A MelanieM Review: Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Final book in the Dirty Series arc.

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

What a magnificent story! Even with all the intricacies, cultural layering and mysteries that have flowed through all the stories of the Cole McGinnis series, really none can prepare you for this book. Its just that powerful and emotionally wrenching.

The big mystery and heartache at the center of this series has been why Cole McGinnis’s cop partner on the force and close friend/brother shot Cole and killed his lover. It was an act of betrayal that Cole never quite recovered from, even with his strong and passionate love for Jae-Min Kim. Like that saying that all roads eventually lead home, Rhys Ford has been leading Cole and the readers back to the beginning where Cole will find out the answers to the violent action that shattered his life. This is that book.

Little by little, more things from Cole’s past find him again. Some are indescribably wonderful and moving, some heartbreaking, and raw. You never know from page to page which element Rhys Ford is going to serve up, what you can be certain is that it will piece your heart, make you weep with either joy or pain with the believable anguish that Cole is going through, along with his family and loved ones. There are some devastating events here, sometimes one after another. After a while I thought I had become inured.

I was so wrong.

Its because Rhys Ford writes so beautifully that her characters resonate so with the reader, as does the pain and emotional turmoil they are going through. Here emotions, thoughts, even rage that Cole had imagined he had buried rise up, overwhelming him, and the reader in the process. At parts, the story is so moving, I had to stop reading, because I couldn’t see the Kindle any more through the tears. I don’t think anything can prepare you for parts of this book.

The relationships here are deepened, even more realistic than ever as certain elements are revealed about peoples lives, the comedy that is a hallmark of this author ‘s writing and this series is ever present, a necessary levity when the angst threatens to swamp us and the lives involved. Clowns and llamas are a perfect pairing and I can only imagine how Rhys Ford saw that.

Rhys Ford is not one to give up the mystery easily. Its been years in the making so its a heart-racing, white knuckle, fast paced scary race at towards the end. What a shocker! I did not see that coming, even after all those books, so well done, Rhys Ford. That was really a great twist. Then you went on and delivered further. How worthwhile an ending. Its superb. Ford really pulls it all together. First a shocker, then a summation, and then a epilogue that will leaving you giddy with joy.

Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford is one spectacular book. Never has her characters been more nuanced, more moving and real. The story includes stunning narrative explosions, a conclusion to a convoluted mystery spun over 6 stories and characters that will never leave me. This jumps to into Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Word’s Top Ten Rec list. Its February so for you readers still new to the series, you have plenty of time to read through the series before the book comes out in March. Pay no attention to anyone trying to spoil this book for you. No no NO! Its too good a tale for that. Make sure you pick it up fresh! But pick it up you must! Highly Recommended as is the series.

Cover artist Reese Notley does a wonderful job with the cover and branding the series.

Sales Links coming in March

Book Details:

Expected publication: March 2016 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
Original TitleDIrty Heart
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesCole McGinnis #6

Cole McGinnis Series:

Dirty Kiss (Cole McGinnis, #1)
Dirty Secret (Cole McGinnis, #2)
Dirty Laundry (Cole McGinnis, #3)
Dirty Sweets (Cole McGinnis, #3.5) free story
Dirty Day (Cole McGinnis, #3.6) free story
Dirty Deeds (Cole McGinnis, #4)
Down and Dirty (Cole McGinnis, #5)
Dirty Minds free story
Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis, #6)

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Dangerous Territory by Cari Z

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

When Connor’s spinster sister, Millie, marries a scheming money-hungry man who immediately takes steps to control the ranch Connor and his sister inherited when their father died a month ago, there’s little he can do to hang on to his share of the ranch. His only choice is to get his share of the cattle to market before his scheming brother-in-law, Percy, takes the rest of the herd. And Percy has already secured passage on the barge that goes to the town where the annual auction will take place, so Connor’s only choice is to take his cattle through Mason Canyon. The problem is that it’s in the territory of the local shifter clan, and the canyon is heavily populated by very large, very venomous snakes.

Keena, his father’s longtime foreman, is half shifter and arranges for the son of the new clan chief to accompany Connor and get him through the canyon safely. Shifters aren’t known for being helpful to others but the new chief sees this as a test for his son’s abilities and finds it an opportunity to help a neighbor who has coexisted peacefully with the clan for years.

Along the journey, the very quiet Rani finally opens up to Connor when Connor offers to teach him to ride his stallion. Can the two men ever find a common ground when it becomes obvious they are attracted to each other? Can they get the herd through the canyon without casualties from snakes or flooding? And more importantly, does Connor have any future without his ranch but with the possibility of having Rani at his side?

It’s amazing that the author was able to build a complex story which took place in multiple locations and still build three-dimensional characters, who were tough, yet gentle, and apparent enemies who manage to become lovers—all within a short 56 pages. All of the above questions are answered and there’s even more drama than what’s mentioned. The shifter population was different from the usual, and the form Rani shifted into is quite unexpected and unique. I really enjoyed this couple and would like to read more about them in the future. This novella could easily serve as the first book in a very interesting series, and if it does, I hope we get to see more of Connor and Rani as they make a commitment to remain together against all odds.

~~~~~~

Cover art by Cari Z is a very clever depiction of a cowboy silhouetted against a cloudy, orange-tinted sky. When one looks closely, a very long snake can be seen in the background of the clouds. This is the perfect depiction of Connor who has to make his way through the dangerous snake’s territory.

Sales Links: Less Than Three Press | ARe | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 56 pages
Published January 13th 2016 by Less Than Three Press
ISBN139781620046937
Edition LanguageEnglishsettingOklahoma Territory (United States)

A BJ Review: Stealing Innocents by Cari Waites aka Lisa Henry

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Those who dare to scratch the surface of ordinary, everyday life may be horrified to find a sick underbelly beneath—a nightmare world populated by villains and victims, predators and prey, where the rules of society no longer apply.

Where you’ll find people like Danny, the boy who sells himself to pay for his father’s gambling debts and ends up in a situation more twisted than he ever imagined. Or Troy, the cop whose obsession with saving a brutalized human trafficking victim turns deadly. Or Drew, the mental patient who begins to suspect his nightly delusions of abuse by his doctor are actually real. Or David, the cuckolded husband who decides the best way to get revenge is to seduce his wife’s barely legal son.

Stealing Innocents is an exploration of our darkest human impulses, where sex is power, love is horror, and there’s no such thing as a happy ending.

Holy crap! I mean, seriously folks… this anthology is well-written, compelling, and it will mess with your head. Seriously. Are you ready for that? Cuz if non-con and rape bother you, if you’re squeamish and or if horror keeps you up at night, then I’d say this may not be an anthology for you. It will push your buttons for sure. This is some sick and twisted stuff we have here… at times it made me feel dirty/wrong just reading it. It also also make me think and question. There are twists I didn’t see coming, nuances I didn’t fully experience until I sat back and thought about what I’d just read. And there’s stuff I can’t get out of my head, can’t un-read but maybe partly wish I could.

Gamble Everything – 4 stars

Eighteen year old Danny sells himself to Peter Archer to repay his father’s gambling debts.

I’d read the original version of this as a compilation and had rated it originally as 4 stars. Reading it in this anthology, it did seem to read more smoothly and feel more fully realized, but that could also be just because it was my second reading. This one has kink galore: sounding, fisting, plugging, cock cage, orgasm denial, caning, spanking, enemas, multiple partners, toys, bondage, humiliation, daddy-kink, and more. If you enjoy reading some kink, this book should totally rock your boat. However, it was the twist at the end that made it what it was for me. Damn, Archer is a master manipulator. And is there romance… well, read it and decide.

First and Only – 3 stars

David is pretty sure his wife of less than twelve months is cheating on him and since he’s had the hots for her barely legal son since he first saw him, he decides the best way to get revenge is to him. However, he didn’t bargain for having real feelings for the youth. This one did have love… of a sort. I read it waiting for the twist I sensed would come, but didn’t see what ended up happening coming. Again, this one wasn’t erotic to me, but it definitely drew me in and made me eager to see where it would go. It left me with a ton of unanswered questions floating around in my head though, and also given how it ended, it seemed a bit strange that it was written from David’s past tense POV.

Crazy – 3.75 stars

Drew’s not crazy. The dreams he has at night of his doctor restraining and dominating him can’t be true. Just because he’s a patient in a mental health facility doesn’t mean he’s crazy. Right?

Is it real or is it not? A twisted, intensely harrowing little story that could fly either way, I guess, from how it’s written. But I took it as being real, which left me wondering how in heck his parents could take the doctor’s word over his when he’d went into the facility for mere depression and is now diagnosed with… well, deemed as crazy. Probably once again my issue with trust (i.e. his parents not trusting that he is telling them the truth.) It’s definitely well-written, and it made me feel—revulsion, disgust, anger, even betrayal. So while my initial impulse was to rate it three, that got outvoted (see story reference) as I thought on it. It reminded me a bit of how I felt when I watched One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. I’d classify this little story firmly in the category of horror rather than BDSM or erotica and for the most part, I do enjoy horror stories. Except…

Falling Angels – Cannot Even Rate

Arkady is a legend. Arkady is an angel. Arkady is a slave.
Troy is a voyeur. Troy is a rescuer. Troy may be a monster.

Sex trafficking of young boys… non-con, torture, mutilation. An innocent in the hands of first a sex trafficker which is awful, right? Well, it pales when you go further into the story and meet a monster. This gives new meaning to the idea that things could always be worse. And Troy… the obsessed police officer, the one man would could have possibly have saved him but couldn’t even save himself.

Make no mistake here: this story is very dark with no redemption or love. For me, this is more horror than erotica. I read it with hope, but there was no hope. I finished and just sat stunned speechless. If the point was to horrify, it did that. In spades. Move over Stephen King, Clive Barker and the other masters of horror. Cuz this one freaked me he heck out. Left me feeling disturbing and hopeless, drained and dirty, and overall not really knowing how to rate it.

How do you rate a nightmare? As a horror story, yep… completely horrified so I guess that would be a five. But giving it a five seems to say that I enjoyed it and that it’s a favorite. Can I say that? Hell, no. So I chose not to rate this one at all.

This cover by L.C. Chase is dark, the model is hot and the pose is just incredibly sexy to me. Very nice.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

book, 264 pages
Published January 9th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
Original TitleStealing Innocents
ISBN 1626493782 (ISBN13: 9781626493780)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

A Paul B Review: The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Doctor David Hammond holds the bible as his husband Grayson Alexander is sworn in as the first openly gay Vice President of the United States. Three hours later, the newly sworn in President is killed by an assassin’s bullet, making Gray the first gay President. Thrust into his new role, Grayson throws himself into being the most powerful man in the free world. David is also thrown for a loop as he is now thrown into a spotlight he would rather not be. As a professor of medicine and practicing physician at Georgetown University, he much prefers the world of academia and healing people than his new role as First Gentleman. This is especially the case as Gray works long hours trying to set up his new government on the spur of the moment instead of the two months that most new presidents get. This puts a strain on their relationship.

When a health crisis needs Grayson’s attention, he calls his husband into the Situation Room for his candid advice and expertise. David decides to help out the situation by providing onsite medical assistance to prevent a possible outbreak from spreading into the United States. Despite taking all precautions necessary to protect him from the disease, Grayson goes along with his chief of staff to force a mandatory 21-day quarantine on David. David, knowing that the quarantine is not necessary, is livid. When Grayson forgets about an important milestone that occurs while David is locked away, the relationship reaches a breaking point. Will the First Couple survive to make it to the end of Grayson’s term?

The first thing I would like to comment on is that I enjoyed the last part of the book. (spoiler). I just wish that Grayson had acted more like this than like the asshole he is portrayed in the first half of the book. Yes, we know the job of President is a difficult one and being thrust into the position unexpectedly like Grayson was is especially tough. But to ignore your partner for the better part of three months is going to extremes. And while I liked that David gave Gray time to adjust to the new situation, he also comes off as a bit stubborn when he completely ignores his role as First Spouse.

What was missing from the book for me was the political ramifications of not only having the first gay president but also that of a sudden change of the presidency. It was mentioned that Gray was more liberal than his running mate and had the opposing party leading congress. How did this play out in the first few months that made Gray work those long hours? How did David and Gray keep their separation from the ever-present 24-hour news cycle? If these issues were addressed I believe it would have added some depth to these characters and this novel.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but had potential to be more.

The cover art by L. C. Chase shows David and Grayson in business suits in the top half of the cover with the White House in the bottom half. It’s an appropriate cover for the book.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon |

Book Details:

ebook, 220 pages
Published January 29th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1623803896 (ISBN13: 9781623803896)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pain Slut (The Subs Club, #2) by J.A. Rock

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Miles is a pain slut. In fact, he’s the resident authority on pain among members of the Subs Club, a group formed a few months before in “an attempt to give submissives a private place to discuss safety concerns in the kink community.” As the story opens, Miles is participating in a scene with one of his favorite sadists. The scene is explicit and uses medical props so those who are squeamish and not able to read about masochism will be able to test their tolerance early in the story. But for Miles, it’s what he wants and needs, and he’s still suffering the aftereffects (swollen testicles) when there’s an emergency at his business, and he has to go in to take care of it.

He’s dressed in loose-fitting sweats and a T-shirt and slinks in the back door because he doesn’t want anyone to see him. Of course, that’s when the customer at his custom shirt design company spots him. Miles looks up, and up, to the six foot seven inch tall, gorgeous, long-haired, blond man who smiles back at him with shiny, sharp-pointed teeth. And, yes, it turns out his customer, Drix Seger, is a vampyre—a member of a community who believe in feeding on the prana, or life force, of others. He tells Miles he’s a sadist and he likes blood play, but his real kick is in feeding on persons with a really powerful life force.

Miles has met the perfect man for him. Drix is not only a sadist, but he’s willing to train with Miles’s favorite Dom so that he can meet his need for pain. But Miles is in a quandary—he’s just been approved for adoption, and he’s fearful his lifestyle will interfere, causing the agency to turn him down. Staying involved in the Subs Club as they extend their meetings to include community outreach to college campuses and other groups, and staying involved with Drix, knowing he’s risking the adoption with this relationship have Miles’s head spinning. And the more he spins out of control, the more he needs to submit to pain.

At a deeper emotional level, Miles has never learned to share his feelings with others. He keeps them bottled up and rarely shares with his family, his friends in the Subs Club, or even with Drix. He wants to— especially now that he’s beginning to feel so much for Drix, but he can’t seem to force himself to do it. He doesn’t realize it at first, but all of his carefully erected emotional walls are starting to crumble as he learns valuable truths about himself. Can he leave the Subs Club behind? Will he be able to adopt? Can he find his HEA with a vampyre?

I really enjoyed this story for a number of reasons. The author presented sadism and masochism in a straightforward and enlightening way, giving both a definition and demonstrations. Note—this book is not for the faint of heart or those looking for mild BDSM. There’s hardcore sadism in this one.

What I most enjoyed while reading the book was meeting Miles— being treated to a glimpse of his psyche as he moved from a serious playtime pain slut who took control of his scenes to a totally wrecked and blissed-out pain slut whose heart and mind are placed totally in the hands of his sadist, his lover, his man, Drix. Add to that, his insights into his ability to be a good parent, his fears that his inability to make a decision will make him a bad parent and poor role model, and his awakening love for and dependence on Drix, and I was totally wowed.

I recommend this to all lovers of BDSM, and especially to those with an interest in sado-masochism. And if you like a story in which the MC grows and matures and realizes his self-worth over the course of the book, this one is perfect for you.

~~~~~
Cover Art by Kanaxa shows a small surgical knife against a teal blue argyle background. The background, using different colors, is being repeated throughout the series, and a different BDSM-related symbol will be displayed on the cover each time. I like the way the general look of the cover links all the stories in the series.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | ARe | Amazon coming soon| Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 320 pages
Published January 30th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
Original TitlePain Slut
ISBN 1626493456 (ISBN13: 9781626493452)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesThe Subs Club #2

The Subs Club (The Subs Club, #1) – link to Barb the Zany Old Lady’s review
Pain Slut (The Subs Club, #2)
Manties in a Twist (The Subs Club, #3) coming soon
24/7 (The Subs Club, #4) coming soon

Love and Kink Returns When The Sub Club Continues with ‘Pain Slut (The Subs Club #2)’ by J.A. Rock (giveaway)

Pain Slut (The Subs Club #2) by J.A. Rock
Published by Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist Kanaxa

Read an Excerpt/Purchase a Copy Here

Hi! I’m J.A. Rock, and right now I’m touring the internet talking about my latest release Pain Slut—Book 2 in The Subs Club series. Thanks so much to the blogs that are hosting me on this tour, and be sure to leave comments on the tour posts for a chance to win your choice of two backlist ebooks and a $10 Amazon gift card!

About Pain Slut

Honestly, I’m ready to take a step back from the Subs Club. Making the kink world a safer place for subs is the sort of bandwagon I’d have boarded as an idealist in my early twenties, but now I’m a pragmatist in my late twenties. I prefer to focus on adopting and raising a child.

But unexpected factors inevitably derail my plans. Like Drix Seger—attractive and the first genuine sadist I’ve encountered. If I were not in the process of renouncing my masochistic ways and becoming the normal, responsible potential father the adoption agency wants to see, Drix and I might do well together. But he has a foolish name and belongs to a cult of vampyres, and I am quitting kink. So why does Drix’s infatuation with blood and biting make me so hot I can’t think straight? And why, when he looks at me, does he seem to see something beyond a basket case with a stick up my ass?

Can I start a new phase in my life without leaving part of myself behind? Please send help.

—Miles

About the Subs Club series

After the death of their friend Hal at the hands of an irresponsible dom, submissive friends Dave, Kamen, Miles, and Gould band together to form the Subs Club—an organization seeking to expose dangerous local doms. The club slowly evolves as romances blossom, loyalties are tested, and tensions mount in a community already struggling for unity in the wake of Hal’s death.

From domestic discipline to knife play to fashion paraphilia, and from family drama to new jobs to first loves, the members of the Subs Club explore life’s kinks inside and outside of the bedroom as they attempt to let go of the past and move forward.

This title is part of the The Subs Club Collection collection. Check out the collection discount! – See more at: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/pain-slut

About the Author

J.A. Rock is the author of queer romance and suspense novels, including BY HIS RULES, TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, and, with Lisa Henry, THE GOOD BOY and WHEN ALL THE WORLD SLEEPS. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and a BA in theater from Case Western Reserve University. J.A. also writes queer fiction and essays under the name Jill Smith. Raised in Ohio and West Virginia, she now lives in Chicago with her dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

Website: www.jarockauthor.com
Blog: http://jarockauthor.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jarockauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ja.rock.39

Giveaway

Leave a comment for a chance to win your choice of two backlist titles from J.A. Rock and a $10 Amazon gift card. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on February 6, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

The Subs Club (The Subs Club, #1) with a link to our review, a highly rated novel at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Pain Slut (The Subs Club, #2) our review to follow

Manties in a Twist (The Subs Club, #3) – a delicious title that’s coming soon….

24/7 (The Subs Club, #4) as is this

An Ali Audiobook Review: Another Way (Another Way #1) by Anna Martin and Narrator Brad Langer

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

On the surface, Jesse Ross is an average guy in an average relationship with his college sweetheart, Adele. But what his girlfriend doesn’t know is that he’s having an affair—with a man—and exploring his sexuality in ways she never could imagine. His compartmentalized life suits Jesse just fine, and he has no intention of coming out of the closet either as a bisexual or as a submissive.

However, Jesse takes a tumble when his Master, Will, admits to wanting more, wanting Jesse as his partner, not just his submissive. Suddenly Jesse’s conveniently pieced-together life isn’t quite so comfortable. In the end, Jesse has to lay it all on the line—for his girlfriend, for his lover, and for himself.

This is a hard review to write. I am reviewing two separate things in this. There is the plot of the book which I liked and the narration which I loathed. I’ve never had such a wide divide before. If I was only rating the book I would rate it higher. If I was only rating the narration I would rate it much lower. I literally could not finish this on audio and ended up having to switch to ebook to keep from abandoning this book. The narrator’s voices were really bad. His idea of a BDSM Dom was this ridiculous, deep, alpha voice and then his sub would get all high pitched like some mock characterization of a woman. The plot itself was a good portrayal of two men who start their relationship as only a Dom/sub but over time start to fall in love and then begin a romantic relationship. This story was a refreshing change from the typical BDSM story in the m/m genre where one MC is broken or damaged and they are using the BDSM to “fix” him (which is a trope I hate). I do recommend reading the story but I really don’t think you should try the audio version.

Cover art by Taria Reed is lovely and dark.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Book Details:

Narrator Brad Langer
Length 7 hours and 56 minutes
Published September 30th 2011 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleAnother Way
ISBN 1613721617 (ISBN13: 9781613721612)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesAnother Way #1

A Lila Review: Romanus by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The story starts right into the action described in the blurb. We get Mason finding the old man–Fabron–and giving him a ride home when the man refuses to get to the hospital. For some reason, Mason doesn’t consider the man’s hands curled into claws, growls, and the change in his eyes strange.

By the time they made it to the man’s house, Mason is fighting with sleep since he just finished a double shift as a firefighter. Everyone at the house seems to recognized Mason as a Romanus, but the reader, just like Mason had no idea what that means or the implications.

Mason leaves his information with the man’s granddaughter and tries to leave, but ends returning after a couple of minutes because he’s too tired to drive back home. He accepts the invitation to stay the night made by Raoul, the one in-charge of the group, but as soon as he meets Luc, he goes with him instead.

From here, we get a condensed version of insta-lust with several smexy scenes between two house parties, and a visit from the bad guy. The story was interesting; unfortunately, it didn’t have enough of a plot to hold into.

Romanus is a novella with a Napoleon complex. The amount of twists and turns taking place are enough to be handled in a full-length novel, perhaps a series. As always, the author took a different approach to shifters and mating; giving the reader a taste of all the possibilities. The amount of characters, their purpose, and relationship are overwhelming. At least, the action moves quickly, making the story short enough to be read all at once.

I liked what I read, but this story is not a romance. It’s simply an erotica short with the potential to be something more. It lacks coherence between the scenes and the characters behave oddly, almost like a parody of what gay men in their late twenties would act.

Luc speaks in riddles most of the story, and we get the story’s resolution by means of the villain giving his evil speech. And at the same time, giving Mason enough time to planned and executed his escape. Then, Luc saves him, and they live happily ever after. Probably not, but that was the goal.

And a pet-peeve of mine, the story ends at 92% with the rest being filled with the covers and blurbs for other stories by Mary Calmes.

And the cover? Easy to identify as a Reese Dante cover with the author’s signature’s font. It encompassed the central theme of the story, depicting a view of Luc’s back and wings.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 60 pages

Published: January 27, 2016 (first published June 1, 2010), by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1634768574 (ISBN13: 9781634768573)
Edition Language: English

Its February, Where’s the Respect? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its February, Where’s the Respect?

So its February and I thought I would look around for suitable quotes to herald in the second month of the Gregorian calendar. Oh, what a bag of woe and complaints I found.

Let’s start with this.

“February is a suitable month for dying. Everything around is dead, the trees black and frozen so that the appearance of green shoots two months hence seems preposterous, the ground hard and cold, the snow dirty, the winter hateful, hanging on too long.”
– Anna Quindlen, One True Thin

How cheery! Death, dead, black, dying….yep. Eeyore has nothing on Anna Quindlen. There are many more in that vein but I’m going to pass those by. I might have thought that about a couple of days ago but now? I’m thaaaat much closer to March but more on that later. Now how about this one, it totally cracks me up.

“Loud are the thunder drums in the tents of the mountains.
Oh, long, long
Have we eaten chia seeds
and dried deer’s flesh of the summer killing.
We are tired of our huts
and the smoky smell of our clothing.
We are sick with the desire for the sun
And the grass on the mountain.”
– Paiute Late Winter Song

I can hear it now. “Damn it I’m tired of deer jerky, you smell of bear fat, the hut stinks. If I have to eat one more damn seed, I’m gone to puke. Fat Groundhog Who Runs Like Rock is looking pretty good to me right now. I want Spring!” That’s really what that says. See? Not so different from the way many of us are feeling now.

Some see it as a mere stepping stone that must be passed over to get to March such as the next quote:

“February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.”
– Dr. J. R. Stockton

And so many that remark on the fact that while its our shortest month, it feels like forever, such as these:

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.”

― J.D. Robb

and almost word for word

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.”

― Lorraine Snelling

“February – the month of love..?!!
No wonder the shortest one in the calendar.”
― Dinesh Kumar Biran

That last, yep. Valentine’s Day. And the ones that like February? Dreadful, at least not to my taste, such as this one:

“Wan February with weeping cheer,
Whose cold hand guides the youngling year
Down misty roads of mire and rime,
Before thy pale and fitful face
The shrill wind shifts the clouds apace
Through skies the morning scarce may climb.
Thine eyes are thick with heavy tears,
But lit with hopes that light the year’s.”
– Algernon Charles Swinburne, A Year’s Carols: February

I much prefer the brevity of Robert Byrne’s short winter perspective.

“Winter is nature’s way of saying, “Up yours.””
– Robert Byrne

I prefer to look at February as a time of transition, neither winter nor spring. We have time to plan ahead and still enjoy the season we are currently in or complain about it if that’s where the time takes you (see me last week when I was snowed in). Its Black History month which has never been more needed given current race relations, Valentine’s Day which many have a love/hate relationship with, the Super Bowl, Groundhog Day and for a little piece of history, the Supreme Court of the United States met for the first time on February 1, 1790. Plus Abraham Lincoln was born this month. There’s a lot going on in February and still it gets no respect.

So how about a little, hell yeah, happy to see, you, February. Plan a little, snuggle a little, write and read a little, enjoy it while its here. March is coming, so is Spring, Enjoy the sight of the Snow Junco below the feeders and the Winter Wren warbling merrily away before they leave. I will enjoy my February and plan some changes and read many more books. I’ll leave you with one more poem (still that Paiute one remains my favorite):

February

February knows his fortune well,
Even in the bitterness of dawn
Breaking in the coldest hour of hell,
Revealing but the worst that must be borne.
Underneath the ice the passions sleep
Ablaze with all the beauty of their burning,
Rendering a richness that will keep
Yet warm within the cavern of his yearning.

Now for this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 31:

Its February, where’s the respect? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Louise Lyons ‘Favorite Toy’ book blast and giveaway

Monday, February 1:

Book blast and giveaway for Catherine Lievens ‘Benoit’s Christmas Surprise’
Coffee Sip and Book Break with Meraki P. Lhyne’s ‘Anchored In Stone (excerpt and giveaway)
Second to None by Felice Stevens Blog Tour and Contest
An Ali Audiobook Review: Another Way (Another Way #1) by Anna Martin and Narrator Brad Langer
A Lila Review: Romanus by Mary Calmes

Tuesday, February 2:

Its Release Time for J. Scott Coatsworth’s ‘The Autumn Lands’, a new MM Romance/sci fi/fantasy (excerpt)
In the Contemporary Book Spotlight: Lane Hayes ‘A Kind of Truth’ (excerpt and giveaway)
The Sub Club Continues with Pain Slut by J.A. Rock (giveaway)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pain Slut (The Subs Club, #2) by JA Rock
A Stella Review: Out! by JL Merrow

Wednesday, February 3:

Dusk Peterson ‘The Shining Ones’ Book Blast and Giveaway
Heidi Cullinan’s Clockwork Heart Blog Tour and Giveaway
A Lila Review: Clockwork Heart by Heidi Cullinan
A BJ Review: Stealing Innocents by Cari Waites
A PaulB Review: The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy (release day)

Thursday, February 4:

In the Spotlight: Alysia Constantine’s ‘Sweet’ (excerpt and giveaway)
A Paul B Review: Dangerous Territory by Cari Z
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dangerous Territory by Cari Z
A BJ Review: Mocker of Ravens by Jordan Hawk
A MelanieM Review: Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford
A VVivacious Review: Save of the Game by Avon Gale

Friday, February 5:

Whistle Blower by Dev Bentham: Book blast and contest
Dreamspinner Tour: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Charlie Cochet (Guest Post and Tour)
A Stella Review: Out of the Past by Sean Michael
A Jeri Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Charlie Cochet
A F.D. Review: Line and Orbit by Sunny Moraine and Lisa Soem
An Ali Review: Keys by Amber Kell (audiobook)

Saturday, February 6:

Dreamspinner Press Tour: My Man Walter by J.S. Cook (guest post and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Purple Pearl (End Street Detective Agency #5) by Amber Kell and R.J. Scott

Love Gets a Sporting Chance with ‘Save of the Game’ by Avon Gale (guest interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Save of the Game by Avon Gale
Release Date: January 29, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Today Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Avon Gale with us. Avon Gale is the author of Save of the Game, a story in her Scoring Chances series. Avon, would you share 10 things 10 things we didn’t know about you with our readers.

I have a master’s degree in ancient history, and studied Spartan military history.
I spent ten years after grad school working in fundraising for non-profits, including women’s liberal arts education and public radio.
I have a black belt in Taekwondo.
I have 11 tattoos.
I’m an only child.
I always seem to hate movies that everyone loves, like “A Christmas Story”, “Pretty Woman,” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
90% of the movies I watch are horror films (which might explain #6!)
My favorite TV show of all times is Mystery Science Theatre 3000
I was in a sorority in college.
I am physically incapable of snapping my fingers.

Thanks, Avon. MST3K just happens to be one of my all time favorites as well. Now more about Save of the Game.

Blurb

After last season’s heartbreaking loss to his hockey team’s archrival, Jacksonville Sea Storm goalie Riley Hunter is ready to let go of the past and focus on a winning season. His new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, is a loud New Yorker with a passion for social justice that matches his role as the team’s enforcer. The quieter Riley is attracted to Ethan and has no idea what to do about it.

Ethan has no hesitations. As fearless as his position demands, he rushes into things without much thought for the consequences. Though they eventually warm to their passionate new bond, it doesn’t come without complications. While trying to financially help Ethan, Riley must hide his family’s wealth so as not to hurt Ethan’s immense pride. For their relationship to work, Ethan will need to learn when to keep the gloves on and let someone help him—and Riley will have to learn it’s okay to let someone past his defenses.

Pages or Words: 200 pages
Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Sports, Hockey

Series: Scoring Chances
This book is a ‘Scoring Chances’ novel. It can be read as a standalone.

Excerpt

His phone beeped, alerting him that he had a new text message. It was from Ethan Kennedy, the defenseman the Storm had acquired before the trade deadline last spring. The rowdy Kennedy, who had a heavy New York accent and was a huge fan of the New York Rangers—a team Riley hated, by virtue of being a New Jersey Devils fan—had bunked with him for a few weeks during the finals. He’d gone back to New York after the Storm lost in the playoffs. Riley hadn’t been sure if he was coming back or not, but the text message indicated he’d just gotten back to town, and would Riley mind picking him up from the airport?

And oh, he got a cheaper rate by flying into Tampa, which was three hours away. Was that a problem? And one last thing. Riley didn’t need a roommate by any chance. Did he?

Riley looked around his apartment, which was nice and clean and quiet. Just like it always was, except for those few weeks last spring when Ethan was there. He was loud and messy and always in Riley’s space, left half-full cans of Pepsi everywhere, drank whiskeys with dubious-sounding names, and smoked like a chimney.

be there in 3 hrs, Riley texted and grabbed a few boxes of coconut water out of his fridge. The idea of coming home alone after games reminded him of those car rides in Wyoming, and he was getting tired of the silence.

Buy the book

Dreamspinner eBook | Amazon | ARe | Kobo

Meet the Author

Avon Gale was once the mayor on Foursquare of Jazzercise and Lollicup, which should tell you all you need to know about her as a person. She likes road trips, rock concerts, drinking Kentucky bourbon and yelling at hockey. She’s a displaced southerner living in a liberal midwestern college town, and when she’s not writing you can find her at the salon, making her clients look and feel fabulous. She never gets tired of people and their stories — either real or the ones she makes up in her head.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avongalewrites
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authoravongale
Twitter: @avongalewrites
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/avongalewrites/
Other: (join my mailing list) http://eepurl.com/bGLSrD

Tour Dates & Stops:

29-Jan

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Posy Roberts, Book Lovers 4Ever, Mikky’s World of Books, Jessie G. Books, Gay Book Reviews

1-Feb

Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Kirsty Loves Books, Love Bytes, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Divine Magazine, Hearts on Fire, Open Skye Book Reviews

2-Feb

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, V’s Reads, Nautical Star Books, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, BFD Book Blog

3-Feb

Bayou Book Junkie, Alpha Book Club, Molly Lolly, Happily Ever Chapter, Unquietly Me, MM Good Book Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark

4-Feb

The Novel Approach, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Carly’s Book Reviews, The Hat Party

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 2 copies of ‘Save of the Game’ by Avon Gale. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Pain Slut (The Subs Club #2) by J.A. Rock Published by Riptide Publishing Cover Artist Kanaxa

About Pain Slut

About the Subs Club series

About the Author

Giveaway

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Its February, Where’s the Respect?

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 31:

Monday, February 1:

Tuesday, February 2:

Wednesday, February 3:

Thursday, February 4:

Friday, February 5:

Saturday, February 6:

Share this:

Save of the Game by Avon Gale Release Date: January 29, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Giveaway

Share this:

Pain Slut (The Subs Club #2) by J.A. Rock
Published by Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist Kanaxa

Save of the Game by Avon Gale
Release Date: January 29, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson