Category: M/M Supernatural Fiction

A MelanieM Review: Off Course (Coyote’s Call #1) by Bailey Bradford

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Gideon’s worst night ever starts out with a bang that will change his whole life.

GOff Course coverideon Wells is bad luck.  That’s what he’s been told.  It’s the reason he was tossed out of his clan, and its the reason he has ended up stranded on this  road to nowhere in a Texas desert as the temperatures climb above 100 degrees.  From a birth rate that is in a spiral downward for bear shifters, to Gideon’s homosexuality, Gideon has borne the brunt of suspicions and anger from other bear shifters until he was ostracized, thrown out with no where to go.  Then his  dump of a car catches fire and he finds himself surrounded by scorpions..and  Gideon starts to believe what he’s been told.  But first he has to find a way to survive.

Coyote shifter Miller Hudson clan has disbanded.  Over the years fewer and fewer of them  retained the ability to shift until the present when they are shifters in name only.  True there is a legend that says an Alpha coyote shifter,  along with  a bear shifter mate, with be the savior of the now-defunct coyote den and bring them all back to the glory they once were.  But who believes in prophesies anymore?  Certainly not Miller.

Until he finds Gideon half dead along a deserted road near  town.   Suddenly everything changes for Miller and for Gideon.  But first Miller has to save him.

Off Course is the first in Bailey Bradford’s new series, Coyote’s Call, and it’s a great start to a promising new series.  I liked the premise and setting immediately.  The idea of a desert works beautifully when a mystical prophesy or folklore element is present.  Add to that the use of coyote shifters in a natural setting and the layers forming feel fantastical and real.

Although its Gideon we meet first, I am going to temporarily push him to the back.  The coyote clan that Bradford has created for this story is a marvel, complete with Native American overtones.  Something is happening to all the shifters world wide, dropping birthrates just the first indication.  With the coyote shifters the damage is manifested in the loss of their ability to shift into a coyote form.  That hole in who they are has brought about the dissolution of the clan, another key component of the basic coyote nature.   From Miller Hudson to his mother and other coyote shifters we see a close-knit group of people trying to hang on.  Miller is especially strong.  In fact it’s his strength of personality and outlook that takes charge of this story and Gideon in ways you are going to love.   I love all the dimension and depth to this group of people.  From their artwork to their philosophies, they are a fascinating clan and a perfect one to build a series around.

Then Bailey Bradford brings in Gideon Wells, the opposite of Miller and his people in every way, including pack/clan structure and society.  I felt that the rigid bear clan structure was less effective than the one created for the coyotes but we also get a reduced feel for them as not a lot of information about their background is  present so perhaps that’s coming.  But in Gideon Wells,  Bradford has a winning character, one I just adored from the moment we meet him.  Gideon is bearlike in every way, big and tall without being imposing, a little soft about the tummy, his is a personality gentle, hurting, and endearing.  He lacks self confidence and is clearly in need of love and a home.  And of course, his senses are muted so he has no idea who is a shifter and who is human, another fun element to explore.  This is a savory romance, hot and sexy, gentle and sweet.  I need more of these two shifters.

With a first novel in a series, the author has to lay the ground for the other stories to come and, again, Bradford does that successfully here.  There are a number of characters introduced who need their mates and HEA.  And the major threads of shifter species decline and the Coyote Clan are fascinating, so I can’t wait to read the next story to see how the author develops her series theme as well as character growth that I see coming.

If you love romance, especially one  with a supernatural shifter element, pick up Off Course by Bailey Bradford.  I throughly enjoyed it and think you will too.

Cover Artist:  Posh Gosh.  I liked this cover but didn’t love it.  Its dark, instead of the heat and lightness of the desert.  Plus where is the coyote or  bear elements?  So much to work with and yet that seems to be another “wolf shifter” cover.  A missed opportunity that the next cover will pick up on.

Sales Links:   Totally Bound      All Romance eBook (ARe)             amazon        Off Course

Book Details:

ebook, 164 pages
Expected publication: November 21st 2014 by Totally Bound (first published October 24th 2014)
ISBN139781784302924
edition languageEnglish
url https://www.totallybound.com
seriesCoyote’s Call #1

Step Into The Fire with L.M. Brown’s Between Heaven and Hell (book tour)

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L.M. Brown’s stopped by today to share a little insight into the characters of L.M. Brown’s latest release, Between Heaven & Hell.  Don’t forget to check out the blurb as well.

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Who’s in charge here?

by L. M. Brown

Does anyone else have a problem with characters who seem to have a mind of their own? I’m not talking about characters who are forthright, opinionated or dominating, though there are plenty of those flying around too.

What I’m talking about today is those characters who have no regard for my carefully outlined plots whatsoever. Characters like my merman, Kyle, who refused to pine away for the lover who betrayed him, and simply took a little time before moving on with his life.

Or, characters like those in my most recent release, who decided that no matter what I had planned for them, they were going to go their own way and I was going to just hang on for the ride.

The Heavenly Sins trilogy, as well as starting out as a short story – which is a whole other issue I have where the words won’t stop coming – was meant to be the story of a mortal man who finds himself torn between an angel and a demon, two powerful supernatural beings who are both determined to make him theirs.

Instead what I ended up with is a three part trilogy and an all male ménage.LMBrown_BetweenHeavenandHell _BlogTour_600x315_final

So, who do I blame for that?

Well, first of all, let’s take a look at Tristan. The mortal third of the threesome is not someone who generally invites more than one man into his bed at a time. Yet he finds he has a bit of a greedy streak when a certain angel by the name of Mac suggests both he and Alastor, a demon, begin a relationship with him.

But perhaps he Tristan isn’t the one to blame, after all Mac is the one who suggested the idea in the first place. Angels spread love, but Mac takes it to a whole new level.

Then there’s Alastor, a demon with the power to manipulate the mind. If ever a character had power over an author, I think it would be this one. As soon as he stepped onto the page I had a feeling I was going to lose control of the story.

The spark between Mac and Alastor was there right from the start. With so much attraction simmering away for centuries, it was only a matter of time before they stopped fighting over Tristan and instead concentrated their efforts on fighting their growing feelings for each other. You can probably tell from the fact this is a ménage that they didn’t fight too hard.

My control over the story was lost the moment Mac and Alastor met. I just didn’t know it at the time.

Each scene I wrote took me a little farther away from the outline I had carefully crafted. Every glance between Alastor and Mac, every word spoken, and every touch sent them down their new path.

In a remarkably short space of time Mac and Alastor were breaking all the rules as they and Tristan cemented their relationship and became a fully functioning ménage.

No matter how much you try to plan, no matter how many notes you make, or outlines you labour over, as soon as you give a character voice you are in their hands.

I have learnt to give my characters free rein to do what they please. Forcing a character down a path they don’t want is much like herding cats, a rather pointless exercise.

I generally find working this way means I have a better (and in the case of the Heavenly Sins trilogy – a far hotter) story at the end compared to what I envisaged at the beginning of the journey. I hope you will agree.

Blurb for Between Heaven and Hell, book one in the Heavenly Sins trilogy:

betweenheavenandhell_800When an angel and a demon fall for the same mortal man there is only one solution…share him.

Halloween night at the Inferno club always draws a crowd. When Tristan spots a stunningly gorgeous man dressed as a demon across the dance floor he sets out to draw his attention, little realising he has already gained the notice of another. The demon disappears into the throng of revellers, but with the heavenly handsome Machidiel in his arms, Tristan doesn’t mind.

Even though Mac warns him they can never have more than a one-night stand, Tristan longs to see the man who gave him the best sexual experience of his life again.

One year later, Tristan opens his door to find Alastor, the demon from the Inferno, who claims they have a date tonight.
Alastor may be the one man who can make Tristan forget Mac. Little does he realise Mac isn’t as far from his reach as he believes. When Mac reappears he has a proposition for Tristan and Alastor, one that means breaking rules and potentially getting him stripped of his wings.

A ménage formed between an angel, a demon, and a human means the sex is hotter than hell itself, but only time will tell if the relationship they have forged together is made in Heaven or Hell.

Like the sound of Between Heaven and Hell? Buy it here at Totally Bound!

Categories: m/m/m menage, supernatural, totally hot, totally bound.

 

About LM Brown:

I live in England, in a quaint little village that time doesn’t seem to have touched. No, wait a minute—that’s the retirement biography. Right now I am in England in a medium sized town that no one has ever heard of, so I won’t bore you with the details.

Keeping me company are numerous sexy men. I just wish that they weren’t all inside my head.

I love hearing from readers so don’t be shy.

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A MelanieM Review: The Circus of the Damned (Deal with a Devil) by Cornelia Grey

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

TheCircusoftheDamned_500x750Magician Gilbert Blake has spent his entire life hiding the fact that his power is real.  Instead, Gilbert journeys from town to town, along with his patient companion, Emilia the mouse, trolling for easy marks in the worst of places and pubs along the way.  Gilbert’s love of drink and quick temper has often gotten him into trouble but  never like the hornets nest he stirred up in the town of  Shadowsea.  A dark, disreputile place, home of  the infamous slumlord Count Reuben,   who gets wind of his abilities after a fight in one of his pubs.  Gilbert’s flees with Emelia until his only option to survive is hiding within the Circus of the Damned .

