Release Blitz and Giveaway – Rick R Reed’s Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 67,000 words

Cover: Aaron Anderson

Blurb

Blurb

A monster moves through the night, hidden by the darkness, taking men, one by one, from Seattle’s gay gathering areas.

Amid an atmosphere of crippling fear, Thad Matthews finds his first true love working in an Italian restaurant called the Blue Moon Café. Sam Lupino is everything Thad has ever hoped for in a man: virile, sexy as hell, kind, and… he can cook!

As their romance heats up, the questions pile up. Who is the killer preying on Seattle’s gay men? What secrets is Sam’s Sicilian family hiding? And more importantly, why do Sam’s unexplained disappearances always coincide with the full moon?

The strength of Thad and Sam’s love will face the ultimate test when horrific revelations come to light beneath the full moon.

Excerpt

From the moment Thad stepped through the front door of the Blue Moon Café, the décor cleared up any mystery about what kind of food they served. The little café, with its mahogany bar along one wall, its grouping of maybe a dozen tables, and its faux-tin ceiling, could have been straight out of central casting for “Italian joint.” Thad saw the requisite checkered tablecloths, the oil paintings of Italian landmarks like the canals of Venice, the Coliseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and St. Peter’s Square. And yes, each table sported a candle plugged into the opening of an empty green-glass Chianti bottle. A TV sat above the bar, thankfully turned off.

“Buona Sera” by Louis Prima played from the overhead speaker system. Thad was certain the rest of the evening would be peppered with the likes of Dean Martin, Jerry Vale, Rosemary Clooney, and of course, Sinatra. Underneath the music was the usual restaurant orchestra: conversation, laughter, the clink of glassware and the tinkle of silverware.

The scents of garlic, oregano, basil, and tomatoes perfumed the air. Over a counter at the rear of the restaurant, Thad could see into the kitchen: a wood-burning oven, chefs busy at their stations, the occasional upsurge of flame as one of them poured alcohol into a pan and ignited it by tipping the pan. Thad’s mouth began to water.

He already liked this place.

And he liked it even more when he saw the bartender, who was busy drying wineglasses and reaching up to hang them upside down on a rack above the bar. He was a compact little guy, olive skin and shaved head. His muscles tested the endurance of the black T-shirt he wore, and even from his vantage near the hostess stand, Thad could make out the thick black five o’clock shadow that covered his jaw. He was just the kind of guy Thad fantasized about. One who would take him roughly and be in charge.

Stop it, now! I’m in Green Lake, not Capitol Hill. This guy probably has a wife and two kids at home and would not appreciate how I’m imagining how he would look should the seams of that tight T-shirt burst and reveal a defined and hairy chest. He wouldn’t cotton at all to my thoughts of wondering how his asshole would taste, for cryin’ out loud.

Or maybe he would….

Thad grinned and bounced up and down a couple of times on his heels, feeling strangely energized and definitely a little smitten.

Shut up, horndog. Behave yourself.

Author Bio

Rick R. Reed is all about exploring the romantic entanglements of gay men in contemporary, realistic settings. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love.

He is the author of dozens of published novels, novellas, and short stories. He is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner (for Caregiver, Orientation and The Blue Moon Cafe). He is also a Rainbow Award Winner for both Caregiver and Raining Men. Lambda Literary Review has called him, “a writer that doesn’t disappoint.”

Rick lives in Seattle with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever “at work on another novel.”

Stalk Rick

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rickrreed
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RickReedWRITER
Blog: http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/
Website: www.rickrreed.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rick-r-reed

Email: rickrreedbooks@gmail.com

Giveaway

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Andrew Grey on Inspiration and his new release ‘Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2)’ by Andrew Grey (special excerpt)

Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Release Date: Mar 10 2017

Available for Purchase at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Dreamspinner Press

✒︎

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Andrew Grey here today to talk a little about the inspiration behind his latest story, Cleansing Flame, the second novel in the Rekindled Flame series. Welcome, Andrew.

♥︎

The idea for this story came from an old diary that I found in some things in the house. It wasn’t important and didn’t contain anything all that interesting. However it did get my mind running and I thought about what would happen if the diary had been something special. As I was mulling those thoughts a reader asked me to write a story about the Carlisle Indian School. As I was finishing up my previous story, my mind churned the two things together and I ended up with the basis for Cleansing Flame. I’ve never written a story with this kind of element before and I don’t know if I will again. But I did fall in love with both sets of characters.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Life has been grinding Dayne Mills down almost for as long as he can remember. First he lost the love of his life in an accident that also left him with a permanent injury, and then his mother passed away a year later. When his house burns to the ground, it’s the last straw. He can’t take any more, and if it wasn’t for kind and handsome firefighter Lawson Martin offering him a hand up and a place to stay, he doesn’t know what he’d do. Dayne would love for his relationship with Lawson to evolve into something beyond charity, but he knows going after a man so far out of his league will only lead to yet more heartache. It’s best to just keep his mind on his research.

It’s that research that leads Dayne to an old student journal that not only provides clues to the Native American heritage Lawson has been searching for, but chronicles a century-old love story. The tale that unfolds might be just what Dayne and Lawson need to remember that no matter how dark life becomes, love can find a way to shine through.

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Excerpt

Dayne pulled his car into the drugstore parking lot across the street, got out, and walked up to where a group of neighbors had gathered. He turned to where they were all looking and gasped as flames shot out of the windows of his little house.

“Oh God,” Dayne mumbled as he hurried forward. Everything he owned was in that house. It was all he had left of his mom. As flames shot out of front door and the roof collapsed, Dayne’s legs gave out and the grass rose up to meet him.

“Hey,” a deep voice said from close to him. Dayne felt like a fool and struggled to get up. He was helped to his feet, and the fireman took off his helmet. “It’s you.”

“That’s my house…,” Dayne said weakly as water sprayed all over what was left of the only home he’d known. “Everything I have….” He gasped and tried not to come apart at the seams.

“It will be all right.” He took Dayne’s arm and gently helped steady him.

“I don’t see how.” One of the walls fell in, and Dayne turned away. Everything was gone. The last of what he’d had from his mother had been in that house, and the flames had taken it all. A cloud of steam went up as the last of the fire died away, leaving only a smoking ruin of what had been his life.

“I’m sorry this happened to you.” The firefighter gently put an arm around Dayne’s shoulder, and the last of Dayne’s control broke.

He buried his face in the man’s chest and cried like the stupid baby he was. Damn it, he tried not to, but this was too much. For a year, he’d been doing his best to hold it together, to get through each day as it came, hoping the pain would lessen. But every damn time he thought things might be getting better, something happened, and this was the worst.

“It’s all right. Just let it out.”

Dayne heard people around him, but he kept his face where it was for a bit, afraid to look for fear of dying of embarrassment. Dayne breathed deeply and backed away, swallowing and getting himself together. “I’m sorry.” He wiped his eyes and tried not to get snot all over himself.

“Don’t be.” The man didn’t move, and Dayne lifted his gaze.

“I guess after I slobbered all over you, I should tell you my name. I’m Dayne.” He wiped his hands on his pants because they were covered with things he shouldn’t have on them.

“I’m Lawson Martin.” He took Dayne’s hand and held it.

About the Author

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Website

For Other Works by Andrew Grey

(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)

“Brush with Catastrophe” By Tara Lain Cover Reveal Blitz (excerpt)

At night, he paints. In a world where the supernaturals can bring down lightning and manifest wealth, Sammy can paint. What happens when a witch’s “prophetic” paintings always come true and his latest painting is of the human he has a crush on? The answer? Magic!Check out the brand new cover for the 2nd Edition of BRUSH WITH CATASTROPHE!!

Brush With Catastrophe

(The Aloysius Tales Series, #2)

By Tara Lain

Blurb:

Sammy Raphael is a crappy witch, and on top of that, he can’t seem to get a boyfriend. Where other supernaturals can bring down lightning and manifest wealth, Sammy can paint. Granted, the “prophetic” paintings he creates at night always come true, but they never predict anything important. Sammy feels like a total loser with a worthless ability.

One night he paints a gorgeous guy who turns out to be his secret crush, the human Ryder, but Ryder’s changed so much he’s almost unrecognizably beautiful. Then Sammy paints an angel who turns out to be a witch. But is that witch also a devil—a devil who can bring down Sammy’s whole community and everyone he loves? And why the hell does Ryder keep changing? Aloysius, the black cat familiar, always backs a winner. So why is he backing Sammy?

Available for pre-order at

Also available in paperback

Release Date:

April 14th 2017

Excerpt

Ryder cocked his head. “You’re so talented.”

Gods, Sammy’s heart had to slow down, or he’d pass out. “Thanks. That means a lot.”

Ryder looked up with a soft expression. “You mean coming from a dumb historian who doesn’t know a palette knife from a fork?”

“No, I mean coming from you. My friend.”

“Don’t go out with Lucien, Sammy.”

What the fuck? “Why? Come on, Ryder. Sure, I don’t have a background check on him, but I probably know as much about him as I do you.”

Ryder looked at his feet. “Point taken.” The green eyes flashed up. “But I think he’s cheating on you.”

“What?”

Ryder walked over to the kitchen counter, picked up a glass, filled it from the faucet, and drank.

Sammy wanted to beat him over the head. “Come on. Tell me what you mean. Stop stalling.”

“I can’t prove it, but I’ve talked to a couple of people who seem to have a relationship with him and seem to think they are somehow special to him.”

Sammy couldn’t catch his breath. “Well, we’re not exclusive or anything. I don’t have any claims on him.”

Ryder scratched Al, who was purring so loudly that Sammy could hear it clearly. “Is that true? Or has he implied that you’re his boyfriend?”

“Not exactly.”

“I think you deserve better, Sams. I think you can do better.”

Well, shit! Sammy threw up his hands. “That’s real easy to say when you have an unlimited supply of tits to drool over.” Sammy crossed his arms. Maybe they’d protect his heart. “I haven’t had a real boyfriend in over a year, and even that one wasn’t serious. I’m lonely, damn it. I want to be with someone, and Lucien is smart and funny and charming, and he seems to like me a lot.” He spread his arms wide. “Is that so unbelievable? That a gorgeous guy like that could actually go for a skinny scarecrow like me?” He could feel his ears getting hot, and hurt stored over years poured out of him. “Maybe that’s why you think he’s cheating. You can’t believe he could want me!”

Ryder stared at him, his eyes shiny. “That’s not true. I’d never feel that way. I think anyone with a brain would want you.”

“Then there must be a lot of dumb people!” Sammy’s breath came hard. Shit, he was attacking his best friend. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I know you don’t think that.” He ran a hand through his hair. He probably really looked like that scarecrow now. “Look, he’s going to be here soon. I promise I’ll ask him. I will. Okay?”

Ryder frowned. “I’m worried about you.”

“I know. I don’t understand why, but I know you are. I’ll talk to him.”

“Okay.”

“You better go unless you want to ask him yourself.”

“No, I’ll go.” Ryder walked to the door and turned. He extricated Al from his neck and handed him to Sammy. “I care what happens to you. I care…. I wish…. Hell, be careful.” He opened the door and walked out, then closed the door behind him.

Sammy collapsed onto the couch, still holding Al against his chest, and threw his head back. “Why the fuck does this have to be so hard? Why can’t I just have a boyfriend?”

The Aloysius Tales Series

Book #1

Spell Cat

Available for purchase at

Also available in paperback

About the Author

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

You can find Tara at Lain

Presented By

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Lickety Split by Damon Suede

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

This is one of the strangest love stories I ever read. On the one hand, it felt as if two guys were just getting together for some rough sex mixed in with a lot of down-home talkin’ and good earthy slogans, but under the surface level, when we scratch deep enough, it was really a love story between a 40+ old cowboy/farmer/rodeo rider and a 20+ NYC deejay who comes home to good ol’ Hixville,Texas, after his parents are killed in an accident.

Even blindfolded, I’d know Damon Suede wrote this due to his inimitable way of spitting out rough, tough, rapid-fire dialogue. Add to that the deep Texas accent of the older MC, and the often back-to-his-roots twang of the younger MC, and at times I found the dialogue and narrative difficult to follow.

The story in a nutshell: Patrick “Patch” Hastle, New York City-based international “circuit” deejay, is notified that his estranged parents left their farm to him when they were killed as his dad tried to beat a train through a crossing. Heading back to Hixsville, Texas, is the last thing he wants, but he needs the money from the sale of the farm to invest in a new club that he and his BF are planning to open.

Once there, he runs into good ol’ Tucker Biggs, his father’s BF and his one-time crush. In fact, that crush is still happening and may explain why his one-night stands in the city are always based on his fantasies about Tucker. Long story short, after being caught eavesdropping on a masturbating Tucker, the two fall into a fuck-buddies relationship that takes a turn for the better—or worse, depending on your viewpoint—when Patch realizes he loves the old guy and then later realizes the feeling might be mutual. But too many years of denying any feelings and too many years spent running (for Patch) and going too slow (for Tucker) make for a major communication gap.

Can the two find their way to much-needed communication? Can Patch possibly make a living down in Texas when his deejay work takes him all over the world? And can Tucker finally acknowledge his own needs, fears, and feelings? That’s what makes this story tick and what left this reader feeling very close to two very unlikely lovers. So despite sometimes being lost and not being a fan of the good ol’ boy twang in the dialogue, I still felt connected with the characters and I can’t seem to ferget ’em as the day goes on—a sure sign that this one needs to be at least a 4 star book.

~~~

The cover by Reese Dante is quite attractive, featuring a close-up of an older cowpoke on a brightly colored background.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 286 pages
Expected publication: March 13th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635335736
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Release Day Review: Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe by Rick R. Reed

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

A monster moves through the night, hidden by the darkness, taking men, one by one, from Seattle’s gay gathering areas.

The strength of Thad and Sam’s love will face the ultimate test when horrific revelations come to light beneath the full moon.

Thad has been wallowing while he has been on unemployment, with pretty much only his dog for company. When he decides to treat himself and visits the Blue Moon Café he finds much more than he was expecting.

Sam first pushes Thad away despite their connection, but just as Thad begins to look for other options he has to call him while volunteering. Speaking to each other seems to reawaken Sam’s feelings and they decide that even if it isn’t the right time they can try and make it work.

This story is told from Thad’s point of view, so we know what he is thinking and feeling. For the length of this book we don’t see these characters together very often, I felt that we saw his budding friendship with Jared more than we saw Sam. We learned a lot of Thad’s thoughts an doubts, but there was a lot of information that was inferred or was easily assumed. I don’t know when there are big gaps in time and we are only seeing one person a majority of the time it is hard to connect with the story and how their relationship is building in the background. I liked that they were happy in the end, but wasn’t sure about how they got there or the way Sam rationalized his actions throughout the story.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson is wonderful and eye catching.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: 2nd edition, March 13, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635332926

Edition Language: English

A Lila Release Day Review: Step by Step by K.C. Wells

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Jamie’s life is one big financial mess, and it really isn’t his fault. However, the last thing he expected to find in the library was a Good Samaritan. He might have been suspicious of Guy’s motives at first, but it soon becomes apparent that his savior is a good man who has been lucky in life and is looking to pay it forward. Guy being gay is not a problem. Jamie’s not interested… or so he thinks.

Guy is happy to help Jamie, and the two men get along fine. But when Jamie’s curiosity leads him from one thing to another, Guy finds himself looking at the young man with new eyes. What started out as a hand up is now something completely different….

Step by Step starts like a fairytale–with the knight rescuing the young prince and it ends the same way–with a happily ever after. The in-between is a coming of age story that intersects in parts with a mentorship-like relationship. Together, they give love new beginnings and second chances.

I like Jamie, but I need to accept that I love Guy. Perhaps because we are in the same age group. I don’t mind the age difference, but the way they met and how they responded to each other at the beginning of the story was a bit off-putting for me. I think it has to do with Jamie’s interpretation of Guy’s intentions; which he was right about.

The story has a good pacing, but the slow burn between the characters makes the reader want to read faster. I won’t recommend starting this story late at night or if you have something else to do. As soon as you get into it, it swipes you away and it’s going to be a while before you come out for air.

The smexy scenes are sweet and filled with emotion even when they’re trying to get the edge off. It’s more of an exploration than a quick one-off. There’s a lot of sensuality in their small touches and the way Jamie and Guy interact.

I like all the secondary characters and how their lives were interconnected with the main characters. I wanted to see more interaction with Jamie’s parents after they became a couple, but that’s just me.

Overall, this is a lovely story, but you have to keep some sort of suspension of disbelief in order to completely enjoy it.

The cover by Paul Richmond is simple, but the picture by Strangled Photography is everything. It’s beautiful and it captures the essence of the story to perfection. The models are age appropriate and go with the story’s descriptions.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | Nook

ebook, 256 pages
Published: March 13, 2017, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1635334527 (ISBN13: 9781635334524)
Edition Language: English

Recent Release Spotlight with Ethan Stone on Wild Instincts (Seaside Shifters: Book Two) (author interview)

Wild Instincts (Seaside Shifters, Bk 2) by Ethan Stone
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words has Ethan Stone here today to talk about Wild Instincts. What can you tell us about it?

The story stars 18-year-old police cadet Tyson Dakota, a bear shifter. He meets Amante, a mysterious stranger and begins a passionate relationship with him as he also begins training at the Seaside Police Department.

Please tell us more about our main characters.

Tyson is young and eager to not only do his best in his job but also to be the best man he can be. His father is quite the ne’er do well and Tyson doesn’t want to be anything like him. Amante is a few years older than Tyson and just in town for a short visit. His motives are secret and not something I want to spoil here.

What do you want to tell those who may be new to the series?

Seaside Shifters is set in Season, Oregon, which is a real town BTW. The fictional Seaside is a shifter haven of all breeds. Not only is it a safe place for members of the paranormal to live it’s also a place for them to vacation. This allowed me to bring all sorts of different shifters into one location instead of being focused on packs and families.

What about Wild Instincts makes you the proudest?

This was a fun story to write. One of my few recent ones that didn’t involve a serial killer. There is a mystery regarding drugs and it being brought into Seaside, but it’s not quite as heavy as my other books. I usually try not to write insta-love or insta-lust but I went with it here. Tyson and Amante want each other from the get go but they think their relationship has an expiration date, or so they think.

What is next for these characters? Is there more to this series? If so who will we hear from next?

I’m not actually sure if I’ll write more in the series or not. I guess it depends on readers’ reactions. I’d like to explore MPREG in another tale with a rare species like a white tiger. I also have ideas for a Jonah, a character seen in book one who is still laying in a coma.

Random Questions:

What one story made you lose sleep as a kid?

The Amityville Horror. In the story the little girl has a ghostly friend who happens to be a pig name Jodie. My mom collected pig items and outside my bedroom attached to a pole was a ceramic pig whose eyes glowed in the dark. Creepy.

What’s your favorite thing to wear?

Pajama pants. I shamefully admit I wear them all the time. I put on real pants only if I leave the house. Well, If I leave the house with plans to get out of the car. Picking up the kid or going to a drive-thru is a different story. I have many different types of pajama pants and they are so freaking comfortable. The perils of working at home, I guess.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

I’d love to be able to turn invisible and be able to sneak around unseen but that would make me a bit of a creeper. It would be interesting to have powers like Mr. Fantastic from the Fantastic Four because then I’d never be fat and I could adjust the size of my…feet.

Rapid Fire Time

Salt or Pepper?

Pepper all the way. Sometimes I add so much I sneeze because of it.

Top or Bottom?

Yes.

Tropical Island or Snow Covered Mountain Cabin?

Screw snow. Can’t stand the stuff. Give me a tropical island any time.

West Wing or Friday Night Lights?

I’ve seen all of Friday Night Lights and loved it. However, I wish West Wing was reality right now. Jed Barett for president. Hell, Martin Sheen for president.

Favorite Color?

Purple.

Light saber or a Sonic screwdriver?

I would love to have a lightsaber IRL.

Roller Skates or Ice Skates?

Neither. I have absolutely no balance at all.

Windows or Mac?

I’ve been a devoted Windows guy for years but a friend convinced me to buy a Mac and I freaking love it.

Call or Text?

Text for sure. I despise making a phone call.

Waxed or Furry?

Furry, baby. My boyfriend is a bear and I love it.

Shifters or Vampires?

Well, I’ve written a couple shifter books and no vampire books. What does that tell you?

Twinks or bears?

Twinks can be fun in bed but for LTR give me a bear.

World of Warcraft or Everquest?

BF is a devoted Everquest fan. I’m an Everquest widower. 😦

Fisting or Watersports?

Hell to the no.

Blurb

Police cadet and bear shifter Tyson Dakota looks forward to his on-the-job training in Seaside, Oregon, working alongside his cousin, Chief of Police John Dakota. Their goal is to investigate the growing meth epidemic and identify the kingpin bringing the drugs into their community. All signs point to someone inside law enforcement working with the drug traffickers, and Tyson must find out who before the body count gets any higher.

Along the way, Tyson meets Amante, a charismatic and attractive man in town for reasons he doesn’t want to share. Tyson is drawn to Amante despite his secretive ways and is sure there could be more between them than explosive passion, if he could just get Amante to make his stay in Seaside permanent. But when Tyson’s pursuit of justice puts him at odds with Amante, they could lose more than their fledgling relationship.

They could end up losing their lives.

About the Author

Romance on the Edge

Ethan Stone doesn’t write your typical boy meets boy stories. With a combination of love and suspense he makes his characters work hard for their HEAs. If they can survive what he puts them through, then they can survive anything. He enjoys Romance with an Edge.

Ethan has been reading mysteries and thrillers since he was young. He’s had a thing for guys in uniform for just as long. That may have influenced the stories he writes.

He’s a native Oregonian with two kids. One of whom has made him a grandfather three times over; even though he is way too young.

Readers can find Ethan online.

http://www.ethanjstone.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ethan.stone.54
Twitter: @ethanjstone
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ethanjstone/
Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/blog/ethanstone
Email: ethanstone.nv@gmail.com

His books: http://www.ethanjstone.com/my-books

B.A. Tortuga on Writing and her release ‘Two Cowboys and a Baby’ by B.A. Tortuga (author guest post)

Two Cowboys and a Baby by B.A. Tortuga

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have B.A. Tortuga here today to talk about writing and her latest story in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press, Two Cowboys and a Baby. Welcome, B.A.

~Our Interview with B.A. Tortuga~

How much of yourself goes into a character?

I have to be honest – my culture is very much expressed through my characters – their lives, their voices, their environment, but me personally? Not so much. 😀

Do you feel there’s a tight line between Mary Sue or should I say Gary Stu and using your own experiences to create a character?

No, not at all. I write the places I know and love, the archetypes I grew up with. I don’t find them to be Gary Stus.

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

I tend to stick fairly close to home, I think, but I research the specific time period or bull rope or breed of cattle. I call my daddy a lot. 😉

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

I was (and still am) a voracious reader. I read all the Harlequin and Silhouette romances, Kathleen Woodiwiss and Johanna Lindsey. All of them. My favorite book as a little girl? Little Women. OMG. I wanted to be Jo and my wife assures me that I’ve come close.

I have to admit, I’m a trope whore, to the bone. points to Two Cowboys and a Baby Tropes, y’all. Tropes, joy and cowboys.

Wallow in it with me.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

I’m an HEA all the way type of girl. That’s what I read and that’s what I write.

Do you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

Oh, lord yes. I love the promise of a happy ending, the comfort of the story. It does it for me, 100%.

Who do you think is your major influence as a writer? Now and growing up?

Stephen King, no question. He taught me about being faithful to your own voice, your own accent. He’s my hero.

Do you have a favorite among your own stories? And why?

My favorite is always the one I’m writing. Always. Those are the boys I’m in love with, right now.

What’s next for you as an author?

After Two Cowboys and a Baby? I have a novel coming out April 28^th that’s my love story to Red Dirt Texas music called “Best New Artist”. I’m currently writing the next Roughstock novel and co-writing a m/m book with Jodi Payne.

Much love, y’all.

Two Cowboys and a Baby Blurb

A little bundle of joy means big changes.

Hoss McMasters has a working ranch, a bull riding career, a nosy momma, and a best friend he’s been in love with since he can remember. He’s a busy, happy cowboy, living the good life.

Then one morning he discovers a baby on his doorstep.

Well, Hoss does what any reasonable man would do—he calls his momma and his buddy, Sheriff Pooter, and they head to the clinic to see if Doc knows of any suddenly not-so-pregnant girls.

In the meantime, Hoss and his best friend, Bradley, have their hands full trying to care for an infant, run a ranch, and deal with the sudden confession that Bradley doesn’t hate Hoss for coming out to him in high school. In fact, Bradley’s been trying to catch Hoss’s attention for damn near a decade.

About BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head. Find her on the web at www.batortuga.com

Love Never Dies in ‘Sons of Devils (Arising #1)’ by Alex Beecroft (giveaway)

Sons of Devils (Arising #1) by Alex Beecroft
Riptide Publishing

Cover by: Simoné

Available for Purchase/Read an Excerpt at

Riptide Publishing

About Sons of Devils

British scholar Frank Carew is in Wallachia to study the magic generator on nobleman Radu Vacarescu’s land. There, his party is attacked by bandits and his friends are killed. Pursued by a vampiric figure, he flees to Radu’s castle for help.

Unfortunately, this is precisely where the vampires came from. If allowed, they would feed unchecked and spread their undeath across the whole Earth, but Radu maintains a shaky control over them and keeps them penned in his tiny corner of the country.

As Frank recovers from his assault, Radu finds himself falling for the young man. But loving Frank and not wanting to lose him leaves Radu vulnerable to his demons’ demands. Can he bear to let them feed on the man he loves? Or must he give in to their blackmail and set them free to feast on his entire country?

Now available at Riptide. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/sons-of-devils

About Alex Beecroft

Alex Beecroft is an English author best known for historical fiction, notably Age of Sail, featuring gay characters and romantic storylines. Her novels and shorter works include paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.

Beecroft won Linden Bay Romance’s (now Samhain Publishing) Starlight Writing Competition in 2007 with her first novel, Captain’s Surrender, making it her first published book. On the subject of writing gay romance, Beecroft has appeared in the Charleston City Paper, LA Weekly, the New Haven Advocate, the Baltimore City Paper, and The Other Paper. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association of the UK and an occasional reviewer for the blog Speak Its Name, which highlights historical gay fiction.

Alex was born in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and grew up in the wild countryside of the English Peak District. She lives with her husband and two children in a little village near Cambridge and tries to avoid being mistaken for a tourist.

Alex is only intermittently present in the real world. She has led a Saxon shield wall into battle, toiled as a Georgian kitchen maid, and recently taken up an 800-year-old form of English folk dance, but she still hasn’t learned to operate a mobile phone.

She is represented by Louise Fury of the L. Perkins Literary Agency.

Connect with Alex:

Website: alexbeecroft.com
Blog: alexbeecroft.com/blog
Facebook: facebook.com/AlexBeecroftAuthor
Twitter: @Alex_Beecroft
Goodreads: goodreads.com/Alex_Beecroft

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Sons of Devils, one lucky winner will receive a $10 Riptide credit and one ebook from Alex Beecroft’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 18, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Fickle, Fickle March ~ Its Snowing? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Fickle, Fickle March Part II ~ Its Snowing?

So remember all that lovely warm weather I was talking about? Well, out the window it went and here’s comes the first Nor’easter of our winter season. The meteorologists are calling from anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of accumulated snow here in the metro area, possibly more. Oh those poor cherry blossoms, to say nothing of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival that draws visitors from around the world. Yep, those blossoms will be history, taken down by nature’s blast this week!

And what will that do to our St. Patricks Day parades? Will they be marching in the snow? Most likely.

Oh, this mercurial March. Much like love and romance, it blows hot and cold. It heats up and then quickly can become ice cold. Then flare up when you least expect it. I’m hoping for the more heat to melt this coming snow away quickly.

Lucky In Love – A St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway!

So new giveaway for our readers. With it being St. Patrick’s Day this week, what are your favorite books with Irish settings, or Irish men and romance in them? Lists please and we will post a special St. Patrick’s Day Romance Book List of Love. Random reader will receive gift card of $10 from Dreamspinner Press. Please leave a name and email address with your recs! I will start you off with one that still makes me cry and grabs at my heart every time I read it:

Where the Grass is Greener (Seeds of Tyrone #2) by Debbie McGowan and Raine O’Tierney

And don’t get me started on those magnificent Morgan men of Rhys Ford’s Sinners series. I’ll add in more when list time comes. Our giveaway ends Saturday, March 18th at midnight. Slainte’! D’fhéadfadh grá i gcónaí a bheith mise! May love always be yours, in life and in our stories. I can’t wait to see what books your lists may bring us.

This Week’s Announcements at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

📚~ Reviewers ~We have a new reviewer coming on. Her name is Julia. And we’re thrilled to have her here. Let Julia tell you something about herself:

Hey, there!

I’m Julia, a mid-twenties gay language student from Austria. I love travelling, Japanese curry, Scotland, the sea and anything and all fiction-related. My current passions are writing (mainly short stories and flash fiction) and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends (where I play as a half-mermaid cleric with a pet pufferfish named Huffl-Puffington Supreme Conqueror of the Northern Seas).

When it comes to literature, I’m basically open for anything that catches my interest in some way. I love books that make me cry, books that make me laugh, books that make me want to ram my head against a wall with spikes protruding from it – as long as a story can get any kind of emotional response out of me, I’m happily along for the ride. That being said, my most-read genre right now would probably be Fantasy and my favourite author Terry Pratchett with his glorious Discworld-series.

Well, I think that should give you a pretty decent picture of myself. Have a lovely day and as a friend of mine once said: Don’t get eaten by a dragon! (Unless they ask nicely and all around seem like a pretty ok-person.^^)

Say hi to Julia and be on the lookout for her reviews to start appearing soon! We are still looking for reviewers. So contact us at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com if you love books and want to tell other about them too!

📚~Last Week’s Giveaway ~ He Turned Out To Be What? Contest and the Winners: Purple Reader (Stella will be in contact with you)

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 12:

Fickle, Fickle March Part II ~ Its Snowing?
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 13:

DSP GUEST POST BA Tortuga on Two Cowboys and a Baby
DSP GUEST POST Ethan Stone on Wild Instincts (Seaside Shifters: Book Two)
Release Day Blitz Shaper by Christine Danse
RIPTIDE TOUR BLOG Sons of Devils by Alex Beecroft
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Lickety Split by Damon Suede
A Lila Release Day Review: Step by Step by K.C. Wells
An Alisa Release Day Review: Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe by Rick R. Reed

Tuesday, March 14:

DSP GUEST POST Andrew Grey on Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey
Release Blitz – Rick R Reed’s Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe
In the Paranormal Spotlight: Insight by Santino Hassell (Riptide Publishing Tour and Giveaway)
A Jeri Review: Danced Close by Annabeth Albert
A Stella Review: Momo, My Everything by Posy Roberts
A Stella Review: Beneath the Stars by Lynn Charles
An Alisa Review: Falling Hard: Stories of Men in Love by Dale Cameron Lowry

Wednesday, March 15:

DSP GUEST POST Sarah Madison on Unspeakable Words (The Sixth Sense: Book One)
Release Blitz & Review Tour – K.C. Wells’s Step By Step
Who We Are by Nicola Haken Tour and Review
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Two Cowboys and A Baby by BA Tortuga
An Ali Release Day Review: Sophie by JP Barnaby
An Alisa Release Day Review: Running with the Moon by Kiernan Kelly
An Alisa Review: Love by Design by Sam B. Morgan

Thursday, March 16:

Release Blitz Tour – The Case Of The Guilty Ghost (End Street Book #6) by RJ Scott and Amber Kell
RELEASE BLITZ Between the Secrets by S. Ferguson
Release Day Blitz An Officer’s Submission by Christa Tomlinson
Release tour Who We Are by Nicola Haken
A MelanieM Review: Who We Are by Nicola Haken
Step by Step by KC Wells Release Tour
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Fallen Angel by Eden Winters
A Stella Review Spark to the Heart (Parkerburg series #4) by Lee Brazil & Havan Fellows

Friday, March 17 – Happy Ēostre or Ostara:

Blog Tour for Leaning into the Fall by Lane Hayes
Book Blitz Here For Us by AM Arthur
A Caryn Review : Bedside Manner by DJ Jamison
A Caryn Review: Drinker of Blood (SPECTR Series 2, #3) by Jordan L Hawk
A Lila Release Day Review: Falling Into the Black by Caitlin Ricci
A Melanie Releases Day Review: There’s this Guy by Rhys Ford

Saturday, March 18:

A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Drama Muscle by Joe Cosentino and Narrator Chip Hurley
Blog for the audiobook of DRAMA MUSCLE, the second Nicky and Noah mystery, by Joe Cosentino, performed by Chip Hurley

Giveaway

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Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase Release Date: Mar 10 2017

Blurb/Synopsis:

Excerpt

About the Author

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Wild Instincts (Seaside Shifters, Bk 2) by Ethan Stone Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Blurb

About the Author

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Two Cowboys and a Baby by B.A. Tortuga

Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Available for Purchase at

~Our Interview with B.A. Tortuga~

Two Cowboys and a Baby Blurb

About BA Tortuga

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Sons of Devils (Arising #1) by Alex Beecroft Riptide Publishing

Cover by: Simoné

Available for Purchase/Read an Excerpt at

About Sons of Devils

About Alex Beecroft

Giveaway

Share this:

Fickle, Fickle March Part II ~ Its Snowing?

Lucky In Love – A St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway!

This Week’s Announcements at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

📚~ Reviewers ~We have a new reviewer coming on. Her name is Julia. And we’re thrilled to have her here. Let Julia tell you something about herself:

📚~Last Week’s Giveaway ~ He Turned Out To Be What? Contest and the Winners: Purple Reader (Stella will be in contact with you)

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 12:

Monday, March 13:

Tuesday, March 14:

Wednesday, March 15:

Thursday, March 16:

Friday, March 17 – Happy Ēostre or Ostara:

Saturday, March 18:

Share this:

Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Release Date: Mar 10 2017

Wild Instincts (Seaside Shifters, Bk 2) by Ethan Stone
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Sons of Devils (Arising #1) by Alex Beecroft
Riptide Publishing