A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: On Wings of Thunder by MD Grimm

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

On the Wings of Thunder Trystan is an unchosen angel—shunned by society, bullied, and without a future. In a hidden well, Trystan discovers a carving of a dragon, who were once the commanders of demons and now believed extinct. But Trystan learns the carving doesn’t depict an ordinary dragon. Stories tell that millennia ago, the great dragon Asagoroth and his demon army nearly conquered the three realms but was killed by the five elders. The powerful angels combined their life forces to cast a spell, sacrificing their lives.

But history is full of falsehoods. The five elders only managed to imprison the dragon, and Asagoroth had cast his own spell—one of releasement. It only needs the blood of an angel to liberate him from his cage….

Asagoroth, enemy of angels, conqueror of realms, is free. But even as the angels prepare for war, the great dragon surprises them with an ultimatum: hand over the angel who awakened him or face annihilation.

Okay, so I had several issues with this book. The general plot idea sounds good and I love dragons and demons and angels (as long as they aren’t sent by God or something), so it definitely had the potential to be great. Unfortunately, “On Wings of Thunder” mostly fell flat.

The beginning felt a little unrealistic to me. Trystan falls into an old well and discovers a gorgeous carving of a dragon at the bottom. He realizes that the blood from his cut hand does strange things with the carving. Instead of being scared or at least a little cautious, he’s fascinated and makes the cut worse to get more blood on the carving. And didn’t for a second think about the consequences. He lives in a world full of magic and doesn’t worry that blood magic and an ancient carving of an evil dragon might be a bad idea? That’s extremely naïve.

When Asagoroth is finally awakened, he essentially blackmails Trystan into joining him. He’s all, “Come with me, my love, or I will kill every last angel, destroy your entire realm and take you by force afterwards.” (Not his exact words, but the gist of them) And yet again, Trystan isn’t scared or worried at all. He seems to think that’s incredibly romantic. I was kind of uncomfortable with that premise. It didn’t feel like a very good start for a consensual relationship.

Once Trystan and Asagoroth are finally joined, self-doubt ensues on Trystan’s part. So much self-doubt it soon had me rolling my eyes. I do get that he’d be unsure about Asagoroth’s love for him, given his life as an Unchosen, but it was just too much.

One of my biggest issues was the sex scenes. With phrases along the lines of, “Trystan shuddered at the violation of his secret entrance”, it almost read like rape wrapped up in purple prose.

There wasn’t all that much plot overall. Around the 80% mark I was still looking for things to really get going. There is a big showdown at the end, but even that left me a little bored.

Essentially, “On Wings of Thunder” very much wasn’t for me. It felt a little silly and I was kind of bored for the most time. I’m sure there are people who will enjoy this, but I’m not one of them.

The cover by sin shows Trystan and Asagoroth. Just like the story itself, it isn’t really to my tastes.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book details:

ebook, 144 pages
Expected publication: July 20th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774094 (ISBN13: 9781634774093)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Desire’s Guardian by Tempeste O’Reily ~~ Audiobook narrated by Jeff Gelder

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

desires-guardian audio Chase Manning, the BFF of James Bryant from Designs of Desire, looks and acts like a twink on the surface, but once someone gets to know the man below the surface, they are shocked at the strength of character and dominant nature they find. And that’s what Rhys Sayer, James’s bodyguard, finds out when he stops being offensive to Chase and starts to allow himself to see with his eyes and not just his prejudices.

When they first met, Rhys had just broken up with his cheating boyfriend, and when the gregarious Chase approached him, he shunned Chase’s advances. That was enough for Chase because he’s no one’s fool. The problem is that he’s still attracted to the big hunk of manhood and finds Rhys incredibly sexy. Even so, he resists the job offer made by Rhys and his partner Mark who need a good IT man. He only capitulates when they sweeten the deal with office space for his new business and after a lot of arm twisting by James, who is now friends with Rhys.

This is not just a simple love story. There’s plenty of danger and intrigue when Rhys and his police officer brother, Dal, connect the dots on a current murder case and realize most of the young victims are Chase’s former boyfriends. Unfortunately, Chase inadvertently puts himself in harm’s way.

I enjoyed this story, though not quite as much as I did the first one. On the flip side, this narrator did a better job than the one who did the first one. However when he narrates, he speaks too quickly and often sounds as if he’s reading the story to a library audience, rather than putting in the necessary drama to bring the book to life. So, as with the first book in the series, I would recommend this story to lovers of MM romance, particularly if you enjoy a story where the big, muscular guy is dominated by the smaller, more effeminate man. However, it might be best to invest in the e-book rather than the audio version.

Cover art by Reese Dante is similar to the first book with a soft, watercolor background. In this case, a man’s hand and wrist are featured with a prominent black cuff on the wrist. This has a direct link back to the story so makes the cover both beautiful and appropriate.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published June 14th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press (first published June 5th 2014)
ASINB01H0HAS66
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesDesires Entwined #2 settingMilwaukee, Wisconsin (United States)

A Lila Review: A Dandelion for Tulip (Being(s) In Love #6) by R. Cooper

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

A Dandelion for Tulip David is in love with Tulip, a kind and unusually quiet fairy in his social circle. But everyone knows Tulip doesn’t date humans. David tells himself he is happy to be Tulip’s friend, because he doesn’t believe a fairy could love him and Tulip has never tried to “keep him”—as fairies refer to relationships with humans.

Fairies are drawn to David, describing his great “shine,” but David knows only too well how quickly fairies can forget humans, and thinks he’s destined to be alone. He can’t see his own brilliance or understand how desperately Tulip wants him, even if Tulip believes David can do better.

But exhausted and more than a little tipsy at a Christmas party, David makes his feelings too obvious for Tulip to deny any longer. Because of a past heartbreak involving a human, Tulip is convinced someone as shiny as David could never want a “silly, stupid fairy” in his life. Now, if he wants to keep David, he’ll have to be as brave as his shiny, careful human.

A Dandelion for Tulip takes fantasy to another level with the acceptance of beings as part of society. Even so, they’re mostly kept as a secondary group and this affected the humans that befriend them. There still a touch of ignorance about how they acted and associated with.

This is book six in the Being(s) in Love series but can be read as a stand-alone. I even went back and read all the blurbs to be sure I wasn’t missing anything important. I only noticed a cameo by one of the couples, which perhaps, can be considered an update on their relationship. The author did an excellent job building a believable world and beings that were easily identifiable.

I like David and Tulip individually, but basing a complete story on the MCs lack of communication didn’t work for me. If they had talked for two minutes, the story would have been done in less than fifty pages. I think I was as confused as the characters with the constant assumptions between them.

Their coming together felt forced, perhaps because the reader got the initial impression of them being friends and the unrequited love angle came out of nowhere. I understood the characters pasts and fears, but a lot happened off page as time passed by, leaving several questions unanswered.

I wanted to like this story more because it had all the elements to be great, but the long philosophical discussions were hard to appreciate when I wanted to smack David and Tulip on the back of their heads. I needed more of a connection between them to carry into their happily even after.

——–

Paul Richmond captured an important scene in the story with this cover. I’m not entirely sold on the characters’ features, but overall, it’s a good match for the story.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published: June 24, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1634773144 (ISBN13: 9781634773140)
Edition Language: English

Series: Being(s) in Love
Book #1: Some Kind of Magic (Beings in Love, #1
Book #2: A Boy and His Dragon (Beings in Love #2)
Book #3: A Beginner’s Guide to Wooing Your Mate (Beings in Love #3)
Book #4: Little Wolf (Beings in Love, #4)
Book #5: The Firebird and Other Stories (Beings in Love Stories #5)
Book #6: A Dandelion for Tulip (Beings in Love, #6)

A BJ Audiobook Review: Dancing Lessons by R. Cooper and Narrator: Brian Schell

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

dancing-lessons audiobook Two years of living with his controlling boyfriend left Chico worn down long before that boyfriend revealed he’d been seeing someone else. With no other choice, Chico moves in above his cousin’s garage in a small town in the redwoods, where he merely goes through the motions. To get him out of the house, his cousin pushes him to volunteer at a local dance studio to help with their annual show.

He’s not expecting to end up in a dance class, or to start feeling alive again in the arms of his dance instructor. Rafael is the studio owners’ son and was once a well-known dancer in his own right, but now enjoys being a teacher. Although Chico likes him, he’s afraid of taking a chance. But Rafael is determined, and it only takes one dance for Chico to start to realize he might still have something to learn.

From the beginning, the narration on this left me cold. There was very little nuance of characters, emotions, or variations. The reading seemed flat, not like a performance to me, but like an average person reading a book out loud, which isn’t really what I hope for when buying an audio. I found it hard to get into the story and as it went on hard to keep track as the voice and inflections tended to annoy me and pulled me out of it. I found this audio very hard to listen to.

Since I also own but had not read the ebook of this, I decided to try reading a bit of it to compare the experience to listening to the audio, and can say that this is a case of the book being better than the audio delivery of it. The writing style didn’t mesh well with for me, parts read as confusing and left me trying to figure things out as they weren’t clear, just didn’t flow for me sequentially or something, especially when it came to dialogue. I had to re-read some bits a few times to figure out what was going on… it was as if there was a communication gap between the author and myself that I had a hard time breeching.

Although the story wasn’t long, it still felt really slow for me at some parts. However, there were some things I really enjoyed about the story, although at times I felt Chico was a bit over the top with things like “silly Chico,” I could relate to how someone can feel so down on themselves due to the ways others have treated them. How sometimes the relationships we live with can change us drastically, until we lose who we once were along with our confidence. And how we are surprised by the most basic decent treatment from others, by their appreciation or attraction. That part was very poignant and real to me. Except that for him to have gotten to that point, it would seem to me that it would have either taken longer or been more predominate than just how one person had treated him. I did also want to mention, that it bugged me when Chico turned around and later said “silly Raf” in a scene

Overall, this is a sweet story with lots of UST, some heat, and a few memorable moments.

I wish that I had chosen to read this entirely as an ebook rather than listen on audio. From trying it for a part that way, I am sure I would have enjoyed it more in that format. Perhaps I will indeed go back and read again once I have let some time pass. For now, I need to rate it as an audiobook though… I rate the story as a 3 star, although I might have rated it higher if it was read rather than listened to, I’m not sure. But I rate the narration as a 2, and for me that is being generous as I really did not connect at all with this narrator, and because of that, feel that I didn’t connect with the story.

I like the cover by Catt Ford and can picture a particular scene when I see it, however it doesn’t give a feel of the book as related to dancing or costume design, etc.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

5 hrs 17 mins

Published May 25^th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

Can It Really Be the End for Collars & Cuffs? Find Out in Endings and Beginnings (Collars & Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams (excerpt and giveaway)

Endings and Beginnings (Collars & Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams
This is the final book in the series, which should be read from Beginning to End. 😉
(See what we did there?)
Release Date: July 18, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Blurb

In all his relationships, Darren Fielding never found the level of intimacy he witnessed between Thomas Williams and his sub, Peter, the day of Peter’s “rebirth.” Not only that, he never realized such intimacy was possible. For two years, Thomas’s business card has been burning a hole in his wallet. When Darren’s lover moves on, maybe it’s finally time to see where that card takes him.

Collars & Cuffs’s new barman, JJ Taylor, is really conflicted right now. He went to the club with a very specific purpose, already convinced of what he’d find there. Except it’s not what he expected at all. He certainly didn’t anticipate finding himself drawn to the new wannabe Dom. Nor could he have guessed the direction that attraction would lead him.

Old love, new love, vows, pain, rage, moving in, moving on…. The members of Collars & Cuffs face an event that touches some of them deeply, but it will only reinforce what they already know: together they are stronger, and some bonds cannot be broken.

Pages or Words: 121,429
Categories: Contemporary, BDSM, Fiction, M/M Romance

Exclusive !

A pang hit Joe in the heart as watched as Ben led Scott to the group room. He knew that they only had eyes for each other, and that made him both happy and sad. When Leo had asked him to help remove Ben’s head from his arse, he thought it would be a lark. Something fun to pass the time. But he hadn’t counted on how the little redhead reacted toward him. He could see the fear in Scott’s eyes, and he hated it. No sub should be afraid. Not ever.

He never told anyone how it had gone. How he had come to the house with a thought in his mind about how it would go, then left with an ache he couldn’t explain. He’d never, ever mooned over a sub. He’d shared one many times, with the sub’s permission. And the sex had been phenomenal, but he noticed recently that it also left him with a pit in his stomach.

He let his gaze wander over the room, until it fell on Christian kneeling in submission. The boy seemed to be popular. Always going off with a Dom, then coming back with a smile on his beautiful face. But it didn’t really reach his eyes. Joe could see the touch of sadness there, and it tugged at his heart. He tried to tell himself that it wasn’t him. He wasn’t cut out to be with a single submissive. That playing with multiple partners made him happy. And it had. At least for a time. But seeing the men at Collars & Cuffs pairing off, finding love? That told him something had to change.

He stood and approached Christian, who seemed to be off in his own little world. As he ran a hand over Christian’s head, the boy sucked in a breath. “Good evening, Master Joe.”

Joe couldn’t believe Christian knew it was him. “How did you know?”

He could see a smile creep over Christian’s face. “You’re wearing Acqua Di Gio. I’d know you anywhere.”

Joe couldn’t believe it. “Look at me, boy.”

Christian tilted his head back, and Joe got lost in those amazingly beautiful eyes. “Would you like to play?”

“Yes, Sir. I would love to.”

Joe took him to the group room, and had him strip down, and kneel. Christian was wonderful in his submission. He wanted this boy. He craved him with every fiber of his being. When one of the other Doms came over, Joe recognized him as someone with whom he’d shared before. The broad smile on his face evaporated as Joe shook his head no. The Dom nodded, and went off looking for a partner for the evening. Joe glanced around, and he could see the lustful expressions on many faces. Everyone he’d shared a sub with, and his stomach bubbled.

“Stand up,” Joe ordered. “Get dressed.”

Christian stood and blinked. “If I’ve made you unhappy, Sir, I—“

“No, not in the least. I don’t’ want to have you here. I’d like to take you to a private room, if you’re willing.”

Christian smiled, and Joe’s heart beat faster. “Of course, Sir. Whatever you want.”

He took Christian by the hand, and led him to the bar where he grabbed a key to one of the rooms. When they entered, he closed and locked the door, before turning to Christian.

“Safe words?”

“Red for stop. Yellow for slow down. Green to continue.”

“Very well. Take off your clothes.”

He stood and watched as Christian unveiled a lithe body. He trembled as his hand reached out to stroke the smooth chest, delighting when Christian shivered. Joe loved to see the goose flesh that stood out on the pale form in front of him.

“So you would know me anywhere?” Joe asked.

“Yes, Sir. Others may wear Acqua Di Gio, but you’re unique. You smell fresh, and…”

Christian paused and glanced down.

“And what?”

“When I smell you, I get hard.”

Joe reached down and stroked the rigid shaft. “Yes, I can see that.” He laughed at the red that bloomed over Christian’s body. It was then that he made a decision.

“I’m sorry to be so indecisive, but I’d like you to put your clothes back on.” He held up a hand to forestall any queries by the young man. “No questions.”

Christian meekly said, “Yes, Sir,” and proceeded to dress again. When he was done, he stood there in a maroon T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. Joe had seen many subs wearing leather, but this look favored Christian. He wanted to touch again, but that wasn’t fitting in with his plan.

“I’m going to go to the lockers and change. I want you to sit at the bar and wait for me. Is that okay?”

“Yes, Sir.”

They left the room and headed downstairs. Christian sat at the bar, and said hello to Kenton. Joe found he didn’t really care for it. He didn’t want anyone talking with Christian, and it disturbed him. He’d never cared before. Hell, he’d been happy when the sub started talking to someone else, because it meant he didn’t need to make conversation after their scene and aftercare.

Concluded at Three Books Over The Rainbow!

Excerpt

“Honey, I’m home.”

Alex laughed and came out of the kitchen to greet his husband. “We’ve talked about this, right? You do not walk into this apartment and talk to me like I’m the little wife.”

Leo kissed him soundly on the cheek. “Aw, but you’d look great in an apron, holding a glass of beer out for your weary, hard-working hubby.” He smirked. “And besides, no one in their right mind would call you little.”

Alex quirked his eyebrows. “One, you don’t drink beer, which is why there’s a glass of chilled chardonnay on the living room table, waiting for you. Two, excuse me—weary? Hard-working? You’ve been standing around in leather chaps and a harness, watching while guys do all manner of things to each other, which probably included a lot of fucking, because, hey, it’s Saturday night, right?”

Leo sighed happily. “What can I say? I love my job.”

Buy the book: Amazon! | AllRomance! | Dreamspinner!

Meet K.C. Wells:

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. WELLS always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, when the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

And as for those men in love that she writes about? The list of stories just waiting to be written is getting longer… and longer….

Where to find K.C. Wells:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KCWells/223608907761521
Twitter: @K_C_Wells

Meet Parker Williams (or at least his voices):

Good day! We are the voices that live inside Will’s head. The ones who whisper to him constantly, beckoning him to speak of our adventures, to tell of our love, and perhaps, if we’re in a mood, kill a person or two.

We guide his hand as he tells our tales where love is the most powerful force, but must be worked for, molded, and finally, embraced. There can be no shortcuts or substitutions on the path to a happily ever after.

We hope you will join with us as Will fulfills his obligation to ensure our stories are told and, we hope, enjoyed.

Where to find Parker Williams:

Connect with Parker on: Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641
Or you can visit his website: www.ParkerWilliamsAuthor.com

Tour Dates & Stops:

18-Jul

Multitasking Mommas, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Book Lovers 4Ever, Gay Book Reviews, Parker Williams, Gay Media Reviews, The Novel Approach, Prism Book Alliance, MM Good Book Reviews,

19-Jul

A.M. Leibowitz, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Three Books Over The Rainbow, The Dark Arts, Unquietly Me

20-Jul

Alpha Book Club, V’s Reads, Up All Night, Read All Day, My Fiction Nook, Havan Fellows

21-Jul

Kiki’s Kinky Picks, Full Moon Dreaming, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Molly Lolly

22-Jul

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Love Bytes, Dawn’s Reading Nook

25-Jul

BFD Book Blog, Open Skye Book Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Jessie G. Books, MM Book Escape

26-Jul

Rednecks and Romance, Caraway Carter, Cathy Brockman Romances, Iyana Jenna, Emotion in Motion

27-Jul

Chris McHart, Velvet Panic, All I Want and More Books, Bonkers About Books, Joyfully Jay

28-Jul

Divine Magazine, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie

29-Jul

Making It Happen, Happily Ever Chapter, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

Giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link below to enter.

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A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Endings and Beginnings (Collars and Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells and Parker Williams

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I’m struggling with writing this review because I was so emotional by the end I had to wait a few days to allow my heart to calm enough to let my brain take over. I really loved this series. Each of the stories, from the beginning through this last, has featured amazing characters. Sometimes heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking, each of the books featuring the many couples who populate Collars & Cuffs, an exclusive BDSM club for gay men, have felt realistic and genuine.

In this one, an ending of sorts for a few of the couples, I appreciated the way the authors focused on a new couple while weaving vignettes throughout the book, featuring the other Doms and subs we have come to love. Principally, this story is about Darren, the salon owner we met when Thomas was helping Peter overcome the emotional ravages of the time of his enslavement (Trusting Thomas). He never forgot how affected he was while observing that intimate moment with them. This story is also about JJ, the new bartender who came to the job in the hopes he’d be able to expose the lies Peter told about Curtis Rogers, the Dom who had abused him. Instead, JJ found that Curtis, the man who JJ recently found out was his father, was worse than the press painted him to be, and when he glimpses Peter’s back for the first time, he breaks down and admits his parentage and his reasons for being there.

Darren had been attracted to JJ from the time Darren first walked in the door to see what the club was like so he could decide if he dared to cultivate his dominant side. And though they had already started to date when the revelation occurred, Darren feels an overwhelming protectiveness toward the young man and vows to take care of him. Poor JJ is so emotionally broken and adrift, feeling he’s been lied to and abandoned by those who should have cared for him that he finds it difficult to trust in Darren, and trust is the foundation most needed for couples to survive together.

As their story unfolds, we see glimpses of most of the Doms and subs from the past, and there’s a focus on Scott and Ben (Someone to Keep Me) as their long postponed wedding day finally arrives. There’s also a secondary story about Eli and Jarod (Dom of Ages), now back from their Hawaiian vacation. Eli finds himself restless and without a purpose since he quit his job with the trucking company. Thomas offers a solution, one that Jarod can well afford, but if he and Eli take the offer, it will take Jarod from the family he has come to love. The other subs are such a part of his life now, he’s not sure if he can abandon them. There’s also a story about Pietro and Miles, back from their vacation as well, but still not living together, and Pietro is pretty upset about that. How can Miles love him and yet go home to his own place at night? And… there’s a glimpse into the future for Alex and Leo as Alex takes an opportunity he once thought was out of his reach.

As I started the book, I was very worried the authors were going to give someone a major illness or other life threatening issue, but I’m happy to say that’s not a concern here. Yes there are endings, but there are also beginnings, and I hope and pray that one of those beginnings is the beginning of a new series because I can’t get enough of these guys. I find it difficult to decide which couple in this series is my favorite but it’s definitely either Thomas and Peter or Eli and Jarod, and if my hopes are realistic, we may all get to see more of them in the future.

My gosh, I hate to see this series end! Most of the books don’t contain “hard core” BSDM. Some, including this one, are quite mild so that shouldn’t be of concern to readers who haven’t read any with a BDSM theme previously. And, for those who have, if you haven’t read this series, don’t hesitate to start.

Cover art by Paul Richmond features a beautiful black-and-white photo of a naked man bound with rope, kneeling in submission. Perfect!

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 350 pages
Expected publication: July 18th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774086 (ISBN13: 9781634774086)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesCollars and Cuffs #8

Design – Form, Flash or Something Altogether Different.? Both? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Design Inquiries – Form, Flash or Something Altogether Different.

When you are looking at blogs what draws your attention? And keeps it there? Is it the flash, the dash, the colors and moving parts? Is it the substance, the content or a bit of both…just like a book cover?

What’s the most important thing to you, the reader, when it comes to review blogs? I’ve created a short poll. Take a moment and help us out by filling it out. We’re looking for a fresh new face and your input is invaluable.

July is holding on, the summer heat, (or winter cold if you call the southern hemisphere home) continues to mount getting ready for August and the dog days of summer. My summer book pile doesn’t seem to have lessened a bit. How about yours? Found any favorites to date? How about audiobooks? So many great ones out there. Check out our list of books we reviewed this week…surely there’s something for everyone.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 17:

Design Inquiries – Form, Flash or Something Altogether Different.
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, July 18:

Cover Reveal – Flying Fish by Sedonia Guillone
Staged by Kim Fielding – Blog Tour and Giveaway
A BJ Review: Staged by Kim Fielding
An Alisa Audiobook Review: A Forced Silence by Cate Ashwood
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Endings & Beginnings by KC Wells & Parker Williams
A MelanieM Review: Beta Test by Annabeth Albert

Tuesday, July 19:

Parker Williams/KC Wells for ‘Endings and Beginnings’ Tour and Giveaway
Top to Bottom by Delphine Dryden Blog Tour and Giveaway
A BJ Audiobook Review: Dancing Lessons by R. Cooper
A Lila Review: A Dandelion for Tulip by R. Cooper
A Free Dreamer Review: Native Wind (Native Ingenuity: First Chronicle)
by A.M. Burns

Wednesday, July 20:

Evasive Maneuvers by Lynn Michaels Creative Minds Tour and Giveaway
Book Blitz and Giveaway – Love and Magic by RE Andeen
Match Point by Leigh Carmen Blog Tour/promo and giveaway
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Desire’s Guardian by Tempeste O’Reily
A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: On Wings of Thunder by MD Grimm

Thursday, July 21:

Blog Tour and Giveaway – Complexity by Harper Miller
Book Blitz and Giveaway: Boston Bauble Party by Susan Laine
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:Boston Bauble Party by Susan Laine
A BJ Audiobook Review: Sutphin Boulevard by Santino Hassell
An Alisa Review: The Gift of Gravity by Sage Holloway

Friday, July 22:

Book Blitz and Giveaway – Save Jake Venice by Asher Oswald W.
Third Mate by Rebecca James Blog Tour and Giveaway
An Alisa Review: The Gift of Gravity by Sage Holloway
A Paul B Review: Third Mate by Rebecca James
A Jeri Release Day Review: The Boy Next Door by Kate McMurray
A MelanieM Review: All Note Long by Annabeth Albert

Saturday, July 23:

An Ali Review: Alex’s Law by Jayce Ellis
An Alisa Review: Falling for Santa Claus by CJ Anthony
A Lila Audiobook Review: The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Second Half: A Gay American Football Story by Scott D. Pomfret

A MelanieM Review: The Greek Tycoon’s Green Card Groom by Kate McMurray

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

perf4.250x7.000.indd Marriage gets less convenient when love is involved.

It started simple: Ondrej Kovac marries Archie Katsaros so Ondrej can stay in the US, away from his judgmental family in eastern Europe. Archie marries Ondrej in exchange for the money to bail out his failing company. It’s a fraud neither man is convinced he can pull off.

But as Archie introduces Ondrej to New York society and Ondrej proves his skill in the office, they start to discover a connection between them. Can they overcome the rocky foundation their relationship was built on, meddling immigration agents, gossip columnists determined to out their deception, and an aggressive executive set on selling Archie’s company out from under him? Only if they can prove to each other their love is worth fighting for.

Well, to be honest, as much as I love Dreamspinner Press’ Dreamspun Desires series and author Kate McMurray, it was a long thought process to arrive at 2.75 stars for The Greek Tycoon’s Green Card Groom by Kate McMurray. Not just for one reason alone but for several.

Normally I breeze through these stories. They whip me along, carried by a romance, a fast pace reminiscent of those quickly churned out novels of decades ago and a plot I recognized turned MM. Here I struggled to get through each page. The storyline bogged down, as did the romance. And there was absolutely so sense of any depth to character or location or background for anyone or anything. Archie was supposed to be Greek. But did we feel that or get that from the story or anything he said or did? No, not really. Ondrej gets a smattering of throw off lines about misunderstandings due to language…but nothing about his family or background was really explored in depth. Nothing that gave us a real “sense” of Ondrej, the man recently immigrated. And New York City which should have been a star city and character due to its importance as a location and raison de etre for Ondrej being there came off as a pale imitation of itself.

And Archie and Ondrej had as much heat together as an old pizza box, at least to me. It felt that cold, old and stale. Even the pizza rat might have given this a pass.

But I maybe I’m wrong. The plot pulled it together in the end, the romance ended happily if too swift. There really was never any really danger here. If Kate McMurray is a favorite author of yours, you might want to pick this up. The same if light romances are your thing. For all others, you might want to give this a pass. As always, I leave the choice up to you.

Cover art by Paul Richmond brands the series nicely but its not among my favorites.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Desires #14, 218 pages
Expected publication: July 15th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634770870 (ISBN13: 9781634770873)
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Review: Lock and Key by Z. Allora

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Rejected. Heartbroken. Devastated.

Zack Davis wanted to serve only one man, Andrew Nikeman. He was denied because Andrew thought he was too young and because their brothers were together. So Zack crushed his submissive tendencies and focused on being the perfect Dom, giving every sub he played with something he couldn’t have.

After years of denying his submissive side, Entwined’s charity auction “Are you Dom Enough to be a sub?” gives Zack an excuse to get a little of what he’s always craved.

Andrew doesn’t know when his infatuation turned into more, but it kills him to see Zack with a constant parade of submissives. He’d refused to jeopardize his brother’s relationship or become Zack’s regret; however, Zack isn’t a kid anymore, and his brother’s relationship is unbreakable. Now Zack’s popularity and success as a Dom might ruin Andrew’s dreams of collaring him, but he can’t wait any longer to confess his feelings or he risks losing the man he loves forever.

This was a nice story. When Zack meets Drew for the first time it’s shortly after his eighteenth birthday. Zack and his younger brother have just moved in with their older brother when they were kicked out by their mom. Zack knows instantly that Drew is the man he wants to be with forever.When Drew turns Zack away he is devastated and runs to a bad situation.

Zach decides that if he can’t have what he needs, he will make sure that other submissives are able to and that they are not hurt by an incompetent dom as he was. They both go through the motions while dying a bit inside every time they have to see each other. Once Drew admits he made a mistake and wants to move forward in a relationship with Zack he feels so frustrated Zack keeps part of himself back. Drew realizes waiting for Zack to admit his feelings isn’t the right approach and it will take him completely opening himself up for Zack to be open as well.

This story is told from Both Zack and Drew’s points of view. It made it easier to connect with the characters and know how they were feeling. All of the characters in this book were great and were supportive of the MCs, they are their own little family and will always stick by each other. I hope this author does another book in this universe as I would love to see how Zack’s little brother, Jordan, grows up and finally gets a man of his own.

Cover art by K-Koji is great and really give a visual for the turning point of the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 300 pages

Published: July 15, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781634771696

Edition Language: English

A Paul B Review: Acceptance (Forbes Mates #3) by Grace R. Duncan

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Acceptance Quincy Archer has been on the run for the past two months. Being tepay-sa to his jaguar shifter pride means he is next in line to lead. But even before he found his wolf shifter mate, he never wanted the title he was born into. However, his father just won’t accept his decision. In order to protect his destined mate from trouble, Quincy decides to go into hiding. However three jaguars enforcers have found him in suburban Pittsburgh and beat him to within an inch of his life. Too weak to shift or to get away in human form, he instructs the EMTs that arrive to take him to Presby hospital, where his mate works as an ER doctor.

Miles Grant has been working a lot since his mate ran off. While he understands that Quincy is trying to protect him, Miles still feels the pain of separation even if they have not claimed each other yet. He has been working extra shifts to deal with the loneliness. As he is ending a shift, he smells his mate as he is brought in by ambulance. Miles has to make sure that Quincy is able to shift to heal but still have a reasonable explanation for his rapid recovery. Miles is grateful for the time they spend together while Quin heals; he knows that they will have to be apart again soon.

Once Quin gets on the road again, the enforcers who pulverized him send him photos of Miles stating that he is next. Realizing that running away is not keeping Miles any safer, he decides to go back to the Forbes wolf pack territory and face this with his mate and their friends. When Quincy confronts his father who denies any knowledge of his beating or the threats against Miles, Quincy does not know what to believe. His father may be an ass, but he takes ownership of the bad things he has done. If his father is not the one chasing after him and his mate, just exactly who is after Quincy and why? With the help of their friends and an unlikely ally, the group sets about to find answers so that Quincy and Miles might have some peace as they try to start their lives together as mates.

I really enjoyed this third installment of the Forbes Pack series. While it could be read as a standalone, having read the previous two books would provide some context to the story. It was good to see the protagonists of the previous books used in a major supporting role in this book. The plot lines from the previous books are wrapped up well and give a satisfying ending. Through the story, Quincy learns that while being a solitary figure such as a jaguar shifter is drives his instincts, sometimes you need the help of friends to get things done. While this book could be used as a finale to the series, I do hope we see more from this group of “pups” and “cats.”

The striking cover by Reese Dante portrays the main characters as I would picture them. The upper portion has the dark haired Quincy and the ginger Miles in human form while below that are their jaguar and red wolf. It is truly nicely done.

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Book Details:

ebook, 236 pages
Published July 8th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 163477406X (ISBN13: 9781634774062)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesForbes Mates

Devotion (Forbes Mates #1)
Patience (Forbes Mates #2)
Acceptance (Forbes Mates #3)

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Endings and Beginnings (Collars & Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams This is the final book in the series, which should be read from Beginning to End. 😉 (See what we did there?) Release Date: July 18, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

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Endings and Beginnings (Collars & Cuffs #8) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams
This is the final book in the series, which should be read from Beginning to End. 😉
(See what we did there?)
Release Date: July 18, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond