A Paul B Review: Julio’s Wolf (Werewolves of Manhattan #6) by A.C. Katt

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

julios-wolf-by-ac-katt The sixth installment of the Wolves of Manhattan starts a little differently than the rest. We have already met Julio Reyes, the destined mate of Etienne Daurensbourg. As an independent call boy, he helped Donal when Donal was under control of an abusive pimp. Due to his generous nature, Donal’s mate Alexi thanks him by making Julio’s dream come true—tuition for beauty school and an apartment to live in while attending with a promise to help start his own business after. However, all that may never come to be as a former client of his stabs him in his new apartment.

Etienne is one of three unranked alphas on the board of Garou, the company run by the North American werewolf council. He and Alexi went through alpha training together when they were younger. He, along with Armand, helped secure the release of Alexi from a Russian prison and relocate him and his staff to America. Having been introduced to his mate just recently, Etienne hopes he does not have the problems the other alphas had with claiming their mates. To be safe, he sends one of his betas to Julio’s new apartment to check out the area. Luckily, he arrives in time to save Julio’s life.

With Julio recovering from injuries and his assailant caught, Etienne hopes that his mate will be receptive to the idea of werewolves and mates. However, there is trouble brewing in his home pack as one beta believes Etienne is unworthy of being alpha as Alexi, a stranger to America, got his mate first. The other alphas believe that the charge is unwarranted as mates are given by the gods as they see fit. However this problem must be dealt with. As Etienne faces the challenge of the pit, or where werewolf challenges are fought to the death, he wants to take care of this problem before he officially makes Julio his mate.

This is another enjoyable read in A. C. Katt’s engrossing werewolf series. The basic story line remains the same but each novel seems to have a different twist to it, which prevents it from ever being boring. As the rest of the alphas meet their mates (there are only two left), it appears that the series is gearing up for a final confrontation with the leader of the Russian werewolf council and his tyrannical ways. It appears that Julio will be the strategist of the mates being a human high beta. The end of the book previews the next mate, who happens to have been a childhood friend of Julio’s, who is also of Celt descent.

Winterheart Designs again comes up with a cover that serves its purpose. The models for Julio and Etienne are how I would have pictured them. They are pictured above a New York skyline.

Sales Links

MLR Press

Book Details

EBook, 191 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: September 20, 2016 by MLR Press

ISBN: 978-1-944770-33-4

Series: Werewolves of Manhattan

Love A Wonderful Supernatural Romance? Check Out Tara Lain’s “Spell Cat” (Excerpt and Giveaway)

Spell Cat

by Tara Lain

Blurb:

When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But Killian can’t pursue a physics professor—or a human. As the most powerful male witch in ten generations, Killian must bolster his dying race by reproducing—despite the fact that he’s gay.

Even a fling with Blaine is out of the question, because Killian has been told sex with humans drains his power. But if that’s true, why can young human Jimmy Janx dissolve spoons with the power of his mind? If Killian can sort through the lies he’s been fed, he’ll still face his biggest obstacle — convincing rational scientist Blaine to believe in magic.

With his ancient and powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.

(Don’t forget to check out Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words’s Review Here…Its a Recommended Read!

Available for purchase at

Also available in paperback

Excerpt

Blaine was standing at the end of the counter a few feet away, staring at Killian.

How long could a witch live with his heart stopped?

Oh gods. He understood. Heat. The way he felt this moment dwarfed every emotion he’d had with Moran by a thousand. A million. The chasm between indifference and… passion. His heart beat fast, his breath caught in his chest, and his eyes never wanted to look on another sight, just Blaine.

He ought to run, but whether away or straight to Blaine, he wasn’t sure.

“Mrwar.”

Blaine seemed to catch the welcome in that meow. He smiled and took a step closer. “Hi, Al. Good to see you, buddy.”

Aloysius unwrapped himself from Killian’s neck, did one bound off the tabletop, and launched himself into Blaine’s waiting arms. Oh Powers, would that Killian could do the same. He actually had to hold himself still, or he knew he’d follow the cat.

Blaine petted Al as the cat did his imitation of a moving fur coat, purring so loudly Killian could hear him, even a few feet away. “You seem happy to see me, anyway.” He looked up. “Are you happy to see me, Killian?”

Killian nodded. Correction—his head nodded. He had no power over it.

Blaine walked even closer. “Could I have lunch with you? Talk to you?”

The head nodded again.

The human slipped into the chair beside Killian. Sweet Powers, he smelled so wonderful. That sweet and spice together.

“This sure is one great cat. Where did you get him?”

Killian cleared his throat. “Gift, uh, a gift from my mother.”

Blaine chucked Al under the chin, and the cat let him. “My mother hates cats.” He looked up, and Killian swam into the pools of deep green. “Of course, my mother hates me, so she’s not likely to give me the time of day, much less a pet.”

“Surely not.”

He grinned. “That she hates me? Oh yeah. I keep defying her by choosing to be gay when her preacher has clearly cleansed me of this delusion at least ten times, so she washed her hands of me.”

“But you didn’t choose—Oh, you’re joking.”

Blaine’s grin faded. “I wish it were a joke. Then a lot of beaten-up, confused kids would have parents who loved and understood them.”

There were worse things than having a manipulative witch for a mother. “I’m so sorry, Blaine. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Blaine smiled. “I never thought you were making fun. I just have a weird sense of humor sometimes.”

Then he did it. He put his hand on Killian’s arm. Such a simple gesture. Flash! Heat blazed in Killian’s head, and hot steel filled his cock. Blaine started and pulled his hand away. Those green eyes widened, and he stared at Killian like he was either the answer to a dream or a cobra, and Blaine wasn’t sure which. “Holy shit!”

Killian tried to make sense of his brain synapses and grasped at the first thought. “Uh, food—did you want food?”

Blaine leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I want to eat with you and talk to you and sleep with you and take you home with me. But right now I want to make love to you so badly I’m having trouble focusing.”

There was that head nod again. Where the fuck did that come from?

“Does that mean you want to make love to me too?”

Killian stared at Blaine, the human physics professor whose simplest touch could drain a witch’s power until his own mother didn’t know him and his people couldn’t benefit from his great sperm and—and all that dogma. The answer was yes. He did want to make love to Blaine. He wanted it more than anything. The evil witch voice piped up in his head. Yep, these humans are tempting. That’s how the witch race got so depleted. He was the strongest male witch in ten generations. That had to be worth something. He’d never had a really satisfying relationship with a man, even for a short time. He wanted one. Didn’t he deserve just a little happiness before he gave his life for his people? He’d tried it the right way, the witch-stamp-of-approval way, and nearly got his back broken for his trouble.

Blaine was staring at Killian like he was in suspended animation; only the fingertips that scratched Al’s head moved. There. That was it. Blaine had the best possible credentials. Aloysius, who was no dumb cat, adored the human… and so did Killian. Just that simple. He didn’t care if he rotted in witch oblivion, or if he lost some of his fabled power. How much damage could he do in such a little while? “Yes.”

Blaine came to life. “Excuse me?”

“Yes. Please take me home with you.” He swallowed. “And all those other things.”

Blaine’s smile lit like a midwinter bonfire.

“Mwrarrrrr, mrrrrrwarrrr, mrrrrwarrrr.”

The bloody cat was singing while he slithered around Blaine’s neck in some happy dance known only to strange and powerful blue-eyed familiars.

About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at Lain

Giveaway

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Presented By

Alisa Release Day Review: Spell Cat (The Aloysius Tales #1) by Tara Lain

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

96c54-spellcat400x600 When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But Killian can’t pursue a physics professor—or a human. As the most powerful male witch in ten generations, Killian must bolster his dying race by reproducing—despite the fact that he’s gay.

Even a fling with Blaine is out of the question, because Killian has been told sex with humans drains his power. But if that’s true, why can young human Jimmy Janx dissolve spoons with the power of his mind? If Killian can sort through the lies he’s been fed, he’ll still face his biggest obstacle—convincing rational scientist Blaine to believe in magic.

I have wanted to read this story for awhile now, but kept putting it off. When I saw it was being re-published I jumped at the chance to read it and I loved it as much as I thought I would. Killian has resigned himself to a life of duty to save his race, but knows he will never be happy with a woman.

Killian is drawn to Blaine from the first time they meet, but tries to deny it. Blaine gets confused with Killian’s hot and cold actions, but isn’t easily deterred. With everything going on around them it seems they may not have to stay apart forever.

In this story I could feel how frustrated and desperate Killian felt about his situation. The more he learns about Jimmy the more confused he becomes about what he has been taught about witches and humans. Killian becomes so desperate for a real connection with someone he gives in to his feeling for Blaine, but the result isn’t what he thinks will happen. Jimmy is connected to Killian much more than just student and teacher and seeing the struggles of Jimmy and other characters in this story helps understanding the setting a bit more. I enjoyed all of the characters and can’t wait to see them in more stories in this series.

Cover art by Reese Dante is wonderful and gives us a great visual of Killian.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: 2nd Edition, October 31, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781634776745

Edition Language: English

Series: The Aloysius Tale

A Paul Review: The Wolves of Daos 5 by Rebecca James

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

“As difficult as it was to wrap his mind around, Michael couldn’t deny that it all felt like the truth. He was half-alien, living in an alien civilization, mated to an alien, had an alien inside of him, and evidently other aliens were trying to kill them. In other words, his life was now a bad sci-fi movie”

Luckily for us readers, The Wolves of Daos 5 is a well-crafted science fiction novel. Let’s start with the main characters. Michael has believed he was human all his life. His mother died in childbirth. His father left when he was six. He was raised by his maternal grandmother according to his mother’s wishes. Through his life, he has suffered from social anxiety. At his grandmother’s insistence, Michael goes to college but lives outside the city in a cabin in the woods so he does not have to deal with the other students in a dorm.

Quinn is an alpha werewolf out on a run with a couple of his betas. He smells what he knows is his mate on the wind. He goes to investigate. He sees a young man trying to repair a roof in a driving rain storm. He howls at his mate, who is startled and falls off the roof. Quinn goes to check on the man and bring him in the cabin. When the man wakes up, Quinn tells him that not only is Michael his mate, but also an omega werewolf. Michael disbelieves the story he has been told as a symptom of a concussion. That is until Quinn morphs into his wolf. Michael asks for time to process this and Quinn agrees. Thus begins Michael’s journey into what he terms a bad sci-fi movie.

