Category: Self Published

A Free Dreamer Review: Song of the Navigator by Astrid Amara (Double Review*)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Worst Possible Birthday: Being sold into slavery by none other than your lover.

Song of the NavigatorTover Duke’s rare ability to move anything instantly across light-years of space makes him a powerful, valuable asset to the Harmony Corporation, and a rock star among the people of the colonies. His life is luxurious. Safe. Routine.

He has his pick of casual hookups passing through Dadelus-Kaku Station. His one brush with danger of any kind—the only bright spot in his otherwise boring life—is Cruz Arcadio, a dark-haired, hard-bodied engineer whose physical prowess hints he’s something much more.

When a terrorist abducts Tover, hurling him into a world of torture, exploitation and betrayal, it’s with shattering disbelief that he realizes his kidnapper is none other than Cruz. As Tover struggles to find the courage to escape his bondage, he begins to understand the only way to free his body, his mind—and his heart—is to trust the one man who showed him that everything about his once-perfect life was a lie.

Warning: This story contains descriptions of extreme violence and assault. It also contains graphic sexual depictions. It also has a lot of birds. And pirate movies from the future. And romance.

 I didn’t read the blurb all that carefully and thus went into this expecting something much lighter. Song of the Navigator is definitely not light. At times, it’s very dark and violent. The slavery here is real. Tover really does get tortured and there’s no redeeming the slavers. I was positively surprised, to be honest.

Cruz sells Tover into slavery. To me, that seemed like something you can’t possibly forgive anybody and thus a credible romance between Cruz and Tover seemed completely impossible to me. The author works with that expectation. Tover is furious with Cruz, hates him, even, and spends a lot of time thinking about how he’ll kill the man he once loved. I was right there with Tover, absolutely hating Cruz. There is no excuse for betraying anybody like this, even a casual hook-up. But Astrid Amara managed to convince me, and Tover, to slowly forgive and understand Cruz. It took time and there was a lot of hurt for a very long time, but it worked out eventually. That was incredibly well done. Somehow, I went from hating Cruz to really liking and understanding him.

Tover was instantly likeable and I found it very easy to relate to him throughout the many things he experiences. At first, he’s carefree, a bit superficial and also quite vain. He’s cocky and self-assured, which is to be expected. Improvisational navigators are revered. There’s even a bunch of people who think he’s a god. That’s the world he’s lived in since he was a little child. But then he gets kidnapped and sold into slavery. He’s tortured and treated like a tool. Suddenly his world comes crashing down and Tover changes. What follows is some really excellent character building.

The world the author created in this book was intriguing, with lots of creative ideas and enough world building to satisfy even me. The world building was cleverly woven into the plot, without any info dumping whatsoever.

The plot was addicting and full of surprising twists and turns. The end was unexpected and very satisfying. Overall I just absolutely loved Song of the Navigator. If you’re looking for some good sci-fi with real world building and don’t mind a bit (or a lot) of violence, then I’m sure you’ll love this. If you’re looking for a fluffy romance with a dash of sci-fi, however, keep looking. This is not the book for you.

Personally, I’ll definitely check out the author’s other works. Astrid Amara has some serious world building skills.

Cover: The cover by Kanaxa is great. The dark brownish red somehow really fits the tone of the story.

Sales Links:  ARe | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book details:

Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Published May 26th 2015 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
ASINB00SB49GJ8
urlhttp://astridamara.com/portfolio/navigator/
*Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Note: This is the 2nd Review of this Book: When F. D. said she finished reading this story and wanted to write a review, I knew that BJ had already read and written her review which we posted here.  But I was curious, how would F. D. view Astrid Amara and this story?  Too dark?  I should have known better.  Consider this a double recommendation for this amazing author and novel.

A Wynter Review: Secret Funding (Secret Agreements, #1) by S.M. May

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Secret Funding coverYoung, handsome, sometimes cruel. Noah Kress is a hardened broker, skilled enough to bring success to his company and determined to face the ever-growing challenges of the venture capital market. In his private life he is Master Noah, a very popular dominator at the Circle, one of the most exclusive private clubs in Boston. For him, at work as well as in the dungeon, people and events are just variables to be interpreted, numbers to be broken down, combinations to consider and evaluate.

But when the latest, most difficult deal threatens to make his company sink without trace, his only chance seems to be the large investment fund managed by the mysterious Martin Scheer. And in order to provide credit, Martin demands a very special guarantee.

For both of them it’s just business. Yet, what was supposed to be a mere contract might just shatter the perfect surface of their lives.

And will talented player Noah be willing to gamble following brand new rules?

I find novels that try to reach for depth inspiring, and this novel certainly gave it to me. While I didn’t feel that it made it completely to where I believe it was trying for, I would say the success rate was 85%. That’s not to say that it failed. On the contrary, I believe it sets up the stage for a second book very well.

This novel is originally written in Italian. The version I read is in English. “Lost in translation” and all that aside, I felt that it took a long time for me to accept Noah Kreuss. A character in his late thirties who describes himself as having started out in life old and stern, his maturity level wasn’t a day past a college Freshman. Arrogant and egotistical, Noah truly believed he had a lot more to offer than he did. Believing that people and life couldn’t possibly teach him anything else, anything that went wrong was the fault of others lying or his personal rules weren’t being obeyed and followed to the letter.

Naturally, a character like that just draws others in who can teach him a thing or two about his flawed philosophy.

I like that May’s characters are real – each have his flaws and a backstory that can be very interesting, like Martin Scheer and Red Ludwig. I love Ludwig and all that he represented – the strong voice for all the right things about BDSM. I appreciated how Martin Scheer’s experiences helped shaped the man that he is – not perfect, but he learned from a lot of his mistakes when he was younger. I also love that May showed her readers just how badly things can go when people step outside the zone of rules.

However, the contract and all that it entails breached my comfort zone on multiple counts and drew a lot of emotions from the depths – some good, some not so good. Numerous “What’re you doing Martin?” questions later, I find myself thinking Martin and Ludwig had all the right reasons in the world but the methods, methodical as they were, ignored some what seemed like “hard limits” for Noah. While we undoubtedly learn something about ourselves, as Noah obviously did about himself, when one steps outside the rules that kept all the players safe, blurring the lines between bdsm and a business’s future did make me feel uncomfortable through some of the portions.

I’m unsure about how I feel towards the business lingo in the novel. On one hand, it felt a bit too much. On the other, I think removing it from the story would detract from the novel a great deal. It provided valuable insight to the world that these men tread, but it also feels like business made these men a lot colder and crueler.

Therefore, as a precaution to potential readers who are uncomfortable with the Master-Slave relationships or the lack of safe words in this novel, it is advisable to tread with caution.

Despite my reservations, I enjoyed the story. I think the greatest potential in any story-telling is giving the readers the space and direction of seeing it grow and something new to look forward to. This is intended to be a series, so I believe it’s a great start for the players. I do look forward to Book 2 and would be happy to read it following this one. While Noah may not be a character I cheered for, Martin and Parker were.

Corenlia Grey, the translator of this novel, did a great job targeting the English speaking audience. So, I encourage you to pick up the novel and give it a chance.

Thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day among the falling leaves!

Cover design done by Liliana Marchesi; Images copyrighted by “captblack76” and “Dreaming Andy.” I think the cover looks pretty. I like that it’s plain and simple enough for me to want to pick up the book to find out what it’s about instead of turning me away due to the cover being too busy.

It may be more captivating towards people like me who enjoy having our own imaginations be the judge. For others who prefer the art on the cover to catch their attention, it may not be inspiring enough.

However, whatever the cover doesn’t make up for, the title certainly does.

Sales Links:  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

  • Author: S. M. May
  • Length: Kindle Book, 170 pages.
  • Language: English (Translated. Original in Italian)
  • Series: Secret Agreements, #1
  • Published: English edition October 15, 2015
  • A SIN: B016C6D90I

A Mika Review: Twinks in Bearland by Kendall Morgan

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

The friends of pretty blue-eyed Dustin Garber are about to find out that he has a secret. He loves bears, big hairy gay men. None of them know it, but he’s just booked them all into the annual Gay Bear Ski week.

Twinks in BearlandCraig, beautiful, black and Jewish, is initially indifferent to the fact that he is spending a week with big hairy men. He already has a hook up planned of his own, although that man turns out to have a bizarre secret.

Patrick and Ethan, two bear-hating twinks who have been secretly in love with each other for years, take much longer to come around to the idea that bears can be good guys too. Dustin isn’t so sure his friendship with them will survive the trip.

And then Dustin meets Nate, a big blond bear who is forever single but ready for something a little different. Nate’s friends, Casey and Ryland, are fighting about Ryland’s porn career. Nate’s friend Gil is busy with a Canadian couple, but together Dustin and Nate get lost on a backcountry trail. Deep in the snow away from everyone they may just find the love they’ve been seeking and the understanding they didn’t know they needed.

Twinks in Bearland is the first book in the Bearland Tales series, but each book can stand alone. This gay contemporary love story includes graphic sex and is intended for adults only.

 I will admit the title of the book was the biggest reason why I wanted to read it. This was a new to me author. I liked the premise of the blurb, but the execution did not hold up well for me. It started off funny, and I learned some new terms with dealing with hairy guys. Another element I liked was the idea of a week filled up with Bears. The story was told from multiple character point of views. I found the sex ran similar  one to another. It wasn’t a distinction between characters for me. The twinks were alike, as well as each of the bears that had a point of view in the story. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. It was very one-noted plot wise.

I appreciated the diversity that the author was able to give to the readers but even that couldn’t peak my interest. I found myself wanting to finish the story immediately. Sorry just too one note for me.

 Cover Art by:  3 Rusted Spoons. I really like the skis, the mountain and the bear paw print. It sold the story based on the resort. As for the models, I can’t put their faces with anyone in the story.

Sales Link:   All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Read an excerpt here at the Twinks at Bearland Goodreads link
Published November 1st 2015 by Smashwords Edition
ISBN139781310919053

A MelanieM Review: Corin’s Chance (Avanti Chronicles #1) by Hannah Walker

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Corin's Chance coverPosted to some stars awful cruiser, Dr. Corin Talovich hoped to serve his time quietly and get on with his life, but fate stepped in and decided otherwise.

Crashing into an unknown planet was the last thing Corin expected. With only his friend, Lieutenant Commander Tate Riven, by his side, they face the unexplored world and new enemies bravely, leading them to the Derin Clan, where they’re welcomed by the leader’s son.

Kel isn’t sure about the strange men, but he isn’t about to send them away, especially when the bond between Corin and himself is something he can’t ignore.

When another clan wages an attack, Kel is forced to make some hard choices which nearly costs him everything he holds dear. Together, with their allies, Corin and Kel fight, focusing on the future they desire, knowing failure not only dooms their love, but also those around them. Side by side, they work to destroy the evil threatening to keep them apart and becoming the family both men desire.

I have to admit that when I was finally finished all 424 pages of Corin’s Chance (Avanti Chronicles #1) by Hannah Walker I was still wavering between 2 and 3 stars, depending upon what I was remembering about the story and how I felt about it.   There are so many things to consider when writing a review about this novel, not the least of which is the ambitious plot and intentions of the author, who intends to carry on into another story and a series.

I have finally decided that, no matter its many (many, many) faults, I am rather fond of this story. For me it falls along the lines of a space bodice ripper, complete with purple prose, main characters who are at turn weepy, furious, torn, overprotective and yes, pregnant (still male), all while being warriors from space.  You just got to roll with it, even while rolling your eyes.

Honestly, I think Hannah Walker is got a really good story here but everything around it needs work.  The Avanti which are these mega space warriors  from many galactic races.. a small group of them is aboard a space cruiser which is attacked.  They all end up in separate space pods that crash land on a planet that seems to be inhabited by The Society for Creative Anachronism.   Everyone on the planet is all big on kilt-like garb, swords (she uses the word claymore,  a specific Scottish weapon), knives, and ride animals that seem to be a lion/zebra hybrid.  Compelling true but these same clans also have in-depth knowledge of The Alliance, space and galactic technology!  So…a whole planet of Luddites?  Its never quite explained.  From the planet, the various cultures and social structures to the galactic Alliance that everyone is fed up about, Walker has failed to lay out a firm foundation for her story, an essential element considering everything she is trying to accomplish here.   Which is tell the story of every member of the Avanti crew that lands on this planet.  A book a crew member.  If each character gets 400 plus pages each, this will be a magnus opus indeed.

Second thing that will stick out immediately is the language or more importantly, several things about the language of the story.  Walker has her character using modern sayings in their dialog with no attempt to show any evolution through centuries of use.  Yes, its been centuries.  One character uses the phrase “When you assume you make an ASS out of ME and YOU!” Really? One of the most feared space  warriors says that to another? Its Baby this and Babe that as they twinkle at each other.  Another notices and drools over a man’s “chiseled face”, then blushes?  He actually says the words “chiseled face” out loud.  Here people are “over the moon” about each other among other cornball descriptions.  These characters never talk as though they have been in battle, although they do sound as though they have been reading romance novels all their lives and that is the only way in which they can communicate.  After a time I got so used to it that it became quite fun.  But I was really missing just one person who acted and sounded like a real soldier and an adult.

There is an evil doer, you will know him because all he does is screech and foam and spittle at the mouth. Yes, those are his only descriptions.  You will know him by his foam.

There is an mpreg element which I found interesting but the author lost several points there as well when she lost track of what one of the most experienced and renowned of all Alliance doctor’s would have knowledge of.  Either have a storyboard, notes or a editor should have stepped in here to point that out and make a change.  Actually a editor should have stepped in quite a few times to cut away extraneous plot minutiae, details, and  whole pages of just stuff that didn’t matter.   And then started in on the dialog.

The characters.  I think that’s where Walker’s story holds its own.  People will like these characters, they are interesting and endearing in a goofy sort of way.  I truly mean that or I wouldn’t have  continued all the way through 424 pages.  We don’t know all their histories and now that they are all back together on the planet, we will want to know what happens to them.  Corin got his mate.  Tate is set up for the next story. Commander Dax, Hunter, Bell, and Bray have some clues laid out here as to how their stories might go.  The next title?  Tate’s Torment.  Doesn’t that just cry out for a return of the greatest of all of the bodice ripper models…Fabio in space?  Since I love Fabio that was not meant to be sarcastic or mean spirited.

What I would love to see happen is for the narrative to tighten up, the purple prose to become less so, for Hannah Walker to decide if her people use technology or not and in a logical manner. And really give some thought about how speech patterns, culture, things would exist thousands of years in the future.  Take whats present now and evolve them. The weird combination here makes little sense, culturally speaking.  In short, a strong editor is needed to see this series forward.  The bones are good.  So are some of the secondary work.  And really perhaps a teensy bit less weeping. Just a bit.

I know some of you are shaking your heads that I gave this 3 stars.  At  times I find it hard to believe as well.  That dialog is a hard thing to overlook as are the characterizations.  These men just don’t read as fierce battle hardened warriors, especially of Galactic renown.   But Hannah Walker has a huge tale to tell.  A band of brothers crash land on foreign soil and decide to make it their home.  Each gets a story as they find love and make a family.  Its that basic.  She has the right elements and sometimes it all comes together and it creeps right into your heart unexpectedly.  It happened enough here to warrant 3 stars.  And it will make me pick up Tate’s Torment.  Ah, me. The Avanti Chronicles will continue.

Sales Links:  ARe | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 424 pages
Published September 20th 2015 by Hannah Walker
ASINB015N8PX0U
edition language English
series Avanti Chronicles #1

 

Halloween Book Spotlight Special: Devil’s Jawbone by BJ Sheppard (excerpt and contest)

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Devil’s Jawbone by BJ Sheppard
Release Date: October 31, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: BJ Sheppard
Cover Artist: BJ Sheppard

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Blurb

As night descends on the town of Devil’s Jawbone, no one is safe. The veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, and the darkest side of human nature is boiling to the surface. The supernatural and the natural are colliding, and in this sleepy town, the bump in the night is taking human form. Innocence will be lost; the villain will become the victor; spirits will rise and Satan himself will come to town.

In an eerie collection of short speculative fiction, author BJ Sheppard will grab your imagination, bringing new life to the classic campfire tales synonymous with the scariest of occasions. Halloween will never be the same again.

 

Pages or Words: Approximately 50,000 words
 Categories: Gay fiction, Horror

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Excerpt

Janine Richards had been the first to see the body, arriving an hour early to train for that Friday’s track meet. Through the indigo rays of morning, she had expected peace and quiet but instead had been gifted with the body of the football team’s quarterback hanging from the centre bar of the goal post. The police had arrived after her frantic call and all the yellow tape in the world couldn’t stop the student body from stopping to share in the horror, the grief that had blanketed DJ High.

Riley fought his way through the crowd and stopped only when Logan’s body, still hanging one hour after its discovery, swung lazily on a gentle autumn breeze. His stomach lurched and his eyes prickled, yet he couldn’t peel them away.

What, only one day previously, had been a generally happy, albeit momentarily pissed, Logan Greenway was now reduced to a bloating blue-black sac of meat swaying from the goal that Riley himself had scored over several times at practice the night before. The soccer net around his neck had bitten bloodily into his neck, which was pitched at an awkward angle and coated with what looked like thick black paint under the gentle rays of morning sun. Riley fought the urge to run, closed his throat against the violent clench in his stomach that had only occurred before when he was sick, and turned from the body that was once his teammate.

Logan had not been suicidal, that much was the truth. He had been distracted, pissed at Coach for his harsh behavior, but Logan Greenway had been the boy who had it all. Nothing about his life had held a suggestion that things weren’t going exactly the way he wanted.

Riley thought to his own home life, to the secret of his father’s sudden departure that lingered on the tip of his tongue ready to be spilled. Everyone has a secret, he thought, playing nervously with the straps of his rucksack. But what was Logan’s?

It didn’t matter anymore. Logan Greenway was dead. And school was out for the day.

 

Buy the book: Smashwords | Amazon UK| AmazonUS | AmazonCA |AmazonAU

Meet the Author

My name is BJ Sheppard and all at once I found myself an author. Such a strange sensation to actually feel you deserve the thing you had aspired to for many years. After all, all it took was computer access and an inner world that reads like a Sheryl Crow song to pound the keys and translate my crazy ideas onto the page. I feel like I could have business cards printed. Maybe wear a black roll neck and perch my glasses on the tip of my nose. I could drink whisky and smoke a cigar and do all those really stereotypical things I imagine all writers do. Perhaps I could get laid a little more? This is not the end. Nor the beginning. Hell, it isn’t even about me. My boys write themselves; I really don’t have that much say in the matter. As long as my characters need a voice, I have two chubby typing fingers and a need to please— watch this space: there is more to come.

Where to find the author:

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Tour Dates & Stops: October 31, 2015

Parker Williams, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, The Hat Party, SA McAuley, KathyMac Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Bayou Book Junkie, Inked Rainbow Reads, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Charley Descoteaux, Louise Lyons, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Velvet Panic, Molly Lolly

 

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: eBook of ‘Devil’s Jawbone’ by BJ Sheppard.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Scary Review Redux: Lily By Xavier Axelson (A MelanieM Review)

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Being a single Dad is hard enough but when Pryor loses his daughter Lily in an unthinkable event he thinks he has experienced the ultimate horror but it’s when Lily returns he realizes his nightmare has only just begun…

LilyWhen Pryor’s daughter Lily is taken by a wolf, Pryor is convinced she has turned into the creature he sees lurking in his woods. He swears she promises to return to him. But is it his despair and desperation making him see things or is there something more lurking in the shadows of the forest?

When he meets Ned, a silversmith who helps him with a plan to bring his daughter back into his life, he begins to live again. But can his newfound love help ease the horror that may be waiting? What if the ultimate horror isn’t when Lily was taken but it’s when Lily returns and he realizes his nightmare has only just begun…Its Father’s Day and two men are waiting for a little girl to appear.  They are waiting for Lily.    Lily, his beloved little girl, had been lost a year ago, dragged off into the woods by a wolf.  In the time since, Pryor, consumed with his loss, has retreated to his cabin, his days numbed by his grief. Only the love and support of  Ned, his partner, and a plan to reclaim his daughter has kept him sane.  And now the time has come to see if she will return to him, if only for a day.

What a marvelous short story Lily is.  Lyrical in language and strong in its empathy for a parent’s pain, it has a singular voice in Pryor, Lily’s father.  To Pryor ” still believe being Lily’s father is the most important thing in this world.”  And you feel that hole in his life so acutely as she described just before she is ripped from him, her hair all “wild and white – blonde”.  Pryor’s voice and his descriptions provide a wealth of clues and information about his past.  He hears voices, whether is the derogatory words of his dead mother, or whispers from the woods.    He described his lover’s beard as his “summer fur”, and stares into the moonlight woods searching for signs of his daughter.   All three characters here are beautifully realized, one heartbroken, one steady and one filled with wildness and innocence.  I love how we are fed bits of information until we can finally spin together the fibers that make up the tapestry that is this family and its tragedy.

There is such a distinctive style to this story, as the mundane are juxtaposed with the magical.  Like silk against the skin, this story glides over into your memory.  I loved this and hope you will feel the same.

New cover, much better than the original.  Adds a little more shiver to the tone with the new font and love the white wolf. Although I am never a fan of a division so severe in the design, the red line here, especially when it bisects the title.  That’s a minus.

 

Sales Links:  Amazon | Buy It Here

Books Details:

ebook, 54 pages, every page a must read
Published May 2014 by Seventh Window Publications (first published January 13th 2012)
ISBN139780989606035
edition languageEnglish

Love Slips Into an Alternate World with Hannah Walker’s ‘Corin’s Chance’ (excerpt and giveaway)

Avanti Corin's Chance E-Book Cover

Corin’s Chance (Avanti Chronicles #1) by Hannah Walker
 Release Date: October 30, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Hannah Walker
Cover Artist: Kellie Dennis @ Book Cover by Design

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Today Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to be interviewing Hannah Walker author of Corin’s Chance. Hi Hannah, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book by answering a few questions we have for you.

  • Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

As the series progress we will get more of the stories about the Avanti as a group and their past. That means talk about missions and so on. One such point is where Tate has to learn how to lap dance for a mission. Then there is the one where he dresses up as a woman. As much as these guys are fierce warriors they also will go to whatever lengths needed to get the job done. Of course sometimes this means that sometimes their missions are definitely not sanctioned by the bosses!

They are very tough warriors, but like anyone else in this universe or the next, these guys are a group of friends and their stories reflect that. So there is a lot of jokes and teasing amongst them all.

  • How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

For the series name— Avanti Chronicles, it’s a case that each book chronicles not just their love story but the story of what happens to them as a group.  The series chronicles their journey together. The Avanti is of course the name given to the elite group of soldiers from the Barin Alliance.

For Corin’s Chance, I wanted a title that reflected his individual journey. I wanted it to reflect the essence of his story. His book is all about taking a chance, about putting yourself out there, risking everything for someone or something that is important to you.

  • Have you ever given one of your characters the personality of someone you know?

Yes. The one that sticks out most to me is Corin. Corin is a remarkably gifted surgeon. My son is actually disabled, although thankfully not too severely. He has undergone more surgeries in his childhood years than anyone ever should. However we’ve been very lucky. His surgeon is an incredible woman.

She is well respected in her field and often goes to other countries to lecture and give seminars about her work. We’ve even gone with her once or twice, to the seminars in the UK, so that my son’s case could be used as an example.

She has never been one to shy away from trying new treatments and is constantly evolving and researching new treatments for Cerebal Palsy.  Because of what Cerebal Palsy is, it covers more than just the bones of the body. It’s bones, muscles, nerves and so much more. So despite the fact that she is an orthopedic surgeon, she has undergone a lot of training in other areas. When it came time to write Corin’s backstory I used her as inspiration.

She is one of the loveliest people I have ever met. It’s often said that the truly gifted surgeons have no bedside manner. Not true in her case, she is genuinely one of the nicest people I know. She cares for each and every patient of hers. Even now, when he has officially moved over to adult services, she still phones up to check on him. She still asks the surgeons he’s under now, how he’s doing.

So yes, Corin is modelled on her.

  • What do you think makes a good story?

Several things. Some of it depends on the type of book you are reading/writing. If for example you are looking at full on erotica, then you don’t need such a complicated plot. If you are writing a murder mystery then the plot and ability to weave that suspense through the plot is crucial. A good story, whatever the genre, is one that grabs you and doesn’t let go. It’s the ones that make you say, just one more chapter before I sleep. In that sense it’s very subjective. We all look for different things when we read.

For me the plot is always one of the most important aspects, it needs to grab me and not let go. I need characters that burrow under your skin and make you want to read what happens to them next.

So for me a good story is a combination of the plot, the characters and the ability of the author to pull you into their world.

  • What does your family think of your writing?

My husband and two teenage sons are incredibly supportive. They have known for a long time that this has been my dream and have encouraged me at every point. On my writing journey. They are really interested in the plot and for the boys, the battle scenes are particularly appealing.

They ask me every day how my writing is going, and if they see I’ not sure about a certain bit there are there to help talk it out.

I know my sons are proud of me for following my dream.

Thanks, Hannah.  Its been wonderful having you here. Please stop by anytime.  Now more about Corin’s Chance (Avanti Chronicles #1) by Hannah Walker

RC

Blurb

Posted to some stars awful cruiser, Dr. Corin Talovich hoped to serve his time quietly and get on with his life, but fate stepped in and decided otherwise.

Crashing into an unknown planet was the last thing Corin expected. With only his friend, Lieutenant Commander Tate Riven, by his side, they face the unexplored world and new enemies bravely, leading them to the Derin Clan, where they’re welcomed by the leader’s son.

Kel isn’t sure about the strange men, but he isn’t about to send them away, especially when the bond between Corin and himself is something he can’t ignore.

When another clan wages an attack, Kel is forced to make some hard choices which nearly costs him everything he holds dear. Together, with their allies, Corin and Kel fight, focusing on the future they desire, knowing failure not only dooms their love, but also those around them. Side by side, they work to destroy the evil threatening to keep them apart and becoming the family both men desire.

 

Pages or Words: 140,000 words
 Categories: Alternate universe, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay fiction, M/M romance, Romance, Science fiction (with a little space opera feel)

Excerpt

With a nod to one of the four guards at the door’s entrance, Carn led them into the room. Following behind him, they walked right up to the massive table sat at the end. Around the table were stood six men, they must have ranged in ages from late teens to mid-sixties. They all looked weary and haggard, their bodies drooping where they stood. Maps, paperwork and cups littered the table in front of them.

One of them turned to Carn who was standing at the front of Corin’s group. “Damn it, Carn, I told you we weren’t to be disturbed for anything. I don’t care who the latest bloody delegate from the Alliance is. Now is not the time.” A huge frown accompanied the man’s words.

“Laird Kel, these aren’t delegates. I think you are going to want to hear this. They came asking for you as Kel, saying it was about a young girl named Eliya,” Carn cautiously spoke, wary of upsetting any of the men around the table.

All around them heads shot up from what they were focused on. Suddenly every pair of eyes in the room was focused on them with a laser like intensity.

“What do you know about Eliya?” The man named Kel demanded.

Corin watched as he stalked towards them. His movements, while predatory, were graceful. He was close to seven feet of solid planes and hard muscles. His skin was a golden bronze which seemed to glisten in the lights around him. His hair was a mid-blonde, and flowed to just past his shoulders. Leather bracers covered his forearms while second, smaller leather circlets were wrapped around each bicep. Leather trousers were moulded to his thighs. Corin’s heart began to beat faster. Never had a first glance at someone affected him as it did now.

Laird Kelin was rugged in appearance. While still young, his face had a slightly rugged visage which was likely due to many hours spent outdoors. His eyes were both brown and green, with the green bleeding into the brown on the outer edges. He had a strong nose, coupled with a square jaw, and a dusting of facial hair, that just added to his overall ruggedness.

Corin’s cock went from soft, to rock hard and aching instantly. Damn this was a man he would happily have under him, over him, inside him. In fact, he would take him any which way he could. Tate shot Corin a questioning glance and Corin realised he hadn’t been able to hide his reaction from his friend.

Shooting a glance at Tate and shaking his head, Corin boldly stepped forward. “I need to know who you are to Eliya before I can say anything.”

A second later one of the other men stood around the table jumped over it, and was hurtling towards Corin with a look of murderous intent on his face. Just as he got to Corin, he threw a punch that never landed. Instead, Tate stepped between Corin and Eliya, who was still asleep in the sling, and this new man. The punch hit him square in the abdomen, the pain was instantaneous, he staggered back, all the air gone from his lungs. Tate could feel his stitches rip open from the impact. Trying to suck in a deep breath, he called on all his years of training with the Avanti and pushed the pain into the recesses of his mind and forced his body back to standing whilst simultaneously pulling his knife from the sheath at his side.

“Make another move towards him again and I’ll kill you. You want him? You have to go through me first, and I promise you, I. Will. Win. You have no idea what you nearly did there.” Tate growled at the man, his stance wide, both aggressive and defensive at the same time.

“Do you know who I am?” The new man demanded as he bared his teeth at Tate.

“No,” Tate replied. “And frankly, I don’t care. Now. Back. The. Fuck. Off.”

They watched as the man named Kel placed a restraining arm across the other man’s chest. “Leave it, Tir, let me deal with this. I mean it. We won’t find anything out if we beat them. They came to us willingly, give them a chance to explain.”

They all watched the man called Tir run his hands over his face before he gave a small nod and took two small steps back.

Kel raised an eyebrow at him, sighed and then turned back to Corin. There were several emotions swirling through his gaze, but his voice was calm when he spoke again. “I am Laird Kelin Tharn, son of the Chieftain of this clan and Eliya is my niece, Laird Tirathon Tharn is her father. She was kidnapped two weeks ago with her nurse when they were walking the grounds. We have heard nothing since. There has been no ransom demands, no sightings, nothing. We have searched and searched and no trace has yet been found. The entire clan is grief stricken. As you can see, my brother is barely holding it together. Now. What. Do. You. Know.” His voice rose slightly as he struggled not to let his impatience show.

Corin looked at Tate, his eyes registering the fact the Tate looked clammy once again, they nodded to one another and Corin reached up to slowly untie the cloak from around him. He gently lifted the sleeping form of Eliya from the sling before looking up at Kel and quietly asking, “is this her?”

Gasps echoed all round, a choked sob came from Tir’s direction before he quickly lifted her from Corin’s arm, tears streaming down his face. Smiles shone around the room as a small voice whispered, “Papi?”

Quickly a group surrounded the reunited father and daughter, cheers echoed around the room. A wave of happiness ran through the chamber and out the doors as word passed from one guard to another. Shouts of joy could be heard from the hallways as the news spread. A soft whimper from beside Corin saw him snapping his head to look at Tate.

Buy the book:  Amazon US  | Amazon UK 

 

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Meet the Author

Hannah Walker is a full-time mum to two gorgeous teenage sons, and shares her home with them and a very supportive husband, who has always encouraged her to follow her dreams.

She has always loved books from her childhood years reading alongside her father. She has inherited her father’s love of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She has combined this with her love of MM romance to write her series Avanti Chronicles. She loves writing about a complex world where the men love and live hard.

Welcome to the world of MM Sci-fi.

 

 

Where to find the author:

 

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

26-Oct: Bayou Book Junkie, Reviews by Jessewave, Kathymac Reviews, QUEERcentric Books, Jessie G. Books

27-Oct: Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, BFD Book Blog, Three Books Over the Rainbow

28-Oct: Dawn’s Reading Nook, Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

29-Oct: Divine Magazine, Love Bytes, Velvet Panic, MM Good Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads

30-Oct: Molly Lolly, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Bonkers About Books, Rainbow Gold Reviews, It’s Raining Men, Parker Williams

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: One of two e-copies of the book.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. 

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A Mika Review: Will & Patrick Wake Up Married (Wake Up Married, Episode 1) by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00075]After a drunken night of hot sex in Vegas, strangers Will Patterson and Dr. Patrick McCloud wake up married. A quickie divorce is the most obvious way out—unless you’re the heir of a staunchly Catholic mafia boss with a draconian position on the sanctity of marriage.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Will and Patrick don’t like it, or each other, but they have to make the best of it until they can find another way out of their marriage. To ensure the trust fund Will’s charitable foundation relies on isn’t revoked by his mobster grandfather, he and Patrick travel to Will’s hometown of Healing, South Dakota, posing as a newlywed couple in the throes of true love at first sight.

Complicating their scheme are Will’s unresolved feelings for his all-too-recent ex-boyfriend Ryan, and Patrick’s desire to get back to the only thing that really matters to him in life: neurosurgery. Will they fool everyone? Or will the mafia get wind that their marriage is a fake? Throw their simmering attraction into the mix and all bets are off!

We all know I like Leta Blake’s work a lot, so anything she releases I’m going to want… a lot. I thought Will & Patrick Wake Up Married (Wake Up Married, Episode 1)  was a cool idea for a romantic comedy with M/M romance. It started off really good. Will is disorientated and naked in bed with a man who isn’t Ryan his boyfriend, yet Ryan broke up with him the night before. We’ve all been there done that with alcohol involved. Typical break up behavior ensued. Well this time Will went overboard and got himself married Vegas style. Patrick was hilarious. I liked his sarcasm and snark. He generally didn’t panic as much as Will.

This started out really well for me, and then the fire kind of died out. I’m think all the things surrounding the marriage took away from Patrick and Will. We saw glimpse of Patrick trying to be there for Will despite the situation at hand.

I can’t wait to see what happens next for these two. Maybe they will actually end up liking each other. Only time will tell.

Cover Art by Dar Albert @ Wicked Smart Designs. I liked the design, very eye catching for the readers. Its definitely reminds me of a romantic comedy. I was intrigued because of the cover.

Sales Links:   | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: October 27th 2015 by Leta Blake Books (first published January 1st 2015)
ISBN139781626227446
edition language English

Will & Patrick Books Wake Up Married Series:

Will & Patrick Wake Up Married (Wake Up Married, Episode 1)
Will & Patrick Meet the Family (Wake Up Married, Episode 2)

A MelanieM Review: Dead Money: Jack of Spades #5 by Lee Brazil (Pulp Friction 2015: Altered States Book 17)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5   ★★★★★

Dead Money coverBarton Montoire’s fragile hold on his emotions is worn thin by exorcisms and fear. Even though he’s beginning to realize the full potential of his abilities as a ghost, he has no power to stop his lover’s plot to end the darkness that has threatened their relationship for close to a year, not with all their friends in the line of fire.

In all of time, there have existed few men who transcend the bonds of life and death, who see the spirits as clearly as the living. These men possess the ability to summon others, creating doorways between realms, physical and metaphysical. A dusty tome written in cryptic language reveals terrifying secrets, but with a little help from his friends, Sabine Brusilov knows what must be done. For the good of humanity and supes alike, he must call forth the shadowy demon, leading it into a trap.

Unfortunately, talent is not skill, and the ability to summon cannot be mastered by taking a class or two and scouring the internet for information. With Bart at his side and his friends at his back, Sabine brings talent, skill, and strength of will to battle evil before it can join the gathering forces of darkness that menace New Orleans.

With dead money on the table, is love enough to take the hand?

Well, Dead Money by Lee Brazil is the book I have been waiting for this entire series.  It’s just plain outstanding!  With this one story, Lee Brazil takes all my previous irritations and uncertainties with the plot, the characters, their relationships,  and dismisses them firmly and resoundingly.   In fact, had this been a stand alone series, Dead Money would have made the perfect  series finale.

For most of the series, I have felt that the relationship between Bart and Sabine to have been very unequal in power and affection, at least that’s the way it translated in the narrative for me.  But here and now, after all their travails,  they come across as deeply committed partners, people in love, no matter their corporeal status. Lovers reunited who are facing one of the greatest evils they will ever know.  Brazil has built up the demon they face with vividly scary descriptions and pain-filled scenes of horror but still what comes is far, far worse.  Something no one, not Bart, not Sabine and certainly not the reader is prepared for.

The other characters in the series are there trying to help as well, but its Bart and Sabine you fear for and the ending when it comes is both shocking and shockingly satisfying.  I’ll say no more.  But oddly enough, I’m so  happy with this story, I don’t feel like I need a book six, which might be just as well.  I love this book and the way it all turned out.  How on earth or on any other supernatural plane could you possibly improve on this?  Five stars plus?

And yes I highly recommend this author and series.  Not only for a Scary Halloween Read but for any time of the year!

The book cover is also the best in the series.  Apparently everything was waiting until Round 5.  Well done.

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 47 pages
Published October 13th 2015 by Lime Time Press
ASIN B016NFRTO0
edition language English

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Playground (Four of Clubs #3) by Parker Williams
Diamonds Edge (Ace of Diamonds #3) by Laura Harner

Round Four:

Dead Man’s Hand (Jack of Spades 4) by Lee Brazil
Blind Heart (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows
High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams
Diamond Flush (Ace of Diamonds 4) by Laura Harner

Round Five:

Dead Money (Jack of Spades 5) by Lee Brazil

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Playground (Four of Clubs #3) by Parker Williams
Diamonds Edge (Ace of Diamonds #3) by Laura Harner

Round Four:

Dead Man’s Hand (Jack of Spades 4) by Lee Brazil
Blind Heart (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows
High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams
Diamond Flush (Ace of Diamonds 4) by Laura Harner