Love a Shifter Romance? Check Out the Blog Tour for Laws of Attraction (The Manx Cat Guardians #6) by JP Sayle (excerpt and giveaway)

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Laws of Attraction
The Manx Cat Guardians Book 6
J.P. Sayle
Gay Fiction Romance
Release Date: 03.28.19

Final Cover - Laws of Attraction Manx 6
BLURB

Nick Riley, on the surface has it all. He’s grown up in a loving family, owns his own home, and has a job he loves. Yet under that façade of a happy life, Nick hides a multitude of secrets and lies. Those same secrets and lies have forced him to build walls to protect himself and kept others away.

Nick’s life is unraveling, and his walls are tumbling when his brother invites him for a visit to the Isle of Man. Nick is left floundering, unsure which way to turn and who to trust when his past decides to come knocking. Things go from bad to worse when Nick finds the fates haven’t finished with him, and his brother’s best friend, Brody Quilliam, comes to stay.

Brody Quilliam needs a break from his life and the weight of responsibility of his job. So when his best friend, Aaden Riley, moves to the Isle of Man and asks him to visit, Brody decides to take him up on the offer. Only things don’t go as planned when he finds Aaden’s younger brother, Nick, visiting at the same time.

Their love-hate relationship is only the beginning of Brody’s concerns. Events he can’t explain make him think he’s stuck in the twilight zone.

Witches, spells, and misconceptions are only the tip of the iceberg as Brody struggles to come to terms with the unbelievable.

Warning: Some of the content of this book is sexually graphic, with the use of explicit language and adult situations involving two males. It is only intended for mature adults.

This is the sixth book in the series and should be read in order to give the reader the back story of the other characters. The main characters in this book do get a HEA, but there is a storyline threading through the main story that is a cliffhanger and relates to a future series.

AMAZON US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q7GX7BF/

AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q7GX7BF/

Teaser - Brody

Teaser - Nick

Teaser - Morgana

EXCERPT

Brody forced himself to lightly shut the bedroom door, even when his hands itched to slam it. The temper bubbled through his body. He looked at the large wardrobe mirror to see if there was steam coming out of his ears. He was surprised to see nothing.

Aaden, that cock-blocking fucker.

Brody was starting to think Aaden had a built-in radar. Any time he seemed to be making any progress with Nick, then bam, up would pop Aaden.

He dropped the towel and took hold of his erection with trembling fingers. The same erection he was mortified to acknowledge had sprung up when Nick was hurling down the loo. Nick’s tight arse waving at him, encased in a scrap of black silk, and that glorious naked skin on show was too much for his body to handle.

Brody chewed his lip, disconcerted by his own behaviour.

A blush heated his cheeks when he thought about why he left the bathroom door unlocked. He knew damn well Aaden and Greg used their en-suite shower and only used the bathroom in the evening if they wanted a joint bath. Had he secretly hoped Nick would catch him, naked and wet?

Jayne-main-logo2

Let me introduce myself, my name is Jayne, I’m a lady of a certain age (50, bites fingernails). I am an identical twin, the younger one of course by 7 minutes. I am married to a wonderfully complicated man, or as he puts it, off his rocker Rob. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary recently. I have one daughter and two grandbabies one boy and one girl.

I was born in the Isle of Man; this makes me Manx (not British or English). I moved to the UK for several years, and as a child, I lived in Italy for a while. But, the island calls to me so I returned home in 1998. I love the sea and now it’s only a stone’s throw from my home.

I have worked in the caring profession for 34 years and have been a hospital nurse manager, out of hours, for the past couple of years. I made the decision to work part time nights in 2016 so that I could pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a writer.

I have always believed that I could and would write a book, but life just seemed to get in the way. Until someone asked me the question, “What do I want?” The answer was easy, the hard part was making it happen. Well, it did and it has and it was life-changing for me.

So over two years later, my career path has changed and so has my life. I found my happiness again in something that just brightens my day. Now I won’t say it’s been a breeze because those who write know it’s not a total blast all the time, but it has been fun and exciting.

I am asked a lot why did I choose to write a gay romance. I went to a creative writing group (couldn’t recommend this enough for new writers); anyway, the course leader gave me these words of advice. “Put your inner critic aside, put pen to paper and just write, don’t worry about what comes out, just write.” I was a bit, really that works, but I decided to give it a go with it. Ignored all the research I did, which said to write about what you know because that just wasn’t working for me for many reasons. The answer it seemed was to try something different and I found it flowed out and 6 weeks later I had the bones of my first book (113,000 words). Writing something so different to what I was doing in my life, freed me.

My island is steeped in folklore and I have used some of this in my writing, particularly Where it all Began: Manx Cat Guardians Origins. The book, I have to say I love the most, if I had to choose right now, but that might change ☺

Writing has unleashed a beast in my mind and now I can’t switch it off. I follow a lot of authors and I listen to them talking about their characters talking to them. I so get this now, I find myself muttering and talking at odd times. I wake up at 3 am in the morning, with bits of story wanting a voice.

I have six books written currently with two more in the pipeline and a couple of ideas for future series, so you never know what will come next. I have lots of places you can stalker me if you’re interested in finding out more.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/39039955-jayne-p-sayle Goodreads

https://jaysayle.tumblr.com/ Tumblr

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-p-sayle Bookbub

https://www.instagram.com/jaynepaton/ Instagram

https://twitter.com/JPSayle69 Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/JaynePSayle?ref=bookmarks Facebook

http://jpsayle.com/ Website address

https://www.facebook.com/JPSayle69/ Facebook Author page

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An Alisa Review: Hearts of Fire (Chevalier #1) by Kay Doherty

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

Luca Duray has been quite happy living a solitary existence for decades. But when a steel trap around his leg catches him when he’s weak and hungry, his life is irrevocably changed. He knows the wolf shifter who offers him assistance is more than he appears and immediately makes plans to keep the pup close.

 

Disowned by his pack for being gay, Tanner McBane is forced to become a lone wolf. While on a hunt, he stumbles upon an injured dragon shifter and provides aid. It’s not easy surviving on his own and when money gets tight, he finds himself face-to-face with the dragon shifter once again during an interview. Tanner isn’t sure a wolf should be working for a dragon, but he accepts the job and unknowingly creates a bond to his new boss. Soon, Tanner learns Luca isn’t just his boss—he’s his mate.

 

The mating of a wolf and dragon shifter is uncharted territory for both Luca and Tanner, but they are determined to make it work despite widespread prejudice, death threats, and the untraditional pack Tanner finds himself leading. Tanner only hopes that the bond he forms with Luca will prove to be unbreakable.

 

This is one of those stories with a ragtag group of shifters that are brought together by circumstances.  The thing is that everyone says it’s wrong but won’t give any reasoning behind it.  Once they learn about the past they refuse to let the past repeat itself.

 

Tanner is so strong in his own right though he doesn’t know it and gets even stronger with Luca by his side growing their bond and his bond with the pack.  Luca takes to Tanner right away but takes a little to accept the pack but it doesn’t take that long when he knows it would be good for Tanner.

 

This book was a lot of basis for this series and then trying to navigate their new relationship.  I look forward to seeing the others find their mates, hopefully seeing Ross come back from the bloodlust that has started when he was without a pack bond for so long and seeing more of Tanner and Luca.

 

I absolutely love the cover art by Natasha Snow and the few visuals for the story.

 

Sales Links: Nine Star Press | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 40,100 words

Published: March 11, 2019 by Nine Star Press

ISBN: 978-1-950412-22-8

Edition Language: English

Series: Chevalier #1

April Fool’s Day, Yes It’s April. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

April Fool’s Day, Yes It’s April.

So I went looking for the history of April Fool’s Day and found that people couldn’t agree on where it came from.  It’s practiced not only in America and Canada but also in Western Europe, a practice dating back to romans and All Fools’ Day.  Others  argue for its beginning having started with the “appearance” of the New Year which fell on April 1st for the Romans and Hindus.  It also comes close to the Spring Equinox, March 21 which during Medieval Times also started the beginning the the new year with the feast of the Annunciation.

A newspaper’s April Fool Joke and History:

Constantine and Kugel

Another explanation of the origins of April Fools’ Day was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.

“In a way,” explained Prof. Boskin, “it was a very serious day. In those times fools were really wise men. It was the role of jesters to put things in perspective with humor.”

This explanation was brought to the public’s attention in an Associated Press article printed by many newspapers in 1983. There was only one catch: Boskin made the whole thing up. It took a couple of weeks for the AP to realize that they’d been victims of an April Fools’ joke themselves.

Yes, they’d been pranked.

More searches brought up more explanations, never the same, mind you.  Even better for a day all about jokes and prianks.

Here’s some more:

The Origin of “Fool’s Errands”

According to Roman myth, the god Pluto abducted Proserpina to the underworld. Her mother Ceres only heard her daughter’s voice echo and searched for her in vain. The fruitless search is believed by some to have inspired the tradition of “fool’s errands”, practical jokes where people are asked to complete an impossible or imaginary task.

All Fool’s Day in British Folklore

British folklore links April Fool’s Day to the town of Gotham in Nottinghamshire. According to the legend, it was traditional in the 13th century for any road that the king placed his foot upon to become public property. So when Gotham’s citizens heard that King John planned to travel through their town, they refused him entry, not wishing to lose their main road. When the king heard this, he sent soldiers to the town. But when the soldiers arrived in Gotham, they found the town full of fools engaged in foolish activities such as drowning fish. As a result, the king declared the town too foolish to warrant punishment.

April Fool’s Pranks

April 1 is a day for practical jokes in many countries around the world. The simplest jokes may involve children who tell each other that their shoelaces are undone and then cry out “April Fool!” when the victims glance at their feet. Some April Fool’s jokes publicized in the media include:

  • In 2002, British supermarket chain Tesco published an advertisement in The Sun, announcing a genetically modified ‘whistling carrot’. The ad explained that the carrots were engineered to grow with tapered air holes in their side. When fully cooked, these holes would cause the carrot to whistle.
  • In the early 1960s there was only one television channel in Sweden, broadcast in black and white. As an April Fool’s joke, it was announced on the news that viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception by pulling a nylon stocking over their screen.
  • In 1934, many American newspapers, including The New York Times, printed a photograph of a man flying through the air, supported by a device powered only by the breath from his lungs. Accompanying articles excitedly described this miraculous new invention

 

And Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words’ April Fool’s Day Joke?  Well, it’s still March, the 31st to be exact.  April starts tomorrow!  We just didn’t want to miss out on the fun!