I found Michael charming as he navigates into this alien world into which he is brought into by Quinn. As with anyone new to a society, he makes occasional social faux pas. The whole checking out another man’s crotch as a way of greeting just puzzles Michael. Michael is also introduced to Ezzy, another omega who must be somehow related to Lucy Ricardo. The schemes that he drags Michael into makes him comment that he shouldn’t be his Ethel. Author Rebecca James builds an interesting world where Daos 5 is actually superimposed on Earth’s reality through magic. One of the more interesting beings in the book is that of the doctor that is taking care of Michael. People who are averse to slimy things will know where Michael’s apprehension with the doctor comes from. This is an excellent start to what I hope will be a long series of books.

The cover by Brandyjo Newton is gorgeous. It fits the book well.

Sales Links

Rebecca James | Amazon | Smashwords | ARe

Book Details

EBook, 195 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: September 24, 2016 by Rebecca James

ASIN: B01M0WFAUV

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV) and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)

Today, we are going to finish up our authors perspective on writing and publishing eBooks with two authors familiar to readers here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Elin Gregory, author of wonderful M/M historical novels and Joe Cosentino, author of the Cozzi Cove and Nicky and Noah Mysteries among others. They kindly consented to answering our questions about writing, writing eBooks and publishing.

Reflecting back, while many authors see the eBook format as one that’s here to stay, other points of view vary widely. Here are two more to add to our picture of the eBook as it matures into an established book format and method of getting one’s story heard and out to readers world wide.

Elin Gregory

✍From Elin Gregory, author of On a Lee Shore, A Taste Of Copper, and many more:

As an author, what has your experience been publishing ebooks? Especially self published ebooks? Did you start off that way? Was a traditional publishing house not the answer? Or if it was, why?

I’ve been writing fiction for as long as I can remember but very much took on board the message that proper books were written by ‘posh folk’. Impressions that you form as a child can be very difficult to shake off as an adult so, although I wrote many novels, it was always as a cheap form of amusement rather than with any intent. In my thirties I did show a friend what I had written. She was a deeply thoughtful and serious reader and a rollicking Regency romance with a bisexual hero really wasn’t her thing. Her reaction was so negative that I went back into the writing closet. It wasn’t until the rise of the internet and online writing fora that I tried sharing things again, to a much better response, and a friend who was a published author encouraged me to try ebooks. This was in the early 2000s before ebooks were widely available and I didn’t follow it up at the time. I wish I had.

How has the ebook industry changed since you started publishing? How do you view these changes?

It hasn’t actually changed that much other than fewer publishers, more opportunities to self publish and OMG huge numbers of authors. The consequence of this is that I think it’s getting harder to be published by one of the ebook houses – which isn’t bad. As a reader I appreciate feeling that publishers are striving for excellence. But as an author, whether with a little house or as a self pubber, it’s very hard to be ‘seen’ when there are hundreds of new books each month.

Have you as an author benefited, are indifferent, or has it made your job more difficult to get your books out there?

I’ve benefitted in that I don’t believe I’d have ever been picked up by an agent. The competition is FIERCE. So ebooks have given me a terrific opportunity to share my work. The difficulty is in writing books that don’t properly fit the main categories so never really being sure how to describe them. Tagging them M/M won’t work because M/M is, in many readers’ minds, synonymous with erotic romance. They aren’t really romance, lacking that focus on the relationship. I can’t describe them as gay fiction because that, to me, specifically refers to books written by gay authors. I can’t call them LGBT+ fiction because they mostly only cover the G. Tagging is really important in order to allow readers to find you.

What things would you change if you were starting over?

I wish I had been braver and had submitted the short novel I finished in 2005. It might have sunk without a trace but people might have liked it. Who knows?

If I was starting now – probably not much. I don’t think I have the steely core of self esteem you need to be a successful self publisher/self promoter. When ones natural style is to say “Oh by the way, there’s this book I wrote … no, forget it. You probably wouldn’t like it” you’re not going to sell much.

What has been your biggest challenge? And biggest victory as an author – other than publishing that is? Is it see your genre expand?

Biggest challenge – LOL marketing! Biggest victory – ummmm, not sure. I’ve had a few lovely reviews and when you’ve been doing something for well over 50 years and someone thanks you for it, oh, how the heart lifts!

But expanding the genre is happening and it’s FANTASTIC. I can buy books that are genre first now – sci fi, thriller, historical, kitchen sink drama and all the rest – with amazing, complex characters and deeply interwoven plots. Books to really sink my teeth into by authors I just want to cheer, authors I aspire to emulate! More choice has to be a good thing.

Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

I think we will carry on a pleasant low key association, like the type of friend you might not see for a couple of years but the relationship picks up where you left off. I would like to publish a bit more frequently but one does what one can and if nobody wants it – well markets change. No point worrying about it until it happens. I’ll be writing anyway.

Joe Cosentino

✍From Joe Cosentino, author of the Nicky and Noah Mysteries, the Cozzi Cove series, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland, and many more

From being touted as the death of the printed format to the savior of reading to everything in between. As an author, what has your experience been publishing ebooks? Especially self-published ebooks? Did you start off that way? Was a traditional publishing house not the answer? Or if it was, why?

As an actor and playwright, I did the happy dance on my desk when Dreamspinner Press agreed to publish my novella adaptation of my one-act play, AN INFATUATION, loosely based on my high school years and high school reunion. That inspired me to write another novella, A SHOOTING STAR, loosely based on my years as a theatre major in college. The staff at Dreamspinner Press was amazing. I received a main editor, four assistant editors, a cover artist, and a publicity manager. The head of the company, Elizabeth North, answered my emails quickly, cordially, and completely. We even shared a hilarious late-night email exchange about my funny Italian family. The two novellas started out as e-books. They did so well that Dreamspinner Press gave me my own paperback anthology of the two novellas, which just recently won a Rainbow Award Honorable Mention. We are now planning an audiobook for those. We are also planning audiobooks for my other two novellas: THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TALES FROM FAIRYLAND (my gay take on my favorite fairytales like Cinderella, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, and The Snow Queen) and A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (my romantic novella set on the gorgeous and magical island of Capri, Italy), both being performed by the amazing and versatile actor Joel Leslie and releasing in November and December respectively. In addition to the things I have already mentioned, the benefit of having a publisher is the assurance that your books are getting out into the market, and that you are part of a family of authors who support you. I’ve met so many generous authors who have given me advice, featured me on their blogs, and read my books. The advantage of publishing an e-book is the lower price and easy availability, though some readers prefer the paperback and/or audiobook. I assume the e-books are less expensive to publish, though print on demand has greatly reduced the cost and need for bookstore returns for publishers of paperbacks.

How has the ebook industry changed since you started publishing? How do you view these changes? Have you as an author benefited, are indifferent, or has it made your job more difficult to get your books out there?

Though I have eleven published novels and four more written and being released over the next several months, I’ve only been writing novels for two years. As my mother says, “Don’t you have anything better to do than write novels?” Hm. I wonder if Stephen King’s mother asked him that. In any case, during the short time I’ve been writing, the only change I’ve seen is the increased number of readers in all venues. Some swear by ebooks. Others want to hold the paperbook in their hands. And the rest want to hear the book performed by a skilled narrator while they exercise, drive, or rest. The more formats available for a book, the easier it is to promote.

What things would you change if you were starting over?

I wouldn’t worry so much about whether or not my books would be published. I’ve been lucky enough to find the right publisher for each of my series. For example, Lethe Press publishes my comedy mystery series, the Nicky and Noah mystery novels, loosely based on my life as a college theatre professor (though thankfully nobody has been murdered at my college). DRAMA QUEEN (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll winner of Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Novel of 2015) is available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook performed by the amazing Michael Gilboe. DRAMA MUSCLE (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention) is available as an ebook and paperback. An audiobook is in the works. DRAMA CRUISE releases in ebook and paperback on December 1. Steve Berman of Lethe Press sees the value in offering his customers ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. He also enjoys humor and a good mystery with a surprise ending.

What has been your biggest challenge? And biggest victory as an author – other than publishing that is? Is it to see your genre expand?

My biggest challenge has been working as a college professor/department head while I write and help promote so many books. My biggest victory is receiving so many wonderful messages from readers who tell me my books made them laugh, cry, feel romantic, and see their lives differently. For example, I created the Jana Lane mystery novels with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters, and found many straight people loving the gay characters as their favorites, and claiming that thanks to those books their positions changed on equality. The series about an ex-child star making a comeback while she solves murder mysteries on sets is published by The Wild Rose Press in ebooks and paperbacks: PAPER DOLL, PORCELAIN DOLL, SATIN DOLL, CHINA DOLL, and RAG DOLL which releases on November 13. Since the series takes place in the 1980’s, the beginnings of AIDS is featured in the novels, and also Jana’s best friend and agent are gay and partnered. The series attracts a different readership to my other novels. I am delighted to expand in that way. I also love shocking the readers each time with the surprise endings.

Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

I think ebooks are here to stay. However, I also believe paperbacks and audiobooks aren’t going anywhere, as I’ve witnessed many readers who continue to prefer them. As for me. I spent part of the summer writing teleplays of some of my books. I think they would all make terrific television series, especially my Cozzi Cove series published by NineStar Press as ebooks and paperbacks: COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK, (Divine Magazine Honorable Mention and TBR Pile Book of the Month), COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD, and COZZI COVE: STEPPING OUT which releases in January. The stories of ex-football player Cal Cozzi and his guest bungalows in a gay resort on a gorgeous cove on the New Jersey Shore is ripe for television. Hear that producers. Make me an offer!

Looking back over all our wonderful authors interviews, I begin to see certain similarities stand out. All expect the eBook format to continue, as well as all forms of printed formats and audiobooks. Most wish they had been braver, started to write or publish sooner. Wish they had listened more to their own voices instead of perhaps someone else telling them that what they were writing wasn’t what would sell or that the public wanted to read.

Its been wonderful to have all these authors opinions for the last two weeks. My thanks to Parker Williams (Of Love and Corn Dogs), Wulf Francu Godgluck (Tooth, Claw, and Horn Chronicles), and Jay Northcote (Housemates, Nothing Serious ), Elin Gregory, and Joe Cosentino for appearing in this series. Your participation has been invaluable.

Have you learned something from our authors? Still have a question or two to ask? We have a giveaway for our readers below. Leave a comment or question to be entered.

And Happy Halloween and Samhain everyone!

We will be switching things up for November as we start to roll into the holiday seasons. We will get back to our publishers at a later date. Thanksgiving is coming here in the States. Hmmm…what will be our topic next? Only a wild turkey might tell….

Giveaway

Elin Gregory is giving away a eBook copy (pdf format) of her M/M historical novel, A Taste of Copper, as well as our own giveaway of $10 of Dreamspinner gift certificates to 4 lucky readers. To win, leave a comment and an email address where you can be reached on how reading eBooks has impacted you. Could be the amount of books you buy, what type of books, where you buy them. Anything. Winners will get to choose their prize, first come first served. Contest ends November 8th at midnight. Must be 18 years of age or older.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, October 30:

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
A Paul Review: The Wolves of Daos 5 by Rebecca James

Monday, October 31 (Happy Halloween – Happy Samhain):

In the Spotlight: The Queer and the Restless by Kris Ripper (Riptide Publishing Tour/Giveaway)
Alisa Release Day Review: Spell Cat (The Aloysius Tales #1) by Tara Lain
A Caryn Review: Faded Into You by Remmy Duchene
A Lila Audiobook Review Running Wild by SE Jakes and Narrated by Dorian Bane
A Stella Review: Coffee Boy by Austin Chant

Tuesday, November 1:

Quinn Anderson on the Challenges of Writing and her latest release, Hotline (Riptide tour/giveaway)
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Romancing The Wrong Twin – Clare London
A MelanieM Review: Romancing The Wrong Twin by Clare London
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pansies by Alexis Hall
An Alisa Review: Crashing Waves by CJ Baty

Wednesday, November 2:

L. Rockwood Talks Dark Fantasy and “Defiant Revival” (Author Guest Blog/Book Release)
Tara’s “Spell Cat” Book Blast and Review (linked to the post)
A Melanie Releases Day Review: After the Sunset (Timing #2) by Mary Calmes
A Paul Review: Julio’s Wolf (Werewolves of Manhattan #6) by A.C. Katt
Alisa Release Day Review: Private Dances by BA Tortuga

Thursday, November 3:

Summer Season from Series Recap Tour – Treading The Boards Series – Rebecca Cohen
In the Spotlight: Posy Roberts on her latest release Stroke of Luck (author guest post, excerpt )
A Melanie Release Day Review: Summer Season by Rebecca Cohen
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Love on Location by Lucy Felthouse and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
A Lila Audiobook Review: The Senator’s Secret by K.C. Wells and John Solo (Narrator)
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Lights, Camera, Cupid, the Bluewater Bay Anthology

Friday, November 4:

Cover Reveal for Nobody’s Home by Dev Bentham
Honeymoon Their Way by Morticia Knight Blog Tour and Giveaway
Black Snow by EAB (Dreamspinner Author Guest Post)
A Lila Review: Twice in a Lifetime by Shawn Lane
A Stella Release Day Review: Mapping the Forest by Brandon Witt

Saturday, November 5:

A Melanie PreRelease Review:Hanging The Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) by Rhys Ford
A Melanie Review: Death Mask by Lexi Ander

~About This Sunday’s Contributing Authors~

About Elin Gregory:

Elin Gregory lives in South Wales and has been making stuff up since 1958. Writing has always had to take second place to work and family but now the kids are grown up it’s possible she might finish one of the many novels on her hard drive and actually DO something useful with it.

Historical subjects predominate. She has written about ancient Greek sculptors, 18th century seafarers but also about modern men who change shape at will and how echoes of the past can be heard in the present. Heroes tend to be hard as nails but capable of tenderness when circumstances allow.

There are always new works on the go and she is currently editing a novel about spies in the 1920s, finishing one set in 6th century AD England and contemplating one about the Second World War. Any excuse to buy more books!

You can reach Elin at:

Website: http://elingregory.com/
Twitter: ElinGregory

About Joe Cosentino:

Joe Cosentino – Joe Cosentino’s books and plays

www.joecosentino.weebly.com

Bestselling author Joe Cosentino won Divine Magazine’s awards for best mystery novel, best humorous novel, and best contemporary novel of 2015.

Amazon Bestselling author Joe Cosentino’s books were voted Favorite LGBT Mystery Novel, Favorite LGBT Humorous Novel, Favorite LGBT Contemporary Novel, and Second Favorite LGBT Romance Novel in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. Many of his books have won Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions, and one was voted TBR Pile Book of the Month. Joe wrote In My Heart: An Infatuation, A Shooting Star, A Home for the Holidays, and the Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press); Drama Queen, Drama Muscle, and Drama Cruise Nicky and Noah mysteries (Lethe Press); Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, and Rag Doll Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose Press); andCozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, and Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out Cozzi Cove beach novels. He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, Charles Keating, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. Joe was voted 2^nd Place for Best LGBT Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015. http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

A MelanieM Review: Shield of the Dragon (Dance with the Devil #6) by Megan Derr

Ratings: 4.5 stars out of 5

shield-of-the-dragon If the aftermath of destroying two powerful syndicates and joining league with the last person he expected, all Ken wants is a chance to catch his breath, and maybe regain the attention of the man who said he wanted Ken as more than just a Steward but now seems to have lost interest. But every other day bring a new crop of people wanting to kill them, and it’s only a matter of time before they succeed.

All Amr wants is time—time to move his clan and settle them into their new home, time with the dragon he never thought he’d own, and most of all he wants time for his Steward, to see the man rest and recover and stop getting himself almost killed every week. He wouldn’t mind a chance to rekindle their fragile relationship either.

Diamond wants a life that feels worth living. The one he left behind wasn’t all that great, but it beat waking up to the nasty results of a curse that should have killed him and working as a hitman for the Cambry Syndicate. Then he goes to fetch someone for his boss, and gets dragged even deeper into the strange paranormal world he’s still learning to call home.

