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A MelanieM Review: Bayou des Enfants (Rougaroux Social Club #4) by Lynn Lorenz

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Bayou Enfants coverA year has passed since Scott Dupree took Ted Canedo as his mate and assumed leadership of the St. Jerome pack.  They’ve moved in together into Scott’s house near the bayou, Ted’s private detective business is slowly getting off the ground as is Ted’s career as an artist.  Scott’s police department is solidly behind Scott so what could go wrong?

That would be Scott’s mother, Darlene Dupree. She’s not happy because she wants grandkids and she wants them now.  As she usually does, Maman, (as Scott and Ted call her) takes matters into her own hands.  A little spell or two in the middle of the night next to the bayou and Maman’s magic sets events in motion that has profound ramifications for all in the bayou.

What happens when two boys are suddenly in need of a home and parents?  Especially when Ted isn’t even sure kids are something he wants?  It’s chaos when change is forced upon everyone with just one accident.  Ted and Scott have a chance to become not just partners but parents and a family, if only they and everyone else can agree!

I have loved this series from Lynn Lorenz from the first story, Bayou Dreams (Rougaroux Social Club, #1).  It was a clever tweak by Lorenz that had Scott’s wolf being attracted to Ted before Scott was.  And throughout the story we watched as Ted tried to overcome his fear of involvement with a man who had been “straight” as well as Scott trying to adjust his ideas of sexuality to the needs of his wolf which soon becomes the needs of the man.  Plus there was the whole “and I’m a werewolf” thing to adjust to as well as a magical spell throwing Mama to contend with.  I fell in love with every bit of characterization and plot that Lorenz threw at me and then some.  And I have followed the series gleefully ever since, through three stories to arrive here at what is possibly the last story in the series, Bayou des Enfants.

Maman has been a strong character in every story and usually the impetus for events and relationship explosions that happen along the way.  See, Maman wants what she wants and uses magic to do it but her spells never go as planned, veering off onto another unexpected wild path to the end she wants and asked for.  I adore Maman and her raggedly black cat, she is straight out of the bayou, with a complicated religious outlook and dialog that rises right out of the swampy waters near her home.  One thing Maman has always wanted was first for Scott to get married (check, although not the way she planned) and now she wants grandchildren.  And yes, that doesn’t occur the way she wants either.  It never does.

The children that arrive at Scott and Ted’s home feel so real.  They are hurt, grieving, and troubled, well, at least one is troubled and more than a “handful” as they say.  Lorenz makes these children so believable and vulnerable that the reader becomes invested in their safety and future almost immediately.  Also just as authentic is the community’s reactions to a gay couple wanting children and the CPS involvement in everything that occurs.  While there was not be as much action as in the past stories here, the emotional adjustments that have to go on and the shifting of attitudes that must take place come so cautiously and slow that the suspense is enough to pull us in and keep our attention firmly focused on the people and events happening.

Did I love the ending? Absolutely.  I have been meaning to ask Lynn Lorenz if this is it for St. Jerome, Ted, Scott, Maman and all the rest.  I hope not.  I want many more tales to come just as surely Maman has more spells to cast to shake up any community.  Here’s hoping for more Rougaroux Bayou stories in the future.

If you are new to this series,  they really should be read in the order they were written.  Otherwise some of the people, events and relationship developments must not make sense.  I highly recommend this series to all lovers of romance, wolf shifters, and the bayou setting of Louisiana!

 

Cover Artist April Martinez has done a good job in branding the series with her covers, they belong together as a group.  I just wished the setting had a little larger place somewhere in the design.  It just doesn’t convey much about the story inside.

