Category: M/M Romance

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Forbidden Mate (Holland Brothers #4) by Toni Griffin and Dominic M. McCartney (Narrator)

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

forbidden-mate-audio-jpg_origFinding his mate should have been Patrick Holland’s greatest day, instead it turned into a nightmare with one phone call. His mate didn’t want him. His heart broke, but at sixteen he was too young to do anything. The next ten years—ten long years— of Patrick’s life are spent at odds with his mate. Split by forces he can’t comprehend and a long line of misunderstandings, Patrick doubts he’ll ever get the man he’s both loved and hated.

 

Jake Richmond never expected to come home from Uni to find the youngest Holland brother was his mate. Knowing the news might uplift his still grieving father, Jake shares the news only to have his young mate threatened. Jake does the only thing he can think of, protect Patrick. The next ten years are nothing but torture for Jake as he watches his mate grow into a remarkable young man.

They say time heals all wounds, but how much time?

 

This is a wonderful addition to the Holland Brothers series.  Throughout the other books in the series I could tell there was something about Jake and Patrick, but didn’t know for sure.  Patrick and Jake have known each other forever and when they learn they are mates they are ecstatic, but Jake pushes Patrick away to protect him causing them both years of pain.

 

Jake has been watching over his mate from afar for years, hurting himself knowing he was hurting Patrick.  Both of them have reached their limit, Patrick can’t take his heart breaking over and over anymore and Jake decides to deal with his father and see if he has any chance for a future with his mate.  This story is heartbreaking to watch these two danced around each other, but still keeping everything a secret.  It’s a bit hard for me to believe the brothers never noticed anything, but I still loved this story.

 

Dominic M. McCartney did a wonderful job narrating this story.  I was able to understand the characters through the voices and emotions he portrayed.  The voices didn’t quite match what I had thought of for the characters, but it didn’t hurt the storytelling.  Even though this is a book I have read it felt new to me listening to him tell it.

 

Cover art looks great and follows the pattern for the series.

 

Sales Links: Mischief Corner Books | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 7 hrs 50 min
Published: October 21, 2016 (ebook, 2nd edition, published February 5, 2014) by MCB
Edition Language: English

Series: The Holland Brothers #4

A Caryn Release Day Review: September (Pride and Joy #1) by Robert Winter

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

september-by-robert-winterExceptionally beautiful and moving.  This is Robert Winter’s debut novel, and I will definitely be looking for more from him!

The blurb for this book doesn’t really do it justice, even though it basically lays out the entire plot.  There is no mystery, no crimes to solve, no near death experiences, just a story of two men and their journey of falling in love, and learning to make that love work despite circumstance and convention.  In short, everything I love – that excellent characterization that makes me want to know these men and their friends, and the authenticity of all the situations that lead them through turmoil to a well deserved happy ever after.

An omniscient observer opens the book by setting a rather lonely but somewhat hopeful scene.  A man in bed, alone, restlessly sleeping, and the observer hopes he is ready to move on to something new and better.  This man is David James, a 48 year old Washington DC lawyer who is still grieving his lover Kyle’s death two years previously.  David has channeled that grief into an almost obsessive devotion to exercise which eventually leads to a mild shoulder injury.  His doctor refers him to physical therapy, and David is surprised and a little embarrassed to find that he is attracted to his therapist, Brandon Smith.  That not-so-simple touch between therapist and patient makes him start thinking of how lonely he really is, and, as usual, he starts hearing Kyle’s voice in his head.  Telling him it’s completely normal to be attracted to another man.

Brandon is 27 years old, an athlete who gave up dreams of playing professionally after an injury, and is now working on building a career, though financially he’s struggling.  He is still an athlete, now playing a variety of recreational sports, and enjoying the occasional casual hookup.  He  isn’t really looking for a relationship, but as he comes to know David better over the weeks of therapy, they become friends, and flirt with their mutual attraction.  When they act on that attraction, the sex is mind-blowing (and well written!), and a revelation to Brandon who has never experienced that kind of connection with another man.

From the very beginning, though, their differences – age, wealth, background, experience – cause a lot of angst.  David can’t get over the 22 year age gap, and Brandon feels a little overwhelmed by David’s wealth and success.  Despite that, everything is wonderful as long as they keep their budding relationship in a bubble.  To most of the outside world though, theirs is the stereotypical rich daddy with a kept boy arrangement, and the biggest danger of that view is that both men fear there is some truth to it.  Getting over that anxiety means confronting their own doubts and fears, and learning to let go of pride.  It takes a tragedy that affects both of their identities to make that happen.

There was plenty of angst, both internal and external, none of it artificial.  I loved how Kyle almost became an active character himself through the memories of the men who knew him, and especially through the portrayal of David’s grief.  The way David learned how to incorporate his love for Kyle into his love for Brandon was a mark of true healing, notably because it never diminished how much he cared for Kyle even as he found new happiness with Brandon.

On a final note, the title of this book was entirely perfect.  The first time I really thought of it was when David was telling a friend his misgivings about getting into a May-December relationship.  His friend replied “First off, you’re not even fifty years old, so let’s drop the December comments.  At most this is a May-September situation.”   I thought that was pretty clever, but towards the end of the book, other events occur that make September even more special to both men, and make the title more memorable to me.  It’s rare that the title of a book connects with its theme as well as this one did.

Cover art by Catt Ford really captured the two men!

Sales Links

0dbe2-dreamspinner2blogo

9e7ee-all2bromance2bbutton

23fde-logo-amazon-kindle-reader-transparent-48x48

Book Details:

ebook, 290 pages
Expected publication: December 9th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635331189
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesPride and Joy #1

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: What Happens at Christmas by Jay Northcote and Mark Steadman (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

what-happens-at-christmas-by-jay-northcoteFirst and foremost, the most important disclaimer for this review is that I love holiday stories. The second is that I highly enjoy the work of Jay Northcote. And last, but certainly not least, I love Mark Steadman’s narrations. Put these all together, and it’s a no-brainer that I really enjoyed this short friends-to-lovers story.

Justin is heartbroken over the loss of his boyfriend—probably more so because the ex was cheating on him, works in the same office, and is now going to be at their holiday party—the party for which Justin doesn’t have a date. When his old friend Sean comes back from overseas and admits to Justin that he told his dad that he’s gay before he left on this last trip, Justin is surprised but happy. He’s lusted after the guy he grew up with for years, but Sean was straight, or so he thought.

When Sean agrees to accompany Justin to the office party as Justin’s boyfriend, little does Justin know that Sean is looking forward to the cuddles and kisses as much as Justin is. Add in a snowstorm that strands both men for the holidays, and their decision to stay together gives them a much better chance to follow through on what starts at the party.

Because it’s a short story, there’s not a lot of misunderstanding, angst, and soul-searching, and to be honest, I’m glad for that. But the two fated mates do look forward to their HEA as the story ends.

Jay pulled out the old friends-to-lovers trope, dusted it off, and created a highly enjoyable book. The fact that he got Mark Steadman to narrate shows his brilliance and bumps the rating up a notch. This is one that would make a wonderful stocking stuffer for all lovers of MM romance.

Cover art fits the  character and story.

Sales Links

Audible.com
Audible.co.uk
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk

Audiobook Details:

3 hrs 41 mins

Audible Audio, 4 pages

Published November 11th 2016 by Jaybird Press (first published November 19th 2015)
Original TitleWhat Happens At Christmas
ASINB01MXHOFVQ
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton and John Solo (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

trailer-trash-audioIt’s 1986, and what should have been the greatest summer of Nate Bradford’s life goes sour when his parents suddenly divorce. Now, instead of spending his senior year in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he’s living with his father in Warren, Wyoming, population 2,833 (and Nate thinks that might be a generous estimate). There’s no swimming pool, no tennis team, no mall—not even any MTV. The entire school’s smaller than his graduating class back home, and in a town where the top teen pastimes are sex and drugs, Nate just doesn’t fit in.

Then Nate meets Cody Lawrence. Cody’s dirt-poor, from a broken family, and definitely lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Nate’s dad says Cody’s bad news. The other kids say he’s trash. But Nate knows Cody’s a good kid who’s been dealt a lousy hand. In fact, he’s beginning to think his feelings for Cody go beyond friendship.

Admitting he might be gay is hard enough, but between small-town prejudices and the growing AIDS epidemic dominating the headlines, a town like Warren, Wyoming, is no place for two young men to fall in love.

I well remember the eighties. I know I’m dating myself, but as my reviewer name says, I’m a zany old lady. I got that way from living through those eighties. Just kidding. But I do have a very close friend who realized he was gay in his early teens and couldn’t tell anyone in our small, homophobic hometown. He visited Chicago with his twin brother and a friend when he was eighteen and when he graduated from high school, he took what I now know was a courageous leap of faith and moved there alone. He’s been with his partner since the mid-eighties and I can recall keeping him in my prayers when the AIDS crisis peaked.

This is a young adult story featuring two young men, Cody and Nate, who I totally fell in love with. Their story made me think of my friend all while I was reading. Each had a different family background and set of circumstances, yet fate brought them together at a time when gay men were still in hiding in most of the states, and most definitely in a rural territory in Wyoming. There are so many very, very sad times in this story. It’s definitely not fluff. But it’s also not something that I would pass up, no matter how tough it got. Marie Sexton never fails to reach down deep in my gut and wrench up all the feels I try to keep hidden, and she does it with such finesse, I can easily forgive her.

John Solo’s narration was spot on. Two weeks later and I can still hear their voices and feel their pain, and of course, their moments of joy. Cody and Nate’s story is not to be missed and the audiobook format is wonderful.

Cover art by Jay Aheer is poignant and quite wonderful.

Sales Links

Riptide Publishing

Audiobook Details:

Listening Length: 9 hours and 43 minutes
Audible Audio, 10 pages

Published October 19th 2016 by Riptide Publishing (first published March 21st 2016)
ASINB01M5BJX19
Edition Language English

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Dirty Little Secret (Cabin For Two Series) by Freddy MacKay and Michael Pauley (Narrator)

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

 

dirty-little-secretErik decides geocaching is the best way to heal himself after work and personal problems overwhelm him, but the trip goes horribly wrong. Falling down the side of a mountain deters Erik’s plans for a quick cache find, but his rescuer is the one person who may be able to save Erik in more ways than he can imagine.

 

This was a nice story, if a bit depressing at times.  Erik’s life has turned to crap, finding out his lover was married and is now his boss just seems to get worse.  He doesn’t know where to turn for help, so he decides to spend some time alone with his thoughts.  Turns out it brings him to the steps of a friend and colleague, Jonah.

 

This story is told from Erik’s point of view and he is wallowing in self pity.  He hasn’t had anyone to turn to since he found out about Jerry’s lying.  Erik feels that he has to keep Jonah at arms length even when he is helping him recover.  When Jonah finally tells Erik all he had done to try and win Erik over without flat out saying anything, he is speechless.  I just wish we could have seen these two when they are together in the future.

 

Michael Pauley did a good job narrating this story.  I could connect with the characters through the voices and emotions he portrayed.  Even though this is a book I have read it gave me a new connection to the story listening to him.

 

Cover art is nice and catches your eye.

 

Sales Links: Mischief Corner Books | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2 hrs 16 min
Published: October 28, 2016 (ebook, published September 21, 2013) by MCB
Edition Language: English

Blitz and Giveaway – KC Wells’ Saving Jason

Saving Jason – K.C. Wells

Author: K.C. Wells
 
Length: 31,300 words
 
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
 
Blurb

When David Merrow is given the task of finding a suitable soup kitchen so his company can improve their PR, he realizes he needs help. He turns to Jason Garton, the owner of the coffee house that David visits every morning. Funny how it took David so long to notice all the food and beverages Jason gives away to the homeless. Because until then, Jason had been almost invisible.

But the more David learns about him, the more intrigued he becomes. There’s something about the selfless, lonely older man that pulls David in, and what began as work becomes so much more.

 
Author Bio
 

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. WELLS always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, when the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

And as for those men in love that she writes about? The list of stories just waiting to be written is getting longer… and longer….

 

K.C. loves to hear from readers.
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: http://www.kcwellsworld.com

 Giveaway

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

E.J. Russell on Characters and their release ‘Clickbait’ by E.J. Russell (guest post and giveaway)

clickbait-600x900

Clickbait by E.J. Russell
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C. Chase

Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

~

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have E.J. Russell here today talking about Gideon, one of the characters in Clickbait and the Geeklandia series.  Welcome, E.J.!

~

Gideon: A Peek Before Clickbait

Clickbait is actually the second book in my Geeklandia series about a group of friends in Portland—roommates Charlie, Gideon, and Lindsay, their sidecar friend Toshiko—and their search for romance, wherein geeks pair with non-geeks, much to everyone’s astonishment. Gideon, one of the co-heroes of Clickbait, made his grand entrance in the first book, Lost in Geeklandia, where he helps his BFF Charlie overcome her gawkitude and land her man. (Charlie appears in Clickbait as well, as do Toshiko and Lindsay—who’s the sister of Gideon’s co-hero, Alex.)

This is a deleted scene from Lost in Geeklandia, where Gideon (in his Noel Coward-inspired red brocade dressing gown) tries to prep Charlie for her next interaction with her childhood friend and later nemesis, Daniel (whom Gideon refers to as He-man). She has thirty days to turn Daniel into her boyfriend or lose the chance at her dream job—and the clock is ticking.

Gideon tapped his fork on the empty Tupperware bowl. “Attention, please. Back to He-man. Tell me you at least managed a good-night kiss.”

Charlie’s cheeks heated as if she’d dry-roasted them along with the peanuts in the snack smorgasbord. “Of course I didn’t. We’re talking about Daniel Shawn. It would be easier for me to manage a good-night kiss from Chris Pine.”

“Charles, Charles, Charles. Whatever am I going to do with you? Stop thinking of him as a threat and think of him as an opportunity.” He popped off the barstool. “Let’s SWOT this.”

Lindsay stopped mashing avocado and wiped her forehead with the back of one wrist, her expression troubled. “I know you’re trying to help, Gideon, but do you really think it’s okay for Charlie to hit Daniel?”

He patted her cheek. “S-W-O-T, darling, not S-W-A-T. Strength, weakness, opportunity, threat. Standard management exercise, as Charles would know if she’d taken any business classes amid all the technobabble.”

“It’s hard to take you seriously as a management consultant when you’re dressed like Raul Julia as Gomez Addams,” Charlie grumbled.

“Gomez wore a smoking jacket, not a dressing gown. Stop focusing on inconsequentials.”

Gideon plucked the magnetized dry erase marker off the refrigerator and slashed a grid on the whiteboard they used for their grocery list. In giant letters, he scrawled an S and a W across the top row. “This represents your internal organization. Whatever you perceive as your own.” He added an O and a T down the left side. “This represents the Other. The outer world. Things you don’t control.”

“I’m not sure I control anything.”

“Stop it. See.” He pointed to each letter with the marker. “Strength. Weakness. Opportunity. Threat. Your weakness is this unaccountable need you have to hide your talents under a virtual bushel. Your strengths are legion, but when it comes to Daniel, you forget that you are a smart woman and act like a freaking moron.”

Charlie glared at him. “Don’t you have a hot date to get to?”

Gideon’s gaze flew to the clock above the sink. “God. I’m late. Only concern about your sex life could distract me from my own.” He smacked the marker back on the refrigerator. “Think about it. There’ll be a test later.”

He disappeared down the hall in a billow of red satin.

About Clickbait

After the disastrous ending of his first serious relationship, Gideon Wallace cultivated a protective—but fabulously shiny—outer shell to shield himself from Heartbreak 2.0. Besides, romance is so not a priority for him right now. All his web design prospects have inexplicably evaporated, and to save his fledgling business, he’s been compelled to take a hands-on hardware project—as in, his hands on screwdrivers, soldering irons, and needle-nosed pliers. God. Failure could actually be an option.

Journeyman electrician Alex Henning is ready to leave Gideon twisting in the wind after their run-ins both on and off the construction site. Except, like a fool, he takes pity on the guy and offers to help. Never mind that between coping with his dad’s dementia and clocking all the overtime he can finagle, he has zero room in his life for more complications.

Apparently, an office build-out can lay the foundation for a new relationship. Who knew? But before Alex can trust Gideon with the truth about his fragile family, he has to believe that Gideon’s capable of caring about more than appearances. And Gideon must learn that when it comes to the heart, it’s content—not presentation—that matters.

Now available from Riptide Publishing. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/clickbait

About E.J. Russell

E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.

E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

Connect with E.J.:

Website: ejrussell.com
Blog: ejrussell.com/bloggery/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/E.J.Russell.author
Twitter: twitter.com/ej_russell
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ejrussell/

clickbait-tourbanner

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Clickbait, one lucky winner will receive $25 in Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 10, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!