Release Blitz and Giveaway: Clare London ‘s How The Other Half Lives

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Length: 20,000 words

Blurb

Compulsively neat freak meets chaotic slob: can their living space survive the conflict?

Martin Harrison keeps himself to himself and his Central London flat as neat as a new pin. Maybe he should loosen up and enjoy more of a social life, but in his mind, that’s tantamount to opening the floodgates to emotional chaos. He agrees, however, to join the flat-sitting scheme in his building and look after another tenant’s flat in exchange for a similar watch over his when he’s travelling for his work.

A floor away in the same building, Russ McNeely is happy with his life as a freelance cook and a self-confessed domestic slob. He also joins the flat-sitting scheme, both to be neighbourly and to help keep his flat in order, as Russ also travels for his work.

For a while, the very dissimilar men never meet. Martin is horrified at the mess at Russ’s flat, while Russ finds Martin’s minimalist style creepy. But in a spirit of generosity, each of them starts to help the other out by rearranging things in their own inimitable way.

Until the day a hiccup in the schedule brings them face-to-face at last.

February 15 – Hearts on Fire Reviews, The Way She Reads, The Novel Approach, Books Laid Bare Boys, Urban Smoothie Read
February 17 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Molly Lolly
February 20 – Sarandipity, Kai Taylor
February 22 – Making It Happen, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews
February 24 – Dog-Eared Daydreams
March 3 – Badass Bloggettes
March 6 – Bayou Book Junkie, Book Lovers 4Ever

Author Bio

Clare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with the weekly wash, waiting for the far distant day when she can afford to give up her day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.
Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.
All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!

Website: http://www.clarelondon.com

Blog: http://clarelondon.livejournal.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarelondon
Facebook chat: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clarelondoncalling/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/clare_london
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/clarelondon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/clarelondon

Giveaway

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A Lila Audiobook Review: Hanging The Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) by Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Angel Daniels grew up hard, one step ahead of the law and always looking over his shoulder. A grifter’s son, he’d learned every con and trick in the book but ached for a normal life. Once out on his own, Angel returns to Half Moon Bay where he once found…and then lost…love.

Now, Angel’s life is a frantic mess of schedules and chaos. Between running his bakery and raising his troubled eleven-year-old half-brother, Roman, Angel has a hectic but happy life. Then West Harris returns to Half Moon Bay and threatens to break Angel all over again by taking away the only home he and Rome ever had.

When they were young, Angel taught West how to love and laugh but when Angel moved on, West locked his heart up and threw away the key. Older and hardened, West returns to Half Moon and finds himself face-to-face with the man he’d lost. Now, West is torn between killing Angel or holding him tight.

But rekindling their passionate relationship is jeopardized as someone wants one or both of them dead, and as the terrifying danger mounts, neither man knows if the menace will bring them together or forever tear them apart.

Hanging the Stars is a beautiful second chance story. I have a soft spot for young couples that get an opportunity to reconnect and this story doesn’t disappoint. The connection between Angel and West still runs through them after a decade apart. What they had made a difference in the men they became and what they wanted for their future.

The story starts strong and directly into the action. We get adrenaline filled scenes that set the path for the characters to see each other again. There are small coincidences that make their first encounter even more meaningful. Having them get together without trouble or misunderstandings worked for the story.

Each main character has a very defined backstory that intertwines with the other. They have family and friends in common, but at the same time, they have a separate story that’s only theirs. And that’s what makes their story special. A lot is going on against them, but they are ready to face everything together.

All the twist and turns are fast-paced and keep the reader trying to flip the pages faster. Well, in this case for the audio to hurry up. But this also is the reason I didn’t give the story a higher rating. It was easy to miss an important element with all the information coming our way.

Overall, this is an interesting addition to the story. We get to see Lang, Deacon, and Zig again. Plus, I love Roman and his relationship with Angel. I hope the author give us more stories in this series because there are several characters with a lot of potential for love.

Greg Tremblay did a good job giving life to the characters and making them unique. Especially the young ones.

The cover by Reece Notley is nice but a bit generic. Plus, the model’s picture has been used in several stories recently.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Length: 7 hours 41 minutes

Published: January 12, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press

ASIN: B01N9PZE6V

Edition Language: English

Series: Half Moon Bay

Book #1: Fish Stick Fridays

Book #2: Hanging the Stars

Release Day Blitz: Learning to Want by Tami Veldura (excerpt)

Title: Learning To Want

Author: Tami Veldura

Publisher: Nine Star Press

Release Date: November 21 2016

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 30k words

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction, BDSM (spanking, dominance, denial)

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Synopsis

Khoram is an enforcer, a bodyguard, but his boss has just betrayed him. Now he’s stranded on a desert planet he’s never heard of, chained to the only other human around.

Atash grew up in the cracks of Dulia’s complex social structure, where dominance and submission are a man’s worth. He’s struggled for years on a lower caste but Khoram could be his ticket to a better life if they can find common ground.

Atash wants to teach Khoram the art of submitting by choice and maybe make a name for himself along the way. Khoram, however, isn’t here to play Atash’s political games. He’s going to escape, if his former employer doesn’t see him killed first.

