A Stella Review: Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K. E. Belledonne

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars

When Daniel gets caught up in the demands of a cheeky wedding planning app, his fiancé Erik grows frustrated with his preoccupation with adhering to heterosexual traditions. Will Daniel’s groomzilla ways give them the wedding of their dreams, or ultimately lead to their relationship’s demise?

When I first start reading Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K.E. Belledonne I have to admit I was a little dubious about the writing. I’m not a fan of the style the author chose to write the story, other times the switch between the present and the past often turned me off and made me confused. The beauty of discovering a new author! K.E. surprised me and let me like this writing style a lot. It was well done, the story flew easily, not only, I was anxiously waiting for the switch so I could learn more about the MCs, how they fell in love and who propose to whom, till the present time where Daniel is going crazy following Aurora, the wedding app, and its checklists.

I liked the story very much, it was cute and sweet, just how I like my books to be. What conquered me were the characters, I found myself caught up in Daniel and Erik’s wedding planning, I struggle with them and the various hitches they met while deciding the endless details for the perfect wedding Daniel wants. And my sympathy went to Erik, his patience and solid love for his forever man.

I loved the plot, IMO it was perfect because the author was able to give the characters a depth and a realism I wasn’t expecting in a book like this. Not just the main ones, but all of them were funny and smart. K.E. did a great job in the relationship between the MCs, I loved (key word) how they interacted, how they were mature enough to stop and think about their future and brave enough to fight for their love. I loved the dialogues and the writing in general.

Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K.E. Belledonne was a beautiful surprise, a winner for me. I want to highly recommend it to everyone who is looking for a romantic story. You won’t be disappointed.

The cover art by CB Messer is funny and fitting and so adorable as the whole story.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 188 pages
Published June 23rd 2016 by Interlude Press
Original TitleDaniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist
ASINB01F6J3THU
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Stranded with Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

perf4.250x7.000.indd When their plane crashed, their desire took flight.

CEO Maine Braxton and his invaluable assistant, Colby, don’t realize they share a deep secret: they’re in love—with each other. That secret may have never come to light but for a terrifying plane crash in the Cascade Mountains that changes everything.

In a struggle for survival, the two men brave bears, storms, and a life-threatening flood to make it out of the wilderness alive. The proximity to death makes them realize the importance of love over propriety. Confessions emerge. Passions ignite. They escape the wilds renewed and openly in love.

When they return to civilization, though, forces are already plotting to snuff out their short-lived romance and ruin everything both have worked so hard to achieve.

In Stranded with Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed the familiar and often loved trope addressed with the plot is the boss/employee romance, starting off with the employee crushing hard on the oblivious boss. The boss or CEO in this case is Maine Braxton, gorgeous, hardworking who is currently under siege at his company and job. But that mystery is a thread that runs through the book and its a lovely one that we don’t jump into immediately. The second part of the romance? That would be Maine’s man Friday, Colby. Someone who has made himself invaluable to Maine, right down to helping the man and his fiancé plan their honeymoon and parts of their wedding. Right. His boss is getting married. Something that breaks Colby’s heart even as he hides it from the man he has grown to love.

Then comes a plan crash. And this part of the book is just terrific. The authors handle both the crash and the fight for survival with remarkable feeling and an ability to connect the readers with the couple that you really feel their desperation and vulnerability out in the wild. All of which is a good thing because as much as I liked Colby, Maine was a character I was having a hard time getting into. And some of that still continued throughout the novel, although this section helped tremendously. Colby is everything I love in a main character. Charming, self depreciating, easy to fall in love with Colby. His boss? That’s the question.

The odd thing is that I can’t exactly pinpoint why I couldn’t connect with their romance and Maine. It wasn’t his closeted status or confusion over his sexuality. Maybe I felt he lacked a certain amount of depth the other characters in the stories had, including his fiancé Helen. Who contrary to most stories, was a lovely person, understanding and layered. I love it when authors write the other “women” in the mens lives as complete, believable people. In many ways I liked her better than Maine.

There were some other issues here, a rescue that was more than a tad unrealistic but given some of the other Dreamspun Desires story lines, I felt that sort of fell into the genre and was in keeping with the overall romance tale I was expecting. Stranded with Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed is, in short, a lovely, sweet contemporary romance in the style of the stories everyone used to gobble up by the dozens. We have our beloved trope turned M/M romance, a mystery thread, and a happy if for now ending. Its a light hearted, quick read. And that too is exactly what I remember from those stories as well. If this is what you are looking for this summer, pick up Stranded with Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed and get started reading today.

Cover artist Paul Richmond again does a wonderful job with both branding the Dreamspun Desires series and the novel with parts of the storyline. Love it.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 228 pages
Expected publication: August 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634772563 (ISBN13: 9781634772563)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

An Alisa Release Day Review: Never Lose Your Flames by Frances Gideon

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Cop-turned-bounty-hunter Gabe Dominguez is hired to capture firestarter Nat Wyatt. For a dragon-shifter like Gabe, apprehending Nat is easy, but transporting him involves more time, energy, and blood loss than he envisioned. An attack from a band of fairies, an out-of-control forest fire, and a showdown at an auction don’t faze Gabe, but Nat’s innocence might stop him entirely.

Since discovering his abilities, Nat’s lost a best friend, a boyfriend, and trust in his brother. Only his love of concerts and card games get him through life without a home. Rumors of the Judge, a giant dragon who once destroyed half of Canada avenging those he loved, provide Nat with hope of vindication. When Nat discovers his captor is the Judge, he thinks he’s finally caught a break. Through late-night conversations and a shared love of music, Nat tries to convince Gabe he’s not guilty.

Can Gabe continue his cutthroat lifestyle, or will he run away with his dragon hoard like he’s always longed to do? Can Nat escape his legacy, or will his be another spark snuffed out by people who don’t understand? The Oracle, the most powerful wizard in Canada, might be the only one who can provide answers.

This was my first book by Francis Gideon and I loved it. Gabe thinks that capturing Nat will be easy, but soon learns there is a lot more to his story. Nat has been running from his brother since he discovered his abilities.

Gabe isn’t sure what to think of Nat, no matter what evidence his boss feeds him. They both share their pasts with each other which goes a long way towards earning each other’s trust. Working together to save others and solve the mystery of why Gabe’s boss wants Nat brings them even closer together.

In this story I could feel how confused Gabe was. Nothing he was being given about Nat was adding up to the man he was with. I loved Nat and felt horrible that even when things were going well for him he was resigned to the fact that he would be going back to his brother no matter what while Gabe had resigned himself to a life alone without happiness. Gabe’s friendships with the others in the story really goes a long way towards humanizing him a bit because he tries to keep himself so closed off. I loved these characters and the different premise of this story.

Cover art by AngstyG is great and eye-catching.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 310 pages

Published: August 1, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781634775410

Edition Language: English

Cover Reveal for Lord of a Thousand Steps (Love in Laguna #4) by Tara Lain (Cover Reveal and Excerpt)

Lord of a Thousand Steps

(Love in Laguna #4)

by Tara Lain

Blurb:

To architecture student Ian Carney, family means everything. Taken in by his brother, Jim, when his father threw him out at eighteen for being gay, Ian yearns to create his own family with his boyfriend, Rico. But Rico’s in Mexico caring for a sick father, Ian hasn’t had sex in a month and a half, and his gorgeous boss, Braden Lord, CEO of the architectural firm Ian interns for, is looking better and better.

Braden’s life is chaos. Just out of the closet and going through an ugly divorce from his wife of fifteen years who’s trying to take custody of his two children, he desperately resolves not to succumb to a completely inappropriate attraction to Ian—even though his kids adore both the man and his crazy cat.

When Rico proves to be a snake in the grass and Ian exercises his powers of seduction, what starts as a “friends with benefits” fling turns into real life real fast. Can Ian give up his romantic dreams for an “old guy” who didn’t come out until he carried a mountain of baggage? It’ll only take a thousand steps.

Release Date:

August 31st 2016

Pre-order at

Also in paperback

Excerpt

Max slapped his shoulder. “Everything okay, Carney?”

“Uh, yes. Thanks.” He steadied his glass to keep from spilling, looked up as Braden Lord stepped next to him, and proceeded to slosh champagne all over Lord’s elegant, European leather shoes. “Oh God, I’m so sorry.”

Max slapped him again. Maybe a couple too many drinky poos there. “My fault. Totally my fault. Braden has more shoes, right, Bray?”

“Yes, not a problem.” Braden smiled at Ian. Up close, that face looked a little less pretty but even more interesting, with crinkles around his eyes like from laughter—and pain. “Need more champagne?”

“Oh, I guess I better not. It seems like I can’t handle it.”

“Something else, then?” Lord looked in his eyes.

Whoa, what an offer. Get your mind out of your boxer briefs, idiot. “No thanks. I guess I should go soon.”

Max leaned toward him. “How’s your boyfriend’s father?”

“Uh, I don’t know.” Did he sound as pathetic as he felt? “I mean, the cell service isn’t great.”

“Oh, I heard it had gotten so much better the last couple years.”

“I guess not.”

Lord put a hand on his shoulder. “No, I’ve had cell problems in Mexico. It can be spotty. Probably worse if you’re in a hospital.”

As the heat from Braden’s hand seeped through his cheap sports coat, Ian half wanted to cry and half to kiss Braden Lord. Right, Rico was in a hospital. He couldn’t use the phone. Shit, why hadn’t he thought of that? “Thank you.”

“For what?” Lord smiled softly. He knows what.

“Reminding me that I should leave him a message he can read when he goes home. Thanks again. I better go. I have school tomorrow.” He shook the hands of the two clients he’d been chatting with. “I hope to see you again. You’re in great hands with Lord and Kendrick.” He turned. “Max, I’ll see you Monday.” He turned back to Braden but looked at his feet. “Sorry again. I hope I didn’t stain your shoes.”

“Nothing to worry about.”

Look up, dummy. He plastered on a smile and met Braden’s deep sea-blue eyes. “Thanks again for inviting me. Honored.” You can drown in the sea.

“Glad you could come.” Lord’s face looked friendly, sympathetic, and—what? Disappointed?

Shit. Give me one chance to impress, and I’ll spill something every time. Holy fuckhole, how does a guy get that gorgeous? “Night.”

Max said, “Don’t you need a ride?”

“Nah, thanks. The office is close and my car’s there.” He waved and practically ran to the door of Antonio’s. Outside, the nightly drop in temperature slapped his face. Had he been flirting with the boss? Hell, the boss’s boss? Nah. Just shitting on his shoes.

Love in Laguna Series

Available for purchase at

Paperback from Dreamspinner

Available for purchase at

Paperback from Dreamspinner

Available for purchase at

You can order the paperback here.

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

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Its Lammas Day, Dog Days of August Are Here and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Dog Days of August Are Here
Its Lammas Day

Dog Days of August Are Here and finally I can start to talk about some of my favorite summer subjects. From the dog star Sirius to Mad Dogs and Englishmen prepare to be bombarded with all sorts of things starting this Sunday pertaining to the heat, the stars, folklore and crazy stuff. Oh and books too.

The month of August and the heat associated with it has long brought out the craziness in humans and animals. From the ancient Egyptians to the Greeks and Romans and even musicians such as Joe Cocker who pulled Mad Dogs and Englishmen”,from it’s the title of a famous song by Noel Coward (who credited Kipling and it probably went back further )for his song Mad Dogs and Englishman, the dog days of summer have been both an inspiration and more. See what I mean?

But today or more accurately tomorrow, its Lammas Day. August 1st. So that’s our first topic of conversation this month. What’s Lammas Day you say? Well, I should be asking author Susan Laine here to answer that question. Her wonderful stories, The Wheel Mysteries, books 1 & 2 are now combined in one collection, revolve around a Wiccan main character and his P.I. boyfriend and take place during a Wiccan/Pagan holidays also called Sabbats.

Wiccan holidays, or Sabbats, are timed to the seasons and the Earth’s natural rhythms. Sabbats celebrate the Earth’s journey around the sun, called the Wheel of the Year, and Wiccans refer to commemorating the Sabbats as Turning the Wheel.

Most Wiccans celebrate these eight Sabbats annually:

Yule, Winter Solstice: December 20, 21, 22, or 23

Yule is the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Some Wiccans consider Yule to be either the year’s beginning or the end. This is the time to celebrate the return of the light. Yule is the solar turning of the tides, and the newborn Sun offers a fresh start and, literally, a new day. It’s a time of renewal and hope.
Brigid, Imbolc, Candlemas, Imbolg, or Brigid’s Day: February 1 or 2

Brigid, or Imbolc, is a preparation for spring. At Brigid, Wiccans clean and organize their living environments, as well as their minds and hearts, in preparation for the upcoming season of growth. It’s a time to shake off the doldrums of late winter and light the fires of creativity and inspiration.
Eostar, Spring Equinox, Ostara, or Oestarra: March 20, 21, 22, or 23

Winter is now over. Light is increasing. The day and night are equal in length at the equinox. Spring has arrived or is coming soon. Eostar is the time of fertility, birth, and renewal. The ice is thawing, and the growing season for plants and animals begins. Growth is the theme of the day.
Beltane, May Eve, Beltaine, Bealtaine, or May Day: April 30 or May 1

Beltane is the time of the marriage and union of the Goddess as Mother Earth and the God of the Greenwood. It is an ancient fertility festival marking the beginning of the planting cycle. The festival was to ensure a good growing season and a bountiful harvest. Beltane is light-hearted and joyful.
Litha, Summer Solstice, or Midsummer: June 20, 21, 22, or 23

Litha is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Light triumphs, but will now begin to fade into darkness as autumn approaches. The crops are planted and growing. The woods and forests have reached their peak fullness. This is the time of abundance for wildlife, including people! The holiday is joyous.
Lughnasad, Lughnasadh, or Lammas: August 1

For the ancient Pagans, Lughnasad was a time of both hope and fear. They held hope for a bountiful harvest and abundant food, but they feared that the harvest wouldn’t be large enough and that the cold months would be filled with struggle and deprivation. At Lughnasad, modern Wiccans also face their fears, concentrate on developing their own abilities, and take steps to protect themselves and their homes.
Mabon, Fall Equinox, or Harvest Home: September 20, 21, 22, or 23

At Mabon, the day and the night are equal in length, in sublime balance. For many locations, Mabon coincides with the final harvest of grain, fruits, and vegetables. Mabon, also called Harvest Home, is the time of thanksgiving. The beauty and bounty of summer gives way to the desolation of winter, and the darkness overtakes the light.
Samhain, All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas: October 31 or November 1

For many Wiccans, Samhain marks the New Year and is the most important Sabbat. It’s the time to remember the ancestors, and the time to celebrate the harvest and all that has been accomplished over the year.

Lammas. August 1st, Lammas Day, is generally celebrated as the “cross-quarter” day), the midpoint of summer. For most of northern hemisphere, it coincided with the harvest of wheat. So Lammas is known as (Anglo-Saxon hlaf-mas, “loaf-mass”), the festival of the wheat harvest, and is the first harvest festival of the year. On this day it was customary to bring to church a loaf made from the new crop, which began to be harvested at Lammastide. The loaf was blessed, and in Anglo-Saxon England it might be employed afterwards to work magic: A book of Anglo-Saxon charms directed that the lammas bread be broken into four bits, which were to be placed at the four corners of the barn, to protect the garnered grain. In many parts of England, tenants were bound to present freshly harvested wheat to their landlords on or before the first day of August. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it is referred to regularly, it is called “the feast of first fruits”.

So tomorrow, if you have the time…why not bake some fresh bread, think about your talents and how you want to develop them, or any of the things that Lughnasad or Lammas stands for. And why not pick up Susan Laine’s Wheel Mysteries while you are at it. I love them. There are three out at the moment, I keep waiting the rest to follow. She is writing one for each Sabbat. Happy Lammas Day.

~~~~~~

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 31 – Goodbye July!

Its Lammas Day, Dog Days of August Are Here
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, August 1:

Cover Reveal – His Premier by Jessie G. (cover reveal and giveaway)
Cover Reveal Blitz for “Lord of a Thousand Steps” (cover reveal and excerpt)
Far From Home blog tour with Lorelie Brown (a Riptide Publishing Tour and Giveaway)
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Stranded with Desire by Vivien Dean and Rick R. Reed
Counting Daisies by Nicola Haken Excerpt Tour and Giveaway
An Alisa Release Day Review: Never Lose Your Flames by Frances Gideon

Tuesday, August 2:

Given the Circumstances by Brad Vance Blog Tour and Giveaway
In Our Spotlight – Dawn to Dusk (Lover’s Journey – Book One) by Alina Popescu (Blog Tour, excerpt and giveaway)
A Stella Review: Daniel & Erik’s Super Fab Ultimate Wedding Checklist by K. E. Belledonne
A BJ Review: Junk Mage by Elliot Cooper
A Jeri Review: The Wicked West Collection by Shannon West

Wednesday, August 3:

Paul’s Paranormal Portfolio – Online Stories from Castle Roland
Release Blitz – Amber Kell – Mate Call (Dragon Men Series #5) tour and giveaway
A Lila Release Day Review: Normal Enough by Marie Sexton
An Ali Audiobook Review: For Real by Alexis Hall
A Paul B Review: Werewolf Tutor (Shreds #1) by Jade Astor
A Jeri Review: Jersey Heat by DC Williams

Thursday, August 4:

Audio Review Tour: Sorting Out (Fitting In #2) by Silvia Violet (giveaway)
Its Volume 1 of the End Street Detectives by Amber Kell and RJ Scott (Recap Tour and Giveaway)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Sorting Out by Sylvia Violet
A MelanieM Review: Seeing Red: Scorched by T.C. Orton
A Stella Review: Into the Blue by Penny Henson
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Treasure by Kim Fielding

Friday, August 5:

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Fallow by Jordan L. Hawk
A Jeri Review: Fight the Tide by Keira Andrews
An Ali Audiobook Review: Tigers on the Run by Sean Kennedy
A Stella Release Day Review: Unbreak My Heart by K-lee Klein
A MelanieM Review: Diary Dates by TJ Masters

Saturday, August 6:

In the Spotlight: Roadside Rescue by Caitlin Ricci
A BJ Audiobook Review: Patchwork Paradise by Indra Vaughn
A Stella Review: Roadside Rescue by Caitlin Ricci
An Alisa Review: Tagging Mackenzie by LM Somerton

A Jeri Review: Fish Out of Water by Amy Lane

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Fish Out of Water As a fan of Amy Lane, I was excited to read this book. I’ve enjoyed her more “fluffy” work as well as her more angsty work. This was neither. It was hard to even classify it as a romance for me. It’s a murder mystery with police corruption and some sex thrown in.

Jackson is a former cop turned PI with a chip on his shoulder the size of Montana. He always wanted to be a cop to right the wrongs in the world. Or at least in his neighborhood. But after getting burned and nearly killed, he walks around like the world owes him. For a guy who wanted to help, I don’t see him helping anyone but himself and his brother-like best friend.

Ellery is an attorney at a big shot firm where Jackson is a PI. Apparently he has always crushed on Jackson, but was put off by his whoring ways. They are thrown together to help Jackson’s friend Kaden clear his name.

Jackson and Ellery are so antagonistic toward each other from the start. And yet, they pretty much fall into bed together. Even though Jackson swore he wouldn’t until Kaden was safe. That lasted for about 10 pages. For a guy on a moral high horse, he doesn’t really stick to his own.

I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two. In fact, I felt a lot more chemistry between Jackson and his best friend’s sister at the beginning of the story. It just felt like both guys wanted to get their rocks off. There was no feeling.

So while this certainly won’t put me off of Ms. Lane’s work, this book really didn’t do it for me. Even the title didn’t work. There was no tie in whatsoever. So a cover with a gold fish and handcuffs wouldn’t draw me to this book and even if it did, it doesn’t hint at the grittiness of the story.

Cover art by Reese Dante.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 270 pages
Expected publication: July 29th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleFish Out of Water
ISBN 1634773799 (ISBN13: 9781634773799)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Audiobook Review: Duke in Hiding by M.J. O’Shea and Rusty Topsfield (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Duke In Hiding Every gentleman has something to hide.

Meeting Heath Blackwood, a gorgeous English farmer, is probably the most exciting thing to ever happen to small-town landscaper Theo Brody, who has lived in quiet Maplehurst, New Hampshire, all his life. The sexy and secretive Brit shakes the foundations of his orderly world as they are swept up in a springtime romance neither can resist.

But Heath’s secrets run deeper than Theo ever imagined. He’s actually Heathcliff Pierrepont Blackwood, Duke of Kingston, in hiding from recent death threats. Suddenly there’s more separating them than the Atlantic Ocean, and Theo doubts he’ll ever fit in with English nobility. Though Heath and Theo are opposites in almost every way, their love might bridge the gap—if they’re willing to take the risk.

Duke in Hiding is a lovely friends-to-lovers story with a fairy tale twist. It’s a slow burn account of two men from two different worlds coming together to enjoy the simplicity of life in a small American town.

Heath comes to Maplehurst, NH to hide after receiving death threats. He’s the Duke of Kingston but is assuming the identity of a British farmer to avoid recognition. There isn’t much to do in town but his luck changes when he meets Theo Brody, a landscaper moonlighting as a bartender.

The night a brooding Brit entered the bar he worked part-time, Theo found him infuriating, but the more time they spent together, the more they learned how much they had in common. Through their daily meetings and following dates, we get to see how their relationship developed into true love. They had great chemistry, and their friendship was the base of their relationship.

There’s a lot happening in this story and more characters than necessary. Even when I enjoyed the story, I think it has a pacing problem. Some parts are too slow, and others are taken care with a line or two. We get unnecessary details through the story. And areas, where the reader might want to know more, were ignored.

Perhaps a little less time learning about plants and more getting to see more of the story resolution would have given this book a higher rating.

Rusty Topsfield did an excellent job making both main characters realistic. The author did create two distinct men, rooted in their countries’ characteristics and the narration helped the overall enjoyment of Heath’s and Theo’s relationship. All the secondary voices were spot on and gave the story a deepness that only reading couldn’t accomplish.

Paul Richmond’s cover matches the rest of the Dreamspun Desires series and the cover model fits Heath’s description.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Rusty Topsfield
Length: 5 hours and 8 minutes

Published: May 16, 2016 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B01FMPWXZC
Edition Language: English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Temptations of Desire (Desires Entwined #3) by Tempeste O’Riley and Jeff Gelder (Narrator)

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

temptations-of-desire audio This story overlaps the action that took place in Desire’s Guardian, the previous one in the series so I would highly recommend reading that before starting this one. Dal Sayer, cop and brother of Rhys Sayer (Desire’s Guardian) meets a gorgeous young man at the local LGBTQ center. The man, Alexander James Noble, introduces himself as Alex and tells Dal he’s the chef who volunteers there to prepare meals on Saturdays.

A personal chef for a businessman, Alex, who Dal nicknames Lexi, is gender fluid, switching back and forth to his female persona as the mood strikes him. However, Dal is unaware of that until one night he surprises Lexi when he drops by to see him. Lexi opens the door in his female wardrobe, and with the shock of seeing Dal there, he runs into his bedroom, locking the door behind him. It takes a while, but eventually Dal gets the story of heartbreak, pain and abandonment at the hands of his family who rejected him when they found out he liked to dress in his sister’s clothing. Dal slowly but surely wins Lexi’s trust as he remains supportive and faithful to him and assures him he accepts Lexi completely.

Throughout most of this story, the author weaves in the events that occurred concurrently in Desire’s Guardian, so much of what we learn is repetitive. However, one fresh piece of information is the arrival of Lexi’s twin sister, Lyric, and her family, including her husband who used to spout hatred toward Lexi when they were in high school. Apparently Ly is moving away from their hometown due to her husband’s job, so she arrives to share her good news with Lexi. What I found odd is it appeared that these twins had not kept in touch after he was dumped in front of a hospital by his father years before, and yet when she shows up, she’s fully supportive of his life and embraces both his male and female personas and her husband is as well!

The overused trope that disturbed me the most was the pressure Dal’s parents put on him to find a female, marry, and reproduce in order to give his father grandchildren so he’d want to survive his cancer and be happy. This issue was present in the previous story, but there was more time spent on those conversations in this one. And to be honest, I found the whole situation quite bizarre and sickening. Dal is not a teen—he’s a professional man in his thirties, and having to listen to the whole ridiculous argument from both of his parents was distasteful.

During the last twenty minutes of the story, we finally get fresh information as this is the point where Dal had been injured by helping Rhys rescue his lover. And though what happens with the couple is sweet and worthy of several sighs and “Ahh” moments, it doesn’t save the rest of the book. Topping all this was the ever-speedy narration by Jeff Gelder, who gave both Lexi and Lyric the same voice and narrated the book as if he was reading it for the first time. The narration did not add to the story at all, so I can’t honestly recommend it in audiobook format.

If it didn’t seem as if the whole story was just a rehash of the second book, I believe I would have liked it much more. I love cross-dressing men, and there were a few glimpses of “manties” so there was some redeeming value there. And I really liked Dal, until his way of dealing with his demeaning parents left me feeling ill. Lexi was a sweetheart through and through, and by the end I wasn’t so sure Dal deserved him. I’d recommend the e-book to those who want to complete the series, but as I said previously, it’s not a standalone.

The cover by Reese Dante is done in the same soft watercolors as the others in the series and features a set of scarves and multicolor bracelets—both symbolic of Lexi and very beautifully done.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published June 15th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 22nd 2014)
ASINB01H2JDU0S
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesDesires Entwined #3

A Stella Release Day Review: Settling Down (Little Earthquakes #2) by Nicole Forcine

RATING 3,5 out of 5 stars

Settling Down It’s been six months since Tim and Jae got together, and they’re giving Domestic Discipline an honest try. But when conflicting events conspire to interrupt their life, Tim starts to fray at the edges. He’s doing his best to handle everything, but he still struggles with unaddressed issues, both past and present. And seeing Tim trying to hold it together is breaking Jae’s heart.

There has to be a breaking point, and when it arrives, it’s Jae’s turn to take the reins, to provide them both with what they truly need.

I was waiting for Settling Down by Nicole Forcine since I read Shaken Up last year. This second installament is a nice short, well written and a pleasure to read. But to me it wasn’t so engaging as the first one.

Tim and Jae are still settling down (never a title was more appropriate), they are not living together yet, but the domestic discipline is working fine for them. Then the dom who badly hurt Tim in the past is in their town and Jae’s parents are coming to visit them the same week Tim’s dad is there. There is a lot on their plates at the moment. Can they find a little time for themselves?

As I said there are some secondary characters and new situations and they were well dealt, althought the book is just a novellas. Problem is they took too much space from the MCs’ relationship. I wanted more of Tim and Jae together. I would have loved to have just a couple of scenes where the domestic discipline was addressed, seeing how it worked, how they related to each other. I pretty much got nothing and I was disappointed. I missed all the hotness I recalled from Shaken Up, I simply missed Tim and Jae.

That said I still hope to have more about this couple in the future, they have more to tell us and I’m ready to read it.

The cover art by AngstyG follows the style of the first book. I like it.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 97 pages
Publication Date July 27th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634773241 (ISBN13: 9781634773249)
Edition Language English
Series Little Earthquakes #2

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Best in Show by Kelly Jensen

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Best In Show Julian Wilkes has been keeping to himself for over a year—ever since he walked in on his lover with another man. Distraught and self-flagellating for missing the signs that his lover had been having outside affairs for quite a while, Julian suffers from writer’s block—not good for any author—and is hiding away in his hometown. His sister is his only friend, and she spends most of her time berating him for wallowing in self-pity.

Finally convincing him to get a companion dog, she literally drags him to Lingwood Animal Rescue where, instead of a dog, a large caramel-striped tabby cat named Marmalade gives him the eye and entices him to bring the big guy home. Little does he know, however, Marmalade is really Macavity Birch, direct descendent of the witches for whom the town is named. The current witch-in-residence, Mac’s Aunt Clare, has cast a spell on him, making the shifter unable to switch to his human form except at night.

Needless to say, human Mac is discovered, and Julian is not only shocked but also gets caught up in the family mystery when he reveals he’s recently obtained a journal written by Madeline Lingwood, who is Aunt Clare’s sister and the witch who gave this town its reputation. What will happen when Aunt Clare finds out Julian has the journal? And even more, what will it be like to spend his whole life as a cat, or worse yet, as a mouse?

This was a light-hearted sweet romance with both a geeky glasses-wearing MC and a hot redhead tabby cat shifter. Need I say more? Though short, the author did a great job building endearing characters, adding humor and wit to the story, and making this reader want a whole lot more of Julian, Mac, and the Lingwood witches.

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza. Adorable.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 87 pages
Expected publication: July 27th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774760 (ISBN13: 9781634774765)
Edition LanguageEnglish

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Dog Days of August Are Here Its Lammas Day

~~~~~~

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 31 – Goodbye July!

Monday, August 1:

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Dog Days of August Are Here
Its Lammas Day