Only the Circus of the Damned isn’t merely an unusual name but a unique circus with dark secrets of its own.   It’s handsome ringmaster Jesse’s responsiblity to make sure their numbers stay the same.  And when a performer dies, a new replacement must be found within 24 hours or all is lost, including their souls.   A recent death in their ranks makes Gilbert exactly what they need.  A soul in exchange for safety inside the Circus as a performer.  Only Gilbert doesn’t exactly believe in the pact or the Circus for that matter.  For Gilbert expediency is everything until its not and reality sets in.

But something far darker looms on the horizon, for Gilbert and the Circus of the Damned.  For Count Reuben hasn’t forgotten about Gilbert and is pursuing him still.  As the danger grows all around them, and other mages start disappearing, Gilbert, Jesse and the Circus of the Damned  place everything on the line for survival and for love.

Just the blurb for The Circus of the Damned was alluring enough for me to pick up this story and start reading.  Never quite the fan of clowns and circuses, the premise was one I found easy to believe in, a company of damned souls and supernatural talents who journeyed around the world holding special shows whose audience was often as unusual as the performers themselves.  Yes, I was hooked well and good.

But Cornelia Grey’s marvelous execution of this premise and the complex,haunting universe she has created for The Circus of the Damned exceeded all my expectations and then stomped them into the dust.  Part steampunk , part hellmouth, always fascinating, from the miserable town of Shadowsea to the encircled caravans of the Circus of the Damned, no little detail goes unnoticed or fails to enchance Grey’s tale of magic, devilry, and romance.

Circuses as I have said, are the perfect devil’s playground, From the garish makeup, tents, trailers and oddities of the side show, this venue lends itself to otherworldly elements like a duck does to water.  And the foundation is always in its performers, as it is with the characters Grey has created here.  But first, let’s start with Gilbert Blake, an often drunken mage with anger issues who often takes the  easy road in life.  He drinks, cheats, and scurries along, accompanied by only the most tolerant mouse alive, Emilia.  Gilbert is everyone’s problem at the beginning, including the readers.  He’s just not that likable to start off with.  Luckily that will change once he is forced to enter the Circus, but even then he can be a problematic leading man.  Only as he starts to accept his fate and really takes notice of his fellow performers and situation does this character grow and our liking of him along with it.

But even as we are having problems engaging with Gilbert, there’s Jesse, Dora, Ramona, and Constance.  There’s the remarkable Olivia, and Mildred, and of course, Farfarello, to delight, horrify, and pull us forever into their stories and lives.  It’s that damned Circus of the Damned that’s so mesmerizing and fanciful that you just can’t get enough of the place or people (or beings for that matter). Here is Cornelia Grey’s Pinterest Inspiration board, as scary and haunting as you will find.  That circus and the history behind it is the hook that will pull you in and keep you enthralled while you are waiting for Gilbert to develop into a character you and Jesse can love.  Yes, that happens, along with so many other startling plot threads that I remained happily ensconced in this world 347 pages to the end.  And then wanted more.

And I do want more.  I want to see what happens next, I want more backstory, and definitely more of their future.  Another story perhaps?  That would be delightful and satisfying.  Of course, Farfarello appears in other tales, Devil at the Crossroads, the first in Cornelia Grey’s Deal with a Devil series.  And by the title here, it would appear that more Deal with the Devil tales are coming.  Now only if they can include a certain circus….

Make your introduction to these devilishly entertaining group of performers and the fantastical world Cornelia Grey has created for them here with The Circus of the Damned.  It delivers a new perspective from which to view the big top, magic, and captured souls looking for love.  It’s a recommended read here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  Grab it up today.  Happy Reading.

Cover art by Kanaxa.  Oh! How I love that cover. Spooky, haunting, and totally captivating.  If the title didn’t already pull you in, that cover would.  One of the best of the year.

Sales Links:    Riptide Publishing      All Romance eBooks    amazon    The Circus of the Damned

Book Details:

ebook, 347 pages
Expected publication: November 3rd 2014 by Riptide Publishing
original titleCircus of the Damned (A Deal with a Devil Story)
ISBN139781626491656
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://riptidepublishing.com/titles/circus-of-the-damned
seriesDeal with a Devil

It’s Hellish Great Times on Tour with Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned !(contest)

 SteampunkWeek_150x300Introducing into Center Ring, Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned!

Cornelia Grey is here to tell us about the chracter inspiration for the supporting folks in her captivatingly scary new story, The Circus of the Damned.  And don’t forget to follow along on the tour for more chances to win a $250 gift certificated to Harlots and Angels Steampunk Corsetry!   Take a look at these items that could be yours if you won!

