Club Raven Blog Tour for BA Tortuga, Julia Talbot, and Kiernan Kelly (3 books, one series)

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Title: Calling His Bluff, Happy Medium, and Wishful Thinking

Author: BA Tortuga, Julia Talbot, and Kiernan Kelly

Series Title and Number: Club Raven, Books 1-3

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: January 17, 2016

Pairing: M/M

Genre/Tags: Romance, Paranormal, Historical, Alternate Universe, Spanking, Mediums, Mind Readers

Add Calling His Bluff to Goodreads

Add Happy Medium to Goodreads

Add Wishful Thinking to Goodreads

Synopsis

callinghisbluff1400x2100Calling His Bluff by BA Tortuga

After his twin dies in battle, it’s Patrick Daniels’ duty to marry his brother’s fiancée. Too bad he can’t make himself do it, and in his distress, he manifests a psychic talent that’s stronger than the tornadoes in his native East Texas. Then a mysterious man from a place called Club Raven steps in and sweeps Patrick off to the booming East Coast city of Baltimore.

Club Raven veteran Remy Blanchard sees Patrick and knows, even though Patrick is very ill, that this is the challenge he’s been waiting for. He nurses Patrick back to health, and begins to teach Patrick to control his talent. His methods might be unconventional, and Patrick might be new to the kinds of sexual games Remy knows best, but the two of them find something in each other that might be just as magical as the gentleman’s club where they meet.

Happy Medium by Julia Talbothappymedium-1

Andrew is out to debunk Max as a medium, not make love to him…

Max Bellame is working his way through 1870s Baltimore as a medium, even if he knows nothing about spirits. He uses the power of his mind to move objects, convincing his clients he’s the real thing.

Andrew Meechum works for Club Raven, a gentleman’s club that doubles as a paranormal research facility. He sets out to debunk Max, only to be fascinated by the man. Can Andrew convince Max to take a chance on love, and to find his true calling as a medium, or will their personal demons force them apart?

Wishful Thinking by Kiernan Kellywishfulthinking

Tony Brazzio, co-owner of Club Raven, Baltimore’s premiere men’s club in 1875, has a pocketful of cash and a chip on his shoulder. He’s out to prove to his co-owners — and himself — that he’s not a fluke, that anyone can be successful give the opportunity, no matter how poor his beginnings.

Bull O’Brian and Dandy Gilroy are two hoodlums from the rough streets of New York’s Five Points. They’re pickpockets by trade, and both possess psychic talents that make them two of the best. When Tony offers to bring them to Baltimore and give them the chance at a life of riches in polite society, they jump at the chance, if only to steal the members of Club Raven blind.

The best of plans rarely work the way they’re intended, and things swiftly go from bad to worse for Dandy and Bull. There’s murder afoot and a detective on their trail, and not even copious amounts of hot, sweaty sex can ease their fear or guilt.

As for Tony, he’s faced with admitting his experiment is a failure, something he’s loathe to do. It’ll take a great deal of persuasion, a little luck, and a lot of lube to make sure his plans for Dandy and Bull become more than just wishful thinking.

Purchase

Purchase all three Club Raven novels below!

Calling His Bluff: Evil Plot Bunny | Amazon

Happy Medium: Evil Plot Bunny | Amazon

Wishful Thinking: Evil Plot Bunny | Amazon

Meet the Authors

BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

You can find out more about her by following her online.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Julia Talbot

Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Samhain Publishing, Dreamspinner Press and Changeling Press. She believes in stories that leave a mark, and that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved.

You can find out more about her by following her online.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

Kiernan Kelly

Kiernan’s award-winning stories of gay romance envelop diverse themes, varying from paranormal, to fantasy, and science fiction to contemporary romance. She has over eighty titles in ebook and print, published through a variety of houses. Her horror short story release, “Cletus,” appears in the Coscom Publishing’s book “Bits of the Dead.”

Kiernan also writes young adult GLBT fiction under her Dakota Chase pen name. As Dakota, she currently has three novels and several shorter works available in print and ebook. Mad About the Hatter, her YA gay romance, is a finalist for the American Library Association book list for 2017.

You can find out more about her by following her online.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Reece Pine on ‘In Your Court’, A Dreamspinner Press World of Love story (DSP GUEST POST)

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In Your Court (World of Love) by Reece Pine
D
reamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Available for Purchase at

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 Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Reece Pine here today to talk about her release, In Your Court.  Welcome, Reece!
~

Hi and thanks for letting me introduce In Your Court, part of Dreamspinner’s World of Love series, which sees Californian college grad Ray in Vietnam for a week teaching basketball and English to elementary-age kids. For Ray, the chance to hide his (often) invisible physical disability while he’s far from home is a way to have a holiday from what he hates most about it, which is being unable to play basketball anymore. So although he knows that doing a lot of physical activity all at once is a bad idea, he plans to indulge himself for as long as he can until his chronic pain catches up with him.

Translator/businessman Xin considers himself a pro communicator – he takes pride in patching up communication gaps between other people, and is frustrated when he can’t help people fulfil their desires. Secretive Ray is a tough case for him to handle, but their shared interest in seeing Ho Chi Minh’s sights and in the Vietnamese language lets him scratch Ray’s surface and get him to begin to open up. The hard part is Ray already knows that communication is the key to getting what he wants, but first he and Xin both have to figure out what they want and can realistically have in a relationship and in their futures.

The inspiration for the book came from a weird, jealous, nostalgic thrill I felt watching a lot of basketball while being myself laid up with a condition. It’s one thing to fully understand the limits physical disabilities impose, but another thing to actually obey them, so I’m sure Ray’s not the first character (or person) to want to push such limits to their breaking point for the sake of enjoying a sport. The on-court atmosphere of a tense basketball game has a lot in common with the bustling, humid streets of Ho Chi Minh, so I jumped at the chance to set the story there, since Vietnam and Singapore (which is also seen in the book) are also incredibly scenic and romantic cities. I hope you check it out, or any of the other beautiful places represented in the World of Love series.

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Blurb

With a shot at happiness in sight, it’s no time to drop the ball.

A back condition ruined Ray’s basketball ambitions, but he wants one last opportunity to play before hanging up his sneakers. While volunteering as a coach at a special needs school in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, he meets Singaporean Xin, who works matching wealthy corporations with compatible charities. Xin helps the American navigate the local customs in order to see the smile Xin fell for at first sight, but Ray makes sure no one sees how hard it is for him to keep upright, let alone keep enjoying Vietnam and playing the sport he loves.

When Ray’s back pain becomes too great to hide, Xin accommodates him in Ho Chi Minh and in Singapore—and in bed. Ray wants to imagine a future for them but fears he’s damaged goods, and Xin’s obligations in Asia aren’t easily forgotten. Ray won’t be another charity of Xin’s, especially when Xin also needs someone by his side. Their romance will be cut as short as Ray’s basketball dreams unless he can close the Pacific-sized distance between them.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

Excerpt

 

Gray dawn and blaring big-band music that sounds like it’s been filtered through three DIY crystal radios creep in on the draft spilling under our door. The electro-pop communist march song is an effective call to arms in that I’m up and swearing, just not in allegiance.

“Good morning, Vietnam,” Xin mumbles, rolling over on his creaking cot and snaking a hand under his thin cotton sheet to scratch his stomach. A pirated copy of The Quiet American, the kind of photocopied book I saw street stalls selling yesterday, sticks out from beneath his pillow. I loved the movie they made of that. Good Morning, Vietnam too.

I have six days left. Still in yesterday’s stinking jersey and slacks, hair damp with old or new perspiration, I peel myself off my mattress to start my usual routine of push-ups on the floor between our beds. In no time, sweat drips Rorschach splatters on the concrete, on which I try to focus rather than on the dude beside me moaning as he languidly stretches his body to its full horizontal height.

“Aren’t you energetic?” He sits up, head tilted to match his half smile, and lazily reaches for my shoulder. “If I sit on your back, will that help—”

“Don’t,” I snap, wrenching straight up and crawling a step away. My morning voice rattles in my throat and in the heavy air, so I clear both with a cough before spreading my hands on the floor and recovering my rhythm within two push-ups. My lower back’s familiar ache is waking up too, but it has yet to seep into my hips. I shouldn’t have played yesterday after so long sitting in a cramped airplane chair. Not that it was that cramped for little old me, but it was too rigid, and I didn’t pace the aisle as much as I should have.

In the corner of my eye, I watch Xin quietly unlatch his hefty wheeled suitcase  to  extract  linen  shorts  and  a  long-sleeved  raglan  tee.  He looks comparatively casual today, but the outfit’s clearly styling. The cotton shirt is luxuriously creamy in color and texture and spills down his pale back as he dresses, eyeing me warily. “Are you against queer folk?”

I laugh. “When I’m lucky.”

Xin pauses, silent.

Shit. Did he just come out to me? Did I just come out to him? And did I imagine him calling me cute last night? Probably. “You’re queer?”

An automatic smile pulls at my lips. I stop doing push-ups at the count of a hundred and the sight of Xin’s calm expression probing my hard-to-hide relief. “’Cause I am.”

“Are you touch-averse ace or anything? Because I’ll let people know if you need. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“No, I’m gay. You planning on making me uncomfortable?”

“No, I’m gay,” he parrots, preening his short hair with a black lacquer comb. I can’t tell its fine teeth from the shining hair it parts. “Just… that was a pretty strong shutdown to being nearly touched, Ray. This is Asia. Guys are going to touch you, no sex implied.”

Oh wow, after being possibly called ‘cute’ last night, I’ve been shot down before my eyes are even properly opened. ‘No sex implied’—well, at least I know where I stand with him today. “Is it an Australian thing too to touch up your… mates?”

Xin laughs. “Fuck, no. There it’s only cool for men to slap around butch, strapping athletes like you, especially when you’re panting and glistening.”

It takes me a second to get that the lascivious wink he hits me with is a sarcastic stand-in for ‘Apology accepted.’ He didn’t take my snapping personally. “Do even Australians get Australian humor?”

“When we’re lucky. Shower’s three doors down on the left. It’s a faculty one, but all the teachers who live here are housed in another block, so we don’t have to share it.”

“Except with each other,” I mumble into the tangle of clothes I’ve gutted from my backpack.

“Thanks for the invite, but right now it’s all yours. Mate.”

“I take back yesterday’s request. You’re the last person whose job it should be to rein me in for stepping out of line.”

“Then I’ll just have to do it for fun.”

 

About the Author

Reece is a human pinball who’s moved around the world 20-odd times in the last 15 years. At the moment she’s in Australia, ignoring her handful of degrees in law, science and other subjects in order to make things up instead. She loves genre-jumping when writing and reading, and seeing diverse characters appear everywhere, as in real life. Although she’s a big fan of twists and drama, good representation of genders, sexualities, and disabilities remains as important to her as ensuring all of her stories end well, because we all deserve a happy ending.

Social media links:
Personal website: http://www.reecepine.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/reecepine
Tumblr: http://www.reecepine.tumblr.com

Best of 2016 Lists and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Best of 2016 Lists Continue

Yes, our Best of 2016 Lists roll on.  Our readers have been contributing some wonderful lists of their own and our own reviewers choices still pour in as well.  I have  both for you all today.

The lovely thing is that we don’t have to let go of some of our favorites.  If they are series that haven’t wrapped up, we have new stories to look forward to in 2017.  So many authors spring to mind that we are waiting on new stories in their series:  Jordan L. Hawk, Mary Calmes, Megan Derr, Mell Eight, Rhys Ford…to name a few.  Which authors are you waiting on new stories from?  And which series?  My personal list is endless to be honest.  I added to it with new authors this year including Amelia Faulkner and her Inheritance series.  Don’t know how I missed that and her.  But I did.  My list will be the last to arrive.  This week we hear from Stella, Free Dreamer, and some of our readers on their favorites from 2016.

From Stella

Stella’s BEST BOOKS 2016

Stella’s Best Covers 2016

freckles-by-amy-lane8fc5c-mustlikespinach-f2b252812529when-the-dust-settles-by-mary-calmeshis-fairy-godfather-by-cate-ashwoodde8d7-true-lovemurmurationDaniel and Erik's Super Fab Ult Wedding ChecklistSnakes Among the Flowers

His Fairy Godfather by Cate Ashwood and Nico Jaye

The ‘True Love’ Solution by Julie Bozza

Must Like Spinach by Con Riley

Freckles By Amy Lane

When the Dust Settles by Mary Calmes

Murmuration by T.J. Klune

Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K.E. Belledonne

Snakes Among Sweet Flowers by Jason Huffman-Black

 Free Dreamer’s Best Covers of 2016

 

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The Little Crow by Caitlin Ricci (Cover artist: Natasha Snow)

Stygian by Santino Hassel (Cover artist: Damonza)

Dreams by Erich James (Cover artist: Paul Richmond)

Love Can’t Conquer by Kim Fielding (Cover artist: Brooke Albrecht)

Stygianlove-cant-conquerDreamsofFireandGodsDreamsACID cover

FoxesSalt and IronSalt and Iron by Tam MacNeil (Cover artist: AngstyG)

ACID by Wulf Francu Godgluck (Cover artist: Wulf Francu Godgluck)

Foxes by Suki Fleet (Cover artist: AngstyG)

Free Dreamer’s Best Books of 2016:

“Stalking Darkness”, “Traitor’s Moon” and “Shadows Return” by Lynn Flewelling

Lima Oscar Victor Echo and The Truth About Everything by Suki Fleet

Salt and Iron by Tam MacNeil

ACID by Wulf Francu Godgluck

“Every Day” and “Two Boys Kissing” by David Levithan

The Hunger Man by Scott D. Pomfret

Love Can’t Conquer by Kim Fielding

O/s by Jane Davitt

Crush by Caitlin Ricci

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Stygian by Santino Hassel

Dark Space by Lisa Henry

The Lodestar of Ys by Amy Rae Durreson

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And from our Readers….

