A Paul B Review: Believing In The Traitor (A Paranormal’s Love #14) by Charlie Richards

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Believing in the TraitorWalter Blackhorse has spent the past three months in a coma.  Waking up, he finds himself not in a hospital, but a well-apportioned room in a mansion.  As he regains awareness coming out of his coma, he remembers being shot by his now former boss as he was protecting beings that were other than human.  Having spent the past few years working for the man who Walter now realizes was holding these beings captive; Walter wonders what will happen to him next.  Whatever happens, he hopes that the sexy beast he finds out is a gargoyle is somehow included in these plans.

Treatise has been the gargoyle clutch tracker for some time.  He is asked the by the clutch second Tobias to help the man who has just awaked from his coma company.  Thinking this was just a babysitting job and a demotion, Tobias assures Treatise that he is there both to help the man’s recovery and to ascertain any information he may have on paranormals and what his boss might have been up to.  When Treatise walks into the room that holds Walter, he is overwhelmed with the man’s scent and realizes that Walter is his mate.  Treatise hopes the man is innocent, as the clutch leadership seems to think he is.

As things progress between Walter and Treatise, Walter still has feelings that he is not fully accepted into the clutch.  Having worked for the men who were holding shifters captive gives Walter some feelings that he might never be fully accepted.  This bears out when Walter leaves the mansion with the two friends he has made, who happen to be mates of the clutch leadership.  Both gargoyles confront Treatise asking why his mate had kidnapped their mates.  The three try to figure out where their men have gone and why.

This fourteenth book in the Paranormal’s Love series is another solid read.  The main issue is a matter of trust.  Walter feels that others in the clutch do not exactly trust him since he unknowingly worked against the paranormal world.  This is proven when a couple of mates disappear with Walter with no known explanation.  However, it turns out that the situation arose from both a comedy of errors and presuppositions that could have avoided the ensuing mess.

The cover art by Carmen Waters shows a shirtless Walter in a field.  It is a decent cover for the book and fits the motif for the series.

Sales Links:  eXtasy Books |  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details

ebook, 107 pages
Published December 1st 2015 by Extasy Books
ISBN139781487405564
edition languageEnglish
seriesA Paranormal’s Love #14

A Stella Review: Prickly By Nature (Portland Pack Chronicles #2) by Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade

RATING 4 stars out of 5

Prickly by Nature 2In the four months since hedgehog shifter Avery Babineaux started investigating the disappearance of a young female werewolf from the Portland Pack, he’s discovered his life’s passion. Now he’s apprenticing under established PI Corbin Reid. Avery hopes his training with Reid will help him finally bring Lacey home, but detective work isn’t without its perils, and the potential dangers strain his relationship with his new mate, Dylan.

Dylan Green would be perfectly content with his mating and his motorcycle shop if it wasn’t for his constant worry about Avery’s safety and the fact that Avery’s never home. Proud as he might be of Avery’s determination to prove his worth and fulfill his promise to Lacey’s father, Dylan can’t stand the thought of Avery being hurt. Yet what right does he have to demand Avery give up his job when it’s clear Avery’s found his true purpose? Still, Dylan wishes he could, and the appearance of a new police detective who sets his sights on Avery only adds to the tension.

Something has to give, but stubbornness runs in both their veins, and it might take a catastrophe for them to find a compromise they can live with.

Pickly by Nature is the second book in the Portland Pack Chronicles series by Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade. As I already mentioned in the review of the first book, Prickly Business,  I love that this series is not the typical Piper’s work.  I’m not very familiar with Kenzie writing yet, but I don’t miss a story by Piper and the mystery is a new theme and so welcomed.

We meet Dylan and Avery again months after the ending of Prickly Business, that left a lot unexplored. Avery is more frustrated than ever in his researches about the human trafficing people who took away the young Lacey. He has joined a PI, Reid, to learn the job and get his investigator’s license. His relationship with Dylan is solid because they are mates but these struggles are hard to take to both for them and it’s pulling down their life together.

I couldn’t have enough of the MCs, I laugh a lot at Dylan protectiveness, almost scary but considering the mating bond it can be overcome. Avery is the same adorable guy, loyal and strong in his researches, he is frustrated because he’s pretty much going nowhere.

What I particularly like in this series is the great cast of characters, the books are not focused only on our MC’s couple but there are a lot of friends and family around them,  interesting and with great personalities, for what I saw so far. I like the choice of the kind of shifters with Sven being a reindeer, Reid a hawk and of course Avery himself a hedgehog.

There is a lot of potential for the next coming books. A lot of characters need to have their own stories. The next book will be about Jayden and his mate (I can’t tell you who he is but I can’t wait to read their story).

About the writing, I’m always dubious and curious about co authored stories, but these two girls work amazing together, even knowing which character each of them wrote, it was impossible to see a difference (in the writing style) in the POVs. They were really well done.

As I said I loved this book, but there were a couple of things I want to talk a little. First of all I felt too much angst through all the story and it brought me down and didn’t let me fully enjoy it. Then I don’t like more than two (the MCs’ ones) POVs. I would have preferred to not have a third one, maybe it could have been told in a different way, maybe not. My “issue” was that Prickly Business was a great surprise, probably a little too much to be overcome. This time I already know where this second installment would have gone and that the mystery would have been solved exactly how I was hoping. That’s why I wasn’t able to give Prickly by Nature more than 4 stars, cause it was really good, I’m not saying the contrary, but being a series, and most of all both books have the same couple, it was inevitable that I would make a comparison.

I want to highly recommend the whole series.

The cover art by Reese Dante is  clearly well done and fitting. The only remark I want to make is that I would have preferred something not so similar to the cover of Prickly Business.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 260 pages
Published November 16th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
original titlePrickly By Nature
ISBN 1623801613 (ISBN13: 9781623801618)
edition languageEnglish
series Portland Pack Chronicles #2

settingPortland, Oregon (United States)

A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Whispers of Old Winds by George Seaton

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Sleigh Ride Advent StoryAfter Sam returns home from two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, he moves to the Colorado mountains, where he hopes to begin a new life with his husband, Michael. Sam becomes the sheriff of sparsely populated Pine County, while Michael opens a curio shop for tourists where he sells his art. When Sam and his deputy attempt to rescue a body from a dangerously fragile mountainside snowpack, Sam’s perception of the world, his husband, and the veracity of truths whispered in old winds, are called into question.

It was the title that drew me to this story.  Whispers of Old Winds promised something magical and ancient and that’s exactly what George Seaton delivered along with an established romance and mysticism in the Colorado mountains.

Sam and Michael’s back history is delivered in nice brief glimpses throughout this short story.  We see how they met, and tiny moments from their previous lives, including Sam’s tours of duty where he saw things he couldn’t quite bring himself to believe.  Now married and the sheriff of a quiet Colorado town, a call to rescue someone (dead or alive) from an area to be avoided at all costs brings the supernatural back  into Sam and Michael’s world.  Or maybe its been there all along.

Seaton’s story is far larger than the 38 pages listed.  Its full of native american mythology,  shapeshifters,  and worlds far beyond the mundane we see around us.  The author’s writing is so beautifully plotted and vividly described that he pulls us so smoothly into the lives of his characters and the events that are occurring that when the action starts we are jarred out of our complacency along with the characters.

The characterizations are wonderful, especially those of Sam, Digger (the naive Deputy) and Hank Tall Horse, the old Ute Indian so central to the story.  Michael is more vague, but I wonder if that wasn’t on purpose, especially given the ending of the story.   There is so much here that it would be a shame for the author not to continue on, to bring them all back for a larger book that they call cry out for.  That is the only reason for the less than perfect rating, a feeling that things were left undone, unsettled and maybe a bit shaky.

Several of the advent stories have their own covers.  How I wish this had been one of them.  It deserved it.  I highly recommend this story.  Its unusual and quite wonderful.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 38 pages
Published November 30th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN B018RRVPRO
edition language English

 

A Stella Review: Boys Who Go Bump in the Night (Mad About the Brit Boys #2) by J.L. Merrow and Josephine Myles

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Boys Who Go Bump In the NightWhen boy meets (supernatural) boy.

Buckle up as two queens of British gay romance take you on a whistlestop tour of all things paranormal. Vampires, genies, ghosts, magicians and shifters all get their chance for a bit of boy on boy action, in five erotic stories that span the range from the humorous to the sublime.

Will you seek to make your fortune with magic and ritual, or pin your hopes on a genie’s power to grant wishes? Discover a shifty young man on a Scottish shoreline, meet a hapless garlic farmer who’s been turned into one of the undead–and if you dare to venture into the cellar, gird your loins for a horny ghost!

These stories have all been previously published, but are now available exclusively in this anthology.

I go into fan mode each time I see something new by JL Merrow, it’s not a news I’m her biggest supporter. So I couldn’t pass this  anthology by JL Merrow and Josephine Myles.  Plus, I haven’t read anything by Josephine so I was curious.

If you want to give a chance to Boys Who Go Bump in the Night you got a nice anthology made of really short stories, all of them interesting and well done. And well written too.  I can’t say a lot about them because they are all so short I don’t want to spoil them for you.

One of the shorter ones is Something Queer by Josephine Myles (3 stars), where Pete, the new barman, meets “something queer” down in the wine cellar. The sexual encounter with a ghost hungry for seed is surreal but so hot. I’m pretty sure Pete wasn’t scared at all.

The funniest one is Leeches and Layabouts by JL Merrow (4 stars), in perfect JL style, the hilarious story of the new vampire Crispin, a garlic grower, one of the best in the South of England. But garlic isn’t a friend of the undead so he absolutely need an assistant. He just need to convince Art and his unbelievable stubbornness in not wanting a job.

Sacrifice by JL Merrow (3 stars) left me a little staggering, the plot was unusual and smart but I think I missed something and I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the mystery aspect and the unexpected ending.

The last two stories are my favorites, for different reasons.

Et in Orcadia by JL Merrow (4 stars) is the story of David who has just lost his lover Kyle and the young Runi. It’s about magic and myth, about loss. I shed some tears cause it was a sad reading but it left me craving for so much more of the main characters together. And the writing was superb and evocative.

One Last Wish by Josephine Myles (4 stars) is the lighter and easier short. A genie and a generous young man meet in a cute and sweet story. It was fresh and it left me with a smile on my face. I need a sequel now!

The COVER ART by Lou Harper is good but not my preferred one. And I’m confused about the wings I’m seeing behind the man on the lower part of the cover. An angel maybe? But there are no angels as characters.