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The Circus of the Damned – Character Inspiration Pics Pt. II

Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for having me – happy to join you to talk a bit about my newest release, the paranormal novel The Circus of the Damned!

I love supporting characters, love making them interesting and colorful and, with the circus setting, I was really looking forward to working with an ensemble cast. My characters tend to be underdogs, living at the margins of society, relying on their wit and abilities to scrape by in a hostile world, and the perforrmers of the Circus of the Damned are just that – a ragtag crew of odd creatures, people with supernatural abilities that they cannot reveal to the world, hiding in plain sight under a circus tent…

As I was toying with a few ideas about their ideas and their performances, I decided to look for inspiration browsing vintage photos and cabinet cards of acrobats and assorted artists, that would be a perfect match with the Victorian-esque, slightly creepy atmosphere I had in mind… while I didn’t have much luck finding photos matching my guy performers, let me introduce you to the ladies of the Circus of the Damned!

First, I knew I wanted a strong woman, who would be beautiful and confident and unstoppable, with a taste for elegant earrings and dainty plumed hats… and I came across this gorgeous lady, who instantly became my Constance!

Then, I wanted an aerialist – slash – contortionist, who would swing from the trapeze and stroll around on stilts. This young lady was a good inspiration for Miriam…

When I came across this elegant woman, instead, the opposite thing happened – I was captured by her expression, her posture, her dress, and instantly knew Dora inspiration for the Circus of the Damnedshe had to belong to the Circus of the Damned, and set about discovering just who she might be. By the time we meet her at the Circus, Dora is elderly, but she is still just as intriguing and magnetic as she does in this picture…

The same happened when I stumbled across the picture of this young acrobat: I was instantly struck. I had been struggling, trying to zero in on the character of Olivia and on what her performance would be like and, when I saw this girl – with her curls, and her piercing, knowing eyes – I knew I had found her.Olivia image pinterest

And, last but not least, a character that has already made a brief appearance in another of my stories (you win a cookie if you recognise which one!). I am fond of scattering ‘Easter eggs’ here and there in my books – subtle references to another story, for example, or maybe a song… and Ramona’s appearance is one! There was no chance to talk about her backstory in this book, but she Ramona Circus of the Damned inspiration photosis from Genoa, Italy. Give her some basil and percorino cheese, and she will prepare a mean pesto sauce!

If you’d like to see some more inspiration pics – for the setting of the Circus itself, and the general atmosphere I had in mind for the story, you can check the Circus of the Damned board on Pinterest!

And speaking of atmosphere, I will be chatting about the music that inspired me in my next stop on the Gaslamp Fortnight tour!

If you’d like to see some more inspiration pics – for the setting of the Circus itself, and the general atmosphere I had in mind for the story, you can check the Circus of the Damned board on Pinterest!

And speaking of atmosphere, I will be chatting about the music that inspired me in my next stop on the Gaslamp Fortnight tour!

Now onto the story details from Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned available for preorder now!

The Circus of the Damned Blurb:

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Magician Gilbert Blake has spent his entire life conning drunkards in the seediest pubs in the darkest towns, careful to hide the true depths of his power. But when he spends a little too much time in Shadowsea and the infamous slumlord Count Reuben gets wind of his abilities, hiding within the Circus of the Damned may be Gilbert’s only chance at survival.

But there’s more to the Circus than meets the eye. Every time a performer dies, a new one must take his place, or the entire circus suffers the consequences. And while the handsome ringmaster Jesse isn’t one to coerce unwilling performers into giving up their souls to the devil, a recent death in their ranks makes Gilbert exactly what they need.

Yet the longer Gilbert stays with the Circus, the more danger he seems to bring them. Being with Jesse is more than Gilbert could have hoped for, but as Count Reuben’s men continue to search for Gilbert and the Circus loses another performer, they all face running out of time long before the Devil claims his due.

– See more at Riptide Publishing!

Author: Cornelia Grey
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62649-165-6
eBook and print release: Nov 3, 2014
eBook Formats: pdf, mobi, html, epub
Print ISBN: 978-1-62649-166-3
Word count: 91,500, Page count: 322
Type: Standalone
Cover by: Kanaxa

This title is part of the A Deal with a Devil universe.  Read an excerpt here.

more goodies from Harlots and Angels Steampunk Corsetry!

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A PaulB Review: Phoenix Heart (Stolen Elements #1) by A.L. Wilson

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

Phoenix Heart coverAs Cyrus and Lorenz prepare to celebrate 70 years together, the vampire and his German doctor mate are recruited by a wizard and his talking koala to help prevent a demonic takeover of the earth. As they build their team, they must confront issues from the distant past and present dangers that could destroy their long relationship.

In the dying days of World War II, Cyrus the vampire sets about freeing the victims of German atrocities as the Allied forces close in. At one such laboratory, he meets Dr. Lorenz Meissner, the stereotypical blond German. Afraid of what would happen to him if captured, the doctor asks the vampire to end him. Cyrus, a diminutive African, is smitten by the doctor and tells him to come with him. As the bombs fall, Lorenz is injured. Cyrus gives Lorenz some of his blood to help heal the doctor so they both can escape.

Cyrus and Lorenz spend the next 70 years trying to right wrongs they find. From slave traders to mysterious deaths, they lend support where they can. As they investigate the latest death, they meet a deaf wizard who says Cyrus needs to lead a group of heroes to face a demon intent on destroying the world. In order to do this, Cyrus and his group must find the last remaining phoenix and free one of the original vampires who has been captured by minions of Astaroth, the demon intent on ruling the world. Astaroth also happens to be the grandmother of Lorenz’s lab assistant. During this time, Lorenz’s ability begins to manifest itself.

Spoilers alert: Continue reading “A PaulB Review: Phoenix Heart (Stolen Elements #1) by A.L. Wilson” →

A History of Halloween as Samhain (All Hallows Eve) Approaches and the Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts

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Happy Samhain!

 

October 31st is almost upon us. Known by many names, this time of year is celebrated by people all over the world and in far different ways than we might imagine.  A little history first.  Known first as Samhain (pronounced Sa win or sow en depending upon which Celtic dialect you use), it is an ancient Celtic festival celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. This date  falls about halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. The festival marks the end of summer and fall (harvest season) and the beginning of winter, the darker, colder half of the year.

During Samhain, people bring their livestock down from the upper grazing pastures.  Now was the time of separating the animals, choosing which to keep as breeding stock and which to choose for slaughter for winter. Households take careful stock of their pantries and food supplies in order to prepare for the long, cold weather ahead. Unlike the Gaelic festival of Beltane, which celebrates life and growth, Samhain honors the darker side of things.  These months are considered a “liminal” time of the year, passing from the abundance of summer into the darkness and harsh times of the winter. It is also thought to be the time of the year when the walls between our world and the next plane of existence thin and the spirits can reach out to the living.Lag_BaOmer_bonfire

It is believed that the deceased spirits would return to the homes and places they knew, seeking comfort and sometimes revenge.  In order to appease these spirits, people would place a dinner plate at their table and/or bowls of food or treats by their front door. People took special care not to offend any wandering spirits, and if they left their homes they would disguise themselves with masks and costumes to avoid recognition. Eventually the tables were turned, and the masked citizens started imitating the spirits they once feared by going door-to-door demanding treats and threatening to perform mischief of their own.

Into this celebration came large bonfires,  lit to keep away bad spirits and even act as an imitation sun.  The bones from  freshly slaughtered animals were tossed into the fires known as “bone-fires”, which eventually became bonfires.  People carried part of the bone-fires with them by placing a hot coal inside a hollowed-out turnip, potato or beet.  Yes, that’s where our jack ‘o lanterns came from.   According to lore and historian Hannah Kincaid*:

The lanterns were frequently carved with creepy faces to represent and scare away the wandering spirits. The term “jack-o’-lantern” comes from an old Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to lore, the drunkard Stingy Jack tricked the devil into never condemning him to Hell. When Jack died, however, God wouldn’t allow such an unsavory soul into heaven, either, so Jack was sentenced to eternally wander the Earth with nothing but a coal nestled inside a hollowed-out-turnip for light. The Irish referred to Stingy Jack’s Jack-o'-Lantern_2003-10-31ghost as “Jack of the Lantern,” which eventually became “jack-o’-lantern” as we know it today.

So how did Samhain become Halloween?  Blame it on the Church…the Catholic church that is.  Here is the best explanation courtesy of Hannah Kincaid again:

The term “Halloween” is a result of Catholic interference with Samhain in the year 609. All Saints Day is a Roman Catholic holiday that honors and remembers all Christian saints both known and unknown. Pope Gregory IV decided to officially move the date of All Saints Day to November 1, the same day as Samhain. All Saints Day is also called “All Hallows” because “hallowed” means sanctified or holy (for those of you who know The Our Father prayer, think of the part “hallowed be thy name.”) The evening before All Hallows was a popular time to celebrate, so the term “All Hallows’ Eve” was used quite a bit. Eventually the term All Hallows’ Eve morphed into Halloween as we know it, and along the way it snatched up and mingled with many of the Samhain traditions that had already been happening for thousands of years.

