In Need of Inspiration…about July. This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

In Need of Inspiration…about July

With all the sadness and madness in the news today combined with the heat facing me outside my door, I was in need of inspiration for my post this morning. Too early for the dog days of Summer, although the events felt like it. Mad Dogs and Englishmen? Falls under the same category believe it or not.

So I went looking for things about the month of July, that midmonth of summer wondering what I would find other than the usual 4th of July and Canada Day mentions. What a mixed bag…

In the Georgian calendar, the calendar that most of the world uses, July is the seventh month. However, on the Roman calendar, it was actually the fifth month and was call Quintilis, which meant fifth. Later in 46 B.C., Caesar gave 31 days and the Roman Senates named the month Julius in honor of Caesar. In northern hemisphere, July is usually the hottest month of the year when it is actually a winter time in southern hemisphere. It gets very cold in Antarctica and cold and rainy in South America. Because there isn’t much rain in July, the grass loses its greenness. Moreover, the abundance of flowers and insects occur in July.

Some immediate facts that floated to the top:

On July 1, 1898, the San Juan Hill was occupied by the American troops during the Spanish-American War.
During World War I on July 1, 1916, the Battle of Somme began.
On July 2, 1881, President James Garfield was killed by Charles Guiteau.
On July 11, 1804, during a duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, Hamilton was killed.
The first atomic bomb was set off by scientists in Alamogordo, New Mexico on July 16, 1945.

Hmmm…the dig went on.

On July 1, 1867, the Dominion of Canada was established due to the British North America Act.
On July 5, 1971, Amendment 26 was proclaimed which set the voting age at 18 in the United States.
On July 16, 1790, District of Columbia was established.
On July 2, 1890, the Sherman Antitrust Act (an Act to prohibit trusts) was passed by the United States Congress
The 38th President of the United States, Gerald R. Ford, was born on July 1, 1913.

Then finally…hope arrived in the form of National holidays…ones I didn’t even know about…but I’m putting them on the calendar now. blueberry6

July is officially National Blueberry Month, National Ice Cream Month and drumroll please, National Hot Dog Month. Be Still My Heart. I’ve a love for all three. So a month made for me. And its only half over! So now I’m grabbing a spoon and heading for the Blue Bunny double chocolate fudge. Maybe with some blueberries on top. Don’t judge. Join me after looking over our great lineup this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. There’s something for everyone.

July-National-Ice-Cream-Month

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 10:

In Need of Inspiration…about July.
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
In the Spotlight: Ice (The Salisbury Series #2) by Chris Quinton & RJ Scott (excerpt and giveaway)

Monday, July 11:

The Silvers by J.A. Rock Blog Tour and Giveaway
Complexity by Harper Miller Tour and Giveaway
A Paul B Review: Delivered to Hope by Caitlin Ricci & AJ Marcus
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Until September by Chris Scully
A Stella Review: Chasing the Dream by Andrew Grey

Tuesday, July 12:

AJ Llewellyn’s re-release of Mating Tomeo. Release Day Tour and Giveaway
Gays of Our Lives by Kris Ripper Blog Tour and Giveaway
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Gays of Our Lives by Kris Ripper
A BJ Review: Assumed Dead by Becky Black
An Alisa Review: Code Name Jack Rabbit by Elizabeth Noble

Wednesday, July 13:

An Alisa Review: Awakening the Alpha by Carolina Valdez
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Designs of Desire by Tempeste O’Reilly
A Jeri Review: Dinner for One by Meg Harding
An Ali Review: Wildflowers by Suki Fleet
A MelanieM Review: Kissing Alex by R.J. Scott

Thursday, July 14:

Book Blitz and Giveaway – The Olive Conspiracy by Shira Glassman
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Dogwood Days & Spring Fever by Poppy Dennison
A Stella Review: Picked Fresh by Posy Roberts
An Alisa Review: Sign Here Please by Feral Sephrian

Friday, July 15:

In the Spotlight: Into the Blue by Pene Hanson (excerpt and giveaway)
Book Blitz and Giveaway – Summer Lovin’ Anthology
Acceptance Blog Tour and Giveaway by Grace R. Duncan blog
A Paul B Review: Acceptance by Grace R. Duncan
A MelanieM Review: The Greek Tycoon’s Green Card Groom by Kate McMurray
An Alisa Review: Lock & Key – Z. Allora

Saturday, July 16:

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Left of Centre by Zathyn Priest
A Lila Audiobook Review: Love Hypothetically by Anne Tenino
A Stella Review: Strong Medicine by JK Hogan

national hot dog month

An Ali Review: Cops and Robby by Carol Lynne

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Cops, Cole and Morgan Caldwell, have always had to hide their love for each other from the outside world. They are content with each other until the night they rescued Robby. Beaten and left in an alley by a john, Robby has never known true kindness and soon falls for both men, but Robby’s got a problem. His pimp, Vince, isn’t ready to let him go.

Can two cops love a prostitute or will Robby’s baggage be too much for them to carry?

Cole found Robby in an alley in pain on his way home one night. Morgan is wary of the stranger and doesn’t want anyone to come between him and Cole. As they give Robby time to heal they learn some new things about each other.

Cole and Morgan already have a taboo relationship, but it is based on their deep love for each other. They don’t hide their relationship from Robby and welcome him to their lives.

My heart broke for Robby with how bad his life has been so far and how he believes that Cole and Morgan are just too good to be true. Cole loves having someone to take care of, while Morgan has someone else to protect. This was a shorter story that held a lot of emotions, it was wonderful to see the three of them get their HEA.

The cover art is nice, but needs to be zoomed in a bit to see the details.

Sales Link: Wilde City Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 21,992 words
Published: 2nd Edition, April 13, 2016 by Wilde City Press
ISBN: 9781925313925
Edition Language: English

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Permanently Legless by JL Merrow

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Permanently Legless new Chris came home from Afghanistan when he was severely injured and lost both legs. Finally released from medical care and adjusting to civilian life, with his sense of humor intact, he sets out for the local gay bar where he met a guy the week before he shipped out. Josh has been on his mind a lot, and he hopes to at least get to see him there, though he’s pretty sure Josh has forgotten him, and even if not, Josh may be turned off by Chris’s disability.

When Josh gave his number to Chris, he really hoped he’d hear from him again. It’s been close to a year but the man was truly unforgettable. Now, when he turns around and spots Chris, he’s shocked but finds himself still attracted. Can there be any hope for someone Chris probably filed away as a one-night stand?

I hope all readers enjoy this story as much as I did. Though brief, it packs a lot of punch. And it’s also full of humor, much of it from Chris and his light-hearted view of his circumstances. Both characters are sweet and seem genuinely suited to each other. A nice tidbit to make me wish for more about these guys in the future.

Cover art on this new edition, by Written Ink Designs, depicts a fully armed soldier in uniform looking skyward. There’s a British flag superimposed at the bottom of the cover with a small wheelchair in the left corner. The cover captures Chris’s spirit.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 23 pages
Published June 4th 2016 by JMS Books (first published January 22nd 2012)
ISBN139781634860994
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Stella Review: Set Me Free by Kitty Stephens

RATING 3.75 out of 5 stars

Set Me Free Aaron Ledbetter’s future had been planned out for him since before he was born. Each year, the Ledbetter family vacation on Tybee Island gave Aaron a chance to briefly free himself from his family’s expectations. When he meets Jonas “Lucky” Luckett, a caricature artist in town with the traveling carnival, he must choose between the life that’s been mapped out for him, and the chance at true love.

Set Me Free is Kitty Stephens‘ debut novel, in my opinion a very well done young adult story. Two things conquered me, the characters and the writing.

Lucky is eighteen years old, his highschool teacher found him a summer job to a carnival off the coast of Georgia. He is nervous, knowing this is a great chance for his future in an art college but it can’t wait to start enjoying a summer doing what he can do best.

Aaron is looking forward his three months on the Tybee Island to live without his parents’ expectations to go to Harward, take over their company and marry his bestfriend, Lyn. He wants nothing of that.

Aaron and Lucky come from two very different words, being together is hard, for Aaron, deeply in the closet with no intention of coming out due to parents that have planned his life without asking for their son’s dreams. And for Lucky too, out and proud, with no money and only his talent and a supporting (except for distracting boyfriend) mum. It was a pleasure to see their relationship bloom, Aaron let go of his fears and open up to Lucky. At the same time it was painful too, especially when Aaron and Lyn kept things from each other, afraid of the implications their actions and with who they fall in love, could have on their lives.

I found the writing very good, the reading flew easily and I get to the end without even realizing it. I particularly loved the descriptions, I really felt myself in the carnival, on the beach, at Lucky’s booth waiting for him to draw me in. The author did an amazing work, she sucked me into the MCs’ lives and it was impossible to let them go.

At the end what I got was a story about freedom, summer loves and finally achieve your wishes. It is sweet, emotional and lovely. I feel I can recommend it. I can say I’m curious to read more by Kitty Stephens.

The cover design by CB Messer is what caught my attention first. It’s so cute and sweet, I simply couldn’t resist. And it perfectly portraits the story of Aaron and Jonas.

Sales Links: Interlude Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition,192 pages
Published June 6th 2016 by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press
ASIN B01GPD1EZU
Edition Language English

Connect with Harper Miller On Writing LGBT Characters of Color, Interracial Romance & Complexity (Kinky Connect Chronicles) by Harper Miller

TITLE: Complexity (Kinky Connect Chronicles) by Harper Miller
COVER ARTIST: Taria Reed Digital Artist

LENGTH: 140 Pages
RELEASE DATE: July 8, 2016

Interracial/Multicultural Romance and Writing LGBT Characters of Color

By Harper Miller

My latest release Complexity features a gay interracial/multicultural pairing. One of my MCs is Puerto Rican, and the other is white. Writing this story, I had to tap into a multitude of sources to ensure I got Manny’s character right. Luckily, I have numerous Puerto Rican friends. My translator who assisted me with Manny’s lingo is Puerto Rican, and my copy editor is also Puerto Rican. It was like winning the lottery with getting input with this story! I believe that if you’re writing about a culture that is not your own, it’s imperative to get feedback from people who live the culture day in and day out. It also helps that one of my beta readers is a bisexual male. Of course, they’re not the authorities on what makes someone Puerto Rican or bi, but they prevented me from heading into WTF territory and provided some authenticity.

When I envisioned this story; I knew I wanted my hero to be different. We’re used to seeing the “spicy Latin lover” in romance novels, and I wanted to get as far away from that image as possible. Why not a guy who was the epitome of what most people would perceive as uber-masculine and rough around the edges? More real, less refined, and street savvy. Those qualities attracted me to Manny’s character. I envisioned him as the anti-hero. The everyday guy who just happened to stumble upon a ridiculous situation that altered the course of his life.

I also wanted to tap into the hookup culture when it comes to being online. Sites like Grindr make it so incredibly hard for dating to happen. While I’m not a gay male, I can say for certain that sites like Tinder, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, and Match.com aren’t any better from a woman’s perspective. Someone is always looking for the next best thing. With Manny, he wanted one thing and one thing only, a mind-blowing orgasm. Funny, he got way more than he bargained for.

For me, it was important to mention the racial dynamics between Chris and Manny. Far too often people skim over their characters discussing race as if it will take away from the story. I think taking the racial dynamics into account makes the story real. In 2016, race is still an issue, and it’s often something that impacts interracial couplings so why not touch on it?

I write primarily interracial/multicultural erotica for this very reason. We don’t get to see people of color at the helm of mainstream contemporary romance. We also don’t often see people of color with kinky tendencies show up in well-developed plots. The Kinky Connect Chronicles kills two birds with one stone. You get stories that acknowledge racial differences and embrace kinky proclivities. Oh, and there’s hot man lovin’… RAWR!

Sure, I’m a bit bias, but if you’re looking for a story that’s engaging and quick with just the right amount of filth, I think you should give Complexity a whirl.

BLURB

Fairy tale endings weren’t made for people like me. Happy for now usually ain’t in the cards, either.

The dents on my wall from where my headboard kept knockin’ against the same spot was the first clue that I needed to calm my ass down. At the rate I was racking up notches and plowing through hookups, I wasn’t ever gonna find nothing real. Guess I kinda jinxed myself. I created my circumstances. You can’t get what you want if you keep falling back into the same pattern of bad habits. But then things changed. I stumbled onto somethin’ I never in a million years expected to happen. You gotta understand, I’m never the guy who wins. It was supposed to be just sex, but that shifty, rhyming and scheming bastard, Cupid, pulled a fast one.

I may have changed some stuff to protect a couple of people. But before you go believing the tabloids, make sure you understand that you’re gettin’ the lowdown straight from the source.

I needed to get this off my chest and it’s only fair that you at least get my side of it all. At some point, I might regret telling you any of this, but for now, you need to know.

*Disclaimer* This is a novella. Not a short story, novelette, or novel. This tale features an M/M pairing. If gay erotica/erotic romance is not your cup of tea and you are offended by same-sex relationships or crass language, you should bypass this story. Content is intended for a mature audience, 18+.

Complexity is the fourth installment in The Kinky Connect Chronicles. The Kinky Connect Chronicles are short erotic stories/novelettes all wrapped up in neat little bows. These stories are standalones. No cliffhangers in the lot!

Could we be more different? Him: famous, rich white dude. Me: Latino entrepreneur who stocked up on ramen noodles and peanut butter when Key Food had a sale. This dude was so beyond my scope but he didn’t act any differently than a hookup I would’ve scored downtown at one of the gay bars in Chelsea.

Honestly, I didn’t know if me taking this shit with Christopher to the next level was a good thing or a bad thing. I held my own. I had my own business and made money legitimately doing shit I loved. Some days were a struggle, and I fell on hard times every now and again, but I woke up with a sense of purpose. Maybe I was overthinking things. I knew this was just about sex, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I was some sort of pity fuck or if Chris had a Latino fetish. He seemed genuinely attracted to me, but you know, there’s always somebody on the web lookin’ to get their rocks off with that token piece of ass.

I needed to stop with the assumptions and just take the moment for what it was, because an opportunity like this wouldn’t ever happen again.

Stayin’ in my head was gonna fuck everything up, so I focused on the twinkling lights near the waterfront seventeen stories down. “Good, I don’t bareback either. If rubbers aren’t required, we ain’t fuckin’. Seems like it’s a little too late to be having this discussion, but I’m clean. I get tested every six weeks. Got a copy of my results in my wallet if you wanna see.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Every six weeks? Sleep around a lot?”

I laughed, pulling off my polo. “I like sex. I like safe sex. I like to be certain I stay safe, so if that means gettin’ tested more often, I’m cool with that.”

Sales Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | All Romance eBooks | Kobo Store

Harper Miller is a thirty-something native New Yorker. She’s traveled the world and lived in a variety of places but always finds her way back to the Big Apple. A lackluster love life leaves time to explore new interests, for Harper it is writing. The Sweetest Taboo: An Unconventional Romance is her debut novel. In her mind, the perfect Alpha male possesses intellect, humor, and a kinky streak that rivals the size of California.

When she isn’t writing, Harper utilizes her graduate degree in the field of medical research. She enjoys fitness-related activities, drinking copious amounts of wine and going on bad dates.

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For regular updates on upcoming books and more by Harper Miller, sign up to her Newsletter

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A MelanieM Review: A King and a Pawn (Leader Murders #3) by Liv Olteano

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Bert Cooper’s life used to be great, until his sister turned out to be a traitor. Now Bert feels the whole pack looks on him with doubt and suspicion. To prove his loyalty, he volunteers to be the first ambassador at Fey Court, gathering information to finally solve the Leader Murders and punish those plotting against the Council and community. At least, that was the plan….

When Bert meets Sir William Matthew Sims, Court Interrogator, and one hell of a sexy man, life becomes a balancing act. And when the Fey King is assassinated, things become really messy.

Pack politics, fey politics, treason, suspicions of treason…. Bert has to choose between being ruled by his fears or standing up for what—and who—he believes in. And it might just break his heart.

Liv Olteano’s Leader Murders series caught my eye from the first book, A Tooth For a Fang (Leader Murders #1) with its unusual take on the mate bond and its the potential for abuse normally not mentioned in other shifter fiction. The author runs this theme throughout the two books that follow, throwing in multiple supernatural beings, political plotting and of course, murder mysteries that need to be solved all the way to the end. In each story there’s a major couple linked heavily to each other in a memorable way. In the second story A Counselor Among Wolves (Leader Murders #2), we ended with Bert Cooper, the somewhat pudgy beta to the wolf Alpha Weiss devastated by a betrayal and trying to deal with the consequences. A King and a Pawn (Leader Murders #3) picks up immediately after the events have taken place.

Bert is one of those characters readers flock to emotionally like geese to water. He’s vulnerable, full of self doubts, loving, loyal, capable of being so much more than he thinks he is. He’s overweight but instead of feeling bad about himself, he accepts it. He likes it in fact…because in truth he will never give up his sweets or the fact the he adores cooking. The model on the cover? A perfect representation of Bert Cooper…chef, beta, manny, and werewolf. Trust me there is no way not to fall in love with this character. He’s fully fleshed out, anxieties included and watching him fall in love and find his strengths here is such a joy I intend to sit back and read it all over again.

Sir William Matthew Sims? The Fey Court Interrogator? Another gem of a character, along the lines of a hard diamond. The history Olteano has created here for the Fey and the families is nothing short of nightmarish. And believable as narrated by Will to Bert. From their initial meeting to all the revelations about Will’s character and background…well, its a stunner. And I never enjoyed anything more. For Will and Bert to become a couple requires them to overcome not just a Mount Everest of distrust but battles at court and more things then I can go into here without making some major spoilage noise. But the storylines are many and rich, you’ll never be bored and there is a sideline with families that hooked me completely. I really hope Olteano considers revisiting this world at some time to check in on all the couples here to see how they are progressing.

And yes, all the other couples make appearances here as do minor secondary characters. Plot lines get tied up, the fat lady sings, true love wins out, and the ending is everything I hoped for and more. Really I adored this book and series. If you love shifters, or even if you just love romance, you will too.

Need a new series? Love romance? This isn’t a stand alone…so read all three! I highly recommend them all. But this is by far my favorite. Oh, Bert Cooper! How could Will not fall in love with you!

Cover art by Angsty G is absolute perfection. Rarely do I say that when it has characters on it but Angsty G’s idea for Bert and Will mesh completely with mine and the story’s. Great job.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 234 pages
Published June 17th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 163477342X (ISBN13: 9781634773423)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series: Leader Murders – add to Goodreads here

A Jeri Review: Smoke and Mirrors (THIRDS book 7) by Charlie Cochet

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

You have read the THIRDS series, right? If you haven’t- READ IT! Start at the beginning. Trust me.

Smoke and Mirrors is book seven in the excellent series, THIRDS. This book picks up with the serious cliffhanger ending from Catch a Tiger by the Tail, book 6. As fans of the series know, we were left wndering what happened to Dex when Sloane woke up to find him gone. And boy do we find out.

While many of the books deal with various relationships- Dex and Sloane, Ash and Cael, Calving and Hobbs- there is always an intriguing story behind it all. Complex and interesting, the continuing story sucks you in and keeps you coming back for more. To say you get invested in these characters is an understatement.

In this installment, there are no new relationships being formed. Instead, this book focuses all on the story. What really happened to Dex’s parents. Who know what. How intricate the web is. Who can you trust and not trust? Watching the team come together to save and help one of their own shows how tight they all are, We continue to see the romantic involvements between the various couples, and we hope beyond hope for other couples to form.

I have to say that the one big twist was pretty apparent even before it was revealed. Even with that knowledge, it was no less gasp worthy.

I have to mention that there was one brief part in the book that was so relevant to what is happening in the news, I wondered briefly if Ms.Cochet was psychic.

These books make you think, make you swoon, make you literally laugh out loud and make you cry. Although I love that it is a “gay romance” I would hazard a guess that if it were a mainstream romance it would be a chart buster and have producers fighting for the movie rights.

The tagline of “Everything changes” whetted our appetites and this book completely satisfied.

Cover art by L.C. Chase is perfect for the book and series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon more links to come

Book Details:

ebook, 230 pages
Expected publication: July 8th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634773888 (ISBN13: 9781634773881)
Edition LanguageEnglishSeriesTHIRDS #7

Book Blitz for The Runaway Millions by Parker Avrile (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: The Runaway Millions

Author: Parker Avrile

Series Title and Number: The Runaway Model Book 2

Publisher: Paris April Press

Cover Artist: Paris April Press Designs

Release Date: April 12, 2016

Heat Level: 3

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 261 pages (78,000 words)

Genre/Tags: Contemporary Romance, M/M Romance

Add To Goodreads

Synopsis

They’re the perfect couple until the money runs out…

Kyle, a rising model, is the toast of Manhattan. Bryce, a wildcatter who got rich in the Bakken gas fields, is an inch away from becoming America’s newest billionaire.

But their world is turned upside-down when a competing oil company wrests away Bryce’s business, his personal jet, and even his condo. Bryce has no choice but to scramble to save his career– even though a famous rock star is sniffing around in hopes of claiming Kyle for his own.

When Kyle steps forward to defend another model accused of a terrible crime, he’s deported. The tabloids follow him, happy to spread rumors about his alleged affairs with the beautiful and the famous of Europe.

Can love survive when one man is on his way up while the other is on his way down? When an ocean divides the lovers? When the gossip columns can’t help stirring the pot? The Runaway Millions is Book 2 in The Runaway Model trilogy. This 78,000 word full-length novel complete with a HEA can be read as a stand-alone but if you prefer to read the series in order, please start with The Runaway Model.

Excerpt

Kyle cleared customs in minutes. Checked into the lounge. Ordered not champagne but a tall glass of cranberry juice over ice.

He was early. Sinking into a deep brown leather seat acres away from any other visible human, he plugged in his phone to make sure the battery was topped off.

In an hour the lounge would be packed arse-to-elbow with screaming, giggling, new-to-business-class tourists. But it was empty and silent now.

A voice call then.

While he still had the chance.

“Bryce,” he said. “Pick up. Please pick up, love. I’m about to board a flight to London. I’ve been deported.”

“Kyle.” The line was clear. Crisp. It was like Bryce had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to speak into his ear.

“I’ve been kicked out of America, love.”

“I’m sorry,” Bryce said. “But I have to admit I’m not entirely surprised. You were taking some crazy chances.” He sounded tired.

Kyle could imagine Bryce pushing his sandy hair out of his blue-gray eyes. A pang of loneliness shot through his heart. Why did fate always find a way to keep them apart?

“My agent lined up some jobs for me in London. If you’re not too busy–”

“You know that I’m very busy.” The words were hard, but the tone was soft. Weariness could do that. Bryce needed a break. He really did.

“Then next week it’s on to Paris,” Kyle said. “Ever been to Paris?”

There was a pause. “I have to save what’s left of my business, Kyle. I can’t drop everything to take a romantic jaunt to Paris.”

“Please, baby. Just two nights.”

A longer silence.

“Please. I’ve missed you. It’s a bad time for us to be apart, Bryce. It’s too new, love. You know that.”

“I know. I do know that. I’ll come. Paris. Next week.”

Purchase

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Itunes

Meet the Author

I ran away to Vegas. Now I’m running from it.

Website | Twitter

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A Stella Review: Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage (2016 Daily Dose – A Walk on the Wild Side) by C.S. Poe

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Love, Marriage and a Baby Carriage Theodore Reinhart is a young man looking for love. In San Diego. At a convention. For penguin shifters. WaddleCon is the go-to event of the year when looking for your life partner, but Theodore isn’t comfortable with the game they’ve turned dating into, nor does the convention provide for the gay community. A mistake in speed dating table assignments puts Theodore in front of Wesley O’Neill, a handsome and confident model who lets it slip that he’s definitely noticed the spark of attraction between them.

A perfect date ends prematurely when Theodore finds an abandoned egg in a bathroom trash can. Unable to leave it behind, Theodore and Wesley play a mad game of cat and mouse across the resort trying to keep it safe, all while growing closer to one another. Wesley may be the forever partner Theodore came looking for, but their relationship won’t work if they don’t make room for a little addition to the family.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Daily Dose package “A Walk on the Wild Side.”

Theodore is having a bad day. With no suitcase (lost somewhere between New York, where he lives, and San Diego, where he has just landed for the Waddle Con), a messy hair and an awful suit (brown jacket and salmon pants. Can you imagine him?) But his bad luck has no end. He had just discovered the Waddle Con is a convention for single people who wants to find their forever penguin partner. Yes, he is a Magellanic penguin shifter but there’re a little problem. He is really not so straight. Then forced to join a speed dating, after woman #6, he sits at a table where an unbelievable beautiful man with dimples, aka Wesley is. The attraction and something more deep soon sparkle between them. And just when their dinner date is finally going to turn the heat on, in the trash bin of the restaurant’s restroom, Theodore finds an abandoned egg.

Love, Marriage, And a Baby Carriage made my day. It is very short, nonetheless the author did an amazing work. In just 32 pages I got a complete story, sweet, funny and with no pauses. A crescendo of great scenes that wrap up with a super cute ending. It was just adorable, my first book by C.S. Poe and I can’t wait to read more by her. Plus it was the first time I read about penguin shifters, the little scene where Wes swims in the bathtub was too quick. I want more of this world, I want more of Wes, Theodore and their baby.

The cover art by Catt Ford was not made for this particular story, but for the whole “A Walk on the Wild Side” anthology. It’s intriguing and fully reflects the theme of the package. I love the use of the colors.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 32 pages
Published June 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774868 (ISBN13: 9781634774864)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series2016 Daily Dose – A Walk on the Wild Side
CharactersTheodore Reinhart, Wesley O’Neill settingSan Diego, California (United States)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Always Another Side by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating 4.5 stars out of 5

Always Another Side Eight months ago, Jack’s world was shattered when he found out his long-time lover and life partner, Simon, was cheating on him and decided he no longer wanted to live with Jack. Eight months ago, when Tyler proclaimed his love to his boyfriend, James, he found out how foolish he was when James told him he already had a partner and what he and Tyler had together wasn’t love—it was just sex.

Two men with hearts badly bruised finally agreed to their friends’ machinations to bring them together for a blind date. Both went reluctantly, but both found the seed of what could and would become a second chance to find happiness—as long as they remembered their hard-won lesson of the importance of communication in a relationship. And it seems like the baby steps they take are going to lead them somewhere special. Even though Jack doesn’t want to get into another relationship, Tyler’s heart is set on finding the man of his dreams. That’s how he got in trouble with James—he jumped into what he thought was going to be forever, but he jumped too soon.

This time, both men take it slowly and they talk about what’s important to them and how they feel about the past. There’s a bump in the road to happiness when Jack finds out Tyler was involved in the breakup of someone’s relationship, but after thinking it over, and talking to Tyler about it, he realizes that Tyler is on the other side and was likely equally hurt. Finding they have a lot in common, they keep dating, spending occasional nights with each other<spoiler>

I really enjoyed this story, my first from this author. I found the characters were very well-developed, and the relationship, which initially seemed so fragile, proved to be strong, making it a pleasure to watch the men develop as a couple. And though I thought I knew what might happen, when it did I just went with the flow and knew that the author would move them to where they needed to be. That may sound odd or awkward, but truly, I simply enjoyed the storytelling, the characters, and their situation. This book was a pleasure to read—just the right amount of angst and romance, and wonderfully hot, sexy older characters. What’s not to like? I recommend this to those who enjoy contemporary MM romance with older MCs.

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Cover art by Natasha Snow depicts a very handsome older man—the perfect depiction of Jack, one of the MCs.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 167 pages
Published June 3rd 2016 by Annabelle Jacobs
ASINB01G8T7GIU
Edition LanguageEnglish