Best of 2018 Lists Abound and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Best of 2018 Lists Abound at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Here we are, it’s almost 2019 and it’s Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words penultimate weekend of Best of 2018. We are winding out with another reviewer heard from, our very own Chaos Moondrawn, who has some of my Best of on her list. So many terrific books and series this year in every category. A surplus of riches for readers no matter what genre you love to read in. Are you checking your lists against ours? How are they looking?

From Chaos Moondrawn:

Best Books of 2018

Over And Over Again by Cole McCade

Rule of Thirds by Aidan Wayne

The Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. Klune

Building Forever by Kelly Jensen

Point of Contact by Melanie Hansen

Beyond Meridian by C.C. Bridges

Rogue In The Making and Blood For The Spilling by T.J. Nichols (Studies In Demonology series)

A Wolf At The Door by Charlie Adhara

Best Series

Criminal Intentions by Cole McCade

Best Covers

Stone The Crows cover by Bree Archer

Once Upon A Wolf cover by Reece Notley

Blyd And Pierce cover by Tiferet Design

Two Man Station cover by Natasha Snow

The Wolf At The Door cover by Carina Press

Where Death Meets The Devil cover by L.C. Chase

So final lists next weekend. A final goodbye to 2018 and a fresh start in 2019.

Speaking of which some of my bests of 2018 will actually have their reviews rolling over into 2019 but I read them in 2018 and that’s where they will go on my lists. That includes the series finale by Tere Michael to Faith, Love and Devotion, a time time favorite of mine. Lucky and Bo from my favorite Diversion series pop up again in Eden Winters’ Suspicion. Waiting to hear from the author if this is a series finale or not. Sean Kennedy’s Tigers and Devils latest release just slipped into the new year by a nose. That will have to wait until next year’s list.

So almost done.

I’m getting ready for the New Year Eve celebration and hoping that everyone has a safe, wonderful, and happy glide into the New Year! Happy Reading, Happy Listening, and of course, Happy New Year from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words to all of you!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 30:

A Barb Advent Calendar Review:Miracle on Three Kings’ Day by Beth Laycock
A Lila Review Yule Planet by Angel Martinez
Best of 2018 Lists Abound at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) 🎉:

On Tour with Valhalla by L.A. Ashton
Release Blitz for KA Merikan – You Forever Always
PROMO Louisa Masters
An Alisa Review : Midnight Angel by Kevin Klehr
A MelanieM Review: Finders Keepers by Rob Rosen
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Advent Calendar Review: Exit Through the Gift Shop by Kim Fielding

Tuesday, January 1 ~ New Year’s Day!

Charley Descoteaux on her new release Always Forward! Never Straight
AUDIOBOOK TOUR – A Dance For Two by Colette Davison and Neil Macfarlane (Narrator)
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Tigers on the Way (Tigers and Devils #4) by Sean Kennedy
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: A Whole Latte Sass (Geek Life #2) by Marguerite Labbe

Wednesday, January 2:

Shadowing the Light by Miranda Turner Blog Tour
An Alisa Review: Shadowing the Light by Miranda Turner
A MelanieM Review: Always Forward! Never Straight by Charley Descoteaux
A Barb the Zany Old Lady audio review – Ravensong (Green Creek #2) by T.J. Klune and Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Thursday, January 3:

RELEASE BLITZ – Whiteout Conditions (Black Ops Heroes #10) by Dara J. Nelson and Kendel Duncan
Cover Reveal for The Summoner’s Path (D’Vaire #10) by Jessamyn Kingley
An Alisa Review: Best Christmas Ever by Terry O’Reilly
A MelanieM Review: Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories (Faith, Love & Devotion #7) by Tere Michaels
An Alisa Review : Kink Aware (Kiss of Leather #9) by Morticia Knight

Friday, January 4:

PROMO Julia Talbot
An Alisa Releases Day Review: Gabriel and the Devil Robert P. Rowe
A MelanieM Review: Suspicion (Diversion Book 7) by Eden Winters
A Caryn Review: Trysts and Burning Embers By Freddy MacKay & Angel Martinez
A MelanieM Review: Drama Castle (Nicky and Noah Mystery #7) by Joe Cosentino

Saturday, January 5:

Release Blitz – Erin E Keller’s Elias
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Jack of Thorns (Inheritance #1) by Amelia Faulkner and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

A Stella Review: The Replacement Husband by Eliot Grayson

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

Goddess-blessed Owen Honeyfield is destined to enjoy perfect good fortune, and the arrival of handsome and eligible Tom Drake in his country town appears to be just the latest manifestation. Tom’s proposal is the fulfillment of Owen’s desires, but Owen is left heartbroken and at the mercy of Arthur, Tom’s disapproving elder brother, when his betrothal takes a disastrous turn. His reputation ruined and his bright future shattered, Owen must choose between loneliness and practicality.

Arthur Drake has taken responsibility for Tom’s scandalous behavior all their lives. He doesn’t think much of his brother’s engagement, knowing that even Owen’s sweetness won’t be enough to influence Tom for the better. When Tom’s impulsive selfishness threatens to ruin the lives of everyone involved, Arthur has only one honorable choice. He’ll need to repair the damage Tom has done and fight for his own happiness, knowing all the while he may never be able to take Tom’s place in Owen’s heart.

This is not the first book I read by the author and I have to say I’m very happy I had the chance of having this new release on my hands. The Replacement Husband was a lovely surprise, definitely different from my usual readings, but interesting and so well delivered, I enjoyed till the end.

The plot is simple and quite common, although I don’t think I already read something like this in the mm genre. As soon as I start it, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like the character of Owen, but he grew on me; moreover I have to give credit to Arthur, he conquered me from the beginning, it reminded me the mysterious and generous heroes of the English literature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which I am a huge fan of. So of course Arthur, who came and save Owen twice, was my favorite. I cheered on him and his unrequited love for the younger man.

Two reasons why I didn’t give the book an higher rating: first one is linked to the writing style and it’s something I noticed when I read Like a Gentleman too; since my English is still a work in progress, I have issues when the sentences are a little on the long side and here, once in a while, I had to come back and reread the words cause I missed the train of thoughts. Second, I would have preferred Owen to act more like an adult, think twice and be more strong. Some of his behaviours were childish, but he’s still young and with a lovely husband beside him.

The Replacement Husband is a sweet, sexy and well done story, I feel to recommend it.

The cover art by Fiona Jayde is lovely and eyecatching, I love it.

Sales Links: Goodreads | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 160 pages

Published December 28th 2018 by Smoking Teacup Books

ASIN B07MD3K885

Edition Language Englis

Enjoy A Regency Romance? Check Out ‘The Replacement Husband’ by Eliot Grayson (giveaway)

The Replacement Husband

by

Eliot Grayson

Published December 28th 2018 by Smoking Teacup Books

Sales Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Love M/M Regency Romances? Then check out The Replacement Husband by Eliot Grayson. And don’t forget to enter the Giveaway at the end of the post!

✒︎

Blurb:

About the Author

Website:

eliotgrayson.com

Goodreads author page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17300496.Eliot_Grayson

Giveaway

Prolific Works link for readers:

https://claims.prolificworks.com/gg/9et98E0aPrQNqVGv1kqG

This book will be available as part of the New Year, New Author giveaway on Prolific Works from December 28-January 3. There are 28 MM authors participating, so check it out! It will be for sale and available in Kindle Unlimited starting on January 4.

A Stella Advent Calendar Review: Colina de Lavanda by August Li

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Lord protector of whores, thieves, sorcerers, and deviants.

Owning a parcel of land the railroad needs to cross means Edward gets to run the border town around the station as he sees fit. What starts as a place to indulge his varied appetites becomes a haven to society’s castoffs, and if Edward encourages legends about its founder to flourish, well, he’s not so much a liar as a man who wants to protect all the cultures living in peace. Being mayor means folks might ignore his vices, but they also expect him to fix what goes wrong.

When a crushing heat wave and drought threaten not only the town’s diverse holiday celebrations but its very existence, Edward must turn to the one man he’d rather french kiss a timber rattler than face—the icily elegant Cantonese mage Edward walked out on but never stopped loving.

I was over the moon when I saw this new release by one of my favorite authors in this year DSP Advent Calendar. I am a huge fan of August Li, I found all the titles I read so far always so well done, each time I fall in love with the characters and the plots. I am sure I already said it, but the reason why I love the author so much is because August always creates amazing settings and new places to discover, with a magical writing that catches my attention from the first words. Colina de Lavanda has all these qualities and so much more.

It was so easy to follow Edward throughout his town’s roads, solving problems and trying to finally put roots with Shu, the man who owns his heart. The line binding their souls is so frail and strong at the same time, Edward just needs to be brave and open his home to the beautiful mage.

This short is a second chance at love story, set in a magical town, where everything can happen and sometimes the unthinkable can be real. I was intrigued and curious about the plot, I wasn’t expecting what happened and I was so intensely surprised, Colina de Lavanda was of course a huge winner to me. I read it for a second time two days after the first read, cause I was missing the emotions and astonishment the story gave me.

I feel to recommend it if you’re looking for something different, you won’t be disappointed.

The cover art by L.C. Chase is simple and fitting, I like it.

SALE LINKS Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 57 pages

Published November 30th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ASIN B07L1HLXKW

Edition Language English

A Chaos Moondrawn Release Day Review: Fox and Wolf (Apex Investigations #1) by Julia Talbot

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Rey, a fox shifter, is an information broker. When one of his clients gets murdered, he’s thown into intrigue he doesn’t even understand. He’s threatened, his apartment is broken into, and dire crocodile shifters are after him. I have to admit every time they were called dire crocs, my mind asked is there any other kind? Dylan is the wolf shifter at Apex Investigations assigned to his case. While Dylan and Rey fall into an easy relationship, Dylan’s boss Mike is suspicious if Rey is really an innocent victim.

This book introduced the group of misfit cats, wolves, and bears that form the “pack” of Apex Investigations with Mike as the Alpha. Brock has a past history with fox shifters and doesn’t trust them, which affects how he treats Rey. He’s also hiding some pretty big secrets from the people who supposed to be his “pack” more than colleagues. Kit, James, Carrie, and Griz are not fully fleshed out.

This is really about scent and instinct paving the way for attraction, trust, and mating. Shifters form a chemical bond that needs to be strengthened with time and intimacy for feelings to develop. This is pretty quick as Dylan and Rey seem partially bonded after a day. I don’t mind the insta-lust. I did mind that even though they are in a safe house because of the threat to Rey, they go shopping and then go back to the headquarters making themselves targets. In fact, I like forced proximity so it’s a shame they didn’t stay in the safe house and get to know each other better. One of the first problems they have is Dylan not trusting Rey’s judgment–Rey is way more forgiving than me. As soon as the crisis has past, they are back to mating to strengthen their bond. The book is fun, going from one crisis to another to move the story along, but I don’t really feel that emotionally invested–even with multiple POVs.

I feel like if you liked the Protect and Serve series (m/m) by Silvia Violet (now republished as Law and Supernatural Order) or Badge Bunny by Cynthia Sax and Fox and Feral by Angela Knight (Protect and Serve series (m/f) from Changling Press), then you might want to try this one.

The cover is by Kanaxa and shows Rey with a shadow of Dylan in front of the office. I think it’s very striking and the rain made me laugh (it’s raining cats and dogs, or when it rains it pours are both true here.)

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 138 pages
Expected publication: December 28th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 139781640809710
Edition Language English
Series Apex Investigations #1

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Accidentally on Purpose by J.M Snyder

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Love older MCs? Love slow burn, even in the bedroom? This one is just right for those of us who want to read about two older guys who find their way to romance. Granted, in this case, they get a little push from a 14-year-old, but nevertheless, they get there.

Alan Travers has custody of his nephew Brooks, and when Brooks is police-escorted home from the mall one night, Alan’s not upset because it’s Detective Jim Garrison who brings him home. Jim is the “hot” cop Alan has been admiring from afar and has been too tongue-tied to ask out. It just so happens that Brooks offered to help him find the perfect opportunity to have a chance to talk by using himself as bait to get picked up for breaking curfew.

Alan is still pretty tongue-tied and definitely self-deprecating. At fifty-three years old, he’s not in the best shape—or at least, not from his perspective—but Jim likes what he sees and the two end up going out after days and days talking on the phone until late at night. So at the end of their date, which doesn’t feel like a first date at all, they finally make it to bed.

The author takes the time for the two to get to know one another and even in the bedroom scene, several chapters cover their time together. After all, it’s been some time—years—for both of them, and Alan has to get past the hurdle of undressing before another man, and Jim has to search for condoms. When he finally found some, though unopened, the box was over ten years old! There were quite a few laugh out loud moments in this story and the sweetness of their romance shines through. When Brooks goes missing the morning after his date with Jim, Alan gets the chance to see his detective in action. All is well in the long run, and the couple manage to find their way to a nice HEA by the epilogue.

Very enjoyable, I recommend this to those of us into late-life romance.

The cover features two handsome older men, a light blue background and a cup of coffee – symbolic of their first meeting when Alan dumped his all over Jim’s shoes. Any cover featuring an older MC attracts my attention these days. Very nicely done!

Sales Links: JMS Books LLC | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 173 pages

Expected publication: November 24th 2018 by JMS Books LLC

ASIN B07JMGFC8L

Edition Language English

Tere Michaels on Characters, the end of a Series and her new collection Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories (Faith, Love & Devotion #7)

Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories

(Faith, Love & Devotion #7)

by

Tere Michaels

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Tere Michaels here today on tour with Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories
(Faith, Love & Devotion #7) by Tere Michaels. Faith, Love & Devotion has always been one of my favorite series and I will say it’s hard to say goodbye to it. So Tere’s talking about her characters, the collection and the final chapter.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Tere Michaels

Thank you so much for having me!

Writing the final chapter in the Faith, Love & Devotion series has been a bittersweet experience for me. These characters are so precious to me, and I wanted to give the readers a glimpse past “Happily Ever After” into the future. So it’s happy – but also a little bit sad to say good-bye!

By doing a collection of stories, I was able to extend my reach beyond a year in the life, or a few years. I tried to hit some of the big events, both good and not-so-good, focusing on how these characters would handle it. (Spoiler alert: a lot of sarcasm and a few moist eyes.)

Forever & Ever is a love letter to my readers, a thank you for all their support over the past ten years. And of course, the bow on top is finally getting Matt and Evan hitched!

How much of yourself goes into a character?

What’s funny to me, in revisiting Matt and Evan, and Griffin and Jim, is seeing how much of my own marriage is represented in their relationships! The basis of my relationship is humor – it’s our love language. And I realized how much I inject that into my characters.

Also overthinking. Matt might have my sharp tongue but Evan has my overactive brain!

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

HEA! That’s why I’m in this game – I want you to feel like these characters stay together far beyond “the end.” Like, these people are so perfect for each other, they’ve earned their happy ending and you never have to worry about them again. LOL

I read a lot of different genres but I feel very strongly about romance having an HEA. The emotional arc is the most important thing, so when I get to the end, I want that “forever” to be earned and memorable and meaningful.

Do you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

My first romance was “Palomino” by Danielle Steele, purchased for change at a garage sale. I read ALL her books, for years (“Fine Things” and “The Ring” are two of my favorites), but mostly I read historicals. Celeste De Blasis’ “Black Swan Trilogy” was my obsession. I loved that series.

YA wasn’t really a thing when I was a teen so I went straight from Nancy Drew to adult romance novels! It’s funny that I only write contemporaries when I refused to read them as a teen/young adult.

Who do you think is your major influence as a writer?

Weirdly enough, my biggest influencer was Dean Koontz. The first book I read of his – “Lightning” – was a contemporary love story/sci-fi book with time-traveling Nazis. I was knocked off my feet because it was this perfect blend of genres and tropes, with snappy dialogue and humor and emotion. And I thought – my God, you’re allowed to write like this!? It was a revelation. I really feel like that book was a key that unlocked my writer’s voice. I didn’t need to write “formally.” I could be me.

Do you have a favorite among your own stories? And why?

It’s like choosing your favorite child! (I only have one child so that’s not exactly hard for me…)

Two books immediately come to mind, and probably not the ones people would imagine. “Love & Loyalty,” the second book in the Faith, Love & Devotion series is my favorite. It took me three tries to start that book, and Griffin took forever to be born in my head but once he showed up, that book was a joy to write. There are still moments that make me cry when I read them!

The second is my novella “Holiday Roommates.” I was struggling with writer’s block and one day a man in an elf suit bemoaning his life popped into my head and boom! Nate Brandywine arrived and my block was wiped out. Nate and Sean are the epitome of my writing – they are both good people struggling through rough times, but they still work to help other people, and never lose their sense of humor. I love them dearly.

What’s next for you as an author?

I am writing a new series, set against the backdrop of a Broadway show. Since Broadway musicals are one of my favorite things in the world, I am loving the chance to play in this world! I’ll be following several characters involved in the production (actors, a director, the money man), and their romances, as well as the show itself moving from casting to opening night.

I also have the last Vigilante book finally coming out in 2019! And another secret project I can’t quite talk about just yet!

What traits do you find the most interesting in someone? Do you write them into your characters?

I like good people who are trying to grow and learn and heal. People who are eager to know themselves better. All my characters are on a personal journey – good people, doing their best, and not always succeeding. I can’t write an anti-hero. Even my Vigilante series character is basically a really good guy, who doesn’t always make the best decisions! That internal struggle fascinates me about people, and it always, always finds its way into my characters. In fact, that internal journey is the basis to my stories – it’s where a book starts for me.

With so much going on in the world today, do you write to explain? To get away? To move past? To widen our knowledge? Why do you write?

That’s a tough one! I write stories about real people working through real life hardships on their way to a happy ending to bring some positivity into the world. If someone reads one of my books and goes – yeah, let’s keep going. I can do this – then my work here is done.

And that’s why I write for a living. But for me, personally – I don’t how to stop. LOL Even if I’m not writing words down, stories are still being born in my head. It’s been that way my entire life and it’s like trying to explain why you breathe. The alternative doesn’t really exist.

About Forever & Ever – A Faith, Love, & Devotion Anthology

What happens after the story ends?

Join Matt, Evan, Jim, Griffin, and their friends and families for a glimpse of what happens after happily ever after. Between growing up and growing pains, weddings and retirement, changing careers and changing diapers, life is never boring. Changes, decisions, tears, and joy await as the years march on.

Faith, Love, & Devotion Series:

About the Author

Tere Michaels unofficially began her writing career at the age of four when she learned – via a Disney magazine subscription – that people got paid to write stories. It seemed the most perfect and logical job in the world and after that, her path was never in question.

Tere’s specialties are snark, angst, and happily ever afters. And not so happily ever afters that eventually work out because she is, after all, a romantic – tempered with realism. She has written fifteen books including her popular Faith, Love & Devotion series and the superhero saga The Vigilante.

Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers and is always available for speaking engagements, visits, and workshops. Send her a message through her contact page or connect with her on Twitter(@TereMichaels) and Facebook .

Tere Michaels

www.teremichaels.com

https://twitter.com/TereMichaels

A VVivacious Recent Release Review: His Cursed Prince by Ryan Loveless

Rating: 2 Stars out of 5

Tuckington Belle believes it is high time to admit that he is gay when scaling the wall of a castle to steal wildflowers sounds like a better plan than talking up a girl. But, on his way down from the wall he gets jostled by a dog and falls unconscious, only to be rescued by a guy who insists that Tuck stay blindfolded in his presence. As Tuck finds himself returning to the castle night after night, he starts to fall for this mysterious stranger. But who is this stranger and why does he insist that Tuck not see him?

It took me forever to finish this book despite the fact that it isn’t all that long. This book just didn’t have me constantly begging to know what happens next.

The book feels very childish. This book is childish not in the sense that it is written for children but written in the way children see the world as one cohesive blob like a person is either good or bad with nothing in-between. I missed the nuance. I actually can’t figure out why this book was written in such a manner because the writing style really detracted from the story. I quite liked the message this book was trying to convey but it lost its impact because I just couldn’t take this book very seriously.

The characters were very black and white and one dimensional. This book is a take on Beauty and the Beast and for a re-telling of one of the most genuinely dark and convoluted fairy tales, this story failed to capitalise on all the aspects that make the original so irresistible.

I really liked the ending and how the curse was broken was truly commendable and I enjoyed the message the story wanted to convey. But, there were certain things that could have used more development. Primarily among them being Tuck and Frederick’s relationship which was accelerated throughout its course and truly these two characters knew very little about each other. Also, the juxtaposition of technology felt rather convenient, I felt like we were wilfully ignoring how difficult it would be to keep such a secret in a world run rampant with mobile technology being a thing. Also, the castle defences were woefully inadequate in comparison to the technology this world possesses or appears to possess because nothing is really clear in that regard.

This story just wasn’t for me though I loved its message I can’t ignore the fact that it took me forever to get through it.

Cover art by L. C. Chase. I liked the cover, it rather succinctly frames the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 98 pages
Expected publication: December 28th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781640809253
Edition Language English

Release Blitz and Giveaway for Illumined Shadows (Treble and the Lost Boys #3) by G.R Lyons

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 100,000 words approx.

Treble & The Lost Boys Series

Book #1 – Ice On Fire – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Book #2 – Heavens Aground – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

When Victor Lucius was sixteen years old, a few cruel words out of his mouth led to a brutal tragedy, one that Vic has been trying to make up for ever since. Now, working as a missing persons expert, Vic tracks down and rescues people from abandonment or abuse, trying to alleviate the guilt constantly weighing him down.

His latest case—a boy who was kidnapped at the age of two and then held captive for nineteen years—is by far the darkest of his career. If there’s any chance of Vic finally redeeming himself, helping this boy might be it.

But rescuing Colby from his basement prison is only the beginning, and brings a whole new struggle to Vic’s life:

Temptation…

(Note: This story takes place in a fictional world, the same as in the Shifting Isles Series. There are multiple gods, different names for the days of the week, etc. A glossary is included.)

Author Bio

While daylighting as office manager for the family auto repair business, G.R. Lyons can often be found working on one of multiple manuscripts or desperately trying to keep up with the TBR pile.

Anarcho-capitalist, quietly ‘out’ trans guy, former belly dancer, coffee guzzler, highly-sensitive introvert, CrossFit enthusiast, and lover of m/m romantic fiction.

Email: grlyons@grlyonsauthor.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grlyonsauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/grlyonsauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/grlyonsauthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/doumteksonata/
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/author/grlyons

Giveaway

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Ryan Loveless on Characters, Writing, and her new release His Cursed Prince (author guest blog)

His Cursed Prince by Ryan Loveless

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art: L.C. Chase

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Release date: Dec 28, 2018

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Ryan Loveless here today talking about characters, writing, and her new release His Cursed Prince. Welcome, Ryan.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Ryan Loveless

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write?  Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures? And how much of yourself goes into a character?

Yes, the less research needed, the more likely I am to write it. I can turn anything into an hours long research project, so I like to keep things as lowkey as possible or else I get buried and never get anywhere. Case in point: my home is filled with Victorian history books from about 15 years ago when I had a plotbunny in that era. The research I wanted to do drowned me and the book was never done, even though I finished a draft. On the other hand, I did a lot of research into brain trauma and recovery for Ethan, Who Loved Carter and I loved it. However, I had a strong motivation to write that book because I wanted to do a character with Tourette’s, like me. I didn’t have as much motivation to stick with the Victorian story. His Cursed Prince is set in a fantasy world mixed with reality. I had to look up the names of some flowers and that’s about it. It was wonderful.

Have you ever had to put an ‘in progress’ story aside because of the emotional ties with it?  You were hurting with the characters or didn’t know how to proceed?

I have a story I hope to revisit one day. I put it aside because it is basically my story, of what would happen if I went back where I’m from. I stopped when I realized I was writing my own family. It got too hard to process that and I got uncomfortable with it. I struggled with the character’s motivation for returning home because I kept thinking, “Well, I wouldn’t go back for that reason.”

Do you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

I mainly recall my Stephen King phase as a young teen. All my life, I’ll read anything put in front of me. Romance is not my go-to (that would be realistic fiction YA or detective stories), but I do read it. In the last four or five weeks I’ve read Crazy Rich Asians, The Good Neighbor: Fred Rogers’ biography, Nurturing the Wow, about bringing spiritualism from a Jewish perspective into parenting, Fawkes, a magical-realism retelling of the Gunpowder Plot, The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertali (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda), Dumpling, and a few days ago I started Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years, about the later years of Elizabeth I, and Washington Black by Esi Edugyan, which I’ve had the ARC of forever and decided to read because the buzz is amazing. (Sidenote: I was home sick for 2 weeks. This much reading is rare.) For the record, I recommend all of these books.

Who do you think is your major influence as a writer?  Now and growing up?

Not a person, but a reality: Always having books around, reading as much as I could, and growing up in a rural area where I was isolated a lot. I have siblings, but they were out of the house working on the farm and I was at the house. There were kids my age around, but we all worked and didn’t see each other much, so there was a lot of time to let my imagination go while I was shucking corn or pulling weeds or cleaning. We did some writing contests at school and then I did an english major with a writing emphasis at college. Reading is still a huge influence. I also love talking to my author friends like CJane Elliott and Carolyn Gray who are so passionate about writing. Since I started a job that I love a few years ago, I’m not as intent with writing as I used to be, but it’s still a wonderful feeling to make those words happen. I get a lot of joy out of reading other people’s words too.

How do you feel about the ebook format and where do you see it going?

Any way you can get words to a person is great. I do wish more people knew that they can probably get ebooks from their library. It will automatically return, so no late fees! And if your library doesn’t have a book, you can request it and they will probably buy it. Ask your librarian or visit your library’s website for more information!

How do you choose your covers?  (curious on my part)

I almost exclusively work with LC Chase now through Dreamspinner, and as far as I can tell, the way it works is she reads my mind.

Do you have a favorite among your own stories?  And why?

I think everyone’s favorite is Ethan, Who Loved Carter (also available in YA adaption!) But my personal favorite is “In Me an Invincible Summer” because it’s exactly what I wanted it to be. It took about 3 years to write, lots of consultations to get the ins and outs of an actor’s life right, and I got to write somewhat unlikeable characters and get myself to fall in love with them.

What’s next for you as an author?

Dreamspinner will be releasing another novella in May, called A Cordial Agreement. Edits are all done and once again LC Chase read my mind to produce the cover. I’m trying to write more this year too, and my first project is a prequel to Invincible Summer focusing on Hunter and Chris. There will be some surprises there. I’d also like to revisit Paeder from Pop Life and This is Our Love Song at some point. I love writing him.

If you write contemporary romance, is there such a thing as making a main character too “real”?  Do you think you can bring too many faults into a character that eventually it becomes too flawed to become a love interest?

I think if you love a character, you should write it and not worry. Like Paeder has a lot of issues. Derek has issues. Hunter. Oh my God. Most of my characters do. If you’re going to say that someone is too flawed to be a love interest, I think it sends a negative message because we are all flawed. We are all worthy of love. It doesn’t need to be exclusive of those flaws. It can be including them. We have flaws AND we are worth love.

  Have you ever put a story away, thinking it just didn’t work?  Then years/months/whatever later inspiration struck and you loved it?  Is there a title we would recognize if that happened?

In Me an Invincible Summer, This Is Our Love Song, His Cursed Prince, Last Chance Charlie, A Cordial Agreement, quite a few fanfics. I had the Year of WIPs in 201X and then 201Y was the Year of Finishing WIPs. I’m hoping this year will be the Year of Finishing Anything I Start.

 If you could imagine the best possible place for you to write, where would that be and why?

I know that the best place for me to write is in the dining hall of Grand Central Terminal with my battery full, wi-fi off, and the noise level at a dull roar. It keeps me focused. Some people want a cottage on a lake, I like hustle and bustle. (But I also want a cottage on a lake for non-writing days.)

With so much going on in the world today, do you write to explain?  To get away? To move past? To widen our knowledge? Why do you write?

  I read for self-care and I hope that someone will read my stories for the same reason. I am happy to provide a distraction from the real world. If someone reads my books and then feels like they had a little reprieve, I’m glad about that.

Here’s the blurb:

Three facts about Tuckington Belle:

1. Given the choice between illegally scaling the royal castle’s walls to steal flowers for a client at his family’s dress shop or going on a date with a girl his brother set him up with (“He’s fertile, and he can sew!”), Tuck will scale the wall like a spider after a fly.

2. If, upon knocking himself unconscious when he falls off the wall, Tuck wakes up bruised, blindfolded, and inside the castle, where—based on the unearthly wails heard nightly—the prince no one has seen in ten years is probably a ghost, Tuck would still choose this over a date with a girl.

3. Tuck thinks it’s time to admit he’s gay.

Three facts about Prince Frederick George Deor (Read and approved with great reluctance by Lord “Protocol is Protocol. Stop Being a Pain About It” Todd):

1. He brought a curse upon himself and now bears the skin of a snake.

2. He can’t take his eyes off the injured thief recovering in the castle.

3. Friendships born from lying and insisting the other person wears a blindfold can blossom into true love—which he needs to break the curse.

About the Author

Ryan Loveless is the author of numerous M/M romance novels and short stories. She is honored to be recognized as a Rainbow Book Award winner (several titles), Epic eBook Award finalist (In Me an Invincible Summer), and a Florida Author and Publisher Association Awards bronze medalist (Ethan). She lives in New York with her family, a sentence that brings her great joy to write.

You can contact/follow author Ryan Loveless at:

Twitter: @ryanloveless

FB: https://www.facebook.com/ryanlovelessbooks/

Best of 2018 Lists Abound at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

From Chaos Moondrawn:

Best Books of 2018

Best Series

Best Covers

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 30:

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Tuesday, January 1 ~ New Year’s Day!

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The Replacement Husband

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Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories

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Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Tere Michaels

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His Cursed Prince by Ryan Loveless

Dreamspinner Press Cover Art: L.C. Chase

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Ryan Loveless

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About the Author

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Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art: L.C. Chase