Celebrate the Release of the 2nd edition of Blue Notes with Shira Anthony (Contest included)

ScatteredThoughts is so happy to have Shira Anthony here today to celebrate the release of Blue Notes (2nd edition). Welcome, Shira!

Thank you, Melanie, for hosting me today to celebrate the 2nd edition of the original Blue Notes! I’m giving away one ebook copy of the book to a lucky someone who comments on this post. Just tell me what your favorite city is in a comment, leave your email addy, and you’re entered in the drawing. I’ll ask Melanie to choose a winner after midnight tonight.

Melanie asked me to write about why Blue Notes is getting a spiffy new 2nd edition. I promise I’ll get to that in just a minute. But first, let me tell you a bit about how Blue Notes and the Blue Notes Series came to be….

Paris is my favorite city. Hands down. Maybe it’s because I lived in France for several years when I was a teenager and attended the Conservatoire de Grenoble for violin. Maybe because it’s the first city I ever traveled to (I was a whopping 6 months old!). Maybe it’s because I lived in Paris when I was about 5 years old and went to school there. Or maybe it’s because I’m a true romantic at heart, and I find Paris to be one of the most romantic cities I know. Yes, it’s probably all of those things.

I go back to Paris every five years or so (I only wish I could go more often). In my early 20s, back when I was still singing, I spent several weeks in Paris. There I met a gorgeous Frenchman (another musician, of course!) and we had a brief but very torrid affair. I remember rides around the Périphérique (the freeway that loops around the city) on the back of his scooter (“moto”). I also remember dinners in his loft apartment with friends, afternoons spent lounging at a café, nursing our coffees while people watching, and making love at night to the sounds of jazz and be-bop. Have I mentioned I love French men? Philippe was the first of several Frenchmen I dated before I got married. There’s just something about their comfortable, casual attitude, good looks, and the way the French language sounds when they speak that makes them so damn sexy….

The inspiration for Blue Notes came about five years ago now, when two girlfriends and I spent two weeks in Paris. We stayed at my brother-in-law’s apartment near the Jardins du Luxembourg, a gorgeous park complete with long gravel walkways, gardens, a reflecting pool, and, of course, a chateau. A fifteen minute walk from the Seine and Notre Dame de Paris, the area is one of my favorites. We shopped, went sightseeing, and ate very well. It was January, after a heavy snow (unusual for Paris, which tends toward milder weather), and the skies were overcast and gray. It didn’t matter. Each time I walked out of the apartment, I imagined romance. In fact, I imagined a very particular romance: the romance that was the inspiration for the first book in my Blue Notes series of music-themed gay romances. I imagined Blue Notes.

Jason Greene (the main character in the book) and I share much in common. We’re both former musicians who became lawyers. We both have felt the pain of loss of our music, and we’ve both found our way back to it (although in different ways). Like me, Jason spent several years in France as a teenager, where he studied music. He and I even share a hometown: Cleveland, Ohio.

When Blue Notes was originally released by Dreamspinner Press in 2011, I felt I’d missed an opportunity to share more of Jason’s past with readers. In fact, I wrote a short story called “Knowing,” based on a reader suggestion for a Goodreads Gay-Straight Alliance’s project: “Am I straight or am I gay?” It’s a question Jason asks himself over the years, but one which he finds easier not to answer. That is, until he meets Jules Bardon, a young man confident in his sexuality and whom Jason finds more attractive than he cares to admit. The short story was a look back at an experience in Jason’s past with a boy from high school, Robbie. The story is incorporated into the new version of Blue Notes, and helps to explain Jason’s attraction to Jules. Will the boy from Jason’s past make an appearance in a future Blue Notes Series book? Very possibly. A number of readers have asked for that story, and I love the character of Robbie Jenson from Cleveland. In addition to adding more of Jason’s background, the story has been completely re-edited with the help of my fabulous editor at Dreamspinner, whom I began working with when the second Blue Notes Series book, The Melody Thief, was written.

The new Blue Notes is now available at Dreamspinner Press. For readers who purchased the original at Dreamspinner, you will get the new version automatically on your bookshelf! Haven’t started the series yet? Blue Notes Series books can be read in any order, but if you’re one of those readers who likes to read in publication order, the original Blue Notes is a great place to start!

I’ll leave you with a short excerpt from Blue Notes, when Jason and Jules first meet. Don’t forget to comment on this post to be entered to win a free ebook copy of the book!

–Shira

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Blue Notes (a Blue Notes story):

Blurb: Blame it on jet lag. Jason Greene thought he had everything: a dream job as a partner in a large Philadelphia law firm, a beautiful fiancée, and more money than he could ever hope to spend. Then he finds his future wife in bed with another man, and he’s forced to rethink his life and his choices. On a moment’s notice, he runs away to Paris, hoping to make peace with his life. But Jason’s leave of absence becomes a true journey of the heart when he meets Jules, a struggling jazz violinist with his own cross to bear. In the City of Love, it doesn’t take them long to fall into bed, but as they’re both about to learn, they can’t run from the past. Sooner or later, they’ll have to face the music.

******************************************************************

JULES GLANCED over at Henri and their pianist, David. David grinned and nodded as he caressed the keys of the upright piano, his touch so delicate that Jules could hear him breathe with each phrase. David complained that the instrument was out of tune and a “piece of shit,” but the sound he managed to coax from it was astonishingly sweet. Henri’s mellow brush strokes over the surface of the snare drum joined the soft piano, much like the sound of the rain on the city streets—understated yet insistent. Sexy.

Jules gripped the neck of his violin and tucked the instrument under his chin. There was a rough patch of skin there, a result of years of playing, that looked much like the mark of an overzealous lover. He drew his bow above the strings and allowed it to hover there for an instant before lightly catching the D string. The sound of the violin flickered like a candle flame blown by an unseen breeze, then grew and melded with the muted piano, sultry and inviting. Jules closed his eyes, letting the sound wash over him, responding to the slow harmonic progression on the piano, both instruments weaving the ghostly melody.

IN A dim alcove only a dozen or so feet from the musicians, Jason sat nursing his drink, transported by the sound of the violin. It wasn’t jazz in its purest form—it was more of a hybrid, combining the traditional jazz rhythms of the fifties with a modern yet classical approach. But whatever you might call the music, he found it transcendent. Between pieces, Jason glanced around the room to discover the group’s name but found no mention of it anywhere.

The set ended and the club erupted in applause. The musicians nodded, their manner casual, aloof, even a bit embarrassed. The violinist met Jason’s eyes and, for a brief instant, lingered there. Jason’s face heated. Breaking their eye contact to look down at his empty glass, he told himself that the heat in his cheeks was from the alcohol and the lack of sleep. He motioned to the lone waiter for a refill. When he turned back toward the stage, he found himself sitting face-to-face with the violinist.

“May I join you?” the violinist asked, a coy grin on his delicate lips. Jason figured that he might be nineteen, tops. As his companion brushed a stray lock of shoulder-length black hair from his eyes, Jason realized that he had one brown eye and one green. He was a waif of a kid, his face uniquely French, from the slightly pronounced nose to the sharper edge of his jaw. Even seated as he was, Jason could see that the kid’s body swam in a large pair of jeans that hung low on his hips, exposing blue plaid boxers. On top, he wore a body-hugging black T-shirt with the word “Quoi?” splashed across the front in bright red.

“Be my guest,” Jason replied in French, still unsure of what to think about the kid. “Seems as though you’ve already invited yourself.”

“You’re French-Canadian?” the newcomer inquired, grin widening.

“American.” Jason noted the rough edges of the uneven tattoo on the kid’s right forearm. Homemade, no doubt.

“Really? Your French is excellent.”

“And your music’s good,” Jason countered playfully. “What’s your trio called?”

“Dunno. We haven’t named it yet—we don’t play that much. Wouldn’t have played tonight except the group Maurice booked canceled and he couldn’t find a replacement. My roommate’s the dishwasher here.” He gestured at the drummer, who was watching them with interest from the edge of the small stage. “So, do you live in Paris?” he added after a moment’s pause.

“Visiting.”

The waiter deposited two drinks on the table and winked at the violinist.

“My name’s Jules. Jules Bardon.”

“Jason Greene.”

“Enchanté.” Jules took Jason’s hand across the table. The gesture was far too friendly. Flirtatious. Jason pulled his hand away and raised an eyebrow. Jules appeared unfazed. “Here on business?”

“No.”

“Pleasure, then?”

“No.”

Jules laughed—a soft, almost girlish laugh. “Do I make you uncomfortable?” He fixed his gaze on Jason.

“No,” lied Jason, finding Jules’s gaze a bit too intense.

“I could make this a pleasure visit for you.” Jules absentmindedly traced a long finger across his own lips.

“I don’t bat for that team.” Jason borrowed the American expression wholesale as his French failed him at last. It was not the first time he’d spoken the words, although it was the first time he’d spoken them in French. They were also not entirely true; it was simply that the right opportunity had never presented itself.

Jules looked at him for a moment, clearly uncomprehending, then laughed again.

“What’s so funny?” Jason demanded, noting a hint of licorice on the air as his companion replaced his drink on the table.

“Oh,” Jules said, “I understand.” He laughed again. “Sorry. I’ve just never heard it put that way before. At first I thought you were asking me about baseball.” He took a swig of his drink and shrugged. “Too bad. You looked like you could use a good—”

“Jules!”

“I have to go.” Jules sighed and appeared disappointed. “Time for the next set. It was nice to meet you, Jason.” He tripped over the name, and it came out sounding something like “Jah-sohn.” Jason chuckled in spite of himself, reminded of the various ways in which his name had been mangled by French speakers through the years.

Jules sucked down the rest of his drink in one swallow and stood up. “If you change your mind…,” he began, but the drummer grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back toward the stage.

Not likely, kid. Jason chuckled again. He had enough shit to deal with.

******

Buy Blue Notes at Dreamspinner Press:

Review: Kept Tears by Jana Denardo

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Army vet Aaron Santori’s time in Afghanistan almost broke him. An explosion on duty cost him his arm and killed many of his friends. Now home, Aaron is trying to deal with his PTSD, his scars both physical and emotional, adjust to his new trans-humeral prosthesis, all while studying physiology as a grad student at Pitt. A full load, almost guaranteed to keep him so busy that dating or any relationships outside of friendship are a challenge at best. Then one night at a steampunk event at a local bar, Aaron and friends run into Rhys Edwards, a YA novelist from Wales and everything changes. Rhys is not put off by Aaron’s prosthesis and he makes it very apparent that he finds Aaron absolutely attractive no matter what scars Aaron carries. Soon, Aaron finds himself in a relationship that he never anticipated with a gorgeous man of his dreams.

But Rhys has many secrets, including the fact that he is not human. As a prince of the Tylwyth Teg, Rhys is fae. He is an immortal Seelie, with enemies and ex paramours that come with centuries of living. One such ex lover, Morcant, is determined to have his revenge on Rhys for cutting him loose centuries ago. Soon the unwary Aaron becomes the target of Morcant’s plot against Rhys. The truce between Seelie and Unseelie Courts may be broken, and lives lost, including Aaron’s if Rhys can’t stop Morcant from carrying out his revenge. Can the mortal Aaron survive being in love with a Seelie Prince?

Kept Tears is a story that has me wavering in setting any ratings at all. I loved so many parts of this story and yet can see where many readers will want to discard it almost immediately when it comes to Denardo’s idea of Fae morality including her Fae outlook on love and fidelity. I will get to that later.

First, lets look at the excellent job she did in creating Aaron Santori, a wounded warrior, whose time in Afghanistan has cost him his arm, a horribly scarred leg and left him with PTSD. Denardo’s descriptions of Aaron’s night terrors and flashbacks, seen from Aaron’s point of view, brings the reader intimately into the character’s mindset and emotional turmoil. But we are eased into it slowly as we get to know the character better. Our first introduction to Aaron (and Rhys) is the night of the steampunk event at a local bar. The scenes let us know that while Aaron has shied away from intimate relations, he has not isolated himself from those that care about him. We get to see a man involved with life, although on his terms, and it becomes easy to embrace his character. Denardo has made Aaron accessible by his interests,his appealing nature and of course, by his frailties. Aaron’s transhumeral prosthesis is a fascinating element in this story. Aaron is studying myoelectics because of his arm. I recently saw a piece on a hand prosthesis such as his on a cable science program and was as fascinated as Rhys. Here is an excerpt as Aaron shows Rhys his arm for the first time:

“Your turn.”

“Grad student at Pitt. I’m studying physiology. I wanted to be a doctor, went to the Army to pay for it, and ended up a medic. Things went sideways from there.”Aaron gestured with his prosthetic hand and Rhys’s blue eyes widened. “Ah, you didn’t expect it to move.” Aaron grinned.

Rhys studied the transhumeral prosthesis Aaron sported, obviously amazed, awe in every word. “No, I did not.”

“I’m in a program working with myoelectrics, and this arm is part of it.” Aaron moved his fingers.

“How does it work?” Rhys leaned closer.

Aaron didn’t mind bragging about his arm. “There are electrodes under my skin that talk to the arm. I think about moving the arm, and it moves. I’m still learning all the intricacies. I’m working on the physiology aspect as part of my doctoral work.” He couldn’t contain his excitement as he explained, his mechanical fingers clenching and unfurling as he showed off.

“That is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Rhys reached over and touched the prosthetic hand.

Aaron wiggled his thumb. “Isn’t it?”

“Absolutely.” Rhys back, tossing his head. His wheat-gold hair flopped into his eyes. “What else do you like besides steampunk?”

Aaron was dressed for the event in a costume where “Aaron had designed his dress shirt to be short-sleeved on the side of his prosthesis so it could show off the gears and brass work he had sheathed the nonmoving parts in.” Aaron has adjusted to his arm in a healthy way but is wary of others reactions to the prothetic. It’s a realistic and lovely moment, especially when Aaron realizes that Rhys has easily accepted it as part of Aaron and moved on. For me, Aaron is the best, most moving part of Kept Tears and when his relationship with Rhys places him in unknown danger, I found the suspense to be almost unbearable.

Then there is Rhys Edwards aka Myrddin, prince of the Tylwyth Teg. Rhys is a Seelie fae, an immortal who has a Sidhe wife and children who he cares about deeply. And therein lies the rub for many readers. One half of the romantic couple is happily married to a female fae and has children. He has no intention of leaving his wife or children nor would it be reasonable to assume he would do so as he is heir to the Seelie throne. This is not a spoiler as the reader learns about his marital status almost immediately in the story.

I will admit that this startled me at first. But as Rhys (and Denardo) admonishes/informs us, that is a human outlook, not a Sidhe one. In fae lore and Denardo’s construct, the Sidhe are immortal, and for them monogamy is unrealistic past the first 50 or 60 years with the same person. Rhys is bisexual, and has had many partners (and relationships) over the hundreds of years. Rhys has always found himself attracted to humans, with their mayfly (one day life span) existence. He has had innumerable human lovers of which Aaron is just one more. His admiration for humans is touching and real as is his sadness for our brief life span. Think of Denardo’s Sidhe as beings for whom polyamory is something of a norm. Rhys’ wife and children are aware and sometimes approving of his paramours incorporating them, however, briefly into the family.

If you can let go of a need to see Denardo’s Sidhe as extensions of ourselves instead of inhuman immortal beings with their own societal norms then the romance between Rhys and Aaron becomes a lovely, wonderful love affair. I also feel that any author whose story, including one with a love between an immortal and a human mayfly, must contend with the readers imagination and need to “fill in” the emotional plot blanks. I am talking about the need to extrapolate the relationships past plot and story endings. Think of all the fanfiction out there and you can see where I am going with this. This will always be a HFN, with an overlay of bittersweetness that comes from the ephemeral nature of a Sidhe/mortal love affair. Denardo recognizes that and addresses it as realistically as possible in a fantasy story. This aspect of the author’s story did not bother me after a while as I adjusted my own expectations for Rhys and Aaron. It helps greatly that Gwenllian, Rhys’ wife and all his children are engaging, wonderful creations in their own right as is their Sidhe world.

The narrative flips from various characters point of view, including the Unseelie villain, Morcant. I liked this format here is it serves to let the reader in on Morcant’s maneuverings and dastardly plots, upping our anxiety over Aaron’s welfare and increasing the suspense overall. My only quibble here is that after bringing the reader up to a high threshold of anticipation over the extent of Morcant’s deviousness, the resolution doesn’t measure up to the events that preceded it. A bit of a let down, unfortunately.

For those readers who can’t get past a main character , even if they aren’t human, who is married and therefore “cheating” on his wife and children with another, this is not the book for you. But if you can enlarge your view of relationships to include one where one half of the romance is actually a group of people, then Kept Tears will be a story you will want to pick up. Aaron Santori is amazing, Rhys and the Sidhe universe he comes with are intriguing, and the villain Morcant as unscrupulous, cruel and self serving as any you have met before. Denardo’s prose is lively, the plot engrossing, and the ending one I could understand and enjoy. Pick it up and decide for yourself.

Cover artist Paul Richmond’s cover is amazing, with the prosthetic arm of Aaron’s in clear view.

Book Details:

ebook, 210 pages

Published January 27th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published January 26th 2014)

ISBN 1627983120 (ISBN13: 9781627983129)

The Never Ending Winter Whine and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Yes, its still Winter! White, white everywhere and not a drop of green to be seen. We have snow, icicles and water in about every frozen variation there is and I am heartedly sick of it. We finally saw a snow plow late last night. It had to dodge a Prius and a small sedan of unknown origin whose owners thought their vehicles capable of navigating through over 19 inches of snow. What were they thinking? I do know they left their cars where they were stuck, one right in the middle of the street interchange until a neighbor helped them move it to the side of the street. I do know what the driver of the plow thought about that as he plowed them under a ton of snow last night. That car was gone this morning and I was happy not to witness the amount of shoveling they had to do to release their car from that cold embrace.

I have been throwing food out to the birds and wildlife as much as possible and my birdseed reserve is running dry. Even the snowy owl that stopped in Washington, DC, in search of better weather has had a rough time of it. She was hit by a Metro bus and ended up at a Wildlife hospital. She is recovering and so shall we all. It just doesn’t feel like that right now for either of us.

Hopefully I can get out to the stores tomorrow. But of course, it has started snowing again. Big, large fluffy white flakes. Just the sort I love as a child or even an adult a few, ok more than a few, years back. So I am beginning to feel like a Grinch these days as the snow mounts instead of melts. Lasts night my favorite meteorologist forcasted temperatures in the 50’s and maybe even 60’s for next week.

Should I believe him?

Or does he just have a case of snow fever and a sick sense of humor. Only time and the temperature will tell.

I have some wonderful books for you this week. There is crippled werewolves, hardened mercenaries, the Fae and an American army vet, a lethal world virus and of course, a revised story from one of my favorite series, Blue Notes. There are contests and guest author blogs. Truly something for everyone. Stay with me all week long.

The week ahead in reviews:

Monday, Feb. 17, 2014: Kept Tears by Jana Denardo

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014: Lying with Scorpions by Aleksandr Voinov

Wed., Feb. 19, 2014: Amelia Gormley’s Strain Book Tour and Contest

Thurs., Feb. 20, 2014: Shira Anthony’s Blue Notes Release Tour and Contest

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014: Strain by Amelia Gormley

Sat., Feb. 22, 2014: Pretty Poison by Kari Gregg

Review: Reviewing Life (A Review Story) by Lara Brukz

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

After a life spent as an alcoholic, Marshall Ellerbee finds a himself at an AA meeting and on the path to sobriety. Finally sober, Marshall find a new outlook and the strength to change his life in every aspect. He starts a new job at the Wellness Center that houses his sponsor and starts making amends. Then his sponsor suffers a heart attack and dies. His replacement is none other than Kyle Young, Marshall’s ex-lover’s best friend. Kyle was no friend to Marshall even when Marshall and Eric were just dating. But after the drunk driving accident that cost Eric the use of his legs, Kyle’s distain turned to hate. And now Marshall is expected to work with the man who hates him. Marshall wants to show Kyle that he has changed, but will Kyle accept that fact and Marshall?

Kyle Young is floored when he finds out that the athletic manager for the Wellness Center where he was just hired is none other than the drunk that almost killed his best friend, Eric. But Marshall appears sober and when Marshall saves Eric’s life, then Kyle must finally accept the fact that Marshall has turned his life around and become a better person, not just a sober one.

When the men find themselves attracted to each other, and not just physically, it upsets the fragile state of their budding friendship. Is a romance even possible between two men who shared a past such as Marshall’s?

I thoroughly enjoyed Lara Brukz’s first story in the series, Five-Star Review. That novel was Eric Carillo (a reviewer of M/M Romances) and Cade Montgomery’s (author of M/M Romances) story. But Marshall Ellerbee figured largely in that tale as the ex-lover who, driving drunk, put Eric in the wheelchair and the lifestyle that isolated him in his loft. His attempts to re-enter Eric’s life after the accident only caused more pain and heartache through a scheme hatched by a drunken Marshall. In another story, it would have been easy to write Marshall off as the villain he certainly was but in Brukz’s hands, Marshall was also a person in great pain, drowning in alcohol, destroying his life and others in the process. Eric could never bring himself to hate Marshall although he hated what the man had done and who he became under the influence of alcohol. Brukz created a character who could be redeemed but not in that story. I think many of us who read Five-Star Review wanted to see what happened to Marshall and now we have our answer in Reviewing Life.

As the story opens we find Marshall sitting in at his first AA meeting, listening to people relate the traumatic events that finally made them get sober. It is a bleak picture and Marshall sits there shaking wondering if he has the courage to go to the podium and acknowledge that he is an alcoholic. It is a powerful scene and handled with the painful realism it deserves by Lara Brukz. Alcoholism and the path to sobriety is a topic of much larger and detailed stories. But Brukz’s treatment rings with sincerity and the need to make Marshall Ellerbee’s recovering alcoholic as authentic as possible. We get glimpses into Marshall’s upbringing and his use of booze as a bandaid for the problems he encountered. And Brukz makes Marshall work for his acceptance, asking for forgiveness and trying the make amends for his past actions.

Kyle Young also has a past that includes alcoholism, although not his own. So Kyle’s approach to the disease and those afflicted is colored by his own experiences, again a realistic handling of the subject matter. I liked Kyle and the sober Marshall found in this story. Their romance was slow to build, as it should be with two characters and their past issues.

At 124 pages, it would be a challenge for any author to bring in the full range of issues and milestones in an alcoholic’s road to recovery. There are several mentions of the temptation to drink again, including one scene at a bar. The need for support for a alcoholic is there throughout Reviewing Life, a necessity for someone to remain sober. Lara Brukz introduces a few secondary characters at the Wellness Center, including a young man called Toby. I loved the scenes that took place there and can only hope the next novel is located at the Center and brings back not only Toby but the other children and adults as well.

Of course Eric and Cade are strong secondary characters in this tale, so those readers as fond of them as I am will be overjoyed to see them again. This is a strong romance which could have benefited by additional length to add some more layers to Marshall’s recovery and Kyle’s background. However, I enjoyed Marshall and Kyle’s romance and think most readers will too. Consider this definitely recommended for both the story and the author. More please.

This is how Reviewing Life starts…

“I LOVED vodka. Vodka martinis; Bloody Marys; screwdrivers. Oh, and I loved green apple vodka. Simply an amazing drink. It was what I went to when I was happy, when I was sad, when I was frustrated. I used any excuse as a reason to practically drink myself into a coma.”

Cover art by Catt Ford. Just a terrific cover, love the artwork.

Books in this series include:

Five-Star Review (A Review Story #1)
Reviewing Life (A Review Story #2)

Book Details:

ebook, 134 pages

Published November 20th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press (first published November 19th 2013)

ISBN 1627982752 (ISBN13: 9781627982757)

edition language English

series A Review Story

The Sochi Olympics Have Arrived and the Week Ahead in Reviews

So one of the most strained and contentious Olympics has begun, that of Putin’s Sochi Olympics. Eyes are on NBC to see how they report on the many issues that abound at Sochi as well as on the athletic contests and the olympians that compete.

In the past, NBC has been almost too reverential towards the IOC and the hosts of the Olympics. Think Beijing and civil rights. Now comes their chance to report fairly on all the issues as well as with the athletes participating in the Olympics themselves. As gay rights or the lack of at Sochi and in Russia are such a large issue, I would hope that when interviewing the athletes and their families, including partners, NBC will be inclusive, interviewing gay participants and their partners and families instead of just the straight athletes as they have done in the past. I don’t want the athletes to get lost in all the controversy, they have worked too hard for that. But some of those athletes are gay. And their identity should be on equal status as everyone elses. Putin and Russia don’t recognize that. It is too late to talk about whether or not Russia should have been awarded the 2014 Olympics. That’s done. And the IOC continues to be as spineless as they always have been. But I have hopes for this Olympics that go beyond sporting events into a larger global discussion. As Google, Chevrolet and even more sponsors show their support for the LGBTQ community through commercials, Google doodles, and PAs, the discussion and support for equality grows.

So today I am including some of the best blogs/segments reporting not on the contests themselves but extraneous issues that have come out of Sochi to date. The links are below. I did watch the opening last night. Wow. Builders and construction again. Red baby buggies for an expanding population, hopefully for Putin. Lots of flying Red scythes and what seemed to be floating Stalinistic heads. There were some lovely moments too. The singing policemen were wonderful. I liked the floating islands and volcano. That segment with Swan Lake as its accompaniment as ballet dancers swirled under amazing contructs that lifted and floated as they danced was my favorite. So was the Olympic Gods portion with the heavens full of constellations that looked like the various athletes. The lighting of the torch was memorable too. And those wonderful athletes from all the countries marching in under their flags, with joy and exuberance, happy to be a part of such a great community. Nothing Putin does can take that away from them. What was your favorite moment from the Opening Ceremonies?

US bobsledder Quinn has to break out of his Sochi bathroom
Seven Bathroom Rules in Sochi
Chevrolet Ads Feature Gay Couples During the Olympics.
Best of Sochi Uniforms. Got to love those Bermuda shorts even in the cold. Brrrr.
Curling Rocks
Journalists at Sochi are live-tweeting their hilarious and gross hotel experiences BY CAITLIN DEWEY

Now here are the books being reviewed this week. Don’t forget to check in with me on Thursday and enter the Riptide/JL Merrow contest for It’s All Geek To Me. I also have a terrific story just in time for Valentine’s Day. Don’t miss out on Geoffrey Knight’s Be My Valentine, Bobby Bryson and bring a tissue or two. I will be glued to the tv, with my Kindle, popcorn and of course, my terriers!

Monday, Feb. 10: Reviewing Life by Lara Brukz

Tuesday, Feb. 11: Of Last Resort by Megan Derr

Wed., Feb. 12: It’s Only Make Believe by Havan Fellows

Thurs., Feb. 13: J.L. Merrow’s It’s All Geek To Me Book Tour & Contest

Friday, Feb. 14: It’s All Geek To Me by J.L. Merrow

Sat., Feb. 15: Be My Valentine, Bobby Bryson by Geoffrey Knight

Review: Cupcakes by Sean Michael

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Allen Jameson was just 21 when he fell in love with Gary, a wealthy man much older than him. From than on life was perfect for Allen, ensconced in a fabulous house, living a fairy tale life. Until Gary died of a heart attack. Then the Allen’s return to the real world was swift and jarring. Allen was unprepared for life outside the bubble Gary had created for him and now must face the real world alone and unprepared. But one thing Allen could do was bake, so he opened the Sweet ‘n’ Sassy Cupcake Shop, where he could lose himself in creating exquisite cupcakes and pleasing others with his creations.

Byron “Bit” Bannigan walked through the door of Sweet’n’ Sassy Cupcake shop and found not only great cupcakes but the man behind the counter. Byron owns a construction company and on this day he was sent to pickup the cupcakes needed for a company party. Byron ended up picking up much more to the amazement of both Allen and Byron. Quickly Byron and Allen’s relationship flourishes as each proves to be the right man for each other. But Allen’s business is struggling under its success and Gary’s old friends disapprove not only of Allen’s business but Byron too. As Allan’s past clashes with his present day reality, he decide if he is ready to let go of his past with Gary to have a future with Byron.

This story started off so well. Allen Jameson is a man who has been cosseted by his much older partner from the moment they met. Gary almost “trained” Allen to be the perfect house husband from the age of 21. Allen baked, decorated, kept the house immaculate and planned all their frequent parties. Plus he looked great doing it. Gary effectively cocooned the man inside Gary’s way of life, leaving Allen ill prepared for the real world when Gary dies. I really liked this plot. It’s a terrific play on the idea of a 1950’s wife whose life revolved around her husband and household. Those housewives were not prepared for their husbands deaths (or divorce) and the social changes that came with it. Using a twist on the same relationship dynamic but within a m/m context was a terrific storyline. How does such a man suddenly adjust to the real world? Once that bubble is gone, how does he deal with all the everyday chores that his husband took responsibility for and are now his? Those scenes would have given Allen the necessary character background we miss out on in this story. Without seeing him in that context, Allen comes across as less believable than he could have been.

The same problem exists with his boutique cupcake store. How did Allen achieve so much so quickly with no business training and no idea of what he was doing? It would have been great to have seen those scenes as well as Allen leased the store and then slowly established himself as the cupcake place of the moment. Instead of showing us Allen as he struggled through Gary’s loss and the startup of Sweet’n’ Sassy Cupcake Shop, we are “told” that it happened. That gave this story a much lighter but also superficial feel.

Byron “Bit” Bannigan does not come with the same requirements for his character that Allen does. As a self made man, Byron is a lovely masculine construct and works well both as foil when compared to Gary’s old friends and as Allen’s new, sexy and younger partner. My only question here is the part about his name. Byron is called Bit throughout the first part of the story, a nickname from a brother. Then once he starts dating Allen and finds out that Allen likes his given name of Byron, then that is the name he is referred to for the rest of the story. It just seems such an unnecessary quirk when the author abandons it completely without any reason.

The relationship between Byron and Allen is sweet and sexy. Much is made of the lack of sex life in Gary and Allen’s relationship as Gary was not a sexual being. So Allen’s rediscovery of his sexual nature with Byron is one of this story’s real joys. It feels both natural and loving, with Allen acting like the happy, sexy young man he should have been all those years with Gary. It’s probably the most realistic part of Cupcakes aside from the ending and the cupcake recipes Allen creates.

The primary issue here is that this is a very even toned sweet romance. No real highs or lows, just a “steady as they go” sort of relationship. Given Allen’s isolated life with Gary, with Gary’s friends, Gary’s things, and Gary’s house, I kept wondering if there was going to be a dark closet somewhere in Gary and Allen’s life as it appeared so very bland. But then again, maybe the blandness of the 50’s housewife lifestyle suited that of Allen’s role as Gary’s househusband. I kept waiting for the “other shoe” to drop when there wasn’t one. There really isn’t much drama here except for a segment towards the end that is as neatly resolved as everything else in Allen’s life.

I think I was disappointed in this story because of the promise of the plot and the author behind it. Sean Michael has created so many multidimensional characters in the past that I expected that here. And didn’t get it. But what I did receive was a sweet, lovely if facile romance, a little Donna Reed gone m/m (google it if you must). It’s a nice story, one you will be happy to read even if you forget it as soon as the story is over. However, I would love to have some of Allen’s cupcakes…now those sounded not only unique but gastronomically memorable. I only wish I could say the same about Cupcakes the story.

Cover art by LC Chase is as sweet and frothy as the story itself.

Book Details:

ebook, 188 pages

Published January 8th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published January 7th 2014)

ISBN 1627984828 (ISBN13: 9781627984829)

edition language English

url http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Review: Bloody Love Spats (Among Wolves #2) by Valentina Heart

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Despite having a coven queen for a sister, Tomislav “Tomi” Vugrin feels anything but powerful himself. Considered young by vampire standards, Tomi has unusual powers, like telekinesis, that he can’t control and run in his family, making Tomi a freak of nature in the other vampires in his coven. Disliked and taunted, Tomi spends his days reading, watching tv or getting into trouble. But nothing prepares him for what happens when he finds a lost cellphone during a walk in the woods.

Stone Marik, the new Alpha werewolf of the East Pack, is out looking for his brother’s cellphone in his Pack’s territory. The cellphone happens to have an incriminating picture of Stone taken when they were much younger and Stone wants the picture erased. But first he must find the phone. Then he smells something wonderful and traces the aroma to a young vampire in possession of the lost phone. The instant lust tells Stone that the vampire is his mate, something unheard of between two species separated by culture and law.

What follows the mating of Tomi and Stone is nothing anyone could have expected. Will the mate bond and love be enough to hold Stone and Tomi together or will the centuries of prejudice and laws bring destruction down upon them and the East Pack.

Bloody Love Spats is the sequel to Sebastian’s Wolves and it picks up the story in the aftermath of the battle for the East Pack and the death of its corrupted Alpha. Now Stone Marik is Alpha of the East Pack and has been busy trying to rebuild the pack and its wolves. But the years of pain and torture have left a pack cowed and broken and Stone is unsure of his ability to rebuild not only the structures that house them but make the pack into a cohesive strong unit they have the promise to be.

Heart delivers a different book and characters than the one we read in Sebastian’s Wolves. Instead of dwelling solely on the wolf shifters and the pack structures, she adds the politics and relationships of a vampire coven to the wolf shifter universe she has been building to turn it into a combustive mixture of primal animal needs versus an ancient vampire culture so rigidly structured that all they have left to amuse themselves are with internal gamesmanship and alliances borne of self interest. It is those political and social “headgames”, ones that potentially could end up in lashes and confinement for decades for breaking the vampire laws and social strictures that garner most of our attention, mostly because Tomi so often breaks them.

With her characterizations, Heart also deviates from the types of characters we originally met in Sebastian’s Wolves. Unlike the older, experienced Sebastian who is just part of the pack, here the reader is given two completely different yet younger characters to connect with. Alpha Stone, with his Beta brother Tait, are younger wolves than Sebastian. Stone is less experienced but also an Alpha who feels responsible for his new pack and the amount of rebuilding needed for the Pack’s infrastructure and emotional needs as well. By his very nature as an Alpha, Stone’s universe is much larger than Sebastian’s. We meet individual pack members as well as the adorable young pup, Naji, who he has adopted as his son. And almost in tandem, we have Tait, Stone’s brother who is both incorrigible but also loyal. I loved Stone and thought he and the East Pack could have used their own book, so huge are the issues they are dealing with at the moment, nothing less than an entire restructuring of the pack, from the buildings they live in to the manner in which the pack will live and deal with each other.

Then we have Tomi. He is a young vampire, by vampire years and by personality. Tomi has been cosseted by his sister, the Vampire Queen. She has kept him insulated inside the castle, insulated by proximity but not isolated enough that he is not aware that the rest of the coven not only actively dislikes him but considers him a freak of nature because of the other powers he possesses but cannot control. Tomi is childlike, he presses against the vampire society’s boundaries, he tests his sister’s patience and the Ancients laws which she can’t always protect him against. He is adorable, quixotic, and a character anyone can relate to, especially if you are familiar with teenagers at their most exasperating. He wears a hoodie, watches The Big Bang Theory and drives a Smart car. How could you not love him?

It’s their mating that starts an explosion of cultures and ancient laws with a bloody back history Valentina Heart only hints at. I expect the following books to fill in the missing parts of the werewolf/vampire shared history and the reasoning behind the mutually agreed upon need to keep separate. A separation that Stone and Tomi has just destroyed by their mating and continued existence.

I think those who loved Sebastian’s Wolves and thought they were getting an continuation of that character and story might be disappointed when they get something different in scope and tone in Bloody Love Spats. Even the title gives the reader a hint that something quite different is to follow. The format also might take some getting used to. It alternates pov between Stone and Tomi so we understand each person’s internal insecurities and feelings towards each other. It will also bring one of the character’s pain home in bloody detail.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters of Stone and Tomi. Certain characters from the original book make an appearance or two and new characters are created as a bridge to the next story and the battle of the species. I can’t wait to see where Valentina Heart will take this series next. I am sure it will be just as unexpected as the two books she has given us already.

Cover art by Maria Fanning is gorgeous. I love that model and its perfect for the story.

Among Wolves series consists of:

Sebastian’s Wolves
Bloody Love Spats

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages, sequel to Sebastian’s Wolves

Published October 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN13 9781627981385

edition language English

url http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4268

series Among Wolves #2

January 2014 Summary of Books Reviewed

The new years has started with an explosion of wonderful books and new authors for me. SE Jakes and two of her marvelous series dropped into my hands and heart so I will be passing those recommendations on to you. SA McAuley released a new contemporary fiction novel, Treadmarks and Trademarks, the start of a new series. Ditto Susan Laine with her Sparks & Drops. LA Witt inspired with her gender shifter novel Static, a must read for all. Shira Anthony’s Symphony In Blue brought her Blue Notes characters together for a series holiday story, perfect reading for all lovers of romance and music. Horror, fantasy and comedy are all represented here as well as a great non fiction tale by Joel Derfner, Lawfully Wedded Husband:How My Gay Marriage Will Save The American Family, a must read.

So many great books, see what stories you have missed, and make a list. And don’t forget to check out the best book covers of the month at the end.
*Key:
S series
C contemporary
F-fantasy
SF-science fiction
PN-paranormal
SP-supernatural
H-historical
HR-horror
N-Nonfiction
YA-young adult

Rating Scale: 1 to 5, 5 stars is outstanding
5 Star Rating:

Catch A Ghost by SE Jakes C, S
Long Time Gone by SE Jakes C, S
Static by LA Witt, SF
Symphony In Blue by Shira Anthony, C, S
The Engineered Throne by Megan Derr, F
The Fall by Kate Sherwood C. S

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

A Small Miracle Happened by Mari Donne, (4.5 stars) C, holiday
Dirty Deeds by SE Jakes (4.75 stars) C, S
Home for the Hollandaise by BA Tortuga,Julia Talbot *4.5 stars) C
Horsing Around by Torquere Authors, (4.5 stars) A, C
In Discretion by Reesa Herberth (4.5 stars), SF
Lawfully Wedded Husband by Joel Derfner (4.75 stars) N
Refined Instincts by SJ Frost, (4 stars) SP, S
Serenading Stanley by John Inman (4.5 stars), C
Sparks & Drops by Susan Laine (4.5 stars), P, S
Texas Christmas by R.J. Scott (4.75 stars), C, S
The Dreamer by M. King (4 stars), HR
The Lightning Moon by Sylvia A. Winters (4.75 stars) SP
Tread Marks & Trademarks by S.A. McAuley (4.5 stars) C, S

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

Ashland by Lynn Lorenz (3.5 stars) SP, S
The Actor and the Thief by Edward Kendrick (3.75 stars) C, S
Tor by Lynn Lorenz (3.5 stars), SP, S

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Dime Novel by Dale Chase (2.75 stars) H

1 to 1.75 Star Rating: None

*******************************************************************

Best Book Covers of January 2014

This month includes just an overall gold star to LC Chase whose great covers include the Hell or High Water series and Dirty Deeds.

**************************************************************************************

In Discretion by Reesa Herberth, Artist Simone’
Mindscape by Tal Valante, Artist LC Chase, who is having an incredible year
Sparks & Drops by Susan Laine, Artist Brooke Albrecht
Static by LA Witt, Artist LC Chase. A Stunner with it’s Shifting Gender Person
Tread Marks & Trademarks by S.A. McAuley, Wilde City Press, no artist credited

Review: The Fall (The Fall #1) by Kate Sherwood

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

After his boyfriend dumps him for a younger man, Scott Mackenzie must figure out the mess his life has become. A part-time model, Mackenzie had allowed his ex to completely take over his life. Mackenzie lived in Nathan’s house and off Nathan’s income as Nathan’s disapproval of his profession saw Mackenzie’s modeling assignments dropping away until he was barely accepting job offers. Now the reality of his dependency is hitting Mackenzie hard as he tries to determine what to do next. He had purchased an old church to use for gay weddings on a whim and now that looks like his only avenue both as a home and new job. But Mackenzie is a gay fish out of water in a small town in rural Ontario. Both he and the church need a lot of fixing up and he doesn’t know where to start.

Joe Sutton is a rancher and on occasion when his twin needs help with his business, he is also a part time contractor. When his parents died, Joe and his twin brother did whatever was necessary to keep their family together on the land that had been a Sutton ranch for generations. In fact, Joe’s life now consisted of running the ranch and managing his large and sometimes unruly family, leaving little time for a relationship, something already made difficult by the fact that Joe is gay in a small town.

When Mackenzie contracts the Sutton twins for help restoring the church, the initial meeting between the only two out gay men around doesn’t go well. Joe isn’t looking for a relationship and Mackenzie is put off by the monosyllabic impression Joe makes. But a small connection is made, one that grows larger by the day. When Mackenzie’s past arrives to threaten their burgeoning relationship, Joe and Mackenzie must decide just how much they will sacrifice to stay together.

Have you ever read a story where you immediately fell in love with the characters and plot even if you can’t exactly pinpoint why? The Fall by Kate Sherwood is that story for me. I love these men and I loved their story. Everything about Mackenzie and Joe spoke to me. I felt connected to them by their idiosyncrasies and their personalities. I loved Joe’s family and Mackenzie’s dog, Griffin. I loved the town of Falls Creek, the church Mackenzie bought to refurbish and even the town’s Chamber of Commerce. How’s that for a lot of love? But that also makes for a very short review so I had to take a closer look to see if I could figure out my case of instant love for The Fall.

It turns out that I did not have to dig very deep for reasons to love this book. Starting with Kate Sherwood’s characters, everyone that Sherwood created for this story (with the exception of Nick) just captivated me. I found Mackenzie immediately endearing from the moment he murmurs to himself “no one puts Baby in the corner”, referring to himself. One reference and I was his. Mackenzie is someone who has a ton of growing up to do. He gradually let his ex take over his life until he was basically a kept man and Nathan his sugar daddy. At the moment we meet him, he is needy, spoiled by city life and a rich life style. This man is totally unmoored in every aspect of his life. This is our first introduction to Mackenzie:

“IT’S NOT like I was expecting an adorable little café. I knew that even Starbucks might be pushing it.” Mackenzie tried to loosen his grip on his cell phone before saying, “But Kristen, there’s not even a Tim Hortons! There’s a donut shop. It’s called The Donut Shop. It sells donuts. No pastries, no soup, no sandwiches. Just donuts. And coffee.” In the interest of full disclosure, he added, “And bagels. I don’t know what’s with the bagels. But there isn’t even a drive-through!”

Mackenzie has just arrived in town and already he is panicking. And he hasn’t even set foot in the church he owns to see how much work is needed just to make it safe. But even as adrift emotionally as Mackenzie is, we know he is worth sticking around to see what happens next. Gradually Mackenzie starts to grow up, accepting responsibility for his life and deciding to take charge of his future. Sherwood throws this character down an uneven path, making him stumble and fall. But as we watch Mackenzie pick himself up, often with verve and self depreciation, our connection to this character deepens with each new page.

The character of Joe Sutton starts off as the antithesis of Scott MacKenzie. Whereas Mackenzie has not had enough responsibility in his life, Joe has almost had too much, eschewing a social life for family and his ranch. Joe has become so reserved in demeanor that Mackenzie’s ebullience and vivacity puts him off, leading him to make assumptions about Mackenzie from his mannerisms and conversation. The thing is Joe is only partly wrong. There are many layers to Joe Sutton, and they are pealed back one by one as Joe and Mackenzie begin a casual sexual relationship that turns into an emotional commitment. Gradually we see the humor, the love of family and the land. Kate Sherwood’s portrait of Joe Sutton will win you over just as completely as Mackenzie’s.

All the characters are well done here, whether you like them or not. They are grounded in their human frailties , their complexities feel both real and recognizable. Of special note is Joe’s nephew with whom he has a father/son relationship. Five year old Austin is a special needs child, although the reason for that is never mentioned. Austin’s behavior (autism it seems to me) is well researched and authentic. And Joe’s relationship with Austin and the manner in which he interacts with his nephew brought more depth and warmth to a story I was already in love with. Add in the rest of the Sutton siblings and the dogs Griffin and Red, each characters in their own right, and you have a story brimming with people and pets not easily forgotten.

Sherwood’s dialog is especially noteworthy. It almost sparkles as it exits Mackenzie’s mouth, frothy, excitable, and very vulnerable. Joe’s dialog too is perfect for his character. It’s slow, thoughtful, and grounded. It all works. The plot comes to a happy resolution but leaves enough story threads hanging to carryover into another book. The Fall is the first in a series and I can’t wait to read the next installment. These characters and their town has me hooked. Consider The Fall highly recommended.

Cover art by Leah Kaye Suttle. I liked the cover but wish it had included more elements specific to the story such as the church. As it is it feels almost too generic.

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages

Published December 16th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press (first published December 15th 2013)

original title The Fall

ISBN 1627983902 (ISBN13: 9781627983907)

edition language English

url http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4438

series The Fall #1

Brrrrr…..its cold Outside and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Our region has seen single digit temperatures, ice, snow and flash freezing. OK, it is January, a winter month, but still this is far too cold for this area and I think we are in shock. I have kept the bird feeders full, as they are emptying them almost within an hour of being filled. Same goes for the suet cakes hanging in the trees.

My yard is full of evidence of nightly visitors, deer tracks, fox tracks, raccoon and opossum. That is the opossum track to the left, notice the tail drag in the middle. Their ears and tails are naked, getting frostbitten on nights like these. They crisscross and circle in search of food and shelter from the bruising cold winds and frigid Arctic air. I always loved tracking in the woods after it has snowed. So many stories are written on the glistening surface just waiting for someone to read them.

It snowed considerably the first year I worked as a Park Naturalist in Rock Creek. And my first journey into the woods was amazing. I remember walking deep into the hickory oak forest and finding a small pile of Red Shouldered Hawk feathers on the ground, the snow spotted with blood. As I looked around I noticed another grouping of feathers about 12 feet away, and then another. And here and there the wing prints of a large bird, one who had landed with its prey, plucked for a while before taking off again with its heavy load. Further and further I tracked until I finally found my culprit. A great horned owl’s nest, high in a dead white oak tree, the base of which was strewn with owl pellets and fresh feathers. I stood in awe of such a majestic and efficient predator. A silent killer whose wings were capable of carrying a meal almost its own size, a shark of the skies where everything was considered fair game, including other owls. I stood there for a while until throughly chilled, picked up a feather and owl pellet and headed back to the nature center, memorizing my path as I went. I knew I would return there to check for owlets in another month or so and to see what other prey the Great Horned Owl had found. This adventure cemented my love for raptors and owls in particular.

This week a Snowy Owl appeared in downtown Washington, DC. It appeared unconcerned that it stopped all traffic, vehicle and foot, as people gazed on in amazement. How marvelous….