The history of Samhain reminds us that we once celebrated holidays because of a shared human connection that resonated with the Earth’s cycles — the weather, the moon, the harvest — instead of a celebration of consumerism or heroic dominance.*

 

So how do you intend to spend this All Hallows Eve?  Masked, costumed, ready to explore into the night and see what spirits are afoot?  Or will you be staying home, listening for the sound of footsteps big and small, the sound of giggling and howls upon the night air?   Do you have your candy ready or will there be a trick or two in store for those who venture near?  Me and mine will light a candle or two, keep the wee doggies inside safe and warm, and have the goodies ready to share for those who visit.  Happy Samhain, everyone!raven and moon

Now for the Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Monday, October 27:

  • Belinda McBride’s Prince of Faith Book Tour and Contest
  • A MelanieM Review:  Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations (Mahu #7.5)
    by Neil S. Plakcy

Tuesday, October 28:

  • D.T. Peterson’s Seduction in Red Book Tour and Contest
  • Alexis Duran’s To Catch a Threeve Book Tour and Contest
  • A PaulB Review: Phoenix Heart (Stolen Elements #1) by A.L. Wilson
  • A MelanieM Review: Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne

Wednesday, October 29:

  • Silvia Violet’s Shifting Hearts Book Tour and Contest
  • Lila Bruce’s The Scent of Jasmine Book Tour and Contest
  • A MelanieM Review:  Red Dirt Heart 3 by N. R. Walker

Thursday, October 30:

  • John Simpson and Robert Cummings’ The Marine Book Tour and Contest
  • Iyana Jenna’s Love’s Home Book Tour and Contest
  • A Barb, the Zany, Old Lady Review:  The Trouble with Elves by Theresa Woodson

Friday, October 31 (Happy Halloween):

  • Garrett Leigh’s Heart Book Tour and Contest
  • A MelanieM Review:  Confetti, Cake, and Confessions by KC Wells
  • October 2014 Summary of Reviews and Best Covers of the Month

Saturday, November 1:

  • An Aurora YA Review:  The Key to Behliseth by Lou Hoffmann

 

*references Hannah Kincaid,  History of Halloween (history.com), Telegraph uk

 

Its Double the Trouble with T.A. Chase and Jackie Nacht’s Double Book Blast and Contest!!

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Ready for some double trouble?  Jackie Nacht  and TA Chase are here with two books for double your holiday fright time fun!  Read the excerpts, get to know the authors, and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end of today’s  post!

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Book Name: A Bittersweet Haunting/ A Holiday Job Zombie Run
Author Name: TA Chase Jackie Nacht/ Jackie Nacht

Author Bios:

  • Jackie Nacht

Short, sexy and sweet— where a little love goes a long way.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s stories. She was introduced to M/M Romance through her sister, Stephani, and read it for years. Then, she thought it was time to put her own stories on paper. Jackie began writing short and sweet stories that ended with a happily ever after.

Thinking back to her own book addiction, where there were many nights Jackie stayed up way too late so she could read just one more chapter— yeah, right— Jackie decided to write short romances for young adults as well as adults. Hopefully, they will give high school and college students, or working men and women something they can read during their lunch hour, in between classes or just when they want to briefly get away from the daily stresses of everyday life.

Author Contact:

You can find Jackie at:
Website: www.jackienacht.com
Blog: www.jackienacht.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.nacht?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackieNacht

  • T.A. Chase

I’m T.A. Chase, and I write stories about men loving men, but my stories are more than that. It’s about one person finding the other half of themselves. It doesn’t matter whether that person is male or female. I’m a happily married woman living in the Midwest with my husband of fifteen years. I’ve been writing for six years now, and because of my awesome readers, I’ve been able to do it full time for over a year.

You can contact TA Chase:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Ta-Chase/100001595721283fa
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TaChase

Publisher: MLR Press/ eXtasy Books
Cover Artists: Kris Jacen/ Carmen Waters
Sales Links for A Bittersweet Haunting:  MLR   Amazon   All Romance
Sales Links for A Holiday Job Zombie Run:  cXtasy Books

 

Blurbs:

ABittersweetHaunting_ChaseNacht_smA Bittersweet Haunting

In a moment of youthful curiousity, these six men were marked forevermore.

Jersey Paranormal Investigation was created when Braden and his five friends were marked by the Jersey Devil during their childhood. Now, they all have special gifts when it comes to the supernatural. Years later, Braden finds himself on his next job only to come face to face with the beautiful victim, Mack. Not all is it seems and Braden and his team will have to figure out why Mack is being targeted and to keep from falling for the man in the process.

A Bittersweet Haunting Excerpt:

Turning, Mack made his way to the old flight of stairs that creaked with every step he ventured. Goosebumps popped up on his flesh the more he ascended. Breathing heavily, Mack took the last step and cautiously made his way down the hallway. The air hung thick, and he almost choked on it. The closer he got to room 212, the more his flight instinct raised its red flag. The only reason he kept going was that he did not want to embarrass himself by returning empty-handed because he had been spooked.

Standing in front of the door, Mack’s hand trembled as he reached for the handle, finally turning it. Blowing out a breath, Mack decided to just get it over with. As fast as he could, he entered the room, searching for the box that held the spare linens.

Out of nowhere, a blast of freezing cold air hit him in the face, knocking him on his ass. Whipping his head around, Mack searched for an open window, only to find that all of them were tightly shut.

I’m getting the fuck out of here.

Climbing to his feet, he grabbed a box, praying that it was the right one and took off out of the room, not even bothering to close the door as he descended the steps two at a time.

Clutching the box to his chest, he leaned against the wall at the base of the stairs and caught his breath.

“Hey, are you okay?” Nick came up to him, relieving him of the box.

Mack wiped his sweat-soaked forehead. What the hell was that? His heart was still pumping, and his mouth couldn’t even form the words to lie to Nick and tell him he was okay.

Megan came up next to Nick. “You all right?”

Nodding, Mack rasped out, “I’m fine…just…” He just couldn’t say it. There was no way he was going to say something weird happened upstairs, especially when he actually didn’t see anything. Hell, was it all in his head because he was freaked about going upstairs? Possibly.

Shaking it off, he finally answered, “I’m fine. Let’s go, Nick, and get the Ivy Room set up.”

“Are you sure?” Megan eyed him with concern.

“Yes, tea starts in forty-five minutes. I better get moving.”

For the next half hour, Mack and Nick set up the room. The linens were placed on the tables—thankfully Mack had grabbed the right box. They both worked in unison, setting the silverware up and getting the china out for each member of the party coming in.

“I’m just going to fill up their water glasses,” Mack called over to Nick who was doing the final touches on center pieces.

Going behind the bar, Mack grabbed a pitcher and began getting ice out of the bar well. As they both worked, the curtains billowed as a gust of wind came into the room. Mack shot a look toward Nick to see him wide eyed as the room’s temperature suddenly plummeted. Before Mack even had time to think, the bar rack above him came crashing down upon him.

“Mack!” Nick cried out from across the room as glasses began shattering all around him.

Stunned, Mack couldn’t even move an inch as the shards of glass surrounded him. The floor, the bar, even his body was covered in the sharp glass. He feared if he moved so much as an inch, he would cut himself. The sounds of people screaming and hollering broke him out of his shock, and he slowly raised his head, feeling glass fall from his hair, to stare at Megan from across the room.

“Don’t move, Mack. We’re coming to help you.” Megan gingerly made her way to him, accompanied by the sound of glass crunching under her feet.

“Not…moving.” Mack felt the glass slide down from the top of his head and fuck if that didn’t give him the biggest case of the willies.

“I’m going to need some help and a pair of gloves,” Megan called to Nick.

Nick nodded and ran out of the room.

Megan pursed her lips as she began pulling large pieces of glass off him.

“Are you okay?” Megan asked quietly as she worked the glass out of his hair.

“Not even close.” Mack’s voice trembled, and he hated that.

“What happened?” Megan asked.

Nick came up behind them and answered. “There was this blast of cold air, and then the whole bar rack came crashing down on Mack. It was a ghost.”

“It wasn’t,” Mack denied. If he denied it enough, maybe he would eventually believe it himself. Maybe.

“Hon, that rack is oak. It’s as solid as they come. Wind wouldn’t have caused it to break. Plus the windows aren’t open. I think you had an encounter, and a violent one at that. I think I’m going to need to make a call.”

“It’s not that bad.” Even as Mack said that, he knew it was a lie. Something inside him felt violated, and an air of malice hung thick over him.

“Then let’s just have it checked out for peace of mind. Okay?” Megan grabbed the gloves from Nick and began plucking the tiny shards off his shoulder and neck. Her gloves came away from his skin with a trace of blood.

Swallowing, Mack gave in. “Maybe you’re right. Make the call.”

 

Zombie Run NachtphotoA Holiday Job Zombie Run

This Halloween, Drake is about to meet one guy he can’t say goodbye to.

And Drake is about to meet his match.

After a casual encounter, Drake can’t seem to stop thinking about Wilson. Even though Wilson pretty much thanked him for a nice time and walked out of his dorm and his life.

Now Halloween is approaching, and Drake is being roped into volunteering for the charity fun run. Having to dress as a zombie is horrible enough, but seeing Wilson at the starting line has Drake ducking for the trees. Will Wilson look past the gory makeup to see Drake actually cares about him? Will Drake finally be able to capture Wilson’s heart?

A Holiday Job Zombie Run Excerpt:

 “Will you knock that off?” Drake batted Ian’s hand away.

“Look, asshole, I need to put this makeup on you. You volunteered!” Ian charged back in and began putting the prosthetic on his face.

“Don’t you think you’re going overboard on this? I mean, why don’t you just squirt some ketchup on me?” Drake was thoroughly annoyed.

He’d volunteered to be a zombie for Ian’s frat charity run. He had thought he would just tear some holes in a white shirt and put a little makeup on, but no, Ian wanted to scare the hell out of everyone. The guy thought he was on Skin Wars or some shit. Drake wanted to scratch the prosthetic on his cheek that was currently being painted to look like a zombie. He thought he looked ridiculous. Shaun was splattering paint all over his shirt.

“This is just a Zombie Run, guys. I’m not going to be in a movie or anything.” Drake stared up at Ian, annoyed.

“Have fun and live a little. You’ve been in a pissed-off mood for the last month.” Ian pointed out.

And why shouldn’t he be? He hadn’t found the guy he’d hooked up with last month, and it was now his all-new obsession. He hadn’t had sex with anyone since and was constantly long necking the corridors in hopes of finding that white-blond head.

It didn’t matter how hard he tried; the guy was nowhere. Drake was beginning to wonder if the guy even went to their college. Shaun had helped him, but so far, his friend couldn’t spot him either.

Drake had never been so caught up with a person in his life. Unbelievably, he’d had dreams of the guy and those sapphire eyes, but it was like this damn race. Whenever he tried to go after him in the dream, the guy took off in a crowd and he couldn’t find him. Drake growled in irritation at his own thoughts.

“It’s not that bad,” Ian chastised, probably mistaking his growl for a complaint about the stinky paint that was being applied to his face.

Drake wasn’t going to correct Ian on the matter. Then, he would have to explain to all his friends again about the big about face he’d had this year. They all had looked at him like he had lost his ever-loving mind. And he had. He didn’t even know the guy’s fucking name, yet he was hunting him down all over campus like some stalker.

Shaun came in with a grotesquely painted face and a smile. “Didn’t Quinn do a great job?”

Shaun was actually happy to look like the dead. Really. Didn’t that shit all over his face itch like crazy, or was it only bugging the hell out of me?

“You look like you got ran over by a truck.”

 

Categories: Contemporary, Horror, M/M Romance, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Tour Dates: October 22nd

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Tara Lain, BFD Book Blog, Guilty Indulgence Book Club, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Blogger Girls, Jade Crystal, My Fiction Nook, Andrew Q. Gordon, Multitasking Mommas, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Cate Ashwood, MM Good Book Reviews, Amanda C. Stone, Love Bytes, Kimi-Chan, Fallen Angel Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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A MelanieM Review: Merry Christmas, Josh! (A Josh of the Damned Free Ficlet) (Josh of the Damned #4.5) by Andrea Speed

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Merry Christmas, Josh coverIt’s looking like another crappy Christmas for Josh, especially when he has to share the store with a creepy Santa cutout. But the surprise arrival of a snowman gives Josh a little holiday cheer, along with his vampire boyfriend of course!  Merry Christmas, Josh, indeed!

Merry Christmas, Josh is a funny, free ficlet (say that fast) from Andrea Speed.   It’s Christmas time in the warped and wonderful world (alliteration abounds) of Josh of the Damned and he’s not a happy boy.  Seems that Christmas is full of miserable memories and malignant melodies for Josh and its enough to make him crabby and cross.But a very peculiar and cantankerous  snowman arrives and changes the way Josh will forever look at the holidays.

Only 18 pages long, Merry Christmas, Josh, contains some of the characters,weirdness, and snark that epitomizes this series while bringing in some of the poignancy and sadness also associated with the holidays for some people, in this case Josh.  Sad childhood memories and the forced gaiety (as well as one awful cardboard Santa) of the season have Josh in a crabby frame of mind, one that some share at this time of the year.  Josh is that voice of sanity and reason (sort of) in the convenience store from Hell and that juxtaposition continues to make this a wonderful story and series.

I wish we had seen more of the characters like the Yeti and a tooth fairy or two but at 18 pages you can only bring in so many characters.  This is a fun, quick read.  And for those of you new to the Josh of the Damned series, it should give you a taste of the characters and wonderfully bizarre universe(s) they inhabit.  It’s free at Riptide Publishing.   So don’t forget to run over there and pick it up today!

Happy Reading.

Cover artist did a wonderful job.  Love that cover.

Free at Riptide.  See the link above

Visit the Series page at Riptide for all the stories in the Josh of the Damned Universe

 

Book Details:

ebook, 18 pages
Published October 6th 2014 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN139781626492509
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/merry-christmas-josh
seriesJosh of the Damned

Series stories in the order they were written and should be read: