Its Back to the Beach with Beach Balls by Tara Lain (excerpt and giveaway)

The wait is over! BEACH BALLS, book #3 in the Balls To The Wall series by Tara Lain is now available!

Beach Balls
(Balls to the Wall Series, #3)By Tara LainBlurb:

Adam James is so far in the closet he could find Narnia. As an attorney for the homophobic WMA Development, he can’t come out without risking the million-dollar paycheck waiting for him once they push their big land development deal through the city council—money that will finally allow Adam to live according to his own terms. Then, on an early morning scuba dive, Adam meets a tall, lean rebreather diver named Sky who makes him want to hug a tree.

Sky Sea Mickeljohn stands for the environment, world peace, and being openly gay. He won’t compromise his principles for anyone—even the damned lying developer lawyer he can’t help lusting after. True, the WMA land development deal could put thousands of people at risk, but Sky still wants to risk his heart. In the fight between freedom and integrity, is there a place for love?

Available for purchase at

Readers are
LOVING BEACH BALLS!

“Ms Lain pens a thoughtful and sensual tale and I look forward to reading more in the series.”
~ Night Owl Reviews — 4 1/2 Stars! Reviewer Top Pick!

“The character growth they undergo during the story is phenomenal and adds a lot of zing, along with the ‘off the chart’ hotness of their sexual encounters.” ~ Rainbow Book Reviews

Excerpt

The guys nearest the beach started laughing and pointing. What’s going on?

He looked at Gary, who shrugged.

Adam pointed toward the commotion. “I’m going to go see.” He walked out onto the grassy verge that led to the sand where he’d been sitting earlier with Sky. The guys were still laughing. One asked, “What’s he gonna do?”

Adam pushed into the line of men all facing the ocean and pointing. “What’s happening?”

Ian said, “This crazy guy is standing there in the water like he’s headed for us, but he’s not moving. Looks like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.”

One of the other men asked, “What’s he wearing?”

Carly smiled at Adam. “It’s called a dry suit, and it looks to me like he’s waiting for someone. Wonder who that could be?” He laughed.

Waist-deep in the water stood a tall man in a full dry suit complete with hood and mask, his mouthpiece dangling. He had a little bottle of what must be oxygen on his chest.

I’ve got a funny feeling about this. When Adam stepped off the lawn onto the sand, the figure in the suit began to pace out of the water with a slow and deliberate stride.

The “creature” analogy was dead-on.

When the creature got out of the surf, he stopped to peel off the mask and hood, revealing curly hair.

Adam smiled. He’d know those curls anywhere.

Sky came a few feet closer. Even in the fading light, Adam imagined he could just make out the blue-gray eyes.

Sky stopped again and began to unfasten the dry suit. What kind of show were they in for?

Slowly the puffy dry suit peeled down the tall body, fully dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts. A patter of applause started, and Sky kicked off the suit to reveal flip-flops. Jesus, he must think he was James Bond or something. By this time everyone was clapping, and Sky gave a little bow.

Son of a bitch, the guy has a sense of humor. He’d rigged this whole elaborate entrance just to get a laugh. But looking at that lean, hard body in those shorts made another part of Adam’s anatomy very happy.

Sky picked up the dry suit and walked the ten feet to Adam. “Hi. I believe I was invited for cocktails.”

No recourse. He just laughed. “You do know how to make an entrance.”

The Balls to the Wall Series

Volley Balls
Bk #1

Available at

Fire Balls

Bk #2

Available to purchase

About the Author

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

You can find Tara at Lain

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Presented By

In Our Contemporary Spotlight: Every Breath You Take by Robert Winter (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: Every Breath You Take

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: May 5, 2017

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 221 pages

Genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

When Zachary Hall leaves Utah for a job in Washington, it’s finally his chance to live as a gay man and maybe find someone special. In a bar he meets Thomas Scarborough, a man who seems perfect in and out of the bedroom. But Thomas never dates. He never even sleeps with the same man twice. Despite their instant connection, he can offer Zachary only his friendship, and Zachary is looking for more.

Thomas is tempted to break his own rules, but years before, he became the victim of a stalker who nearly destroyed his life. Even though his stalker died, Thomas obsessively keeps others at a distance. Despite his fascination with Zachary, he is unable to lower his barriers. Frustrated, Zachary accepts he will never have what he wants with Thomas and soon finds it with another man.

But young gay men in Washington, DC are being murdered, and the victims all have a connection to Thomas. Once again someone is watching Thomas’s every move. Can it be a coincidence? When the depraved killer turns his attention toward Zachary, Thomas must face the demons of his past—or lose his chance to open his heart to Zachary forever.

Excerpt

Across the street the man with the silver-framed glasses stood back in the shadows and stared at the front window of the garden apartment. He could see the back of his quarry’s head as he watched a small flat-screen TV.

Time passed.

Eventually the head nodded forward and then jerked up. When it happened a second time, the creature turned off the TV and then the lamp and headed to bed.

The man waited for another half hour with his back pressed against an alcove formed where two brownstones met. The street was quiet. Almost no one walked by, and the lone person who came down the street failed to notice him in the shadows.

The man felt his breath grow hoarse, and blood rushed in his ears as his heart began to pound. He cultivated that sensation as he reached into his coat pocket for the screwdriver that rested there and made himself imagine the creature’s hands touching the Beloved’s face. Stroking his body. He curled his fingers around the screwdriver and then clenched and unclenched rhythmically. Its thick handle felt rough against his palm because of the grooves and sharp edges he had chiseled into it. He had ideas for other implements that would serve his purpose, but for now, this would do just fine. This would make his point.

His throat was dry, and his eyes burned from focusing on the darkened window, but he felt invincible. The tension in his body climbed exquisitely, and when he could take no more, he slipped across the street and stepped down to the locked gate. It opened easily with his small set of picks. The gate made no noise when the creature went through it earlier, so he was confident and quick and didn’t bother to lock it behind him. Child’s play, he thought as he worked the lock on the apartment door.

The tumblers clicked into place.

He stored his lockpicks, slipped inside the darkened apartment, and then closed the door behind him as silently as he could. Streetlight came through the slatted blinds the boy had failed to close completely. He waited quietly until he heard a faint snore from the back and then removed his glasses and tucked them in an inside pocket of his jacket. The scarf his quarry had been wearing caught his eye, and the man bared his teeth as he lifted it off the coat tree and tugged it tightly between his hands. It was well made. It would hold. He smiled.

He slid through the gloom toward the room where the creature lay sleeping. He was hard, and the blood in his erection pulsed in time to the pounding of his heart. That boy had dared to touch his Beloved. He had probably even been fucked by him. But that wasn’t enough—oh no. He came back for more.

It had taken the man so long to find his Beloved and interpret his subtle clues. He finally understood what was required of him. The undeserving gnat must be chastised, and he would be the Beloved’s angel of retribution. He was conscious of the weight of the screwdriver in his pocket, the scratch of the wool scarf in his hands, and the power in his arms.

He reached for the boy on the bed.

Purchase

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Meet the Author

Robert Winter is a recovering lawyer who likes writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other. When he isn’t writing, Robert likes to cook Indian food and explore new restaurants.

Robert divides his time between Washington, DC, and Provincetown, MA. He splits his attention between Andy, his partner of sixteen years, and Ling the Adventure Cat, who likes to fly in airplanes and explore the backyard jungle as long as the temperature and humidity are just right.

Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Goodreads | eMail

Blitz Schedule

Hoards Jumble
Bayou Book Junkie
Happily Ever Chapter
Babbling About Books and More
Books, Dreams, Life
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Dawn’s Reading Nook
DirtyBooksObsession
It’s About The Book
Booklover Sue
Out Of My Head

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

A Jeri Review: Beach Balls (Balls to the Wall #3) by Tara Lain

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Adam is a workaholic lawyer firmly entrenched in the closet. The only time he gets to “be gay” is when his friend throws parties that allow other men like himself to be free. He meets Sky during one of those weekends, but quite by accident. Even though on the surface neither is the other’s type- they have crazy chemistry. Until uber environmentalist Sky finds out that Adam is a lawyer working for a developer and they are fighting over the same parcel of land.

Book three was a bit of a departure from the other two in the series. Not that that is a bad thing, but is just didn’t flow with the vibe of the others. The character connection between this one and previous seemed as an afterthought.

While this was a decent story, it really needed to be fleshed out a bit more. I have nothing against short novels (this one clocks in at just over 100 pages) but it all plays out over a short time frame. Too short for ideologies to change as they did. And they were together so few times, it just didn’t make sense to change so much.

