A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review The Strength of His Heart (Enhanced #4) by Victoria Sue and narrated by Nick J. Russo

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Those who follow this unique series will be happy to know that big, strong, and sweet Vance Connelly finally got his story. I hope this isn’t the last in the series, but if it is, it’s a darn good one to end on. Vance grew up knowing he wanted to be a cop like his other family members, but when the scar appeared and they suddenly realized he was one of the “enhanced,” his hopes for a bright future took a downturn. That is, until the creation of the FBI Human Enhanced Rescue Organization in Tampa where Vance was hired immediately.

Sam “Angel” Piper joins the squad as Vance’s human partner and is immediately attracted to the powerful man. But Sam’s past as a troubled teen with a junkie mother is always there to hold him back. And when Sam’s past catches up to him just as the team is investigating the disappearance of enhanced children, he pulls further away from Vance. And that mistake nearly costs him his life, as he’s kidnapped and no one knows it. While in the meantime, Vance is arrested according to plan, since he’s gone undercover, but he’s then taken to an undisclosed location and that’s not according to plan. There he discovers why the teens have been taken and the plot loops back around to Sam’s past connections.

The story is intricately detailed, full of action, and full of missteps on Sam’s part and heartache for Vance. Nick J. Russo did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. His narrations fit this type of story well, as he keeps the pace fast and interesting and the voices distinct. Since it’s an audiobook review, I must mention that the story is so fast-paced that if I allowed my mind to drift, I was lost, so I admit I had to do a bit of rewinding to keep up. Moral of the story is pay attention. LOL.

The good news is that at the end, Sam admits his true feelings, and Vance gets the man he cares for. As Sam tells him, it’s not his enhanced muscle strength that makes him so special, it’s the strength of his heart. I highly recommend this entire series—in audio for a real treat.

A good representation of the FBI’s Human Enhanced Rescue Organization, the cover by Jay Aheer features a man wearing a HERO uniform heading into a firefight.

Sales Links:Audible | Amazon

Audio Book Details:  

7 hours and 22 minutes

Audible Audio, Unabridged, 8 pages
Published April 8th 2019 by Dreamspinner Press (first published December 11th 2018)
ASINB07QGFTHYQ
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Enhanced #4

An Alisa Review: Gorgon in 69 Seconds (College of United Monsters #3) by C.B. Archer

Rating:  3.5 stars out of 5

What happens when you enroll in a monster college and finally meet your bitter rival face to face? Riding stuff. Riding stuff happens.

 

The once elite College of United Monsters (C.U.M.) is still having financial troubles. In order to stay afloat, it has been forced to allow humans to register. Humans, in a monster school? Preposterous! Also, monsters are real and that was probably a bigger shock to the world than one school of them allowing humans to enroll.

Nape MacGuffin is a regular, ridiculous human. A student in the suddenly popular Historical Pottery Studies course, Nape finds himself facing off against his class’s biggest rivals: the students of Automobile Theory & Repair, who are convinced the pottery class is out to destroy them. Naturally, they have to get to the pottery students first. But, honestly—with a name like MacGuffin, you know the entire reason he’s in this story is to get kidnapped later on to serve as a plot device. You did know that…right?

It serves him right for having a punny name and attending monster college.

This series has continued to be an entertaining read, even if there are times I get confused about what is going on.  This one had more jumping around than the first two so I had a harder time keeping up.

Nape and Sthenny seem to be rivals but quickly band together when Nape discovers a negative plan for Automobile shop.  I didn’t really see these two as a couple though and felt they were just put together for the story.  I wasn’t able to get into their connection like I could with the first two books.

The cover art is great and I liked the visuals from the story.

Sales Links: Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 57 pages

Published: April 16, 2019 by Deep Desires Press

Edition Language: English

Series: College of United Monsters #3

Love Fantasy and Dragons? Check out the Tour for Eeli (Brotherhood of Ormarr #3) by Steph Marie and Bobbie Rayne (excerpt and giveaway)

COVER - Eeli

Bobbie Rayne & Steph Marie have a new MM paranormal dragon rider book out, book three of the four-part Brotherhood of Ormarr series: Eeli.

Eeli~

I’ve been training my entire life for this; I need to be the best, the best fighter, the best dragon rider in the entire brotherhood. This is what I was born for. The only problem is that my bonded dragon, Bodhi, and I can’t seem to get it together. One minute I think we’re connecting properly, and the next she’s taking off, leading me to the one guy I don’t want to know: Slash. He’s basically the opposite of me in every way, and I don’t get why he’s suddenly everywhere I turn, but I can’t deny how he makes me feel when he looks at me.

Slash~

Three years ago my sister and I had to come to a new town and started new schools without our parents’ unconditional love and support. My uncle’s an uncaring drunk, so I’m doing the best I can to keep us both clothed and fed with only an after school job. If I didn’t have her to live for, the loneliness would be excruciating. Now, with only a few months until graduation, I’ve suddenly made a friend because of my sister, and another guy keeps stumbling into me who I think needs help: Eeli. I don’t understand why no one else sees how oddly he’s behaving, but I can’t deny my attraction for him is growing with every mishap.

Eeli is the third book in The Brotherhood of Ormarr series. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues in the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. Eeli is a m/m NA romance, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CAN | Goodreads

About the Series:

SERIES Brotherhood of Ormarr

Being a dragon rider for the Brotherhood of Ormarr is filled with adventure, but danger can lurk behind every corner with the Order of Amsel set out to destroy the riders. Azaran, Zale, Eeli, and Malachite have spent their whole lives training, but will it be enough?

The brothers lost their parents years ago to assassins, but they’ve never been able to figure out who was behind the attack. Follow the journey of these dragon riders, along with their faithful dragons, as they find their mates and discover clues that will lead to the final epic showdown.

The Brotherhood of Ormarr series consists of four books, each with its own HEA. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues into the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. This is a m/m romance series, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.

Other Books in the Series:Azaran (book one) | Zale (book two) | Malachite (book four – releases June 10th)


Giveaway

Bobbie & Steph are giving away a $20 Amazon gift card with this tour. Enter via Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveawayhttps://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d4769/?


Excerpt

MEME1 - Eeli

Before I could say anything else, Bodhi released herself from my skin and scampered down my arm, then took off like a shot down the hallway. There was no way I could’ve caught her.

“Bo!” What the heck was she doing? We were in a public building for crying out loud! “Bodhi, stop!”

She ran around a corner, and I heard a scream. Crap. She wasn’t even hiding herself from humans. Now I was going to have to erase some poor human’s memory of her. Bodhi, stay where you are.

Mine.

I rolled my eyes. Did she seriously take off like that for a candy wrapper? It’s trash, Bo, why are you so obsessed with trash?

Not trash; pretties!

Turning the corner, I took in the scene before me. Bodhi was in front of me looking ready to pounce and doing that little butt wiggle thing she did every time she saw a candy wrapper. And a guy had his back against the lockers with his hands in the air like he was being arrested or something. My eyes widened when I realized who it was. Slash.Because of course it was. He was the only other person here as far as I knew. Fantastic.

“Of course, it’d be you,” I muttered with an eye roll.

“Wh-what is that thing?” he asked without taking his eyes off the small dragon.

“That’s Bodhi, she’s my—” I was cut off when Bo suddenly launched herself at him and he screamed and covered his face with his arms. Unfortunately for him, she grabbed onto his forearm with her clawed feet, then flipped herself upside down, hanging off his arm and hugging Slash’s waist with her wings. Her overly playful nature wasn’t coming in handy right now. “—she’s my dragon,” I finished with a sigh.

Slash was screaming and waving his arms, trying to push her off with no luck.

“Slash, just give her your candy.”

He paused his crazy flailing. “Wh-what?”

“Your candy. She wants it. If you hand it over, she’ll leave you alone and you can forget all about this.” When I erase your memory, I added to myself. Maybe I could erase his memory of every crap thing he’d seen me do the past few weeks, too.

Without looking at me, he was trying to peel her off his waist. “I don’t have any candy.”

“Do you have a wrapper?”

“What? No!”

“Are you sure?”

He yelled, “I don’t have any candy!”

“Okay, okay, sheesh.” My brow furrowed. “Bodhi?”

She twisted her neck to look at me, then flipped around to wrap her wings around Slash as she said, Mine.

What’s yours? He doesn’t have any candy.

She looked at me again, then nudged a terrified Slash’s cheek and said, Ours.

It took me a second, but my eyes widened as her meaning finally hit me, and I looked at Slash as he begged, “Please get it off me.”

“Slash?” I whispered to Bodhi. “No. Nope. No. No way. No.”

Ours.

“Eeli! Please help me! Call the police or animal control or something!”

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out as Slash finally looked at me. As soon as our eyes connected, I felt it. That strange pull I’d felt every time I’d been around him lately and chalked it off as some kind of weird fascination with a mix of lust. But that wasn’t all it was. I should’ve known it was more than that, but… but it was Slash.

Swallowing thickly, I exchanged a look with Bo, then whispered to Slash, “She’s not going to hurt you.”

He looked like he was so terrified, he might cry. “How do you know that?”

“She’s my bonded dragon. She’s… just happy to see you.”

“Dr-dragon?” He glanced down at her as she snuggled into his neck, then he whispered, “Dragons aren’t real.”

“Clearly,” I said sarcastically as I finally peeled Bodhi off him.

Slash stayed against the lockers, but moved away a few steps without taking his eyes off her. It was a struggle to keep Bodhi from going after him again.

“Um… so… I’m going to need you to come with us.”

Slash finally looked at me again, and I instantly felt the pull even though he looked angry and ready to murder me with his eyes alone. “Are you kidding me? No way in hell am I going anywhere with you or thatthing in your arms.”

Bo sunk into me, and I knew he’d hurt her feelings, so I hugged her to my chest. “Don’t say stuff like that about her. Say whatever you want about me, Slash, but don’t you dare bully Bodhi.”

His eyebrows went up, but all he muttered was, “Whatever. I’m just going to go.” He went to scoop up his backpack from the ground where it’d fallen, but I quickly stepped on the strap so he couldn’t take it.

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Oh yeah, Eeli? What’re you gonna do about it?”

Bo jumped from my arms and began pecking at his feet, making him move closer to me as he jumped around and tried to get away. When she had him up against the lockers in front of me again, I pulled out my cell to call Zale.

“Hey.”

“Hey, uh… we have a problem.”

“What’s going on? Where are you?”

“I’m still at school, but uh… can you meet me here? I need your help.” Before he could reply I added, “And bring some rope.”

“Eeli, what’s going on? Are you hurt?” Zale asked at the same time that Slash’s eyes widened as he said, “Rope?”

I didn’t take my eyes off him as I asked my brother, “Is your mate with you?”

“Of course.”

“Bring him, too.”

“Why do you need Davis?”

My blue eyes connected with Slash’s hazel ones, and I said, “Because he has experience with kidnapping people.”


Author Bios

Bobbie Rayne grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and still lives there today. She’s married to her very patient husband, and they have two amazing sons together, as well as two crazy dogs. She spends her time writing, driving her kids all over town, and helping run the PTA.

Her children are one of the reasons she loves YA so much, and one reason why she thinks it’s important to bring LGBTQ+ main characters into fiction. Writing YA has always been a dream of hers, and she truly believes that writing it is good for her soul. Her family means the world to her, but coffee might be high up on that list, too, so if you bring her some, you just might end up with a new best friend.

Author Website: https://notarobooks.com/

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/bobbie.rayne.9

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

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

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18522828.Bobbie_Rayne

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/bobbierayne

Steph Marie is a proud mom of two teenage daughters and her pup. She’s always had a love for words and what they can do, their ability to create and transform life. She’s shared her words and stories with people in her immediate life, but never considered writing and publishing Young Adult until her oldest daughter said she wished all teens had the ability to sit around her kitchen table and talk. That night a series was born, and characters haven’t stopped popping up in her head wanting their story told yet. Her favorite things in life outside of her family are a huge cup of coffee, a blanket to snuggle under, and a delicious piece of cake–if you’re nice, she’ll even share.

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/steph.marie.3760430

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephmarieyaau6

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephmarie.author/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17730330.Steph_Marie

Author Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/stephmarie

LOGO - Other Worlds Ink

Check Out the New Release Tour for Give Up The Ghost (Not Dead Yet #2) by Jenn Burke (excerpt and giveaway)

 

 

Give Up the Ghost by Jenn Burke

Series: Not Dead Yet #2

Release Date: June 3, 2019

Subgenre: MM Paranormal Romance

Order here:

Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488036262_give-up-the-ghost.html

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07LGBFM99/

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/give-up-the-ghost-7

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/give-up-the-ghost-jenn-burke/1130026240?ean=9781488036262

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/ca/book/give-up-the-ghost/id1449963995?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Jenn_Burke_Give_Up_the_Ghost?id=6BSADwAAQBAJ

 

 

Synopsis for Give Up the Ghost:

The bigger they are, the harder they maul.

Immortal not-ghost Wes Cooper and his vampire partner, Hudson Rojas, have it all—rewarding private investigation work, great friends and, most important, a love that’s endured. But ever since Wes sent a demon screaming back to the beyond, his abilities have grown overpowering and overwhelming. He’s hiding the fact that he’s losing control the best he can, but it’s hard to keep anything a secret for long when your partner’s a former cop…and especially when your partner’s a former cop who wants to move in together.

When all hell literally breaks loose in Toronto and super strength ghosts are unleashed on Wes and his friends, he and Hudson are thrown into a case unlike any they’ve seen before. To save the city, Wes needs to harness his new power…and find some answers. But when he gets them, the solution to fix it all could mean losing everything.

Release Blitz Teaser:

It was your typical surveillance tape—black-and-white, a little grainy. It flipped between two cameras: one at the front of the store, and one in the back room. The light was not good, but it was enough to make out the counter at the front of the store with some items on display and the register, and in the back office, the desk, with its computer monitor and chair set slightly askew, as though someone had gotten up and not set the chair neatly against the desk.

For a few rotations of the image, the shop was empty, motionless. And then—

“Is the chair moving?” Hudson asked.

It was. The chair, which had been completely still, was now sliding out of frame. Not quickly, but consistently. The seat rotated, though whether that was simply from the motion of the chair or from an unseen someone manipulating it, I couldn’t tell.

“Wait,” Kat said.

The image flipped back and forth a few more times, and then I saw movement behind the counter in the front of the store. A drawer near the bottom, to the right of the cash register, was opening. Centimeter by centimeter, it extended out from the counter, pulled by an invisible force. It moved as we watched it, so it wasn’t like someone was pulling at it only when the camera wasn’t on them.

“I see why you wanted us to see it.” I couldn’t help it—my voice was shaky. There were way too many fucking ghosts in my life at the moment.

“Wait,” Kat stressed.

Just as Kat said it, something rose from the drawer. Before I could identify what it was, it disappeared—and all movement in the shop stopped.

I cleared my throat. “That was…uh.”

“Weirder than normal?” Hudson suggested.

“Definitely weirder than normal,” Iskander said.

 

Release Blitz Excerpt

I lifted my head and he took the invitation for what it was. His lips brushed mine, his skin cooler than a regular human’s, but not cold, not deathly. Lexi had explained more than once that Hudson and Evan weren’t dead—in fact, they’d never died, unlike what traditional Hollywood vampire lore would have you believe. They simply traded their human life force for blood-driven magic at the moment before their death.

Hudson’s tongue slipped inside my mouth, dancing with mine, and I sighed into the kiss, feeling the tension I’d been carrying around—for forever, it seemed—melt away. This was what I’d craved, without even knowing it. Hudson’s warm but not too warm touch, his slightly elongated fangs as he fell into the sensations we brought out in each other, his smoky cedar scent that surrounded me, infused me.

We were suddenly moving—Hudson’s doing, not mine, because I couldn’t even remember I had legs—and in an instant, I was lying on my bed, looking up at him. His eyes were glowing a soft yellow, a sign he was aroused.

“Do you want to?” he asked.

God, if I didn’t already love him, I would have fallen right there.

I didn’t often feel sexual attraction. Objectively, I could evaluate a man’s appearance as handsome, rugged, beautiful—but it was an esthetic appreciation, not an “I want to jump his bones” kind of one. I rarely felt the need to be close to someone, to kiss someone, to make love to them. In fact, there had been only two men in my life I had felt that way about—Michael and Hudson. But even though I desired Hudson and most of the time, just looking at him was enough to get my engine revving, sometimes my body wasn’t on board with the sex stuff. Sometimes it wanted cuddles and closeness rather than passion and orgasms. And the best thing? The absolutely amazing best thing?

Hudson accepted that without question. He always had.

“Yeah,” I said with a grin.

He yanked off his shirt. Commence drooling. Hudson wasn’t model-chiseled—his chest was too broad, too hairy, too much of a barrel shape to fit into society’s image of a perfect body. But I loved it.

Hudson hooked his thumbs into his waistband, then paused. “Aren’t you going to join me?”

I folded my arms behind my head. “Too busy enjoying the show.”

He smiled, the full-wattage version that rarely made an appearance, the one that made the corner of his eyes crinkle. I loved that smile. He shucked off his pants and kicked them aside, then held out his arms so I could look to my heart’s content.

And look, I did.

Hudson’s body was all power. From his barrel chest to his plump biceps to his thick thighs, everything about him was solid. Unmovable. Just looking at him, a sense of safety and security flooded me. He would never let anything hurt me.

After eighty-some-odd years spent mostly alone, that was incredibly reassuring.

His cock twitched under my perusal—half-hard and standing up farther with every second that passed. It wasn’t obscenely huge, but thick enough and long enough to be in scale with the rest of him, and make my mouth water.

I licked my lips and scooted back so I was sitting against the headboard. “C’mere.”

Hudson didn’t have to be told twice. He knelt on the bed and crawled over me, straightening again when he was straddling my waist. His dick was pointing at me, daring me to lick it. He grabbed the base and waved it in front of me. “You want it?”

“God, yeah.” I opened my mouth wide and he leaned forward to place the tip against my tongue.

Author Bio:

Jenn Burke has loved out-of-this-world romance since she first read about heroes and heroines kicking butt and falling in love as a preteen. Now that she’s an author, she couldn’t be happier to bring adventure, romance, and sexy times to her readers.

Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) from Carina Press.

She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.

 

Author links:

Website: http://www.jennburke.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeralibu

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

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295814398039168/ (Jenn Burke’s Epic Adventurers)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeralibu/

Newsletter sign-up: http://bit.ly/jennburkenewsletter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9869819.Jenn_Burke

Giveaway:

Win a spooky ghost-themed prize pack, including paperback copies of Not Dead Yet and Give Up the Ghost (not available in stores!) and other goodies!

Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/88d45f0396/?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Lila Review: Give Up the Ghost (Not Dead Yet #2) by Jenn Burke

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The bigger they are, the harder they maul. 

Immortal not-ghost Wes Cooper and his vampire partner, Hudson Rojas, have it all—rewarding private investigation work, great friends and, most important, a love that’s endured. But ever since Wes sent a demon screaming back to the beyond, his abilities have grown overpowering and overwhelming. He’s hiding the fact that he’s losing control the best he can, but it’s hard to keep anything a secret for long when your partner’s a former cop…and especially when your partner’s a former cop who wants to move in together.

When all hell literally breaks loose in Toronto and superstrength ghosts are unleashed on Wes and his friends, he and Hudson are thrown into a case unlike any they’ve seen before. To save the city, Wes needs to harness his new power…and find some answers. But when he gets them, the solution to fix it all could mean losing everything.

Give Up the Ghost is a nice addition to this series. Like the previous book, it has a slow plot, filled with intrigue, mystery, and lot of sassy characters, The dry humor and sarcasm are strong is this story as well as all the characterizations. Every small detail is important for the final resolution.

It’s interesting to see what has happened since Wes and Hudson rekindled their relationship and how the previous events shaped the twists and turns this time around. There’s a lot of information to digest. From settings, foods, clothes, and everything that makes this book unique.

I enjoyed seeing Evan, Lexi, and Iskandar. again, and how they were part of this book too. Even Michael was a refreshing sight with an unexpected role. I wanted a little less reflection and a faster pace. Even when the story was entertaining and compelling.

The cover matches the previous book and it’s interesting enough to get the readers’ eye. Still, the characters seem pretty young.

Sale Links: Amazon | Nook | Carina

Book Details:
ebook, 280 pages
ISBN: 1488036268
Published: June 3, 2019, by Carina Press
Edition Language: English

Series: Not Dead Yet
Book #1: Not Dead Yet
Book #2: Give Up the Ghost

A Lila Review :Prophesy Book II: The Bringer of Wrath (The King & Alpha Series #2) by A.E. Via

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Shifter and Vampire True Mates story.

Alek’s older brother, Justice—the Alpha Zenith—was the first shifter to mate with a vampire in many generations, and it was believed the rare, fated pairing would stop at him. But, it hadn’t. Aleksei ‘Alek’ Volkov was second beta, next in succession to the most powerful shifter in the world. He was proud of his title and he took his duties seriously. It was all he had. Until his true mate literally showed up on his doorstep.

While his brother—the overachiever—excelled at having a vampire as a mate, Alek wasn’t that optimistic he would. He wasn’t averse to love, and he’d often thought of how different his life could’ve turned out if he’d ever experienced the emotion. His life was a mess and he’d worn a mask of stability for a majority of that time, only showing his siblings and pack what they needed to see—a strong Volkov alpha. Not the damaged man he was, with a tortured soul and a rogue wolf.

Alek dropped his heavy head in his hands. Now, for some reason, I’ve been granted a true vampire mate. And not just any vampire. The intimidating Belleron Liatos. Lord High to the King and the leader of his army.

Belleron ‘Bell’ Liatos had come to the states for one reason—his best friend and Vampire King, Chadwick Bentley. He certainly didn’t come to be pounced on by a wolf that could act independently of its master. Not only was his destined cherished a complicated and confused man; but he was also unaware of the powerful presence that lurked in the shadows of his soul. Bell didn’t know he’d be the key to unlocking an exceptional triad that would play a critical role in fulfilling the prophesy.

The Bringer of Wrath is a different type of shifter paranormal story. The intrinsic connection of Alek and Bell, and the other parts of their relationship push the reader to want more. The way the discoveries happened and how all it’s interrelated and separate at the same time shows the author’s ability to web not only the plot but the characters. Not much else I can say about this without spoiling how amazing Alek is 🙂 And Belleron is pretty feisty too.

The battles, the action, and the drama are well connected and have a reason to exists. The amount of detail can be overwhelming at times but reading the first book makes the most sense. The book can be slow at times but it’s easy to get lost in the Volkov’s legacy.

Preconceptions about shifters, vampires, and paranormal should be place aside. The prophesy is the base for these stories and provide all the information the reader needs to fall in love with the characters and the series.

I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the books, and to know more about these characters. There’s a nice continuation from one to the other.

The cover by Jay Aheer is a perfect match for this series and the plot of this volume. Great way to catch the readers attention.

Sale Links:  Amazon | Via Star Wings

Book Details: 

ebook, 267 pages
Published: May 22, 2019, by Via Star Wings Publishing
ASIN: B07QQ2XH1Q
Edition Language: English

Series: The King and Alpha
Book #1: Prophesy
Book #2: The Bringer of Wrath

Review Tour for Prophesy Book II: The Bringer of Wrath (The King & Alpha Series #2) by A.E. Via

 
Length: 87,000 words approx.
 
Cover Design: Jay Aheer @ Simply Defined Art
 
The King And Alpha Series
 
Prophesy 1 – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link (Currently only 99c/99p)
 
Blurb
 

Shifter and Vampire True Mates story.


Alek’s older brother, Justice—the Alpha Zenith—was the first shifter to mate with a vampire in many generations, and it was believed the rare, fated pairing would stop at him. But, it hadn’t. Aleksei ‘Alek’ Volkov was second beta, next in succession to the most powerful shifter in the world. He was proud of his title and he took his duties seriously. It was all he had. Until his true mate literally showed up on his doorstep.


While his brother—the overachiever—excelled at having a vampire as a mate, Alek wasn’t that optimistic he would. He wasn’t averse to love, and he’d often thought of how different his life could’ve turned out if he’d ever experienced the emotion. His life was a mess and he’d worn a mask of stability for a majority of that time, only showing his siblings and pack what they needed to see—a strong Volkov alpha. Not the damaged man he was, with a tortured soul and a rogue wolf.


Alek dropped his heavy head in his hands. Now, for some reason, I’ve been granted a true vampire mate. And not just any vampire. The intimidating Belleron Liatos. Lord High to the King and the leader of his army.


Belleron ‘Bell’ Liatos had come to the states for one reason—his best friend and Vampire King, Chadwick Bentley. He certainly didn’t come to be pounced on by a wolf that could act independently of its master. Not only was his destined cherished a complicated and confused man; but he was also unaware of the powerful presence that lurked in the shadows of his soul. Bell didn’t know he’d be the key to unlocking an exceptional triad that would play a critical role in fulfilling the prophesy.


This story DOES NOT contain or even mention MPREG.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very HFN.


Warning: This book is M/M paranormal: If you DO NOT like alpha men shifting into large wolves, or vampires feeding from their destined beloveds, than this may not be the novel for you.

 

Read Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review here. We highly recommend it.

 

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


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


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


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


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

 

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June is Celebrate Pride Month! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

June is Celebrate Pride Month!

Happy LGBTQIA Pride Month!  June is now celebrated every year because June is the anniversary of the historic 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan that was pivotal in launching the gay rights movement.  While the last Sunday in June was marked as Pride Sunday or Pride Day, June is now recognized throughout as Pride Month and celebrations held throughout from the beginning to the end of June.

There are many ways to celebrate Pride month and m;any organizations and parades out there to help you do so.  Here is a great site full of wonderful ideas:

8 ways to celebrate Pride Month | Thomson Reuters

A Great Library of Congress site for more history of Pride Month…

About | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month …

Here are ways Allies can support Pride:

LGBTQ Pride Month: 5 Ways Allies Can Celebrate and Support the ...

 

And if you are a fan of M/M hockey romance fiction (think RJ Scott, VL Locey, among some of the authors that pop into my mind) well, this is a link you will want to check out immediately, especially if you are a hockey fan as well:

Every NHL team is celebrating Pride this year For Pride, all … – Outsports

NHL Pride Month Celebrations | NHL.com

 

Next couple of weeks we will pick different elements of Pride month to chat about.  First up?  No surprise, the NHL Pride celebrations.  Oh how far we have come.  Oh, and our favorite M/M hockey romance books and series too.  Happy June, Happy Pride Month!  Happy Reading and Listening!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, June 2:

  • An Ali Review Match Grade by GB Gordon
  • Release Blitz  – Master of No One by Tricia Owens
  • June is Celebrate Pride Month!
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, June 3:

  • Review Tour – A.E. Via – Prophecy Book #2: The Bringer of Wrath
  • Give Up The Ghost by Jenn Burke Tour
  • RELEASE BLITZ Cold Light by Michelle Frost
  • DSP PROMO Sean Michael on The More the Merrier
  • A MelanieM Review:Strike a Chord (Replay #4) by K.M. Neuhold
  • A Lila Review : Prophesy Book #2: The Bringer of Wrath by  A.E. Via
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Arctic Wild by Annabeth Albert
  • A Lila Review Give Up The Ghost by Jenn Burke

Tuesday, June 4:

  • Eeli by Steph Marie & Bobby Rayne Tour
  • BLOG TOUR Prescription For Love by Aimee Nicole Walker
  • Release Blitz – C.F. White – Love & Tea Bags
  • AN Ashlez Review: Cold Light – Criminal Delights: Assassins by Michelle Frost
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: Larry Boots, Exterminator by John Inman
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Keeping Cade (Crave Club #1) by S.E. Jakes
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Prescription for Love (Road to Blissville #7) by Aimee Nicole Walker

Wednesday, June 5:

  • Release Blitz  – The Best-Laid Plans (Plans #2) by Addison Albright
  • Cover Reveal – V.L. Locey – Shake The Stars
  • BLOG TOUR By Way of Pain by JM Dabney
  • A Melanie Review: Prescription for Love (Road to Blissville #7) by Aimee Nicole Walker
  • A Stella Release Day Review: Larry Boots, Exterminator by John Inman
  • An Alisa Review – The Best-Laid Plans (Plans #2) by Addison Albright

Thursday, June 6:

  • DSP Author Promo
  • BLOG TOUR Keeping Cade by SE Jakes
  • AUDIO BLITZ Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths – Will & Patrick Wake Up Married
  • An Alisa Review Gorgon in 69 Seconds (College of United Monsters #3) by C.B. Archer
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review The Strength of His Heart (Enhanced #4) by Victoria Sue
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: The Player’s Protégé (Campus Connections #2) by CJane Elliott

Friday, June 7:

  • Review Tour – Anna Martin – The Color Of Summer
  • Review Tour – Roe Horvat – Adam Only
  • A Stella Review:The Reluctant Husband (Goddess-Blessed #2) by Eliot Grayson
  • A Melanie Review Bombs and Guacamole (Border Crossing #1) by BA Tortuga
  • A Caryn Review : The Color Of Summer by Anna Martin
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady  Review : Adam Only (Those Other Books #2) by Roe Horvat

Saturday, June 8:

  • Sales Blitz – RJ Scott & V.L. Locey – First Season (Harrisburg Railers #2)
  • Release Blitz – Garrett Leigh – Kiss Me Again
  • A MelanieM Review: Always With Me by Kris Jacen

A VVivacious Review: Eight Lives: (Match Made in Hell #1) by Autumn Breeze and Ashley Chamblee

Rating: 5 *give me more* stars out of 5

Edmund is a human who has spent the past century as a cat and as a companion to the vampire, Anselm. Anselm is a centuries-old vampire whose only connection to life is Edmund himself. Their contented life together is thrown into disarray when the curse on Edmund starts to weaken and Edmund becomes human again.

With Anselm encountering Edmund as a human for the first time, there is a whole lot of new dynamics that come into their relationship. It soon becomes clear that a simple return to the way things were earlier is not an answer with seemingly every day bringing Edmund closer to his demise while Anselm remains immortal.

I want more.

The first thing you need to know about this book is that it is part of a series and I am cautiously optimistic that we will get to know more about Anselm and Edmund.

These two are such fascinating characters and the story is written in such a simple fashion with a plot that is so captivating that despite the fact that this book must be a hundred and fifty pages plus easily, it felt much shorter.

This book sets a very unhurried pace which complements the immortality of these characters. Anselm is a vampire so old that he makes Edmund seem like a child which is amazing given that Edmund himself is at least a hundred years old. I really liked Anselm. He was in the unique position of having lived so long that he had tired of it and the only thing keeping him alive is his relationship with Edmund.

Edmund has been cursed to live nine lives as a cat but when the curse that keeps him a cat starts to weaken Edmund shifts to a human form with cat ears and tails. Edmund was an immensely likeable character. He is so caring and worries so much about Anselm that it is quite clear that he feels quite deeply for Anselm. Being human after a century unlocks a whole new potential and direction for their relationship to develop. It is interesting to see how they both react to this new development.

The shift causes Anselm and Edmund to gain new perspectives on their feelings for each other and it was so fascinating to see these two embrace these feelings and experience them differently than they had before. I really liked the pace and the idyllic tone of their story because everything seemed magical.

I am very excited to read more about these two especially with what happens at the end and I can’t wait. Fingers crossed for book two.

Cover Art by Raven Brooks. I really liked the cover for this book, it really captured the tone of the book. Loved the use of the colour green in the background and how the cat’s startled blue eyes stand out.

Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 112 pages
Published May 20th 2019
ASINB 07RT6XYK7

M.D. Grimm on the Craft of Writing and the new release Wisdom’s Allegiance (The Shifter Chronicles #13) (author guest blog)

Wisdom’s Allegiance (The Shifter Chronicles #13) by M.D. Grimm

Dreamspinner Press
Publication: May 28th 2019
Cover Artist: Catt Ford

Buy links: Dreamspinner PressAmazon

:

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have M.D. Grimm here today on tour for the new release Wisdom’s Allegiance.  Welcome, M.D.!

 

 

Hello everyone! Thank you for joining me. And thanks to Scattered Thoughts for hosting me. M.D. Grimm here and very excited to talk about my new release “Wisdom’s Allegiance” (The Shifter Chronicles Book 13). This book can be read as a stand-alone, however, so if you’re intrigued and don’t want to start at the beginning, just check this one out.

I’ve been writing on and off for most of my life and my first published story was in 2011. Since then I have learned so much about the craft of writing. And the one thing that underwent the most evolution—besides my skill itself—is the reason behind my writing. At first, I wrote because I wanted to. I was curious about the structure of stories and the creation of a story, from character to plot to dialogue, etc. From grade school to high school there were several story writing assignments that I gravitated toward and had so much fun doing. That was my first inkling that I might be a writer. I greatly enjoyed the process and putting my imagination to good use. Also, by middle school, I was a voracious reader, thanks mostly to the Harry Potter books. Then I graduated to “The Lord of the Rings” and never looked back.

I have to say that those two series heavily influenced my writing, even to this day. The intricacies and depth of those universes encouraged me to create something similar. It was like they issued a challenge for me to try and one-up them, and I happily accepted, not really knowing what I was doing. LOL.

I didn’t start small or with baby steps—I just dove into the deep end and hoped I swam. I apparently like to bite off more than I can chew and then I have to struggle to keep afloat. Nowadays, however, I have more experience and books under my belt, so I can assess better what I can handle, how much I can handle, and when I can handle it. But I’m still learning. And I really believe that is key—you never stop learning. You shouldn’t. I know that if I stopped challenging myself and fell into a rut that I would grow bored and restless and wouldn’t want to write anymore. I have so many stories inside me and the biggest challenge is making a priority list and not getting distracted by new and shiny projects.

So, with around 20 stories published, my reason for writing has changed and grown. At first it was to satisfy a personal need, and though that is still important—I write for myself first and foremost—I want to say something with my stories. Themes are so important to stories, especially if you want to say something with finesse and subtlety instead of beating the reader over the head with it.

Yes, writing offers me an escape and a way to control things when life gets out of control, but my biggest pursuit is to make my readers smile. To give them hope or simply a warm feeling. To make them smile. I want people to enjoy my stories. That’s probably why I gravitated toward romance—readers expect a happy ending of some sort. It also gives me a thrill when characters triumph over tremendous odds since life so rarely offers such an outcome. Other genres don’t always give me that cleanly resolved ending. I definitely write escapist fiction/fantasy/romance and I won’t apologize for it. I firmly believe romance can say something important, if nothing else then you can be loved for who you are. Just have courage and put yourself out there.

So… why do I write? Lots of reasons. I enjoy it. I want to say something. I want to bring enjoyment to others. I love to create. The satisfaction of completing a project is like nothing else. It’s a natural high I will never get tired of feeling.

While right now I am focused on m/m romance I will be branching out and expanding on more diverse characters with different temperaments, identities, and persuasions. The options are limitless and the spectrum of human identity and all that entails is fascinating and beautiful.

I am currently working on several projects—an m/m fantasy trilogy, book 7 of my The Stones of Power series, and book 2 of my Saga of the Bold People.

Thanks for joining me and may dragons guard your dreams,

M.D. Grimm

Blurb:

Can a loyal and sensual owl shifter couple woo a human mate who’s convinced he’s an ugly duckling?

When socially awkward Dexter Fortis rescues an elf owl blown off course by a storm, he has no idea the bird is a shifter named Orion. Or that his life is about to change.

Orion falls in love with the kind custodian, but he must convince his long-term partner, Talon, that Dexter is just who they’ve been searching for to establish a permanent ménage. Even if they can gently break down Dexter’s walls, they’ll have to contend with a dangerous cult rising in the shifter community and a hidden enemy determined to keep Dexter from them.

 

About the Author

M.D. Grimm decided to become an author in the second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things, actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!). After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?), she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain (or else what’s the point?), finding their soul mate in the process.

Visit “M.D. Grimm” at Facebook and Goodreads.

Email: mdgrimm29@yahoo.com

Website: www.mdgrimmwrites.com

Make sure to subscribe to her monthly newsletter!