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 85 pages
Published November 12th 2015 by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (first published November 10th 2015)
original titleBoys Who Go Bump in the Night
ASINB017V0VNWU
edition languageEnglish
series Mad About the Brit Boys

Mad About the Brit Boys series is A series of MM and MMF erotic romance anthologies from JL Merrow and Josephine Myles

Mad About the Boys #1

Boys who Go Bump in the Night #2

A Paul B Review: Branding An Icy Heart (Wolves of Stone Ridge #32) by Charlie Richards

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Branding An Icy HeartWhen a self described homophobic asshole vampire meets his beloved, a man who is still recovering from a gay bashing a couple of years ago, can the men work through their pasts to get to their happily ever after?

Aleksei Kuznetsov decided to stay in Europe instead of following his family’s coven when they moved to America.  It was bad enough when his brother Tullion found his beloved in a male.  But his older brother and coven leader Borscht then found his beloved in the form of a male fruit bat shifter.  Missing his family/coven, he decides that a trip stateside was in order.  Having come so far, Aleksei begins to leave the bar to see his family when a man using a cane enters the bar.  He is alarmed when he recognizes that this man might actually be his beloved.

Remy Smithson is out with his friends.  After attending the trial that put the man who beat him to within an inch of his death, they decide to commemorate the guilty verdict.  However, his leg that was severely smashed in the incident is acting up on him.  So, he decides to get away from the dance floor and go to a local pub.  A strange man with a foreign accent chats him up while he is sitting at the bar.  Remy explains that he is in pain due to a gay bashing incident a couple of years back and that he and is friends were out celebrating the end of the basher’s trail and guilty verdict.  When this handsome stranger finds this out, it appears that the stranger cannot leave fast enough.  When Remy relays what has happened at the bar, they suggest that they could set him up with one of Tullion’s single brothers.   So they arrange a party to do just that.

At the party, Remy is introduced to Vadim, one of the Kuznetsov brothers.  They seem to be hitting it off when Aleksei comes over and informs them that he believes that Remy is his beloved.  Remy does not know how to react finding out that he is the fated mate of a man who has shown homophobic tendencies in the short time he has know Aleksei. Aleksei must wrap his head around that just like Borscht and Tullion, his mate is male.  To complicate matters further, Remy has been receiving harassing letters saying that next time he will die.  Can both men move beyond their pasts to prevent Remy from being hurt again?

In this thirty-second book in the Wolves of Stone Ridge series, Ms. Richards brings some history in the series back to the present.  The bashing that is referenced in this book actually occurred twenty books ago in this series.  I have always enjoyed the author’s ability to bring in new characters to this series and tie then to others that have been mention maybe two or three years previously.  It is another enjoyable story in the series.

The cover art by Angel Waters depicts our vampire Aleksei standing in front of a forest filled with fall foliage.  It is a good solid cover for an autumn book.

Sales Links:  Extasy Books  |Amazon | Buy It Here

Book details

EBook 108 pages

Published November 15, 2015 by eXtasy Books

ISBN:  978-1-4874-0552-6

Edition Language:  English

Series:  Wolves of Stone Ridge

https://www.goodreads.com/series/63445-wolves-of-stone-ridge

Paranormal Shifter Dentists are Back in Jackie Nacht: ‘Hot on a Chipmunk’s Tail’ (excerpt and giveaway)

WhitePineChipmunkInvasion_432

 

 Hot On A Chipmunk’s Tail
(
Paranormal Dentistry For The Fanged and Friendly #5) by Jackie Nacht
Release Date: November 20, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Winterheart Designs

Banner300x250

Blurb

This mountain lion is out to chase his skittish chipmunk down.

Jason has always lived under the protection of his twenty brothers and sisters. Even though he cares for his neighbor, Will, when a chance to leave the home he’s lived in forever, Jason takes the chance and runs to White Pine. Unfortunately, some of his brothers are coming along for the ride.

Will can’t believe his shy chipmunk just up and moved. Through the meddling of Jason’s sisters and a best friend who lives in White Pine, Will chases Jason to White Pine. Will they be able find the connection in White Pine where they couldn’t at home?

Pages or Words: 13,000
Categories: Humor, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Excerpt

Chapter One

This absolutely, positively sucks, Jason thought as he stood in front of Livingston’s tiny rental with his three brothers. The snow was coming down heavy and he tucked his chin into his jacket to keep his face from freezing. If he didn’t have to meet this Livingston person for the first time, he would have shifted and saved himself the pain. Someone had to be civil for this introduction; it sure as hell wasn’t going to be his brothers.

A few minutes later, Jason saw a man running the last few yards before he got to the snow-covered sidewalk near them on the porch. The guy wasn’t paying attention in the least because he almost ran face-first into Nikko. Damn, this guy was going to have to grow a better set of eyes if he was willing to open his home to his brothers.

“Shit, Nikko, sorry about that.” Livingston stared down at his friend, then over at the chipmunks sitting on each of Nikko’s shoulders. Jason cringed, anticipating some antic from his brothers. They were… well, they were… hell, he just hoped White Pine didn’t have a prison or Winslow and Sparks would have a frequent flyer card there.

“Where are you running to so fast?” Nikko chuckled…and why was he acting so damn nervous? Did Nikko not tell his friend who he was saddling him with? Jason’s eyes widened. The hell he didn’t. This was an epic party foul in the making.

“Just… cold. Who are these guys?” Livingston leaned toward one of the chipmunks, reaching for one with his index finger when the little sucker hissed and spread out his tiny arms at him. Jason smacked his forehead. Oh hell… here it comes.

“What the…?” Livingston shouted, jumping back, nearly falling on his ass. “He almost bit my damn finger off!”

The chipmunk started making little squeaking noises before it fell off and shifted in midair. Sparks lay naked on the ground before Livingston, laughing his ass off, holding his stomach.

“Oh shit! It’s cold. Did you see him? Scared the fuck out of him.” Sparks cackled like a deranged man. Jason shook his head. There was no way this was going to work.

Nikko pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re naked in the snow. Nice first impression, Sparks.”

Sparks didn’t give a damn. Everyone knew that as he continued to chuckle, then stood up before sauntering up the steps. “Damn, I love me some nuts, but mine are moving up into my body. It’s freezing here.”

The other chipmunk, Winslow, squeaked on Nikko’s shoulder, and Jason could tell his damn brother was laughing.

Nikko snorted.

Not you too, Nikko. It’s all fun and games, Nikko, until we live with you in that tiny fucking den of yours. Dallas will kill the lot of us!

“I’m… Jason,” Jason said quietly. There was no need to add to the bizarreness of the situation. Best to be like always, go unnoticed.

However, someone had noticed him once. And he’d run. Fucking ran, terrified, and now his chance at being with that special person was lost. Jason glanced down at his boots as he toed the cold snow. He wasn’t used to seeing so much of the stuff and wondered if he made the right decision. After Christmas, he’d had a chance to move up there with his brothers. Jason had been confused about Will and confessed it all to Nikko. Nikko’s suggestion rang clear in his head, Take a break and see other places. If you miss him, you can move back home. You need to figure it out and make a decision. We all know that Will has feelings for you, but do you have feelings for him?

God, he did, but saying that to Will, the mountain lion shifter, was a whole other story.

How could Jason tell his brother he missed Will before they even got on the plane to Michigan? It was just that Will… was so much. Every time the guy tried to talk to him, Jason clammed up, locked down, and then fucking ran, hauling ass for the family barn.

Fuck, he was confused, and he needed to figure everything out. He could go back. He could see Will again. Hell, he should be paying attention to see if his brothers were going to cause more shit.

Livingston jumped to and ran to open the door, only to stumble as the other chipmunk zipped past him. Jason ran up the steps and held out his arms as if he was going to catch the deer but was five feet behind Livingston. He ended up following Livingston in, trailed by Nikko. Livingston began removing his gloves, then dropped a backpack. Winslow shifted and, Jesus, stood face to face in front of everyone with his naked twin brother. Jason blinked, then blinked again before shuddering. This was disastrous.

Now, it was pretty typical to shift and be naked, but his brothers just stood there, no hiding, no shielding, and letting it all hang out so to speak. Right in front of Livingston! Someone they didn’t know!

Livingston murmured to Nikko, “I know I’m damn shy, but even now I’m trying everything I can not to look south and make sure they aren’t absolutely identical in all things.”

Jason’s jaw dropped. Oh hell… the deer was just as nuts!

“Winslow and Sparks, here are your clothes,” Nikko said as he pulled out two pairs of jeans from the backpack.

The twins dressed before walking, shirtless, into the living room.

No fucking way. His twin brothers walked right into Livingston’s living room and put their feet on his coffee table, grabbed a remote, and then turned on the television. Just like that, they made themselves quite comfortable.

“Nikko, can I talk to you in the kitchen?” Livingston’s eyes widened as he stared at Nikko and Jason.

Livingston grabbed Nikko by the arm and pulled him into the kitchen area, and Jason followed behind, leaning in the entryway door. Nikko had the audacity to look guilty. Nikko never felt guilt. He was an evil chipmunk that shared his plots with Livingston here and with Theresa when he was back home. Sure, Nikko, just let your buddy the deer here know he’s about to be a victim of one of your devilish plans.

Nikko leaned his ass against the island. “I need a favor from you. Well, Philip and I need a favor from you.”

“Does it…” Livingston paused as Winslow walked in and opened the refrigerator. He pulled out the milk carton, drank from it, and put it back in the refrigerator where he’d gotten it. Winslow left with a milk mustache on his face and a shit-eating grin. Winslow even winked at him as he left.

“What the hell was that?” Livingston pointed his finger past Jason. “I just bought that milk, dammit!”

“That’s Winslow, my brother. Ugh… he always does that. Look…” Nikko began. Jesus, Nikko was really struggling here. “Wow, this is harder than I thought.”

“What?” Livingston asked. Was Nikko finally going to come clean? Ha!

“I have this problem…” Nikko covered his mouth with his hand as he mumbled something.

“Buddy, look, I know you’re a hoarder and I still love you.” Livingston went over to hug his friend.

Nikko pushed him away. “I am not a hoarder. I store, dammit.”

Says every damn chipmunk in our hoarding family.

“Oh,” Livingston murmured. “Are you sure, because when we lived together, you had the left side of the cupboard stuffed top to bottom full of every kind of nut and peanut butter you could imagine. Hell, some even seemed to tip on my side, which continually got smaller and smaller the longer we lived together.” Livingston held up his hands in defense as Nikko growled. “Not that I minded.”

Jason mumbled, “He minded. Give the man his space. Walk away, Nikko. Walk away.”

“Jason,” Nikko chided. “He’s a true friend and well… you know I’m moving in with Dallas.” Nikko rubbed the back of his head.

“Yeah,” Livingston frowned.

“I think I found someone to cover my side of the rent. Well… if they can find jobs.” Nikko chuckled nervously.

Anyone would be out of their fucking minds to hire them.

“Wait.” Livingston’s eyes bulged as he pointed to the living room, “Them? As in all of them? No way.”

“No… uh… just the twins.” Nikko shoved his finger through his unruly hair. Unfortunately, Nikko had nothing on him when it came to crazy looking hair; he lived with hair that looked like he stuck his finger in a light socket.

Sparks walked in at that very moment and opened a cupboard. He spotted a jar of peanut butter, unscrewed it, then dipped his finger in. He brought the scoop to his mouth and sucked on it slowly while eyeing Livingston. Was he hitting on the guy? Was that supposed to be sexy? It wasn’t. Not. At. All.

Livingston opened a drawer near him and pulled out a spoon, then handed it to Sparks.

“What? You don’t like peanut butter?” Sparks winked.

“Sparks,” Jason groaned.

“I… eww.” Livingston eyed Sparks like he had lost his mind.

Jason was in some damn nightmare.

“What do you mean eww?” Sparks acted insulted. It would go a long way if he didn’t have a smudge of peanut butter on the corner of his mouth.

“I mean, your hands were just on the ground. Did you run here in shifter form? Did you wash your hands? You contaminated that whole jar.” Livingston waved his hand at the peanut butter.

“Oh that’s the chefy prep guy in you.” Sparks chuckled as he walked by and patted Livingston on the ass like he was some damn teammate instead of a stranger. Jason cringed as he noticed a smudge of peanut butter on Livingston’s jeans.

“Chefy guy? Is he for real?” Livingston asked Nikko.

“They take some getting used to, but you’ll never be bored,” Nikko chuckled.

“I can’t live with those guys,” Livingston hissed. “Why can’t I have him?” Livingston pointed to Jason.

Jason jumped and pointed to his chest. “Me?”

“Yeah, you… you seem… well, quiet.” Livingston waved at him.

Jason glanced over at Nikko as he began to tremble a little. Livingston seemed like a nice enough guy but being removed from all his family would be all kinds of hell for him.

“You can’t have Jason. He’s… well, he needs to be close to his family. Jason’s going to live with Gunner and Phillip.”

I believe the word you are looking for, dear brother, is introverted.

Nikko actually appeared a bit sheepish before continuing. “It won’t be that long, I promise. We just need a bit of time until something in town opens up.”

Livingston’s mouth dropped open. “That could be months. Why don’t they live with you and Dallas?”

“They can’t. You know why. It’s only one bedroom, we have no room. Look, I know you’re looking for a roommate and need the help with the other half of rent. They’re a bit crazy, but I promise you they are nice guys. You’ll fall in love with Winslow and Sparks.” Nikko approached him and hugged him. “Plus I don’t like you living here all alone.”

Livingston sighed. “I do hate living here alone. I’m talking to the walls, and it hasn’t even been that long. You know me. You think this will be good for me?”

“Just try it. If they become too much trouble for you, I’ll talk to Phillip and Gunner. I think in time they’ll settle and you three will get along. They’ve never been outside of Atlanta and well… well, never mind. They’ll be hellish,” Nikko murmured.

“You were trouble, and I liked living with you.” Livingston sighed as he hugged Nikko.

Jason watched. It was clear that Livingston and Nikko were best friends, that his brother had developed a lasting friendship in this town. He hadn’t seen any of his family interact with other shifters, outside their mates at Christmas. Is this what it was going to be like living in White Pine? Jason’s body trembled. God, he wanted a friend, but the idea of approaching new people about made his heart jump out of his chest.

Nikko chuckled, breaking Jason’s thoughts. “Yep, and they’re me times two. You’ll be good for them too. Hey, look what came out of us living together.” Nikko winked at him.

“Okay, I’ll give them a try,” Livingston breathed out.

Livingston pulled back and smiled at Nikko just as the twins came scurrying by in chipmunk form. They ran around all their legs a couple of times. One took off while the other stopped, patted Livingston on the leg with his tiny paw, and zipped back out.

Jason laughed. “Nikko, you better make sure to start looking fast.”

It certainly was going to be interesting. Now Jason just had to figure out where he was going to fit in this town.

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

WhitePineChipmunkInvasion_432

Meet the Author

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.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

BFD Book Blog, Jessie G. Books, Divine Magazine, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter,

SiK Reviews, Havan Fellows, MM Good Book Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, The Hat Party, Bayou Book Junkie, Velvet Panic, Open Skye Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

2-Dec

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Parker Williams

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Amazon gift card.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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A Paul B Review: Deep Dive (Tidal Crest #1) by Jeff Erno

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Deep Dive coverSam Lewis is a former Olympic diving champion who now works at Water World, an aquatic park similar to the real life Sea World.  He entertains the park visitors a couple of times a day doing dives that he would normally use as warm up from his competition past.  At the age of thirty-two, Sam knows his glory days as a competitive diver are long past but these shows give him some of his past glory.  His one wish is that now that he is no longer under judges’ scrutiny is to fins someone to share his life.  The one perk at working at the park is to see the other attractions.  He is particularly fascinated with the real life robotic merpeople, especially the merman.

Percy is a special effects designer at the same park that Sam works at.  One of the perks of his job is to watch his favorite Olympic diver perform at the park.  He is sitting at a bar when Sam approaches him.  Sam is surprised when Percy recognizes him, saying that he is a has been.  Percy states that is not the case at Water World where they both work.  When Percy reveals that he works with the animation of the mermaids, Sam comments how the merman looks exactly like Percy.  As things begin to heat up, Percy suddenly leaves.  Sam is left high and dry.

Sam begins to wonder what is wrong.  Is there something about himself that drives Percy off?  Or is there something wrong with Percy himself?  And what about this man Todd who seems to be a threat to the growing relationship of Percy and Sam?

I usually enjoy most things that Jeff Erno writes and this is not an exception.  This is the author’s first foray into the world of shape shifters and it appears that he is off to a good start.  The author does a good job at describing the pressures both of the main characters have faced in finding someone to have a relationship with.  He does not follow the fated mate route that is often used in these types of books in the normal sense, which is refreshing to see.    The main reason that I did not rate the book higher is that the ending seemed a bit rushed and the meeting with Percy’s parents was rather anti-climatic.  However, the twist with Percy’s mother almost makes up for it.  I look forward to seeing where the author takes this series.

The cover art by Angela Waters shows a well-built man surrounded by water.  He is shown in his merman form on the cover.  It is a well-executed cover for the story.

Sales Links:  Extasy Books |  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details

ebook, 114 pages
Published November 15th 2015 by eXtasy Books
ISBN139781487405823
edition languageEnglish
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A MelanieM Review: Travels Through the Scarlet Equinox (Mischief Corner Anthologies #6) by Toni Griffin , J. Scott Coatsworth , Angel Martinez , Freddy MacKay

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Travels Through the Scarlet EquinoxThe Autumnal equinox—when the trees dress in their formal scarlet and gold and the crisp air whispers of chance and change, when bright days turn into sudden storms and the veil between reality and imagination thins. Join the Mischief Corner authors as they share stories evoking this often unpredictable time of year.

I’m really hooked on these seasonal anthologies that Mischief Corner Books is rolling out each year.  The stories they contain spark the imagination, pull up memories of old mythologies forgotten, and just plain entertain.  And sometimes they bring that twinge of something more, something a little painful, joyful and unexpected.  That was certainly Travels Through The Scarlet Equinox, a more surprising mixup of stories that, upon reflection, works together for four tales of change.  Ah, the Autumnal equinox…

A Bear’s Bear by Toni Griffin   Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Matthew Warner’s been a Chicago Bears fan as far back as he can remember. What other team was a young bear shifter from the Smokey Mountains supposed to root for? When his college friend gets tickets to the next home game, Matthew jumps at the chance for a holiday. It’s his favorite time of year and Nic promises him pumpkin carving and a visit to the world’s largest corn maze, what more could he want?

What Matthew doesn’t expect is finding out the defensive tackle for the Bears is his mate. Between fainting at the realization, meeting family, and dealing with the media fallout of his mate’s coming out Matthew is in for a hell of a rocky Halloween.

Toni Griffin’s bear shifters have really won me over.  I can’t believe I’m saying this but this story is the “most normal” of the group.  A young, shy bear shifter travels to see friends in Chicago and carry out a service for his Alpha at the same time.  When those two elements combine into a meeting with his Alpha’s best friend in Chicago, the unexpected happens and not just for Matthew.  I loved the author’s descriptions of Matthew and Hudson, they definitely exhibit bear-like tendencies, the emotions flowing between them feel real and the story exudes a lot of heart and warmth.

The Autumn Lands by J. Scott Coatsworth.  Rating:  4.5 stars out of 5

Jerrith is running. Kissed by an elf, he can’t remain in his hometown of Althos anymore. Not that he wanted to stay.

Caspian still hasn’t figured out why he kissed Jerrith, but he’s running too. Since he was exiled from the Autumn Lands, his past has been hazy, and his future uncertain. But when a stray memory brings things into focus, the two decide to run toward something together. What they uncover will change how they see the world, and themselves, forever.

I loved this story.  I felt Coatsworth’s world building was amazing as was his characterization.  It was so close to perfect, hurt only by the short length.  It cried out for a longer novel so certain elements, which needed to be expanded, could be more fully told.  The author’s use of certain standard elements pertaining to physiology in a non conventional way was unexpected and quite wonderful (no spoilers here, sorry).

And then there is the romance between Cas and Jerrith which is touching and so sweet.  Almost a Romeo and Juliet or Jules if you prefer.  I thought the ending was in keeping with the mythology the author had established and worked so well within the framework of the story.  However, I can hear some of you now.  You won’t be pleased.  Sigh.

Beside a Black Tarn by Angel Martinez   Rating: 5 stars out of 5

When Shax stumbles across rumors of an experimental house that responds to the occupant’s brain functions, creating scenarios to please and delight, naturally he wants to steal it. But with the return of a troubled and hunted Julian Parallax and an overabundance of Poe references, even Shax’s scheming may not be enough to get the Brimstone crew out alive this time.

Of course, Angel Martinez had me at Shax.  But then she brought back Julian Parallax and my happiness was complete.

Once again the crew of the Brimstone is off on a misadventure but this time the stakes are unexpectedly high…their lives and sanity.  Angel Martinez has always managed to find a way to combine humor and horror in her tales and here she has done it once more.

I loved Julian Parallax from the earlier story Potato Surprise and was thrilled to see him return. But of course trouble was not far behind, troubles of the demon prince scale, troubles of the sort that brought horrors that gave have me the shudders and shivers. To counter that Angel Martinez also gives us elements of humor and romance.  The author introduced a new crew member, Maximillian, the marvelous pink, opera singing millipede. And two crew members finally get their chance at love.

In between, things get blown up, there are imps getting ballet lessons, things go splat and there are Ron Perlman references.  Be still my heart!

I loved this story, especially the promise it hung out there of Julian and Shax and the crew working together sometime in the future.  What a tale that will be.

Eternity in the Tides by Freddy MacKay  Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Autumn has always been Zak’s favorite season for hiking and camping. Not to mention breathing in all that crisp fall air and sitting around toasty bonfires. That all changed year and a half ago when a rich prick high on prescription pills sideswiped Zak while he was out biking.

Now his days are filled with pain and limited mobility. No more camping. No more trails. Zak’s life as he knew it is gone forever.

Back at his beloved stomping grounds, Zak is ready to say hello and goodbye one last time. But when a cry from the frigid Lake Superior waters throws him into the role of a rescuer, more than just his life hangs in the balance. Little did Zak know how much one person giving a damn mattered to him.

It’s stories like these that make me want to kick myself.  It happened in the Chestnuts Roasting Anthology and now here again in Travels Through the Scarlet Equinox.  It seems to take an anthology for me to find Freddy MacKay all over again.  This time I’m making a ginormous post it note and sticking it on the monitor because this story exemplifies why she should never be forgotten.

The beginning of this tale is so haunting, so realistically painful I stayed up reliving it after the story was through, that and many other scenes throughout this moving story.  You flow into Zak’s life at what is possibly the lowest point of his life, where all the pain, frustration and rage has combined to let Zak decide to commit suicide by drowning himself.  Every dreadful moment of his decision, each pain-filled movement he makes in the boat, every memory from the day forward when his body was demolished, the author makes Zak real and his predicament immediate and heartbreaking.

Then in his boat, he hears a nearby splash and cries.  Then realizes someone is drowning.  And makes a decision that changes the course of his life forever when he cuts a man free of fish nets, saving him from drowning and putting off his own suicide.

We forget that most of the old fairytales were equal parts horror stories but not Freddy MacKay.  The author remembers that there is always a price to pay, that what one person may think is marvelous, another will covet, what one will want, another will reject or destroy. Eternity in the Tides pulls in Chinese mermaid mythology, old lore specifically (including some horrific elements), and mixes it with modern science of genetics and combines it all with a touching romance that teaches about hope and new possibilities, just not in the way you might think.

There is so much beauty here, beauty and blood.  Love and hate.  Forever happiness…just not what you might predict.  The ending and the epilogue will surprise you.  I did find myself sobbing more than once.  It was the perfect way to end this anthology.  And I promise myself, it won’t take another anthology to find Freddy MacKay again.

I highly recommend this collection of stories.  If you are expecting four stories of exactly the same thing, this is not the collection for you.  But if you love exploring, have a bit of the heart of a adventure lover in you, seek this one out, it won’t disappoint.  Startle you, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you start reading them all over again, certainly.  But never disappoint.

Cover art by Freddy MacKay is sort of perfect for this collection.

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

Book Details:

ebook, First, 485 pages
Published November 18th 2015 by Mischief Corner Books, LLC
original titleTravels Through the Scarlet Equinox
edition languageEnglish
url
seriesMischief Corner Anthologies #6

 

 

 

The Winner & Answers to November’s First Line’s Quiz : This Week’s Schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

november first line quiz

 

And the Results Are In…

It’s the 29th and that means its the last day of our contest.  So here are the answers to November’s First Line Quiz.  How well did you do even if you were  only playing along in your head?  And the winner of our contest and $10 Amazon gift card is Corey!  Congratulations, Corey.  Corey figured out 12 out of the 14 and blew me away.  Outstanding job.

 

How I loved this quiz.  The authors and books were amazing, and the first lines leading into the stories blew me away.  Read them out loud, the them reverberate, fill your mind with thoughts and feelings?  Did they do the job a first line was meant to do?  I think so.

Answers:

  1. AND NOW, I will tell you of my plans to take over the Kingdom,” the evil wizard and total douchebag Lartin the Dark Leaf said with a cackle.   The Lightning Struck Heart, T.J. Klune. 2015
  2. A PERSISTENT, annoying sound kept infiltrating my mind. — Home Again, Cardeno, C.
  3. “I WONDERED if praying that she wouldn’t pull out of this episode made me a terrible son” –SECOND CHANCES , TA Webb
  4. “It was like those old Choose Your Own Adventure novels.” – Come Unto These Yellow Sands , Josh Lanyon
  5. “My father always told me, If I’m gone for three days, call the police.” – Gives Light, Rose Christo
  6. I didn’t like lying to my friends, but it was necessary.” – Easy Evenings, Mary Calmes
  7. Running naked through the woods was exactly what Dylan Green needed.” – Prickly By Nature,  Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade
  8. ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, IN ANY CITY IN THE WORLD, SOMEBODY WILL DIE BEFORE SUNRISE and most of them will die alone. – The Beast Without, Christian Baines
  9. “IT WAS cold outside. It was really cold. Freezing cold.” – The Boy Who Came in From the Cold , B. G. Thomas
  10. “MUSIC was his companion.” – Brute, Kim Fielding
  11. “I was treated as a curiosity by this group of Irishmen.” – The Celestial, Barry Brennessel
  12. “BEFORE MY LIFE WENT SUDDENLY pear-shaped, and I slunk, tail tucked between my legs, into a shitty, crowded pub, I had been sober for three… almost four years.” –  The Complications of T,  Bey Deckard
  13. “Four o’clock in the morning wasn’t a good time to be thinking about torture.” –  Conscious Decisions of the Heart, John Wiltshire.
  14. “By nightfall, he was begging to die.” – The Druid Stone, Heidi Belleau;Violetta Vane

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words decided to take on the commitment of reading and reviewing the Advent Calendar from Dreamspinner Press so we are tabling our December First Line Quiz until 2016.  Look for it to return in the new year.

We are still looking for more reviewers here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  Love books?  Like to write reviews?  There’s no pressure and so many books to choose from. Send me an email and let’s talk!

Now for the up coming schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

cholly21

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, November 29:

  • The Winner & Answers to November’s First Line’s Quiz : This Week’s Schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • In the Spotlight: Rooftops by John Wiley‏ (Guest Blog and Giveaway)

Monday, November 30:

  • Early Bird Tour with Chris Owen/Tory Temple (excerpt and contest)
  • Book Release: Uniform: A Man in Uniform (release day giveaway)
  • Annabelle Jacobs ‘Magic & Mistletoe’ November 30th book blast
  • Home For the Holiday M/M Anthology Release Day Blast and Contest
  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with Professional Distance by Silvia Violet (excerpt and Giveaway)
  • A Mika Review: Breakaway by Avon Gale
  • A Stella Review: If I Were Fire by Heloise West

Tuesday, December 1:☃☃☃

  • In the Spotlight: Mia Kerick ‘Clean’ virtual tour and giveaway
  • A Coffee Sip and Book Break with Vanessa North’s Blueberry Boys (giveaway)
  • A Review Redux: Stella’s Review for Blueberry Boys by Vanessa North
  • In the  Paranormal Spotlight: Travels Through the Scarlet Equinox Anthology‏‏ (author interview and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review: Travels Through the Scarlet Equinox Anthology
  • A PaulB review: Deep Dive by Jeff Erno
  • A MelanieM Advent Review: Northern Lights by Asta Idonea (2015 Dreamspinner Sleigh Ride Advent Story)

Wednesday, December 2:

  • M. Leanne Phoenix ‘Covenant’ cover reveal and contest
  • Sawyer by A.D. Ellis tour and  giveaway
  • Spotlight Special: Jackie Nacht: ‘Hot on a Chipmunk’s Tail’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Tis the Season for Miracles and Love with Marie Sexton’s Winter Oranges (Riptide contest)
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:  Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton
  • A Paul B Review: Branding An Icy Heart (Wolves of Stone Ridge #32) by Charlie Richards
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Fireworks and Resolutions by Leandra Dohlman

Thursday, December 3:

  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with Bitter Springs by Laura Stone (excerpt and contest)
  • Holiday Cheer Continues with Meg Bawden ‘My Secret Billionaire Santa’ (excerpt and  giveaway)
  • A Mika Review-Fish Sticks Friday by Rhys Ford
  • A BJ Review: Assimilation, Love, and Other Human Oddities (Claimings #2) by Lyn Gala
  • A MelanieM Review: Accidental Hero (Sanctuary #8) by RJ Scott
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Leap Through Eternity by Sara Stark

Friday, December 4:

  • Cover Reveal for Red Dirt Christmas by N. R. Walker (contest)
  • A Holiday Book Spotlight for ‘A Christmas Kindness’ by Anna Lee (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with RJ Scott’s Bodyguard series book release and contest
  • A BJ Review: Watch Me Break You (Run This Town #1) by Avril Ashton
  • A Stella Review: GUYS WHO GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT by JL Merrow and Josepine Myles (anthology)
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Christmas Miracles of a Recently Fallen Spruce by Brandon Witt

Saturday, December 5:

  • Head Into the Dark Zone with Forbidden by Scarlet Blackwell (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Whisper of Old Winds by George Seaton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Ali Review: The Werewolf of Grey Lake Inn (Paranormal Days) by Megan Derr

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Vector illustration of wolf howling at moon in night forest in green tone.

Astor is tired—tired of his family and the way they never listen to his advice, and tired of being in love with his agent, Tennyson, who after a one night stand made it clear he preferred to keep things professional. The only thing Astor’s not tired of is his job researching haunted inns and hotels to prove just how haunted they’re not.

His latest book is about a notorious inn in the middle of nowhere, and a haunting he suspects has more to do with real werewolves than fake ghosts. It will provide fodder for an excellent non-fiction book, the novel he’s secretly writing, and be so distracting he’ll finally be able to get over Tennyson.

Except when he arrives it’s to find that Tennyson is already there, with every intention of keeping Astor company through the holidays.

This was an enjoyable story that follows Astor as he tries to debunk the myth of the ghost at Grey Lake Inn. Unfortunately what he finds are werewolves. He also finds that his agent Tennyson has followed him to the inn and this is a problem because Astor has strong feelings for the man. Feelings he doesn’t think are reciprocated. As it turns out they are and the two men end up having not only a dangerous encounter with a werewolf, but a sexy and romantic weekend.

The writing style in consistent with this author’s other works so if you’re a fan you should definitely check this out. It is also a good starting point for people who have not read this author before. The story is pretty short and just shows us a snapshot of the two men’s time together over the course of a few days. I would have liked for it to have been a bit longer so I could have gotten to know them better but that aside I did enjoy the book.

Cover art is perfect for the story.

Sales links:  Pre-order Link at Less Than Three (save 15%)| All Romance (ARe) | Amazon| coming soon

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: December 23rd 2015 by Less Than Three Press
original titleThe Werewolf of Grey Lake Inn
ISBN139781620046883
edition languageEnglish
seriesParanormal Days

Note: This was originally published in the Bad Moon Rising anthology. It hasn’t changed significantly for the solo release