A Jeri Review: Smoke and Mirrors (THIRDS book 7) by Charlie Cochet

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

You have read the THIRDS series, right? If you haven’t- READ IT! Start at the beginning. Trust me.

Smoke and Mirrors is book seven in the excellent series, THIRDS. This book picks up with the serious cliffhanger ending from Catch a Tiger by the Tail, book 6. As fans of the series know, we were left wndering what happened to Dex when Sloane woke up to find him gone. And boy do we find out.

While many of the books deal with various relationships- Dex and Sloane, Ash and Cael, Calving and Hobbs- there is always an intriguing story behind it all. Complex and interesting, the continuing story sucks you in and keeps you coming back for more. To say you get invested in these characters is an understatement.

In this installment, there are no new relationships being formed. Instead, this book focuses all on the story. What really happened to Dex’s parents. Who know what. How intricate the web is. Who can you trust and not trust? Watching the team come together to save and help one of their own shows how tight they all are, We continue to see the romantic involvements between the various couples, and we hope beyond hope for other couples to form.

I have to say that the one big twist was pretty apparent even before it was revealed. Even with that knowledge, it was no less gasp worthy.

I have to mention that there was one brief part in the book that was so relevant to what is happening in the news, I wondered briefly if Ms.Cochet was psychic.

These books make you think, make you swoon, make you literally laugh out loud and make you cry. Although I love that it is a “gay romance” I would hazard a guess that if it were a mainstream romance it would be a chart buster and have producers fighting for the movie rights.

The tagline of “Everything changes” whetted our appetites and this book completely satisfied.

Cover art by L.C. Chase is perfect for the book and series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon more links to come

Book Details:

ebook, 230 pages
Expected publication: July 8th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634773888 (ISBN13: 9781634773881)
Edition LanguageEnglishSeriesTHIRDS #7

A Stella Review: Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage (2016 Daily Dose – A Walk on the Wild Side) by C.S. Poe

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Love, Marriage and a Baby Carriage Theodore Reinhart is a young man looking for love. In San Diego. At a convention. For penguin shifters. WaddleCon is the go-to event of the year when looking for your life partner, but Theodore isn’t comfortable with the game they’ve turned dating into, nor does the convention provide for the gay community. A mistake in speed dating table assignments puts Theodore in front of Wesley O’Neill, a handsome and confident model who lets it slip that he’s definitely noticed the spark of attraction between them.

A perfect date ends prematurely when Theodore finds an abandoned egg in a bathroom trash can. Unable to leave it behind, Theodore and Wesley play a mad game of cat and mouse across the resort trying to keep it safe, all while growing closer to one another. Wesley may be the forever partner Theodore came looking for, but their relationship won’t work if they don’t make room for a little addition to the family.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Daily Dose package “A Walk on the Wild Side.”

Theodore is having a bad day. With no suitcase (lost somewhere between New York, where he lives, and San Diego, where he has just landed for the Waddle Con), a messy hair and an awful suit (brown jacket and salmon pants. Can you imagine him?) But his bad luck has no end. He had just discovered the Waddle Con is a convention for single people who wants to find their forever penguin partner. Yes, he is a Magellanic penguin shifter but there’re a little problem. He is really not so straight. Then forced to join a speed dating, after woman #6, he sits at a table where an unbelievable beautiful man with dimples, aka Wesley is. The attraction and something more deep soon sparkle between them. And just when their dinner date is finally going to turn the heat on, in the trash bin of the restaurant’s restroom, Theodore finds an abandoned egg.

Love, Marriage, And a Baby Carriage made my day. It is very short, nonetheless the author did an amazing work. In just 32 pages I got a complete story, sweet, funny and with no pauses. A crescendo of great scenes that wrap up with a super cute ending. It was just adorable, my first book by C.S. Poe and I can’t wait to read more by her. Plus it was the first time I read about penguin shifters, the little scene where Wes swims in the bathtub was too quick. I want more of this world, I want more of Wes, Theodore and their baby.

The cover art by Catt Ford was not made for this particular story, but for the whole “A Walk on the Wild Side” anthology. It’s intriguing and fully reflects the theme of the package. I love the use of the colors.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 32 pages
Published June 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774868 (ISBN13: 9781634774864)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series2016 Daily Dose – A Walk on the Wild Side
CharactersTheodore Reinhart, Wesley O’Neill settingSan Diego, California (United States)

An Alisa Review: Soul Seekers by Jake C. Wallace

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Nineteen-year-old college student Levi Reed has spent his life with hollow emotions and a darkness so deep that he’s convinced he’s losing his mind. He’d give anything to feel something, anything, real.

When a mysterious stranger appears, Levi is convinced the man is trying to kill him. When he’s near, Levi experiences head-crushing pain and something surprising—real emotions for the first time. Jeb Monroe is arrogant, self-assured, closed-off, and handsome, but he isn’t the harbinger of doom Levi assumed. Jeb’s mission: help Levi find his missing soul.

Levi is pulled into the secret world of Seers and Keepers, those born with the innate ability to manipulate souls and tasked with balancing the negative energy they can produce. Levi learns he possesses a rare gift, and he’s in danger. As Jeb and Levi grow closer, they discover a group of zealots who want to harness Levi’s power to cleanse the world of damaged souls. Everyone Levi cares for is threatened unless he agrees to become their tool of death. But agreeing could spell the destruction of humankind. With no one to trust and nothing as it appears, it’s up to Levi to save them all.

JC Wallace did a wonderful job with this story. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this story, but it went above and beyond what I was thinking. There were enough twists and turns that I didn’t want to put the book down just so I could find out what would happen next.

Levi has never felt any real emotions in his life until he comes close to Jeb. Unfortunately they aren’t nice emotions and it has Levi thinking the worst. When Levi and Jeb connect and then learn that the person they have been relying on for answers isn’t who she says she is their world is turned upside down again.

This story is from Levi’s point of view and I would feel how soul crushing everything he has been through has been. When he connects with Jeb and finally sees some good he immediately thinks the worst when Jeb closes himself off again. I could feel his confusion over his situation and what to do, but he quickly figures out what must be done.

Cover art by Brooke Albrecht is nice and gives a good idea of the main characters in the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 330 pages
Published June 22nd 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 163477261X (ISBN13: 9781634772617)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Review: Last Mechanic Standing (Wrench Wars #1) by L.A. Witt

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Last Mechanic Standing Everyone at Jim Irving’s garage is gung ho about Wrench Wars, a new reality show featuring mechanics. Everyone, that is, except talented mechanic Chandler Scott, the sole employee who has refused to sign the contract. The rest of the mechanics are pressuring him too, because without Chandler—and his volatile interactions with his boss—no one’s getting on the show.

Chandler’s one ally is Jim’s son, Mark, who’s being forced to work for his dad until he pays down his student loans or finds a better job—and who’s been Chandler’s secret lover for a while.

Then a playful tryst in the garage blows up in their faces, giving the network ammo to blackmail Chandler by threatening to out Mark to his father. Now Chandler is backed into a corner, and Mark needs to decide how far he’s willing to go to protect the man who’s been sharing his bed… and may have stolen his heart.

Last Mechanic Standing is an introductory novella. It’s the first of four tight together by the reality tv show, Wrench Wars. Marie Sexton will be joining in with a re-release and a new novella. The concept is promising; it just didn’t work for me in this particular installment.

Chandler Scott is the only mechanic in Jim Irving’s garage that hasn’t sign the consent form to be part of the reality show by the time the story starts. He’s also the one the production company is counting on to bring up the ratings due to his explosive altercations with Jim. Chandler doesn’t want to have his life on TV, but especially not his relationship with Jim’s son.

After finishing college, Mark Irving came home to work on his father garage. Unable to find a job in his field, he’s stuck living with his parents and having a mountain of student loans to pay. The only good thing in his life is Chandler. They have been together for about two years, and their relationship keeps them both afloat.

The stress of having the cameras around and their need for each other caught them unaware, and the network gets the opportunity they were looking for to get Chandler to sign the contract. He does, and the reality show goes into production, wrecking havoc in Chandler’s and Mark’s life.

The reader passes the majority fo the time in Chandler’s and Mark’s heads. There isn’t much happening with the show itself. The primary focus of the story is how the show affects the MCs’ relationship. We get many pages of characters’ introspects and musings about their past, their present, and the future they think they couldn’t have. It’s almost like reading their diaries.

The interactions with other characters were limited to short bursts to bring the point home about Chandler worriedness about signing the contract. We do see Mark’s growth and how he steps up to his dad, perhaps too late, to put his relationship with Chandler first. They’re a lovely couple when they have time to be together, but their story wasn’t convincing enough.

Overall, this novella is a nice short read that promises a brighter set of stories. I’m counting on the four of them to work well as a set. Most likely, in the end, we would have a better picture of all the relationships.

I like the cover by Garrett Leigh, but it seems a little generic for the story. The lettering job is very well done, though.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 80 pages
Published: July 6, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1634773802 (ISBN13: 9781634773805)
Edition Language: English

Series: Wrench Wars
Book #1: Last Mechanic Standing

A Stella Review: To Arizona (2016 Daily Dose – A Walk on the Wild Side) by Meg Harding

RATING 3.75 stars out of 5

Dustin Charleston has just been traded to the Arizona Hares hockey team. As an otter, he’s not too pleased by this. Arizona is dry, he’s leaving his home behind, and he has to move in with a stranger. Things take an even steeper plunge when he meets his roommate.

Chandler Kipling is the captain of the Hares, a least weasel, and he’s got a bit of a thing for his new teammate. Too bad that teammate seems to hate him. And Chandler’s romantic strategies leave something to be desired. Will Dustin be able to get the message he’s trying to send? With a little time, their nightmare might turn into a dream—if they can get past their differences.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Daily Dose package “A Walk on the Wild Side”.

Dustin is an otter shifter, he just moved to Arizona to play with a new hockey team. The desert state is really a nightmare to his otter and things go from bad to worse when he realizes Chandler, the captain of the new team and a least weasel shifter (how cute is it?), is going to host Dustin at his house. The attraction between them is clear from the start but apparently they are more interested in killing each other. Will they be able to act on the sparkles?

I read one other book by Meg Harding (https://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2016/04/06/a-stella-review-the-last-favor-by-meg-harding/) and it seems she has a preference for the use of the present tense form which I hate BTW, but I can say this time it worked better for me. It wasn’t a deterrent, on the contrary my reading flew easily and I ended up devouring it.

I admit I was lost at the start because I didn’t get the whole courting ritual and Chandler’s behaviors confused me. When I finally understood it, everything made sense, I truly enjoyed and appreciated this really cute short. I’m not a great fun of sport theme stories but this little story was very good.

I liked the chemistry between Duncan and Chandler, I “felt” them through all the story. Still what I particularly adored were the second characters and the couple of scenes where different shifters played together. I would love to read more about them and I’m so hoping in a sequel or a spin off about Chris especially.

So if you’re looking for a good story to spend an hour during the coming hot days, give To Arizona a try. It was quick, well written, hot and funny.

The cover art by Catt Ford isn’t a winner. I don’t like it. I don’t like the models and surely they don’t respect how I pictured them in my mind.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 46 pages
Published June 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634774949 (ISBN13: 9781634774949)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series2016 Daily Dose – A Walk on the Wild Side
CharactersDustin Charleston, Chandler Kipling settingArizona (United States)
Phoenix, Arizona (United States)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Last Enemy (Agents of Influence Book 1) by Christian Beck

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Simon Monk was raised to follow in the military footsteps of his father and all the males in his line. Highly decorated for his time in Delta Force and his five tours of duty in war zones, Simon expected to serve in the military until he could go no further. But his lover betrayed the US by defecting to Beijing with Intelligence secrets and that not only ended their relationship but Simon’s life in the military as well. After he ruthlessly hunted the man down and executed him, he served out the remainder of his time and quietly retired with an honorable discharge.

Recruited by the CIA into a largely unknown group within the organization, Monk is sent to Cairo when the head of station there and his husband disappear suddenly. Knowing the man well, Monk realizes Jack would never just abandon his post, and he’s determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. He and his team, which includes a man he not only highly respects but who happens to be his sometimes lover, manage to discover the remains of the couple, but it turns out Monk and his team have only scratched the surface of the mess going on in Egypt.

As the mystery gets deeper with each layer Monk peels off, he and his lover, Ben, become more involved with each other at the same time they are falling further in danger from unknown powers. The story is very, very full of graphic violence, including torture and descriptions of executions and fight-to-the-death battles. But it’s also full of political intrigue, Middle Eastern culture, and quite fascinating facts about Intelligence forces.

I found it to be an amazingly complex, action-packed, and gritty drama. When I finished the story and read the author notes about his fascination with Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia, I instantly recalled having the same feelings he described as I sat in the theater watching those big screen movies for the first time. And I’m happy to say the author absolutely nailed that sense of an epic saga with this story.

The book wasn’t something I originally planned to read, but an opportunity to read it for review came up and I’m so glad I took it! If you like very complex, action-packed, intriguing mysteries, heavy on the military and paramilitary action, and you don’t mind blood and gore, by all means don’t hesitate to read this book.

~~~~~

The cover by Reese Dante shows a silhouette of a man’s torso and head done in sepia tones on which is superimposed pyramids, a golden fox head, two military men in full gear, and a band of desert fighters on camels. All are symbolic of the content of the story, and it’s very well done; however I had no idea of the significance of the cover until I completed the story. So the bottom line is that the cover didn’t attract me to the book but I can see the significance now that I’ve completed it.

Sales Links: DSP Publications | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 200 pages

Expected publication: July 5th 2016 by DSP Publications

ASIN B01HM8F1RO

Edition Language English

An Alisa Review: My Busboy by John Inman

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

My Busboy Robert Johnny just turned thirty, and his life is pretty much in the toilet. His writing career is on the skids. His love life is nonexistent. A stalker is driving him crazy. And his cat is a pain in the ass.

Then Robert orders a chimichanga platter at a neighborhood restaurant, and his life changes—just like that.

Dario Martinez isn’t having such a great existence either. He needs money for college. His shoes are falling apart. His boyfriend’s a dick. And he has a crap job as a busboy.

Then a stranger orders a chimichanga platter, and suddenly life isn’t quite as depressing.

But it’s the book in the busboy’s back pocket that really gets the ball rolling. For both our heroes. That and the black eye and the forgotten bowl of guacamole. Who knew true love could be so easily ignited or that the flames would spread so quickly?

But when Robert’s stalker gets dangerous, our two heroes find a lot more to occupy their time than falling in love. Staying alive might become the new game plan.

John Inman is a new author for me; I own a few books but haven’t gotten to reading them yet. I was not disappointed with this story, it was wonderful.

Robert is pretty depressed as he turns thirty, with nothing positive happening for him and he doesn’t see it changing anytime soon. He is taken with Dario when he meets him at his favorite Mexican restaurant and when they see each other again he has a great need to protect him. Dario realizes pretty fast that he will need to show Robert how he feels for anything to grow between them.

Robert took a little bit to connect to, he was so depressed with himself and his life he couldn’t see anything really happy and he keeps everyone at an arm’s length. When he meets Dario something clicks and he can start to see the positive side of life. Dario was so adorable, not much could keep him down but I just wanted to keep him safe throughout the story. Both of these characters are so loveable and seeing them fall in love for the first time was wonderful.

Cover art by AngstyG is a beautiful picture and I love it.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 210 pages

Published: July 4, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN: 9781634770842

Edition Language: English

Its Our 4th of July Weekend! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its Our 4th of July Weekend!

So happy early Independence Day to everyone here in the US with a special shout out to those in the military here and abroad. Thank you for your service, we appreciate your sacrifice, and we wish for your safety and well being here and wherever you all are serving.

Our weekend will be filled with fireworks, families, friends and food. Our hearts full of love, friendship, happiness and companionship while we make memories for the future. Let us not forget what we celebrate..the sacrifice and history of this holiday!

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words has picked up speed once again and our schedule is brimming over with book reviews, tours and giveaways for this upcoming week. Contemporary romance? Supernatural shifters? Kinky Story Collections? Fantasy? Really we have it all this week. Grab up your book lists and prepare to make some additions to your reading lists.

And wherever you are, have a wonderful week. If you are here in the US, have a wonderful 4th of July! Now for our schedule this week.

4th-Of-July-Fireworks-Picture-1

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 3:

Its Our 4th of July Weekend
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, July 4 – Happy Independence Day!:

What Remains by Garrett Leigh—Blog Tour—Riptide Publishing
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Collars N Cuffs Anthology
A Free Dreamer Review: The Hunger Man by Scott D. Pomfret
An Alisa Review: My Busboy by John Inman
A MelanieM Review: Undercover Boyfriend by Jacob Z. Flores

Tuesday, July 5:

Blog Tour Invite – The Pinkerton Man Series by CJ Baty
A BJ Review: Just a Bit Ruthless by Alessandra Hazzard
A Stella Review: Succumbing to His Fear by River Mitchell
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Last Enemy by Christian Beck
A Lila Review: The Pirate of Fathom’s Deep by Megan Derr
A Jeri Review: Wolf en Garde by AF Henley

Wednesday, July 6:

A Stella Review: To Arizona by Meg Harding
A Lila Review: Last Mechanic Standing by LA Witt
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Becoming Rory by Ashavan Doyon
A Lila Review: Loving Djinni by Osiris Backhaus
An Alisa Review: Soul Seekers by Jake C Wallace

Thursday, July 7:

Book Blitz – My Zombie Cat by T. Strange Excerpt and Giveaway
Blitz and Giveaway – Rise Out Of The Flames by Jackie Nacht
A Second Harvest by Eli Easton Excerpt Tour and Giveaway
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Always Another Side by Annabelle Jacobs
A BJ Review: Kestrel’s Talon by Bey Deckard
A Stella Review:Love, Marriage and a Baby Carriage by CS Poe
An Ali Review:Perilous by Cari Z

Friday, July 8:

Book Blitz July 8th for The Runaway Millions by Parker Avrile
Complexity by Harper Miller Tour and Giveaway
A Stella Review: Roadside Rescue by Caitlin Ricci
A Jeri Review: Smoke & Mirrors by Charlie Cochet
A MelanieM Review: A King and a Pawn (Leader Murders #3)
by Liv Olteano

Saturday, July 9:

An Ali Review: Cops and Robbie by Carol Lynne
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Permanently Legless by JL Merrow
A Stella Review: Set Me Free by Kitty Stephens

In the Supernatural Spotlight: A King and a Pawn (Leader Murders #3) by Liv Olteano

A King and a Pawn by Liv Olteano
Series: Leader Murders
Release Date: June 17, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

Blurb:

Bert Cooper’s life used to be great, until his sister turned out to be a traitor. Now Bert feels the whole pack looks on him with doubt and suspicion. To prove his loyalty, he volunteers to be the first ambassador at Fey Court, gathering information to finally solve the Leader Murders and punish those plotting against the Council and community. At least, that was the plan….

When Bert meets Sir William Matthew Sims, Court Interrogator, and one hell of a sexy man, life becomes a balancing act. And when the Fey King is assassinated, things become really messy.

Pack politics, fey politics, treason, suspicions of treason…. Bert has to choose between being ruled by his fears or standing up for what—and who—he believes in. And it might just break his heart.

Pages or Words: 234 pages, 82,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Mystery, Parnormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Wolf Shifters

Excerpt from A King and a Pawn by Liv Olteano:

“Would you take me in as a trophy, Bert?” he asked, smiling oddly, a sort of indulgent look in his eyes.

I wasn’t going to outsmart him, that was for sure. Luckily I didn’t think I had to.

“I wouldn’t be taking you in at all. You and your kids would simply accompany me. I’m sure you can find something of value to offer me so I’ll be willing to go that way. And then you’d find something of value to offer Weiss and the Council to give you guys, say, political asylum?”

“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

I shrugged. “I’m sure you did. I don’t think you’re a fool, Will. I’m sure you’re not, in fact. So I’m giving you the courtesy of not treating you as one. A courtesy I hope you’ll give me too.”

“Implying that I have not so far?” he asked, stepping toward me again.

My pulse spiked. “I wasn’t implying that at all.”

We were face-to-face, a step apart at most. My mind stuttered over the few stray thoughts I managed to recognize. It was unusual someone’s presence would affect me this much, this soon. Was he that special? Was our chemistry that special? Or was he using some sort of spell on me? I didn’t think that was beneath him. Magic wasn’t beneath any magic-wielding fey, just like changing into a wolf wasn’t beneath me as werewolf. It was a natural part of who we were. I just wasn’t that used to his natural part, and the very idea made me smile.

“What could I offer you that you’d like to have?” he asked as his breath touched my face with every word he uttered.

“Oh, I could think of several things,” I replied.

He leaned toward me. His lips brushed against mine now when he spoke. “I could think of several things I’d like to offer you as well.”

I gulped. Shit, I couldn’t think with my dick. Not now at least. I so wanted to. It would be so easy to whisper it sweetly: “Fuck my brains out and I’ll be on your side.” But I wasn’t here for shits and giggles, so I couldn’t. There was no reason I couldn’t hope I’d get a fuck out of the situation somewhere down the line. The more time we spent together, the better chance of that happening. That was pretty solid motivation to spin things in a way that would benefit us all in the end. There. I wasn’t doing this for my selfish fuck-greedy self but for the greater good. I was a fucking humanitarian, feyitarian, whateveritarian.

“I’ll only ask for one small thing for myself,” I whispered softly.

He brushed his lips against mine. The touch sent little fiery thrills down my nerve endings, from the skin of my lips right to the pulsing muscle of my heart. I felt his breath hitch at the contact, and the idea it might affect him almost as much as it was affecting me sent a shiver down my spine. We could have been faking it, both of us. This was a negotiation of sorts, and now was the time to bring on our top game. But I felt it in my gut that this connection was real, that it wasn’t bullshit for either one of us. I just knew it in the pit of my stomach. I wondered if he knew it too, as clearly as I did right in that instant.

His scent didn’t assault my senses since he’d been hanging out in my personal space for a while now. My senses were bathed in his scent already. But I could feel the pounding of his heart as I deepened the kiss; I could feel his muscles clench and unwind with sensual tension while my body sang with it. Fuck me sideways, I wanted him right now. I wanted him so bad it almost gutted me. The feel of him languidly moving his tongue against mine made my blood turn into liquid fire, scalding my insides and bringing up my body temperature to heights I didn’t think I’d felt before after just kissing. Everything in my body screamed, This. This is it. This is what you’ve been waiting for, for so fucking long!

“What do you want?” he asked after he pulled back, his forehead leaning against mine.

Fuck, fuck it, fuck! “I want all the information you can get from the Archives on a certain topic.”

Buy the book:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7849

Amazon US – https://amzn.com/B01GD3CFBO

UK – http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GD3CFBO

ARe – https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-akingandapawn-2048682-145.html

BN – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-king-and-a-pawn-liv-olteano/1123855463

GooglePlay – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Liv_Olteano_A_King_and_a_Pawn?id=gLA8DAAAQBAJ&hl=en

iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-king-and-a-pawn/id1118279966

kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/a-king-and-a-pawn

Meet the author:

Liv Olteano is a voracious reader, music lover, and coffee addict extraordinaire. And occasional geek. Okay, more than occasional.

She believes stories are the best kind of magic there is. And life would be horrible without magic. Her hobbies include losing herself in the minds and souls of characters, giving up countless nights of sleep to get to know said characters, and trying to introduce them to the world. Sometimes they appreciate her efforts. The process would probably go quicker if they’d bring her a cup of coffee now and then when stopping by. Characters—what can you do, right?