 

📚Purple Reader :

Thanks for your list, and this has inspired me to think about mine (at least the gay ones, and I like a lot of different subgenres, but not all were out this year).
– Purple Reader, TheWrote
Fav Gay Book Group read: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Fav SciFi: Interscission Project series by Arshad Ahsanuddin
Fav Steampunk: Blue on Black by Carole Cummings
Fav Fantasy: finished the Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling
Fav Paranormal: Widdershins by Jordan Hawk (and a mystery)
Fav M/M Romance: Lavender in Bloom by Lily Velez
Fav Gay Romance: My Bare Naked Heart by David Avery
Fav YA: Foxes by Suki Fleet
Fav Mystery: Third Man Out by Richard Stevenson (oldie but goodie)
Fav Western: The Search for Soaring Hawk by Terry O’Reilly
Fav Historical: Frontiers/Man & Beast by Michael Jensen
Fav History/NonFiction: Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality by Debbie Cenziper, Jim Obergefell
Fav paperback/hardcover: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan (also a good YA)

📚 H.B:

Thank you for sharing your list Lila! They all sounds great =) Here’s my list:
Made in Marian series by Lucy Lennox
A Kind of Story series by Lane Hayes
How to Be a Normal Person by TJ Klune
Wolfsong by TJ Klune
At First Sight series by TJ Klune
Soaring Hearts by AL Boyd
Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Charlie Cochet
Smoke & Mirror by Charlie Cochet
The Weight of It All by NR Walker
Red River by Cardeno C.
Not a Game by Cardeno C.

~

Trust me, both of you, I’m taking notes of any books and authors I’ve missed!  There’s plenty of time still to get your list in and be entered in our giveaway.  Here’s all you need to be entered.

STRW 2016 Best of Giveaway

We will pick one random reader who leaves a comment with their year end Best of (along with their email addresses) to receive a $10 DSP gift card.   Contest ends January 29, at midnight.  Must be 18 years of age or older.

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This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Sunday, January 22:

  • Best of 2016 Lists Continue
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, January 23:

  • DSP GUEST POST Reece Pine on In Your Court
  • Amy Tasukada –Blood Stained Tea Tour
  • Club Raven Blog Tour for BA Tortuga, Julia Talbot, and Kiernan Kelly (3 books, one series)
  • BLOG TOUR People Fish by Medella Kingston
  • A MelanieM Review: Blood Stained Tea by Amy Tasukada
  • An Alisa Review: Twelve Gifts by Casper Graham
  • A Paul Release Day Review: Love in the Line of Fire by Michael Murphy

Tuesday, January 24:

  • DSP GUEST POST J. C. Long on Broadway Babe
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Speakeasy by Suzey Ingold
  • A Paul Review: The Last Dragonet by Shannon West and Susan Scott
  • An Ali Release Day Review: Gaining Trust (Kiss of Leather #5) by Morticia Knight
  • An Ali Review: Duncan Andrew’s mysteries (bundle) by Stephen Osborne
  • A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Wandering Wolves by Mell Eight

 

Wednesday, January 25:

  • RIPTIDE Tour: Whiteout by Elyse Springer (giveaway)
  • Review Tour – Anna Martin – The Impossible Boy
  • A Stella Release Day Review:  Nachos & Hash (Mary’s Boys, Novella One) by Brandon Witt
  • A Lila Review:  The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin
  • A Stella Review: Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: Just like Cats and Dogs by BA Tortuga

Thursday, January 26:

  • Cover Reveal – Sue Brown’s Goodnight My Angel
  • Release Blitz – K.A. Merikan’s Hipster Brothel
  • Max Vos : blog tour for the re release of his novel P.O.W
  • DSP GUEST POST Caleb James on”Exile”
  • DSP GUEST POST BA Tortuga on Just Like Cats and Dogs
  • A Caryn Review:  Hipster Brothel by K.A. Merikan
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Lord or a Thousand Steps by Tara Lain

Friday, January 27:

  • DSP GUEST POST M.J. O’Shea on The Worst Best Man
  • DSP GUEST POST Michaela Grey on Broken Halo
  • A Caryn Pre Release Review: The Black Sheep and The Rotten Apple by K.A. Merikan
  • An Alisa Review: Rockin’ the ‘Nog by Michelle King
  • A VVivacious Release Day Review: Trust Trade by Ki Brightly
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Close to You (Sunshine and Happiness #3) by Skylar M. Cates and Tristan James (Narrator)
  • A VVivacious Release Day Review: Spell Fall by Jacob Z. Flores

Saturday, January 28:

  • Victoria Sue with a New Release – The Alpha King + Giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Wandering Wolves by Mell Eight

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Release Blitz Tour – Watching and Wanting by Jay Northcote

 

 
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh
Length: 52,000 words
 
Housemates Series – though a series, each book can be read as a standalone. 
Helping Hand (Book #1)  Amazon US | Amazon UK
Like A Lover (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Practice Makes Perfect (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Blurb

Watching Jude’s cam show stirs desires Shawn’s always denied…

Shawn is adrift. Recently graduated, he’s stuck in a dead-end job that barely pays the bills. His girlfriend dumped him, his friends have moved on, and he’s still in Plymouth—going nowhere.

Jude is a student living in the same shared house. Out and proud, he’s everything Shawn’s been running from since he hit puberty. When Shawn discovers Jude works as a cam boy, he can’t resist the urge to watch one of his shows. It makes Shawn want things that scare him, yet his fascination forces him to confront his attraction.

Keen to explore his bicurious side, Shawn suggests they do a show together. Jude agrees, and things get complicated—and kinky—fast. But Jude isn’t looking to get involved with someone so deep in the closet. If Shawn’s going to get what he wants, he needs to find the courage to stop hiding from himself and be honest about who he is.

Excerpt

Back in the living room, he threw himself into his armchair again. The TV was on, showing an old episode of Prison Break, but Shawn wasn’t paying attention to it. Sunk in a black hole of despondency, he gazed surreptitiously around the room at his housemates instead.

Jude, one of the new guys who’d moved in last month, sat in a corner of one of the sofas doing something on his phone, his dark curly head bending low and the glow of the screen lighting up his angular features. Shawn wondered what he was doing—probably hooking up on Grindr or something.

That twist of discomfort flared in his gut again. He knew he shouldn’t care. It was none of his business, but the idea that Jude might be planning some hook-up with some random guy lodged in his consciousness like a stone in a shoe. Maybe it was just because Shawn was single again and would have to get back to hooking up if he wanted any action. The idea of being back on Tinder wasn’t as appealing as it should be.

Shawn turned his attention to the other sickeningly happy couple in the room. Ewan wasn’t technically one of Shawn’s housemates. He lived next door, but he might as well have moved in for the amount of time he spent there with Dev. Ewan had his arm around Dev, and as Shawn watched, he turned his ginger head and murmured something in Dev’s ear. Dev turned to look at him and they exchanged a soft smile. Then Dev pressed a kiss to Ewan’s lips, which lingered long enough to make Shawn uncomfortable.

Irrational anger bubbled up, spilling out of his mouth before he could hold the words back. “For fuck’s sake. Can’t you save that for your room?”

Dev pulled away quickly, his cheeks flaming. “Sorry,” he muttered.

Ewan glared at Shawn. “What’s your problem?”

Shawn shrugged and glared back. “I just don’t need to see it, that’s all.”

“Well, the television’s over there, so stop fucking looking at us if you don’t like it. It was just a kiss. It’s not like we’re blowing each other on the sofa or anything. Jesus.”

“Ugh. And thank you for that mental image.” Shawn did a mock shudder.

“Whoa, Shawn. What the hell’s wrong with you tonight?”

Jez’s voice cut through Shawn’s drunken, angry haze, and he realised that all eyes in the room were on him. He caught Jude’s gaze, curious and assessing, and flushed at the unwanted attention.

“You should be used to it by now,” Jez continued. “You’ve lived with me and Mac long enough. And I’ve totally caught you groping Beth on the sofa before. You don’t get a free pass for living room shenanigans just because you’re the only straight couple in the house since Dani moved out.”

That was the spark that ignited Shawn’s anger past the point of no return. “Yeah? Well, maybe I’m just tired of being surrounded by all the gay in here. I never signed up for this when we moved in together.” He stood, sloshing beer out of his nearly full bottle and onto the carpet. “I don’t have to like it.”

“Feel free to find somewhere else to live, then.”

Even Jez, who was rarely moved to anger, sounded pissed now.

“Yeah. Maybe I will.” Shawn stormed to the door, careful not to ruin his exit by walking into the coffee table again. “Oh, and for your information? Me and Beth split up today, so we won’t be the token straight couple any more.”

He slammed the door behind him and stomped up the stairs to his room on the first floor. He slammed that door too, but it didn’t make him feel any better. After throwing himself down on the bed, he clutched his pillow and let harsh sobs of fury burst out of him until the red mist receded and shame and guilt crept in to fill the place where his anger had been.

Author Bio

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

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

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

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

www.jaynorthcote.com
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A MelanieM Review: The Prince of the Moon by Megan Derr

Rating:  3.5 stars out of 5

a-melaniem-review-the-prince-of-the-moon-by-megan-derrAll Solae wants is to be accepted and loved by the family that has always rejected him. But given it was his late mother who cursed the kingdom to eternal winter, the chances of that happening are minimal. If he can find a way to break the curse, however, surely that would be enough to change their minds regarding him.

But Solae is forbidden to practice magic because of his mother, which limits his ability to pursue solutions. Desperate for advice and new ideas, he contacts a famous curse breaker—and has no idea what to do when the unexpectedly shows up, handsome and friendly and dangerously intriguing.

Megan Derr give us another M/M fairy tale in The Prince of the Moon.  Here its a frozen prince in a cursed kingdom.  The one that turned the kingdom into ice?  His mother burned for witchcraft and for being a false second Queen.  Solae is the cursed son of the witch, he’s the son the golden King wants to forget as he has his golden sons from his beloved first Queen.

The setting is ripe for love.  The lonely, gorgeous prince in his tower and the mysterious stranger who comes to town to break the evil curse.

Of course, nothing is ever quite so simple in a Megan Derr story.  There’s the curse itself and its interpretation.  Derr has a lovely twist in store for her readers here.  I wanted more on Solae’s mother’s history, of course.  She’s an intriguing character even by the hole she makes in the story and Solae’s life.  I wanted to know more about such a powerful figure.  There the interaction between Solae and Millio which  feels so natural despite being rushed.  There’s a deadline, and you can feel the pressure each is under to break the curse.  Is it love or the knowledge that it will lead to something deeper if given the chance…either way, I believed in them together.

The ending left me a little frustrated.  I don’t feel that those who did ill to our heroes had anything happen to them.  Instead, they were rewarded in a way.  I can’t go into specifics here because of spoilers but I feel that certain characters should have had repercussions for their actions past and present. That didn’t occur.  That lead to the rating above.

But did I love this couple and most of the story? Absolutely.  The world building  and fantasy surrounding them was marvelous.  Solae was a prince I’m so happy I got to meet.

Cover art by Aisha Akeju is beautiful and perfect for the story.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

Book Details:

Publisher Note: This story was previously released in Fairytales Slashed Volume 4

ebook, Second

Expected publication: January 25th 2017 by Less Than Three Press
ISBN139781620049730
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: The New Wolf (Building The Pack #1) by R.J. Scott

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

the-new-wolfA dangerous lone wolf is intent on destroying the beginnings of a pack and when Connor is attacked and near death, there is only one thing that can save him. A wolf shifter’s bite.

N.B. Originally published through Extasy Publishing, this edition features the same story with new cover art.

 

After a hate crime leaves one of them near dead, Veterinarian, Josh Nolan and Cop, Connor Vincent are starting a new life in Black Creek, a remote town on the edge of the Green Mountains Park, Vermont.

Josh is taking over his grandfather’s practice and Connor settles into working in the sheriff’s office covering the area.

When Connor pieces together a whole list of unsolved crimes going back fifty years he puts his life, and that of his partners, in danger.

A dangerous lone wolf is intent on destroying the beginnings of a pack and when Connor is attacked and near death there is only one thing that can save him. A wolf shifter’s bite.

I love RJ Scott, she and her stories are an immediate Must Buy/Must Read for me.  They are normally so well pulled together, cohesive, the characters as well thought out as her plots.  They make sense, emotionally, rationally even when you are  playing around with the supernatural.  Yet that doesn’t occur here in The New Wolf it pains me to say.

I love the plot.  After an attack on couple veterinarian Josh Nolan and police officer Connor Vincent (it was Vincent left hospitalized), both are starting a new life in the country, something that’s taking a major adjustment for Connor, the former city cop.

That’s where the problem  with the narrative is.  You get a hint that the balance of power in the relationship, maybe a D/s  is Josh is the Dom and Connor is a submissive but that doesn’t really go anywhere for long.  There’s too much that the author wants to accomplish in a small amount of length. So plot points start getting dropped in favor of all the many threads Scott wants to see introduced for the books down the road.

Connor is a cop who’s been involved in a near death attack.  He’s having PTSD issues (not really addressed here). Yet they move to the country where, yes, he’s attacked (its in the blurb) and almost killed.  So you would think two attacks would leave him shattered.  That would be at least close to realistic yet its brushed over in a way that astonished me considering its R.J. Scott.  The lack of depth when dealing with his attacks and the ramifications it would have on such a man and his relationships floor me.  Then comes the realization.  Where’s the anger?  There is no believable realistic emotions here.  Its like, ok, I’m a werewolf.  Its so surprising in its utter lack of foundation in this character’s makeup or storyline.  It almost made me look at the cover again to double check the author.

How the local police department handled it.  Much worse.  You can pretty much guess the scenario.  There are huge holes in the plot, a cliffhanger as to a killer on the loose, and a relationship that should be in pieces seems ok.  It just didn’t make a whole lot of sense when looked at as a whole.  Trouble is, I loved the beginning.  It has such promise.  Before it degenerated into a sort of supernatural mess.

So, don’t know what to tell you.  I loved half a book. Or less.  I’ll leave whether or not you want to read it, up to you.

Cover art by Meredith Russell is terrific.  Strong and dramatic. Love it.

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jseies

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2jUYgGJ

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Published January 16th 2017 by Love Lane Books Ltd (first published August 1st 2013)
ASINB01MUBNP7M
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesBuilding The Pack #1
CharactersJosh Nolan, Connor Vincent settingBlack Creek, Vermont (United States)

Word Count: 25,500

A Jeri Review: Dare You To (It Was Always You) (Wild Side 0.5) by Riley Hart

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

dare-you-to-by-riley-hartAnother novella I had to read because I am such a fan of Riley Hart’s work. This book sets up a new series she has coming out so it can almost be considered a prequel of sorts. At least, that is how I think of it.

Austin and Dare are friends, neighbors and complete opposites. Austin devotes almost all of his time to working at the LGBT youth center and when he isn’t there, he is home on his couch.  Dare owns a popular club and spends his free time doing anything BUT sit on the couch. Except on Sunday nights- their practically written in stone date night of popcorn and movies on the couch.

When Austin gets dumped- again- he gets a bit drunk and kisses Dare. And then Dare walks away.

Riley is practically the master of friends to lovers. She writes relatable characters with real life issues. The flow from friends to lovers is so seamless and natural. There is bumbling and awkwardness, but once they realize what is happening , it is all in for both.

And holy fan yourself can she write a sex scene!

I have to say that this book got me really excited for the coming series. According to the author, we will see Austin and Dare show up in the series, just not as main characters.

Cover art is dramatic.

Sales Link

c60a7-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

70 pages
Published January 5th 2017
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWild Side 0.5

In the New Release Spotlight: The New Wolf (Building The Pack #1) by RJ Scott (excerpt and giveaway)

The New Wolf (Building The Pack #1) – RJ Scott

 

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jseies

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2jUYgGJ

Length: 25,500 words

Cover: Meredith Russell 

Blurb

A dangerous lone wolf is intent on destroying the beginnings of a pack and when Connor is attacked and near death, there is only one thing that can save him. A wolf shifter’s bite.

After a hate crime leaves one of them near dead, Veterinarian Josh Nolan and Cop Connor Vincent are starting a new life in Black Creek, a remote town on the edge of the Green Mountains range, Vermont. Josh is taking over his grandfather’s practice, and Connor starts a new position with the local sheriff’s office. When Connor becomes curious about unsolved crimes going back fifty years he cant know the kind of secrets he begins to unearth. Or the danger that he puts himself and Josh in.

Excerpt

The smell of coffee woke him and he reached across the bed to check for Josh. When he felt empty sheets, he assumed Josh was the one making coffee. His feet hitting the floor sent a sensation of pain up his legs and he cursed under his breath. He had issued a check with Josh that his body couldn’t cash. Either that or he was getting old. Padding into the kitchen, he blearily rubbed his eyes. It seemed they’d slept through the day and it was after nine in the evening. Josh was wearing sweats that hung from his hipbones and in the soft light from the hall, the dark kitchen was casting weird shadows around his lover. Connor had never seen anything so beautiful as Josh leaning against the counter, waiting for the coffee machine to do its thing.

He yawned widely behind a hand and crossed to Josh, cuddling him from behind. Josh tensed in his arms momentarily in surprise. Evidently, he hadn’t expected Connor out of bed yet. Then he relaxed back into Connor’s hold and finally turned in his arms and pulled Connor closer for a hug.

“How you doing?” he asked gently.

“Aching a bit,” Connor answered truthfully. After five years together, Josh could see through Connor like his mom used to be able to do. According to Josh, he could tell when Connor was lying, joking, or any other ing Connor attempted to pull on him.

“You should probably take some more pain meds.” Josh punctuated that with a kiss and, for a second, they stood close and kissed gentle close-mouthed kisses and simply held each other.

“It’s weird,” Connor started. “My thigh is fine, my chest, fine, but I feel like every muscle in me aches, and my joints, my knees, even my damn elbows. Like I’ve pushed too many weights, or run three marathons back to back.”

Josh tugged back a little and, even without being able to see into Josh’s eyes, Connor knew his other half was probably going to mention the unnecessary sex in the hallway. He wasn’t wrong.

“We shouldn’t have done that this morning,” Josh admonished. “You’re not well enough.”

“I was fine. You weren’t complaining.”

Josh huffed a laugh, then turned back to the coffee. Carrying two mugs into the front room, they sat next to each other on the old wide sofa that had come as part of the house.

“I’ll be complaining tomorrow,” Josh deadpanned. “I’m not saying it wasn’t hot, but jeez, look at this.” He wriggled a little and pushed down his sweats to expose his left hipbone and five perfect crescent dents that were red and sore.

“Shit, babe,” Connor snapped immediately. He placed the coffee down, then touched the marks on Josh’s beautiful unblemished skin. “Did I do that?” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the marks, then sat back up, not knowing what to say. Should he say sorry? Is that what Josh wanted. Why was it so difficult to read Josh’s expression? Normally he could read Josh as easily as he, himself could be read.

“You just don’t know your own strength,” Josh said without accusation. Then he straddled Connor’s lap and buried his face in Connor’s neck. “I fucking loved it,” Josh mumbled.

Connor held him tight and relished the feel of Josh’s skin against his own. “I love you,” he said gently.

“I love you, too,” Josh murmured. “Don’t ever get attacked in the forest again. Okay?”

Connor moved so that more of Josh’s weight rested on him. The feeling of him was exquisite. Then he cuddled hard and made a mental promise never to go into the trees again.

Author Bio

RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

mailto:rj@rjscott.co.uk

www.rjscott.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/author.rjscott?ref=ts&fref=ts
www.goodreads.com/author/show/3432558.R_J_Scott
twitter.com/Rjscott_author
www.librarything.com/author/scottrj

 

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A Jeri Review: Please Don’t Go by Felice Stevens

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

please-dont-goI am not a huge fan of novellas because I think it is hard to tell an entire story in so few pages. BUT, when some of your favorite authors have stories in an anthology and then those shorts are released separately? Yes, please. Although this particular book does have some added content that wasn’t in the original.

Friends as teenagers in summer camp, Danny and Paul were as close as they could be. Between summers they connected over the phone-  mostly the slightly older Paul helping the younger Danny with his bullying problem and consoling him because his mother was ill. Until one day his phone call went unanswered.

Fate brings them back together 15 years later. With one man wary of love and the other wanting nothing more than love and a place to call home, they begin.

This was a super sweet book. I just wanted to hug poor Danny. Having Maxi as a side character and his best friend was absolutely perfect. Danny is so sheltered it isn’t a surprise that he doesn’t trust Paul.

On the other hand, I really wish Paul would have told Danny what had happened to make him disappear 15 years ago instead of saying “it doesn’t matter”. But really, that was the only part that bugged me- and that was slight.

For a novella, Ms Stevens packed an entire story in without sacrificing romance, sex or characters. Well done.

Cover art is touching and draws you to the story.

Sales Links

65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 2nd Edition, 65 pages
Published January 5th 2017 by Felice Stevens
ASINB01NCRHBVO
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Release Day Review: Camouflage by Jon Keys

Rating:  3.5 stars out of 5

 

camouflagefs_v1Nash Gallo and Luke Meyers seem like complete opposites on the surface. Nash is a city boy from Atlanta, while Luke is a rancher from rural Oklahoma. Nash is covered in tattoos and piercings, while Luke is self-conscious about his muscular, hairy body. Luke doesn’t have much sexual experience with other men, while Nash has plenty to go around.

 

But both men are lonely, and neither of them has ever been in love.

 

They also both have secrets. For Luke, it’s his shame over an affair with a local closeted and married man, something Nash accepts. Will Luke be as tolerant of what Nash is hiding—his job as a prostitute back in Georgia?

 

A week-long vacation on Luke’s ranch and the idyllic landscapes surrounding it gives both men the chance to relax and explore the attraction growing between them. But can the budding relationship survive secrets and small-town prejudices? As they search for the place where their lives might intersect, Nash and Luke risk far worse than broken hearts.

 

This story seems that it would be complete opposites attract, but not quite.  Nash may seem like the epitome of city boy with the tattoos and piercings, but he grew up in a small town near an army base until he was forced to leave for being gay.  He loves the quietness of Luke’s ranch and the company of the unassuming rancher, but knows his time is limited before he has to go back to his life.

 

Nash and Luke have been video chatting for months and when Nash gets assaulted by his latest John he takes Luke’s offer of a place to stay as the perfect opportunity to get away and heal for awhile.  Luke will do anything for a friend, but can be the shyest person around and for all that Luke has been out forever he has never been on a date or anything for his small minded town to see.  Both of these characters need to heal, but need each other to grow.

 

We get to see both of these character’s points of view, which helps to know what the characters are thinking.  Luke is very open and tells Nash everything about his past and is amazed as Nash’s acceptance.  Nash is open about his youth, but keeps a tight lid on his life in Atlanta; he waits until just before he is to leave before he opens up to Luke about his life because he doesn’t want to see the man he loves look down on him.  I love that it takes the wisdom of and old woman for Nash to decide to not just give up but to fight for them.

 

Cover art by LC Chase gives great visuals of the characters for the story.

 

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: January 20, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635332339

Edition Language: English