Excerpt

Learning to Want
Tami Veldura © 2016
All Rights Reserved

Khoram couldn’t help testing his bonds. The metal chain between his hands and feet rattled, laughing at his attempts. The line of slaves shuffled forward one space, and Khoram was dragged along whether he wanted it or not. A lot of things were happening whether he wanted them to or not. The food he ate, the beer he drank, the clothes they took, the hands that verified he was in working condition. He flinched at the memory.

To distract himself he looked up and tried to count the days. Four behind bars on Elliot’s ship thanks to good-for-nothing Nik, six on the small space hopper, three in the holding cells while he and the Ohiri waited for another connection, two in the transport that left them here on Dulia, five—no, six now—at the auction house. Twenty-one days for Nik to cover his tracks. Almost a full cycle for the trail to go cold. Khoram grit his teeth. At the very least something different was happening.

The slave line shuffled forward.

Here, off stage, they kept the rooms mostly dim. It didn’t diminish Dulia’s oppressive heat in the slightest, but the closer Khoram was guided to the glowing roll-up door of the slave block, the more he longed for home. His fitful dreams tortured him with visions of Avois’s wet jungles and waterfalls. He hadn’t actually been home in over a decade, too busy making his fortune as an enforcer and bodyguard, but he was starting to see the error of his ways. Or at least the error of Nik’s.

Khoram licked his lips. He pressed them together, already regretting it. They’d been chapped dry for days. His wrists and ankles chafed under the iron. These were better discomforts than the lingering slick between his legs and exactly what lay on the other side of that bright doorway.

A Dulia lizardman flared the red frill around his neck as he walked the slave line, clicking orders in his native tongue and emphasizing them with a small electric prod. Khoram had tested the prod’s worth enough times to know it could knock him on his ass without much effort. He looked away from the mercenary and shuffled forward with the line.

He wasn’t exactly inconspicuous. The group he was chained to consisted largely of Ohiri natives: light-skinned, five-foot average, and generally docile. They were just as likely to stay in line without the chains and prod. Khoram stood out among them: a tall, dark, massive human furious in his captivity. Khoram was highly trained and just waiting for a chance to show it. In a fair fight, the lizardmen would fold like paper and they knew it. He’d never been unchained, left alone, or handled by fewer than four, and they were always armed with their electric prods. Always on alert.

Khoram grit his teeth. From capture to sale, he hadn’t managed a single successful bid for freedom, and he’d tried more than a few times. Now he took a breath and let his patience steady his hands, let the line of slaves tug him along. If the lizardmen couldn’t be overcome, whoever purchased him could be. Khoram wasn’t entirely familiar with Dulia’s customs, but if the easily dominated Ohiri were slaves of choice, Khoram wasn’t going to fetch much interest or profit.

The slave in front of him was unleashed from the line and yanked out the bright door. A lizardman pointed at the vacated spot, and Khoram shuffled forward to occupy it. The heat pulsed through the door in bright waves, bringing scents of sand, sweat, and a light spice that was unfamiliar. He could hear voices, now: the auctioneer yelling in rapid Duliana, the crowd barking their bids in turn, the sound of rhythmic smacking, a chorus of cheers. Another winning bid.

Then Khoram’s chains were unleashed and, flanked by two lizardmen with prods, he was led through the door. Hot metal rattled under his feet, and the blinding sun limited his view of more than the circular platform onto which he was pulled. A lizardman unhooked his wrists from his ankles, instead latching the chain to something that hoisted his arms suddenly overhead. His breath whooshed out. They tightened his ankle chains to the platform, and with a metal screech, it slowly began to rotate. They were showing him off. A tingle of awareness tripped over his skin and exposed groin—the attention of a hundred eyes.

Khoram squinted. The auctioneer espoused in Duliana for several minutes, likely explaining why the hell this bear of a human was on the block instead of a lithe Ohiri, spinning his assets to garner the crowd’s favor. Khoram knew a snake-oil salesman when he saw one, even if he didn’t share their language.

The platform turned him, and he faced the crowd. More of a species mix than he expected. Lizardmen were not the primary slave-owners if this was a decent selection. Mostly tall Frea, in fact, their black scales draped in white gossamer. They were members of Dulia’s refined upper caste, and other than video, this was the first he’d seen them. They weren’t known to ever leave Dulia, though they profited from the wider galaxy’s trade gladly. Pockets of Slone-dogs made the most noise in the crowd. They barked in their hybrid dialect, likely obscene things Khoram didn’t want translated. He curled his lip at the closest pack, and they yipped at each other.

Purchase

Nine Star Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords

Meet the Author

Queer romance, science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, and YA fiction author. I’m only here until I reach escape velocity. Artist. Gardener. Gamer. Raynauds. Asexual.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Instagram | Patreon

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DSP GUEST POST: Remmy Duchene and BLMorticia on Wounded Pride (author interview)

Wounded Pride (Wounded #2) by Remmy Duchene and BLMorticia
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Available for Purchase from

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Remmy Duchene and BL Morticia here today talking about writing, books and their latest story Wounded Pride. Welcome, Remmy and BL!

~Our Interview with Remmy Duchene and BLMorticia~

How much of yourself goes into a character?

RD: Well, ethics and morals, I try to put most of my own in my good guys. Renford isn’t at all like me. He’s brave, loves working out, funny – hell the only time I’m funny is by accident and I’m always stunned someone laughs lol. Most times, I put my attitude in a character, give him a bit of my temper to handle things he needs to handle. But sometimes I base characters off people I’ve met.