Note: contains poly

Another story in one of Megan Derr’s Dance with the Devil series is always cause for rejoicing. Its a huge universe of stories she’s built, full of worlds and characters and their mates. They are intertwined of course, sometimes loosely, or sometimes the threads that hold them together are tight, knotty, a balled up mess of relationships and politics and genetics. Dragon genetics. But whatever the story, its always compelling. The plots and world building so weirdly captivating and the couples a mesmerizing blend of beings that sometimes has you blinking in disbelief and delight at the same time.

Some of the couples even bleed (literally) into each others novels, as they do here. For those who are loving followers of the series…I won’t spoil the surprise, just be prepared to see a couple from a previous novel play a major role here. It also sent me running to read their story all over again. Truly, this is a series that keeps on giving from one story to the next. It keeps reigniting your interest in all the past novels you’ve already read as well as launching your imagination anew for the next book to come.

I haven’t even gotten to Shield of the Dragon (Dance with the Devil #6) yet. If you haven’t read the other stories that included the Dragons and the Dragon shifters in the Dance with the Devils series, you can still read this novel. Derr does a wonderful job of explaining the culture, the genetic history just enough to engage a new reader’s imagination and connect them immediately to the story. Those of us who have been with the series all along, well, its a lovely quick refresher course. But as always, its the characters who pull us into the drama and the plot lines here.

As with any Derr story there are layered story threads running parallel to each other, intertwining throughout the novel. One is the tale of Amr who is moving his clan during a time of upheaval. Amr has been claimed by a dragon that’s the key to power and therefore much sought after. His own life is in just as much turmoil as he seeks the companionship of Ken, his Steward. Ken, a person of action instead of words is confused by the one person he wants and now thinks has rejected him. And still their clan must be settled into hostile territory and their dragons kept safe. Little do they know of the plans being hatched against them.

Diamond is an unusual hitman/thug for the Cambry Syndicate. Who and what he is makes him all the more deadly to everyone around him..and it brings him no peace. His latest mission is about to change everything. For himself, for the Syndicate, for all he knows. In Diamond, Derr has created another memorable character. A cursed being, done in by his own brother, with more of his history waiting to be revealed later in the plot, the revelations that flow from this character’s plot thread are extraordinary. From his lover to those that he meets, Diamond is the key of the Shield of the Dragon in so many ways. Derr has layered him in such a way that its a delight to watch him grow and change, especially when one event occurs.

Ken is probably as close as they come to being Diamond’s twin. And when the plot works in tandem, their threads twisting together, the book explodes with power.

One thing that should be mentioned is that the dragons are able to shift into human form, while remaining dragons in thought. Part of the bonding process is sex and it continues to be part of their relationship. So there is sex, not only between couples but between their dragons and the couples, as neither can be excluded from the others relationship, naturally. This includes female dragons too. So don’t be surprised to have a M/M/M/M/F/M…I think I left a M out of there somewhere… pairing at the end. But it all felt very natural given the relationships between each other and the couples. Really with the dragons, its all about who they choose.

By the time the novel comes to its HFN conclusion I was so deep into this world once more that I was shocked to see it was time to leave again. Hate it when that happens. Derr always does it to me. I’m never ready. And of course, seeing that other couple again made me ready to pull out their story for round 2.

I loved this story. If you are a fan of Megan Derr, you probably have already grabbed this up. You don’t need my recommendation. But for everyone else, if you love fantasy, dragons, dragon shifters, outstanding world building and all of the above, here’s a series to sink your teeth into. Very sharp teeth! And a book you will love. You can start here or go back to the beginning. I have listed them all at the bottom of the review. I’ll be waiting for the next to arrive. Meet me here.

Cover art is dark and is hard to make out but helps brand the series.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 197 pages
Published September 12th 2016
ASINB01LZG7V02
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Dance with the Devil – add to your Goodreads shelf:

Dance with the Devil (Dance with the Devil, #1)
The Glass Coffin (Dance with the Dev #2
Dance in the Dark (Dance with the Devil, #3)
Midnight (Dance with the Devil, #3)
Dance Only for Me (Dance with the Devil, #4)
Risk it All (Dance with the Devil #4.5)
Sword of the King (Dance with the Devil, #5)
Shield of the Dragon (Dance with the Devil #6)
Twilight (Dance with the Devil #7)

A MelanieM Review: Too Many Cases by Julia Rancourt

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

too-many-cases Jo is a man of multiple worlds. He was born in the mundane world, but while working as a private detective, he inadvertently chased his quarry into Otheropolis, a parallel world filled with magic. Deciding to stay, Jo is joined by Simone Of Hecate, his partner in more ways than one, and resumes his private detective work in his strange new home.

But when his private life in the mundane world comes under assault, on top of three new cases, and multiple attempts on his life, Jo starts to wonder if maybe mundane was better than magical after all.

Too Many Cases was a neat little story by Julia Rancourt. Full of a delicious setting called Otheropolis that joined with our mundane parellel world, its main character is a detective called Jo trying to fit in in a world where he feels more at home than he ever did in the world where he was born. And there the clues start falling immediately for your first twist in the story. That of gender. Its wonderful and I loved Jo even more for it being unexpected. Jo has some of his own obstacles to overcome in this story as well as mysteries to solve. Jo is joined by his partner Simone of Hecate, a witch.

I was expecting this to be a M/M story, its not. I mistook Simone for Simon (face palm). I’m going to leave the pairing off. It’s a LGBTQIA story, there’s no sex, well little sex with heat to it. and it revolves around the mysteries which I really enjoyed. But yes gender does come into it and I like the way the author handled it for our main character and for the story.

What I did want was more of Otheropolis. The concepts that Rancourt lays down for her world are intrequeing. I want to know how the families rule, more on the weather and how its all laid out. It sounds fascinating and all this story did was wet my taste for more.

Looking for something a little different? With mysteries and main characters to grab at your interest and perhaps your heart too? Give Too Many Cases by Julia Rancourt a try.

Cover art was interesting and I liked it, just like the book.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Published October 10th 2016 by Less Than Three Press, LLC
ASINB01MCS3F95
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Review: Open Omega and His Bitter Bear (Pariah Pack #4) by Susan Laine

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

open-omega-and-his-bitter-bean As an omega, Woody Fry balances the unity of his wolf pack and serves as a gardener and healer. He’s an outspoken and optimistic twink who always supports his family and is ever ready to take a leap of faith. An unexpected intrusion into the wolf territory on an autumn’s day brings Woody face to face with a sullen, young coywolf and an equally morose, hostile bear in his prime.

Brown bear Lyss Arthur doesn’t trust anyone, preferring to keep to himself and radiating an air of rage. When the two opposites realize they’re mates, all bets are off. But Lyss isn’t on the market for a mate, so Woody has his work cut out.

Soon the wolf pack learns that the bear and coywolf are on the lam. They’re pursued by a lethal enemy who’ll stop at nothing to get them back. Protecting the bear and his teenage ward might prove deadly for everyone concerned.

Woody is absolutely adorable and so optimistic it’s like a breath of fresh air. Despite the bad things that have happened in his life he looks for the good in others and situations. Lyss is grumbly bear who doesn’t feel as though he can see any good in anything anymore.

In this story we can see how much Woody would like to push Lyss, but knows it’s best to wait. Lyss has trouble seeing how things can get better until it comes down to a confrontation and Woody’s pack stands up for him and the coywolf showing him that they are welcome and loved. I was rooting for these two the whole time even if Lyss did make a few stupid mistakes and had to be slapped upside the head with the truth for him to see it.

The cover art is very nice and gives a good visual for the characters.

Sales Links: Siren Publishing

Book Details:

ebook, 126 pages

Published: September 7, 2016 by Siren Publishing

Edition Language: English

Series: Pariah Pack #4

An Anthology Special! Check out Contact (Gothika #5) by Kim Fielding , F.E. Feeley Jr. , Jamie Fessenden , and B.G. Thomas (guest post, special excerpt and more)

Contact (Gothika #5)
by Kim Fielding , F.E. Feeley Jr. , Jamie Fessenden , B.G. Thomas

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have F.E. Feeley, Jr. here today to talk about Contact (Gothika #5), an upcoming anthology from Dreamspinner Press. Welcome, F.E.

Hi! I’m F.E. Feeley, Jr., one of the authors in the upcoming anthology Gothika: Contact. This is the fifth installment in the Gothika series, which has featured androids, werewolves, voodoo curses, and ghosts! Contact is about encounters with extraterrestrials and alien abduction, and it includes four stories by me, Kim Fielding, Jamie Fessenden, and B.G. Thomas.

In my story, “My Final Blog,” I explored the idea of extraterrestrials establishing contact not by landing a spaceship in our backyard or making toy monkeys come to life (Why do we have those creepy things, anyway?), but by chatting with us online. We’ve already got a worldwide network where it’s possible—and expected—that people will communicate without revealing their identities. How easy would it be for an alien to establish contact with humans on social media, scope us out, and maybe even establish a form of relationship with us before revealing itself?

Here’s how I handled the idea of alien contact in “My Final Blog.”

Blurb

George is an average guy who’s led an average sort of life. Always fading in the background, he never garnered much attention. People seemed to pass him by or not notice him. Except, of course, in high school where he was tormented by his sexuality. Finding solace online, George developed a blog early on that helped him maintain his sanity. It was an anonymous link to the outside world to vent his frustrations and express his creativity. And he gathered quite an audience of similar spirits and allies who stayed with him for over the years.

Especially one commenter, Universal47. In the spirit of anonymity, George never pushed him to expose who he really was. And over a period of years, began to have feelings for this faceless person. When George finds himself in a horrible one sided relationship with an abusive and neglectful partner, Universal steps in to help George break up with him. Devastated by the outcome of his failed relationship, George threatens to withdraw from Universal47 as well unless he tells him who he really is. The answer may be more than George can handle.

Excerpt

We were wandering into dangerously choppy waters. I was defensive over my relationship. I mean, there were good times. Christmases and birthdays were great. But there were times when I could dry up and disappear and Joseph, I don’t think would have cared. As a matter of fact, it was sort of ‘go away, come back’ messages that I received from him that confused me. Which, I must say looking back, was sort of pathetic. But you know what they say about hindsight. It was always fifty/ fifty. I ended up saying goodnight and went about my evening. But his words haunted me.

Yet, fast forward to the night he told me his name, I sat staring at my computer screen as his name flashed in front of me. Elijah. I liked the name. I, of course, understood the biblical reference. Elijah was a prophet that once called down fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice to God. Or, it was the name of a really blue eyed actor who played Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings movies. I put those two things up for consideration in the chat box and was greeted with a great big LOL for my efforts.

Universal47: Neither. But that’s funny.

I tilted my head for a moment before typing: Will we ever meet?

Universal47: I believe so. Do you want to meet me?

Me: Of course.

Universal47: Why?

Me: To put a face with a name?

Universal47: Is that all?

Me: Sure. Isn’t that enough.

Universal47: And what would we do if we met.

I rolled my eyes hard at that.

Me: Well, you’re not getting laid if that’s what you mean. I could go on GRNDR for that.

Universal47: HAHAHAHA! I’m sure you could. And no, that isn’t what I’m after either.

Me: so you are after something?

Universal47: Companionship? Is that weird?

Me: No. I don’t think so. You must get lonely, too.

Universal47: You have no idea.

Me: Well, if it’s any consolation to you. At night, when I fall asleep, you’re not far from my mind.

Universal47: That’s really the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me. But you don’t know what I look like.

Me: No. I guess not.

Universal47: What do you think about when think about me before you fall asleep.

Me: Honestly? You’ve had many faces. But your arms are always the same. Strong. There. Just like you’ve been all these years. There. That’s what matters to me, Elijah.

He was quiet for a long time after that and before he could reply, I felt my eyes grow heavy. It had been a long couple of days. And since it was Friday night, I had a whole weekend’s worth of work to do. I bid him goodnight and logged out. I hoped I hadn’t said too much. I hope I hadn’t freaked him out. But my ability to bullshit was completely depleted by that time that truth sort of rolled out of me in waves. That night, as I lay in bed listening to the wind howling over the prairies it was so mournful and so lonesome sounding that I cried myself to sleep.

gothika-contact-5

Anthology Blurb

Since ancient times, humankind has looked into the night sky and wondered: Are we alone? Are there other civilizations beyond the stars? Will we ever encounter these beings? Who are they, what are they like, and what might they want with us?

These questions are about to be answered, but those who discover the truth might wish they had never asked. On the other hand, some might find salvation in visitors from other planets. For while some aliens are hostile, others are benevolent. Some have little in common with humans, but for others, the need for love and acceptance is universal. Lives will intersect and otherworldly passions will ignite as four acclaimed authors of gay romance explore first contact—and where it can lead.

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In the Supernatural Spotlight: Full Circle by Victoria Sue (excerpt, giveaway and review)

bt_banner

AboutTheBook

TITLE: Full Circle

SERIES: Sirius Wolves #7

AUTHOR: Victoria Sue

PUBLISHER: Dark Hollow Press

COVER ARTIST: Dark Hollow Press

LENGTH: 50,000 words

RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2016

BLURB: “Win the love of the wolf with the hardest heart.”

Faced with eternal banishment to hell, Anubis, god of the underworld, has found a loophole in one of the oldest laws which will allow him to unleash his evil on an unsuspecting human world. Orion’s only hope to stop him is to accept his challenge: send a champion to win the love of the wolf with the hardest heart. It will take someone with a pure heart to soften a closed one, so faced with the threat of losing not only the werewolves, but the destruction of the human race, the gods can only do one thing — send Adam, one of their own.

Adam quickly realizes that the werewolf whose love he must win is Jed. Wounded after the loss of his wife and son, Jed promised he would never love again or be responsible for someone else’s happiness. Adam has been given a near impossible task.

Anubis is eager to see Adam fail, and unbeknown to everyone takes matters into his own hands to make sure of it. Everything happening now is part of his master plan, and finally it has come full circle.

Even if Adam succeeds and wins Jed’s heart, will that love survive when Jed discovers the whole thing was nothing more than a bet? Or when Adam does the one thing he mustn’t and falls in love himself, will he not only break Jed’s heart but completely destroy his own?
Excerpt

Jed gentled his hand as Adam mewled in the back of his throat, both of Adam’s hands surrounding his neck and pressing tightly with an overwhelming urge to simply hang on.

They shared kisses. Shared air. Jed swallowed every reaction from Adam because it was precious. Finally, he wiped his hand and their bodies clean on the sheet and drew Adam in closer.

His heart beat loudly in his ears. Jed didn’t want to think about what they had just done, and let reality intrude on the bliss that seemed to wrap them both up. It wasn’t the whole fucking a guy thing, even though he was still in shock about that. It was the need inside of him, the nameless urge that transcended sex or narrow bigoted views of what made other people happy. In a lot of ways, it wasn’t even the fact that Adam was human and Jed was not.

It was his unshaking doubt that as soon as Jed trusted, as soon as Jed let in a little belief, as soon as Jed started thinking in terms of forever… That’s when it would happen. That’s when his forever would be ripped away. It had with his family. The day his father hadn’t returned from the hunt because of a human’s bullet. The day they’d fled their home because the forest was cleared to make a human town, and his family had no idea how to live in one. The day he was out scrounging for food to fill their empty bellies because it was winter and they should have been warm and safe in their homes, and his little sister had been attacked by a rogue. The rogue had been insane, half-mad with whatever injustice had caused him to attack a pup, and his mom had died trying to defend her.

And then he had trusted once more. Raye had waltzed into his life and danced his objections away. Then it had happened again, as surely as Jed feared it would.

He clutched Adam tighter, knowing his hold wouldn’t last, knowing Adam would be ripped from him like everyone else…

He no longer had any dreams that could be taken from him. He’d accepted long ago that the pack would be his life, but he would go home alone every day. He almost didn’t mind because he knew it wasn’t a matter if Adam would realize he was a pathetic old man and would leave.

It was simply a matter of when.

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AuthorBio

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.

In 2013 after reading love stories for so long she decided to write her own.

:: Website :: Blog :: Facebook :: Facebook Group :: Twitter ::

You can also email Victoria at – victoriasueauthor@gmail.com

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