There were parts I really enjoyed, parts that made me roll my eyes a bit and parts that were smoking hot. Ultimately, I needed more. Their connection just wasn’t there for me.

Cover Artist: Reese Dante. Eye catching cover and font definitely draws you to the book.

Sales Links

AMAZON | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 115 pages
Expected publication: May 8th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 4th 2012)
ISBN 1634773659 (ISBN13: 9781634773652)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesBalls to the Wall #3 settingCalifornia (United States)
Newport Beach, California (United States)

The Rites of May, Free Dreamer’s Answers Your Questions and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

The Rites of May and Free Dreamer’s Answers Your Questions!

The first of May, which, yes we’ve left behind, has meaning for many rites and celebrations. This includes one I remember from my childhood, dancing around the Maypole. No I wasn’t in England, believe it or not, it was in a small town in New Jersey. Why did we do this? To celebrate May Day! May Day is an ancient Northern Hemisphere festival which traditionally marked the return of spring. It is believed that the celebrations originated in agricultural rituals intended to ensure fertility for crops, held by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.

Other seasonal celebrations of this time included the Celtic festival of Beltane and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night. Today, many customs still celebrate this ancient festival, including the gathering of wildflowers and the setting up of a decorated May tree or Maypole, around which people dance, although I’m not sure how many school children in the US are skipping around a pole. Somehow I just don’t think this would get through these days.

Maypole dancing continues to be one of the most popular May Day customs in Europe. Participants dance around a wooden Maypole, holding colourful ribbons that become decoratively intertwined. The dancers then change direction and repeat the steps in reverse, causing the ribbons to unwind. This is said to symbolize the lengthening of the days as summer begins. That’s the organized version. I wish you could have seen the chaos that ensued when us children were unleashed to run madly with our ribbons around each other and that pole. Fun yes, but we were the very opposite of anything that could be described as “decoratively intertwined.”

May Day celebrations these days include singers, dancers including Morris Dancing, May King and Queens, but almost never in the US, where such goings on were frowned upon by the Puritans and May Day celebrations never really took hold. Makes me wonder now about that small town in NJ where I grew up. Did you celebrate any Rites of May in your town? Let us know! How about books that include celebrations? Write us and let us know.

One of my favorite stories revolve around a Morris Dancer. That would be Alex Beecroft’s Blue Eyed Stranger from her Trowchester Blues series, an excellent story in an outstanding series. Can you think of others?

While we are waiting as promised, here is Free Dreamer with her answers to your questions and the winners of her Book Adventures contest!

Hey there! It’s Free Dreamer! Here are my answers to the readers’ questions:

From Jen: Which books did you take photos of and end up getting free copies when you got home?

There were only two books that really caught my attention. I picked up an excerpt for “The Blackthorn Key” by Kevin Sands, a Fantasy YA novel. I have yet to read the excerpt, though. And then I discovered the German version of “The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue” by Mackenzie Lee. Also YA, but historical with a gay protagonist this time. I successfully begged for a free copy of that and already read it. Or should I say devoured it? It was utterly brilliant and I’ve already lent it to a co-worker! You can look forward to a review of it sometime in the near future. 😉

From Purple Reader: For your fair, as a dreamer, what did you anticipate or expect the most from going, and how did that go? Were your expectations met or exceeded? (I hope they were). I know what you’re saying about Sanderson. I read his concluding 3 vols. in the Wheel of Time series, and thought they picked the quality back up to what I saw in the first 3 vols. But I’ve since gravitated to gay fiction, so haven’t read anything of his since. Do any of his stories involve a gay protagonist?

The thing I anticipated the most was easily the meeting with Brandon Sanderson. I’m so glad he turned out to be a nice guy. He was really patient with the signing and everything. In hindsight, I could’ve been a bit braver. I’ve always been wondering how he feels about religion. In every one of his books I’ve read so far religion is an important topic and the religions he comes up with are really fascinating. But I was too cowardly to ask that. It seemed too personal, somehow. And since he promised to come to my Vienna one day, my expectations were definitely exceeded. Can’t wait for that!!

I have to admit I haven’t yet managed to read the Wheel of Time series. There are just soooo many books in that series. Sadly, none of his book feature a gay protagonist. If it helps, there’s little to no romance in his books.

From Didi: I always want to go and see an int’l book fair! How much plan did you do prior to going (you’re not take “we’ll just see what’s interesting there” tactic and go with it, surely? What’s your most favorite “souvenir” from the event (books purchased incl.)?

I didn’t really plan all that much, tbh. I took a look at the program online a couple of weeks before the fair. And I really only did that because our teacher wanted us to give her a list of at least three events we were planning to visit. I’m not much of a planner at the best of times. 😉

Since I’m a bookseller, I get a discount on books I buy at work, so I didn’t actually buy any books at the fair itself. So I only bought postcards (I’ve taken up writing postcards to people all over the world as a hobby – the site’s called Postcrossing). My favourite souvenir though is a free bookmark from the Swiss publisher Diogenes. It shows an owl in a bird’s house made of books. The house is covered in snow and it’s snowing. The heading says “Diogenes reading weather”. It’s so cute. ❤

From H.B.: Did you get to attend many discussions and if you did which ones were your favorite(s)? It’s great you got to meet Brandon Sanderson. I haven’t read one of his books yet although I have my eye on a few of his stories. In general what book of his would you suggest I start with?

I only got to attend two discussions, sadly. One about queer literature and one about all age books. I didn’t really like either of those.

I’d recommend you start with the “Mistborn” series, “The Final Empire” being part one. There are currently 7 books in the series, but the first three work as an individual series. The other parts are set in the same universe, but hundreds of years later. So it’s actually his only completed series so far, even though there are more books on their way. “The Final Empire” was also how I got hooked on his works.

📚Winner Announcements!📚

Thanks, everyone for following Free Dreamer on her Leipzig Book Adventures! The contest winners of the Gift Certificates are Didi and Purple Reader! Congratulations to you both! Stella will be in contact with you about your gift certs!

Announcement – New Reviewer at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

We have another reviewer starting at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. In just a few weeks start to look for the reviews of Alessandro, our newest reviewer. I’ll let Alessandro tell you all about himself. Please give him a warm welcome.

Meet Alessandro!

Hello there. My name is Alessandro and I’m currently 25 years old and I live in Germany. When I’m not working as a hairdresser, one can always find me reading, literally everywhere I go. My kindle is my best friend and it’s always safely tucked into my rucksack. And my smartphone with my audible app isn’t far away either.

I really got into reading almost a year ago, around May 2016. Of course I’ve read before, but not as excessively as I do nowadays. My current schedule is one book each day. If its a book over 200 pages, maybe ill take about 2 days. I don’t even watch TV or Netflix anymore. When I started reading again, I started with fantasy books mostly. But recently, about 75 books ago I started reading M/M books and now I’m totally obsessed with it and I can’t really get into anything else. Of course there are some releases I just have to read in M/F, but I will return to M/M definitely. I’m reading English literature because it is just more fun to read in another language than your own mother language, at least that’s the case for me. I’ve got like 2 books in German on my TBR list, if ill read them though I don’t really know. I can’t really remember what my first M/M books was, I think it was years ago, because every now and then when I had my reading phase, there would be at least one M/M book in there somewhere.

My favourite sub-genre in the M/M genre would be fantasy and contemporary.

Other hobbies would be, meeting with friends and maybe some shopping? 😃

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 7:

The Rites of May and Free Dreamer’s Answers Your Questions!
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, May 8:

BLOG TOUR Addict by Matt Doyle
RIPTIDE TOUR Faking It by Christine d’Abo
A Jeri Release Day Review: Beach Balls by Tara Lain
A VVivacious Review: Hijacked Love by Ethan Stone
An Alisa Review: Wake up Call by Becky Black

Tuesday, May 9:

BLOG TOUR The Simplicity of Being Normal by James Stryker
Spotlight Tour: Beach Balls by Tara Lain
Blog Tour Every Breath You Take by Robert Winter
An Ali Audio Review: Everyday History by Alice Archer and Daan Stone (Narrator)
A Julia Review: Addict by Matt Doyle
An Alisa Review: Turn Up the Heat by Jane Davitt & Alexa Snow
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Practice Makes Perfect (Housemates #3) by Jay Northcote

Wednesday, May 10:

Cover Reveal for By the Book By Maria Vickers
A Melanie Release Day Review:Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long
A Caryn Review: Urgent Care (Book #3) by DJ Jamison
A Caryn Review: Heart Trouble (Book #1) by DJ Jamison
A Kai Release Day Review: Runaway Rock Star (States of Love) by C.J. Anthony

Thursday, May 11:

BLOG TOUR Believe in the Wish by Christi Snow
DSP PUBLICATIONS GUEST POST Amy Rae Durreson
Release Blitz & Giveaway: Garrett Leigh’s Bones (Blue Boy Studio #2)
RIPTIDE TOUR Bend by Nancy J. Hedin
A Stella Review The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
A VVivacious Review: Positive Reinforcement by Tamryn Eradani
An Alisa Review: Louder Than Words by Siryn Sueng
An Ali Audiobook Review: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay #7) by Anne Tenino and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Friday, May 12:

Blog Tour Every Breath You Take by Robert Winter
DSP GUEST POST C. J. Anthony on Runaway Rock Star
DSP GUEST POST Lucie Archer on Past the Breakers
A Julia Review: The Rest is Illusion by Eric Arvin
A Kai Review: Nate And The New Yorker (Nate and Cameron #1) by Kevin Klehr
An Ali Review: Bones (Blue Boy #2) by Garrett Leigh
An Alisa Release Day Review: Liar, Liar by TA Moore

Saturday, May 13:

A MelanieM Review:Nine 10 ths of the Law by LA Witt
Review Tour – LA Witt – Nine 10ths of the Law
Release Blitz for The Hot Floor by Josephine Myles (giveaway)

A MelanieM Pre-Release Review: Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

* Novel-length expansion of original short story found in Charmed & Dangerous anthology. *

Welcome to Dim Sum Asylum: a San Francisco where it’s a ho-hum kind of case when a cop has to chase down an enchanted two-foot-tall shrine god statue with an impressive Fu Manchu mustache that’s running around Chinatown, trolling sex magic and chaos in its wake.

Senior Inspector Roku MacCormick of the Chinatown Arcane Crimes Division faces a pile of challenges far beyond his human-faerie heritage, snarling dragons guarding C-Town’s multiple gates, and exploding noodle factories. After a case goes sideways, Roku is saddled with Trent Leonard, a new partner he can’t trust, to add to the crime syndicate family he doesn’t want and a spell-casting serial killer he desperately needs to find.

While Roku would rather stay home with Bob the Cat and whiskey himself to sleep, he puts on his badge and gun every day, determined to serve and protect the city he loves. When Chinatown’s dark mystical underworld makes his life hell and the case turns deadly, Trent guards Roku’s back and, if Trent can be believed, his heart… even if from what Roku can see, Trent is as dangerous as the monsters and criminals they’re sworn to bring down.

Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford is an ‘glued to your seat~ that just did not happen”great action-packed urban fantasy. What makes it so intriguing and darkly addicting are her labyrinthine character relationships and dynamics built into the story. Some are revealed immediately, some are built up throughout the story as the characters get to know one another and a level of trust is achieved. Then there are the convoluted, messy tapestry of lives that Ford has been surreptitiously weaving throughout Dim Sum Asylum that explodes like narrative grenades at certain points at the story that just leaves you and the characters totally astonished and sometimes shattered. Ah, I love it when that happens!

Roku MacCormick is a tortured soul as he has lost so much. His background and history is dark and pain filled yet he works for order as a police officer in the Chinatown Arcane Crimes Division, an unusual division all its own. He’s about to get a new partner under circumstances you will need to read for yourself. Trent is someone who will grow on you as he does on Roku. He is also a reason (well one of them anyway) that I would love for Rhys Ford to write a sequel. I will let you discover the puzzle that is Roku and Trent together. I will say that I love Roku and the character grows, healing a bit by the end of the novel. Together? Roku and Trent start to form something extraordinary.

Roku is half fae/half human in a world that still considers anything fae something that should be “put down” because of the wars and their “insect” strangeness. Yes, these aren’t your usual fae which I adored. Ford has gone to species of insects for Fae Clans, from Mantids to Dragonflies, for her fae and it works beautifully. This universe is so unusual and so appealing in its strangeness that I really need to know more. Especially about the “splices”, those genetically created beings made from fae and human DNA, think parents who wanted kids with wings, or some such nonsense. No not Roku as he will tell anyone that asks, and yes, people ask him all the time. He was made the “normal” way. Rhys Ford has a universe here that cries out for a series as it full of magic and mysteries for ten novels, maybe more (that includes characters too).

Extraordinary world building, Odonata Fae, Mantid Fae, Crime lords, Ford’s magical, messy maze like relationships, love, and characters I can never get enough of…Dim Sum Asylum is all that and so much more. There’s mysteries, hate, love and romance. And now if I can figure out how to bribe this author, I need a sequel because this is so much bigger than just one story. It’s amazing!

And yes, it’s one I highly recommend you pick up and start reading when it’s out in June!

Cover art is wonderful. Works for the story and characters.

Links coming soon

Book Details

Kindle Edition, 240 pages
Expected publication: June 9th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ASINB06XBCN3R9
Edition LanguageEnglish
CharactersRoku MacCormick, Trent Leonard

settingChinatown, San Francisco, California (United States)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Poppy’s Secret by Andrew Grey and John Solo (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Pat Corrigan loves his daughter, Poppy, with all his heart. It’s too bad he has to raise her alone. Nine years ago, just as she was conceived with his partner’s sperm, his partner, Edge Winters, walked out on him and hasn’t looked back—until he just now showed up on Pat’s doorstep. The thing is that Pat never told Edge that the surrogate was pregnant already when he left. Pat had just found out and was unable to tell Edge before he came home one day to find Edge packed and ready to relocate for a new job—without Pat.

So now he’s in a quandary—tell him or not. The thing is that Pat is starting to fall for Edge again, and his little girl seems to be in love with “Mr. Edge” as well. Add to his troubles and worries about this, the fact that his mother is diagnosed with cancer and Pat doesn’t know which way to turn.

This is a sweet story, along the lines of the old-time romances being retold as Dreamspun Desires books. Add to that, Andrew Grey’s inherent goodness and sweetness and you get the picture. Yes, there’s trauma, and yes there was a cover-up, but it’s highly likely all will work out by the end. The warm and fuzzy feeling I get when I read or listen to a story like this is exactly what I need for a pick-me-up when I’m a little down. John Solo did a great job narrating, and the story is only five hours long so pick this one up for a car trip or trail hike. I hope it makes everyone feel as good as it made me feel. And, yes—there’s a very definite and sweet HEA.

~~~

Cover by Bree Archer is a great picture of a little girl with her arms flung around the neck of her (handsome) daddy’s shoulders. Colorful and cute, it’s attention-getting.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published March 24th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published February 15th 2017)
Original TitlePoppy’s Secret
ASINB06XRVLQL2
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

A Caryn Release Day Review: Every Breath You Take by Robert Winter

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

One sexy, wealthy player with a painful past.

One idealistic newcomer with an untapped dominant streak.

One psychopathic killer.

Thrillers as a genre, especially with serial killers, are not something I usually go for, but I couldn’t resist the chance to review Robert Winter’s second book after being so impressed with his debut book, September.

Sooooo worth it.

Thomas Scarborough seemingly has it all. Stunning face, body to die for, successful and influential career doing what he loves, intelligence, and wealth. He’s an incredible lover, with a different man every week, but never with the same man twice. He tells himself that it’s enough, that casual sex is better than a relationship, and the most he hopes for is gaining a friend when the hook up is over. He’s been not just hurt, but utterly traumatized by events in his past, and doesn’t trust himself or anyone else to get close.

Zachary Hall has just landed his dream job in the U.S. Treasury, and moved from conservative, suburban Utah to Washington D.C. He’s been closeted his entire life, and is looking forward to recreating himself as an openly gay man enjoying a thriving gay community. He’s a little shy, a little inexperienced, but open hearted and enthusiastic. When he walked into the piano bar Mata Hari, he had that classic moment of locking eyes with the most handsome man he’s ever seen across the crowded room. It’s not his usual thing, but a few hours later he went home with Thomas, and connected with him not just sexually, but emotionally, in a more powerful way than he ever experienced before. Thomas felt it too, but still told Zach it was one and done.

And all through the night, the killer watched the apartment, and Zachary, and Thomas.

The killer was really creepy. In an over-the-top, brutally violent, Silence of the Lambs kind of way, with just a little bit of Gollum thrown in. He’s obsessed, resourceful, and ruthless, and just waiting for the right moment to reach out and take his treasure.

Both MCs really grew throughout the story – Thomas started out closed off and wary, but was eventually able to find the courage to not only confront, but defeat his demons. Zachary may have seemed innocent and naive, but found a surprising depth of strength and confidence in himself. Although I took a while to warm up to Thomas – the author did a great job of portraying him as an asshole who is eventually redeemed – I was rooting for Zachary from the start. The entire cast of secondary characters was engaging and moved the story forward. The settings, especially the piano bar with it’s regulars, created the perfect framework to really build the characters. Although there was really no mystery about the killer’s identity, I loved the suspense of wondering how and when he would strike. The juxtaposition of the killer’s stalking and escalating madness with the growing friendship and attraction between Thomas and Zachary was really skillfully written, and kept me biting my nails right up until the end. And of course, kudos to the author for choosing the ultimate in stalker songs as the title of the book!

The only reason I couldn’t give the book 5 stars is because the dialogue was frequently stilted, and during sex scenes was at times downright cringeworthy. I hope that will be something that improves in Mr. Winters future works, but regardless, he’s on my auto-buy list now. Highly recommended!

The cover art by Catt Ford is OK, I have to admit I had hoped for something a little more dramatic.

Sales Links

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Expected publication: May 5th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1635334969 (ISBN13: 9781635334968)
Edition LanguageEnglish
settingWashington, D.C. (United States)

Love Suspense and Romance? Check Out ‘Every Breath You Take’ by Robert Winter (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: Every Breath You Take

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date: May 5, 2017

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 221 pages

Genre: Romance, Thriller/Suspense

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Excerpt

Time passed.

Eventually the head nodded forward and then jerked up. When it happened a second time, the creature turned off the TV and then the lamp and headed to bed.

The tumblers clicked into place.

He reached for the boy on the bed.

Purchase

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Meet the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Goodreads | eMail

Blitz Schedule

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: You Are the Reason (The Tav #2) by Renae Kaye and Dave Gillies (Narrator)

Rating 4.5 stars out of 5

Davo’s a pretty average guy. He has a decent job, owns his own home, and spends his weekends at the pub. He fully accepts that he’s gay, but doesn’t want to be one of those gays, who are femme and girly. He likes football and other masculine pursuits, and firmly avoids anything that could be seen as femme—including relationships that last beyond fifteen minutes.

Then Davo’s friend and gay idol not only gets a boyfriend, but also adopts a baby girl. Davo is seriously spooked and scuttles down to the pub in fright. That’s where he meets Lee, who is cute from her cherry-red hair, to her pretty little dress and pointy red shoes. Davo is charmed—but how is that possible? He’s gay. Isn’t he? Then Lee tells him he’s actually a guy—he just likes to wear women’s dresses occasionally. Thoroughly confused about an attraction that’s out of character for him, Davo begins the long journey to where he can accept himself without caring what everyone else thinks.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, even though there were many moments in this 8 hour audiobook that caused me to rethink why I was listening to this. Those moments all centered around Davo and his attitudes toward effeminate gay men and his opinions on how men should act—gay or straight, real men don’t wear pink. There were times when his attitude was downright hurtful and unreal. And yet, I kept listening. Why? Because the author wove so much humor into the story, it was easy to believe that his character was somewhat of a spoof of men with that attitude.

The author also gave us the perfect MC to balance Davo’s macho act, and two great characters—Patrick and Jake from The Blinding Light—to make this a heartwarming and lighthearted story with many WTF and equally oh-so-sweet moments along the way.

What saved Davo from being a total jerk was the reveal of how he was raised. The poor guy was literally persecuted from grade school up for having any opinions that weren’t macho. In fact, the worst memory of his young life was of having to throw away his My Little Pony collection. Now, staunch in his opinion of what a real man should and should not do, he’s shocked to see the change in his best mate, Jake, who married a blind man (The Blinding Light) and now has a baby girl. Jake’s whole world now revolves around the baby, and Davo can’t figure out why his macho friend has changed so much.

At the tav, when he meets Lee, a cutie with cherry red hair, he’s freaked by how much she lights his fire. She is attractive and fun and has a good sense of humor, but it’s not until days later, when he finally finds out she’s a he who likes to dress in women’s clothing occasionally, that he feels reassured in his masculinity again.

The author takes us through Davo’s painful journey of self-discovery as he comes to learn more about his perceptions of others, his preconceived notions, and finally, his awakening to his own softer side. Accompanying him on this journey is Lee, the cross-dressing man who, at first, shook up Davo’s world and now is everything he ever wanted. It’s obvious from Davo being my focus in this review that the story is really all about him—more so than many other romances that equally balance perspectives of both characters. Maybe it’s that his attitudes and feelings are larger than life, but it resonates well in the telling of this story.

Along the way, as we share that journey to change with him, we laugh and we cry and sometimes want to kick him in the rear, or slap his face, but by the end, all I wanted to do was wrap him and Lee up in my arms and wish them the best.

Dave Gillies did a terrific job in narrating this audiobook and bringing the characters to life. And I must add kudos for his voice for Lee, which was totally different from the other males—higher-pitched, yet soft and feminine.

This was a really great, heartwarming MM romance. Not to be missed in either e-book or audiobook format.

~~~~~

Cover art by Bree Archer features a back view of a male with naked torso against a light blue scenic background. The cover is attractive but not one I would have chosen for this story.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio, 8 pages
Published March 1st 2017 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published August 7th 2015)
ASINB06XC8CP86
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Tav #2
CharactersDave Pederson, Lee Brennan

A Stella Release Day Review: By the Numbers: Adding it Up (By the Numbers #2) by Tory Temple and Chris Owen

RATING 3,75 out of 5 stars

Sequel to By the Numbers

Dogs, a young daughter, and shift work make for an unpredictable and never boring life for new couple Deuce and Trey. Trey is keeping his ex-wife out of their hair, but Deuce is determined to forge a truce between them all. Trey is vehemently opposed to a friendship between Deuce and Holly—she’s the last person Trey wants more interaction with. Deuce persists, however, and tensions between them could spell the end of their relationship.

They’ll have to find a way to make it all add up again—or lose everything.

I’m so happy I got to read this second book in the By The Numbers series by Chris Owen and Tory Temple. I adored the first one and was very curious to see how Trey and Deuce were. Ok, I admit I was more interested in what disasters the puppies were making and how much glitter Lacey could use.

Anyway in Adding It Up, Trey and Deuce are living together, they spend time with Q and her two puppies at the doggie park, or with Trey’s daughter, the adorable Lacey. Things seem to be going really great, despite Trey’s work at the firestation and the few hours they can actually be together. Until Trey’s exwife starts to be friendly with Deuce and Trey become suspicious.

I very much enjoyed this second installment, I’m a fan of series whose books have the same MCs couple. I love to be able to see what happens after they get their HEA, to see how they live their real life as partners. And Adding It Up satisfied me. It’s a simple and sweet book, there isn’t drama, just the love of two people trying to find a balance in their new relationship, a delicate one since there’s a child to consider and protect. And no battles with ex wifes are allowed.

I feel to recommend the whole series. I hope to get more soon cause these are exactly the books I love to read, stories that can guarantee happy hours and easy smiles.

The cover art by Maria Fanning is lovely but there are too many puppies to truly fit the story. But their cuteness can’t be ignored.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 2nd Edition, 97 pages

Publication Date May 3rd 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 3rd 2013)

ISBN13 9781635336030

Edition Language English

By The Numbers series #2

First Edition of Adding it Up–By the Numbers II published by Torquere Press, 2013.

Share this:

Synopsis

Excerpt

Purchase

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Meet the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail

Blitz Schedule

Giveaway

Share this:

AMAZON | iBooks | Kobo | B&N

Share this:

The Rites of May and Free Dreamer’s Answers Your Questions!

Hey there! It’s Free Dreamer! Here are my answers to the readers’ questions:

📚Winner Announcements!📚

Announcement – New Reviewer at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Meet Alessandro!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 7:

Monday, May 8:

Tuesday, May 9:

Wednesday, May 10:

Thursday, May 11:

Friday, May 12:

Saturday, May 13:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Share this:

Synopsis

Excerpt

Purchase

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Meet the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail

Blitz Schedule

Giveaway

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Goodreads | eMail

Website | Facebook | Twitter |
Goodreads | eMail