Lynn Lorenz on Writing, Influences and her latest New Orleans story, New Orleans Second Lines (author interview)

New Orleans Second Lines by Lynn Lorenz
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Lynn Lorenz here today answering questions and talking about writing and her influences…welcome, Lynn!

✒︎

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Lynn Lorenz

Thanks to STRW for letting me blog today about my new release from Dreamspinner Press, New Orleans Second Lines!

I’m going to answer a few questions about reading and writing…here goes!

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing? Did you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

I’m probably one of those few romance writers who didn’t really grow up reading romance. In fact, I didn’t start reading romance until I started writing it.

As a young teen, I lived in my local library (Nix Library in New Orleans). Because it was small, I’d read through the “kiddie” book section about the age of 12-13. My mother had to give permission for me to take out books in the adult fiction section—books by writers like Mary Stewart, Shirley Jackson, and Daphne Du Maurier. I suppose these fell sort of in the romance genre, but back in those days, the most anyone got was a kiss. All the doors were shut and we could only imagine what happened behind them.

But what I really liked in all of those stories was the edge of mystery in them. So I moved on to full bore mystery—classics writers like Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Elizabeth George, and Dorothy Sayers. I still love watching those British mystery series on Netflix.

In my college years, I devoured horror, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Robin Cook, to name a few.

(Notice: No Barbara Cartland or Nora Roberts. In fact, to this day, I’ve never read one of their novels and please don’t ask me about major authors, I don’t really know any.)

Then I had kids, and couldn’t read horror anymore, so I started on a few true crime stories, and more of the detective novels. I loved police procedural writers like Tony Hillerman, James Dos, and Faye Kellerman, mostly because they delved into cultures not my own.

I really didn’t read much fantasy, although I did read some paranormal like Interview with a Vampire when it came out, mostly because…New Orleans. Of course, during high school, I read classics like Frankenstein and Dracula, but perhaps I was too young to fully appreciate them.

My mother turned me onto Robert Benchley’s humor, which was so like her own. I read Fannie Flagg, of Fried Green Tomatoes fame. Love her southern humor!

Who do you think is your major influence as a writer? Now and growing up?

I wrote a lot as a teen and in college. English was my minor and I also wrote poetry, angsty stuff about boyfriends, etc. I think what influenced me the most is a mix of elements like mystery, detective stories, humor and gothic romance.

I learned how to write men by reading James Dos’s Charlie Moon, Hillerman’s Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, Kellerman’s Peter Decker, and a few other writers who got it right. But mostly by being around men my entire life. I worked in my father’s construction and electrical company, had jobs on worksites, wore a hard hat and listened to the guys and how they talked to each other.

What was missing was…the sex.

When I was about 40-45, I got bored reading what I’d been reading. Maybe it was a mid-life crisis, but I wanted books with sex. I remember asking my hubs if he had any sci-fi or fantasy books (he reads them exclusively) that had sex. He just laughed. “Nerdy scientists write these books. There’s no sex. Why don’t you write your own story?”

So I did. The very first novel I wrote was what became The Avalon Patrol, and later became Majik Reborn, Majik Betrayed, and Majik Redeemed. I created a world where majik existed, and so did a police force (inspectors) who used majik to fight crime. It sprawled. I had no idea what I was doing. When it hit 250k I broke Word. Hubs finally told me I was writing a trilogy. So I found where the story broke and divided it up. But this story was a het romance, because…sex. My protags had sex; no closed doors for me! I wrote about six novels, all het romance, sort of thinking about publication.

When I discovered gay romance something clicked. Suddenly, I realized why my male characters had so much..er…sexual tension between them. They were always one move from kissing or killing each other. My heroines weren’t exactly Mary Sues—I had to learn to write strong females and once I did, I started publishing those stories.

So I took all of the elements I love to read, and rolled them up into what I call my style. Humor for sure. Mystery. Perhaps some crime. But mostly hot as hell men who love each other and will do anything to get to their HEA.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

HEA—it’s the only thing I write, especially when I’m writing gay romance. For my het stuff, which I write under Theodora Lane for anyone who wants to check them out, I’ll occasionally go for a HFN.

When my kids asked me why I write gay romance I told them, because everyone deserves to have a happily ever after. I told them about friends I had when I was in high school and college, wonderful people whom I loved, but who didn’t see a HEA in their futures. I explained no one should be denied it because of who they love. To me, writing gay romance is a way to reach hearts and minds. If I can open one person’s heart and mind to love with no boundaries, I’ve done my job.

My two tag lines for Lynn Lorenz are Everyone Deserves a Happily Ever After and Open Your Heart and Open Your Mind.

For Theodora Lane, it’s Step Into Her Worlds.

I hope readers who haven’t read my writing will take a chance and try something new. And this book, New Orleans Second Line, is a great place to start! For readers who know me, I hope you enjoy something familiar, second time around.

More About New Orleans Second Lines

Matt and Lane grew up together, best friends, sharing almost all their secrets. But on the last day of college, those secrets spilled in one night of passion and tore them apart, sending Matt to the West Coast and Lane home to New Orleans.

Now, Hurricane Katrina is set to destroy New Orleans. This might be the worst time to try for a second chance, but nothing can keep Matt from Lane. The man he let get away.

For Lane, no hurricane can pry him from the city, especially without Sebastian. The older man has been a dear friend and his landlord since Lane returned from college. Sebastian refuses to flee, preferring to stay in his Creole cottage in the French Quarter and ride out the storm.

Sebastian’s life becomes intertwined with Lane’s, as Matt finds out when he’s drawn into capturing Sebastian’s memoirs of being gay in New Orleans. The elder gentleman’s stories are full of surprises and lessons for the young men.

The most important ones Sebastian teaches them—and himself—are that second chances don’t come along often, and you’re never too old to fall in love.

About the Author

Lynn Lorenz is an award-winning and best-selling author who grew up in New Orleans but currently lives in Texas, where she’s a fan of all things Texan, like Longhorns, big hair, and cowboys in tight jeans. She’s never met a comma she didn’t like, and enjoys editing and brainstorming with other writers. Lynn spends most of her time writing about hot sex with even hotter heroes, plot twists, werewolves, and medieval swashbucklers. She’s currently at work on her latest book, making herself giggle and blush, and avoiding all the housework.

Also by Lynn Lorenz:

David’s Dilemma by Lynn Lorenz

When is it the wrong time to find Mr. Right? For David, that time is now. He’s caring for his homophobic father, who has Alzheimer’s, and his personal life is the last thing he has time to focus on. But when his father wanders off, David is forced to reach out to the police, in the person of Detective Travis Hart. Travis is gay, tired of the club life and twinks he can’t keep up with, and longs for a real relationship with a man who wants the same—maybe someone remarkable like David. In fact, David is exactly who he has been looking for, but Travis isn’t sure he can be the man David needs during this difficult time.

Because as David’s father sinks deeper into the disease that’s robbing him of his memories, David really needs a friend, not a lover. Though Travis is determined to support David in whatever way he can, David’s decision could lead both men into a situation with no possibility of a happy resolution.

https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/davids-dilemma-by-lynn-lorenz-8012-b

https://www.amazon.com/Davids-Dilemma-Lynn-Lorenz-ebook/dp/B01NGZ9YB4

A MelanieM Release Day Review: An American in Venice (World of Love) by Luca Domani

Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5

Tom has always been steady and predictable—a formula he’s sure will lead him to success in his career. When his method fails him and he loses his job, he throws caution to the wind for the first time in his life and books a European holiday.

Maybe Tom shouldn’t be surprised that Cupid’s arrow finds him in one of the most romantic cities in the world: Venice, Italy. When he encounters Giovanni working in the family pizzeria, it’s lust at first sight. Their time together touring the city is so magical it feels like a dream. But Tom is shy while Giovanni is charming and flirtatious. Tom has a newfound freedom with his unemployment, while family burdens weigh heavily on Giovanni. Add culture differences and miscommunication into the mix, and their brief romance might fade as quickly as the beautiful dream it resembles.

As a travelogue, I can’t recommend An American in Venice (World of Love) by Luca Domani highly enough. The descriptions of Venice, the alleys, the markets are visually enticing and intimate in a way only someone greatly familiar with the city and totally in love with her would write it. You flow through Venice, night or day, places well known or not, and it makes you want to be there in Tom’s shoes..wet, wet shoes..because the it’s flooding fall season…falling in love, feeling the magic of Venice everywhere. For me it’s the best element of the story and it never let me down.

But there is a romance to talk about and two main characters. Tom is a predictable puss who’s lost his job and decided to take that trip he’s put off for far too long. Off to Italy and his first stop Venice, a place he traveled with his parents and has always wanted to return as an adult. I liked Tom, he has depth to him and a certain “everyman essence” that feels real enough. I certainly felt for him slogging through the flooded hallway of his hotel during the latest bout of rising water in Venice something he wasn’t prepared for. Great start to the novel and his visit.

It’s his introduction to Giovanni who’s my issue here. I liked what I saw of his character but there’s just not enough of him here or something feels missing in Tom and Giovanni’s interactions to let me connect with their burgeoning relationship. Giovanni’s background was supplied and interesting enough, he has history but it never felt substantial for some reason. And neither did he. Not like Tom did. Don’t know. But I never felt it or them.

Others may feel differently.

Anyhow it ended as a HFN, which was realistic enough but still far too much instalove for me. Sweet romance, outstanding travelogue. Just for Venice alone I would read this story.

Cover art by Bree Archer. She has Tom down pat and love the background. Just perfect.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 61 pages
Published July 19th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ASINB073JGNCRD
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWorld of Love settingVenice (Italy)

In Our Spotlight: The City of Rocks (A BJ Vinson Mystery #3) by Don Travis

The City of Rocks (A BJ Vinson Mystery #3) by Don Travis
DSP Publications
Cover Artist: Maria Fanning

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Don Travis today, here with a new BJ Vinson Mystery, The City of Rocks. Welcome, Don.

Many thanks to Stella and Melanie at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting this guest post, the third they’ve been kind enough to publish. This one is for The City of Rocks, the third in the BJ Vinson Mystery Series. The first two were for The Zozobra Incident and The Bisti Business. Get ready, Stella and Melanie, The Lovely Pines is coming down the road next March, and Abaddon’s Locusts is burning up my desk top. May I also give a tip of the hat to DSPP, my publisher.

They tell me I’m now supposed to bore you with a few facts about me. Okay, here goes. I’m an Okie who contracted tuberculosis at the tender age of six years, which meant I grew up thinking I couldn’t do what other youngsters my age usually did. Therefore, I took refuge in a library. I was a 100-pound private in the army toting a machine gun up and down the mountains of southern Germany when I discovered I could do anything any other GI could do, but by that time It was too late. My life was cast. I was hooked on reading. I turned to painting to satisfy a creative urge but ultimately returned to penning short stories… and then novels.

I do a weekly blog about my writing and recounting some of my personal peccadillos on dontravis.com. A member of SouthWest Writers, I give back to the community by teaching a free writing class at Albuquerque’s North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center.

City’s blurb reads as follows: investigator B. J. Vinson thinks it’s a bad joke when Del Dahlman asks him to look into the theft of a duck… a duck named Quacky Quack the Second and insured for $250,000. It ceases to be funny when the young thief dies in a suspicious truck wreck. The search leads BJ and his lover, Paul Barton, to the sprawling Lazy M Ranch in the Boot Heel country of southwestern New Mexico bordering the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

A deadly game unfolds when BJ and Paul are trapped in a weird rock formation known as the City of Rocks—an eerie array of frozen magma that is somehow at the center of the entire scheme. But does the theft of Quacky involve a quarter-million-dollar duck-racing bet between the ranch’s owner and a Miami real estate developer, or someone attempting to force the sale of the Lazy M because of its proximity to an unfenced portion of the Mexican border? BJ and Paul go from the City of Rocks to the neon lights of Miami and back again in pursuit of the answer… death and danger tracking their every step.

For a look at the book, I chose a scene in Chapter 17 where BJ and Paul take a horseback ride out to the Lazy M’s City of Rocks. This is Paul’s first visit to the Boot Heel ranch abutting the Mexican state of Chihuahua. We pick up the scene when they first spot the formation.

*****

“Is that it?”

“Yep. The Lazy M’s own City of Rocks.”

“Man, that looks weird out there all by itself. Even weirder than the big one up at the state park.”

“New Mexico’s full of weird. You think you’re standing on the moon at the Bisti Badlands. And then there’s Carlsbad Caverns, Tent Rocks, White Sands, and those eerie lava beds in the Malpais.”

“I gotta get out of Bernalillo County more often,” he said.

We went silent, falling increasingly under the spell of ghostly monoliths as we approached the City. The horses plodded between the first two hunks of mute rock on the north-northwest side. The “street” that opened up before us was a broad avenue strangely devoid of plant growth. I saw no human footprints, but wind whistling through the alleyways raised weak, wispy dust devils. Footprints in the sand would not last long out here. Our mounts’ hooves no longer clopped; now they made a huffing sound. We could have passed through a portal separating two worlds.

“That big boulder in front of us looks like a hotel. An old western hotel.”

I stared at the hulking mass. “Why? It’s just a big rock.”

“Come on, where’s your imagination? It’s a couple of stories high. It’s kinda square. It looks like those pictures of a frontier hotel minus the balcony that runs around the second story. And that’s Muldren City’s saloon over there.” He pointed to the right.

I fell into the spirit of the thing. “Okay, then that’s the bank. And the telegraph office.”

He laughed, obviously delighted I played along. “Let’s go see if we can find the freight office. Then the town’s complete.”

“Oh no. Not without the jail, it isn’t.”

“Right. I forgot the sheriff’s office and the jailhouse.” He twisted in the saddle and pointed. “There it is, right across the square from the hotel.” Paul dismounted and looked for a place to tether Streak. “They forgot the hitching rail. No western town’s complete without a hitching post.”

He tied his reins to the only bit of green in sight, a small mesquite bush. “Hope that holds. I’d hate to walk back to the ranch house.”

I joined him on the ground and dubiously tethered Lucy to the same puny plant. While he scrambled up the side of the “hotel,” I searched for evidence of human habitation.

“Watch out for snakes,” he yelled, already out of sight atop the boulder.

In a natural alleyway at the side of the jailhouse, I found impressions like miniature buffalo wallows. The small lane was sheltered from the worst of the wind. People had rested here, smoothing out the dust and dirt to make a bed, probably for an overnight stay. A pile of debris and tumbleweeds lay against the end of the small passage where the rock walls met again. I nudged the garbage with my boot… all food related: greasy sandwich or tortilla wraps and crumpled Styrofoam containers for coffee or posole.

The human coyotes probably hid illegal immigrants here while they stocked up on water from the windmill in the distance. Then, before the morning light came, they would spirit their charges across the desert onto the highway where someone waited to pick them up. A natural—and obvious—spot. I was willing to bet the smugglers had not remained with their human cargo during that long, anxious wait. They probably camped somewhere in the near vicinity, realizing the Border Patrol would be aware of the City’s potential for hiding illegal aliens and other contraband.

A muffled shout from Paul drew me out of the mental drama playing out in my head. I walked back to the plaza but found no sign of him.

“Vince,” he said from above me. I looked up to find him squatting atop the hotel. “There are people out there.”

“Where?”

“Walking across the hardpan. I think they’re headed here.”

“Keep out of sight. I’m coming up.”

He guided me to a fold in the rock that provided easy toeholds. When I pulled myself to the top, he lay prone, holding his hat in front of him to shade his eyes. “There’s ten, fifteen dudes out there. All on foot.”

I lay on my belly beside him and looked where he pointed. The distant figures walked one behind the other, Indian style. The column spread out like a military unit. I wished for my binoculars. The man in front carried something I thought to be an automatic rifle. As we watched, he turned south, heading directly for the City. Two of the men separated and made north toward the windmill. The group probably planned on remaining here overnight.

I rolled onto my back and took out my cell phone. Dialing 911 reached the emergency operator, who put me in contact with the Border Patrol in Deming. Within a minute I was speaking to an agent named Ramirez. He heard my report and ordered me to get out of there—without being seen, if possible. As I turned to tell Paul to get back to the horses, he grunted.

“Uh-oh. They got company.”

Two mounted outriders came in from the east, passing on either side of the column and halting to speak with the point man. After a brief conversation, they galloped straight for the City.

*****

As you can imagine, their casual, exploratory horseback ride rapidly becomes deadly.

Here are some links to me and my writing:

Blog: dontravis.com
Email: dontravis21gmail.com
Facebook: dontravis
Twitter: @dontravis3

And here are DSP Publications buy links:

Thanks again Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words!

A Caryn Release Day Review: New Orleans Second Lines by Lynn Lorenz

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

After reading the blurb, I found myself a little surprised by how this story unfolded. I expected Lane and Matt to be the MCs, with Sebastian’s life and times a backdrop for their story.

Actually, it was just the opposite.

This book is actually a re-edited and combined version of three short stories previously published in 2010. I did not read the originals, but for the most part this works as a single book. The initial story arc of Matt and Lane does feel a bit separate from the rest (some editing to smooth the transition would have been a good idea), but it is important to know about them to read Sebastian’s story.

The city of New Orleans is not merely a setting, but integral to all three main characters’ personality and actions, especially Sebastian, who is in his 70s when he is first introduced. They may have all left the city at some point, but they always came back. The French Quarter is at the heart of their lives, and shaped their stories.

The first quarter of the book is essentially all about Matt and Lane. Childhood friends who became close as brothers as they faced down Matt’s abusive father who kicked him out when he discovered Matt was gay. Roommates in college who watched each other as Matt slept around and Lane saved himself for “the one”. In the 5 years they lived together, neither man ever admitted to the other that he was in love – they both had their own reasons for feeling “not good enough” – and after one glorious night, Matt moved away to California. Now, let me just say that I get so frustrated with that overdone trope, but I guess it’s expedient when you are trying to put a lot of angst into a short story. Hurricane Katrina provided the catalyst to get Matt and Lane back together, and at least then they spoke honestly to each other, and of course they were both single, still in love, soul mates, yadda yadda, and now happily together.

And to me, that is when the real story started. Two years after Katrina, New Orleans is still rebuilding, recovering, returning to its previous vibrant self. Matt and Lane are still happy together living in the slave quarters behind the courtyard of Sebastian’s French Quarter house. Matt is still working as a journalist, and has decided to make a documentary of sorts about gay men in New Orleans history through the life and times of Sebastian. He is such a character! Sebastian is definitely a queen, flamboyant, but sophisticated and intelligent. He spent his early adulthood with the artistic (and very gay friendly) denizens of the city, along with all the hedonism you’d expect from the Big Easy, but was also an astute businessman who became wealthy, and one of the gay elite of the French Quarter. He had his share of disappointments and tragedies too, including the death of his long time lover from AIDS. I loved his voice – the words he used, the way he told a story, how elegant he was even while being catty! It was so easy to imagine what he looked like, sounded like, and even how he moved. Sebastian was perfectly happy to make the documentary because he felt his life was essentially over, that he was just waiting until the end, when he could pass the torch on to the next generation of gay men.

And then he met Raymond. Another elderly man, gay, also bereaved, who convinced Sebastian that even in his 70s, there were still adventures to be had, life to be lived, and love to be made. That it is never too late to have a happy ending. Their affair might seem a little saccharine to some, but I just adored it. There wasn’t much angst for them, but I think their romance was in many ways more open, more honest than it would have been if they had met when they were younger. Though Matt and Lane are constants in Sebastian’s life – they essentially became his sons and stayed with him in his adventures step by step – this book is primarily about Sebastian. And it is lovely.

Cover art by Angsty G is a good representation of Lane and Matt, but where was Sebastian??? Gotta admit, I was disappointed by that oversight…

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 246 pages
Published July 17th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635334326
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Audiobook Review: The Perfect Sub (Iron Eagle Gym #2) by Sean Michael and Jeff Gelder (Narrator)

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

While new couple Tide and Lance spend time deepening their relationship and further introducing Lance to the joys and vagaries of being a sub, established couple Tyrone and Bran discover that they still have a thing or two to learn as well.

A new job finds Bran run off his feet, and a visit to the eye doctor leads to the discovery of a brain tumor. Bran is terrified. He strives to be the perfect sub for his beautiful master and sees the tumor as a personal failing as he tries to handle every last phone call, e-mail, and text that comes in, no matter how early or late. When Tyrone finally finds out about the tumor Bran’s been keeping a secret, he realizes he’s been taking his sub for granted, and he works to rediscover his boy and their relationship. Of course, that’s easier said than done given that Bran’s job is taking up all his time and he would rather pretend the tumor just doesn’t exist than actually deal with it.

It’s going to take all of Tyrone’s prowess as a master to help guide Bran through these troubled waters.

I am usually a fan of Sean Michael’s books but this one did not work for me and it was a combination of elements in the story and narration that made it even worse. Bran and Lance both had so much trouble throughout the first part of the book thinking that they weren’t “worthy” of their masters and that is one dynamic that doesn’t work for me along with the focus on perfection and people looks. In the end the focus on being perfect was pushed aside for being partners and perfect for each other which was nicer. Other than that I had a hard time following the timeline in the story but I’m sure if that was from not having the story in front of me to see or not.

Unfortunately I can’t really say that Jeff Gelder did a nice job narrating the story. He used different voices for each character but they would change throughout the story and then the character described as having a “deep sexy voice” had a very feminine lilt and soft voice most of the time. He tried really hard to make it sound sensual but I just got the feeling that I was listening to a bad porno. I think it’s safe to say that this story did not work for me, maybe at some point I can go back and try to read it and see if I don’t have quite the same opinion of it but it won’t be anytime soon.

Cover art by L.C. Chase is nice and goes with the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 7hrs 29min
Published June 9, 2017 (ebook first published March 28, 2016) by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English

Victoria Sue on Writing, Characters and Who We Truly Are, her latest release (author guest interview)

Who We Truly Are (Enhanced #2) by Victoria Sue

Who We Truly Are by Victoria Sue

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Victoria Sue here sharing something’s about herself and her latest story. Welcome, Victoria!

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

Wow – that’s a huge question. Short answer – Yes. The long answer is a little more complicated.

I adore fantasy and paranormal. I loved every second of the make-believe world of Askara that I created for The Alpha King trilogy, and that was much easier than the other two worlds I have written in over the last twelve months.
I have written two regency historicals – The Innocent Auction, and The Innocent Betrayal – and the huge amount of research that takes – language, geography, customs, dress, politics, buildings—and more—is a great deal of work. I got to the point in both books where nearly every paragraph needed some detail checking. Even down to the cover. I found a gorgeous picture of old London complete with the synonymous Big Ben clock tower. Then I found out Big Ben wasn’t built until thirty years after the story in my book had happened!

I wanted something completely different for my Enhanced Series so research was a very important factor in writing. The Enhanced aren’t paranormal in the usual sense. There is no magic, there are no shapeshifting anything, and there are no weird viruses or post-apocalyptic scenarios.

Everything I write in the book is just natural human evolution speeded up. To bring it back to basics – we haven’t needed out appendix since we stopped being plant eaters and swinging through the trees – and some babies have started being born without one. Likewise, our wisdom teeth – 35% of the population don’t have them. We don’t need them – most people use utensils 😉

My enhanced boys are a little more complicated. Talon finds out in Who We Truly Are the theory behind his genetic development. It’s at the end of the book – so I’m not going to spoil the surprise here, just to say most people would never guess it is perfectly possible to change your own DNA. The science is called Epigenetics. It’s not as cool as the gene that makes a baby’s skin waterproof in the uterus, accounting for bullets and other missiles being unable to penetrate Gael’s skin, but it has all sorts of possibilities for the series.
Sawyer also reveals a little of the science behind his abilities, which our resident genius Finn understands completely, of course.

There are more surprises coming in the series as each character’s abilities are explained and revealed, and new ones are introduced.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

A happily ever after – cue Disney music… Actually, that brings me to a question I know I’m going to get asked. My Enhanced series was always going to be one book per couple.

And then I met Talon.
Talon is an ass. He’s a gorgeous ass (Or as Finn would say – he has a gorgeous ass) Talon couldn’t somehow do a three sixty and sweep Finn of his pretty toes. Talon had a lot of history and while I love nothing better than to wave a magic wand – he took two books.

Talon needed taming, and Finn was just the guy to do it. He needed to get his head out of said gorgeous ass, and it took him two books to get there.

Thank you 😊

Who We Truly Are – blurb

Talon’s deadly abilities are spiraling out of control. Desperate to keep Finn safe, Talon struggles to protect the man he loves with all his heart, and not become the greatest risk to Finn’s life.
Finn has no choice but to offer himself as bait for the evil forces kidnapping enhanced children, facing danger he is untrained and unprepared for, and he is having to do it alone.
Does Talon have one last fight in him? Will he slay everyone who wants to destroy Finn and the team, or will he finally discover that to defeat their enemy and the ultimate threat, the biggest battle he has to face is one with himself?

BUY LINKS – Who We Truly Are
Dreamspinner https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/who-we-truly-are-by-victoria-sue-8670-b
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Who-Truly-Are-Enhanced-Book-ebook/dp/B0739QXBZ3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499103831&sr=8-1&keywords=who+we+truly+are
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/who-we-truly-are-victoria-sue/1126640129?ean=2940158613548

WhoWeTrulyAre_headerbanner

About the Author

Victoria Sue

Wrote her first book on a dare from her hubby two years ago and he says he has regretted it every day since. Loves writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best, and especially with either a paranormal or a historical twist. Had a try at writing contemporary but failed spectacularly when it grew four legs and a tail.
Is an English northern lass but is currently serving twenty to life in Florida – unfortunately, she spends more time chained at her computer than on a beach.

Loves to hear from her readers and can be found most days lurking on facebook.

http://www.victoriasue.com
@vickysuewrites
https://www.facebook.com/victoriasueauthor/– sign up for my newsletter and download a free story The Wrong Alpha

A MelanieM Release Day Review: All In (Wild Cards #3) by Ava Drake

All In by Ava Drake

Rating 3 stars out of 5

In crime, like in love, there can be no half measures….

Fashion model Zane Stryker needs money—badly. At almost thirty, his glory days are behind him, and he needs capital to start over. When his luggage is switched with a bag containing contraband he’s forced to deliver, it’s either the worst thing that’s ever happened to him… or the best.

Enter Sebastian Gigoni, formerly of the British Special Forces, who has to decide just where Zane’s loyalty lies and why. Sizzling attraction erupts between them, but that doesn’t mean they can trust each other. They double down in a race for their lives—and their love—but are their purposes at odds? As they struggle to reconcile their goals, their consciences, and the needs of their hearts, one thing is clear—they must go all in or give up altogether.

All In is the third story in the Wilds Cards series by Ava Drake and I have to admit it was a fun if improbable read. You have a gorgeous fashion model Zane Stryker who ends up in the middle of a crime/espionage case via a suitcase which is a well established trope true. Throw in a mystery man named Sebastian Gigoni, who eventually turns out to be formerly of the British Special Forces (of course we don’t get that at the beginning, neither does Zane), so the confusion is rampant and complete.

I get that March was going for that old zany sort of adventure/mystery/scarum sort of thing done in the 60’s with Audrey Hepburn with Grant or other leading men. Those were fun comedies with just enough thrillers to make us fear for the couple. But this just didn’t make sense at parts or perhaps there just wasn’t enough time to make a big enough connection between the two main character for this to work for me. Why on earth would these men trust each other given their actions? Not a clue….

And that ending? Truly far fetching even for a Dreamspun Desires title. Sweet though, and very romantic even as it had it rolling my eyes a bit.

For this series, the best remains the first story which I adored, Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards #1). I thought that was just terrific and wish to see that couple revisited again.

But until then. All In is a nice little romance adventure to while away your afternoon with.

Cover art by Bree Archer is terrific. Love the action and drama. Great job.

Sales Links : Dreamspinner Press

Book Details:

ebook, 178 pages
Published July 15th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635336511
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:A Kind of Home (A Kind of Stories #4) by Lane Hayes

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Isaac is the only member of the band Spiral who doesn’t have a life partner, but Lane Hayes remedies that with this story. Isaac left home as a teen when his parents broke up and his (adoptive) father kicked him out for being gay. He was so done with Springville, his small PA hometown, and the only thing good he could say about it was the fun he had with his friend Ned McBride, Ned’s family, and Ned’s brother Adam. Though Adam was straight, Isaac always had a crush on the brawny football player with a sense of humor and a gorgeous smile.

When he returns home to his Manhattan penthouse after the latest worldwide tour of his phenomenally successful band, he’s surprised to find Adam McBride is there. Through Ned, he had given permission for Adam to crash at his place while Adam was recovering from his divorce and deciding what direction his life should take. Unfortunately, he worked for his ex-wife’s father so he lost the job along with the marriage and is currently working part-time at a bar and part-time as a dog walker. And he has no plans to leave soon.

Isaac has loved his sterile white apartment, its peace and quiet and solitude, but he grows accustomed to the happy-go-lucky Adam being there, leaving his big red Converse sneakers laying around, cooking meals for Isaac, and practicing his baking—something Adam took up as a relaxing hobby and now wants to pursue as a career. Much of the chaos keeps Isaac from worrying about the nutcase who seems to be stalking him—someone who refers to himself as his “biggest fan.” But the companionship turns to more after one night when the guys get a little tipsy and the inhibitions come down. Isaac learns that Adam is not as straight as he thought, and he learns exactly why Adam came to New York—and it wasn’t just to chill out after his divorce.

The men slowly, very slowly (something I love!) develop a relationship that goes beyond friends-with-benefits and becomes so much more. And when danger strikes, and Isaac’s emotions come to a head, it looks like the one-time loner may just be left alone after all.

I enjoyed Lane Hayes’s writing in this one, her character development, and the clever mystery about the psycho fan. I also loved the love story and the evolution of the friends to lovers theme.

I hope readers will enjoy this slow-burn romance as much as I did. The author’s reveal of the carefully hidden psycho and the oh-so-sweet ending of the book is sure to please lovers of MM romance as much as it did me. I recommend not only this book, but the whole series as well.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson is similar in style to others in the series, but in this one, a bare-torso male is leaning against the wall of what appears to be a penthouse apartment, as it features a floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the city spread out below. This fits the story perfectly since it could be Isaac looking out over NYC from his Manhattan penthouse.

Sales Links:Amazon & Dreamspinner Press

Book Details:

ebook, 224 pages
Published June 23rd 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleA Kind of Home
ISBN139781635336832
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesA Kind of Stories #4

An Alisa Release Day Review: Who We Truly Are (Enhanced #2) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Talon’s deadly abilities are spiraling out of control. Desperate to keep Finn safe, Talon struggles to protect the man he loves with all his heart and not become the greatest risk to Finn’s life.

Finn has no choice but to offer himself as bait for the evil forces kidnapping enhanced children, facing danger he is untrained and unprepared for, and he will have to do it alone.

Does Talon have one last fight in him? Will he slay everyone who wants to destroy Finn and the team, or will he finally discover that to defeat their enemy and the ultimate threat, the biggest battle he has to face is one with himself?

This was another great addition to the Enhanced universe. This story continues just a few weeks after the last book with Finn and Talon but also gives us the chance to get to know the others on the team better. Finn continues to push Talon’s buttons, sometimes without meaning to, but Talon will have to accept what they really mean to each other before he can trust more.

Finn continues to work hard in order to show the others that he is worthy of working with them but keeps getting hit with roadblocks and new obstacles. Talon will to anything and fights tooth and nail to keep Finn safe even if he thinks that he might be the biggest threat. They both continue to try and work everything out even when everything around them is trying to tear them apart.

Talon doesn’t do as much of the push and pull as he did in the first story but he does enough to make Finn feel as if he needs to prove himself for his lover to respect him. I could feel Finn’s helplessness when he is trying to do his job but Talon continues to argue for his safety and I could see how much Talon was trying to do the right thing even if it wasn’t what he really wanted. I loved getting to see more of this universe and I can’t wait to see what happens with Gael now having a human partner in the next book.

Cover art by Paul Richmond is wonder and perfect for this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 206 pages

Published: July 14, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635337723

Edition Language: English

Series: Enhanced #2

A Stella Release Day Review: Mascara & Bandages (Mary’s Boys#3) by Brandon Witt

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

Ariel Merman is a new drag queen who’s already finding a family at Hamburger Mary’s. After a performance as Ariel, Zachary Cooper walks home in his makeup and is assaulted by homophobes. Zachary’s worry that the attack has thrown a wrench in his good fortune is eased when he looks into the eyes of his doctor.

Dr. Teegan Chau is a little lost after divorcing his wife and coming out of the closet, but he can’t deny the pull he feels toward the young man he patches up. Luckily, Zachary takes the initiative and asks Teegan out. But attraction is the easy part of their blossoming relationship—as they deal with an ex-wife and child, being a drag queen in a heteronormative culture, Zachary’s lingering trauma from his attack, and Teegan acclimating to life as part of an out-and-proud gay couple.

The challenges seem daunting at the start of a romance. Can Zachary and Teegan make it through the rough patches and take a chance on the love that’s been missing from both their lives?

The Mary’s Boys series by Brandon Witt has truly conquered me, I’m enjoying every new installment the author releases. I think Mascara & Bandages is my favorite novellas so far, maybe because I’m a huge fan of the Little Mermaid and so I was gone for Ariel Merman since I first saw her. Maybe because I like my characters to be a little bandaged and here, apart from the physical healing Zachary will need to do, both MCs had gone through rough phases in their lives, and their suffering made them more real. I felt Zachary be scared, be lonely and then be loved and protected. And I saw him being fabulous when he is Ariel. I liked to see Zachary and Teegan together, how they were soon attracted to each other but wait to tumble in bed because no sex on first date, per Zachary’s rule. And they were surrounded by new small characters like Kelly, Teegan ex-wife, an amazing woman, supportive and funny, and their little daughter.

Apart from the well done writing, which it’s not a surprise, by now I think everyone is pretty aware the author can write, I adored I was able to meet again my favorite people in the series, ManDonna, Pat, and all the people who took care of Zachary and act as his family like they already did with Cody in Nachos & Hash. I hope there will be more chances to meet all of them together again, who will be the next person to get his HEA?

The cover art by AngstyG follows the style of the cover of the previous book, it’s well done and fitting the story. I like it.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 121 pages

Expected publication: July 12th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN13 9781635336603

Edition Language English

Series Mary’s Boys #3

New Orleans Second Lines by Lynn Lorenz Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: AngstyG

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The City of Rocks (A BJ Vinson Mystery #3) by Don Travis DSP Publications Cover Artist: Maria Fanning

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New Orleans Second Lines by Lynn Lorenz
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

The City of Rocks (A BJ Vinson Mystery #3) by Don Travis
DSP Publications
Cover Artist: Maria Fanning