Happy April Fool’s a day early!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 31:

  • Release Blitz – This Is Not A Love Story – Suki Fleet
  • April Fool’s Day, Yes It’s April.
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 1 ~ April Fool’s Day:

  • Review Tour – Scott (Owatonna U Hockey #2) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey (
  • Blog Tour Better Be Sure by Andrew Gallo
  • T. Neilson on Yes, Chef(Amuse Bouche #2)
  • A Stella Release Day Review: Yes, Chef (Amuse Bouche #2) by T. Neilson
  • An Ashlez Review: OFF THE ICE by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
  • A MelanieM Review:  Scott (Owatonna U Hockey #2) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey
  • A MelanieM Audio review The Spy’s Love Song (Stars from Peril #1) by Kim Fielding and Drew Bacca (Narrator)

Tuesday, April 2:

  • SPEAK NO EVIL by J.R. Gray Blog Tour
  • Release Blitz – Shane K Morton – Fault Lines
  • BLOG TOUR At A Stranger’s Mercy by Brittany Cournoyer
  • An Alisa Review: Radical Hearts (Deviant Hearts #2) by A E Ryecart
  • An Ali Review Frost by Isabelle Adler
  • A Free Dreamer Lust and Other Drugs (Mytho #1) by TJ Nichols
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Speak No Evil by J.R. Gray

Wednesday, April 3:

  • Review Tour  – Midnight Flit by Elin Gregory
  • Release Blitz – – Honeythorn by Marina Vivancos
  • PROMO Soulstealers by Jacqueline Rohrbach
  • Cover Reveal, – Avery Cockburn – Play Hard
  • PROMO Sloan Johnson on Kindred Spirit
  • An Ali Audio Review Handle with Care by Cari Z and John Solo (Narrator)
  • An Alisa Review: Hearts of Fire (Chevalier #1) by Kay Doherty
  • A Caryn Review:   Midnight Flit by Elin Gregory

Thursday, April 4:

  • Snow Storm by Davidson King Blog Tour
  • PROMO Asher Quinn
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Yuchae Blossom (World of Love) by Asher Quinn
  • A MelanieM Review:No Quick Fix (Torus Intercession #1) by Mary Calmes
  • An ALisa Audio Review Romancing the Undercover Millionaire (Romancing the… #3) by Clare London and Seb Yarick (narrator)

Friday, April 5

  • Review Tour – Quinn Ward – Kiss Me, Daddy
  • PROMO TJ Nichols
  • Blog and Review Tour Arctic Sun by Annabeth Albert
  • A Stella Review: Copper Creek (Sawyer’s Ferry #3) by Cate Ashwood
  • An Alisa Review: Kiss Me, Daddy (Club 83 #1) by Quinn Ward
  • A MelanieM Review: Arctic Sun (Frozen Hearts #1) by Annabeth Albert

Saturday, April 6:

  • BOOK BLAST – The Selkie Prince’s Secret Baby (The Royal Alphas ) by JJ Masters
  • A MelanieM Review: The Ghost Had An Early Checkout by Josh Lanyon

Weather Themed Stories and Spring.This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

Weather Themed Stories and Spring.

 

Stories written about wild weather and romance just seem to go together.  People stranded in cabins by storms, snowy or otherwise.  Men tested by nature at her most tumultous, high winds, floods…even wildfires.  I’ve read novels with those as themes.  Avalanches too. Several publishers, MLR Press and JMS Books LLC actually have series that are weather themed if you aren’t already aware of them.

For JMS Books, just search Snowed In and 17 books pop up, all by different authors, all with the same theme.  Why?  Because using one weather related topic works.  Authors can take one overall theme and run with it in their own way as these did.  As far as I know this is the first year they did this.

But MLR Press has been doing it for years with their Storming Love series with different topic series like Blizzards and Hurricanes.  Plus authors that run their own group of stories with seasonal topics like this one (they also have a winter, fall, and summer story as well) :

Spring Leaves by A.J. Llewellyn and D.J. Manly

I won’t go into winter stories.  Those blend into the holiday stories too easily.

But Summer and Spring?  Yes, maybe not because of the weather but definitely because of the season.

Can you name some weather or season named or themed stories?

Send them into us…..let’s see how many we can end up with.  There just might be a gift certificate for the person who sends in sthe most names.

Next week?  Back to our narrator questionnaire!

Happy Reading and Listening!

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 24:

  • 99c Book Blast – Distant Cousins by Eric Huffbind
  • Weather Themed Stories and Spring.This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 25:

  • Series Review Tour – The Speakeasy Series – Books 1 and 2 by K. Evan
  • Retro Review Tour – On Hands and Knees by Sai Fox
  • BLOG TOUR Red Zone by TS McKinney & Shannon West
  • A MelanieM Review: On Hands and Knees (The Valentino Family) by Sai Fox
  • A Lucy Review: Cameron & Rylan (A Chance Meeting #1) by Valerie Ullmer
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Horizon Points (The Galactic Captains #3) by Harry F. Rey
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) by Rachel Reid

Tuesday, March 26:

  • Release Blitz (ANT)OFF THE ICE by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
  • Blog Tour ALL SOULS NEAR & NIGH (SOULBOUND #2) by Hailey Turner
  • Blog Tour – Black by Quin Perin
  • An Alisa Review Pros & Cons of Deception (Pros & Cons #2) by A.E. Wasp
  • A Stella Review: How Not to Break (Lovestrong #3) by Susan Hawke
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Better Be Sure (Harrison Campus #1) by Andy Gallo
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Release Day Review: Extra Dirty (The Speakeasy #2) by K. Evan Coles and Brigham Vaughn

Wednesday, March 27:

  • Review Tour Request – Elin Gregory – Midnight Flit
  • Release Blitz Cameron & Rylan (A Chance Meeting Novel Book)
  • Release Blitz – Scott by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey
  • BLOG TOUR Wicked Games by Aimee Nicole Walker
  • An Alisa Review Cameron & Rylan (A Chance Meeting #1) by Valerie Ullmer
  • An Ali Review: Loose Lips & Relationships (Flaming, MO #1) by A.J. Rose and Kate Aaron
  • A Caryn Release Day Review: Modern Gladiator (Modern Gladiator #1) by S.A. Stovall
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Party to Murder by John Inman

Thursday, March 28:

  • Uncomplicated by KM Neuhold Blog Tour
  • Blog Post Request – The Demon Lord of California – Jeanne Marcella
  • Release Blitz – Quinn Ward’s Kiss Me, Daddy
  • DSP PROMO Sean Michael
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: A Chip and a Chair by Cordelia Kingsbridge
  • A MelanieM Review: Uncomplicated (Inked #2) by K.M. Neuhold
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Time Taken (Out of Time #3) by C.B. Lewis
  • An Alisa Review An Extra Alpha (Pine Wood Falls #2) by Sarah Havan

Friday, March 29

  • Cover Reveal – Bryan T. Clark – Escaping Camp Roosevelt
  • BLITZ Fracture by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
  • PROMO S.A. Stovall
  • A VVivacious Review Red Zone by TS McKinney & Shannon West
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: His Kindred Spirit (States of Love) by Sloan Johnson
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Wanted – Bad Boyfriend (Island Classifieds #1) by T.A. Moore

Saturday, March 30:

  • Release Blitz Signal Tour – Garrett Leigh – Jude
  • Book Blast – The Handyman’s History by Nick Poff
  • A MelanieM Review: The Ghost Had An Early Checkout by Josh Lanyon

Of Wild Weather, Eostre and Spring. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Of Wild Weather, Eostre and Spring

 

I don’t know how many of you are fans of the book by Neil Gaiman or show based on it, American Gods, but the weather the nation has been having this past week has called to mind one scene from last season’s finale, when the goddess Ostara, provoked or encouraged (depending on how you look at it) by the god Wednesday, reminds those partying around her of her true origins and power with catastrophic results… removing Spring’s bounty and renewal from the lands….  setting off a withering landscape and the onset of winter.

I think it was watching that weather map showing a “bomb cyclone” sweeping across the Midwest bringing hurricane force winds and blizzards so unexpectedly, while here in Maryland we were experiencing 65 to 70 degrees of Spring.  It was Spring as its most turbulent, violent, and yet weirdly warm and calm state.  It just depended where you lived.  And yes, I do know its due to climate change.

But it did draw my mind back to that scene and to the goddess Ostara.

Ostara, or Eostre or Eastre, she has many names, the goddess of Spring.  She is responsible for the renewal of the earth each year after winter, the bringer of Spring, the symbol of fertility and birth.  Yes, rabbits (those reproducing, repopulating stars) are her symbols.  She has been pictured with a rabbit’s head but more often with them at her side.  They are the reason we now have the Easter Bunny, same with Easter Eggs.  All due to her, Eostre or Eastre.  Or Ostara.

She’s been on my mind a lot, for many reasons.  The Spring equinox approaches on the 21st, a new season of American Gods has started, and all around me, from my backyard to the news I have reminders of just how wild and unpredictable nature and Spring can be at times.

At night I’ve heard both the calls of wild geese migrating and the sound of a barred owl so out of season….must be a youngster trying to find his voice.

But it’s a reminder that rebirth can be a wild and tumultuous time.  That renewal isn’t always peaceful and calm, that wild winds and blizzards can herald the arrival of Spring just as often as the call of the bluebird.

Something to remember when pondering that Easter bunny.

Kristin Chenoweth as Ostara in American Gods

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 17:

  • Of Wild Weather, Eostre and Spring. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • Book Blitz – LA Bryce – The Forever Kind Of Love

Monday, March 18:

  • Release Blitz – Rewind by Rowan Shaw
  • Release Blitz – Jeanne Marcella – The Demon Lord Of California
  • Review Tour – A.L. Lester – Shadows On The Border
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Blue Umbrella Sky by Rick R. Reed
  • A Caryn Review Shadows On The Border (Lost In Time #2) by A.L. Lester
  • A MelanieM Review: No Big Deal (#lovehim #1.5) by S.M. James

Tuesday, March 19:

  • Release Blitz ALL SOULS NEAR & NIGH (SOULBOUND #2) by Hailey Turner
  • Release Blitz – TL Travis’ A Heart Divided
  • Blog Tour – Marked by J. Jay Barrett
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: Whiskey to Wine (Leaning N #3) by BA Tortuga
  • A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: I’m Not Who You Think I Am by Felicitas Ivey
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Lord to Love by Sara Dobie Bauer

Wednesday, March 20:

  • RELEASE BLITZ Clean Break (Farm College #2) by Erin McLellan
  • Book Blitz  Tour Request – Elin Gregory – Midnight Flit
  • BLOG TOUR Wicked Games by Aimee Nicole Walker
  • A Lucy Review : The Forever Kind Of Love by LA Bryce
  • A Jeri Review Clean Break (Farm College #2) by Erin McLellan
  • A MelanieM Review: Lunar New Love by Casper Graham
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: In Safe Hands by Victoria Sue

Thursday, March 21:

  • Book Blast – An Extra Alpha (Pine Wood Falls #2) by Sarah Havan
  • DSP PROMO Felicitas Ivey on I’m Not Who You Think I Am
  • PROMO BA Tortuga on Whiskey to Wine
  • An Alisa Review: How Not To Sin by Susan Hawke
  • A Stella Review: Brush Strokes by E.S. Karlquist
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review :Kennard’s Story (Cronin’s Key #4) by N.R. Walker

Friday, March 22:

  • Review Tour –  A Body In A Bathhouse by Brad Shreve
  • Review Tour – Apple Boy (The Quiet Work #1) by Isobel Starling
  • Blog Tour for A Broken Promise by Mel Gough
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Apple Boy (The Quiet Work #1) by Isobel Starling
  • An Alisa Review: Demon on the Down-Low by EJ Russell
  • A Caryn Review: Best Behaviour by Matthew Metzger
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Black (Kitty Play Romance) by Quin Perin

Saturday, March 23:

Release Blitz Memory of Scorpions Series by Aleksandr Voinov

 

 

Tara Lain on Ten Hidden Things About Her and her new release ‘Hidden Powers (Superordinary Society #1)’ author guest blog and giveaway

 

Can a werewolf who makes people disappear save his world — and get the boy of his dreams? 

Ten Hidden (and not so Hidden) Things About Tara

Hi! I’m so happy to be here today to celebrate the release of my new paranormal, new adult, adventure/romance, Hidden Powers. I’m Tara Lain and I write the Beautiful Boys of Romance. Often readers ask me things about myself, so I thought I’d share a few facts, some of which may be new to you.

  1. This has been quite a year for me. After living a big percentage of my adult life in California, this year I moved to southern Oregon and I LOVE it! More trees and less cars.
  2. As a child, I lived first in Austria and later in Japan as well as on both coasts of the US.  I was in school before college for 11 years (I skipped a grade) and was in 13 different schools.
  3. I love cats but my honey is very allergic to them so I have a Papillon dog who thinks she’s a cat. She licks her paws and washes her face with them and is totally finicky about food. I adore her.
  4. I love snakes. When my honey and I go to the zoo, he stands outside for a long time while I commune with my slithery pals. Me and Harry Potter. We both have parseltongue.
  5. For astrology buffs, I have 6 planets in Libra — having six of anything is called a stellium. If you’re really a buff, I’ll tell you I have 9 air signs and no earth. I also have 9 cardinal signs. Doing new stuff is fun for me.
  6. My name is really Tara but it’s pronounced Tahra like tar on the roof not Terra. It’s a Sanskrit word meaning star or the guiding star
  7. Like so many authors, I wrote my first book at five. The hero was (of course) a snake named Peter. Peter Pit Snake to be exact
  8. I’m hugely claustrophobic
  9. Two of my dearest friends growing up were gay men. I didn’t know it because they didn’t share it until years later. But they have ended up influencing so many things in my life.
  10. I’m one of the lucky ones. I met and married my soulmate. We’ve been together over 30 years. That’s why I can say as a romance writer, I know my subject!

During my crazy, wacko year of moving to a new state, living in a hotel for two months when our escrow messed up, renovating a new house while all our belongings have been in storage, experiencing snow for the first time in our married lives and so much more, I’ve been writing. Hidden Powers is one of the books created during this exciting and crazy time. I hope you enjoy it. Hugs!

HIDDEN POWERS 
(Superordinary Society Series, Bk 1)
By Tara Lain 
Blurb
Jazz Vanessen is weird—and not just because he’s a werewolf. For most of his life, he’s felt different from his alpha male brothers and friends. Since he’s adopted, he can’t even blame it on family.
Now eighteen, Jazz meets his idol, the social activist Lysandra Mason, and her breathtaking nephew, Dash Mercury. When Dash is around, even stranger things start to happen, including Jazz falling hopelessly in lust. Not only is Jazz having visions, making people disappear, and somehow turning invisible, but somebody’s following him and threatening to reveal his pack’s secrets to the world.
 
Together with Dash and Jazz’s equally amazing friends—Carla, BeBop, Khadija, and Fatima—they discover the danger is even more lethal than they thought, and Jazz’s weirdness may save all their lives.
 



  Available for purchase at

 
Excerpt

Excerpt 1 – Hidden Powers

Lysandra’s nephew escorted her to a seat at the governor’s table, then sat beside her. After he pushed her chair back in, he suddenly raised his head like a deer scenting the air and glanced around the crowd. It was kind of like when Jazz smelled danger or someone he knew, but this guy was no werewolf. He might look supernatural, but to Jazz’s nose, he came across as human.

Carla gave Jazz a rough elbow to the ribs. “Close your mouth, or better yet, stuff it with some of that outrageous pile of protein. His name’s Dashiell”—she said it like Dasheel—“as in dash-ing, but she calls him Dash. You’ll get to meet him.”

“I will? Why?” Weirdly, his heart slammed against his ribs.

“Because they’re sitting at our table, and so are you. Come on.” She grabbed his arm.

He pulled it back. Okay, too much. “Uh, I’m not so sure.”

“Why? You’re not shy.”

“She’s just my idol, you know. Sometimes idols are best seen from afar. You don’t notice the cracks.”

She smiled wryly. “You sure it’s not fear of getting a mighty erection in public over Mr. Dashing Pretty Puss?”

He lightly punched her shoulder. Of course, she was close to the truth.

“Dad says Lysandra Mason’s a love.” She hauled on his arm again.

“My food—”

“Bring it.”

He left it on the table and wiped his hands on his jeans.

She laughed.

He let himself be dragged over to where the governor and his wife were sitting with some members of his staff that Jazz mostly recognized from photos. And sure enough, the great lady herself was there, sitting beside—what had Carla called him?—Mr. Dashing Pretty Puss. The closer Jazz got, the prettier he looked. Her too. Strange. Usually humans looked more—human up close. You saw the freckles and blemishes. It made them real and charming. These two just stayed beautiful. Flawless skin, glowing hair, and luminous eyes. Lysandra’s nephew turned to look at Jazz, and Jazz saw that his eyes were some shining shade of pale green. Lysandra’s hair was brown mixed with blond, or vice versa, while the guy’s hair was actually very dark brown with deep shades of red, like fire. Jazz wanted to be invisible so he could sit down and stare at the two of them until his eyes bled.

His hands started to tingle and a quiver vibrated up his spine. Totally cray.

Carla grabbed his arm. “Hey. You okay? You got kind of pale.”

He forced a smile. “Just too much hero worship.”

She marched up to the table like the daughter of a governor—one who knew no fear—and stuck out her hand to Lysandra Mason. “Hi. I’m Carla Mendes, and I’m thrilled to meet you.”

“Delighted, Carla.” The smile Lysandra gave her was warm and genuine.

Carla reached back to Jazz. “This is my best friend, Jazz Vanessen. He’s one of your biggest fans.”

Lysandra turned her gaze to Jazz. Whoa. Where her eyes had appeared hazel at a distance, he now saw that they were gold—a pale yellow-gold like some kind of bizarre cat—but beautiful. Those eyes widened a little, probably at his adoring expression. “Hello, Jazz. How lovely to meet you.”

They weren’t words. They were music that filled his head like sweet smoke. He took her offered hand, almost scared he’d get a shock. Instead, her touch might have been more of a mist that slipped into his veins and made his blood dance like champagne.

Her eyes never left his as she shook his hand, then held it a few seconds longer. She finally blinked. “Carla and Jazz, may I present my nephew, Dashiell Mercury. We call him Dash.”

Jazz was scared to look. He might turn to stone. But when he shifted his glance, Dash was staring at him, his gaze focused.

Carla made a slight snorting sound. “Dash Mercury? Planning on giving FedEx some competition?”

Mrs. Mendes said, “Carla, enough of your smart mouth.”

Dash Mercury dragged his eyes from Jazz to look at Carla. And then he did it. He smiled. The seemingly immoveable, perfect face broke out into dimples and smile lines and crinkles.

Jazz’s mouth dropped open again, and he couldn’t get it closed.

“But I only bring the very best stuff to your door.” Dash laughed. If Jazz had expected a silky, even oily, voice, he was surprised to find Dash sounded pretty much like a regular guy. Friendly, casual, teenage. But Jazz’s wolf senses said that this dude was… something else. Human, yes, but unknown. Unexplored. Maybe dangerous

 

About the Author

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her best-selling stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes — the beautiful boys of romance —  and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers. She also loves to hear from you.

Presented by

An Alisa Release Day Review: Hidden Powers (Superordinary Society #1) by Tara Lain

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Jazz Vanessen is weird—and not just because he’s a werewolf. For most of his life, he’s felt different from his alpha male brothers and friends. Since he’s adopted, he can’t even blame it on family.

Now eighteen, Jazz meets his idol, the social activist Lysandra Mason, and her breathtaking nephew, Dash Mercury. When Dash is around, even stranger things start to happen, including Jazz falling hopelessly in lust. Not only is Jazz having visions, making people disappear, and somehow turning invisible, but somebody’s following him and threatening to reveal his pack’s secrets to the world.

Together with Dash and Jazz’s equally amazing friends—Carla, BeBop, Khadija, and Fatima—they discover the danger is even more lethal than they thought, and Jazz’s weirdness may save all their lives.

This was a wonderful story.  I didn’t connect that this is following those from the Harker Pack series but I was so glad when I realized it as I loved that series.

Jazz has always felt different than his family and all the weird things that have been happening around him is making it worse.  Dash is way more than Jazz could ever have thought but he is really a lot of help once he decides which side he is on.

I loved Jazz, he is so sweet and while there are some secrets he has to keep, he doesn’t apologize for who he is.  I loved seeing him do what he does best but felt for him when he was confused and everything seemed to be going wrong.  Now Dash, I didn’t like him initially when he came to stay with Carla but once he allowed himself not just follow what he is told he let the real him show and really hope he isn’t gone to his special school too long.  I loved how the friends are all different and have different things that were special about them.  I can’t wait to read more in this series and see what these kids get up to.

I really like the cover art by Reese Dante and think it works well for the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 278 pages

Published: March 12, 2019 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-64405-154-2

Edition Language: English

Series: Superordinary Society #1

A MelanieM Review: Bitten By Fate (Regent’s Park Pack #6) by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Daryl plays with fire and gets burned by fate…

Former Primrose Pack member Jason Black happily accepted his role as beta in the new Regent’s Hill pack, knowing that merging the two was the best decision for everyone involved. Daryl Easton is loyal and honest but wary of change. The joining of the two packs wasn’t his preferred outcome, and he’s struggling to see all the newcomers as pack, including those now working alongside him.

When the alpha council proposes a two-week pack-building course to help improve troubled relationships, Jason and Daryl are sent along as backup. It soon becomes clear that the unit members and their betas won’t be the only ones taking part in tasks—Daryl and Jason will have challenges of their own to complete.

With the full moon adding to the rising tension, emotions are volatile, and tempers flare among the unit members. Jason and Daryl become closer than either of them expected, but with such opposing views on relationships, a messy outcome seems inevitable unless Daryl can let go of the past.

Bitten By Fate is the series finale for Annabelle Jacobs’ Regent’s Park Pack series, a group of novels I have thoroughly enjoyed.  Each with a Bitten By in the title, they tell the story of a new pack, the Regent’s Park Pack, struggling to come together under a new Alpha after devastating pack wars.  The animosity and territory arguments escalating between a neighbor pack cause most of the anguish, built in mystery, and suspense.  And even romance.

Really this series has it all.  But by the sixth story, most of characters highlighted by the many plot threads had found their mates and completed the mate bond .  Plus all the danger and tension was almost gone as the two packs were now combined under one Alpha, Cam, and his pack.  So a finale story made sense to bring a sense of closure and tie up any loose ends.

Is Bitten By Fate the strongest story in the series?  No, not in my opinion.  For one reason, I don’t feel that Daryl and Jason are “fated” for each other, like the title implies.  great and yes, given the timing in their lives, perfect now for each other.  But fated, in that sense, they were meant to be together?  I never got that.    Which is not to say I didn’t adore them as a couple because I certainly did.    But maybe Bitten Finally At Last would have suited these two far better.

The idea of the Council using corporate “pack building” sessions and exercises, albeit ones only a werewolf could handle, tickled me.  And it worked so well in this story for so many characters.  I could easily identify with both sides pulling together to accomplish their goals.  And Jacobs’ descriptions went a long way to bringing it all to life. What was over the top hot?  The two person Beta exercises the Council had Jason and Daryl do, especially the blindfold ones.  Get out the fans now for those.    They also accomplished the job of bringing the readers intimately into the evolving relationship and making us care where it was going.  Right into that bedroom!

There was a subplot about characters from the other now defunct pack still causing trouble that led to a major story element towards the end.  That aspect of the narrative I felt needed more substance and plot development to work.  Not the reverberations, but the actual person behind it.  That was very shallow and I wished we had more of his story to give his actions more power.

In the end, I was happy to see so many characters that I had come to love throughout the series in this story and to watch Daryl and Jason get their HEA.

Bitten By Fate, like all the other books, is not a standalone story but rather one that should be read as part of the whole series and in the order they were written  to understand the universe and the history behind the pack and its members.  Highly entertaining, full of action, suspense, romance, and heat, if you love the supernatural and werewolves, this is a series for you.  That includes Bitten By Her, I loved that one too.  Strong female betas?  You bet!  And she’s a familiar character throughout the series.

So six books to read, six books to love.  Six couples to get to know.   Six HEA. What more could you want?  I highly recommend them all.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow. Nice cover with the wolf in the background but not especially pertinent to the storyline.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal LinkExclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 215 pages
Published March 5th 2019
ASINB07P6MGCBM
Edition Language English
Series Regent’s Park Pack #6

Regent’s Park Pack Series


Book #1 – Bitten By Mistake – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #2 – Bitten By Design – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #3 – Bitten By Desire – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #4 – Bitten By The Alpha – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #5 – Bitten By Her – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 

Love the Regent Park Pack Shifters? It’s the Series Finale! Review Tour for Bitten By Fate (Regent’s Park Pack #6) by Annabelle Jacobs

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal LinkExclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited


Length: 77,000 words approx.


Cover Design: Natasha Snow


Regent’s Park Pack Series


Book #1 – Bitten By Mistake – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #2 – Bitten By Design – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #3 – Bitten By Desire – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #4 – Bitten By The Alpha – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #5 – Bitten By Her – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb
 

Daryl plays with fire and gets burned by fate…


Former Primrose Pack member Jason Black happily accepted his role as beta in the new Regent’s Hill pack, knowing that merging the two was the best decision for everyone involved. Daryl Easton is loyal and honest but wary of change. The joining of the two packs wasn’t his preferred outcome, and he’s struggling to see all the newcomers as pack, including those now working alongside him.


When the alpha council proposes a two-week pack-building course to help improve troubled relationships, Jason and Daryl are sent along as backup. It soon becomes clear that the unit members and their betas won’t be the only ones taking part in tasks—Daryl and Jason will have challenges of their own to complete.


With the full moon adding to the rising tension, emotions are volatile, and tempers flare among the unit members. Jason and Daryl become closer than either of them expected, but with such opposing views on relationships, a messy outcome seems inevitable unless Daryl can let go of the past.

 

Read Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review here. We recommend it and the entire series!

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AJacobs_fiction
Website – www.annabellejacobs.com
Email – ajacobsfiction@gmail.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ajacobsfiction

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Springing Forward in Time and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Springing Forward in Time

Daylight saving time began this Sunday, March 10, at 2:00 a.m. And yes, this is the one where we all lost an hour of sleep. How many of you forgot to change your clocks and watches that don’t automatically switch over on a smart device this morning? lol  And while we may have lost that hour of sleep it also means we gain one more precious hour of sunlight at the end of the day to beat those end-of-winter blues.  I will take that any day of the week!  I love having that longer day!  How about you?

How about a history lesson?

The practice started with the “federal government as a way to save coal during World War I in the spring of 1918, and was only meant to exist during wartime. The practice was technically ended later that same year, but many regions continued to follow it, until eventually the government put the measure back in place in 1966.

The next major change came in 2007, when the Department of Transportation (DOT), which is surprisingly in charge of the practice, expanded daylight saving time to encompass about 65% of the year. The DOT was assigned the responsibility because the switch affects so many modes of transportation. The agency continues to observe the twice-yearly time swap because it reportedly saves energy, cuts down on traffic accidents and reduces crime.

States have the final say on if they participate, though. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not — the latter because it receives so much sunlight already. The islands of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands abstain as well.”

I really wish Maryland kept the practice year around.  How about you?  How do you feel about setting the clocks back in the fall?  Or this practice of manipulating our clocks?  Or are you one of the lucky ones that live in a place that isn’t affected?

Book Covers and Cover Artists

I want to thank all the artists that participated in our month long look at Book Covers and Artist Spotlights!  For our readers who may have missed any of the wonderful interviews with these talented artists.

Artist Spotlights Schedule(with links in case you missed one):
February 09:  Aisha Akeju
February 10:   Garrett Leigh
February 17:   Meredith Russell
February 24:  Reese Dante
March  3           Paul Richmond

It was a wonderful month, full of insight into the cover making process, book covers in general, and these fabulous artists we have come to admire so much.

Cover Artist Giveaway:  Winner is H.B. Congratulations, H.B.! Thank you for all the wonderful questions.  Please contact Stella to get your certificate.

Coming up next?

Thoughts about the spring equinox, stories about new starts, and of course, looking forward to perhaps a month of interviews with your favorite narrators.  So what questions would you ask a narrator?  Start thinking about that and get reading to post them here when our latest contest ends.

 

Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
– Robin Williams (1951–2014)

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 10:

  • Springing Forward in Time and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • Release Blitz – Ann Lister – Moved By You
  • Series Review Tour – Pros & Cons by A.E. Wasp
  • An ALisa Review: Pros & Cons of Vengeance (Pros & Cons #2) by A.E. Wasp

Monday, March 11:

  • Review:Release Blitz & Review Tour – Brigham Vaughn – The Ghosts Signal
  • Review Tour – Bitten By Fate (Regent’s Park Pack #6) by Annabelle Jacobs
  • DSP PROMO Amanda Meuwissen
  • An Ali Review: Lunar New Love by Casper Graham
  • A MelanieM Review: Bitten By Fate (Regent’s Park Pack #6) by Annabelle Jacobs
  • A Lila Audio Review: A Few Good Fish (Fish Out of Water #3) by Amy  Lane and Greg Tremblay  (Narrator)

Tuesday, March 12:

  • A Spotlight Tour and Giveaway: A Chip and a Chair by Cordelia Kingsbridge.
  • BLITZ Hearts of Fire by Kay Doherty
  • PROMO Andrew Grey
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: Hidden Powers (Superordinary Society #1) by Tara Lain
  • A Vivacious Review: Controlled (Hot Flash) by J.M. Snyder
  • A Stella Review: How Not to Sin (Lovestrong #2) by Susan Hawke
  • A MelanieM Review: Magic Triumphed by Andi Van

Wednesday, March 13:

  • How Not to Break by Susan Hawke Release Blitz
  • DSP PROMO Tara Lain
  • Book Blitz – Katherine Wyvern – In The Eye Of The Wind
  • Book Blitz – Frank W Butterfield – Chasing Eddie
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Severed (Precinct One #1) by Shona Husk
  • An Ashlez Review: Diamond in the Rough (Four Kings Security #4) by Charlie Cochet
  • A MelanieM Audio Review: The Best Worst Honeymoon Ever by Andrew Grey and ;John Solo (Narrator)

Thursday, March 14:

  • Release Blitz – Brad Shreve – A Body In A Bathhouse
  • DSP PROMO Elizabeth Coldwell
  • Blog Tour for The Hands We’re Given (Aces High, Jokers Wild #1) by O.E. Tearmann
  • An Alisa Review: The Hands We’re Given (Aces High, Jokers Wild #1) by O.E. Tearmann
  • A Melanie Review: Ties of Destiny (Curse of the Crown #1) by Caitlin Taylor
  • A Caryn Review: Demon on the Down-Low by EJ Russell
  • A Lila Audio Review: Running Blind (Havoc #2) by S.E. Jakes and Mark Larchmont (Narrator)

Friday, March 15:

  • Uncomplicated by KM Neuhold Release Blitz
  • Release Blitz – A Love Like Fire by Tricia Owens
  • COVER REVEAL Ties That Bind by Alex Whitehall
  • BLOG TOUR Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet, Book 2) by Kindle Alexander
  • An Alisa Audio Review: Once Burned (Anchor Point #6) by L.A. Witt and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)
  • An Ali Review In His Sights by L.A. Bryce
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: The Leprechaun Next Door by Elizabeth Coldwell

Saturday, March 16:

  • A MelanieM Review: Step Up With Me by Kris Jacen
  • RELEASE BLITZ for Becoming D’Vaire by Jessamyn Kingley