A MelanieM Review: The Circus of the Damned (Deal with a Devil) by Cornelia Grey

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Magician Gilbert Blake has spent his entire life hiding the fact that his power is real. Instead, Gilbert journeys from town to town, along with his patient companion, Emilia the mouse, trolling for easy marks in the worst of places and pubs along the way. Gilbert’s love of drink and quick temper has often gotten him into trouble but never like the hornets nest he stirred up in the town of Shadowsea. A dark, disreputile place, home of the infamous slumlord Count Reuben, who gets wind of his abilities after a fight in one of his pubs. Gilbert’s flees with Emelia until his only option to survive is hiding within the Circus of the Damned .

Only the Circus of the Damned isn’t merely an unusual name but a unique circus with dark secrets of its own. It’s handsome ringmaster Jesse’s responsiblity to make sure their numbers stay the same. And when a performer dies, a new replacement must be found within 24 hours or all is lost, including their souls. A recent death in their ranks makes Gilbert exactly what they need. A soul in exchange for safety inside the Circus as a performer. Only Gilbert doesn’t exactly believe in the pact or the Circus for that matter. For Gilbert expediency is everything until its not and reality sets in.

But something far darker looms on the horizon, for Gilbert and the Circus of the Damned. For Count Reuben hasn’t forgotten about Gilbert and is pursuing him still. As the danger grows all around them, and other mages start disappearing, Gilbert, Jesse and the Circus of the Damned place everything on the line for survival and for love.

Just the blurb for The Circus of the Damned was alluring enough for me to pick up this story and start reading. Never quite the fan of clowns and circuses, the premise was one I found easy to believe in, a company of damned souls and supernatural talents who journeyed around the world holding special shows whose audience was often as unusual as the performers themselves. Yes, I was hooked well and good.

But Cornelia Grey’s marvelous execution of this premise and the complex,haunting universe she has created for The Circus of the Damned exceeded all my expectations and then stomped them into the dust. Part steampunk , part hellmouth, always fascinating, from the miserable town of Shadowsea to the encircled caravans of the Circus of the Damned, no little detail goes unnoticed or fails to enchance Grey’s tale of magic, devilry, and romance.

Circuses as I have said, are the perfect devil’s playground, From the garish makeup, tents, trailers and oddities of the side show, this venue lends itself to otherworldly elements like a duck does to water. And the foundation is always in its performers, as it is with the characters Grey has created here. But first, let’s start with Gilbert Blake, an often drunken mage with anger issues who often takes the easy road in life. He drinks, cheats, and scurries along, accompanied by only the most tolerant mouse alive, Emilia. Gilbert is everyone’s problem at the beginning, including the readers. He’s just not that likable to start off with. Luckily that will change once he is forced to enter the Circus, but even then he can be a problematic leading man. Only as he starts to accept his fate and really takes notice of his fellow performers and situation does this character grow and our liking of him along with it.

But even as we are having problems engaging with Gilbert, there’s Jesse, Dora, Ramona, and Constance. There’s the remarkable Olivia, and Mildred, and of course, Farfarello, to delight, horrify, and pull us forever into their stories and lives. It’s that damned Circus of the Damned that’s so mesmerizing and fanciful that you just can’t get enough of the place or people (or beings for that matter). Here is Cornelia Grey’s Pinterest Inspiration board, as scary and haunting as you will find. That circus and the history behind it is the hook that will pull you in and keep you enthralled while you are waiting for Gilbert to develop into a character you and Jesse can love. Yes, that happens, along with so many other startling plot threads that I remained happily ensconced in this world 347 pages to the end. And then wanted more.

And I do want more. I want to see what happens next, I want more backstory, and definitely more of their future. Another story perhaps? That would be delightful and satisfying. Of course, Farfarello appears in other tales, Devil at the Crossroads, the first in Cornelia Grey’s Deal with a Devil series. And by the title here, it would appear that more Deal with the Devil tales are coming. Now only if they can include a certain circus….

Make your introduction to these devilishly entertaining group of performers and the fantastical world Cornelia Grey has created for them here with The Circus of the Damned. It delivers a new perspective from which to view the big top, magic, and captured souls looking for love. It’s a recommended read here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Grab it up today. Happy Reading.

Cover art by Kanaxa. Oh! How I love that cover. Spooky, haunting, and totally captivating. If the title didn’t already pull you in, that cover would. One of the best of the year.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing All Romance eBooks amazon The Circus of the Damned

Book Details:

ebook, 347 pages
Expected publication: November 3rd 2014 by Riptide Publishing
original titleCircus of the Damned (A Deal with a Devil Story)
ISBN139781626491656
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://riptidepublishing.com/titles/circus-of-the-damned
seriesDeal with a Devil

It’s Hellish Great Times on Tour with Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned !(contest)

Introducing into Center Ring, Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned!

Cornelia Grey is here to tell us about the chracter inspiration for the supporting folks in her captivatingly scary new story, The Circus of the Damned. And don’t forget to follow along on the tour for more chances to win a $250 gift certificated to Harlots and Angels Steampunk Corsetry! Take a look at these items that could be yours if you won!

