A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

the-pill-bugs-of-time Relationship and communication issues plague Officer Vikash Soren, but those are nothing compared to facing stick-throwing tumbleweeds, pill bugs and…time travel?

Vikash Soren, the perfect police officer except for his odd paranormal ability, never seems to lose his temper. Always serene and competent, he’s taken on the role of mediator in a squad room full of misfits. But on the inside, he’s a mess. Unable to tell his police partner that he loves him, Vikash struggles silently, terrified of losing Kyle as a lover, partner and friend.

But life in the 77th Precinct doesn’t leave much room for internal reflection. A confrontation with a stick-throwing tumbleweed in Fairmount Park leads to bizarre consequences involving pill bugs, statues and…time travel? If Vikash manages to survive the week and stay in one point in time, he might be able to address normal things like relationship problems. He just needs Kyle to have a little more patience. Maybe a few centuries’ worth.

Those wonderful oddball paranormal police officers of the 77th Precinct are back in their second crime novel, The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez and I couldn’t be happier. I first met up with them in the wildly offbeat and downright scrumptious Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (Offbeat Crimes, #1) and now get to step back into that paranormal police squad and the romance of Kyle and Vikash to see what’s happened to them all.

Normal was something one left at the door when assigned to a paranormal police station. Officer Vikash Soren had seen that demonstrated the first time he had set foot inside the 77th. During roll call, the man who would later become his partner had accidentally shot fire from his fingers at the ceiling. Someone else’s fire, as it turned out. In the weeks that followed, he had encountered an animated leather jacket, worked with a vampire, a lizard man and various officers of dubious paranormal talents, and had helped stop the killing spree of an alligator snapping turtle the size of a sedan.

It would follow that nothing should surprise him anymore.

But when he walked into the squad room that morning, late due to a doctor’s appointment, his colleagues had gathered around the periphery of the room to watch Greg Santos in a fistfight with a puddle of water.

That’s how Chapter One starts as Vikash wanders over to the desk of his police partner/off duty lover, Kyle, as they also watch the morning’s events unfold. All in all, pretty typical for them, hilarious for us…and oh thanks whoever for the marvel that is Angel Martinez’s twisty turny imagination. Because as great as the fight with the puddle of water? That even better, “really, guys?” solution to it all. Yep, I was home, smack dab right where I wanted to be. Where just when you think it can’t get any stranger, then weird up and rides in the door sailing past a tumble weed made of post it notes who just happens to be called Tim.

Of course, there is a largely personal element looming over all the nuttiness here. Vikash and Kyle’s new relationship is teetering on the edge of failure because of Vikash’s struggles with his own demons. His fears have cost him relationships and jobs before but never has he really cared. Now he does but Vik doesn’t know how to break his pattern. Its so familiar, this heartbreaking inability to break out of a pattern that’s become so infused, so self fulling that it may cost this man the love of his life. Martinez pulls us in so deeply into Vikash and Kyle’s confusion that we sometimes forget that Vik’s chasing after giant time traveling pill bugs with sentient leather jackets and vampires who find blood distasteful. Ok, no we don’t. But it makes everything else seem so perfectly part of their lives too. Normal is overrated here.

Can’t forget about Kyle as he’s never far from Vikash’s life, thoughts and struggles of the heart. Kyle’s pain is on the table too when Vik loses out to his fears and diminishes their relationship daily in small ways, all the while continuing their partnership as policer officers.

I think I love that so much. Layered, believable, characters like Vik and Kyle that fall in love, never have an easy time of it, and all while pursuing some of the most insanely creative and imaginative paranormal crime cases you will want to read about. And while one case may be solved, the relationship just gets eased into the next stage of growth and all our wonderful cast of investigators proceeds forward anew…with some wonderfully great new additions as well.

I love Offbeat Crimes and The Pill Bugs of Time is a grand new story in this series. Its all there. Humor, wild adventures and love…Angel Martinez style! I can’t recommend them highly enough. Grab this and the first story up today.

Cover art by Posh Gosh is the one branding the series. It works.

Sales Links:

Pride Publishing

Book Details:

ebook, Revamp Edition
Expected publication: September 20th 2016 by Pride Publishing (first published June 27th 2015)
ISBN139781786514721
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesOffbeat Crimes – add to your Goodreads shelf here:

Publisher’s Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

Pre-order Date: 9th August 2016
Available exclusively to Pride Publishing: 23rd August 2016
General Release Date: 20th September 2016

The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Leslie (Audiobooks Part II/Giveaway) & This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Leslie (Audiobooks Part II)

Last Sunday, I started our conversation about the fast-rising audiobook industry with my blog Are You Listening Now? The Popularity of Audiobooks. This Sunday, that conversation continues with The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Leslie (Audiobooks Part II).

As I have said before, and as reviewers/listeners we have noted many times in our reviews, a good or great narrator makes or breaks an audiobook. It doesn’t matter that you have read it before. Listening to a book makes it fresh once more. It gives a reader a new and different perspective. Often times I hear things I missed in the story, or catch things from a narrator’s inflection that highlights a previously hidden element. I love that about this format.

Also the opposite is true. A narrator you don’t connect with, or one with a flat delivery, or monotone voice…well, that can sink a terrific story faster than a lead anchor. So what’s the key? How to get some insight into those people behind the voices we love to listen to?

Well I was so lucky to hook up with the very talented Joel Leslie who agreed to answer some questions for me. A favorite narrator for both Barb, our Zany Old Lady and Ali, I was delighted to have this chance to talk audiobooks, voices and favorite genres. Here is my interview with Theatrical Director, Designer, and Audiobook Narrator Joel Froomkin , known to most of the LGBTQIA listeners of audiobooks as Narrator Joel Leslie. For you authors out there thinking of putting your story out on audio? Hmmm, I think you might find this as enlightening as our readers.

book-covers

Welcome, Joel, to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. We love our audiobooks here, including several you have narrated including Dinner at Fiorello’s by Rick R. Reed and Ali’s Audiobook Review of Desert Heat and Native Tongue by Lucy Felthouse. I have so many questions for you but these were the first ones that came to mind.

My Interview with Joel Leslie

How did you get started with narrating audiobooks?

Long answer… lol…

It was a long and winding road actually – but I’m so grateful to have landed here. My undergrad was in performance at USC and then I did my MFA there in design and directing. My entire professional career up until the past few years has been concentrated on directing… I did a lot of assisting as well, working on shows with Dame Maggie Smith and lots of other amazing folks. About ten years ago my partner and I started a theatre company in Indiana. It was a labor of love, but despite our efforts the community wasn’t able to financially support the scale of professional productions we aimed to do. I have also been a college professor, teaching dialects at NYU and I was the Director of Drama at a university here in Indiana for a while.

While we were doing shows, in between productions I would sometimes present one-man radio dramas… I would abridge classics like Christmas Carol, Treasure Island, Jekyll and Hyde and do them for a few nights. The audiences loved them. As we were looking to be able to move the theatre company to another area, one of my long time friends who is a fantastic female narrator suggested I give it a try. So I began auditioning and the first contract I landed has actually been most successful series (the SkylerGo Foxe Mysteries by Haley Walsh).

It is a perfect blend of skills really – because 99% of the time with audiobooks you are directing yourself… so my performer background is obviously helpful, but also being able to listen to yourself with a critical ear and shape the performance I think is a terribly useful tool. And now it’s a full time job. I’m booked through February at the moment! Eep.

Do you listen to audiobooks yourself and was that an element in your career or just a plus?

I came to audiobooks largely because I was a huge fan of them. I have always loved the theatricality of an actor playing multiple roles in front of an audience… the ability to be a chameleon. And I fell in love with audiobooks because of that. My favorites were Jim Dale, Davina Porter and Roy Dotrice… they don’t just read a story – they perform it for you. I listen to an audiobook every night… I think that one of the trickiest things is actually working of authors who AREN’T listeners to audiobooks, because they don’t really have a familiarity with the art form and what the audience wants.

What is the hardest part of narrating a story?

Gosh – great question. I narrate under two names… Joel Froomkin for most of my material and Joel Leslie for my m/m material (simply so that I have a consistent brand for my m/m listeners). But Joel Froomkin does a lot of historical and fantasy stuff – and I hate doing battle scenes. It’s difficulty to not try to over act them, or speed up to make it seem exciting… and those are traps. I just think they are hard. Maybe cuz I’m not into sports lol! Other than that, I have a tough time when there are a lot of alpha american men in conversation with each other in a scene. Flamboyant characters can have quirks and personality that make them easily identifiable… and when you are doing a British book it’s so much easier because class and level of education is so distinctive with their speech and also dialects change in England every 21 miles… so you have great variety for how you make characters sound to pull them out for the listener. But if I have a bunch of super-butch American alpha males in a room having a conversation in a book I usually have a panic attack.

It’s also very challenging to do a series where the author gives you multiple POV chapters. Usually you would make your main character your own voice… because it’s going to be the most authentic and resonate as the most truthful with the reader… but when you have a bunch of characters speaking in first person… you can’t do that. And it can be a real challenge. I’ve had two like that recently (“Absolution (The Protectors #1)” by Sloane Kennedy (which is the first in an amazing series) and “Guns Blazing” by Eva Lenoir and Andrea Smith) that I sweated bullets over.

And the easiest?

People are so shocked to hear this…but the sex scenes. Because usually there isn’t that much dialogue and it’s all descriptive. So you can just settle back and read… it’s kind of like putting your car on cruise control. And after doing this for almost two years now, there really isn’t much I can read that will make me blush!

I can remember listening to books being read to me as a child. How they were read had a huge impact on me. Using different voices, no matter how silly it might have seen to the adult (bears, rabbits…you know…childrens books). The same carries over here. In some stories, you play many characters where there are different pov. Or do you only narrate stories with a singular pov?

It depends on the narrator… but I am very much a narrator who creates characters. It’s funny that you mention animals, because when I first get a book I send the author a bunch of questions and one of them is “if your character was an animal what would they be”… Finding the voice for someone is much easier if you know the author thinks they are a ferret vs. a hamster or a Persian cat. But I think the m/m listeners that really respond to my work usually do so because they enjoy how much individuality I try to give my characters. Also, because I grew up in the UK with American parents, I’m kind of a dialect ambidextrous lol. I jump between authentic British and American accents and I do as much British work for British authors as I do for American authors. Listeners who have tried multiple books of mine are often confused about what my real voice sounds like.

I would imagine, being a narrator lets you go into any genre you want…am I correct in that? Or do you have a particular favorite

Well I love that I get to do so much m/m work. I find it really important and empowering to be able to put those kind of stories out into the world. I know the main audience is female for m/m romance, but I also think about the young adults who are struggling to feel ok with themselves and they might discover one of these stories by the brilliant authors I get to work for and find some hope. And the thing about audio is it’s so private… you really are one-on-one with the listener. So it means a lot to be able to give voice to m/m romance. I also love doing fantasy stuff because it means you can use every dialect in the universe and play with crazy voices. You don’t get to do everything you want – I think you can get pigeonholed as a narrator. But I’m luckily not in that place yet, and my audiobook career has a lot of room to grow.

What’s your favorite types of stories to read or listen to?

I am such a sucker for cozy mysteries. I don’t know why. I LOVE MC Beaton and the Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin books. I think that’s why I love doing Haley Walsh’s Skyler Foxe so much…because it really is a gay spin on that type of mystery. I think TJ Klune is one of the most amazing authors out there in any genre. I don’t think I could ever get tired of listening to Jim Dale doing Harry Potter or Roy Dotrice doing Game of Thrones… they are just extraordinary examples of old-school storytelling. I’m also so lucky to have an ongoing relationship with authors like N.R Walker, Kim Fielding, Andrea Smith, Kiernan Kelly, TM Smith and Grace R Duncan – they always seem to have something wonderful for me to play with.

What current projects are you working on that you want to share with our readers?

Absolution, the first in the protectors series by Sloane Kennedy just came out, as did Fame and Fortune by TM Smith. Upcoming things I’m really excited about are the sequel to Black Balled called Hard Edit by Andrea Smith and Eva Lenoir, the second book in the Red Dirt Heart series by NR Walker and The Naked Prince and Other Fairy Tales by Joe Cosentino.

If you were an bard of old….how would you start your story of your life and what would it be called?

“Once upon a time there was a kid who could never keep his big mouth shut… It took two decades for him to realize there was a career for that.”

Thank you, Joel, that was a wonderful interview. I’m sure there are many more questions rumbling about inside my head. I hope you will stop back by Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for another conversation about narration and audiobooks and any future projects you want to share with us.

To listen to Joel, here are three different excerpts:

Desert Foxe by Haley Walsh: https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/desert-foxe-by-haley-walsh
Treasure by Kim Fielding: https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/treasure-by-kim-fielding
Absolution by Sloane Kennedy: https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/absolution-by-sloane-kennedy

~

If you want to reach out to Joel, we have listed his contacts below. We also have a giveaway today for our readers brought to you by Joel who is giving away 10 copies, yes 10 winners… the winners could choose the first book in any of my series they wanted to try (Skyler Foxe, The Protectors, Jimmy McSwain Mysteries, All Cocks, or Black Balled)!

About Joel Froomkin

Joel is a UK transplant, growing up with an American parents in a British commonwealth. He is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of both American and British sounds. His wit and comedic timing also appeal to producers. He has developed a strong body of work for young audience, historical, fantasy, new-adult, romance and m/m fiction.

His author’s have praised him as “a narrator among narrators, a man whose ability to create different characters rests on the power of his voice and his impeccable delivery”, and a “true delight…” “legendary, and his professionalism, good humor, and charm make him a dream to work with”, “Anyone else would only be second best”.

Joel records under two names, for mainstream and children’s fiction as Joel Froomkin, and for m/m and adult material under Joel Leslie and has consistent access to home studio for all production needs.

You can contact Joel Froomkin at:

www.joelfroomkin.com/audiobook-narration is my website…
Even better is my Facebook page “Joel Leslie Narration”
Or they can follow me on twitter at joellesliefro @joelfroomkin

Giveaway

We are giving away 10 copies (1 copy a winner so 10 winners overall) , all thanks to Joel Froomkin! The 10 people chosen will get to chose from the first book in any of Joel’s series they wanted to try (Skyler Foxe, The Protectors, Jimmy McSwain Mysteries, All Cocks, or Black Balled).

To be entered, tell us who’s your favorite narrator or narrators are. Tell us what you like best about a narrator and maybe name some of your favorite audiobooks. New to audiobooks? OK, name the ones you’d love to be able to listen to if you had a way to listen to audiobooks. And after you do that, make sure you leave a contact name and email address where you can be reached if chosen. Contest is open until midnight, September 30th. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

(Special Note: If you are a Amazon Prime user, Audible is now free with your account.)

audiobook-concept-headphones-books-white-background-39281337

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 18:

The Narrator and Audiobooks – Our Interview with Narrator Joel Froomkin (also known as Joel Leslie)(Audiobooks Part II)
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
A Paul B Audiobook Review: The Autumn Lands by J Scott Coatsworth

Monday, September 19:

Riptide Tour and Giveaway ~ Bitterwood by Rowan Speedwell
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dad’s Nerdy New Boyfriend by JM Snyder
An Alisa Release Day Review: Power Bottom by Rowan McAllister
A Lila Release Day Review: Safe House (Buchanan House #4) by Charley Descoteaux
A Paul Review: Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves # 1) byVictoria Sue

Tuesday, September 20:

Release Blitz & Tour – Sweet Summer Sweat by Clare London
An Alisa Review: Broke by Amanda Young
A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez
An Ali Review: Looking for Group by Alexis Hall
A Stella Review: Three More Wishes by Sean Michael

Wednesday, September 21:

Its Release Day for Flight: Queer Sci Fi’s Third Annual Flash Fiction Contest Anthology (QSF Flash Fiction #2) by J. Scott Coatsworth , Angel Martinez , et al.
Series Recap Tour – Guns n’ Boys by KA Merikan
A Stella Review: Resistance (Village Love #1) by Lillian Francis
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Taming the Wyld by Lucie Archer
A Ali Review: David, Renewed by Diana Copland

Thursday, September 22:

Riptide Tour and Giveaway: Gambling on Love by Jane Davitt
A Stella Review: Gambling on Love by by Jane Davitt
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Run for it All by Carolyn Levine Topol
An Alisa Audiobook Review: The Queen & the Homo Jock King (At First Sight #2) by T.J. Klune and Michael Lesley (Narrator)

Friday, September 23:

Keep Me In Mind tour: Deanna Wadsworth ‘Too Good To Be True‘ (Excerpt and Giveaway)
In the Spotlight: Immortal Watch by Olivia Helling (blitz, excerpt and giveaway)
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Breakaway (Scoring Chances #1) by Avon Gale and Scott R. Smith (Narrator)
An Ali Releases Day Review: Raven’s Rest by Stephen Osborne
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Model Citizen (Haven Investigations #1) by Lissa Kasey and Mike Pohlable (Narrator)

Saturday, September 24:

A MelanieM Review: Wriggle & Sparkle by Megan Derr

Its Labor Day Weekend ~ This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its Labor Day Weekend – How Are You Celebrating?

Yes, if you live in the United States or Canada (yes, Canada celebrates a Labor Day too), then you know its Labor Day and chances are you are either away for the weekend or in mad preparations for some Labor Day celebrations. Maybe you are going to one of many local parades, or picnics, off to the beach (hopefully not the East or Gulf Coast) to fit in one last beach fling before school starts, or even off to the mountains and lakes. But whatever this holiday brings, normally you are taking a book or two or hundreds if you are carting your Kindle or Nook along with you.

While locally Grover Cleveland is known more as one of our running Presidents down at Nationals ball park, it was President Grover Cleveland who signed Labor Day into law nationwide. Celebrated since 1884, the first Monday in September was picked by labor unions because it was halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. We often forget it was started by the labor unions to celebrate working men and women, even President Cleveland signed the bill, not because he supported it or the labor unions, but because he hoped to win back the popularity he lost over the strike breakers he sent down to break a railroad strike that ended disastrously,

That’s the history.

Today, we might be grilling, and chilling. Reading, or gardening. Whatever and however you are spending this weekend….I hope its a happy time. Happy Labor Day. And tell us what books are you reading this weekend? What’s on your September reading list? We’d love to know if it matches up with ours!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 4

Its Labor Day Weekend – How Are You Celebrating?
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, September 5 (Labor Day in the US):

Release Day for Rescued by Felice Stevens (excerpt and giveaway)
In Our Spotlight: Connection Error by Annabeth Albert (Excerpt and Giveaway)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Rancher’s Son by RJ Scott
A MelanieM Releases Day Review: Connection Error by Annabeth Albert
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Rented Heart by Garrett Leigh

Tuesday, September 6:

Riptide Tour and Giveaway – Shatterproof by Xen Sanders
Tour for Re-Inventing Love by Storm Grant (Excerpt)
A MelanieM Review: Re-Inventing Love by Storm Grant
An Alisa Review: Dirty Talk by Joey Jameson
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Tart and Sweet by Amy Lane

Wednesday, September 7:

A Kind of Honesty by Lane Hayes Cover Reveal
Tour – KC Wells – The Senator’s Secret
Riptide Tour and Giveaway – Assassins: Discord by Erica Cameron
A MelanieM Review: Black Dog Blues (Kai Gracen #1) by Rhys Ford
A Stella Review: With or Without You by Zane Riley

Thursday, September 8:

In the Spotlight: Gryffon Hall by Alexis Duran (excerpt and giveaway)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Like a Lover by Jay Northcote
An Alisa Review: Put Five Rings on It by David Connor, E.F. Mulder
A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Running with the Pack A.M. Burns & Caitlin Ricci

Friday, September 9:

Release Blitz & Review Tour – Jay Northcote’s Into You
In Our Spotlight: Shira Anthony’s Take Two
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Take Two by Shira Anthony
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Into You by Jay Northcote
A VVivacious Review: The Buckland in the Vale and Sandstone Tor Gay Book Club (Inaugural Meeting) by John Wiltshire

Saturday, September 10:

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Mad Lizard Mambo (Kai Gracen, #2) by Rhys Ford
Series Recap Time for The Case of The Purple Pearl (End Street Series #5) by Amber Kell & RJ Scott (excerpt and giveaway)
An Ali Audiobook Review: Desert Heat / Native Tongue (Desert Heat #1 – 2) by Lucy Felthouse
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Misfits by Garrett Leigh

Falling Into Autumn and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Falling Into Autumn

“The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf
shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many.”
– Oliver Wendell Holmes

Ah, September. That month of in-betweenness. Neither summer nor fall. Still hot but sometimes cold. Its the month that never quite figures out where it wants to be. It fluctuates between seasons, like someone dithering on making a decision between clothes they are trying to decide on for an evening out. The sweet yet raucous sounds of late summer are still in full swing…cicadas are still a loud chorus at my house. Yet also can be heard the sounds of snow geese and Canada geese, flocks in flight, sounding off, in preparation for migration. So too have I seen my first sight and sounds of kettle of hawks, soaring high above…all signs of autumn approaching.

Literature is full of love notes to autumn. And not just literature, poetry, songs…from Neil Diamond’s September Morn to Henry David Thoreau’s “Happy we who can bask in this warm September sun…”, odes to this wildly uneven and serendipitous month are everywhere. Its jumbled ways making people perhaps feel a little crazy and alive, as if they don’t know what to expect from each day to the next.

So I’ll leave you with some crazy facts about September:

Shakespeare did not mention September in any of his plays.
Groucho Marx said “My favorite poem is the one that starts ‘Thirty days hath September’ because it actually tells you something”.
Band-Aids were invented in the month of September.
The last day of September in any year always falls on a different day of the week from the last day of any other month.
The poem “Mary had a Little Lamb” was published September 1st, 1830.
September 5th, is National Cheese Pizza Day.
September 9th is National Teddy Bear Day.
September 16th is National Play-Doh Day.
September 19th is “Talk Like A Pirate Day” around the world… an International event.

So argh me hearties! That’s more than enough for any crazy month, including September, which has Labor Day, one of our best known holidays here in the States.

We also have a new reviewer starting up with us this month. Welcome, Caryn. Her first review will be posted this week! All in all, a very busy week.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, August 28:

Falling Into Autumn
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, August 29:

In the Spotlight: Amy Stilgenbauer ‘Sideshow’ (excerpt and giveaway)
An Alisa Release Day Review: A Fallen Heart by Cate Ashwood
A Caryn Review: The Hearts of Yesteryear by Vivian Dean
An Alisa Review: Hunger by Amanda Young
A MelanieM Review: Magnified by Mell Eight

Tuesday, August 30

Riptide Publishing’s Tour and Giveaway: Looking for Group by Alexis Hall
A MelanieM Review: Review Tour – Blaine D. Arden – Full Circle
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Priddy’s Tale by Harper Fox
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Tasting Notes by Cate Ashwood

Wednesday, August 31

Release Blitz & Review Tour – Matthew J. Metzger’s What It Looks Like
A MelanieM Review: What It Looks Like by Matthew J. Metzger
A Jeri Release Day Review: Lord of a Thousand Steps by Tara Lain
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Wide Open Spaces by Renee Stevens
A Lila Release Day Review: Wrenches, Regrets, & Reality Checks by LA Witt

Thursday, September 1

Mini Blog Tour Invite – Age Is Just a Number, A Wayward Ink Publishing Anthology
Coffee Sip and Book Break with Devon & Levi VS Real Life Wyomans from Wide Open Spaces by Renee Stevens (excerpt and giveaway)
A Paul B Review: For a Dragon’s Enthusiasm by Charlie Richards
An Alisa Release Day Review: Bear Among the Books by TJ Masters
A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Senator’s Secret by KC Wells
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Ben by Toni Griffin

Friday, September 2

Blog Tour for Lord of a Thousand Steps by Tara Lain
In the Spotlight: Wide Open Spaces by Renee Stevens (excerpt and giveaway)
Release Blitz for Kyle by RJ Scott
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Red Thread by Bryan Ellis
A MelanieM Review: Age is Just a Number Anthology

Saturday, September 3

A Barb Release Day Review: Empty Net by Avon Gale
A Paul B Review: Bear in Mind by Susan E Scott
An Alisa Review: Grand Opening by Morticia Knight

Cover Reveal for ‘Age is Just a Number’ ~ a Wayward Ink Publishing Anthology

AIJAN Anthology Banner

Synopsis

There’s something to be said for life experience, a little gray at the temple…

And then there is the appeal of youth.

When it comes to what the heart wants, Age Is Just A Number.

AIJAN Anthology Cover

Stories Included

TWENTY LIGHT YEARS BETWEEN US

Eric Gober

An alien encounter…
An unfortunate misstep…
A lightning fast journey through space…
The laws of physics are about to wreak havoc on Walt and Michael’s May-December love.

ALL ROADS LEAD WITHIN

Layla Dorine

When James spotted Rogue, a young man for whom wandering is like breathing, half-dozing on the hood of his car, he never expected that warning him about the dangers of sleeping out in the open would lead to a weekly visitor at his door.

NORTH PASTURE

Lily Velden

Upon the death of his grandfather, up and coming Fantasy author, Thomas, returns home.
A place he left four years earlier to get over his unrequited love for Sam Fletcher, his older, straight, and very much married neighbor.
Thomas soon discovers, however, that things are much changed with Sam…

AMERICAN MASTER BAKER

Dale Cameron Lowry

Baking is a way of life for Joey, a young pastry chef vying for first place in the popular reality show American Master Bakers.
But the judges have been showing favoritism to Terence, an aggravatingly attractive older man with more experience under his belt.
When the competition gets hot, so do the two men. Can a relationship that started in hatred end in love?

ALPHA AND OMEGA: THE CLAIMING

Eddy LeFey

A young Omega shifter meets a much older Alpha.
Will Elliot let Issac help him be who he is too afraid to be?

STAND AND DELIVER

Asta Idonea

Necessity has forced former soldier Captain Keen to assume the occupation of gentleman highwayman. His fortunes take a turn, however, the night he stops the Marquis de Beaumont’s coach and gets more than he bargained for when he utters the words “Stand and deliver!”

LOST AND FOUND

Louise Lyons

The loss of his best friend leads Phil to find love.

TRAIL TO LOVE

Kassandra Lea

There’s only one thing Kit Conley likes more than horses and that’s Roman Meadery.
But will the elite rider ever notice him?

CRUISING WITH LOVE

Carol Pedroso

Gus is under the thumb of a controlling father. Can meeting his mate give him a reason to make a break for freedom?
Nelson is twice Gus’ age, and very protective of what is his.
What will happen when Gus’ father tries to split them up? And what surprises does Nelson have up his sleeve?

NEAR MISS

Aimee Brissay

A few seconds, that’s all it takes to make a difference between life and death.
Between killing someone and stopping on time.
But is it enough to turn yourself around when you’ve hit bottom?
Or to make you recognize something good when you have it?

Pre-order Links

Don’t miss the discounted pre-order prices on publishers’ and all major retailer sites!

WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/age-is-just-a-number-a-wayward-ink-publishing-anthology/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ageisjustanumberawaywardinkpublishinganthology-2090671-166.html
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Just-Number-Publishing-Anthology-ebook/dp/B01KMSZ7X4/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Age-Just-Number-Publishing-Anthology-ebook/dp/B01KMSZ7X4/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Age-Just-Number-Publishing-Anthology-ebook/dp/B01KMSZ7X4/
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/Age-Just-Number-Publishing-Anthology-ebook/dp/B01KMSZ7X4/

Book Trailer

In the Spotlight: Surfacing by AL Bates (special excerpt and giveaway)

Surfacing Tour Banner
Title: Surfacing
Author: A.L. Bates
Series: The Ariel Series, Book Two
Genre: Gay Romance, Science Fiction
Length: Novella

Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing