An Alisa Review: Softpaw (Smilodon Pride #1) by Beryll Brackhaus and Osiris Brackhaus

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Softpaw Connor’s life could have been the dream of any cultured werecat. He is spending his days in Paris’ gay quarter with comfortably little real work, playing the piano, surrounded by art, fine food and good friends. It could have been, if not for a feral vampire preying on the prostitutes of ‘his’ quarter, killing the boys of the Marais one by one.

When Connor invites a newly arrived hooker to stay on his houseboat, the last thing he expects is Michel to be a member of the Brigade Criminelle – a troubled, hunky rookie cop sent undercover to explore Connor’s connection to the murders, picked mostly because he had been a boy of the Marais himself, not so long ago.

Hiding their true nature becomes a problem for both when they realize there maybe is more to their initial attraction. But in order to bring down the serial killer and maybe have a chance at making their relationship work out, one of them will have to
take the first, critical leap…

Connor has been living a quiet life in Paris while trying to figure out what he really wants to do with his life. Connor is surprised when Michel takes him up on his open invitation for a place to stay. Both hide important information about themselves from the other while opening their hearts to the other.

This story is told from both of the main characters’ point of view, which helps to understand them a bit better. Connor does everything to be helpful to others and do what he feels is right it personally hurts him when the vampire begins its’ killing spree. Michel wants to do his job, but has trouble believing Connor’s connection to the murders is anything other than coincidental. When Connor uncovers Michel’s duplicity I could feel how betrayed he feels and how much more determined he is to take care of the vampire. Connor and Michel get a wonderful HFN ending that they both deserved. There was a look at the next book in the series and I look forward to reading it in the future.

Cover art is nice and portrays the story setting nicely.

Sales Link

Book Details:

ebook, 229 pages
Published: July 14, 2016
Edition Language: English

Series: Smilodon Pride #1

Want More Shifter Romance? Check Out Blood Moon Pack Alliance by S.A. Welsh (excerpt and giveaway)

Blood Moon Pack Alliance by S A Welsh

Author: SA Welsh

Buy Links

Amazon US Amazon UK All Romance

Series Blurb

Remyís life was turned upside down when Alpha Trevor, a controlling and sly leader concerned only with power, threatened his mother and a primal strength awakened inside him. He challenged the tyrannical alpha and defeated him. Now he is alpha, but Trevor isnít going away quietly to lick his wounds. Trevor is much more devious than that. Remy and his pack have to navigate through plots and schemes created by such a formidable enemy who is willing to do anything it takes to steal back control and rule not only the Blood Moon Pack but all of the paranormal world.

Lines are drawn, alliances are made, and mates are found, but will it be enough when the lies and treachery go far deeper than they know? Spies infiltrate and enemies circle, waiting for an opportunity to strike. The people closest to Remy are at greatest risk and some suffer more than anyone should at the hands of those seeking power. Vampires and shifters alike in the Blood Moon Pack Alliance must fight to keep each other safe and hope that love and family will be enough to give them the strength to weather the storm ahead.

Hi,

I’m SA Welsh and I write because I love reading and I love letting the characters and stories in my head come to life in a book. I can’t function in the morning without a cup of tea and when I’m not writing, I’m reading. Thank you to all the readers that let me keep writing and to the authors that keep me up at night reading a thrilling chapter and also to the editors that help make my books the best they can be.

Happy reading 🙂

http://www.sawelsh.com/

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A MelanieM Release Day Review: Flying Fish (Sword and Silk Trilogy #1) by Sedonia Guillone

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Sword and Silk: Book One

In eighteenth century Japan, during the golden age of samurai and of the Kabuki theater, young actors known as “flying fish” traveled the countryside, performing for audiences by day and giving their bodies to their samurai patrons at night.

Genji Sakura is one such flying fish, yet he dreams of finding the man he can give his heart to and leave the loneliness of his itinerant life behind. Though he loves theater, he doesn’t love every part of his profession, especially some of the patrons. So when a handsome ronin comes upon him stealing some solitude for a bath in a hot spring and their encounter turns passionate, Genji’s surprised and delighted.

Daisuke Minamoto’s past fills his life with a bitterness that grips his soul and makes him dangerous. Yet passion takes him when he spies on a graceful young man bathing naked in a hot spring. He has always loved women, but he can’t deny the call of his heart.

After an afternoon of sexual bliss, his heart and soul are tormented and torn. Keeping this miraculous lover will require giving up the one thing that has kept him alive for years: his hatred for the lord who murdered his wife. If he loves another, how will he go on and who will he become?

I found author Sedonia Guillone years ago and then lost track of her and her magical stories. Now once more Sedonia and her lyrical and sometimes violent tales of love are back and I couldn’t be more delighted. In Flying Fish (Sword and Silk Trilogy #1) by Sedonia Guillone, a story of 81 pages seems to carry us back into 18th century Japan where a ronin Samurai and a traveling young actor known as flying fish or tobiko can meet on a trail near a stream and fall gently in love. But like all Japanese tales, there’s darkness the hovers over the characters, following one, and soon the other. You are pulled effortlessly into the era, by language, location, and the sheer gentleness of Genji Sakura, the flying fish and main character here. He’s sweetness, with the lightness of being of a sakura petal, and just as soft. Guillone has painted a full portrait of the actor here and you can’t quite get enough of Genji.

Daisuke Minamoto is a portrait of a man covered in darkness and despair. He’s the sharpness of a blade and the roughness of a lordless life. He’s had one goal all this time and has returned to carry it out. Until he meets Genji Sakura and is shown a light he thought was lost.

There is a beauty to the language and flow of the story and it moves with a pace of its own staying true to the characters and time. I just adored it and them.

As Genji says:

Love is the transformative power of the universe. The only real thing in existence, it can change the course of a human being’s life if that person is open to its healing power. From the highest emperor to the lowest peasant in the field, love is the only great leveler aside from death.

— From Tale of the Loyal Samurai by Sakura Genji (1659-1768), performed for the opening of the Great Kabuki Theater in 1685

This is a tale of hope, and of love and even a future that neither thought possible. Such joy in 81 pages. Pick it up and discover both the author and Flying Fish for yourself.

Cover art by Reese Dante. I like the cover but I’m just not sure that’s the characters of the story. Read it and let me know your opinion.

Sales Links

Book Details:

Release Date Aug 17, 2016
Type Novellas
Words 27,707
Pages 81
ISBN-13 978-1-63477-542-7
File Formats epub, mobi, pdf

Love’s Not Blind in BA Tortuga’s Real World (Release Day Tour & Excerpt!)

Real World (Love is Blind #2) by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Release Date August 15, 2016

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is so happy to have BA Tortuga here today with an excerpt from her latest novel, Real World. Welcome, BA.

Hey y’all, it’s BA Tortuga, resident redneck and lover of all things cowboy and redneck. Here’s an excerpt from my new book, Real World, the story of Dan, a soldier who’s just left the service, and Weldon, a central Texas redneck that’s one of Dan’s brother’s husband’s (man, is that convoluted as hell or what?) best friends.

Much love, y’all.

Blurb

A Love is Blind Novel

Dan White is trying to acclimate to civilian life after a long career in the military with multiple combat deployments.

Now he’s home in the Austin area, living with his brother Dixon, Dixon’s husband, Audie, and their two nine-year-olds. During the New Year celebration, Dan meets Abraham Weldon, and the connection is instant.

There’s a kiss. There’s a dance. There’s a proposition.

Then Dan finds out Weldon is bisexual.

And a dad.

With five kids. Five kids, one of whom is a blind fifteen-year-old.

Weldon has been in love twice in his life—with his high school best friend, Blake, and with his wife, Krista, who he met in a Dairy Queen as she was crying over a positive pregnancy test. Love number three hits Weldon like a hammer when he meets Dan.

But since Dan isn’t interested in a guy with kids, they might only get one night together.

Excerpt from Real World

“Hey, Emma, stop pulling Kenzie’s hair.” Dan was going to lose his shit. How could this be so hard? All he had to do was keep five kids from killing one another for an hour until Mel got there.

Weldon had blown a tire in Buda and Mel had a doctor’s appointment she couldn’t reschedule, so Dan had said, sure, he could watch the kids. No problem.

“She’s got bugs in there!” Emma teased and Kenzie immediately started to scream, which set Caleb off too.

“There are no bugs.” He couldn’t just bark orders like he did with soldiers. Dan plucked Caleb out of his high chair, patting his back. “Emma, let go. Now.”

“For fuck’s sake! Shut the fuck up. All you do is make everything worse, Emma. MacKenzie, come here right now!” Jakob looked like he was fixin’ to rain hellfire on the girls.

“Jakob!” The name shot out like a high powered rifle shot. “Language.”

Kenzie looked at him, then buried her face in Jakob’s chest. Jakob scowled in his general direction. “Look, you’re not my dad. You’re not even the dude that’s screwing around with my real dad. Back off.”

“Jakob!” Maddie stared at her big brother, blue eyes huge in her face. “That’s mean.”

“It’s true.” Jakob looked so stiff, so defiant.

“Whatever I am, your dad asked me to keep an eye on all of you for a freaking hour.” Dan put all of his officer training in his voice, knowing grown men quailed before it. “You can be civil or you can leave the room.”

Jakob stormed off and the rest of them just stared. It was Maddie who spoke. “He didn’t mean it.”

Caleb hiccupped, and he tried a smile. “I know. Heck, y’all are still getting to know me.” Dan meant it, too. Still, Jakob’s real dad comment bothered him.

It was fairly obvious that Weldon wasn’t Jakob’s biological father, but none of the kids seemed to think it was a thing. As far as Dan knew, the bio dad wasn’t in the picture.

“I’m sorry,” Emma said quietly.

“Maybe better to tell Kenzie that, huh?” That was what he was supposed to say, right? God.

“Sorry, Kenzie. That was mean. You want to color with me? You can use the markers that smell good.”

“For reals?”

“Uh-huh.” Emma offered a tiny smile, and Dan nodded at her, pleased.

Then he glanced at Maddie. “You okay?”

“I don’t like it when it’s mean.”

No, Maddie was a peacemaker, for sure.

“I’m sorry I yelled.” Dan knew he’d been justified, but Maddie deserved a quiet place to do her homework.

“It’s okay. I wanted to yell a little, too.”

Caleb patted Dan’s cheeks suddenly. “S’okay, Dan-Dan.”

He chuckled softly, the little touch unbearably charming. “It is okay, Caleb. Totally.”

“Milk?”

“Has he had milk in the last few hours?” Dan knew Weldon was trying to cut Caleb back a bit.

“Not since we came home from school.”

“Me too, Dan-Dan?” Kenzie asked. “Just a little glass?”

“Yep. You want some, Maddie? Emma?” He could stop on the way back from work tomorrow and get more milk.

“No, thanks. I’m going to have a Diet Coke.” Maddie caught Emma with a glare. “And I’m not sneaking it. I’ll have water with supper. Dan can tell Daddy or I can text him.”

“I’ll let him know,” Dan murmured, heading to the fridge to distribute milk.

Weldon did this all by himself. Weldon had done this with a brand-new baby, grieving for his wife. Dan couldn’t even imagine how much work and how little sleep Weldon had put in.

He had nothing but respect for Weldon.

Well, respect and lust.

Sales Links

About BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head. Find her on the web at www.batortuga.com

Love is Blind Series with links to our 5 star reviews:

Ever the Same (Love is Blind, #1) by B.A. Tortuga
Real World (Love is Blind, #2) by B.A. Tortuga

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Real World (Love is Blind #2) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4.75 stars rounding up to 5 out of 5

Dan White is trying to acclimate to civilian life after a long career in the military with multiple combat deployments.

There’s a kiss. There’s a dance. There’s a proposition.

Then Dan finds out Weldon is bisexual.

And a dad.

With five kids. Five kids, one of whom is a blind fifteen-year-old.

But since Dan isn’t interested in a guy with kids, they might only get one night together.

When I read Ever the Same (Love is Blind #1), I fell in love with the families and characters that B.A. Tortuga created for that story. I certainly couldn’t wait for this series to continue. Real World (Love is Blind #2) brings us back to those families and couples with Dan White, ex soldier adjusting to civilian life and brother to Dixon, blind musician who we met in the first story. Dan’s not adjusting very well, but he’s living with Dix and his husband Audie and their kids so civilian life is up front and in his face every day. So are the connections to Dix and Audie’s friends and the community which brings a meeting to Weldon and a “oh so hot we might combust” connection. Until reality sets in when information is exchanged and Dan finds out that Weldon is a dad of five and bisexual, way more than a man who feels he’s not ready for commitment can handle, leaving a very disappointed Weldon in his wake.

How I love a story where a couple must over come obstacles, inner obstacles they create for themselves, in order to be together. This story is chock full of those. Here in Real World those barriers feel so completely authentic and believable when it comes to the characters who are trying to work through their feelings and doubts about their relationship and walls they built up around themselves. And no one here has walls higher than Dan White. Walls against dating bisexual men, walls against men with families, and one by one…we watch those barriers fall…prey to the charm and love of Weldon and his brood of kids. What a group of kids they are too. Snarky, drama filled, lovable, not so lovable, crying, every adjective you want to throw in here. In short, a very realistic family of children that will grab at your heart, especially the eldest who will have his own heartrending story thread to go through.

I haven’t forgotten Weldon. That character…well, he’s a man that will tug at you all the way through the story. He’s a loving father, a vulnerable man, who’s trying to balance his families needs with his own. You just end up aching for him when Dan turns away time and again. Trust me…there are places you will want to shake that man! Isn’t that great writing? Yes, I say it is.

B.A. Tortuga has a way, whether its by her ear for the vernacular or locale or just knowing people and family dynamics, of being able to create characters that are so real, so believable that they pull you into their story and lives that you ache for them, get mad at them, yes, want to shake them and finally rejoice in their happiness at the end when they pull together and realize they can make it as a couple and as a family. That happens here in Real World, a book I loved even better than the first story in the series. That’s saying a lot.

Do I recommend this story? Absolutely. Grab it up and the first in the series too. I can’t imagine what’s coming next but I know I can’t wait to see what develops. There are more White boys although they are supposedly straight. Hmmm. We’ll see.

Cover art by Bree Archer. I love this cover. Its just perfect for the story and its heartwarming too.

Sales Links

Book Details

ebook, 290 pages
Expected publication: August 15th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634773748 (ISBN13: 9781634773744)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series: Love is Blind

Ever the Same
Real World

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Hell on Wheels by ZA Maxfield and Narrated by Nick J. Russo

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

HellOnWheels_Audiobook (1) Nash is the reliable one in the Holly family, the guy everyone counts on to keep things going. His genius twin brother is off at university, so Nash runs the family’s auto repair business and cares for his partially-paralyzed little sister while his crackpot father invents. His life seems mapped out for the foreseeable future, however much that might chafe.

So when Wolf’s Landing actor Spencer Kepler-Constantine lands in his life, Nash is ready for a diversion. Spencer is in the middle of a very painful, very public divorce and isn’t ready for a relationship—not that Nash wants one. But they both need a friend, especially one with benefits.

As they grow closer, Nash starts to see his family in a whole new light. Do they really need him so badly? Or does he simply need to be needed? Then Spencer’s ex reappears with a grand romantic gesture, and Nash has to figure out what he wants—and how to get it—before Spencer’s gone for good.

Nash is content if not happy with his life; he spends his days working on cars and helps his father raise his sister. He has resigned himself to his reality and doesn’t look for anymore than what he has. When he meets Spencer he doesn’t know who he is at first, but is instantly attracted to the man.

This story was told from both characters’ points of view, which made understanding their thoughts a bit easier. Nash needs to be needed and when he finds that he really isn’t everything is thrown out of whack, but he learns there are different ways to be needed. While Spencer has to get over his relationship with his ex before he can really have one with Nash.

Nick Russo once again did a wonderful job narrating this story. I could connect with the characters through the voices and emotions he portrayed.

Cover art by LC Chase is nice and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Riptide | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 6 hrs 56 min
Published: July 20, 2016 (ebook first published December 1, 2014)
Edition Language: English

Series: A Bluewater Bay Story

Things Are Heating Up All Around Us and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Things Are Heating Up All Around Us

August Heat is the name of a short story by W. F. Harvey, penned in 1910. It tells the tale of two men, previously unknown to each other who find out through slim connections that one will be murdered by the other. It ends with the character Withencroft writing the day’s events as Atkinson sharpens some tools: “It is after eleven now. I shall be gone in less than an hour. But the heat is stifling. It is enough to send a man mad.”

Ah, yes, the wonderful August heat! Whether you are the characters of Harvey’s August Heat, or August Heat (Commissario Montalbano #10) by Andrea Camilleri, Stephen Sartarelli (Translator) or the families, cowboys and ex soldiers in BA Tortuga’s story, Real World, where the Texas heat is as real as the men and situations she writes about in her Love is Blind series, the searing heat of the summer acts like a main character of its own in novels and real life all over the world. This series is rapidly becoming a favorite series of mine. But that no surprise as I include that author as a favorite writer to rec as well.

We have a number of release day reviews this week, as well as audiobook reviews and regular reviews too. If you love fantasy, be sure to check out Blaine D. Arden’s Forester Trilogy which is ending with Full Circle: Forester Triad Act Three (Tales of the Forest, #3) and can be found complete in A Triad in Three Acts which will also be reviewed this week. Plus you won’t want to miss its stunning covers. Ali is reviewing a book that she thinks will be in her top 10, will it be in yours? Check it out. Plus I have Christian Baines back with his long awaited sequel to The Beast Without, The Orchard of Flesh (Arcadia Trust #2) by Christian Baines. I have a author interview and giveaway. Don’t miss that either. What a week we have in store.

Plus this will be our last week for our old look. Next week, a new look, a contest to welcome in something entirely different. Stay inside, away from the heat, unless you’re in the Southern Hemisphere where its winter and cold. Grab up some books to read either way. Be here with us all week! Leave your comments, we love hearing from you. Now for this week’s schedule.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, August 14:

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Things Are Heating Up All Around Us

Monday, August 15:

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Marriage of Inconvenience by MJ O’Shea
A VVivacious Release Day Review: Coin of the Realm by Michael Murphy
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Real World by BA Tortuga
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Hell on Wheels by ZA Maxfield

Tuesday, August 16:

In the Spotlight: Adulting 101 by Lisa Henry (Riptide Tour and Giveaway)
Blog Tour, Giveaway and Author Interview – Priest and Pariahs by Mann Ramblings
Dreamspinner Author Guest Post and Book Tour: B.A. Tortuga and the Real World
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Flying Fish by Sedonia Guillone

Wednesday, August 17:

Series Recap Tour – Blood Moon Alliance by SA Welsh
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Relative Best by Pat Henshaw
A Paul B Review: Psychic Says by JJ Black
An Alisa Review: Softpaw by Osiris Brackhaus

Thursday, August 18:

New cover reveal: Jamie Deacon ‘Caught Inside’ (cover reveal and giveaway)
In Our Spotlight: Lilah Suzanne ‘Burning Tracks’ (excerpt and giveaway)
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Blaine D. Arden – Full Circle
A MelanieM Review: A Triad In Three Acts by Blaine D. Arden
A Free Dreamer Review: The Cop and the Drifter by Christiane France
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Moment of Truth by Karen Stivali

Friday, August 19:

In the Spotlight: The Orchard of Flesh (Arcadia Trust #2) by Christian Baines(author interview/giveaway)
In the Review Spotlight: Sarah Madison’s Fool’s Gold
A MelanieM Review: Fool’s Gold by Sarah Madison
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Turning the Page by Andrew Grey
A MelanieM Review: The Orchard of Flesh (Arcadia Trust #2) by Christian Baines

Saturday, August 20:

An Alisa Review:Behind the Uniform Anthology
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Hexbreaker by Jordan L. Hawk

An Ali Release Day Review: Spindrift by Amy Rae Durreson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Spindrift When lonely artist Siôn Ruston retreats to the seaside village of Rosewick Bay, Yorkshire, to recover from a suicide attempt, he doesn’t expect to encounter any ghosts, let alone the one who appears in his bedroom every morning at dawn. He also doesn’t expect to meet his ghost’s gorgeous, flirty descendant working at the local museum… and the village pub, and as a lifeboat volunteer. But Mattie’s great-great-grandfather isn’t the only specter in Rosewick Bay, and as Siôn and Mattie investigate an ill-fated love affair from a bygone era, they begin a romance of their own, one that will hopefully escape the tragedy Mattie’s ancestor suffered.

But the ghosts aren’t the only ones with secrets, and the things Siôn and Mattie are keeping from each other threaten to tear them apart. And all the while, the dead are biding their time, because the curse of Rosewick Bay has never been broken. If the ghosts are seen on the streets, local tradition foretells a man will drown before the summer’s end.

This author’s book A Frost of Cares is one of my top 5 books of this year so I was really excited to see that she was doing another romance/ghost story. I have to say this didn’t disappoint. There are two stories intertwined. There is the current love story of Sion and Mattie and there is the love story from the past. The story of Mattie’s great-great grandfather and a man named Joshua.

The writing was excellent and the imagery was so well done that I could picture myself there. The story was downright creepy at times and I was glad I wasn’t reading it late at night. Sion and Mattie were both well done characters and at first I thought they were too different for me to find a believable love story but I was wrong. Over the course of the story it becomes apparent that they are complimentary for each other. Their story is both love story and a story about forgiving yourself. I also enjoyed the story of the men from the past although it was a melancholy tale.

This was a unique and creative story that was really well done in all aspects. I highly recommend this.

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht: I like the cover. It didn’t really stand out to me but I thought it was nice.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published August 12th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634775244 (ISBN13: 9781634775243)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A VVivacious Review: Orientation by Rick R. Reed

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Robert and his lover Ethan have drifted apart to the point that they are mere strangers living together. As things between them worsen Robert wonders if he ever truly loved anyone other than his first lover Keith who died of AIDS.

Then on one particularly lonely night Robert comes across a suicidal girl, Jess but it appears that there is more going on between Jess and Robert than either can guess at first. But what exactly does this sense of familiarity and love translate to between a gay man and lesbian?

I really think this book is not aptly named, I mean I don’t think it ever deals with orientation, I mean the characters in this book are not conflicted about their orientation and neither are they troubled by it. While this book ends on a note that kind of stresses orientation, this book is truly just a story of love.

It is a very engaging story. I read this book at a stretch; I just couldn’t put it down. It is a short book but what I liked about it is that the story never becomes predictable. What kept me turning the pages one after the other was the fact that I had no idea where this story would take me or how it would end.

Our MCs are Robert and Jessica who are both in ways dealing with loss. They bond over this fact but what truly makes them want to be with the other is the fact that there is a deeper sense of familiarity and love that underlies there meetings. Since the moment they met Jessica has felt that she is meeting someone she already knows and loves. Complicating this fact is that even though they feel love towards the other their orientations are completely incompatible. This story also follows two other characters, Ethan, Robert’s boyfriend and his drug dealer, Tony.

This story really focuses on its characters, you can sympathize with Robert’s desire to be blind to the obvious, to not have to face his boyfriend’s infidelities as well as his potentially lethal lifestyle and bury that under the joy of having someone else who understands his love for Keith. While Ethan’s struggle with his addiction is painful, he is wasting away and try as he might to climb out of the abyss he is in, he only ever manages to dig himself deeper. Tony’s guilt over being the reason many people have lost touch with themselves and his shame over not being able to give up the opportunity to make just a little more money is honest. And then there is Jess who is reeling form loss, is burdened by her lack of finances and struggling to understand these new feelings that have awakened in her… for a man…

This story really ties together the lives of these four characters and makes for a compelling read. This book is firstly about love and secondly about the human condition. It is an amazing read.

Cover Art by Wilde City Press. I liked the cover but I’m unsure as to how it relates to the story.

Sales Links

Wilde City Press

Books Details:

Wilde City Press

Kindle Edition, 2 edition, 192 pages

Published July 25th 2016 (first published May 7th 2008)

Original Title Orientation

ASIN B01J4KIP94

A Paul B Review: Ashley (Demon Elite 5) by April Kelley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Ashley Ashley Wilkins is an asshole and he knows it. He is the Demon Elite’s interrogator and he’s damn good at his job. However, Ash has used methods in the past which would not pass muster with the Geneva Convention. And Ash feels guilty about this. When a video of teammate Raven’s kidnapped brother Iain shows up, Ash cannot help but feel for the young man being tortured by the underlings of Victoria Mize. The fact that Iain is cute as hell makes him want to take action. While viewing the video, Ash finds a key clue as to the location where Iain is being held. Justin assigns his interrogator to go out in the field and help with the rescue effort.

Iain Liron knows his brother has worked for a government agency. Having just come out of rehab, Iain loves his job at a local coffee shop. One day, his brother’s boss kidnaps him to use as leverage against his brother to make him do her dirty work. He is hanging around in the literal sense with his arms tied above him hooked on a meat rack. The beating he received is meant to serve as a message to the Demon Elite squad but Iain is not sure if his brother’s team will be able to rescue him in time to save his life. When help does arrive, his rescuer is the most gorgeous man he has seen.

While clearly attracted to Iain, Ash believes that he is not good enough for him. His life as an interrogator means he has done thing as bad as or worse than what was done to Iain while he was being held. He feels that Iain could not possibly feel anything but contempt once he knows the full extent of what he has done. Iain meanwhile tells Ash that everybody has something in their past. Iain is a recovering addict and has learned to take things one day at a time. Throw in Iain’s overly protective brother Raven and this relationship definitely has its problems at the beginning. When the threat to the Demon Elite’s partners comes to their lakeside safe house, the men must mobilize to neutralize the situation before one of their loves pays the price.

This fifth book in the Demon Elite series once again goes to the theme of redemption for both the team member and the rescued love. Both men know they are imperfect men and each tries to cope with it in their own ways. Ash will do some sort of good deed without his team’s knowledge. Iain just wants to get his life back on track after getting involved with drugs. By the end of the book, Ash realizes that Iain means that he does not care what he does for a living and begin to move forward with their relationship. I cannot wait for the next book.

The cover art by Latrisha Waters follows the pattern of the series. Ashley is on the cover, shirtless, with the Demon Elite crest in the corner. The model looks like what I would think Ashely the “farm boy” would look like.

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Book Details

EBook, 111 pages
Edition Language: English
Published: August 12, 2016 by eXtasy Books
ISBN: 978-1-4874-0844-2

Series: Demon Elite:

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Blood Moon Pack Alliance by S A Welsh

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Real World (Love is Blind #2) by B.A. Tortuga Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Release Date August 15, 2016

Blurb

Excerpt from Real World

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About BA Tortuga

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Things Are Heating Up All Around Us

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, August 14:

Monday, August 15:

Tuesday, August 16:

Wednesday, August 17:

Thursday, August 18:

Friday, August 19:

Saturday, August 20:

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Real World (Love is Blind #2) by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer