In our Science Fiction Corner: Author Interview with Chris T. Kat of Battle Stations (Alliances #2) (excerpt and giveaway)

Battle Stations (Alliances #2) by Chris T. Kat
Release Date: October 12, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Buy the book: Dreamspinner e-book & paperback |Amazon | All Romance Ebooks |

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Chris T. Kat author of Battle Stations (Alliances, Book 2). Hi Chris, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

• What is your least favorite part of the publishing/writing process?

A couple of years ago I’d have said it’s the editing process, but that has changed. I’ve got an awesome beta reader (Julie Lynn Hayes) and my senior editor, Erika Orrick, is awesome as well. My least favorite part is probably the promotion. I know it’s necessary, and I really don’t mind talking to readers, but I’m not keen on tooting my own horn and hoping someone will buy my books.
• As an author, is there one subject you would never write about? What would it be?

I’m fairly open and I wouldn’t say there’s one subject I’ll never write about. However I don’t think I’ll write a book that includes rape or child molestation. These things disturb me as a reader, and since I don’t like to read about it, why should I write about it?
• When did you first realize you wanted to write?

That was when I couldn’t find a certain type of story when I still read fan fiction. Since no one was going to write what I wanted to read, I decided to give writing my own story a try. I haven’t stopped since then.
• How long did it take to write your book?

I wrote Breeding Stations and Battle Stations back to back. Both books took about five months together. Usually it takes me three to four months to write one novel, but these two books flowed and made it very, very easy for me.
• For Fun: Where is one place you’d like to visit you haven’t been before?

I’d like to visit Italy, specifically Rome, one day. There’s so much history in that city, and I’d love to explore the old buildings and sink my teeth into the rich history.

Thanks, Chris. Now on to more about the second book in the Alliance series, Battle Stations.

Blurb

The fight to eradicate the Tash’Ba breeding stations continues, with spunky Commander Berit Turner and his Nadisc mate, Tom, in the thick of things. Sometimes it seems as though they’ll never locate and destroy them all. And there’s always the fear that the Tash’Ba have something else, something worse—if that’s even possible—lurking ahead.

As if things aren’t bad enough, Berit’s less than stellar past is threatening to bite him in the ass, and they’ve received alarming new information. The Tash’Ba Queen needs to use Earth as a place to hatch the egg of her successor. And if what she says is true, the new Queen will be even more voracious and cruel than her predecessor.

Berit, along with his team—Tom, Carson, Niyara, and Fleur—must do everything in their power to stop her. If they fail, Earth will be lost forever.

Pages or Words:
Categories: M/M Romance, Science Fiction

Excerpt

Veering to the left, I allowed myself a quick glance over my shoulder. Not that I saw any chance of the elgoth having lost interest in me, because those fucking beasts never lost interest once they’d set their sights on prey, but sometimes a new prey might attract them more, which I’d have welcomed right then.

My lungs burned and my leg muscles smarted like hell from running like a rabbit through thick brushes and overgrown ferns. I even zigzagged around. Too bad I couldn’t find a rabbit’s hole to hide in.

I had no idea where Tom, Carson, and the rest of the team were, either.

We’d been separated before—it happened when gigantic Tash’Ba war beasts decided we looked good enough to eat—but I’ve never liked it. No, scratch that. Every time it happened, it put the fear of God in me. A gust of warm breath, mingled with some spittle, sprayed my neck. I squeaked and swerved to the right, vaulting over a stunted tree trunk. Seconds later, wood splinters sped past my head, and I lost my footing on the vibrating ground.

I sprawled facedown in the mud, panic sending bolts of confusing messages through my body. Maybe… maybe if I kept completely still, the elgoth wouldn’t touch me? The first time I’d made the acquaintance of one of these towering forty-foot-tall creatures, Tom had instructed me not to move, because they wouldn’t be able to locate us.

It had worked on Ligador and a couple of other breeding stations, but last time a team member tried this approach, the elgoth had roared and ripped him apart. All Tash’Ba war beasts seemed to be altering their tactics, making them even more unpredictable than before.

The mud around me sloshed, almost causing me to inhale some of it. I suppressed the urge to cough and kept my mouth shut as tight as I’d ever done, even though a whimper threatened to spill over my lips any second.

Another gust of foul breath struck my neck. My hair stood on end, my muscles locked in some kind of rigid stupor. That was it. I’d end my life as a morsel for an elgoth.

A blast echoed from the south, and the beast’s breath vanished from my neck. Gunfire followed the blast, and voices filtered through my terrified haze. They’d run right into the elgoth if I didn’t warn them. But… if I moved, or raised my voice, the elgoth would bite my head off. Literally.

About The Author

Meet Chris T. Kat:

Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there’s any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Where to find Chris T. Kat:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChrisTKat
Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat
Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q

Tour Dates & Stops:

13-Oct Bayou Book Junkie, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Joyfully Jay
14-Oct Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Jessie G. Books, Kimi-Chan
15-Oct BFD Book Blog, Love Bytes, Havan Fellows
16-Oct MM Good Book Reviews, Molly Lolly, Prism Book Alliance, Hearts on Fire
19-Oct Inked Rainbow Reads, Full Moon Dreaming, The Blogger Girls

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Two print copies of ‘Breeding Stations’. Must be 18 years of age or older. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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A Wynter Review: Inner Sanctum (The Stonebridge Mysteries #2) by Maggie Kavanagh

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

Six months into a relationship, things have heated up between political blogger Sam Flynn and FBI Special Agent Nathan Walker. Though Sam is happy with Nathan and proud of his own sobriety, he’s anxious about what their future holds. Things are heating up in Stonebridge, Connecticut, as a series of deadly fires puts the community on edge and eventually threatens Sam’s comatose brother. As Halloween approaches, fears rise that the arsonist will strike again.

When Sam encounters the main suspect, seventeen-year-old orphan Damon Blake, he’s not sure what to do. Obstruction might land him in jail, but he is increasingly skeptical of Damon’s guilt. He takes matters into his own hands and investigates, but doing so means keeping Damon’s whereabouts a secret from Nathan and the police. Meanwhile, Nathan wonders what Sam is hiding and grapples with insecurities of his own. Sam wants to confide in Nathan, and Nathan wants to trust Sam, but they discover that negotiating new love can be as dangerous as solving crime.

The beauty of this novel lies in its simplicity. It was easy to sink into the story and forget about reality. I’ve laughed. I’ve groaned. I’ve cheered for the main characters from beginning to end. Maggie Kavanagh wrote a story with beautiful erotic scenes to boost the novel’s sensuality instead of writing erotic scenes and wrapping a story around them. Best of all, she knew how to use small words to show big details for readers who knew what to look for. The know-how, so to speak, done in a subtle fashion where one would either see it or didn’t.

I picked up this novel without reading the first book in “The Stonebridge Mysteries,” and it stood very well on its own. I suspect the only carry over is the relationship of her two main characters – Nathan and Sam, and even without fully knowing their backstory, I loved watching the progress of these two men’s relationship in the next step. One of many things I enjoyed about them was their independence and willingness to walk a thin line to find facts and truth. They had their own jobs and perspectives, and instead of having one smothering the other or having two people being so similar that they’re identical, Nathan and Sam bring a sort of harmony into a relationship that a lot of people strive for in real life. For me, that goes very far in making a story comforting and inspirational to read.

However, that’s not to say that our characters didn’t have personal challenges they face as a couple in a relationship. Sam’s a recovering alcoholic, and Nathan’s trust in Sam isn’t quite there at a full 100%, but he does try. I felt an overwhelming swell of pride in Sam in the story when he was faced with a very dark personal choice and chose to stand for his convictions, among many other choices he made.

It was also great to see two careers that are frequently misconstrued for the worst portrayed in a positive light. While this isn’t a “James Patterson” level mystery, it holds at a “Hardy Boys” level, and I loved those growing up. There are going to be some groaning for people who have more know-how about certain things in the story, but that’s quite all right. I came to read a story, not an encyclopedia or a textbook.

The supporting cast of characters – Sam’s friends – are also lovable and have their own troubles. I love the author for writing a story where Sam has a great group of friends he can trust and rely on without it coming off as being a passive-aggressive fault of some kind. It’s great having a book that remind us, regardless of what age we may be, that it’s an ideal to have friends such as these and to be friends such as these for those we care about.

For the readers who enjoy a little bit of bondage in their stories, Kavanagh eases in the BDSM element after Nathan managed to coax out of Sam what it is the man had been trying, but couldn’t bring himself to verbally ask for, to get Nathan to explore with Sam. I love how Nathan does it. I find the author’s adaptation of the BDSM rulebook feel quite natural. It isn’t just strictly about the rules and the laws but also the human element of it. I look forward to more of this in Kavanagh’s third book, Blind Spot.

I can’t say whether one will hate or love this book. I can, however, recommend picking it up. There are certain advantages to reading a Book 2 before Book 1, in my opinion, if that’s the element holding a reader back.

Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day!

Cover art by Maria Fanning. The cover took a while to grow on me, not that it grew much. It’s not a cover that called out for my attention, probably because it didn’t make me feel like there’s a mystery story behind its cover. I liked that it showed a setting that’s pretty important to the story, and the match is an important element as well, but the image of the man felt a little odd and not mysterious. Since the book series is called “The Stonebridge Mysteries,” I think it would have been better if a small corner was dedicated to some action from within the novel.

Personally, I like a man in a hot suit where applicable, and Nathan sounds quite applicable, indeed!

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Author: Maggie Kavanagh
Length: paperback, 204 pages
Language: English
Series: The Stonebridge Mysteries, #2
Published: 1st edition September 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN-13: 9781634764049
Digital ISBN: 978-1-63476-405-6
ISBN: 978-1-63476-404-9

A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Let Go of Loneliness by Edward Kendrick

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

This is a fairly short, very sweet romance between two older men, perfect for fans of older men falling in love.

Fifty-plus-year-old Byron Randall has relocated to take a job as archivist for the local museum, and as he’s moving in to his new condo he’s observed by Jonah Hyland, fifty-five-year-old high end real estate agent, who also lives in the building. One thing leads to another as the two bump into each other a number of times, and they become friends when they find they have so much in common.

After workouts in the gym, a shared dinner at a restaurant, and finally a delicious meal prepared by Byron, they find that their relationship can be more than just friends. Byron hasn’t had anyone in his life in a long time, and Jonah broke up with his money-grabbing boyfriend six months before, so both men are free to date. Though Jonah’s former boyfriend makes an appearance in the story, his meeting with Jonah is more of an apology than an attempt to come between him and Byron.

This story, as I said, is fairly short and definitely sweet. The only thing that bothered me is that after just a few short weeks, the men ended up declaring their love for each other. I think it would have been more palatable had they simply decided to see where their relationship might go. The insta-love didn’t seem to fit with their personalities or their life circumstances.

But nevertheless, I would recommend the story to those who enjoy a sweet romance between older men. The story has no explicit sex scenes and would be perfect for curling up to read on a rainy afternoon.

~~
Cover art by Written Ink Designs depicts headshots of two older men in the upper panel, the title in script across the center, and a cityscape in the lower panel. It’s so attractive, it’s what made me decide I needed to read this book.

Sales Links: JMS Books LLS | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon |Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 54 pages
Published September 13th 2015 by JMS Books LLC
ASINB014C7PP6U
edition languageEnglish

A Jeri Review: Better Than Safe (Better Than #4) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

A man in fashion advertising and a younger model. Sounds like the set up to a bad porno. Trust me, it isn’t and left me a big surprised.

Paul is in his mid 30’s and spends quite a bit of time traveling the world for his job. He is finally home for the foreseeable future when he stops to see to see a fashion photographer friend. There he notices one of the models, Seth. Although undeniably gorgeous, Paul writes him off as not only too young, but not the kind of man Paul is looking for. But Seth is definitely interested.

When Seth is a total flake at their first coffee date, Paul is done and ready to move on. But Seth keeps coming back and Paul can’t resist the younger man.

At first it seems as if Seth is just playing games with Paul. But as we get to know him, we find out what he is really all about- and that is much more than modeling. That pays the bills so he can paint. Art is his passion and his calling.

An artist is exactly what Paul doesn’t want. But he can’t seem to say know to Seth- ever. Their relationship is rocky as they are basically complete opposites of each other. But as we get further into the book we see how incredibly right they are for each other.

At the beginning Seth really came off as a brat. The way he blew things off, like times to be places, Paul’s thoughts on anything from music to cars, even his job as a model. You slowly get to know him and while he is still bratty, a lot of what he does, or did, make more sense. When Paul really pushes him, instead of getting all defensive and storming off, he explains WHY he is late, why he was a flake on their first date, even why he is so attracted to Paul.

Paul, being the complete opposite, is very serious and a bit stand offish. He gets the idea in his head that he should be with a man his age who is a professional as well so they can do the whole white picket fence thing. Seeing him struggle to accept Seth as he is, and perhaps for the time being until someone who fits his mold better, was a bit sad for me. I wanted to yell “you deserve the hottie!” Ok, I might have mumbled that out loud while reading.

Better Than Safe (Better Than #4) by Lane Hayes was both hot and funny with some sweet thrown in. I could picture uptight Paul biting his tongue often with the whimsical Seth.

They both want to be loved and they need each other to realize that they deserve each other’s love. Because together they are amazing.

Although the cover by Aaron Anderson was simple, it definitely drew me in. Who isn’t by a nice chiseled chest?

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 244 pages, paperback
Published September 25th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
original titleBetter Than Safe
ISBN139781634765237
edition languageEnglish
seriesBetter Than #4

Better Than Series:

Better Than Good (Better Than, #1)
Better Than Chance (Better Than, #2)
Better Than Friends (Better Than, #3)
Better Than Safe (Better Than, #4)

Love Wolf Shifters ISO Love? Check Out Ask Again (Odd Wolf Out #1) by B.A. Tortuga (excerpt and giveaway)

Ask Again (Odd Wolf Out #1) by B.A. Tortuga
Release Date: October 14, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Buy the book: Torquere Books ~ Google Play ~ Amazon ~ Kobo ~ ARe

Blurb

Hearing that his ex-best friend is getting married might be the only thing that can lead Andy back to his wolf pack deep in the Colorado mountains. He’s a city wolf now, leaving behind the awkward, skinny teenage geek he was once upon a time. All he wants to do is see Levi one last time, and maybe lament what might have been between them if Levi had been brave enough to leave the pack with Andy all those years ago.

Levi has been a good soldier in his Alpha’s army, the second-in-command for several years. Seeing Andy again reminds Levi how he’s toed the line, and how all he’s gotten for it is a lonely life. He’s not sure why Andy came back, and at first he’s not even happy about it. Their need for each other runs deep and strong, though, and Levi has to wonder what he would do for Andy if the man would just ask him one more time.

Pages or Words: 15,000 words
Categories: M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Excerpt

Dad winked as Mom cackled from the kitchen. “So, really, why are you here?”

“Gran called and suddenly, I needed to come.”

Levi’s getting married, Andy. You should be here, stand up for him. His Levi. His mate. Getting married and settling down to start producing more wee pack members. The Alpha’s head enforcer, which Andy thought was odd, since enforcers usually didn’t allow distractions. He just wanted…

Shit, he wanted to prove that the runt of the litter had grown up, was as big of a stud as his brothers. Well, okay, no one was as ripped as Adam, but he was a throwback. Andy was totally hotter than Ashton.

“Here, let me get the trash can.” His dad gave him no satisfaction on the gossip.

“I’m going to make brisket for supper and an apple pie.” Mom stopped, pierced him with a look. “You are staying for supper, aren’t you?”

“I was thinking of staying for a few days, if that was okay.”

“Adam’s room is a nice guest place now,” Dad told him. “Knock yourself out.”

“Thanks.” Suddenly he felt freaked the fuck out. What was he doing here? Proving that he was a giant dipshit to the man he’d lusted after since he was fourteen?

Trying to prove that geek chic was in?

Christ.

Okay, first off, asshole, he told himself. No longer a geek. A hipster, sure, but a sexy one. Second, he was going to get his mom’s brisket. He’d have to Skype Ashton and gloat.

“You do have wireless, right, Dad?”

“Ashton had it and satellite installed. Said we had to move the pack out of the nineteenth century.” Dad rolled his eyes. “Me and Mom. Trendsetters.”

“Good deal.” Andy would bet the Alpha had the same or a better set up now, too. Did he even know the Alpha?

Huh.

He spent his full moons in his basement, not running with the pack. The pack had never fucking wanted his sorry ass, and he wanted nothing to do with them, but he was sure glad to see his folks.

“Come on out to the garage, son. I’ll show you the Mustang I’m working on. She was in terrible shape when I found her. It was enough to break your heart.”

“Yeah?” Andy kissed his mom’s cheek before heading outside. Dad did love his classic cars. That was one thing they had in common, so he might as well look.

His burning questions about Levi could wait until after supper, he supposed.

Hell, maybe he wouldn’t even ask them.

Meet the Author

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 porn sites in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife (still amazing to say that), 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 gone to the high desert mountains and fallen in love. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery ménages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Where to find the author:

Blog: http://batortuga.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BATortugaBooks
Instagram: https://instagram.com/batortuga
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/batortuga
Twitter: https://twitter.com/batortuga
Website: http://www.batortuga.com

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bike Book Reviews, Havan Fellows, My Fiction Nook, Bayou Book Junkie, Happily Ever Chapter, Mikky’s World of Books, V’s Reads, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, SA McAuley, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Jena Wade, BFD Book Blog, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, MM Good Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Up All Night, Read All Day, Reviews by Jessewave, Molly Lolly, Open Skye Book Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Divine Magazine, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Jessie G. Books, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Velvet Panic, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Andrew Q. Gordon

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Ask Again’ by B.A. Tortuga. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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In Our Supernatural Spotlight: Eternal Circle (Sirius’ Wolves #3) by Victoria Sue (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Eternal Circle (Sirius’ Wolves #3) by Victoria Sue
Release Date: September 24, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dark Hollows Press
Cover Artist: 3 Rusted Spoons

Buy the book: Amazon | All Romance (ARe) | Bookstrand

My Author Interview with Victoria Sue

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Victoria Sue, author of ‘Eternal Circle’. Hi, Victoria, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I wrote Orion’s Circle after seeing a photo of four happy guys. I wanted to make a world where they could be in love.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think anyone can be a writer – you don’t specify “published” writer. I was a writer as a child, loved it. Then life happened, and thirty years later I became one again.

Do your characters become like real people to you?

No, to be honest I don’t have that much control over real people. (I wish)

If you weren’t a writer, what else would you like to have done?

I’m a mom, a wife. I have been a nurse and worked in a school. Job-wise there is nothing else I would have chosen. My one regret was that I didn’t start writing again ten years ago.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

I don’t want one. I don’t want a place that my children have to feel guilty if they don’t visit it, and I don’t want remembering like that. I already told them, I want a kick-ass party and then they can scatter my ashes somewhere I was happy. (Although the local library might object to the mess)

Blurb

How can you repair something that should have been unbreakable? Darric, Blaze and Conner had been together for centuries, and their bond, like their love, should have been eternal. Blaze is trying not only to hold his family together, but stop himself falling apart.

The fragile relationship between the werewolves and the humans is at risk once more, and the goddess Sirius seems to have deserted them. Inexplicable changes are taking place to their little omega, and whilst Aden’s powers are increasing, Conner seems to be losing his.

The terrorist group, The Winter Circle, is getting bolder and placing everyone in danger. Worse, there is a traitor among them, perhaps someone a lot closer than they want to admit. Just when Blaze thought the worst that could have happened is behind them, the traitor is revealed, and Blaze realizes that their circle is not only broken, but in danger of being irreparably torn apart.

Pages or Words: 49,000 words
Categories: M/M Romance, Ménage/Poly, Paranormal

Eternal Circle – extracts

According to legend the goddess Sirius gifted humankind with powerful werewolf shifters, to bring balance and peace to the planet that both species called home – Earth.
The great god Orion was pleased with his wife’s final efforts, and the werewolves he allowed to be created showed such equal amounts of strength and compassion that humans were awed and showed their gratitude by adding a full five feast days to their calendar to commemorate them. The days were named after the five oldest gods: Osiris, Heru, Set, Isis, and Nephthys.
But one god was jealous. Anubis had worked tirelessly for years weighing the hearts of the dead for their goodness, and granting the dead passage into heaven or escorting them to hell. He was incensed that the ungrateful humans didn’t show him proper homage, and decided to sabotage the plans that Sirius had made.
He couldn’t stop Sirius’ creation but decided that some of the wolves would be given the gifts that the dead laid at Anubis’ feet, as a way for them to barter their fate. These were special attributes, the ones that enabled humans to navigate their way to hell, and the ones that wolves weren’t naturally born with.
Anubis sat back after his efforts and smiled. For every wolf and human born with strength and compassion, there would be one born with hate, greed, and jealousy. Some strong, some weak. Mostly the gifts of strength and compassion would win, but every so often a wolf would find hate, and greed, and grow strong and powerful with it. Anubis had cunning and had to do this out of sight of Orion. The great god just had his wife, Sirius, returned to him, and Anubis could not do anything that would risk his wrath. No, he had to work stealthily, as if Sirius’ creation had gone bad all on its own and he had no hand in it. Anubis watched as the gods all agreed there could be no more interference in human lives and he smiled. His own creations would bring down the werewolves and they would infect others. Anubis had patience and could wait for those days, for they would be glorious.

Extract Two
It was stunning. Even though his vision was black and grey, the world looked sharper, cleaner. Aden felt the soft touch of Darric’s wolf in his mind, and felt the love swirl around him. The other, bigger, black Alpha- marked wolf stood beside him, Blaze’s massive head swinging cautiously to one side, scenting for possible danger. Always on the lookout, always in full-on protective mode. Aden whined and lowered himself down. Blaze was making him rest. Memories clawed at him, hurt, and he tried to push them away. This. This was when Aden felt truly, irrevocably free. As a wolf he wasn’t small and scarred. Pathetic, abused, and beaten.
He felt a nudge against his side. Blaze’s wolf came and stood close, gently brushed his snout along the grey fur on Aden’s round belly protectively. No, that wasn’t fair. He was none of those things now, even as a human. Aden tucked his paws under him and panted. He knew Blaze was urging him to go home. They had agreed on the advice of the doctor that this was the last time he would shift before the baby was born. He’d known it was a risk, and not something the she-wolves did at all, but this was when he felt the most connection to his lover.
This was the one time Darric had never died. The time before that beautiful body had been laid finally to rest and gone to Sirius. He knew Darric would be with Sirius until it was finally time for Aden to join him, and it wasn’t as if he was in a rush to die, but these moments as a wolf were all he had left of his silver-haired, beautiful mate, and he wanted to hold on for just a few seconds longer.
Sometimes Aden wanted to disappear in his wolf and never come back.

Meet the Author

Has loved books for as long as she can remember. Books were always what pocket money went on and what usually Father Christmas brought. When she ran out of her kids’ adventure stories, she would go raid her mom’s. By the age of eight she was devouring classics like Little Women, and fell in love with love stories.
She’s still in love with them. Any size, any shape, any creature – love is love, no matter what it says on the box.
In fact if they don’t fit very neatly into any box she loves them even more!
She has a very patient husband and three wonderful children. In 2010 in search of adventure they all moved from the UK to the US and are happily settled in Florida. Finally, after reading love stories for so long, she decided to write her own.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page: Victoria sue author
Twitter: @vickysuewrites

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $15 Amazon gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:

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Tour Dates & Stops:

5-Oct Multitasking Mommas: http://www.multitaskingmommas.com/2015/10/blog-tour-excerpt-giveaway-eternal.html

The Blogger Girls: http://thebloggergirls.com/2015/10/05/author-qa-victoria-sue-excerpt-giveaway/

The Blogger Girls: http://thebloggergirls.com/2015/10/05/book-review-eternal-circle-by-victoria-sue/ – 4 star review!

KathyMac Reviews: http://kathymacreviews.com/blog-kathy-mac-reviews/2015/9/26/blog-tour-eternal-circle-sirius-wolves-3-by-victoria-sue

6-Oct MM Good Book Reviews: https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/eternal-circle-by-victoria-sue-blog-tour-interview-excerpt-review-giveaway/ – 5 Heart Review!

Bayou Book Junkie: http://bayoubookjunkie.blogspot.com/2015/10/virtual-tour-mmm-eternal-circle-by.html

7-Oct Iyana Jenna: https://iyanajennaauthor.wordpress.com/2015/10/07/in-the-spotlight-victoria-sue/

Happily Ever Chapter: https://www.facebook.com/happilyeverchapter/posts/420255908166482

8-Oct Lee Brazil: http://leebrazilauthor.blogspot.com/2015/10/crawl-in-bed-with-victoria-sue.html – Includes one of the hottest Crawling In Bed’s yet!

SA McAuley: http://samcauley.com/2015/10/08/eternal-circle-by-victoria-sue-out-now-includes-giveaway/

9-Oct My Fiction Nook: http://www.myfictionnook.com/2015/10/blogtour-eternal-circle-by-victoria-sue.html

Vampires, Werewolves, Fairies, Oh My: http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/2015/10/eternal-circle-by-victoria-sue-tour.html

Divine Magazine: http://divinemagazine.net/book-stuff/eternal-circle-by-victoria-sue-blog-tour

12-Oct Attention Is Arbitrary, Jessie G. Books

13-Oct V’s Reads, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

14-Oct Dawn’s Reading Nook, Love Bytes, Rainbow Gold Reviews

15-Oct Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog

16-Oct Molly Lolly, Inked Rainbow Reads, QUEERcentric Books

Its Back to the Ball Park With Sloan Johnson’s Triple Play! ( contest)

Triple Play
by Sloan Johnson
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Sports

Triple Play

Amazon • Nook • Kobo • iBooks

Drew Jackson seemed to have it all. He has a family who loves and supports him, a tight circle of friends, and is a rising star with the Milwaukee Mavericks. Then, it all begins to unravel. Cam, the only man he’s ever loved, falls head over heels for Drew’s teammate. He makes a critical mistake in the playoffs that he’s not sure he’ll be able to recover from. And then, his world really crashes around him…

Eric Sapp may no longer play for the Mavericks, but he’s still one of the guys. No one could have imagined how much his life would change when he agreed to help his former teammates mourn the end of their run for the pennant. After stopping a brutal attack, Eric is forced to face the feelings that’ve been growing for his roommate, Drew. That’d be much easier if Drew wasn’t hell-bent on pushing everyone away as he recovers.

Neither of them were counting on Bryce Shaw. He and Drew enjoyed the one night they spent together, but knew it was unlikely they’d be anything more since they lived in different parts of the country. After Bryce is relocated to help a failing LGBT homeless outreach, he wants to explore something more with the Mavericks’ short stop.

As much as Eric wishes he could be the one to help his friend, he knows Bryce holds the key to Drew’s recovery. Will pushing the two back together be the biggest mistake of his life or will they all learn there is strength in numbers?

Also in the Series

About Sloan Johnson

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.

When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.

Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?

Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Tumblr

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A Paul B Review: For a Dragon’s Persuasion (Highland Dragons, #7) by Charlie Richards

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

The seventh book in the Highland Dragons series opens as Kaiser and Perth, two members of the black dragon counterintelligence caste, are trying to meet with the chieftain of the MacDuffan clan. As they wait for the chieftain’s return the next day, Kaiser decides to get some intelligence by bedding the son of the chieftain. Perth meanwhile, refuses the advances of Hamish, one of the MacDuffan clan’s lead warriors. Instead, Perth decides to go to the stables to check on his horse, which has a reputation of being aggressive to people whom she does not know.

Aodhan is an apprentice to the stable master. When Master Doohan realizes that Aodhan is more talented at handling the horses than he is, he makes Aodhan’s life miserable. However badly Doohan treats him, Aodhan puts up with it since his father bartered his services to the stable master and feels he cannot let his family down.

When Perth gets to the stables, he sees a young man skillfully handling his horse. As he approaches Aodhan, Perth realizes that the young man is an asda, or human compatible to mate with a dragon. As the rules of courting asdas have recently been changing, Perth decides to try his luck in wooing the young man. After having a late dinner with Aodhan, Perth homes his caste leader will back his claim of Aodhan as his mate. Now he has to hope that the apprentice will accept the world of dragons.

Perth’s plans of a normal courtship are cut short when Kaiser informs him that Hamish has told the chieftain that Perth was seen near the entrance of the chieftain’s daughter’s room late last night. Even though false, Kaiser suggests that Perth leave the area. Not wanting to leave his potential mate with the abusive stable master, Perth convinces Aodhan to run away with him. When Perth is forced to reveal his true form to Aodhan, the young man says dragons are only tales. Can Perth calm Aodhan’s fears and show him that life with him would be better than the existence he now has?

While I usually enjoy the books in this series, I thought there was something missing with this one. The romance between Perth and Aodhan was as usual for this series well done. Readers new to the series are caught up in the author’s world building through Perth’s answers to Aodhan’s questions about dragons. However, unlike previous books, the conflict (Hamish’s allegations) just did not seem equal to dragon fights or potential clashes between dragons and humans. In light of the times though, Perth’s concern about Aodhan’s reputation in the clan regarding same sex couples does make sense.

The cover art by Angela Waters once again delivers. In the foreground is young Aodhan shirtless. In the background is Perth’s dragon. Ms. Waters never fails to deliver gorgeous covers for this series.

Sales Links: Extasy Books | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 78 pages

Published October 1st 2015 by eXtasy Books

ISBN139781487404796

edition language English

Series: Highland Dragons

For a Dragons Touch (Highland Dragons #1)
For a Dragon’s Protection (Highland Dragons #2)
For a Dragon’s Treasure (Highland Dragons #3)
For a Dragon’s Protection (Highland Dragons #4)
For a Dragon’s Redemption (Highland Dragons #5)
For a Dragon’s Healing (Highland Dragons #6)
For a Dragon’s Persuasion (Highland Dragons #7)

A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Ruin Porn (Resonator #1) by S.J.D. Peterson and S.A. McAuley

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★
Kevin Rene can’t believe his luck when he’s personally “recruited” by Miah Thade, lead singer of Resonator, a rock band on the fast track to fame. He met Miah when his band was set to be the opening act in Resonator’s first tour, Made in Americana, but when his own band members showed up drunk and high, the deal was off, and Kevin and the guys were left to languish in LA. What Kevin didn’t know is that his songwriting talent and his musical abilities did not go unnoticed and Miah wants him as the group’s fourth.

Miah Thade, Finn Reese, and Ritchie Meyer are the three young men who grew up together in Detroit and together formed the band, nicknamed Rez. Also known as the Detroit 3, the friends rely on Miah’s good judgment and welcome Kevin, now renamed Evin by Miah, into their lives.

Not willing to rely on others for promo, Miah, always the leader and most ambitious of the group, spearheads efforts to use social media to move his band to stardom. They stir up their fans in each city they visit by tweeting and using other social networking sites and getting the crazy Rezors worked up to fever pitch. But as their popularity grows, the boys start to see the lack of privacy as one of the major costs of success. At times the close quarters and differences of opinion create havoc among the guys. Miah, an outspoken homophobe, can be the worst offender sometimes, picking on the guys unmercifully.

Ritchie, the peacemaker of the group, and the man who considers Miah his best friend, takes any negativity to heart. Flinching every time he hears a homophobic remark from Miah, Ritchie worries that Miah might some day find out that he’s gay, and if that happens, he’ll lose his best friend and the man he secretly loves.

Finn, a musical genius, has been raised by Irish immigrants who only want the best for their talented son and have given him every opportunity to learn all instruments and all musical genres. Extremely talented, Finn can play anything he hears one time, and coupled with Evin’s songwriting genius and ability to play bass to Finn’s guitar in the group, it makes for a dynamic musical partnership. It also provides the opportunity for the duo to spend extra time together, and considering how hot Evin finds Finn, it eventually leads to an explosive opportunity to satisfy their lust for each other.

As time goes on, and the secret gets harder to hide, the band members realize that if Miah had any idea that Evin and Finn couldn’t keep their hands off each other, he’d flip out. And if he ever found out that Ritchie was not only aware of the attraction between the others, but had also participated in a ménage with them, the friendship between the Miah and Ritchie would be destroyed and the future of the band would be in jeopardy.

So why can’t Evin and Finn and Ritchie just say no? Why take a chance on being together? And why can’t Evin and Finn communicate their true feelings to each other? Ritchie seems to be the only one who can see that Finn and Evin have moved beyond mere sex. And what transpires if someone happens to see them? The pot is stirred with enough ammo to cause a nuclear explosion within the group, and if it blows up, will the band survive?

I appreciated the way the authors engaged the reader with the characters and created the conflict among various members of the band, first with each other, and then with the band vs the outside world. I also appreciated the setup for a sequel (and I’ll be the first in line to buy it!), and I loved the resolution of the conflict, or at least the resolution for some of the band members’ conflicts by the end of the story. Any remaining conflict will make an enticing sequel.

I certainly recommend this book for those who enjoy rocker/musician stories, but even more for those who like a story where readers get engaged in the lives of the characters, unable to predict how they’ll act, but can laugh with them, cry with them, and be happy for them when they finally work their way through the crisis and come out the other side a better person.

The cover design by Paul Richmond shows a photo of downtown Detroit with the title Ruin Porn across the bottom of the cover. Ruin Porn is a term given to photos taken of a downtown area which used to be vital and now lies forsaken in the face of the decline of the auto industry in Detroit. The term was chosen by the Resonators to be the title of their first album because it represents their hope that everyone can learn from what appears to be ruin and destruction and, rather than wallow in it, use it as a catalyst for change.

I very highly recommend this story. These two talented authors have created something special that I won’t soon forget.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

eBook, Paperback, 252 pages

Published August 28th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

original title Ruin Porn

ISBN 1634764676 (ISBN13: 9781634764674)

edition language English

series Resonator #1

A MelanieM Review: Lessons for Sleeping Dogs (Cambridge Fellows #12) by Charlie Cochrane

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Cambridge, 1921

When amateur sleuth Jonty Stewart comes home with a new case to investigate, his partner Orlando Coppersmith always feels his day has been made. Although, can there be anything to solve in the apparent mercy killing of a disabled man by a doctor who then kills himself, especially when everything takes place in a locked room?

But things are never straightforward where the Cambridge fellows are concerned, so when they discover that more than one person has a motive to kill the dead men—motives linked to another double death—their wits get stretched to the breaking point.

And when the case disinters long buried memories for Jonty, memories about a promise he made and hasn’t kept, their emotions get pulled apart as well. This time, Jonty and Orlando will have to separate fact from fiction—and truth from emotion—to get to the bottom of things.

I am always thrilled to find that Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith have returned for another mystery and here they are back in Charlie Cochrane’s Lessons for Sleeping Dogs better than ever.

With the last few stories we have been flip flopping back and forth along the time line as laid out in the novels released to date. Lessons for Sleeping Dogs now moves that time line forward once more another year. The men are older, their relationship more established and yet, their love for each other has never been so deep and committed as the one we see here. Orlando and Jonty are starting to think past their time at St. Bride’s, perhaps even into retirement age, a startling thought considering we first met them 16 years ago when their world was far more innocent (at least on the surface) and WWI was not even a faint grumbling politically.

Charlie Cochrane is easing her Fellows into the aging process with a smoothness most would envy. Its acknowledged, through a gentle gesture or wry remark, a memory to those so sorely missed, lost to war or old age, and then the story moves on as it should. Its a lovely realistic touch and its inclusion makes me appreciate this author even more.

Oh the mysteries, yes, more than one. I think this must be the most convoluted of them yet. Shades of Sherlock Holmes! There is an echo of an earlier story but you don’t have to have read that to get the gist of it here. Most of that backstory is included. There are several mysteries ongoing at several levels of importance, or so you think. I loved them of course, but I thought that too many puzzles almost took away from the main murder mystery. I get what Charlie was after, but this was a lot to juggle and it was hard for the reader to keep track of all of the facts, places and people while still dealing with the many emotional scenes and fallout for Jonty and Orlando. This aspect of Lessons for Sleeping Dogs kept it from a perfect 5 star rating, but oh it was so close.

There is so much darkness here. The aftermath of WWI lingers on in the broken minds and bodies of the soldiers who returned, included Orlando and Jonty. The bleakness and pain of their childhood must also be dealt with once again as parts of their case brings their memories surging back to overwhelm them. Their past histories are alluded to here but this remains another definite reason why theses stories should be read in order (in my opinion). You can only get the full impact of what happened to them in those previous novels not here. Jonty and Orlando have so many issues to deal with, and they must do it using their hearts, their intelligence and their trust in each other. What a outstanding story to have Jonty and Orlando make their reappearance!

Yes, it all works out. We get to see some of our favorite secondary characters and Hyacinth Cottage. I absolutely loved it. What’s next for Jonty and Orlando? It’s anyone’s guess and only Charlie Cochrane knows for sure. But one thing is for certain, I will be there, waiting in line, to pick up the story and see what happens next and hoping that the author won’t tear my heart out.

I highly recommend this story and all the novels in the Cambridge Fellows Mysteries. I have them all listed for you below. Don’t miss out on any of them.

Cover artist: Lou Harper. I love these new covers. They are my favorite covers so far for the series.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here