Sales Links:   Loose id LLC       All Romance (ARe)     Amazon    Buy it here

Book Details:

ebook
Published November 25th 2014 by Loose Id (first published November 24th 2014)
original titleBayou des Enfants
edition languageEnglish
seriesRougaroux Social Club #4

Rougaroux Social Club Series in the order they were written and should be read:

 

A Mika Review: The Harvest: Taken (The Harvest #1) by M.A. Church

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The Harvest Taken coverWe are not alone. In the year 2050 mankind’s never-ending quest for proof life exists in the universe is answered—in the form of massive space ships that appear without warning above the capitals of all major nations. The name of their planet is Tah’Nar—and is dying. The United States sets up a lottery system, and each young man between the ages of twenty-three and twenty-eight is assigned a number. Once a year, for the next five years, numbers will be drawn and a new set of one thousand males will be collected. The media coined the expression ‘The Harvest’ for when the Tah’Narian’s collect these young men.

 Captain Keyno Landium Shou is a Tah’Narian starship captain who has been granted the right to take a mate, any mate, he wants during the last harvest on Earth. Dale was seventeen when the aliens first appeared. His parents assumed he’d be safe since the final collection would be done before he turned twenty-three. He didn’t fall within the guidelines established, so they took for granted he had nothing to fear.
 They were wrong.

This book had ridiculousness all over it, and I loved every second of it. C’mon,  it had me at mpreg.  Something I’ve been enjoying more and more. M.A. Church is a new author to me, and while I constantly rolled my eyes at the silly notions to things that happened in the book I really enjoyed it. Honestly, I felt like this was a mf book the entire time. It was silly, but I liked it for a first time mpreg story. Dale wasn’t supposed to be in the lottery for Humans take for The Harvest. He basically was kidnapped illegally. He went from being pissed off to protective in 96 hours to Keyno the alien that had him Taken.

It was a big production between these two, but again I love it. I loved it for it’s sugary sweetness that was in the book. Dale didn’t have to wait long for some since of familiarity, on the ship was his best friend Chad that got Harvested the previous year, you would think Dale would have been happy but of course he thought Chad was crazy for thinking Space was his home. Well after their “talk” about what was expected Dale had a change of heart. From here on out it was sugary sweetness. Keyno was a sweetheart who has wanted Dale since meeting Chad last year. I actually liked the aliens here.

Of course Dale wouldn’t be Dale without the problems he presented in the beginning, because of his health he had to be Double Dosed so his body could adhere to the changes of the pregnancy. I found myself laughing and smiling throughout the book. I definitely read it because of the smut, and sugary sweetness involved in the story. Also the King’s Husband pulled at my heart strings. What do you know Dale made quite the impression on these aliens. I would recommend to lovers of fantasy, mpreg, sugary sweet smut readers.

Cover Artist Lou Harper had a perfect picture of Dale after his slight alteration. I liked it, he even got use to it. It was fitting for the story.

 

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe)             Amazon             buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, Smashwords, 195 pages
Published October 1st 2014 by M.A. Church (first published October 30th 2013)
ISBN139781626330252
edition languageEnglish
url
seriesThe Harvest #1

Down Under Author of the Day: Toni Griffin

DownUnder_January Is Banner

Down Under Author of the Day

Profile Pic - Toni Griffin

Meet Toni Griffin!

Tony Griffin is the author of The Holland Brothers series, The Atherton Pack series, and many others listed below..

To get to know Australian author Toni Griffin a little better, she agreed to an interview. Look for the interview below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word found somewhere within.

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Author Bio 1

Toni Griffin lives in Darwin, the smallest of Australia’s capital cities. Born and raised in the state she’s a Territorian through and through. Growing up Toni hated english with a passion (as her editors can probably attest to) and found her strength lies with numbers. 

Now, though, she loves escaping to the worlds she creates and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come. She’s a single mother of one and works full time. When she’s not writing you can just about guarantee that she will be reading one of the many MM authors she loves.

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Author Contacts

Contacts/Follow at :

Website : http://www.tonigriffin.net
Blog http://www.tonigriffin.net/blog
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/toni.griffin.author
Goodreads Author Page

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Author Books Stories Down Under1 copy

A Very Holland Christmas coverBen atherton pack coverDealing with the Dead coverDetermined Mate cover

 

 

 

 

All Published and available at Mischief Corner Books, eXtasy Press:

The Holland Brothers (available at MCB):

  • Unexpected Mate
    Determined Mate
    Protective Mate
    Forbidden Mate
    A Very Holland Christmas

The Atherton Pack (available at MCB):

  • Liam
    Ben
    Corey (Coming Soon)

Thompson Agency:

  • Dealing with the Dead
    Dealing with the Past

Tassie Wolves:

  • Hidden Wolf

Hot Encounters:
Frankie’s Vamp
Bryce’s Cop (Coming Soon)

MCB (Mischief Corner Books) Anthologies:
A Bear in the Woods – A Cabin for Two Anthology
Once A Cowboy – Hot Off the Range Anthology
Archie’s Accidental Kidnapping – Horns and Halos Collection
Finding Connor – Not in the Stars Anthology
Wreath of Fire – Chestnuts Roasting Anthology

Single Titles:
My Christmas Present

Genre(s): Supernatural Romance, humour, LGBTQ fiction, M/M Romance, gay shifters, werewolves

ChestnutsRoasting10x15Cabin for Two Anthology coverhot off the range anthologyCabin for Two Anthology cover

 

 

 

 

 

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you, Toni Griffin) is an eBook copy of any of Toni Griffin’s books, including recent releases. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find the Hunt “Word” in bold green. Collect all the words from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

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Author Qand A

When did you start writing?

I believe it was 2010.

Were you a reader as a child?

I hated reading as a kid. I did everything possible to get out of having to read books in school, even if they were listed as required reading for the class.

What books as a child has the most impact on you?

Did that impression carry over into adulthood when you started writing? I started reading probably 10 years ago. I know it’s probably silly but Harry Potter started my Love of reading, barely a day has gone by since I picked up the first book that I haven’t read something.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Any number of things. It could be a photo, something someone said to me, even an even that I witnessed can start the plot bunnies hopping.

Favorite genres to write in and why?

Would have to be MM paranormal, because I love making up my own rules to a universe. I like playing god. LOL

Title or characters or plot? Which comes first?

It’s not usually the title. LOL. That usually happens about half way through, if not after I’ve finished writing and I bed friends for help. It’s usually Characters or plot. Unexpected Mate, my first ever book was Characters.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written?

I have so many of them. I love Jake Richmond from Forbidden Mate, even though I wanted to strangle him at times. I also love Lucas Ford from Bryce’s Cop, although I wanted to strangle him at times as well… Hmmm… I’m sensing a pattern here.

Favorite book/story you have read as an adult:

In the MM Genre would have to be the A Matter of Time series by Mary Calmes. I just adore Sam and Jory.
Otherwise Kylie Chan, an Aussie Author has 8 books in a 9 book series out so far, starting with the Dark Heavens trilogy. These books are awesome and delve into Chinese culture and mythology.

Do you have a certain regimen that you follow as a writer?

What inspired you to write your first book? I was leaving work one day, in the car and on the way to pick up my daughter from afterschool care when Brian Townsend and Marcus Holland started yammering away in my head. I went home that night, picked up my laptop and started writing their story.

Do you have a specific writing style?

What’s the hardest part of writing your books?

Definitely the synopsis and blurbs. LOL Hate those damn things.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your first book?

I did do it all over again and changed heaps. LOL. After my publisher went under and I received the rights back to all my stories I went back to my first series, The Holland Brothers and decided I wanted to expand on the books. Unexpected mate had 17k added to it. Determined Mate, 19k, Protective Mate 25k and Forbidden Mate roughly 50k.

What book are you reading now?

Fire & Water by Andrew Grey

What are your current projects?

I’m currently working on edits for Corey, book 3 in my Atherton Pack series. I am also working on Steps to You. A contemporary about facing your fears. The MC meet while climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

What’s next up for you?

I have Frankie’s Vamp Releasing January 4th and Bryce’s Cop re releasing on February 8th

Down Under Day 19: Author Tony Griffin, AUS/NZ Facts of the Day!

DownUnder_badge

Welcome, Toni Griffin!

It’s Day 19 of our Down Under Author Showcase and our featured writer today is Toni Griffin!  Toni lives in Darwin and write a number of supernatural romance series, including shifters!  Toni is also involved in a new publishing company along with Angel Martinez, Freddie McKay and Silvia Violet in Mischief Corner Books which put out one of my favorite holiday anthologies in 2014, Chestnuts Roasting, including a story from Toni Griffin!

Visit Toni Griffin’s page which  follows shortly, learn about Toni, her books and writing and don’t forget to enter her giveaway contest and find the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word of the Day.

Australia Fact of the Day!

Today’s Down Under Australia  fact will be about Darwin, Toni’s home town!Darwin map

Darwin is the capital of Northern Territory is a multicultural city famous for its huge thunderstorms, beautiful sunsets,mindell beach marketsDarwin_2324 colourful Mindil Beach Markets and excellent barramundi fishing. Places to see include the Northern Territory Parliament House, Fannie Bay Gaol Museum, Darwin Entertainment Centre and Botanic Gardens. Outside are Charles Darwin National Park, Crocodylus Park, Territory Wildlife Park and Berry Springs Nature Park.

Who was Darwin named after?  Charles Darwin, the man came up with the concept of natural selection and evolution.  darwin

Find out more about Darwin here!

 

 

 

New Zealand Fact of the Day!

Since I chose a city for Australia, let’s take a closer look at New Zealand’s Christchurch.

Christchurch is New Zealand‘s second-largest city (question: can you name the first?) and the gateway to the South Island. christchurch cathedral new-zealand_zpse7b0c64dSumner Bay, Christchurch NZBordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean, it is situated on the edge of the Canterbury Plains that stretch to the Southern Alps. Christchurch, New Zealand is interwoven by two rivers linking parks, gardens and avenues. Bordered by the Port Hills and the Pacific Ocean, it is situated on the Canterbury Plains with the Southern Alps as a majestic backdrop. The award-winning Christchurch Botanic Gardens feature one of the finest collections of exotic and native plants found in New Zealand,

In February 2011, Christchurch was hit by a huge earthquake. Much of the central city with its classic neo-gothic architecture was destroyed.  This event was a major element in a book from one of our Down Under Authors.  Do you know which one? It’s still in the process of rebuilding, but the heart and soul of New Zealand remains the great people who live there. tram1

A MelanieM Review: Angel in a Book Shop by R.J. Scott

Rating: 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 stars out of 5

 What happens when a broken man has to trust in the impossible?

Angel in a Book ShopeJoshua Blakeman is a lost and broken man.  It’s been one year since his father died and now Joshua stands in his father’s beloved book store, trying to decide what course to take.  Chapter One is an antique book shop nestled in a quiet square a few steps from London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, it is boarded up with whitewashed windows and no new stock.  Standing alone amongst the stacked books and loaded shelves, Joshua is lost in his memories of his father and the past.  Chapter One is the last tangible thing Joshua Blakeman and his mom have left of his father and his uncle is trying hard to get Joshua to sell the business, especially the building.

Then Michael appears with a welcome cup of coffee and an offer of friendship and suddenly the future appears brighter and Joshua’s choices wider.  Michael is the owner of Arts Desire, the shop next door. With his rainbow pride mugs and his sunny outlook, he is the complete opposite of what Joshua thinks he deserves.  However, Michael’s constant  and supportive presence starts to heal some of the pain that Joshua has carried inside and soon Joshua sees that Chapter One and Michael might very well be his future.

But his uncle is pressing Joshua to sell, and other mysterious things are happening around the bookshop.  As the pressures mount, Josh learns that finding true love starts with making big decisions—and that everyone deserves their own Christmas miracle sometimes.  Even Joshua and a mystery named Michael.

Released around the holidays, RJ Scott’s Angel in a Book Shop is a delightful, hopeful story for all seasons.  It all starts with Joshua Blakeman, one of RJ Scott’s more poignant characters.  Our first introduction to Josh shows us a young man wearing his frailties and grief like a winter coat.  His thoughts are filled of his father, his love of books and Josh’s own recent breakdown.  Between Scott’s vivid descriptions of Joshua and those of the closed up bookstore you can almost smell the mustiness, dust, and the air of abandonment that hovers over them both.  The further we get into the story, the more we learn about Joshua’s history and background.  He is vulnerable, and very easy for the reader to fall in love with.

For most of the novel, Joshua is our narrator, the story told from his point of view.  But Josh is not the only voice heard from.  From the beginning there is a mysterious man commenting on the events and Joshua himself.  His thoughts and yearnings are dispersed among the chapters and scenes told from Joshua’s perspective. At first who is speaking is unclear, then the identity is revealed.  How you feel about this element will pretty much predict how much you will enjoy this story.

The character of Michael, the artist next door, feels less substantial than Joshua.  Joshua is such a strong character that it would take an equally impressive persona to offset him and I’m not quite sure that Michael ever got there for me.  Perhaps that was intentional.  There is so many elements here that require a certain amount of faith and suspension of belief.  I needed Michael to have more presence, more force, considering the story and events that take place.  But even while I felt that Michael was less than I had hoped, the plot and Joshua were so moving and sweet that I took both Joshua and his story into my heart.

I love RJ Scott and recommend Angel in a Book Shop to all lovers of holiday romance or those who believe in the miracle of love.

Cover Artist Meredith Russell.  Sweet cover, perfect for the story.

Sales Links:  Love Lane Books   All Romance (ARe)   Amazon   Buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 108 pages
Published December 12th 2014 by Love Lane Books Limited
(first published December 10th 2014)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/ang

Down Under Showcase Author of the Day: Pelaam

STRW down Under Banner sm Hearts

Meet Pelaam!

ondragonswings1mBreathoftheFeatheredSerpent-453x680FamiliarorNot_200dragonslair_exlarge

Pelaam is a prolific author with over 30 titles, including a new holiday release from MLR Press “The Magic of Christmas.”

To get to know New Zealand author Pelaam a little better, she agreed to an interview. Look for the interview below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word found somewhere within.

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍Author Bio 1

Living in clean, green New Zealand, Pelaam is a best-selling, multi-published author of gay romance and erotic books. When not busy writing she can be found indulging in her other passions of cookery and wine appreciation.

Pelaam’s book “Breath of the Feathered Serpent” is a finalist for the 2014 Rainbow Awards in Gay futuristic/sci-fi and has been given an Honourable Mention. “Bedazzled” and “Firebird” were a combined finalist for the Rainbow Awards in Gay futuristic/sci-fi 2013.

 

 

Author Contacts

Author Books Stories Down Under1 copy

Among Pelaam’s many stories and titles are the following:

Breath of the Feathered Serpent
Haunted by the Past
Captive
On Dragon’s Wings
Addiction (Dark Hollows Press)
Familiar or Not  (MLR)
The Magic of Christmas (MLR)
Horse of Bells
Dragon’s Lair

HauntedbythePast_267x400HorseOfBells-267x400TheMagicofChristmas_WD (1)wraith addiction
Genre(s):

Sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you, Pelaam) is an eBook copy of “The Magic of Christmas”. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

The Magic of Christmas: Blurb:TheMagicofChristmas_WD (1)

On a friends’ getaway in a winter wonderland, Jared and Casey discover real Christmas magic.

Jared joins his four best friends on an early Christmas holiday in a beautiful winter wonderland. He’s been in love with the talented and extroverted Casey for years, but lacked the courage to say anything.

Casey loves Jared, but despite his gregarious exterior, inside lurks someone shy and insecure and so he’s never spoken up.

Both men are about to experience real Christmas magic.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find the Hunt word/phrase highlighted in green. Collect all the words/phrases from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

******************************************Author Qand A

Q Where do you draw inspiration from?

I can get inspired from a single image, a word or phrase, or a scenario. I like fantasy, myth, and legend and draw a lot of inspiration from there when searching for something to stimulate my Muse.

Q. Favorite genres to write in and why?

Sci-fi/paranormal/fantasy. These have always been my greatest loves. They give my imagination the greatest level of freedom when writing.

Q. Title or characters or plot? Which comes first?

I generally have an idea for a plot, then come the characters, and usually the title is last of all. However, there is one where the title came as part of the plot. That’s “Breath of the Feathered Serpent.”

Q. Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m very much a “pantser”. I can’t write starting at the beginning and working my way through to the end and I don’t storyboard. I write the scenes as they come into my mind. That sometimes means I have the end written before the beginning, and subplots can be completed before I have the main plot worked out. But it works for me and I go with the flow.

Q How do you think books written from authors in Australia or New Zealand differ in style, language, and culture?

We have our own way of looking at things, and our own way of saying things. I quite often find I have to rewrite something I know would be understood by a New Zealand or Australian reader, but I’m told wouldn’t be understood by an American reader.

Q. If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?

I’d like them to see the magnificent scenery, some of the beautiful beaches, and the vibrant cities. I’d like them to leave with the knowledge that there’s something for everyone when they visit New Zealand.
Q What are your current projects?

I worked my way through NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) again this year and reached my 50k target. Now I need to fill in some of the scenes and polish the draft before seeing if “Furture Imperfect” will also be published. My last NaNo effort was “Breath of the Feathered Serpent” which not only got published, but was a finalist in the 2014 Rainbow Awards for sci-fi/futuristic.
Q. Favorite quote (doesn’t matter the source)?

“We have a responsibility to stand watch over one another, we are watchers, all of us, watchers, guarding against the darkness. You’ve taught me that we’re all needed, even those who sometimes think we’re worthless, plain, and dull.”

(Dean Koontz, “Watchers”)

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Down Under Day 17: Featured Author Pelaam, AUS/NZ Facts of the Day and Contest Info

DownUnder_badge

Welcome, Pelaam!

It’s Day 17 of our Down Under Author Showcase, and our featured writer today is Pelaam.  Pelaam is an author of paranormal, magical and supernatural tales of love and romance.  Check out all their stories, books and bio on Pelaam’s Down Under Author page that follows shortly.

Pelaam marks the midway point in our Down Under Author Showcase.  Have you missed a day?  Go back and double check that you have made the acquaintance of each and every one of these marvelous authors!  And don’t forget to enter Bottom Drawer Publications contest on our Down Under Author Showcase page on the menu!

 

Now onto our Down Under Facts of the Day!  As our author is from New Zealand, that country goes first today!

New Zealand Facts of the Day:

1. The longest place name in the world is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu, a hill in Hawkes Bay,  New Zealand.   That’s Cape Kidnappers to the right in Hawkes Bay.Cape_KidnappersHeaderImage130115

and

2.  New Zealand has more Scottish pipe bands per capita than any other country in the world.

Australia Fact of the Day!

1. The first photos from the 1969 moon landing were beamed to the rest of the world from Honeysuckle Tracking Station, near Canberra.   This story was told in the wonderful Australian movie, The Dish. The Dish movie poster  Catch it on demand or DVD.

2. There were over one million feral camels in outback Australia, until the government launched the $19m Feral Camel Management Program, which aims to keep the pest problem under control.
Saudi Arabia imports camels from Australia.

Australian feral camels, are feral populations of two species of camel; *Guess what day it is…it’s Hump Day”) mostly dromedaries(Camelus dromedarius) but also some bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus). Imported into Australia from Arabia, India and Afghanistan[1] during the 19th century for transport and construction during the colonisation of the central and western parts of Australia, many were released into the wild after motorised transport replaced the camels’ role in the early 20th, forming a fast-growing feral population.

Australian Feral camel

 

 

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: The Burnt Toast B & B by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

Rating: 5 stars out of 5:BWBlogo_Web

The Burnt Toast B & B coverI know I keep saying this but it bears repeating—I LOVE this series! This story, in which injured stuntman Ginsburg Sloan seeks shelter at the B&B run by Derrick Richards, a laid-off logger who is trying to make a go of the business he inherited from his parents, is right at the top of the list of outstanding books in this series.

Ginsberg is temporarily out of work after he broke his arm on the set of Wolf’s Landing, the TV show being shot in Bluewater Bay, Washington. In an effort to save money, he heads for the B&B with the worst reputation and therefore cheapest rates, and there he encounters not only Derrick but a smoke-filled kitchen with a fire blazing both in the oven and on the stovetop. Thankfully, Ginsberg knows his way around a fire extinguisher, even with one arm, and after putting out the fire, he takes the time to assess his soon-to-be landlord.

Derrick has been out of work as a logger and was trying his hand at running the B&B he inherited when his parents were killed in an accident several years ago. He’s come to the conclusion that his clumsy efforts in the kitchen, his inability to do the necessary home repairs, and his lack of funds to do anything else equals “get out of business”. But before he can do that, he’s now going to have to find a way to get this guy to vacate the premises. So Derrick sets out to make him leave but it backfires when Ginsberg jumps in to help out. He manages to help so much that Derrick finds himself getting back into the business and enjoying it, despite his inherent objections to doing feminine work such as cooking and cleaning.

As they work together, both he and Ginsberg find themselves attracted to one another. But Ginsberg is feisty and opposed to any outdated notions Derrick expresses about roles for women and men and he won’t tolerate Derrick’s comments on what makes a man masculine. Ginsberg is transgender but, as he explains to Derrick, that has no impact on his opposition to Derrick’s comments and actions. Derrick’s ideas are just plain stupid and outdated, and Ginsberg sets out to help Derrick leave the macho bull behind while making a go of the business. Derrick finds himself enjoying the work and spending all his free time fighting his desire for Ginsberg. He wants him desperately and starts to daydream about every facet of this man—his body, his personality, his kindness, his energy, and his courage. But at the same time, Derrick is still hiding behind his gruff persona and still negative about whether or not his business can succeed in the long run, and he’s firmly convinced that Ginsberg will be leaving by the time his cast comes off and he goes back to work.

He’s so convinced of this, in fact, that he torpedoes their relationship just as it’s starting. They’d spend an amazing night together after which Ginsberg had to get up and get out the door to work and while he was away, Derrick convinced himself that this just couldn’t last. So when Ginsberg came home and presented Derrick with a special gift, it backfired and Derrick blew up, shaming Ginsberg and forcing him away.

This is just a simplified explanation for a complex plot that has more facets than a brilliant-cut diamond. Secondary characters were outstanding, especially Derrick’s ex-boyfriend Jim, and the revisit with Carter and Levi was much appreciated. The way this story evolved, the growth and learning experiences for the MCs, the heartbreak and despair they suffered, and the maturity and change in Derrick’s outlook as the story evolved all combined to make this story amazing and memorable.

I highly recommend this series to all lovers of M/M romance. I am amazed that every author in the series, though very different, has brought us characters which make me smile and leave me with a warm and fuzzy place in my heart each and every time. Don’t hesitate to invest your time in this one.

Cover art by LC Chase depicts both the gorgeous Ginsberg, complete with the typical Hollywood sunglasses, and the rugged Derrick, arms crossed in one of his perpetual scowls, standing in front of the B&B.

Sales Links:   Riptide Publishing     All Romance (ARe)     Amazon          Buy it here

Book Details:

book, 225 pages
Expected publication: January 12th 2015 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN139781626492165
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/burnt-toast-bb
seriesBluewater Bay #5

Bluewater Bay Series by book and author:WolfsLanding_transparent