Liv has a penchant for quirky stories and is a reverent lover of diversity. She can be found loitering around the Internet at odd hours and being generally awkward and goofy at all times.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/LiviaOlteano/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LiviaOlteano
Website: http://liv.liviaolteano.com/
Blog: http://blog.liviaolteano.com/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/zZ7T9

Tour Dates & Stops:

30-Jun

Parker Williams, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Happily Ever Chapter, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews,

MM Good Book Reviews, The Jena Wade, The Dark Arts, Book Lovers 4Ever, Velvet Panic,

Charley Descoteaux, Alpha Book Club, Molly Lolly, Oh My Shelves

1-Jul

Bayou Book Junkie, A.M. Leibowitz, BFD Book Blog, Full Moon Dreaming, My Fiction Nook,

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Havan Fellows, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat,

EE Montgomery, Gay Media Reviews, Kirsty Loves Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words,

V’s Reads

Giveaway

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A MelanieM Review: Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards #1) by Ava Drake

Rating: 3.75 Stars out of 5

perf4.250x7.000.indd Christian Chatsworth-Brandeis has a problem. A huge one. The US senator he works for has run away with his latest mistress on the eve of a make-or-break fund-raising event, and it’s up to him to cover his boss’s irresponsible tracks.

Stone Jackson, the senator’s new bodyguard, looks enough like the senator that, with some extensive grooming, he might pass for Senator Lacey. Christian and Stone hatch a plan to fool everyone by substituting Stone for the senator, but Miami madness and the incendiary heat between them are throwing obstacles in their way. It’s a race to find the senator and pull off the con of the century before the attraction between them spins completely out of control.

Ace in the Hole by Ava Drake is another winner in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press. A hot, sexy tale of politicians behaving badly, mystery, and romance, this story kept me entertained from beginning to end.

I always sort of dread political stories as I reside near Washington, DC but this one was more of a romp with a misbehaving Senator (not the first one) and two staff members scrambling to cover for him, in a way. Christian and Stone both meet first in a bar, their attraction to each other hot and instantaneous. Drake does an excellent job of portraying these men so we can see them in every detail. And that encounter? Very, very hot!

Things get even better once Drake brings them together in the Senator’s office, working to protect a Senator who’s nigh near un-protectable in his arrogance, stupidity and shear un-likeability. Adding to their stress is the attraction to each other, their backgrounds which are so at odds with with each, and their determination to keep each other at arms length. Its also provides some of the wonderful moments in the story. But this is also where I wanted something more from the author and the characters. Drake starts to provide both men with great back histories but only fills us in so much. Christian’s tony family and iron grandmother? Would love to know more about her. Stone’s employer? Yes, I want to know more there too. There are just enough holes here to make me stop and think about them instead of letting me flow effortlessly through the story as I should.

I did like some of the side characters, the Senator’s wife included. The mystery was fun, the danger…well if not high and thrilling it was well meshed into the storyline. All in all, I throughly enjoyed Ace in the Hole and the couple involved. And that’s a great thing apparently, because this is becoming a series. I can’t wait to see how Ava Drake handles the next story. I will be eagerly awaiting its release.

Cover art by Paul Richmond is again wonderful. I just adore these covers.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Desires #13, 216 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleAce in the Hole
ISBN 1634773101 (ISBN13: 9781634773102)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series Wild Cards #1

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Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

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Its Our 4th of July Weekend!

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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A King and a Pawn by Liv Olteano Series: Leader Murders Release Date: June 17, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: AngstyG

Giveaway

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A King and a Pawn by Liv Olteano
Series: Leader Murders
Release Date: June 17, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG