Focusing In On Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming by Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga (contest)

ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords

Welcomes Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga

and their latest anthology,

Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming!

Rope, wolves, leather, vampires, demons, hats, bears.

Rodeo.

Kiernan Kelly, BA Tortuga, and Julia Talbot have combined their wild imaginations and talent to come up with the Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming Anthology. It’s an irresistible combination of “rope, wolves, leather, vampires, demons, hats, bears”…and the rodeo!

When offered an interview, I grabbed at the chance to float some questions by these terrific authors. My interview with them follows directly.

Today there’s a contest to enter, an excerpt to read and much more. The link for the Raffecopter contest can be found here and at the bottom of today’s post. Winner receives an eBook copy of Midnight Rodeo:Homecoming. So don’t forget to enter to win. As always you must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Good luck and Happy Reading!

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Contest: Rafflecopter Prize: E-Book of Midnight Rodeo. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Visit this link or the one at the bottom of the post to enter.

Book Title: Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming

Authors Name: Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot, BA Tortuga

A ScatteredThoughts Interview with Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga!

STRW: You all have been friends/SOs (congratulations to B.A. and Julia on their wedding) and co-authors for a long time. Has that affected each other’s writing styles, do you think?

Julia Talbot: Thank you! I think it definitely affects our writing. I mean, for one thing, we were all kinda pioneers in taking m/m from online chats and boards to mainstream fiction, so we set our own “house style” if you will. Then there’s the fact that we’ve all co-written and been critique partners for years. Bound to spill over some in each author’s work.
BA: Oh, lord yes. There isn’t a single thing that Julia has written that I haven’t read as she worked on it and vice versa. I get to see Kiernan stories chapter by chapter. We all listen to each other talk and visit together. We all share a part of the brain. 😀
KKelly: think our writing styles are naturally similar enough to blend nicely in an anthology, yet still remain distinct enough for a reader to recognize the author’s voice in each one.

STRW: Which comes first? The anthology idea or similar stories you are all working on?

KKelly: I usually work on stories simultaneously, with preference given to whichever deadline is looming.
BA: I would say that the anthology idea almost always comes first. We go…Ooh! Shiny idea! And then we go… Oh, look. Look at this boy! 😉
Julia Talbot: The anthology idea, generally. We get together at cons and someone says, what if there was this bar…

STRW: Between the three of you, you all have written about a multitude of professions. Which is your favorite profession to assign a character and why?

BA: Well, I’m a cowboy fan, for sure. Rodeo cowboys, working cowboys, country western singers in Stetsons. Honestly, I love a blue-collar working man.
Julia Talbot: Mine is pretty broad. Someone pointed out recently that I like uniforms. Military, cops, doctors, skinwalkers. I like the trappings of a false skin.
KKelly: That’s a good question. I like blue collar workers (I find something inherently sexy about a man who works with his hands), but I’ve written lots of white collar professions as well. My favorite (even if I’ve only done it in one story, Change of Heart, and its sequel, Change in Attitude) was to make a shifter a veterinarian. In Change of Heart, the shifter is hit by a truck while in wolf-form, and ends up in his own vet clinic. That was a great deal of fun to write.

STRW: BA, Bullriders or wolf shifters? Do you have a favorite? I have been waiting for a wolf shifter bull rider to arrive (although I am not sure that would work due to the predator prey nature) and it looks like I will get my wish along with other supernatural beings. How did that come about? Did it involve alcohol or a yarn binge?

BA (only): Well, the funny thing is that the whole idea happened because I couldn’t decide between bullriders and werewolves. They tell you, as a writer, you have to pick a genre, and I was stressing it. Do I write cowboys or werewolves? Cowboys? Werewolves? Ack! Then I went…Oh.

OH!

PARANORMAL COWBOY BUTTS OMG.

And then I may have sparkled. 😉

STRW: Historical fiction (westerns included) is among the hardest genres to write. Supernatural fiction probably the most fun. Do you each have a favorite type of story to write?

KKelly: I write in every genre, but I love to write paranormal romances because the usual laws of physics don’t necessarily apply. My particular favorite are shifters, although I tend to favor unusual creatures over the more familiar wolves. My “In Their Own Skins” trilogy features just about every type of animal-form I could think of – hawks, horses, bear, T-Rex, velociraptors… You just can’t do that in a contemporary romance. LOL
Julia Talbot: I have a long love of historicals. They’re not hard to write for me as I love research. They are a harder sell, though, because they’re so much more subjective. What if someone really hates 16th century Spain? I also love paranormals, because I love the animal nature of shifters, the alien apex predator nature of a vampire.
BA: I love my westerns, modern and historicals, but it’s very very difficult for the paranormal elements not to creep in. I also adore writing horror. 😀

STRW: Cowboys and rodeos are a real passion for many, including myself. Can you all explain why they act as a muse for your writing? Is there a particular bull rider on the circuit today you root for? Or even a bull for that matter?

KKelly: I was introduced to bullriding back when I wrote “Riding Heartbreak Road.” I knew next to nothing about the rodeo, but I had this image in my head of a hunky cowboy wearing nothing but his hat and chaps. I knew if I wanted to write the scene, I needed to do research about the rodeo, and since I liked the idea of cowboys trying to stay on the back of a two-thousand pound monster for a mere eight seconds, I narrowed my research to bullriding. I began by watching PBR (Professional Bull Riding) on television, and became so involved in the sport that I began to go to local PBR events. I’ve always been a fan of Guilherme Marchi and Mike Lee, and little Gage Gay is just so darn adorable, I’d like to pick him up and carry him around in my pocket.
Julia Talbot: Oh, my grandpa was a cowboy, and to some extent so was my mom. I married into a family of them. I tend to root for the Brazilian bullriders now, but my all-time favorites are Chris Shivers and Mike White.
BA: I grew up with cowboys – my daddy’s a cowboy, my brothers are cowboys. Those are the people I know and love. I can’t imagine choosing another muse. I am totally old school, and currently I’m rooting for the Brazilians in the PBR. Guilherme Marchi makes me fluttery. Will Lowe is my favorite PRCA rider. My all time favorite cowboy is Ty Murray. No, Jim Shoulders. Wait…

STRW: (for BA) I find the older bullriders/bronc riders especially poignant. It’s such a young man or woman’s sport. I know and love BA’s Rough Stock series that has some retired cowboys. But any plans for a story or series about the bull riders or rodeo riders who are forced to retire or leave that lifestyle behind?

BA: I actually do have a series in the works called Out to Pasture featuring the ‘old guys’ – old guys in Roughstock are, what? 25? 😉

STRW: . The PBR and Gay Rodeo circuits…any overlap that you see these days? Has the PBR gotten any more LGBTQ friendly? Or is your writing a way to bring that element to the mainstream?

KKelly: I’m not sure if the doors are open yet on the PBR circuit. You don’t hear about gay riders. They’re probably there, but they keep it on the down-low. I’m afraid the PBR isn’t the most open operation, and definitely not as welcoming to everyone as the IGRA (International Gay Rodeo Association). I think the PBR is still very much a “good ol’ boys” network.
Julia Talbot: I wouldn’t be able to speak for any organizations with any certainty. My writing of cowboys in particular is a fantasy of how I would love people to react to all things LGBTQ.
BA: All I’ll say on that subject is that, once Julia and I came out the closet, our attendance has gone from 10-12 events a year to maybe 1 a year. I write a fantasy world wherein love is accepted.

STRW: Vampires or werewolves? Do you all have a favorite and why?

Julia Talbot: Werewolves. I mean, I am a vamp fan since Dracula at 11, and later, Anne Rice and Poppy Z Brite. But I adore writing werebeasts and exploring how their animal side makes them react to human situations.
KKelly: Again, I’ve written both, but I do favor werewolves over vampires. I think there are many reasons for my preference – I’m an animal lover (no, not in THAT way, thank you very much), so the wolves play into that. I like that wolves mate for life, and I enjoy exploring the pack mentality. Wolves are affectionate with each other, strong, agile, and noble creatures. Vampires…yeah, not so much. Vampires are by nature solitary, decadent creatures, usually interested solely in their own survival. Plus, with vampires, unless their love interest is also a vamp, you need to worry about the whole immortality-watching-your-love-age-and-die thing. Werewolves need to worry about three things: the full moon, silver bullets, and wolfsbane. That’s about it. Vampires, on the other hand, need to watch out for garlic, crosses, running water, sunlight, holy water, crucifixes, wooden stakes, etc. In other words, vampires are high maintenance.
BA: Werewolves. I mean, I love vamps, but werewolves!!! 😀 I love animals and the whole concept of pack structure and being driven by instinct makes me incredibly happy.

STRW: Next projects up for each of you?

Julia Talbot: A menage novella called Georgia Knights out in September from TQ. I have the third Elemental Ops book with Changeling Press out in August and a long novella contemporary out in January or February with Dreamspinner. Find all the things at my website, http://www.juliatalbot.com
BA: I am working on a m/m contemporary about kids and cowboys tentatively titled “Ever the Same”, Brazilian bullriders, the next story for the Cereus universe, and a contemporary m/m about a redneck musician and his bodyguard. I’m also finishing up a f/f YA novel currently titled, “Stealing Bases”.
KKelly: I’m currently working on an m/m YA titled “Mad About the Hatter,” a short story for the next book in the “Butt” series, Butt Babes in Boyland, which I’ve tentatively titled, “Elf Esteem,” and an m/m novel about a vampire (I know, I know – high maintenance) and an angel/vampire hybrid titled “Riding Lucifer.”

STRW: That was a butt load of questions and the answers from all three of you were wonderful. Thank you so much for taking the time to spend a little time here with us today!

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Author Bios:

BA Tortuga:

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, 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 porn sites 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 answered the call of the high desert mountains. 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.

Links:
Website: http://www.batortuga.com
Twitter: @batortuga

Kiernan Kelly:

Kiernan Kelly lives in the wilds of the alligator-infested U.S. Southeast, slathered in SPF 45, drinking colorful tropical, hi-octane concoctions served by thong-clad cabana boys.

All right, the truth is that she spends her time locked in the dark recesses of her office, writing gay erotic romance while chained to a temperamental laptop, drinking coffee, and dreaming of thong-clad cabana boys.

Sigh.

To date, Kiernan has over a dozen novels in print and ebook, and a plethora of short stories in both formats.

Links:
Website
Email: KiernanKelly@KiernanKelly.com
Facebook

Julia Talbot:

Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Torquere Press, Ellora’s Cave, and Changeling Press. She believes that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved.

Find Julia at:
Twitter at @juliatalbot
Website
Facebook

Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming
Authors: Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot, BA Tortuga
Cover Artist: Anne Squires
Publisher: Torquere Press

Buy Links: Torquere Press

Blurb(s):

What happens when rodeos start to get too tough for humans to compete in? Midnight Rodeo, of course, where supernatural creatures like shifters and vampires work for the prize money, and for the awe of their audience.

In Welcome to the Pack by BA Tortuga, when head bullfighter Denton is killed by a demon bull, his twin, Denver, comes back to take his place. Denver was gone for years, working mundane rodeos and missing his twin. He’s not sure the pack can heal him since the other bullfighters challenge Denver at every turn. All except Blaine, who’s an outcast himself, and who knows Denver is like no one he’s ever met.

In Oklahoma Rain by Kiernan Kelly, psychic Blaze scouts locations for the rodeo company, Darque and Knight, where he finds another psychic talent, Zack, who’s hot as the Fourth of July. Zack is complicated, though, thanks to his sidekick, Mikey, a damaged kid. Blaze invites the pair back to the rodeo, but not everyone is as happy as Blaze to have them there.

In Big Bear, Little Bear, by Julia Talbot, bear shifter Ben is returning to the rodeo after a long injury recovery. Big bear shifter Ozzie is the barrel man and clown, and he’s been waiting for Ben to come back to the big show. But is Ben ready to ride again, let alone be the lover Ozzie is ready to take on?

Excerpt:

Denver was– wow.

Denton had been stunning, making Blaine stare a lot. A lot. Still, Dent had been off-limits, and he’d bet Denver was, too. No one could be that hot and be like Blaine.

He was the weird one, the one brought into the pack by a she-wolf who had already had a single pup. Blaine figured he was lucky no one had killed him when he was a kid.

Everyone else was broad and wide, shaggy headed with eyes like green glass. All of them came from the same line. Denver was the spitting image of Denton, really. A little harder around the edges, a little more wild. A shit ton more bruised.

The guys had been taking turns. Two a night, just like clockwork, they’d come and challenge Denver. One at midnight, one at three a.m. Greg and Vince went, then Carter and Caul, and finally Hank and Mike. Boom.

He supposed Denver was waiting for him, now. Blaine sighed. He had no intention of trying to take the pack. God, the very idea made his head hurt.
The real question was, were they going to just start over, or was Denver going to get a night off, a chance to sleep before they settled in town for tonight’s show?

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Tour Dates/Stops: 7/28 – 8/22

7/28: Prism Book Alliance
7/29: Parker Williams
7/30: Up All Night, Read All Day
7/31: Amanda C. Stone
8/1: LeAnn’s Book Reviews
8/4: Love Bytes
8/5: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Jade Crystal
8/6: The Hat Party
8/7: Night Owl Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One
8/8: The Novel Approach
8/11: Decadent Delights
8/12: Wake Up Your Wild Side
8/13: Tara Lain
8/14: MM Good Book Reviews, Emotion in Motion
8/15: Iyana Jenna, Rainbow Gold Reviews
8/18: Fallen Angel Reviews, Velvet Panic
8/19: Hearts on Fire
8/20: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Dawn’s Reading Nook
8/21: Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Kimi-Chan
8/22: My Fiction Nook, Smoocher’s Voice
Contest: Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter Prize: E-Book of Midnight Rodeo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A MelanieM Review: Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming by Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot, B.A.Tortuga

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Does just the thoughts of a rodeo fill you with anticipation of fun, knuckle cracking suspense and danger? And good looking cowboys too? What happens when you take all that and add in demons, vampires, weres of all types, and a ghost or two? The answer to the last question is Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming ,a collection of three stories by authors Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga.

The Darque and Knight Rodeo is famous for its wild bulls, great bull riders ,over the top bullfighters and much, much more. If only the humans who came to watch knew who and what were really behind the gates and stands when this rodeo came to town. Three stories look into the lives and loves of the Darque and Knight Rodeo. This rodeo is run and employees nothing but Supes as the Supernatural are known, in search of a home, love and a family.

Those stories are Welcome to the Pack by BA Tortuga, Oklahoma Rain by Kiernan Kelly, and Big Bear, Little Bear, by Julia Talbot. Don’t miss out on a single one!

This book checked all the boxes for me. It’s got the rodeo and cowboys (as such), it’s got weres (both cat, wolf, and more), vampires, demons, and paranormals…all on the search for love, home, and a family. It’s also by Kiernan Kelly, BA Tortuga, and Julia Talbot, a trio of authors who always manage to bring it home with their stories and viewpoints. All three stories are centered around the Darque and Knight Rodeo (love that play on words).

I’ll be taking a look at each story as they appear in the book. First up? A werewolf homecoming of sorts in “Welcome to the Pack”.

“Welcome to the Pack” by BA Tortuga – 4.75 stars

Bullfighter Denver returns home when his twin brother and pack Alpha, Denton, is killed by a bull at The Darque and Knight Rodeo. Denver left the pack when it was decided that Denton would be the Alpha and now Denver is returning to reclaim the role and get the pack in order. It’s been decades since Denver has been back and the pack isn’t all that happy to see him. Denver must fight for the right to be Alpha and try to heal the hole caused by the loss of his brother. Only another outcast, Blaine, seems to be in his corner. A necessary support to have when all the bulls they fight are possessed by demons!

My favorite story of the three but not by much. The universe building here is superb. I can’t get enough of this rodeo and all the beings that make up this rodeo! This is a tale of two brothers, really. One has died by the beginning of the story but Denton’s presence is felt throughout as Denver greatly misses him and is often compared to his brother. Denver has been working the “mundane” rodeo circuit as humans are called and now returns to his former pack in disarray. They’ve gotten sloppy, mean, and not exactly welcoming to Denver. As Denver fights his way back into the pack, he finds a mate and a home. Along the way the readers finds out such details as there is a caged demon inside of each bull. I’m sure that many cowboys would find this entirely plausible! The cat shifters, a pride, that runs the cafeteria, food stands, and give massages to those they care for. I would love a story about that Pride and its members.

Blaine, an outsider by way of his unusual birth and size, is a wonderful character. I adored him and his relationship with Denver. This is the longest story of the three and could easily have been its own book. And series. Plus there is a Russian tiger shifter, Dimitri, in need of a mate. I need that story as badly as he does his HEA! I wonder if BA Tortuga takes bribes?

Oklahoma Rain by Kiernan Kelly – 5 stars

Blaze Morgan looks like a mundane but he’s not. Instead Blaze has a hidden psychic talent that allows him to scout out the locations in small towns along the rodeo circuit where Darque and Knight can set up for a while. Blaze supplies patches when holes appear in the magic wards that kept their real identities masked and the magical nature of their rodeo hidden from the mundanes that buy the tickets at each stop. Blaze even has a talent for mind control but that only applies to the humans he meets and not any Supes he comes into contact with. That proves to be a problem when Blaze finds a homeless pair hiding out on the deserted farm where Darque and Knight are getting ready to set up for a run.

Zack and 10 year old human Mikey have been using the farm as their home for a while and Blaze’s appearance shattered the temporary home they have made together. Telekinetic Zack saved Mikey from abusive kidnapper, and the farm has served them both as a place for Mikey to try and heal and a haven for Zack. Blaze invites them to join the rodeo as they can always use another psychic but not everyone is happy to have a human child around.

This story got me too. Loved poor damaged Mikey and his relationship with Zack. Zack, Blaze and Mikey make a wonderful family but not everyone is happy to have them there. Kelly builds the suspense and anguish skillfully as she does the love and bonding between the two men and the wounded child. As it all comes to an explosive ending, the reader is fully engaged and ready to do battle along side Zack, and Blaze to keep their family safe and together.

Loved this story too as so many other types of beings appear here to deepen the universe all three authors are building. Vampire Cody and Demon Philip own and run Darque and Knight, dragons are used as barrel racers and a single burp can set the tents on fire. Cheetah shifters and wolf shifters and so many others are bull riders, barrel racers, and more. There is even a Grand Wizard Dermid who sets the spells that enchant the rodeo to keep it safe. It just keeps getting more fascinating the more you know about it.

Big Bear, Little Bear, by Julia Talbot – 4.5 stars

Grizzly bear shifter Ozzie is the barrel man and clown for Darque and Knight Rodeo. Little Black Bear shifter, Ben, trains and supplies the best rodeo horses while managing on being the worst bulldogger. And Ben has the biggest crush of Ozzie but Ozzie thinks Ben’s too young and inexperienced. Then Ben is badly hurt and sent home to recover. When Ben comes back, Ozzie is surprised how much he has missed the little bear. But there’s something different about Ben, something he’s hiding and Ozzie is determined to get to the truth and let the little bear know how much he cares.

Of course, the barrel man and clown is a Grizzly shifter! How perfect! And Julia Talbot gets the feel of a bear in human form just right as they lumber along with their love of honey, fruits, and finally each other. The author brings the natural history of bears into her story in subtle but genuine ways and it just elevates this story up another notch. Ben’s injury almost killed him and the ensuing trauma has had enormous side effects, as it should. Ben’s gentleness and forlorn demeanor plays off beautifully against the jovial good nature and confidence of Ozzie. They are made for each other and Julia Talbot’s lovely story charts the path of their romance from start to finish. More please, much, much more!

I really adored Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming. I can only hope that this book is a precursor of more stories to come. Darque and Knight Rodeo is full of amazing beings, each with their own stories to tell. How did Philip and Cody get together? A demon and a vamp? What about Dimitri and the Pride of cat shifters? Plus there is Denver’s triplet brothers to get in trouble and surely other paranormals that could use a job at a rodeo? I can think of character after character with a story that needs telling and these three authors are just the ones to do it.

I highly recommend Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming. Its fun, lively, engrossing….just a great read. Pick it up and become involved in the lives of the supernatural and paranormal as they find their way to HEA and a home. You will be happy you did.

Sales Links: Torquere Press All Romance eBooks (ARe) Amazon Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming

Cover by Anne Squires. Love this cover. I only wish there had been a bit of a supernatural air about it, maybe claws on the hand or something.

Book Details:

ebook, 228 pages
Published July 16th 2014 by Torquere Press
ISBN 1610407776 (ISBN13: 9781610407779)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76&products_id=4220

On Tour with Jay Northcoate and Nothing Special Book Tour/Contest

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Jay Northcote is here with her latest release, Nothing Special. She has brought along a contest to enter and an excerpt or two to read. For all the contest details, scroll down to the bottom of the post, Rafflecopter link included.

Book Name: Nothing Special
Author Name: Jay Northcote
Author Bio:

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.

She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

Author Links:
Website: www.jaynorthcote.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jay_northcote
Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/dellamere
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jaynorthcotefiction
Jay’s books: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_953

Title: Northing Special
Author: Jay Northcoate
Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Buy Link: Amazon

Blurb:

Noah thinks he’s nothing special. Average height, a bit on the skinny side, and cute but rather geeky, he’s relentlessly ordinary. He certainly doesn’t expect to be noticed by Sol, the gorgeous dark-haired stranger Noah sees on his commute home most days. But when Noah’s friend, Dom, persuades Noah to take a huge risk in a bid to get Sol’s attention, things turn out better than Noah dared to hope. Noah and Sol start dating, and much to Noah’s surprise, his feelings seem to be reciprocated.
But Noah’s insecurities make him doubt Sol. He doesn’t believe he’s interesting enough or sexy enough to hold Sol’s attention, and as Sol tries to get closer, Noah’s instinct is to pull away to protect himself. If their relationship is going to survive, Sol needs to convince Noah that he sees Noah very differently to how Noah sees himself. Because to Sol, Noah is something very special indeed.

Excerpt:

He must have slept for a little while, because he was awoken by a warm hand on his shoulder and the brush of lips on his forehead. “Hey, sleeping beauty. I’m done. Want to see?”

“Please.” Noah opened his eyes and moved over so that Sol could sit beside him. Sol handed him the sketch pad so Noah could admire his handiwork.
“Wow… that’s….”

Noah traced the lines of the drawing with his fingertip while he tried to find the words. His body was lean and slender where he lay sprawled on the rumpled sheets. Sol had shaded every dip and shadow to show the curve of muscle and the angle of his bones under the skin.

“You made me look beautiful.” He heard the surprise in his own voice. Noah had never seen himself like this before. It was so different from a photo or looking in the mirror.

“You are beautiful.” Sol’s voice was matter of fact, as though stating that the sky was blue or grass was green.

“I’m not,” Noah protested. “I’m nothing special. I’m just… ordinary.”

Special Excerpt!

Noah stopped by the door, waiting for Sol to open it. His heart was thudding fast now. He was nervous. It had been a while since he’d hooked up with anyone, but he was impatient too. He badly wanted to kiss Sol again. But Sol paused, looking at Noah. “Fuck, sorry. I just realized I completely forgot to offer you a drink. I know you don’t want coffee, but do you want anything else?”

Noah shook his head. “No,” he said. Then with a surge of frustration, he took control of the situation, grabbing Sol by the belt loops and hauling him in. He buried his nose in the crook of Sol’s neck and breathed him in before sucking a biting kiss that made Sol gasp and clutch at Noah’s shoulders. “No. I don’t want anything to drink… or eat… or smoke,” Noah muttered against Sol’s neck and cheek, punctuating his words with wet kisses. He pulled back and looked at Sol’s upturned face. “Can we just…?”

“Skip the pleasantries and get off?” Sol suggested. “Sounds good to me.”

Tour Dates: 8/11 – 8/22 & stops
8/11 – My Fiction Nook
8/12 – Emotion in Motion
8/13 – Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Love Bytes
8/14 – Velvet Panic
8/15 – The Novel Approach
8/18 – Prism Book Alliance, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
8/19 – MM Good Book Reviews, Smoocher’s Voice
8/20 – Parker Williams
8/21 – The Blogger Girls
8/22 – Amanda C. Stone, Book Reviews and More by Kathy

Contest: Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link provided for the entry form and further contest details. Winner gets the Rafflecopter Prize: Winner’s choice – An e-copy of ‘Nothing Serious’, ‘The Little Things’ or ‘Not Just Friends’

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In The Author Spotlight: Susan Laine of The Wheel Mysteries Series! (contest)

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♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Sparks & Drops (The Wheel Mysteries #1) and

Devil’s Own (The Wheel Mysteries #2)

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The Wheel Mysteries by Susan Laine

Susan Laine is in the Author Spotlight today and she has brought along a contest to enter. The winner can choose from either the first or second book in the series. If the winner has read both, then they can choose a book from Susan Laine’s back shelf. Just leave a comment and an email address where you can be reached. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Contest ends 8/27~

Wiccan Wheel & Murder Mysteries by Susan Laine

My name is Susan Laine. Iím the author of The Wheel Mysteries series which revolves around two men and their developing relationship as they get entangled in murder mysteries. Gus Goodwin is a laidback wiccan shopkeeper and Niall Valentine is a hardboiled private detective. Valentine is usually the reason he and Gus get involved in murder mysteries with occult themes. Where Valentine is a quiet, reserved ex-military man turned PI, Gus is a jovial, social entrepreneur and wiccan practitioner with a serious green thumb. Itís a case of opposites attract.

Wicca is a modern pagan religion, focusing on a balance between a mother goddess and a horned god. Their practices also center on magic and nature worship, notions of karma, morality and equality, ecological responsibilities and life-affirming rituals in moonlight (nudity is optional). Wicca is a pacifist faith with loose or non-existent priesthoods, as people can initiate and practice alone by themselves or become a member of a coven.

In Finland, wicca is not a registered religious community and has no official religion status, which makes it impossible for the practitioners to go to court when their rights are violated. I studied new religious movements at Helsinki University, so when I became a writer, I wanted to write something about wicca.

There are eight wiccan festivals, or sabbats, in a year that coincide with similar festivals in other religious and secular calendars: Samhain or Halloween, Yule or Christmas, Imbolc or Candlemas, Ostara or Easter, Beltane or May Day, Litha or Midsummer Festival, Lughnasadh or Lammas, and lastly Mabon which has no historical or modern equivalent. The cycle of these eight seasonal celebrations together forms the Wheel of the Year.

Each story in the series happens against the backdrop of one of these festivals. As such, this series will consist of eight stories in total. Two are out now Sparks & Drops, and Devilís Own and more are in the works. In Sparks & Drops, Gus and Valentine meet as Valentine gathers information from Gus about wicca due to a case involving a missing girl. In Devilís own, Niall investigates an attack on a classy married socialite by her husband, and things get complicated when the husband is found murdered inside a locked bedroom.

Thatís about it this time. Thank you all for accompanying me, and thank you kindly, Melanie, for having me here today 🙂

You can find Susan Laine on the internet:

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_561
The Wheel Mysteries: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=991
Author Website: http://www.susan-laine-author.fi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susan.laine.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Laine_Susan
Email: susan(DOT)laine(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

Thanks, Susan, for stopping by today and for the great contest prizes! Don’t forget to leave a comment and your email address where you can be reached.

Changes, Sunday Announcements, and the Schedule Ahead at Scattered Thoughts

Good morning! Sun’s out and the day is looking good. I have several announcements to make today. Fall is approaching and with it come changes, including changes here at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords! Here is a few announcements of the first changes to come.

New Reviewers! Things are changing here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. There are more author interviews being posted, more cover reveals, and more book tours and contests being offered. And more book reviews to be read. With so many books to be covered it soon became apparent that more reviewers were needed here at Scattered Thoughts and now I am pleased to announce that Barb will be coming on board as a new reviewer here. Her bio and picture will be up on Monday. Look for her reviews coming up soon!

Also, YA presses are putting forth some wonderful stories. So to help us cover this large genre, Scattered Thoughts will be adding a YA reviewer too. That introduction is coming as well. What a great time for us and the books we love!

Now for some winner announcements. All have been notified. Congratulations!

The winner of Laura Harner’s Separate Ways series is Roger.
The winner of Richard Longfellow’s Private Practice is Sula H.
Winners for Second Helpings: Lee Todd, who commented, and Lesley Routledge and Debra Edwards were the Rafflecopter winners.

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Now for the upcoming week’s schedule at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords…

Monday, August 18:

Cover Reveal: Will Parkinson’s Wet Paint (contest)
Jay Northcote’s Nothing Special Virtual Book Tour (contest)
Say Yes to Silvia Violet’s Say Yes Book Tour and Contest!
In the Author Spotlight: Susan Laine and The Wheel Mysteries (contest)

Tuesday, August 19:

On Tour with Heidi Belleau and Lisa Henry and Bliss (contest)
Review: Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming by B.A. Tortuga and Julia Talbot

Wednesday, August 20:

Book Blast: CJElliot’s Stepping Through Tour and Contest
Jackie Nacht’s Wrong Locker Book Tour and Contest
Get In on the Action with BA Tortuga and Julia Talbot’s Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming (contest)
Review: Hard Act To Follow by Kimber Vale

Thursday, August 21:

Virtual Book Tour: Pivot and Slip by Lilah Suzanne
EE Montgomery ‘Ordinary People’ Keep Me In Mind Tour and contest
Review:Finding Jackie by Lou Sylvre

Friday, August 22:

On Tour with Lou Sylvre and her Vasquez and James Series!
Review: Semper Fae by Angel Martinez

Saturday, August 23:

Ashley Ladd’s Business or Pleasure Book Tour/contest
Review: Jackie and John by TJ Klune

Plus if you are a member of Goodreads M/M Romance group, don’t forget to get in on the BIG Anniversary Scavenger Hunt. ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords is participating! Go here for all the Celebration information and details on the Hunt! Good luck and happy hunting!

Review: You Can’t Go Home Again by Michael Murphy

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

At 32, Jack is a seasoned police officer. He has done everything possible to prepare his rookie partner, Kevin “The Kid”, for their undercover operation. But during the drug bust, things go horribly wrong and Jack is left with his partner dying in his arms. Off duty and beset by guilt, Jack and his Chief accept the responsiblity of relaying the news to Kevin’s wife, another police officer. At loose ends, Jack and Marie become friends and he agrees to go with her to Alabama to bury Kevin in his home town.

At the church, Jack is in for another shock when Devin, Kevin’s twin brother,appears at the funeral. Devin is a photographer and gay. He is also determined to help Marie when they all find out that Marie is pregnant. A tentative romance continues when Devin makes the surprise decision to leave California and move east to help Marie,. Such impetuousness is rewarded with a slammed door and an offer of a guest room from Jack. Soon their romance is hotter than ever.

But each time, things start to settle down for Jack, Devin, and even Marie, obstacles rise up to shatter the calm and bring them all to the edge of despair once more. Kevin’s mother blames Marie for Kevin being a police officer and his death. And the aftermath of the drug deal is still playing out.

You can’t go home again but what happens when the new home you are trying to make is threatened at every turn? Jack,and Devin are about to find out.

The opening chapters of You Can’t Go Home Again are so heartbreaking that they will stay with you for the entire book. It brings the short-lived character of The Kid alive, and he ends up hovering over the proceedings for the rest of the story. You get a real feel for Jack and his partner as things go very wrong and the Kid makes one shattering bad decision that will cost him his life. It’s shocking, painful, and the death scene is gut wrenching. Michael Murphy really delivers in the scenes where the officers are helping a shattered Jack dress and leave for Kevin’s home to relay the news of Kevin’s death to his wife. Here the pain and strength of the Thin Blue Line is poignantly portrayed and it gives a ring of authenticity to Jack as a law enforcement officer.

The power of those opening pages are so strong that sometimes the rest of the story fades under its impact. But that element of soft discourse is needed after such an emotional start. Marie’s character, especially, almost requires a quiet fortitude that comes through in the narrative. Murphy shows the restrained and stress filled support both Jack and Marie bring to each other. Jack in feeling that he hadn’t done enough to get to know his partner and Marie filling in the gaps for Jack from Kevin’s perspective and hers. It’s a lovely relationship and a touching one.

The ugliness of the Alabama family and the strain of the funeral are realistic and shocking . Here the antagonism of the mother and the reveal of the twin brother come together to show how shattering Kevin’s death is and how far its impact spreads. It also helps to bring Jack, Marie and Devin together as a unit as characters and in the eyes of the reader. You can almost feel the scrabbled together family bonds forming.

Murphy’s story still have some twists and turns as it turns the halfway point, One ties up neatly with the events that occur in the beginning and others from relationships still playing out from peoples pasts.

There are a few things I wish had been added, last names for one. I feel having a whole name contributes to a complete character identity and that was lacking all over the place here. Too, I wish the character of Devin had been a little more realized. He came across as less a complete person than his brother who is alive for only a small amount of time on the pages. Still, I loved the relationships that formed here. Whether it is the romance between Jack and Devin, or the brothers/sisterly ones that formed between Jack, Devin, and Marie, I enjoyed watched each and every one form and deepen over time.

I do recommend this story and think you will find You Can’t Go Home Again a rewarding way to spend the day reading.

Sales Link: Dreampsinner Press All Romance eBook (ARe) Amazon You Can’t Go Home Again

Cover art by L.C. Chase. I like the cover but that model is either fine for The Kid or Devin but too young looking for Jack.

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published July 18th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published July 17th 2014)
ISBN139781627988995
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://gayromancewriter.com/wordpress/?

Cover Reveal for Eden Winters ‘A Matter of When’‏

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It’s Here! The cover reveal for Eden Winter’s A Matter of When! And there is a contest to enter as well. Use the Rafflecopter link to enter to win Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘A Matter of When’ after it comes out! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Book Name: A Matter of When
Author Name: Eden Winters

Author Bio:
Captivated young by story-telling, Eden Winters’ earliest memories include spinning tales for the family’s pets. Her dreams of writing professionally took a sojourn into non-fiction, with a twelve-year stint in technical documentation.

She began reading GLBT novels as a way to better understand the issues faced by a dear friend and fell in love with the M/M romance genre. During a discussion of a favorite book, a fellow aficionado said, “We could do this, you know.” Good-bye gears, motors, and other authors’ characters; hello plots and sex scenes. So far that’s produced such award winning novels as The Wish, Settling the Score, The Angel of Thirteenth Street, Duet, Naked Tails, and Diversion.

Somewhat of a nomad, Eden has visited seven countries so far. She currently calls the southern US home, and many of her stories take place in the rural South. Having successfully raised two children, she now balances the day job with hiking, rafting, spoiling her grandchildren, and stalking the wily falafel or elusive tofu pad Thai at her favorite restaurants. Her musical tastes run from Ambient to Zydeco, and she’s a firm believer that life is better with fur kids and Harley Davidsons.

Author Contact:
For more information about Eden, please visit her website at http://www.edenwinters.com. Be sure to look for Eden’s soon-to-be-published works: A Matter of When and Manipulation.

Author Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenWinters
Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eden-Winters/300380906658065?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenWinters1

Title: A Matter of When by Eden Winter
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Blurb:
Wealth. Fame. Gold record. Hookers and Cocaine front man Henri Lafontaine has it all…including a control freak manager, band members who smile as they sharpen blades for his back, and last but damn well not least, a fan out to steal his heart. Literally. Trying to write hit songs and plan a comeback in the midst of the hi-fi white noise of LA feels more like watching his world implode, until he’s offered a month in the Colorado Rockies for vocal coaching.

Sebastian Unger’s rich, classically trained tenor inspires wicked thoughts. More than a pretty choir boy, he cracks the whip without hesitation to drive tattooed bad-boy Henri to give his all to his music. Working, fighting, and finally establishing a fragile peace, they find inspiration and perhaps more in each other. But the clock is ticking. Time will pull Henri back to the grit and gold of LA’s mean streets and fame machine, while Sebastian must return to the opera circuit, where a mysterious man known as “the patron” holds far too much sway. Only the trust they’ve built on a handful of notes bridges their two worlds…and shields them from malice.

Excerpt: to follow

Tour Dates: 8/15/14

Tour Stops: Full Moon Dreaming, Parker Williams, SA McAuley, Prism Book Alliance, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Hearts on Fire, Iyana Jenna, Angel Martinez, Nephylim, Carly’s Book Reviews, Velvet Panic, 3 Chicks After Dark, MM Good Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Hat Party, Andrew Q. Gordon, Book Reviews and More by Kathy\
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘A Matter of When’ after it comes out

Review: Devil’s Own (The Wheel Mysteries #2) by Susan Laine

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

It’s been almost 2 months since PI Niall Valentine and his occult shopkeeper boyfriend, Gus Goodwin, began their relationship over several mysteries and murders they solved together. Now all they wish to do is find time to spend together and get used to being a couple. Instead they find themselves once more pulled into magic, mystery, and murder.

Niall’s latest client, Angelina Talbot, is convinced that her new husband attempted to kill her. Florian Talbot appeared in their bedroom half-naked and covered in blood. Scared out of her mind, Angelina hit him with a lamp and ran away, convinced she had killed him. But his body never appeared and his family assumes he’s alive and well. Is Florian dead? And did she kill him? Angelina Talbot wants to know and she wants Niall to uncover the truth about her husband.

The Talbot family is full of eccentrics, devil worshippers, and downright criminals. It’s the Satanists that draw Gus into the investigation. No one and nothing is as it seems. As more people disappear and the body count rises, Niall and Gus are sure only of one thing….their love for each other. But will that be enough with a psychotic killer on the loose and kidnapping on the mind?

I fell in love with Gus Goodwin and Niall Valentine in the first The Wheel Mysteries story, Sparks & Drops (The Wheel Mysteries, #1). It felt fresh and captivating. And the element that really set it apart from other mysteries was the use of the Wiccan religion as a basis for the investigations and the character of Gus Goodwin. Susan Laine delves deep into the rituals, beliefs, and common misconceptions held about the Wiccan religion and uses that knowledge as story lines and the foundation for her series.

With her characters, Susan Laine offers the reader both sides of a familiar argument. Is magic and witchcraft real? Who are those people who not only believe in it but practice the Wiccan religion as others worship more recognized, commonly held religious beliefs such as Christianity and such? Coming down on the side of Wicca is Gus Goodwin, a practicing Wiccan. He runs The Four Corners, a shop devoted to Wiccan accouterments, books and such. How he gets to own that store happens in the first book. Gus is a devout practitioner and the rituals he observes are relayed in one absorbing scene after another.

On the other side of the argument is PI Niall Valentine. Thoughtful, open minded. Niall retains that acerbic, questioning attitude necessary for his profession and part of his persona. Niall may research the topic of Wicca, and become knowledgeable but that certainly doesn’t make him a believer. Together, they form a unified investigative front for the paranormal and supernatural mysteries that come their way. They make a terrific duo, on equal level with each other and they know it. How refreshing and adult.

Another thing I love about their relationship and storyline? No instant love. This is the second book and they are only a month and a half into figuring out their romance. They live apart, see each other when they can, and haven’t said the L word because it is much too soon. They are working on their emotions, and relationship dynamics. They also haven’t had anal sex because they can’t seem to find the time to make the preparations necessary for that type of sex. That realism works to connect us to Niall and Gus on a basic level and their hurried, full lives make them relatable as well.

The mysteries here are good ones. Yes, more than one. Once again, Gus and Niall bring in members from the local Wiccan society to help with their investigation which turns very dark early on. There are murders and one particular practitioner of the occult seem to have a role to play in the books to come. Sinister thy name is……nope, can’t give that one away. And yes, their relationship takes several more serious steps forward.

Susan Laine gives the reader so many wonderful elements to enjoy in this story. A romance just getting under way, several mysteries, a couple of murders, and a deeper insight into the Wiccan religion and its worshippers as a whole. I can’t recommend this story and series enough. It’s entertaining, sexy, and yes, fascinating too. If you’ve read the first story, you will want to pick this up immediately. But if this is a new series to you, start at Sparks & Drops to see how Niall and Gus meet and the romance starts. The Wheel continues to turn and more stories will come. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrech. I thought this was a great cover. Visually interesting and perfect for the story.

Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook All Romance eBook (ARe) Amazon Devil’s Own

Book Details:

ebook, 192 pages
Published July 2nd 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1627988033 (ISBN13: 9781627988032)
edition languageEnglish
seriesThe Wheel Mysteries #2

Books in The Wheel Mysteries in the order they were written and should be read:

Sparks & Drops (The Wheel Mysteries #1)
Devil’s Own (The Wheel Mysteries #2)

Review: Dissonance (Blue Notes #6) by Shira Anthony

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Lord Cameron Sherrington’s life feels very empty since he lost his love, opera singer Aiden Lind. Of course,it was his own fault. Cam cheated on Aiden not once but numerous times until Aiden finally left him for good. As Cameron always expected Aiden to do. Aiden was much too good for Cameron and he knew it. Now he hears from Aiden that Aiden and Sam are getting married and the depression that it brings on seems endless.

As Cameron tries to figure out how to move forward in a life without goals, disaster strikes from the last place he expects, the family business. Cameron is being framed for money laundering by someone who wants to takeover the business and the FBI want to bring Cam in for questioning. Cam flees the authorities but with all his accounts depleted or frozen, he is friendless, helpless, and on the streets.

Galen Rusk plays his trumpet in NYC Subways for the shear enjoyment of playing and people watching. When Galen finds a man in dire straits in the tunnels, he recognizes him from the times Cam has stopped by to listen and leave him tips. Now the tables have turned, and Galen offers Cam all the protection and sanctuary he can afford. And soon, bonded by need and their desire for each other, a tenuous relationship forms that neither man is prepared for.

When love appears, all the troubles and fears threaten to break the men apart even before their relationship has been given a chance to succeed. Can Cam and Galen overcome their pasts to grab onto the love in front of them or will it be lost forever in the pain and uncertainties of the present?

I have been such a fan of this series since its inception. The marvelous blending of passion, music and drama in story after story keeps bringing me back into the lives of these musicians, their music and the men who love them. For not only is love the key to their happiness but so is the music that flows through their lives, no matter the melody or instrument. It sustains them, it speaks for them, and it consoles them when all else is falling apart around them.

The shear vitality and musicality to Shira Anthony’s writing makes these characters and their stories ones to hold close to your heart. It is so easy to revel in all the romance, passion and yes, even pain, that life brings to them all as we watch them overcome the obstacles on the path to a future and happily ever after. But of all of them, I believe that Cameron and Galen are my favorite couple of the Blue Notes series. How astonishing!

After having lived through the turmoil and devastation of Aiden Lind’s life in Aria (Blue Notes #3) and the major role that Lord Cameron Sherrington played in Aiden’s pain, I never thought I would see the reclamation of such a cad. In that story, Cam was an unadulterated terror. A selfish, spoiled brat of a man who was used to getting his way and a bully when that didn’t happen. Talk about your unlikable character! But over the next several stories, hints were creeping in that all was not well with Lord Cameron. Glimpses of vulnerability and regret were seeping in, especially when it came to his actions towards Aiden. Soon people were clamoring for Cam’s story.

Here Shira Anthony tears off the cover of Cameron’s assuredness and arrogance to reveal a past of pain, neglect and perhaps something darker that even Cameron had repressed. It’s a slow process of pulling back the layers that Cameron has so completely piled on top of his memories. Anthony prolongs that aspect of this story in a manner that makes it feel not only authentic but hauntingly real as well. From the events that trigger Cameron’s memories to the stress and strain of his situation that brings Cameron to the breaking point, the author’s descriptions pull us into his life so completely until we are there, teetering on the edge of the precipice with Cameron. And Cameron is not the only one here whose past has immobilized him and any relationships he might attempt. Galan is just as wounded as Cameron. Both men must deal with their problems and pasts before they can decide to move forward together.

What a wonderful and absorbing story in every way.

Textured portraits, a story full of plots guaranteed to secure our interest and emotions, and an ending that brings the men together with favorite couples from previous novels. And on top of all those amazing ingredients, Shira Anthony folds in the music that so represents these characters and their journey, separately and together. What music it is! Such an eclectic selection. From the iconic sounds of Billie Holiday to Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, we sway to the music that flows through this narrative, pulling us along. There’s some of my all time favorites here. “Moon River’, sung by Audrey Hepburn , Bill Withers “Ain’t No Sunshine”, and so many others. A complete soundtrack and links are listed below. Check them out or better yet, listen as you read.

I loved Dissonance. It’s a joy in every way. It will be on ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Best of 2014 lists this year. Pick it up and start reading now. Yes, you can read it as a stand alone but do yourself a favor, and read the others first. You will appreciate Cameron’s journey so much more if you know what went on before this book. I highly recommend Dissonance and the entire Blue Notes series. Get started on it today.

Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook All Romance eBook (ARe) Dissonance (Blue Notes) ” Dissonance

Cover Artist: Catt Ford. Lovely cover, works for the story and for the branding of the series. Great job.

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Published August 8th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1632161826 (ISBN13: 9781632161826)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5291
seriesBlue Notes #6
charactersDavid Somers, Alex Bishop, Aiden Lind, Lord Cameron Sherrington, Galen Rusk
settingNew York City, New York (United States)

Books in the Blue Notes series can be read as standalones but it helps to read them in order to understand the various relationships and time line. Listed below are all the stories in the Blue Notes series. The author has noted that she considers it a series of interrelated, classical music themed standalone novels that can be read in any order.

Knowing (Blue Notes, #0.5) a free read at Goodreads
Blue Notes (Blue Notes, #1)
The Melody Thief (Blue Notes, #2)
Aria (Blue Notes, #3)
Prelude (Blue Notes, #4) by Shira Anthony and Venona Keyes
Encore (Blue Notes, #5)
Symphony in Blue (Blue Notes, #4.5)
Dissonance (Blue Notes #6)

Shira Anthony’s Dissonance Sountrack:
Dissonance Playlist:

“Night and Day,” by Cole Porter (Ella Fitzgerald):
“Ain’t Misbehavin,” by Fats Waller (Fats Waller):
“Moon River,” by (Audrey Hepburn):
“Ain’t No Sunshine” (Bill Withers):
“Blue Moon” (Billie Holliday):
“Stairway to Heaven” (Led Zeppelin):
Partita No. 2, by Johann Sebastian Bach (Hillary Hahn):
Prelude No. 4, by Frederic Chopin (Khatia Buniatshvili):
“Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin (Leonard Bernstein):
Haydn Trumpet Concerto (Wynton Marsalis):
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” Variations by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Natalie Schwamova, age 11): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezvj-De6bxY
“Vocalise” (Rachmaninoff): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVyza9jzw18 (Luka Sulic, cello), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW630zFA93Y (Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano)
Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, 2nd movement (adagio):
“Summertime,” from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin (Ella Fitzgerald):
Bach, French Suite, Sarabande (Merce Villanueva Molas):

Cover Reveal for Key of Behliseth by Lou Hoffmann! (contest)

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Book Name: Key of Behliseth (The Sunchild Chronicles)
Author Name: Lou Hoffmann

Author Bio: Lou Hoffmann, a mother and grandmother now, has carried on her love affair with books for more than half a century, and she hasn’t even made a dent in the list of books she’d love to read—partly because the list keeps growing as more and more fascinating tales are told in written form. She reads factual things—books about physics and stars and fractal chaos, but when she wants truth, she looks for it in quality fiction. Through all that time she’s written stories of her own, but she’s come to be a published author only as a johnnie-come-lately. Lou loves other kinds of beauty as well, including music and silence, laughter and tears, youth and age, sunshine and storms, forests and fields, rivers and seas. Proud to be a bisexual woman, she’s seen the world change and change back and change more in dozens of ways, and she has great hope for the freedom to love in the world the youth of today will create in the future. You can find Lou on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lou.hoffmann, or twitter @Lou_Hoffmann.

Author Contact: Twitter @Lou_Hoffmann

Title: Key of Behliseth (The SunChild Chronicles) by Lou Hoffmann
Cover Artist: Catt Ford
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (Dreamspinner Press YA imprint)
Buy Links: Dreamspinner eBook Dreamspinner Paper

Note: Use this code for a discount at DSP:Code: SUNCHILD
20% off – preorders
15% off – first 2 weeks after release

Blurb:
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.

Excerpt (larger text to the side):

Thurlock gazed evenly at him. His cheek twitched; probably a tic, but to Lucky it looked like pain, a wince repeated over and over again. It made Thurlock’s next words seem important, maybe even urgent.

“I have erred. I’ve hurt you and that was never my intent. I assure you neither I nor Han are serial killers or anything else that’s ugly—we’re not like any of the predators you’ve probably met in the last few years.” Lucky didn’t have to decide whether to try to deny he’d had such thoughts, because Thurlock kept talking. “You can leave, if you want, with your key. If you go, I’ll watch over you as best I can, and—”

“Watch over me?”

“—and I’ll never again force you or trick you into coming here. You never need come back, if you wish it that way. Or—” Thurlock shifted his gaze, and though he didn’t move, his gray eyes closed in on Lucky’s until it felt as if they stood nose to nose. “—or you can open your eyes, and look into mine, and let yourself see with that part of you that you trust even though you don’t understand it, the part that knows when something is important, when something is true.”

Tour Dates: 8/12/14

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Amanda C. Stone, Havan Fellows, MM Good Book Reviews, Prism Book Alliance, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Velvet Panic, Love Bytes, The Hat Party, Angel Martinez, Fallen Angel Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Will Parkinson, The Novel Approach, Hearts on Fire, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Smoocher’s Voice, Cate Ashwood, Charli Green

Contest: Ebook copy of Key to Behliseth by Lou Hoffman. Use the Rafflecopter link provided for the entry form and for additional contest details. YA contest, age appropriate.

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

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