The Circus of the Damned – Character Inspiration Pics Pt. II

Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for having me – happy to join you to talk a bit about my newest release, the paranormal novel The Circus of the Damned!

I love supporting characters, love making them interesting and colorful and, with the circus setting, I was really looking forward to working with an ensemble cast. My characters tend to be underdogs, living at the margins of society, relying on their wit and abilities to scrape by in a hostile world, and the perforrmers of the Circus of the Damned are just that – a ragtag crew of odd creatures, people with supernatural abilities that they cannot reveal to the world, hiding in plain sight under a circus tent…

As I was toying with a few ideas about their ideas and their performances, I decided to look for inspiration browsing vintage photos and cabinet cards of acrobats and assorted artists, that would be a perfect match with the Victorian-esque, slightly creepy atmosphere I had in mind… while I didn’t have much luck finding photos matching my guy performers, let me introduce you to the ladies of the Circus of the Damned!

First, I knew I wanted a strong woman, who would be beautiful and confident and unstoppable, with a taste for elegant earrings and dainty plumed hats… and I came across this gorgeous lady, who instantly became my Constance!

Then, I wanted an aerialist – slash – contortionist, who would swing from the trapeze and stroll around on stilts. This young lady was a good inspiration for Miriam…

When I came across this elegant woman, instead, the opposite thing happened – I was captured by her expression, her posture, her dress, and instantly knew she had to belong to the Circus of the Damned, and set about discovering just who she might be. By the time we meet her at the Circus, Dora is elderly, but she is still just as intriguing and magnetic as she does in this picture…

The same happened when I stumbled across the picture of this young acrobat: I was instantly struck. I had been struggling, trying to zero in on the character of Olivia and on what her performance would be like and, when I saw this girl – with her curls, and her piercing, knowing eyes – I knew I had found her.

And, last but not least, a character that has already made a brief appearance in another of my stories (you win a cookie if you recognise which one!). I am fond of scattering ‘Easter eggs’ here and there in my books – subtle references to another story, for example, or maybe a song… and Ramona’s appearance is one! There was no chance to talk about her backstory in this book, but she is from Genoa, Italy. Give her some basil and percorino cheese, and she will prepare a mean pesto sauce!

If you’d like to see some more inspiration pics – for the setting of the Circus itself, and the general atmosphere I had in mind for the story, you can check the Circus of the Damned board on Pinterest!

And speaking of atmosphere, I will be chatting about the music that inspired me in my next stop on the Gaslamp Fortnight tour!

Now onto the story details from Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned available for preorder now!

The Circus of the Damned Blurb:

Magician Gilbert Blake has spent his entire life conning drunkards in the seediest pubs in the darkest towns, careful to hide the true depths of his power. But when he spends a little too much time in Shadowsea and the infamous slumlord Count Reuben gets wind of his abilities, hiding within the Circus of the Damned may be Gilbert’s only chance at survival.

But there’s more to the Circus than meets the eye. Every time a performer dies, a new one must take his place, or the entire circus suffers the consequences. And while the handsome ringmaster Jesse isn’t one to coerce unwilling performers into giving up their souls to the devil, a recent death in their ranks makes Gilbert exactly what they need.

Yet the longer Gilbert stays with the Circus, the more danger he seems to bring them. Being with Jesse is more than Gilbert could have hoped for, but as Count Reuben’s men continue to search for Gilbert and the Circus loses another performer, they all face running out of time long before the Devil claims his due.

– See more at Riptide Publishing!

Author: Cornelia Grey
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62649-165-6
eBook and print release: Nov 3, 2014
eBook Formats: pdf, mobi, html, epub
Print ISBN: 978-1-62649-166-3
Word count: 91,500, Page count: 322
Type: Standalone
Cover by: Kanaxa

This title is part of the A Deal with a Devil universe. Read an excerpt here.

more goodies from Harlots and Angels Steampunk Corsetry!

Barb, a Zany Old Lady, Review: Starstruck (Bluewater Bay #1) by L.A. Witt

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I’ve been “starstruck” by an amazing storyteller named L.A. Witt. The author put together the best and longest slow burn- ust story I’ve ever read, and when the two MCs did finally come together, they exploded in a supernova!

Levi Pritchard, aging (late 30’s), former Hollywood superstar, is known best for his role as Chad Eastwick—an action hero role he despised because it completely stifled his creativity and smothered his acting ability. He also despised the whole Hollywood scene, especially the press vultures who refused to let him live his own life—a gay man deeply closeted who only wanted to be allowed to love his partner Dylan, but instead had to deny him to the world, bringing about their eventual breakup. He’s also the victim of two alcoholic parents who, though now in recovery, are still critical of his life and would never accept him as gay so he can’t find the courage to out himself and force the expected estrangement. In short, Levi is a deeply closeted, frustrated man who is running away from the career he loves and running to the family he hates, rather than being true to himself. When he’s offered a chance for a small role in Wolf’s Landing, the successful show that’s been filming in his town, Bluewater Bay, he’s considering it for two reasons. The first is that his good friend, Anna Maxwell, is the highly esteemed director and the second is Carter Samuels, a young actor who caught Levi’s eye when he first came on the Hollywood scene a few years before.

Carter Samuels is thrilled when he learns that Levi Pritchard, his idol and the man on whom he’s had a secret crush for years, is going to be joining the cast of Wolf’s Landing. In fact, Levi is the reason Carter became an actor. He first fell in love with Levi and Levi’s talent when he was exposed to several indie films in which Levi starred in his early career. Even once he was typecast as Chad Eastwick, Carter saw through the constraints that role placed on Levi to the talent hidden below the surface. Now, to have a chance to work with him, whether it’s for this first “walk on” role, or whether the role becomes ongoing, Carter has all he can do to contain himself.

When the two meet, there’s a definite sexual chemistry, though neither wants to acknowledge it. A chance private encounter brings them together in a kiss that neither can ignore. They do acknowledge that the kiss happened and that it was good, but they make a conscious decision to avoid the entrapments of a relationship. They’ve found that they have a lot in common, including a love of obscure indie films, and want to focus on their friendship because they each accept that Levi is firmly in the closet and not interested in coming out. Spoiler alert: Continue reading “Barb, a Zany Old Lady, Review: Starstruck (Bluewater Bay #1) by L.A. Witt” →

November is Here and the Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts!

“O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being.
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley

Yes, November has arrived along with the falling colored leaves and winds that briskly move them over the landscape to hide the few flowers that remain of summer and the ordered gardens where they reside. The last of the plants that migrate indoors and out have returned to their wintering places inside and all the pups have gotten their new sweaters to ward off the approaching cold.

I love this time of year, the month that Emily Dickinson always called “..the Norway of the year.” The cold sets in, birds swarm in flittering layers looking for warmth and food, and the days grow shorter until the sunlight feels fleeting indeed. It’s a wonderful time for reflection, reading, writing, and knitting. Of cosy rooms and closeness. Its Thanksgiving, family gatherings and sharing. Its quiet, and dark, and contemplative. So many things to so many people.

For the terriers, it’s the deer in the backyard munching on acorns and the remnants of the hostas. It’s the squirrels, and raccoons, and possums at the feeders, sharing along with the birds and odd field mouse. And always watching in the background, still and opportunistic, wait the fox, the hawk and the owl. Even as the pups voice their objections to our visitors, I love the interplay I can observe and the many places they all find within the confines of my gardens and trees.

Even now as the wind whips by and the threat of our first frost appears, I love that it’s November.

I hope you all had a wonderful October. There were so many great books released that your lists should be bulging by now. If you missed it, check out our October 2014 Summary of Reviews and Best Covers. Let me know what covers you loved that we missed and what books you have added to your pile of novels you’re swearing to get to now.

Here is this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Monday, November 3:

A MelanieM Review: The Devil Lancer by Astrid Amara
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Starstruck by L.A. Witt

Tuesday, November 4:

Riptide tour: Cornelia Grey’s Circus of the Damned Tour
A MelanieM Review: Circus of the Damned by Cornelia Grey
A MelanieM Review: Sleigh Bells: Minnesota Christmas by Heidi Cullinan

Wednesday, November 5:

Book Tour: Jude Dunn’s One Thing Leads (contest)
Riptide Book Tour: L.A. Witt’s Starstruck
A MelanieM Review: Heat by Chris Quinton and RJ Scott

Thursday, November 6:

TB Tour: LM Brown’s Between Heaven and Hell
A MelanieM Review: The Best Corpse for the Job by Charlie Cochrane
A MelanieM Review: Cold Day in Hell by Lee Brazil (PF2014, story 5)

Friday, November 7:

RJ Scott Book tour: Darach, book 2 in the Fire Series
DESERT FOXE: A Skyler Foxe Mystery‏ Haley Walsh Book Tour (contest)
A MelanieM Review: Off Course by Bailey Bradford

YA Saturday, November 8:

An Aurora YA Review: Carnival-Decatur by Zoe Lynne

We are still looking for reviewers. If you are interested, please email me at melaniem54@msn.com.

An Aurora YA Review: The Key of Behliseth by Lou Hoffmann

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

“On his way to meet a fate he’d rather avoid, homeless gay teen Lucky steps through a wizard’s door and is caught up in a whirlwind quest and an ancient war. He tries to convince himself that his involvement with sword fights, magic, and interworld travel is a fluke, and that ice-breathing dragons and fire-breathing eagles don’t really exist. But with each passing hour, he remembers more about who he is and where he’s from, and with help, he begins to claim his power.

Lucky might someday rule a nation, but before he can do that, he must remember his true name, accept his destiny, and master his extraordinary abilities. Only then can he help to banish the evil that has invaded earth and find his way home—through a gateway to another world.” – blurb

The Key of Behliseth is a book about a seemingly ordinary – although wholly unfortunate – fifteen year old boy named Lucky with a past that brings a great deal of complications into his life.

I really enjoyed this book, and I would love to read it again. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves high-fantasy or young adult books. The book is grounded enough in modern life that it can appeal to people who aren’t necessarily avid fantasy readers, but it also has enough fantasy elements and an engaging enough plot that fantasy readers will almost certainly enjoy it, too. The main character, Lucky, is a very realistic hero. When he’s thrown into things that, to him, don’t make much sense, he doesn’t just immediately understand. He’s confused and has questions and is a very realistically flawed character. The story overall is also very interesting. The plot is complex, but represented in such a way that it’s easy and fun for a reader to understand.

One thing that tended to pull me out of the story in the first few chapters was the way Lucky spoke versus the way the narration was phrased. They seemed to be on two different levels. The narration was just phrased more the way an old fantasy book would be, where Lucky was in modern times and spoke with a more contemporary feel. As the story progressed, I got used to it, and it didn’t distract from the story so much that I didn’t enjoy the book.
Cover Artist: Catt Ford – The cover art for this book is beautiful. The blues and golds and blacks really make it appealing to the eye even before a person looks more closely at what the pictures on the cover are. It’s very indicative of what the book will be about and I think it’s a very well done cover, and well suited to the book.

Sales Links: Harmony Ink Press All Romance eBook amazon Key to Behliseth

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd , 296 pages
Published September 11th 2014 by Harmony Ink Press (first published November 2010)
NOTE: This is a previously published work. The title, author, and/or publisher may have changed.
A Harmony Ink Press Young Adult Title 2nd Edition
original titleBeyond the Wizard’s Threshold
ISBN 1632162482 (ISBN13: 9781632162489)

October 2014 – Summary of Reviews and Best Covers of the Month

It’s once again time to look back over the month’s reviews and best covers of October 2014. So many great books and authors to choose from, so many covers to love. Check them all out, add to your Must Have, Must Read list and, as always, happy reading!

October 2014 Book Review Summary

*Key:
STRW 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:

A Taste of Poison (Memory of Scorpions #3) by Aleksandr Voinov, STRWFS (MelanieM Review)
Last Marine Standing by RJ Scott, STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Red Dirt Heart 1 by N. R. Walker STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Red Dirt Heart 2 by N. R. Walker STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Red Dirt Heart 3 by N. R. Walker STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
The Broken Road Cafe by T. A. Webb, STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, STRWC (An Aurora YA Review)

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

A Heart for Robbie by J. P. Barnaby (4.5) STRWC (PaulB Review)
A Taste of Copper by Elin Gregory, (4.75) STRWH (MelanieM Review)
Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations ()Mahu #7.5) by Neil S. Plakcy, (4.5) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Anchored by Rachel Haimowitz, (4.5) STRWSFS (A Barb Review)
Ben Raphael’s All-Star Virgins by K.Z. Snow (4) STRWC (Sammy Review)
Brothers in Arms (The Broken Road Cafe #2) by T.A. Webb. (4.75) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Counterpunch (Belonging #2) by Aleksandr Voinov, (4) STRWSFS (A Barb Review)
Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne, (4.5) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Dead Things by Meredith Russell (4) STRWH (MelanieM Review)
Death Gets A Boyfriend by Sophie Bonaste (4) STRWF (PaulB Review)
Foundation of Trust (Cost of Repairs #5) by A. M. Arthur, (4) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Hidden Gem by Lissa Kasey (4.75) STRWSF (MelanieM Review)
Phoenix Heart (Stolen Elements #1) by A.L. Wilson, (4.5) STRWSNS, (PaulB Review)
Spaghetti Western by E.M. Lynley (4) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Stand By You by A. M. Arthur (4.25) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
The Trouble with Elves by Therese Woodson (audio book version) (4) STRWFH (A Barb Review)

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

Acting Out (Calm and Chaos #1) by Sharon Maria Bidwell (3) STRWCS (MelanieM Review)
Burning Ashes by H. Lewis Foster (3.5) STRWC (MelanieM Review)
Confetti, Cake & Confessions by K. C. Wells STRWC (MelanieM Review)
DMZ by Andrea Speed, (3) STRWC (MelanieM Review)
His Sleeping Beau by Jess Buffett (3.5) STRWF (PaulB Review)
Merry Christmas, Josh by Andrea Speed (3.75) STRWSNHS (MelanieM Review)
Midsummer Baker by Megan Derr (3.5) STRWFS (MelanieM Review)
Midsummer Law by Megan Derr (3.5) STRWFS (MelanieM Review)

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Changing Tide by D. P. Denman (2) STRWC (MelanieM Review)
Fire and Light by Berengaria Brown (2.5) STRWC (MelanieM Review)
Grumble Monkey and the Department Store Elf by B. G. Thomas *audiobook* Barb Review (2.5) STRWFH

Best Covers of July 2014

A Heart for Robbie, cover art by Angsty G
A Taste of Copper by Elin Gregory, cover artist Meredith Russell
A Taste of Poison (Memory of Scorpions #3) by Aleksandr Voinov, cover artist Reese Dante
Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations ()Mahu #7.5) by Neil S. Plakcy, Kris Jacen artist

Ben Raphael’s All-Star Virgins by K.Z. Snow, Cover artist Maria Fanning
Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne, Mumson Designs artist
DMZ by Andrea Speed, cover artist L. C.Chase
Hidden Gem, cover artist Shobana Appavu

Spaghetti Western by E.M. Lynley, cover artist L.C. Chase
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, unknown artist

On Tour with Garrett Leigh and her latest release Heart (contest)

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

Check out the latest release from Garrett Leigh, Heart. Read the blurb and excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end!

Book Name: Heart
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Garrett Leigh

Author Bio:

Garrett Leigh is a British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Black Jazz Press. Her protagonists will always be tortured, crippled, broken, and deeply flawed. Throw in a tale of enduring true love, some stubbly facial hair, and a bunch of tattoos, and you’ve got yourself a Garrett special.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible. That, and dreaming up new ways to torture her characters. Garrett believes in happy endings; she just likes to make her boys work for it.

Garrett also works as a freelance cover artist for various publishing houses and independent authors under the pseudonym G.D. Leigh. For cover art info, please visit blackjazzpress.com

Author Contact:
garrettleighbooks@gmail.com
Facebook
Facebook Author Page
Twitter

Heart by Garrett Leigh
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: G.D. Leigh (Blackjazzpress.com)

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press amazon US amazon UK amazon CA

Heart Blurb:

Cornish pastry chef Seb Wright dreads the summer tourist season. The cash injection to his artisan fudge pantry is more than welcome, the extra work, less so. Then one summer, a shadowy Good Samaritan catches his eye. Irish Traveller Dex is bewitching, a beautiful sullen enigma who turns Seb’s world upside down until he disappears in the night, vanishing like a mystical summer rain.

Twelve months later Dex is in the midst of a dark storm. A slave to his master, ‘Uncle’ Braden, he spends his days cleaning caravans and his nights working in Braden’s other businesses. His short summer with Seb seems a lifetime ago. Lost in the savage violence of the murky underworld, he doesn’t dare dream he’ll ever find his way back, until one night, a brutal crime opens the door for a chance escape. A new life beckons, old faces emerge, and immersed in the heady vibe of London’s East End, new love begins to heal his fractured heart.

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Heart Excerpt:

SEB TOOK a drink of his beer and set it down again with undue care. “You can’t read, can you?”

“Can.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Dex slid off his stool and shoved his hands into his pockets. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected when Seb had ambushed him, but it wasn’t this. So what if he couldn’t bloody read? It wasn’t like he’d ever been to school to learn.

Seb caught his arm. “Don’t go, Dex. I’m sorry, okay? I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

Seb’s hand engulfed Dex’s wrist, his touch as charged and heated as it had ever been. Dex felt his resolve melting, ebbing away until it was all he could do to fall back onto the bar stool. “I can read some,” he said mutinously. “I can read numbers, and names. Knew the name of your shop, didn’t I?”

“Can you write?”

“Never tried.” Dex looked down. Lying to Seb felt all wrong. He’d heard the name of Seb’s shop on the street, and the only name he could read was his own.

Seb was silent for a moment, then without warning, Dex felt his fingers brush through his shower-damp hair. “It really is brown. I thought it was just wet.”

Dex fought for the strength to shy away from the soft gesture, but nothing happened. “The bleach grew out.”

“It was dyed?”

“Couldn’t you tell?” Dex had forgotten his brief stint as a blond was all Seb had ever known of him.

“No, not at all. You look totally different now. Not sure I would’ve recognized you without the scowl. You just about shocked the shit of me. I… I thought I’d never see you again.”

Pages: 204
 Tour Dates: October 31, 2014

Tour Stops:
Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, MM Good Book Reviews
Cate Ashwood, BFD Book Blog, My Fiction Nook, 3 Chicks After Dark, Foxylutely Book Reviews
Smoocher’s Voice, Carly’s Book Reviews, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews
Hearts on Fire, Fallen Angel Reviews, The Blogger Girls, Love Bytes, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
Andrew Q. Gordon

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Heart’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided for the entry form and for all additional contest details.
Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Barb, a Zany Old Lady, Review: The Trouble With Elves by Therese Woodson ~ Audiobook narrated by Ryan Kennard Burke

The Trouble With Elves by Therese Woodson ~ Audiobook narrated by Ryan Kennard Burke

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Cal Martin manages the sporting goods store that happens to be directly across from the Christmas Village in the mall—the dreaded Christmas Village where Santa and his elves cause children to scream and cry and run around with very sticky candy-cane fingers. Cal should adapt “Grinch” as his nickname because he not only hates the whole scene, but he despises listening to the continuous loop of boring old Christmas music.

Cal was once a promising athlete, heading to college on a scholarship when he blew his knee out. Now he lives with his younger brother Brock who has a job in the food court so that they can commute and commiserate together. None of his employees are aware that he’s gay so when he spots a very sexy elf, one who would be able to grant all of Cal’s wishes, his employees, in particular nosy Mia, think he’s drooling over the cute female elf. As it happens, the elves are twins, and Mia knows them.

Unfortunately, due to a major misunderstanding, when Mia works her magic and gets Alex over to his store to meet him, it turns out that Alex is the female elf. Cal wants to be with Zander, her twin. Cal is astounded that their parents named one of them Alexandra and one Alexander. No wonder there was a misunderstanding! The problem is that Cal is so shy and awkward, he can’t find the words to straighten the situation out.

One misunderstanding leads to another until Cal finally realizes that he has to man up and just tell Zander outright that he’s interested in him, not his sister. Of course, it’s never simple, and it’s fun listening to this audiobook rendition of this very entertaining story. Ryan Kennard Burke does a great job with the youthful voices of Cal and Zander and even with singing the traditional Christmas songs which seem to be chapter headings. For a short story, it packs a lot of punch with humor, angst, and romance all sharing equal time.

I would recommend the audiobook to anyone who enjoys listening to their m/m romance and to those who want to enjoy a cute Christmas story with a sweet HEA.

Cover Art by Catt Ford is a very bright holiday green showing MC Zander’s guitar and elf hat. It’s nice and attractive and fits the short story well.

Note: A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package “Heartwarming”.

Sales Links (audio) Dreamspinner Press Amazon The Trouble with Elves iTunes Audible

Book Details:

Audio book, Narrator Ryan Kennard Burke

Amazon
Length 1:54:00
ebook, 78 pages
Published December 1st 2013 by Dreamspinner Press (first published November 30th 2013)
ISBN 1627985948 (ISBN13: 9781627985949)
edition languageEnglish
seriesHeartwarming

Enter the Fantasy World of Alexis Duran and To Catch A Threeve (book tour and contest)

Alexis Duran is here today! Check out our interview, read the blurb and excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end of the post! Happy Reading.

So I was lucky enough to catch Alexis Duran and have her answer a few questions for me. Here is the fascinating look at Alexis Duran!

Q: I love the title To Catch a Threeve. Where did that come from?

AD: This is one of those times a title just popped into my head. After I’d come up with the threeves and the plot unfolded in my head, it struck me as perfect (and pretty darn clever, I must say).

Q:Threeve? Is that something you created or took from established folklore?

AD: Threeves arose out of my own twisted imagination. I love to create my own mythos, especially when the classic ones don’t quite fit my literary needs. If you’re interested in reading more about threeves, I’m writing a blog post on the topic for Rainbow Gold Reviews. It will come out on November 4.

Q: Fantasy is obviously a favorite trope. Have you always loved fantasy stories?

AD: Yes!

Q: When did your love of fantasy start?

AD: From the first time my mom read my sister and I a fairy tale at bedtime. Going to the drive-in to watch a Disney movie was my idea of pure heaven.

Q: Were you a prolific reader as a child and did you have a favorite story or book that has had a lasting impact on you as an adult and a writer?

AD: Oh, yes. I was that kid, the one with her nose always deeply buried in a book. I think my early outlook, as a story spinner and as a human being, was deeply influenced by the classic fairy tales; Hans Christian Anderson, The Brothers Grimm, The Arabian Nights, plus a rather scary big book of folk tales our German grandmother sent us. I think that book might have sent me down the path of dark fantasy.

Q: Fantasy or urban fantasy? How do you define them?

AD: There’s no either/ or here for me. I love them both. Fantasy, what you might call classic fantasy, takes place in another world or an earth-like setting in a different time. Usually the author makes use of well-known mythical creatures like elves and fairies, but not always. Urban fantasy happens in the here and now, in worlds similar to this one but with magic. Urban fantasy tends to break the “rules” more often, which can be exciting.

Q: Do you have a favorite fantasy author you read?

AD: I tend to have favorite books rather than authors, but a big favorite is Neil Gaiman. Neverworld is one of my all time BBE’s (Best Book Ever). I also absolutely adored Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. New (to me) writers I’ve recently discovered and plan on stalking are Astrid Amara and Rhys Ford.

Q: Why fantasy? Why does that resonate with you?

AD: Possibility. Potential. Power. As a kid I deeply believed in magic. As an adult, I strive to recreate that feeling of wonder in my stories. I love the idea of a vast mysterious power source that can save us or destroy us, depending on how we choose to use it.

Q: Favorite fantasy universe if you have one?

AD: Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea. How can I not have mentioned Ursula under favorite authors? Tolkien’s Middle Earth, of course. A bit astray of the fantasy genre is Tom Robbins. He creates magic-tinged worlds I just don’t want to leave.

Q: Old school elf or new mythology elf? Do you draw from one or both?

AD: Totally depends on the story. My tendency is to start with the with the classic model, then tweak accordingly.

Q: What’s next for Alexis Duran?

AD:I’m mere days away from finishing the next book in the Masters and Mages series, currently titled Blood of Salar. That’s Classic Fantasy. And then I have an Urban Fantasy called Dark Heart nearly completed that I hope my publisher will love as much as I do. My problem is too many ideas, never the opposite. I hope to finish several stories during NaNoWriMo.

Thank you, Alexis Duran, for the great interview and for definitely adding to my TBR pile! And I couldn’t agree with you more about Astrid Amara and Rhys Ford!

Book Name: To Catch A Threeve
Author Name: Alexis Duran

Author Bio:

Alexis Duran was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. At the University of Oregon, her fascination with people and relationships led her to major in Sociology, but her main love has always been creative writing. She’s worked in museums, fashion, finance and film production. Her favorite job so far was Administrative Assistant in a haunted Victorian Mansion.

She’s had several short stories published in the mystery, horror and literary genres and is the author of the Masters and Mages erotic fantasy series. Her fiction has won several awards including the Rupert Hughes Award from the Maui Writers Conference. She lives with one dog and four and half cats. She is currently working on the next Masters and Mages novella and several other erotic novellas.

Author Contact:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexis.duran.18294
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlexisSDuran

Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Sales Links: Loose id amazon

To Catch a Threeve Blurb:

Axel Blackwood catches a thief and is astounded to see that he closely resembles Liam Alloway, the love he lost seven years ago in an attack by the evil woodland folk known as threeves. Axel suspects he’s fallen prey to dark magic, but can’t help becoming infatuated with his prisoner. He’s overwhelmed with the hope that he can at last bring his lost lover home, despite everything that warns him it’s all a diabolical trick.   Bryn Darrow, the half-threeve, half human orphan sent to trick Axel and rob him of much more than a simple gem finds himself equally as fascinated with his handsome human captor and the lure of someplace to call home, but he knows deep down that the constable is in love with a dangerous illusion. When he’s commanded by the threeves to murder Axel and steal a witch’s powerful grimoire, he’s forced to decide between the only family he’s ever known and the one person who might rescue him from a life of isolation and pain.  Will Axel and Bryn be forced into a deadly confrontation before they can discover the truth?

Categories: Erotica, Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

To Catch a Threeve Excerpt:

“What are you, Bryn Darrow?” Axel asked.

“Wish I knew,” Bryn answered, shaking his head and chuckling. “You can go on pretending I’m this Liam person if you want.”

“If you ever try to act like Liam again, I’ll let Drummond lop your head off. He’s itching to, you know.”

“You started it,” Bryn snapped. “And now you’re getting friendly again.”

Axel jerked his hands away from Bryn’s back as if he’d been burned. “I’m looking for your clan sign. Why’d you remove it?”

“Looking with your fingers instead of your eyes? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind it.” Bryn looked over his shoulder with that annoying, delectable smile. Only the memory of being spelled senseless stopped Axel from resuming his exploration of Bryn’s skin, kissing his neck, pushing him down into the grass—

 Pages: 43,000 words/135 pages

 Tour Dates: October 28, 2014

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, My Fiction Nook, Prism Book Alliance, Multitasking Mommas, Inked Rainbow Reads
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Cate Ashwood, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Love Bytes,Andrew Q. Gordon, The Hat Party, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, MM Good Book Reviews. Jade Crystal,
It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake, Fallen Angel Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark

Contest: Enter to win Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Loose ID gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link below for the entry and for all additional contest details.

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A MelanieM Review: Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations (Mahu #7.5) by Neil S. Plakcy

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Sex, mayhem and justice in the Aloha State as openly gay Honolulu homicide detective tracks murderers, missing people & a dog with unusual appetites.

Openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka has had a long and storied career with the Honolulu PD in the Aloha State of Hawaii. In this selection of ten short investigations in the Aloha State, Kimo goes from rookie officer to seasoned homicide detective in a range of cases from a hearse carrying more than bodies and a psychic with some surprising information for Kimo and his partner.

A wonderful introduction to the rich cultures of the Hawaiian populace as seen through the eyes of its complicated native son. The stories are captivating, sometimes humorous and always richly layered. A must for all lovers of detectives on the hunt and mysteries waiting to be solved.

I first discovered Neil Plakcy and his Hawaiian detective, Kimo Kanapa’aka, towards the end of the Mahu series with the novel Natural Predators (Mahu #7). That book was such a revelation. Plakcy had created in Kimo Kanapa’aka a richly nuanced, highly complex character, one steeped in his family and Hawaiian culture. Coming in at the seventh story, I had missed out on all the character and relationship growth that had taken place prior so that Kimo, his domestic partner, and, foster son could have an established and happy home life. But the novel had enough glimpses into past stories to let the reader know that the climb to such a contented arrangement has been fraught with pain, difficulties, and a few partings. That alluring back history was enough to send me racing back to the beginning to see how it all began and meet Kimo at the start of his career.

Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations allows a reader new to the Mahu series a chance to dip into the life and cases of Kimo and his department at various stages of his life and career. As the blurb informs “from murderers to missing babies to a shaggy dog with an unusual appetite, openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka has his hands full…” with cases both extraordinary and colorful. But what really sets this detective apart from his counterparts is Plakcy’s ability to bring all aspects of the myriad Hawaiian cultures to life via vivid imagery and a use of colloquialisms and dialects, slang and tonal flow of the voices that swim in that great pot of peoples, traditions, lore, and even societal prejudices known as Hawaii.

I can get lost in the conversations alone that Plakcy lays out for his characters. It can sound like music, all soft and flowing with all those 5 vowels and 7 consonants that make up the Hawaiian alphabet, yet what they are actually conveying can be painful and harsh. Such a dichotomy originates and flows from the land itself. The author makes the reader see and feel the real Hawaii, not just those postcard beaches and Diamond Head scenes so familiar from travelogues everywhere. From the ghettos and dark streets teaming with characters as unforgettable as the cases they appear in to the hillsides where the huge and diverse Kanapa’aka family reside, this author takes us on a journey limited only by the natural boundaries of the islands. And no matter where the destination, or level of society, Plakcy imbues his characters so throughly with all the flaws and human dimension that all levels feel authentic and believable. Even the criminals here have their own language with which they impart their own rules and lawlessness yet still remained tied in their own way to their families and cultures.

Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations gets its name from a most memorable excuse an offender offers up to Kimo and his partner during an investigation. I won’t spoil the reference for you all, its just one of the many delights to be found here. Normally with a collection, I rate the stories but I can’t do that with this collection. Each brought its own groups of surprises and memorable moments. Some ended abruptly just as shaggy dog stories should, others continue to the final satisfactory ending you would hope for. The end result of them all is to send me once more back to that first story and being my journey with Kimo all over again.

When I think of fine regional voices, the ones that pull you immediately into a culture and region, Neil Plakcy jumps immediately to mind. His Mahu series should be on everyone’s list of Must Have, Must Read stories and series. And Kimo Kanapa’aka rates just as highly among the detectives I have come to know and love. Let this collection be a quick introduction to this marvelous series and author. And then let it guide you back to all the other fine stories and a romance and love affair to savor. I highly recommend them all.

Cover art by Kris Jacen. I love the cultural feel of this cover. Works perfectly for this collection of stories.

Sales Links: MLR Press All Romance eBooks (ARe) amazon Accidental Contact

Book Details:

ebook
Published August 22nd 2014 by MLR Press
ISBN13MLR1020130286
seriesMahu #7.5

Books in the Mahu series in the order they were written and should be read for character and relationship growth and timelines:

Mahu (Mahu #1)
Mahu Surfer (Mahu #2)
Mahu Fire (Mahu #3)
Mahu Vice (Mahu Vice #4)
Mahu Blood (Mahu #5)
Zero Break (Mahu #6)
Mahu Men: Mysterious and Erotic Stories (Mahu #6.5)
Natural Predators (Mahu #7)
Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing All Romance eBooks amazon The Circus of the Damned

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Introducing into Center Ring, Cornelia Grey and The Circus of the Damned!

The Circus of the Damned – Character Inspiration Pics Pt. II

The Circus of the Damned Blurb:

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Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Here is this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Monday, November 3:

Tuesday, November 4:

Wednesday, November 5:

Thursday, November 6:

Friday, November 7:

YA Saturday, November 8:

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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Sales Links: Harmony Ink Press All Romance eBook amazon Key to Behliseth

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It’s once again time to look back over the month’s reviews and best covers of October 2014. So many great books and authors to choose from, so many covers to love. Check them all out, add to your Must Have, Must Read list and, as always, happy reading!

October 2014 Book Review Summary

5 Star Rating:

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Best Covers of July 2014

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✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

Check out the latest release from Garrett Leigh, Heart. Read the blurb and excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end!

Book Name: Heart Goodreads Link Author Name: Garrett Leigh

Heart by Garrett Leigh Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: G.D. Leigh (Blackjazzpress.com)

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press amazon US amazon UK amazon CA

Heart Blurb:

Heart Excerpt:

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The Trouble With Elves by Therese Woodson ~ Audiobook narrated by Ryan Kennard Burke

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Book Details:

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Alexis Duran is here today! Check out our interview, read the blurb and excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end of the post! Happy Reading.

Book Name: To Catch A Threeve Author Name: Alexis Duran

Author Bio:

Author Contact:

Sales Links: Loose id amazon

To Catch a Threeve Blurb:

To Catch a Threeve Excerpt:

Contest: Enter to win Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Loose ID gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link below for the entry and for all additional contest details.

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Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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Book Name: Heart
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Garrett Leigh

Heart by Garrett Leigh
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: G.D. Leigh (Blackjazzpress.com)

Book Name: To Catch A Threeve
Author Name: Alexis Duran