BL: I agree. I also base characters off people I know. Brian isn’t really like me. He has an air of confidence I don’t possess. His vulnerability might be attributed to me though. The sexy piece of ass he is, yeah that’s all him and no, I don’t know anyone like that.

Do you feel there’s a tight line between Mary Sue or should I say Gary Stu and using your own experiences to create a character?

RD: I don’t think so. If I based all my characters off my own experiences they will all be the same, I think. I try to create experiences for my characters, sort of like making them have their own thing going on rather than putting my bad luck on them. No one deserves that lol.

BL: I have used a few of my experiences, not in Wounded Pride though. It could be as simple as having an agreement with a significant other. And it will be the stupidest thing. Yes, I’ve done that before. I love that term Gary Stu. I’ll have to use that. lol

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

RD: When using a location/culture that is real, I think as a writer I am limited to the special kind of crazy I would like to instill in certain stories. Especially with cultures–I believe, since I am an outsider I have to be careful not to offend anyone. That isn’t what I want to do with my writing. I enjoy researching cultures in general–one of the reason I write predominantly interracial/multicultural stories. I LOVE making up my own words because then you can write anything you want as long as it jive and is consistent. But for Wounded Pride I think I was limited to the kind of crazy we could bring. This story takes place in New York, mostly, so there are certain things about that microcosm that we cannot change.

BL: I also love doing research. I also write a lot of interracial but, I have to saw, not to the extent of Remmy. Not that I haven’t wanted to. I love learning about different cultures and nationalities of people. For Pride, I did a little research on the Lakota tribe. I wanted to make Brian real and not a stereotype.

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

RD: Kinda. As a child and teenager, even now, I will read almost anything. From science fiction to erotica, if it has words I will take a look. Well, I wasn’t reading erotica as a kid but I picked up my first romance novel at eight years old and I haven’t looked back. But that was because being from a 3rd world country and living in the middle of nowhere, things to read weren’t plentiful so you read what you can get.

BL: I read romance when I was young and yes, that has carried on into adulthood. I don’t read very much outside of romance, but I’m looking to change that.

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?

RD: A few times. And it’s for completely different reasons for me because as a female writing MM. Case in point, recently I started on a ‘secret story’ and I’ve had to put it aside so many times because from the first chapter, I started sobbing. There is a lot of hardship that one main character has been through and that is still on the horizon and it’s just heart wrenching. As a human being, it pains me to have to put a ‘person’ through the hell I know I must to have the story come out right.

BL: Not with Pride, but I did put it aside because I didn’t know what to do next. I recently wrote a trans romance and my anxieties about writing a new character got to me. I’m still nervous, but I managed to finish the story and I hope to have someone trans to read it for me before release.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

RD: As long as there is happy in there I am happy lol. Honestly, as a reader and a writer in the same body, I find myself reading a book and then thinking “was that ending appropriate for the story?” and “was that ending necessary?” I’m a nerd, I know. Look, happily ever afters are a little hard to write especially when it’s a short story and it has to move so fast to get to the end within a set number of words. So happily for now will do. Other times, you just NEED that happily ever after.

BL: Lately I’ve been writing more happy for now because true HEA, to me, have to be long as hell. For me, either one works as long as the characters are satisfied.

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

RD: Yes. I am a sucker for romance. Sometimes I want the harder stuff but most times I love a little of the old, corny stuff too. As a teenager, I devoured every romance novel in my high school library (I am not kidding). After I graduated I went back to visit the the school and stopped off in the library. When I was introduced to the new generation of Library Club members one girl was like “omg! You! You’ve read every romance novel in this place!”

BL: I did. I read some of my grandma’s Harlequins when I was younger. They were very vanilla. When I was a teen or young adult, I graduated to more “erotic” works. Anne Rice, Fern Michaels, Jackie Collins. The stuff my grandma would have a fit about if she knew.

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

RD: Growing up, I loved spinning words. Whether it was for lyrics for a song or poetry. I always love the feeling of creating and since I wasn’t remotely good at anything else. Now, I am heavily influenced by the people around me. The people I ‘meet’ who read other stuff I’ve written.

BL: Growing up, I had no influences as far as writing, but when I got older I looked to Anne Rice as Zane as major influences. When I started writing erotica and or fanfiction, I wanted my books to be just as racy as Zane’s. Lol I don’t think I’ve achieved that yet.

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

RD: Honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. I mean I LOVE the feel of a paperback in my hands. Being able to turn the pages, smelling that book smell. I read e formats on my tablet and this is when a book is not in paperback format. I would love it if we could keep both but after seeing one of Canada’s largest music stores shut down because no one is buying CDs anymore – I hold out no hope.

BL: I do love paperbacks, but the Kindle is such a godsend. I have a young one, so I can’t really keep the racy paperbacks in my house and I have a small place too so, space is limited. As far as where it’s going, I believe people will always buy paperbacks regardless of how many e-readers are sold. Many people prefer it.

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

RD: So far, I have been very lucky with my cover artists. For Wounded Pride BL and I sat down and discussed the men to be on the cover. Since it’s a second story to Wounded Hearts the colours etc were already picked. So this cover was just to change the backgrounds and the model. Usually, for me, I fill out the cover art form and for me, if when I open the cover my first reaction is “YES YES YES!” Then that’s my cover. If I have to sit and think about it – or close the file, go away and come back, then it’s not my cover. I usually give the cover artist a little bit of a free range to be creative. I find this gives them the chance to come up with something impressive.

BL: I have also been lucky. The Wounded Pride cover model was easy for me. I have used that model many times and I’m not ashamed! Lol I think LC did a great job on both Wounded Covers. As far as my others, I also give artists free reign. I try not to be difficult because I know their time is precious. Most of the time, all the pope who have worked on my covers have gotten them exactly right.

What’s next for you as an author?

RD: Surprisingly, a lot. I have a couple of stories being translated in different languages with Dreamspinner – French, Italian and German so far. BL and I wrote Wounded Hearts together and that is now in French and Italian! How awesome is that! My story Piece of Me is coming soon and the third book in my intoXication series was recently accepted and coming soon! So there is plenty that I’m excited about.

BL: I’ve just released the second books in both my Hardy and Day series and Hirah Blaze collections. I’m taking a break for now and focusing on newsletter promotion.

About Wounded Pride (Wounded #2)

Renford Kline is straight… right? He got over his experimentation in college and moved on. Then how does he explain his blush-inducing fantasies about Brian Daystar? Fantasies he’s having when he should be focused on his career move from attorney to professor. When Brian comes to New York, Renford knows he’s in trouble. Everything about Brian attracts him—from his tight body to his beautiful, dark hair—but Renford is straight… right?

Brian Daystar needs a break. He’s been working nonstop to turn his Montana ranch into a safe haven for at-risk youth—so much so that he can’t even bring himself to care when he finds out his partner, country star Corey, is cheating on him. Their relationship has been over for a long time, but it might take his feelings for Renford to make Brian accept it.

Both men have decisions to make. Renford must come to terms with who he truly is, and Brian is going to have to decide if he will shun his happiness or embrace it.

✒︎Want to know more about the Authors? Contact them at their links below:

Remmy Duchene – https://remmyduchene.wix.com/remmyduchene

https://twitter.com/remmyduchene

https://remmyduchene.blogspot.com

https://www.instagram.com/manluvlikeaboss

BLMorticia aka Sharita Lira – http://thelitriad.com/

http://blmorticia.wordpress.com

https://twitter.com/AuthorSharitaL

http://instagram.com/sharitalira/

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Blossom of the Samurai (Sword and Silk Trilogy #3) by Sedonia Guillone

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The samurai’s only true master is his heart….

For seven years while training for his life as a samurai, Toho Morimasa has been away from Aoki, the beautiful actor who helped him to heal from the trauma of his parents’ brutal murders. Now, nightmares that Aoki is in trouble plague Toho’s sleep, and he makes the journey back from Edo to Kai, no longer wanting to be away from Aoki’s side. Once there, Toho meets the very real source of his nightmares and vows to honor and protect Aoki. When his beloved Aoki is brutally assaulted, will Aoki survive long enough to understand that the love Toho has for him is the love he too has been craving his whole life but doesn’t feel he deserves?

A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.

Blossom of the Samurai ties up the stories of the three couples that make up the Sword and the Silk Trilogy by Sedonia Guillone and its such a lovely finish to this trilogy.

I’ve been reading her Samurai stories for years and started on this path with Flying Fish back in 2009 (it was rereleased by Dreamspinner Press in 2016). Sedonia Guillone’s tales are gentle tales that move at a pace unusual for most stories, their narrative almost oriental in their flow and language at times. Gentle and yet visited by the violence of the times, all the characters endure hardship to find their other half. One samurai, the other an actor/courtesan, except in the second story which acts as a bridge to the first and third.

In Flying Fish, (a name for a traveling actor) its Genji Sakura and masterless samurai, the ronin Daisuke Minamoto, in Blind Love (Sword and Silk Trilogy #2) the couple is Hirata Morimasa and Anma Sho, leading to the final story with their foster son, Toho Morimasa and Aoki, the actor in Blossom of the Samurai. All three couples (or 5/6ths of them make important appearances here). It brings all their stories full circle, giving the reader further insight into Toho’s tale from Blind Love, and retribution for Hirata and Sho.

I’m hard-pressed to describe Guillone’s style of writing. Soft, yet it has its share of sword fights. Flowery but able to recognize the harshness of life as it occurs to the characters here. And pain does come with a swiftness that’s breathtaking even though we’ve been expecting it. I love her layered characters and the way in which we are able to feel their deep connections to each other with a minimal amount of words as well as the inclusion of Japanese words and settings in an easy, informal manner. It brings this era alive for the reader in a way I love.

However, I wish there was more to this story. I wanted to know more about Toho and what was going to happen with Aoki and their life together. I wanted more length, more of them. It ended too soon. At 112 pages (although that’s this author’s style too), that short length was not enough to bring this gorgeous tale to the fullness it deserved. That’s my only qualm here.

If you love ancient Japan, and lovers in search of their soul mates, pick up Sedonia Guillone’s Sword and Silk Trilogy. I loved all the stories, ending with Blossom of the Samurai.

Cover art by Reese Dante is lovely but not exactly spot on for all the characters.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 112 pages

Expected publication: February 15th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1634775449 (ISBN13: 9781634775441)

Edition Language English

Sword and Silk Trilogy #3

A Stella Release Day Review: Dating in Retrospect by Lila Leigh Hunter

RATING 3,75 out of 5 stars

Giving the commencement speech at his alma mater doesn’t fit Clay Keller’s meticulous schedule. As Chief Executive Officer of Travel Mogul—the largest travel connoisseur company on the West Coast—he has no time to get back in touch with his country roots. He left fifteen years ago without a second look, but a medical scare makes him change his mind about the speech and brings him face-to-face with his only regret.

Time always moves slower in Southeastern Iowa, and Aaron Grant loves it. He’s added solar farms to the Grant Lanes portfolio and has been teaching at the local university for a decade. The last thing he needs is to have his tenure application compromised by the return of his ex-boyfriend. If he had known who the commencement speaker would be, he would never have volunteered to be the administration liaison.

A proposal—to date for a year—will help them discover that time changes a person, even when everything else stays the same.

Clay has spent the last fifteen years in LA, he is now back to the town he grew up, the town he left so many years before to follow his dreams away from Iowa and away from Aaron, the boyfriend he left behind and now wants to reconquer.

I have to admit I had some problems with Dating in Retrospect. I read Tow Trucks & New Year’s Kisses a couple of months ago and liked it a lot, so I was very happy to have this new release on my Kindle. I think my big issues was with the MCs. I loathed Clay since the first time I saw him, he had the nerve to pretend fifteen years hadn’t passed, he acted like it was yesterday he and Aaron were together. The way he approached his ex-boyfriend was unbelievable, I truly wanted to slap him on the face and I didn’t understand why Aaron didn’t do it.

Then, going on with the reading, I started to love the story a lot. All the dates the couple found time for were very sweet and let me know them better. I followed them in the renewing of the love and desire they had for each other. I quite liked them both and I was able to see Clay from another point of view and I understand his attitude better. Plus the second characters were lovable too, especially Aaron’s dad, he was really a great man, the father all of us should have.

I’m a huge fan of “second chance at love” stories and adult characters. Although with some difficulties, I quite enjoyed Dating in Retrospect and can’t wait to read more by the author.

The cover art by L.C. Chase is adorable and well done. It caught my attention even before I read the blurb.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 107 pages

Expected publication: February 15th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1635333059 (ISBN13: 9781635333053)

Edition Language English

State of Love series

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The New Wolf (Building the Pack #1) by RJ Scott

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

This was an interesting twist on wolf shifter stories and the beginning of a trilogy that will be completed by two other authors, so it’s definitely not a standalone.

Veterinarian Josh Nolan and his partner, Connor Vincent, move to Black Creek, Vermont, after a shooting incident in their former location severely injured Connor, who was a cop in that city. Hired by the Sheriff’s Department in Black Creek, Connor finds life here a lot quieter than in the city so starts to look through cold-case files. What he discovers is a series of injuries, deaths, and disappearances in the late sixties to early seventies that were never solved, though they did abruptly end. But he’s cautioned by the sheriff to leave the mysteries alone.

One night, however, Josh is severely injured when he stops to help a large dog who was hit by a car. The driver disappeared, and as Josh was struggling to help the large animal that looked remarkably like a wolf, someone attacked him. Fortunately, Connor arrives on scene quickly to care for him, Josh having called him when he stopped to help the animal. Shortly afterward, the sheriff and a few deputies arrive, and by the time Josh gets treatment at the local hospital, he’s been convinced that he imagined some of what he saw and that the attack couldn’t have happened that way at all.

This sets the scene for most of the story, in which much of what occurs to Josh, and later to Connor, is covered up and secretive. Ultimately, we discover that there are indeed wolf shifters in the area, and that some of the principal “human” characters are wolves who are members of a fairly new pack.

I enjoyed the story, though it felt introductory and incomplete, since the “big, bad wolf” was not taken down in this installment in the series. The established couple, Josh and Connor, were good characters, but I didn’t feel the closeness that I anticipated. They certainly had their quiet times and their sexy times, but maybe it was because of what happens to Connor, and the distance that injury created, they didn’t feel as strong a couple as I would have liked.

Nevertheless, those who enjoy paranormal/shifter stories will likely enjoy this introductory look at what promises to be an interesting and exciting series.

Cover art by Meredith Russell depicts one of the characters front and center with the full moon in the background. A nice cover but not outstanding among all others which feature a cover model as opposed to artwork or other interesting symbolism.

Sales Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jseies

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2jUYgGJ

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 78 pages
Published January 16th 2017 by Love Lane Books Ltd (first published August 1st 2013)
ASINB01MUBNP7M
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesBuilding The Pack #1
CharactersJosh Nolan, Connor Vincent settingBlack Creek, Vermont (United States)

TJ Nichols on Research, Writing, and ‘Warlock in Training’ (author interview and DSP Publications Guest Post)

Warlock in Training (Studies in Demonology #1) by T.J. Nichols
DSP Publications
Cover Artist: Catt Ford

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host T.J. Nichols here today in our authors interview chair. Welcome, T.J.!

~Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with T.J. Nichols~

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

I do a lot of research even though I write (mostly) urban fantasy. It could be simple things like the physical location of the story if I’m setting it in a place I’ve never been through to different poisons that were common in the Middle Ages, or even the different types of werewolf lore.

When creating Demonside (the realm where demons live in Warlock in training) I had to research how desert dwelling people survived in those harsh conditions. I had to look up the life cycle of desert plants and animals which are dependent on the rains when, or if, they come.

Research is one of those things that I do all the time, even if I don’t know where the knowledge is going to come in handy.

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

Definitely. I read mainly fantasy novel when growing up, and I love that escape to new worlds. These days I love creating those new worlds and mixing magic into our world.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

I like both as a reader and writer. Some stories need everything to be tied up with a bow and other stories need to be left undone. I’m generally happy as long as I think the couple has the chance to give being together a good shot. As a writer crafting the perfect ending can take a while. I try to know the last scene of the book by the time I’m ¼ of the way through writing the first draft. Sometimes I know that final image when I start plotting…then the trouble is working out how to get there. I must confess I’m not a fan of the ‘two years later epilogue’, I’ve never read one that’s made me love the story more (but I’ll read it if it’s there).

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

I didn’t discover romance novels until I was in my twenties. These days I read both. It all depends on what I want from a book (sometimes I want the happily ever after, sometimes I want the bigger world of an urban fantasy/fantasy, and sometimes I just want something I can read in 2 hours so I read a novella). I like the uplifting nature of romance novels and that love wins every time. Love should win and everyone should get their happily ever after, but that doesn’t happen in real life.

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

I don’t think ebooks will go away. I love them. The convenience of having a library on my ereader is great. I still buy print books, usually it comes down to price and availability as to which format I buy (I live in Australia).

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

I love all my stories but for different reasons. A Wolf’s Resistance is set in WW2 which is one of my favorite time periods so the research was really just reading for pleasure. Warlock in Training was just fun to write—not all stories are like that (I’m working on a novella at the moment which is like pulling teeth).

What’s next for you as an author?

I’m busy working on book 3 in the Studies in Demonology series (book 2 is with my crit partner at the moment). In September-ish Olivier (an Order of the Black Knights novel) will be out. If you haven’t checked out the Black Knights multi author series do, as it’s a mix of romantic suspense, past life repercussions and curses (some of my favorite things).

Blurb

Angus Donohue doesn’t want to be a warlock. He believes draining demons for magic is evil, but it’s a dangerous opinion to have—his father is a powerful and well-connected warlock, and Angus is expected to follow the family tradition.

His only way out is to fail the demon summoning class. Failure means expulsion from the Warlock College. Despite Angus’s best efforts to fumble the summoning, it works. Although not the way anyone expects.

Angus’s demon, Saka, is a powerful mage with his own need for a warlock.

Saka wants to use Angus in a ritual to rebalance the magic that is being stripped from Demonside by warlocks. If Angus survives his demon’s desires and the perils of Demonside, he’ll have to face the Warlock College and their demands.

Angus must choose: obey the College and forget about Demonside or trust Saka and try to fix the damage before it’s too late. Whatever he does, he is in the middle of a war he isn’t qualified to fight.

About the Author

TJ Nichols is an avid runner and martial arts enthusiast who first started writing as child. Many years later while working as a civil designer TJ decided to pick up a pen and start writing again. Having grown up reading thrillers and fantasy novels it’s no surprise that mixing danger and magic comes so easily, writing urban fantasy allows TJ to bring magic to the everyday.

With two cats acting as supervisors TJ has gone from designing roads to building worlds and wouldn’t have it any other way. After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.

Website: tjnichols-author.blogspot.com

Twitter: @TobyJNichols

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJNichols.author/

Ebook: 978-1-63533-267-4

Print: 978-1-63533-266-7

In Our High Fantasy Showcase: The Shadow Mark (Lords of Davenia #2) by Mason Thomas (author interview)

The Shadow Mark (Lords of Davenia #2) by Mason Thomas
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Designer: Maria Fanning

Available for Purchase from

and in Dreamspinner Press Paperback

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Mason Thomas here today to talk about writing, characters and his latest release, The Shadow Mark. Welcome, Mason.

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~Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interviews Mason Thomas~

How much of yourself goes into a character?

An intriguing question, and the answer isn’t easy to peg down since character development doesn’t always occur on a conscious level. It’s impossible to not put yourself into your characters to some extent since it is your own experiences that you draw from. You cannot escape your own brain, and little aspects of yourself are going to infiltrate your characters. None of my characters are ever “me” per se. They just tap into various facets of my personality.

At times, you need to be deliberate about it. To generate authentic reactions to the events in your story, you have to draw from your personal experiences and extrapolate what the feelings and responses would be. Auraq Greystone, the main character in The Shadow Mark, is the least like me in terms of personality. He’s brooding and ill-tempered, and isn’t into talking about his feelings. This made him a challenge to write—in a good way. I had to dig deep into some dark history at times to channel him properly.

I will say there are times however that a character comes onto the scene and I have no idea where he or she came from. They arrive fully formed and announce who they are with utter certainty. It’s as if they’ve already received an early draft and are merely showing up to perform their part, and I’m only there to record them in the scene. I’ve even tried to direct them, and say, no I’d like you to be more “this.” They grin back at me, and then do what they’re going to do anyway, whether I like it or not.

Do you feel there’s a tight line between Mary Sue or should I say Gary Stu and using your own experiences to create a character?

You have to be mindful of that line, certainly. I’m very intentional when creating a character not use myself as a template. Like I said in the previous question, you can’t escape your thoughts and your own experiences, but characters also take on their own distinct traits and personalities through the writing process. They evolve their own identities, and you cannot fight against that. You are not the character—you are only channeling them, recording their words and actions.

You also have to embrace the weaknesses and negative qualities of your characters. It’s good if your main character makes a mistake, or says the wrong thing, or makes a mess of something. Readers have to see that a character can fail. There’s a looming fear that bad behavior will make your character unlikeable, but what it can do is makes them believable—and if the reason behind the bad behavior fits their history or circumstances, it makes them sympathetic too.

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

I enjoy the world building aspect of writing speculative fiction. I like the “sandbox” nature of being able to construct the world and establish the rules that exist within it. I pull from real world events, cultures and experiences, but since the world is of your own design, there isn’t a danger of getting the facts wrong. You just have to make certain that your world make sense, and you don’t break your own rules. This means that much my research is for generating ideas.

Sadly, I cannot escape real research, however. Do I enjoy it? No. But it’s a necessary evil. Smaller details—like how a barrel is constructed, or how a mill works to grind flour—have to be right. A detail you’ve gotten wrong is an insipid little imp that can easily escape your notice if you’re not careful, and it can turn your reader against you if they catch it. Combat is the area that I probably invested the most time researching a topic. I’ve even taken longsword classes to learn how to move, and how the body feels and reacts during combat. That was my favorite kind of research. If you’ve never taken a sword-fighting class, it’s seriously fun and I recommend it for everyone.

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

The irony is I wasn’t always a great reader as a kid. I have a slow reading speed, and being ADHD, I had a difficult time remaining focused long enough on a book to finish it. I lost interest very easily. The very first novel I read on my own from cover to cover was The Hobbit. I was in sixth grade. I was instantly hooked. Something about the escapism of fantasy (and science fiction as well) and the notion of a completely different world, connected with my overactive brain and dynamic inner life like nothing ever had before. I’ve been obsessed with speculative fiction ever since.

Today, I write the stories I wish had existed when I was growing up—fantasy adventures with gay heroes.

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?

More the opposite. I use my own emotional connection to a story as a barometer. If I’m not feeling emotional as I write it, then it’s not connecting for some reason and I have to shelf it until I figure out what it’s missing. I’ve not yet reached a topic that cut too deeply, as it were, that it forced me to put it aside.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

This entirely depends on the story being told and the characters that occupy it.

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

I tend to not pick up novels that identify as “romance” alone. I choose the ones that overlap into speculative fiction. For me, as both a writer and a reader, I like it when the love story exists along with a larger context, and the two work in concert. The speculative elements shouldn’t be just a backdrop for the romance, but play a part in bringing the people together. And speculative stories without a romance feel incomplete. The romance brings an authenticity to the story because connecting with others is a part of life that shouldn’t be ignored.

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

Hard to narrow this one down. I’ve been influenced by so many amazing writers over the years. Tolkien, of course, since he was my first introduction to speculative fiction. Anne McCaffrey, Brain Jacques, Piers Anthony and Stephen King to name a few more. Each of these authors has a magic about them that I’ve always revered—the ability to pull me so completely into their world. However, my primary influence as a writer has been Isaac Asimov, a writer from the golden age of science fiction. He was incredibly prolific, writing five-hundred books in his lifetime—but still took the time to type a personalized note to a thirteen-year-old fan boy who wrote him a letter with a pointless and annoying question. Twice. I’ve always thought that was incredibly gracious of him. I have always been drawn to his intellect, and his humor, and his devotion to his craft. Many of his quotes are on my favorites list, but one quote has had a great impact on me as a writer: “I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing—to be clear.”

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

Choosing a cover is terribly difficult and stressful for me. I want it to emote the tone of the book, I want it to be visually striking, and I want it to be sexy. I also want it to be original and stand out. That’s a lot of boxes I need it check off. I perseverate on the tiniest details, because once I’ve chosen the cover, it is forever connected to that work. I’m sure I drive the artist a little insane. Can you change the font? Can you move my name up just a little? Can you bring a little more color into it? I applaud their patience.

The cover of The Shadow Mark, which was designed by Maria Fanning, is astounding and I couldn’t be happier with the result. It has everything I wanted. I think it exudes the strength of my main character, Auraq Greystone, it has a compelling look that draws you in, and it connects well to my previous cover as well.

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

Short answer—no. They are all deeply personal to me for different reasons, and to select one over another is impossible. If I’m not fully drawn in to my own story, I’m not compelled to write it and it doesn’t get finished. My favorite project tends to be the one I’m currently working on.

What’s next for you as an author?

Juggling quite a few projects right now. I’ve recently finished a new young adult fantasy novel that I’ve very excited about. It’s the first in what I hope to be a series, with multiple young LGBTQ characters. My goal for this was to create a world where the LGBTQ characters are admired and respected, and are the heroes of the kingdom. I’m in the process of editing it now, and hope to send it out this summer. I’m writing another romance/fantasy that takes place in a different world than the Lords of Davenia series. I’m also in the planning stages of creating a sequel for Lord Mouse.

Blurb

Auraq Greystone, once a military officer with a promising future, exists on the fringe of society. Accused of murder, Auraq is on the run from the ax—until two fugitives crash into his solitary life. One is a young man named Kane. The glowing marks on his arm pulse with an otherworldly power, and they have made him the target of a sinister organization called the Order of the Jackal. When the old man protecting Kane dies in an ambush, Auraq swears an oath to take his place.

But the runes are far more significant than they realize. They are a message from the shadow realm, a dark memory of the past—one holding evidence of a bloody massacre and its savage architect; one that will shake the kingdom to its foundation. Risking arrest and execution, Auraq fights to get Kane to the capital city where the cryptic marking can be unlocked. And with assassins close on their trail, Auraq might never get the chance to show Kane what’s in his heart—or the way their journey together has changed him.

The Shadow Mark is an epic tale of magic, murder, conspiracy, betrayal, and—for the two men tasked with unraveling the mystery—love and redemption.

Mason Thomas AUTHOR BIO:

Mason Thomas began his writing journey at the age of thirteen when his personal hero, Isaac Asimov, took the time to respond to a letter he wrote him. He’s been writing stories ever since. Today he is ecstatic and grateful that there is a place at the speculative table for stories with strong gay protagonists.

Mason, by all accounts, is still a nerdy teenager, although his hairline and waistline indicate otherwise. When his fingers are not pounding furiously at a keyboard, they can usually be found holding a video-game controller, plucking away at an electric guitar, or shaking a twenty-sided die during a role-playing game. Mason will take any opportunity to play dress-up, whether through cosplay, Halloween, or a visit to a Renaissance Faire. He pays the bills by daring middle school students to actually like school and encouraging them to make a mess in his science classroom. He lives in Chicago with his endlessly patient husband, who has tolerated his geeky nonsense for nearly two decades, and two unruly cats who graciously allow Mason and his husband to share the same space with them.

Social Media Info

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MasonThomas999/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MasonThomas999

Website: http://masonthomasbooks.com/index.html

A Paul B Review: Kieran (The Atherton Pack #4) by Toni Griffin

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Damon is sent by the Brisbane police department with his partner to investigate the hacking of birth records by somebody in the Atherton area. Atherton pack member Corey has been doing so for years in order to register births from same sex mates who have given birth. However, he slipped up when he registered his Alpha couple’s son’s birth. When Damon steps into Corey’s house, he scents that his mate has recently been in the house. Unable to do anything about it, he continues his investigation trying to lead his partner away from Corey as the guilty party.

Kieran has recently returned to the Atherton pack. Ben, not only the pack alpha but the Pennaeth Alpha (Supreme Alpha) of all Australia, has appointed Kieran as one of his Betas. He finds it unusual for the inner circle to go out to dinner but agrees to go along. As he enters the restaurant, he makes eye contact with Damon, his future mate. Knowing that he is investigating his best friend does not bode well for the start of their mating. When a couple of encounters with Damon end with Damon always retreating to his hotel room, Kieran feels betrayed and hurt even though he knows that Damon has to do his job.

Things go from bad to worse when the ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organization) is brought into the case. After questioning, another federal organization drugs Corey and takes him away in a van. Damon, along with the inner circle of the Atherton pack starts investigating who has taken Corey. Thanks to his sources, Damon finds out that his worst fear has been realized—the government knows about shifters and is in the process of rounding as many of them up. Just as he relays this information to the Atherton pack inner circle, he realizes that the pack house is about to be raided. With the assistance of Kieran, Damon along with the alpha mate Tommy and Tommy’s son Joseph escape. However, all the rest of the inner circle, including his mate Kieran, has been captured. Damon now must find a way to free the captive shifters and make sure that the rest of his kind is safe from further abductions.

This fourth book in the Atherton Pack series has both romance and action in it. Damon is torn between his job as a police officer and his duty to keep shifters safe no matter what. He is frustrated that his mate cannot accept that he has to keep up the charade to his partner that basically he is a double agent within the police department trying to keep Corey from going to jail. He would like to tell his partner of twelve years to ease off but that is impossible since he knows Corey is guilty. Kieran meanwhile thinks Damon has betrayed his kind by working the federal agents. Keep an eye out for characters from Toni Griffin’s Holland Brothers shifter series as a number of them make an appearance in this book.

The cover by Freddy MacKay works well. A shirtless man’s back with a huge wolf’s head tattoo covering it stretches underneath a full moon with a black wolf’s muzzle looking at the man.

Sales links available: Amazon, ARe, Bookstrand

Book Details

Ebook, 163 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: October 19, 2016 by Mischief Corner Books

ASIN: B01M0OZAWQ

Series: Atherton Pack

Liam (Atherton Pack #1)

Ben (Atherton Pack #2)

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Nine Star Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords

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Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Instagram | Patreon

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Wounded Pride (Wounded #2) by Remmy Duchene and BLMorticia Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

~Our Interview with Remmy Duchene and BLMorticia~

About Wounded Pride (Wounded #2)

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Warlock in Training (Studies in Demonology #1) by T.J. Nichols DSP Publications Cover Artist: Catt Ford

Available for Purchase at

Blurb

About the Author

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The Shadow Mark (Lords of Davenia #2) by Mason Thomas Dreamspinner Press Cover Designer: Maria Fanning

Blurb

Mason Thomas AUTHOR BIO:

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Wounded Pride (Wounded #2) by Remmy Duchene and BLMorticia
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Warlock in Training (Studies in Demonology #1) by T.J. Nichols
DSP Publications
Cover Artist: Catt Ford

The Shadow Mark (Lords of Davenia #2) by Mason Thomas
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Designer: Maria Fanning