wait. So he tossed the blanket back over the bed and sat down on it gingerly. Man, his forearms were crazy sore today! They always got that way when he overdid it on all fours. They weren’t used to being weight-bearing appendages.

From outside, bird tweets filled the air, and sunlight gleamed around the edges of the ill-fitting door. Zeus had a feeling he’d dream about this place—and about Timo—for a very long time to come.

He rubbed his chest. Why did he feel so sad? Ugh. His inner dog would have to be drug away from this place as though on a leash.

Timo came back in. He didn’t look at Zeus but went to his clothes and pulled on a pair of jeans. They fit him so well and he looked particularly good in them with bare feet and bare chest, his long hair brushing his pale yellow skin.

Zeus looked down at his knees, frowning. “Sorry you have to drive me back. I bet we can get some gas in—oof!”

Timo tackled him onto his back on the bed. He tickled Zeus’s stomach, which made Zeus laugh, and then hovered over him, arms straight, elbows locked. He grinned. “Let’s play. Change into your fur. We can run in the woods. There’s a place I want to show you. It’s not far.”

Zeus looked up at Timo’s smile, his stomach doing lazy swoops. Timo’s long hair hung down and brushed the side of Zeus’s face, causing a shivery little flash of electricity.

“Stay one more day? Please?” Timo pouted, his eyes at maximum puppy dog.

Zeus swallowed and dared reach up to rub a long strand of Timo’s hair between his fingers. It was so coarse and strong, yet silky too. He searched Timo’s eyes and found determination there. Maybe even possessiveness. But why? Timo and Yuki both seemed to want Zeus in the pack. Was it just as another male hunter? Did they have too many females? He tried to see more in Timo’s eyes, some sign that he had more than a casual affection for Zeus, but it just wasn’t there.

Zeus sighed. “Timo, I have to go. I’ve got a mother. Father. Friends. A job back home. The Search and Rescue team. I like your camp very much. And you too. But I can’t run away from my life.”

Timo turned his face to the wall as if unable to look at Zeus. He wriggled his nose. “But you love it here. Yesterday—you loved it. This is the best camp. There is game in the valley. And we have shelter here, fire in the winter. And there is another trail that goes to the sea where we can get all the food that swims. We have everything.”

Shit, now Zeus felt guilty, like he was insulting the camp. “It’s a very nice camp. And yesterday was awesome. But my friends will be anxious and worried. They’re probably waiting for me to go home. Please, Timo.”

Without another word, Timo bounded up off the bed and took off out the door.

“Timo!” Zeus called after him, frustrated.

But by the time he got outside and looked around, Timo was gone.

About Eli


Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.


Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.


In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

Read Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 5 star review here.

 

Giveaway

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If You Love Fantasy, Check Out the Blog Tour for Crossing Nuwa: Escape by Sean Ian O’Meidhir and Connal Braginsky (excerpt)

Crossing Nuwa Tour Banner

Crossing Nuwa: Escape

Sean Ian O’Meidhir & Connal Braginsky

MM Urban Fantasy, Paranormal / Rescue, Innocence/Discovery, First Love

Release Date: 07.09.19

Cover Designer – Jay Aheer https://www.simplydefinedart.com

Blurb

For sheltered Robbie, one week of freedom leads to sexual awakening and adventure… but when his world intersects with Theo’s, they’ll need all their wits and Theo’s magic to fight for their future.

Rare male weresnake Robbie has had his whole life decided for him down to his meals. But when the time comes for him to perform an unspeakable duty to his clan, he runs.

San Francisco Pride is in full swing when technomage Theo spots a scared-looking young man with brilliant emerald eyes. He’s only looking for a hookup, but before he knows why, he’s taking Robbie home and introducing him to champagne and enchiladas. He doesn’t have any intention of falling in love.

Robbie doesn’t want to return to his clan, at least not without trying to fit a lifetime of experiences into a week, but every day he stays puts Theo in more danger.

Buy Link: http://bit.ly/CrossingNuwaEscape

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Excerpt

“Reality started to sink back in, and I was standing under the water, trying desperately to have the boiling spray chase away my ruminations from the previous night on the run. I don’t know how long I had been in there when a stir of air tickled across my back, alerting me that I wasn’t alone. I spun around to see him standing there. Naked! He was incredibly tall (which is saying something considering I’m six foot two and felt dwarfed), with his broad shoulders and a thick furry chest, bristly goatee, and the bright curly electric-blue hair that somehow shone in the fluorescents of the bathroom in a way that it hadn’t under the sun. His dark skin tone also shone differently with the indoor lighting, which seemed to illuminate the differences between us with my much paler skin. My eyes drifted down over his soft chubby belly to his manhood, which was sticking straight out at me! The burn of shame flowed over my entire head and shoulders as I almost lost my balance turning my immediate arousal away from him.

“Man, I hope you’re a bottom.” He exhaled as his huge arms encircled me. “I’ve never been wrong before.” His breath, warm against my ear, sent a cascade of goose bumps down my side.

My brain practically short-circuited. I was no longer thinking about Mother and my aunt chasing me. I was no longer worrying about where I was going to go or what I was going to do. The only thing I could focus on was the soft comforting pillow of his belly against my back coupled with the enticing hard pressure that slid against my rear and made my breath catch for reasons I couldn’t begin to process. I had never experienced anything like it in my life and was suddenly bombarded by too many emotions I couldn’t identify, had never experienced. Above all of them was exhilaration as every nerve felt electrified, alive. And then his hands were everywhere. He was holding… soap? The small knobbed bar of hotel soap slid across my chest and flat belly… lower, encircling me with a few gentle strokes that sparked sensations throughout my entire body, then back up over my shoulders, kneading gently but firmly.

L Blue Moon 3 Dreamer's Workshop

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Sean is a shrink who by day spends time in jails and prisons (evaluating criminals) and by night writes romantic fiction. Sean and partner live in San Francisco ruled by their three cats and can often be found trying new restaurants. With the understanding that they live in Heaven, Sean adores spending time sitting near the water with a laptop in hand, gazing at the bay and making daydreams a reality for others to enjoy. To read more about Sean’s adventures, please visit www.dreamersworkshop.com.

Connal Braginsky is a tech nerd that has taken a leap of faith and took a chance on writing. Born to Russian immigrants, he came out as gay at 19, and was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asperger’s Syndrome).

He loves to read, and learn about Technology, Esoteric subjects and considers himself a transhumanist (the Russian Cosmism variety). His other pastimes revolve around philosophy which includes Panpsychism, Process Philosophy, Taoism, Buddhism and Gnosticism. He is also interested in various scientific fields, including Quantum Physics, Quantum Biology, Neurology, Psychology, and Sociology.

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SeanOMeidhir/

Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/439462953480874/?ref=share

Website http://www.dreamersworkshop.com/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19211564.Sean_Ian_O_Meidhir

Twitter https://twitter.com/SeanIanOMeidhir

Newsletter http://www.dreamersworkshop.com/newsletter/

Connal’s Blog: http://dreamersrefuge.com/blog/

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Review Tour and Giveaway for Patron of Mercy (Lords of the Underworld #3) by Sam Burns ➕ W.M Fawkes

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link – Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited


Length: 70,000 words approx.


Cover Design: Natasha Snow


Lords of the Underworld Series


Prince of Death – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link
Prisoner Of Shadows – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link


Blurb


Lach has spent the last few thousand years counting only on himself. What he needed, he took. What he wanted, he won with charm. All except a god he turned his back on an age ago, when he had a different name and didn’t know what he was giving up.


Thanatos, god of merciful death, is one of the gentlest gods in the pantheon—easing the transition between life and death for billions of mortals. But he has faced eternity alone. After breaking his heart on the sharp words of a fisherman’s son, he hasn’t been able to connect with anyone.


Now, Lach is crashing back into Thanatos’s life, dragging him into an adventure that could save the world . . . or kill them both.


PATRON OF MERCY IS THE THIRD BOOK IN A SERIES, BUT CAN BE READ AS A STAND ALONE NOVEL.

Sam Burns wrote her first fantasy epic with her best friend when she was ten. Like almost any epic fiction written by a ten year old, it was awful. She likes to think she’s improved since then, if only because she has better handwriting now.
If she’s not writing, she’s almost certainly either reading or lost down a Wikipedia rabbit hole while pretending to research for a novel.

W.M. Fawkes is an author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and paranormal romance. With coauthor Sam Burns, she writes feisty Greek gods, men, and monsters in the Lords of the Underworld series. She lives with her partner in a house owned by three halloween-hued felines that dabble regularly in shadow walking.


Website: https://www.fawkeswrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fawkeswrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FawkesWrites

 
 

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A Chaos Moondrawn Review : Patron of Mercy (Lords of the Underworld #3) by Sam Burns & W.M Fawkes

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

This is a series where the gods are living amongst humans in modern times. It was described as a standalone, so even though this is the third in the series, I tried it and I didn’t feel like I missed anything. This is the story of a couple who break up when Glaucus pushes Thanatos away, afraid he will be brokenhearted when the god gets bored with him and leaves. Of course, centuries later they are both still heartbroken. When Demeter throws a temper tantrum and stops the crops from growing, Glaucus, now going by the name Lach, asks Thanatos to help him. He needs a Titan, but he really wants to get Thanatos to forgive him. Much of the book is Lach trying to spend as much time with Thanatos as possible in the hope of reconciliation.

There is a glossary in case you don’t know anything about Greek myths. As a Pagan I always hope maybe someone will write the personalities a little more realistically, but it’s always just fun–the gods acting as the author wants them to. Thanatos is hurt that people are afraid of him–he is the god of merciful death and is a bit of a pacifist marshmallow compared to the other gods. Misericordia, Lach’s magic sentient boat, is a good foil even though she can’t speak, but none of the other characters are really three dimensional. The Fidelis Filii cult as the bad guys are pretty ridiculous, but even fools can wreak havoc. Lach is a liar, pirate, and thief with a big heart and is mostly harmless. He is supposed to be the charming rogue persona that plays for laughs, however this doesn’t have the humor of, say, the Brandywine Investigations series by Angel Martinez. Still one of my favorite quotes for this is, “he didn’t get to push happiness away just to sate that broken part of him that felt like he hadn’t earned it—not if it meant hurting the person he loved,” which shows the growth arc of Lach. This is imaginative and has some genuine heartwarming moments. The sexy times are well done, both in terms of heat and moving the relationship forward.

The cover art was created by Natasha Snow Designs. I believe this is Thanatos on the cover. I don’t really understand this background, but it may be when he portals from one place to another. It is striking.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link – Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 272 pages
Published July 18th 2019
ASIN B07V5ZK8JQ
Edition Language English
Series Lords of the Underworld #3

Lords of the Underworld Series


Prince of Death – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link
Prisoner Of Shadows – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Summer Reading: StandAlones, Series and Genre! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Summer Reading: StandAlones, Series and Genre!

 

As the heat continues here and across most of the midwest and eastern coast, it’s a perfect time for reading.  Series or standalones as we started to talk about last week.  Our poll is running almost neck and neck as far as preferences are concerned.  So we are leaving it up another week to see if we can tip the scales.

Me?  Series are a given.  Love having more than one story to dig deep into.  Doesn’t matter if it’s two more, three more or, be still my heart, seven or more stories, to love in a series.  I know how hard that must be for a author to sustain.  But as Yoda would say, love them I do.

Does it matter whether the series is fantasy or science fiction or supernatural or contemporary?  Not a whit!  I love them all.  Bring them forth!!!!!

Although I do wonder if one type of series is easier to sustain than another but that’s a question for authors.   If you are listening, please feel free to chime in.

Summer reading in the past was always a time for the big blockbuster books (along with the big blockbuster movies).  You’d lug the heavy hardback bestsellers to the beach in your carryall, the Michael Crichton’s, the latest Stephen King,  Mario Puzo, Danielle Steele, ….and now it’s Kindles and and more authors than I can happily name.

Back then the genre didn’t matter much.  Swinging from the horror of King to the romance of Nora Roberts to the intrigue of James Patterson to the fantasy of J.K. Rowling, we read it all any time of the year, but especially during the summer.    So it has never seemed to matter what genre we read.

Or does it?

Poll time times 2!

Turns out I’m also listening to my stories too.  Another wonderful way to get through this heatwave when looking outside and watching the weeds grow is your only choice.  Lightening my mood this week was the audio for Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and Ramón de Ocampo (Narrator.  I adored this.  A perfect summer read  or audio in every way!  Funny,, sweet, lighthearted and adorable.  Catch my review on Saturday.

A Participation gold star and $10 Amazon gift card will be handed out next Sunday!

Have a great week and stay cool.  Happy Reading and Listening to all.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

 

 

Sunday, July 21:

  • Summer Reading: StandAlones, Series and Tropes!
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • Blog Tour Guest Post – Heidi Cullinan ‘s Doctor’s Orders

Monday, July 22:

  • Book Blitz – The Positions Of Love Collection – JM Snyder
  • PROMO Michael Vance Gurley + Giveaway
  • Review Tour – Patron of Mercy (Lords of the Underworld #3) by Sam Burns & W.M Fawkes
  • A Lucy Review The Positions Of Love Collection by JM Snyder
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Anhaga by Lisa Henry
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review : Patron of Mercy (Lords of the Underworld #3)  by Sam Burns & W.M Fawkes

Tuesday, July 23:

  • Review Tour -Cold Pressed (Seacroft #2) by Allison Temple
  • BLITZ The Exile Prince by Isabelle Adler
  • BLOG TOUR Breakaway by Charlie Novak
  • A Stella Review : Cold Pressed (Seacroft #2) by Allison Temple
  • An Ashlez Review: Julie the Pianist (Miss Baxter’s Girls Book 1) by Davina Lee
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Four ( Love By Numbers #2) by Tia Fielding
  • A MelanieM Releases Day Review: Absolute Heart (Infernal Instruments of the Dragon #1) by Michael Vance Gurley

Wednesday, July 24:

  • TOUR The Midspring Rebellion by Doreen Heron
  • Review Tour – What Lies Beneath – RJ Scott
  • A MelanieM Review : What Lies Beneath (Lancaster Falls Trilogy #1) by R.J. Scott
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Enough by Matthew J Metzger
  • An Ashlez Review: Anise the Snowboarder (Miss Baxter’s Girls Book 2) by Davina Lee
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Release Day Review:Anhaga by Lisa Henry

Thursday, July 25:

  • Release Blitz  – Trusting The Elements – Elle Keaton
  • RELEASE BLITZ Out of the Office by Louisa Masters
  • RELEASE BLITZ Eminently Elf (D’Vaire, Book 13) by Jessamyn Kingley
  • BLOG TOUR Crossing Nuwa: Escape by Sean Ian O’Meidhir and Connal Braginsky
  • An Alisa Review Out of the Office by Louisa Masters
  • An Alisa Review Pack Strap Carry (Carry Me #9) by Charlie Richards

Friday, July 26:

  • Review Tour – Eli Easton – How To Run With The Wolves
  • Lisa Henry on Writing and Anhaga
  • BLOG TOUR Intoxicating by Onley James
  • A MelanieM Review:  Stand In Place by Mary Calmes
  • A Stella Review:How to Run with the Wolves (Howl at the Moon #5) by Eli Easton
  • An Alisa Review Close to Home (Finding Home #3) by Carly Marie

Saturday, July 27:

  • TOUR Ignite by Drake and Elliott
  • Release Blitz – Jay Northcote – Nothing Ventured
  • A MelanieM Audio Review: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and Ramón de Ocampo (Narrator)

A MelanieM Review: Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Erik Mitchell traveled the world uncovering art fraud and relic theft, which pitted him against spoiled billionaires, unscrupulous collectors, mobsters, and cartels. He worked with law enforcement across the U.S. and Europe, but then a sting goes wrong, Erik ends up injured and returns to find his partner cheating. He decides to stop globetrotting and buy an antique shop in scenic Cape May, NJ, rebuild his life, and nurse his broken heart.

Undercover Newark cop Ben Nolan went down in a hail of bullets when a bust went sideways, after a tip-off from a traitor inside the department. When he recovers, he spends a couple of years as a private investigator, only to tire of seeing the worst of human nature. So when his aunt offers him the chance to take over her rental real estate business in Cape May, it seems too good to be true. Now if he could just believe he could ever be lucky again in love.

Sparks fly when Erik and Ben meet. But when a cursed hotel’s long-ago scandals resurface, the two men are pulled into a web of lies, danger, and deception that will test their bond—and might make them Cape May’s newest ghosts!

Treasure Trail contains sexually explicit material intended for adults 18 and over.

Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice is another terrific paranormal romance with a mystery element from this author who quickly become a musts read based on her other series of the same nature, Badlands and Witchbane, both of which are loosely interconnected by their main couples who solve paranormal/supernatural murder/mysteries, albeit in other towns and states. While each series operates independently of each other, it’s not unusual to see or “hear” characters from the other series being referred to or as is the case here where Simon Kincaide (Badlands), a medium and friend of Erik’s, is part of the story.

For me, a reader already a huge fan of the multiseries universe this author is creating, adding another couple with complex back histories and locating them in a town that carries it own rich  paranormal history and historic legacy to use in future stories?  Awesome! For the new reader who will treat this as a standalone?  No problem because Brice provides enough of the backstory on each character (including secondary people such as Simon and Vic) that you won’t feel as though you are missing out on too much foundation story.

Treasure Trail is located in Cape May, New Jersey, a place, which is you have never had the pleasure of visiting, you should put it on your lists asap.  It’s everything Brice describes here, vividly in the story.  Full of gorgeous Victorian houses, a beach often underutilized, a lighthouse and birding to die for (not literally or course unless its in this story). It’s one of my favorite places to escape to .  And, as Morgan Brice so aptly points out, with its location on shifting sands, it’s a liminal spot, perfect for paranormal activities and ghostly tales.  That it  has many of.

As Brice has done for Myrtle Beach and Pittsburgh, the author folds in Cape May beautifully into her story and couple, using it’s history , atmosphere, and settings effortlessly.  So it allows us to focus on Erik and Ben, their relationship, their problematic back stories, and the mysteries they are working on.

As always, I love the paranormal treatment here. Brice brings in many elements of the paranormal community (as she does in each series), forming an eventual “otherworld family” for Erik and Ben to draw from.  Each one is well defined and intesteresting in their own right.  Erik and Ben?  Oh, my.  What a great couple.  Erik is an unexpected combination of toughness and vulnerability that is truly appealing.  And Ben himself is Erik’s equal so their partnership works on every level, including romantic.  Yes, I believe that they were soulmates.

At the end, the author throws in a twist to this story that made me aware that she writes under another name and yes, there are more connected series than just Badlands and Witchbane.  It has sent me running to her library to get caught up.  Oh my.  So yes, read the author’s note at the end.

Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice is a wonderful story and a great start to a new series.  I absolutely recommend it as well as all the other series Morgan Brice has written that are joined to this one.  Have fun and binge them them all!

Cover art: Lou Harper.  Love this cover, it works for the tone and characters.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 246 pages

Published: June 26, 2019 by Darkwind Press

Edition Language: English

Book Details:

 

A Lucy Review: 9 Willow Street by Nell Iris

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Heartbroken after the death of his beloved Nana, Hannes, the family outsider, finally allows himself to grieve. The legal battle over Nana’s quirky old house — the only place he’s ever felt accepted and loved — is over, and he moves in and finds a sense of peace.

… And a rabbit.

An adorable bunny with a huge personality moves in, too, and refuses to leave. Hannes instantly falls in love with the sweet animal who helps heal his heart. But one morning, Hannes’ view of the world changes when the rabbit transforms into a man. A man named Mattis.

After the initial shock, Hannes and Mattis discover a connection between them that runs deeper than it seems. Will their newfound feelings survive unraveling secrets and meddling families, and grow into something real? Something deep and everlasting?

Poor Hannes.  His very beloved great-grandmother died suddenly (at age 109) and not only did he lose the only family member who supported and really loved him, but he had to fight his relatives for the house she left him.  The will was contested and thirteen months spent bitterly fighting before Hannes was allowed to move into his inheritance.  Which he did with such grief it poured off the pages.  “I couldn’t even cry on the one-year anniversary of her death last month, but here, in her garden, I finally let go.”   Nana and Hannes forever, it was supposed to be.  The rest of the family are as intelligent as Hannes but chose different paths – doctors and surgeons and they look down on Hannes for his career as an herbalist.  A career Nana supported fully. 

He is heartbroken that because the court fight took so long, nothing remains of Nana’s scent in the house.  The sight of her favorite cardigan sends him into tears again.  Then he spies, in the middle of the kitchen, a white and black rabbit.  He, in his grief and loneliness, is so grateful for a warm, soft friend who he can cuddle and confide in.  “You see, little one, my parents are smart and successful, but not particularly warm.”  That is such an understatement, especially Mommy dearest.

Hannes names the rabbit Mio and it becomes his companion.  When people come looking for their brother, he obviously hasn’t seen anyone.  However, when they return to ask about a rabbit…well, Hannes doesn’t know why but he lies.  No rabbit here, nope.  And so the connection between Hannes and Mio (Mattis as a human) becomes even more.

The story is very sweet and pretty angst free.  It is told in first person present tense by Hannes, not my favorite. Also, the mothers of both of them are pretty wretched, though Hannes’ mother wins the worst mom award by far.  “You know how we feel about pets,” Mother says.  Well, this isn’t your house and he’s an adult, so who cares?  I did love Hannes standing up to her. Mattis’ mother is just rude, not a horrible person.

There is explaining to do and I have to say I was glad Hannes didn’t just, ok, a rabbit, cool.  Because that would freak anyone out!  I liked the explanation of the warren, as well, and the reason Mattis left. 

This is a sweet, pretty fluffy tale (see what I did there?) of a boy and his rabbit. 

Cover art, showing Hannes and his man bun, is spot on.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | JMS Books | Universal Link

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 95 pages
Published July 6th 2019 by JMS Books LLC
ASINB07T6L4P9J