Release Blitz and Giveaway for Bitter Heat (Heat of Love #3) by Leta Blake

 

 
Length: 110,000 words approx.



Cover Design: Dar Albert @ Wicked Strange Designs

Heat Of Love Series
 

Book #1 – Slow Heat – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link

Book #2 – Alpha Heat – Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link
 
Blurb
 

A pregnant omega trapped in a desperate situation, an unattached alpha with a lot to prove, and an unexpected fall into love that could save them both.


Kerry Monkburn is contracted to a violent alpha in prison for brutal crimes. Now pregnant with the alpha’s child, he lives high in the mountains, far above the city that once lured him in with promises of a better life. Enduring bitterness and fear, Kerry flirts with putting an end to his life of darkness, but fate intervenes.


Janus Heelies has made mistakes in the past. In an effort to redeem himself, integrity has become the watchword for his future. Training as a nurse under the only doctor willing to take him on, Janus is resolute in his intentions: he will live cleanly in the mountains and avoid all inappropriate affairs. But he doesn’t anticipate the pull that Kerry exercises on his heart and mind.


As the question of Kerry’s future health and safety comes to an explosive head, only the intervention of fate will see these desperate men through to a happy ending.


This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the third in the Heat of Love universe which began with Slow Heat. It’s 111,000 words, with a strong happy ending and a critically-acclaimed, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, mpreg, heat, and knotting. Content warning for a violent and oppressive society regarding reproductive rights.

Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

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A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Hearts Under Fire (New Amsterdam #1) by Kelly Wyre

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

When two Doms meet in a bar and are enamored with each other…someone has to submit or they need a third. There are plenty of books like either of those scenarios, but this is something more nuanced. Clark owns a Bar named Glow, but is also part owner of a BDSM club and has a nebulous side job working for Lucien that isn’t entirely explained. Daniel is a college professor and professional Dom. The awkward dance really begins as Clark tracks Daniel down and invites him to visit the club for a possible job and membership. When the characters start acting differently than the way that had already been established, the care given as both characters unfold in really unexpected ways, just because of each other, was great to read. The key is that their reactions to each other are different than their reactions to others, so this goes serious very quickly.

With the way their first night happens, they actually have to talk about it–still no one uses the words switch or vers. Not everything has to be labeled or put in a box. The answer for me is…Clark will refer to Daniel as Sir occasionally in this book, but Daniel never calls Clark that, so that’s all I need to know. Arguably there is very little D/s at this point in their relationship, but there are power dynamics that are fluid. They tend to naturally flow in and out of fairly mild “scenes.” There are several explicit, beautifully written sex scenes, but a tad too many “Oh, God” and “Nnngh” moans. These guys are vocal and they do like to talk during sex. The hurt/comfort trope is maximized here in a way that doesn’t seem forced or exploitative. Be aware there are flashbacks from Clark’s time in the service. Daniel has had his own trauma and loss. The story does switch points of view between them, however I noticed that it’s usually in the vulnerable POV during sex, yet not during the sharing of trauma with each other. The times when Daniel lets himself be taken care of are some of my favorite parts–him trusting Clark and relinquishing control doesn’t change who he is. They hold a safe space for each other.

The book is broken into two parts. I felt like the romance was established enough in order for this next part to work. There is foreshadowing, but I was still shocked. It is one of my own worst nightmares, so it was very difficult to read. The reader will be in Daniel’s POV for a very traumatizing event. I appreciated the aftermath of the event being focused on, the other people affected by the violence, not just the relationship. I felt the action sequences were well done and believable. However, it’s also in the last quarter where it goes off the rails a bit for me. As Clark’s boss, friend, and one of the club’s co-owners, Lucian’s behavior towards Clark may make some sense, but it doesn’t make sense for Daniel, whom he had just met. It’s distracting because the reader knows Clark has known Lucian for years, but has not been shown that relationship for more than a few lines. I realize I might be in the minority about this, but with Daniel being a police insider and Clark heavily involved in elite politics…the privileged ending and special treatment was a bit off-putting to me instead of romantic. However, I think this book establishes a comfort level and trust for a real BDSM relationship to develop over time while they are an established couple in a way other books miss when they rush to play with equipment or just expect the sub to be vulnerable to a dom who has never reciprocated. This is a new to me author and I found this erotic romantic thriller to be more thought provoking than most in its genre.

The cover design was done by Natasha Snow. It’s a bit generic, but along with the title should let the reader know a bit of what to expect.

Sales Link:  Amazon

Book Details:

ebook
Published January 17th 2018 by Less Than Three Press (first published July 1st 2011)
ISBN139781684311729
Edition Language English
Series New Amsterdam #1

A Lila Review: Mystery of the Bones (Snow in Winter #4) by C.S. Poe

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

It’s been a full year since the mystery that brought antique shop owner and part-time amateur sleuth Sebastian Snow together with NYPD homicide detective Calvin Winter. Patience, sanity, and their very lives have been put to the test, but love has persevered. Although Sebastian is now New York City’s best-known busybody, he’s done solving crimes and wants nothing more than to plan a romantic budget wedding.Then Snow’s Antique Emporium receives a decapitated human head in the mail and the holidays are gory once again. Sebastian patently disregards the mystery of a lifetime because he is done with death and danger—but the killer escalates. Before Sebastian knows it, his closest friends and family are dragged into a series of horrific murders with antiquated clues hinting to the infamous Victorian American Bones Wars.

The clock is ticking to recover a long-lost artifact linked to paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope and to capture a murderer. But it’s not Sebastian who may become the next target—it’s Calvin.

The Mystery of the Bones is a good addition to the series but my least favorite. I’m wondering if it is due to the lack of Calvin. Yes, he’s an important part of the plot but Sebastian is the star. With the help of some interesting allies.

As before, we get to travel New York and see history through Sebastian’s eyes (pun intended). The amount of information he knows is pointless but relevant to the mystery. I would love to see Sebastian play Jeopardy.

There are more clues in this book than before and the relationship between them is a bit gruesome. A lot more bodies and parts. Still, the book is easy to follow.

The only thing I didn’t like is the way the resolution came out of left field. The clues dropped fast and it felt as if the author was withholding information from the reader. I wanted a little more breadcrumbs. Overall, a well-written story.

The cover by Reese Dante is simple but it has the main elements of the story. I love how we have seen Sebastian evolve with each cover.

Sale Links: DSPAmazon | Nook

Book Details:

ebook, 191 pages
Published: September 24, 2019, by DSP Publishing
ISBN: 9781641082075
Edition Language: English

Series: Snow & Winter
Book #1: The Mystery of Nevermore
Book #2: The Mystery of the Curiosities
Book #3: The Mystery of the Moving Image
Book #4: The Mystery of the Bones

Tara Lain on Five Fabulous Facts about Love You So Sweetly and her new release the Love You So Sweetly (Love You So Stories #4) by Tara Lain

Love You So Sweetly (Love You So Stories #4) by Tara Lain

Dreamspinner Press
Publication: September 13th 2019
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45891332-love-you-so-sweetly
Kindles: https://amzn.to/2HEwNHu

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-sweetly

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-sweetly-tara-lain/1131798101?ean=9781644055687

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-sweetly/id1463653860?mt=11&app=itunes

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tara_Lain_Love_You_So_Sweetly?id=s-CaDwAAQBAJ

Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-sweetly-by-tara-lain-10756-b

 

Five Fabulous Facts About LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY

Hi! I’m Tara Lain and today I’m here to introduce my new book, LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY. Here are five facts about the book 

  1. LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY is the fourth book in my Love You So Series, but these books are very lightly connected, making them stand-alone. The main character, Remy Merced, was a minor character in Love You So Madly, but you don’t have to have read that book to understand who Remy is from page one of this book. Feel free to read these stories in any order.
  2. If you’ve read any of my books, you know I love the “opposites attract” trope, but this book outdoes itself. This story is rich boy/poor boy, big city/small town, sophisticated west coast/rural southern, in the closet/out and proud. See, it’s got it all!
  3. I always love happy-ever-after stories and most of my books have HEA endings, but these stories are really, really happy. If you’re looking for angst, try elsewhere. LOL.
  4. While I’m usually associated with the west coast, most often Southern California and now southern Oregon, I was actually born in Georgia. I left when I was a baby, but I think somehow the humidity, live oaks and Spanish moss crept into my spirit. Every now and then, I revisit my roots as I do in LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY.
  5. In real life, I love Pilates. I’ve taken Pilates classes from many different teachers and own my own Reformer, but I’ve never included a Pilates scene in a book – until now. In LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY, some of my fave scenes are in the company gym, with special emphasis on a Pilates class my two heroes both attend.

And that’s it for now. I hope you love my opposites-attract lovers! Hugs.

About Love You So Sweetly

Reading his future in a glass of sweet tea.

The youngest son of one of America’s richest families, Remy Merced is so busy trying to save his family company from collapse, he’s never taken time to figure out if he’s gay, much less if he’s happy. Then his meddling mama hires him an assistant who’s everything Remy thinks he doesn’t want. Cute Harper Treadwell, from rural Arkansas, is a brilliant business prodigy… and openly gay. His wit and charm could confirm Remy’s suspicions about his own sexuality almost instantly—if they weren’t both already partnered.

When Remy’s girlfriend and Harper’s boyfriend get a little too friendly, Remy finds that the path to happiness requires a long drive in an old Prius, a growing appreciation for small towns, and a whole lot of sweet tea. But before they can forge a future—they have to let go of the past.

Excerpt LOVE YOU SO SWEETLY — Dasher

But he and Felicity hadn’t had sex in weeks. Shouldn’t he have a set of horns that would put Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer to shame? Hell, he was in his twenties. Even if he was sleepwalking, shouldn’t he be ready to stick his cock in anything female that passed within five feet of him? Wasn’t that the way most guys felt? Shit, these questions haunted the back of his brain all the time while the front worried about the business. And it wasn’t like he didn’t know why it worried him.

He sipped coffee and glanced at John Jack, who was smiling at his wife with open lust. It’d be nice to have somebody he trusted to tell him straight if he was undersexed or asexual, or…. He sighed softly. But he and John Jack didn’t have that kind of relationship. John Jack was seven years older and was more a product of Arkansas than California. He put a lot of store in “being a man,” and Remy was scared of what John Jack would say if Remy tried to get personal. Remy worked all the time, so everyone he knew was associated with the company, and since Remy was the boss, who the hell was he going to tell his troubles to?

His mama’s voice came from the direction of the kitchen, telling Nigel she’d like some more ice cream.

Felicity turned to Remy and leaned in. “I’m going to make my excuses. I’m too tired.” She put a hand on his arm. “Sorry, dear.” She kissed his cheek, rose, said a fast goodbye to Trudy and John Jack, and was gone before Mama even made it into the room.

Remy had a pretty good idea he shouldn’t be smiling.

Giveaway: $10 Amazon Gift Card

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About the Author

Tara Lain believes in happy ever afters – and magic. Same thing. In fact, she says, she doesn’t believe, she knows. Tara shares this passion in her best-selling stories that star her unique, charismatic heroes — the beautiful boys of romance —  and adventurous heroines. Quarterbacks and cops, werewolves and witches, blue collar or billionaires, Tara’s characters, readers say, love deeply, resolve seemingly insurmountable differences, and ultimately live their lives authentically. After many years living in southern California, Tara, her soulmate honey and her soulmate dog decided they wanted less cars and more trees, prompting a move to Ashland, Oregon where Tara’s creating new stories and loving living in a small town with big culture. Likely a Gryffindor but possessed of Parseltongue, Tara loves animals of all kinds, diversity, open minds, coconut crunch ice cream from Zoeys, and her readers. She also loves to hear from you.   

Author Links:

Website:  http://taralain.com/

Blog: http://www.taralain.com/blog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/taralain

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/taralain

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tara-lain

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2ICPcCZ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4541791.Tara_Lain

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/taralain/

Newsletter: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=jwbsibjab&p=oi&m=1109217838793&sit=bt77devgb&f=53f7942e-58f8-4890-8011-f710698f5d46

 

About the Series:

Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45891332-love-you-so-sweetly
Kindles: https://amzn.to/2HEwNHu

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-sweetly

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-sweetly-tara-lain/1131798101?ean=9781644055687

iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-sweetly/id1463653860?mt=11&app=itunes

GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Tara_Lain_Love_You_So_Sweetly?id=s-CaDwAAQBAJ

Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-sweetly-by-tara-lain-10756-b

Series Information

Link above image to Amazon: https://amzn.to/2M0bb7O

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39509418-love-you-so-hard

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2Ekn197

Audible: https://amzn.to/2LZWDFr

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-hard

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-hard-tara-lain/1128265129?ean=2940159114952
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-hard/id1357837139?mt=11

Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-madly-by-tara-lain-9634-b


Book Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39674254-love-you-so-madly

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2s1SCrU

Audible: https://amzn.to/2LklXYm

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-madly

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-madly-tara-lain/1128729869?ean=2940161525616
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-madly/id1383081348?mt=11

Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-madly-by-tara-lain-9634-b

Book Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41073532-love-you-so-special
Kindles: https://amzn.to/34risrU

Audible: https://amzn.to/2ZDY1YV

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-so-special

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-so-special-tara-lain/1129437342?ean=9781640809611&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-you-so-special/id1416432464?mt=11

Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/love-you-so-special-by-tara-lain-9894-b

Check Out the Release Blitz and Giveaway for Fated Hearts (A Shadow Bound Novel) by Garrett Leigh

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link – Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited.
 

Length: 60,000 words approx.


Cover Design: Black Jazz Design


Blurb


“He’s not a wolf.”


Devastated by the death of his best friend, Zio is a soldier with one thing on his mind: revenge. Consumed by a conflict that’s raged as long as he’s been alive, he’s had little time or inclination to learn the legends of the shifter world he was raised in. And he certainly doesn’t have time to deal with a shifter of a different kind, even if it’s for the good of the war effort. For the good of his pack. The fact that he’s already crossed paths with the new face in his unit is almost irrelevant.


Almost.


Do no harm. Give life not death: it’s the oath Devan was reborn to live by, so when he’s sent abroad to embed with a wolf pack as their resident healer, he doesn’t hesitate. In the supernatural world, some bonds are instant–soldiers become brothers, pack become family. But others run deeper and before long, Devan’s at the mercy of instincts he can’t control. Zio’s inner wolf is desperate to be with Devan, while Devan struggles to keep the pack safe. But as the war escalates, and new love is tainted by anguish and pain, the battles within might prove the toughest of them all.


“I won’t let him die.”

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.


Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.


When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.


Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with renowned LGBTQA+ photographer Dan Burgess.


Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh



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AUDIOBOOK TOUR – Tainted Life by Mel Gough and Narrator: Brian Meslar

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW TOUR

Book Title: Tainted Life

Author: Mel Gough

Publisher: Self-Published

Narrator: Brian Meslar

Release Date: September 6, 2019

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: One-night-stand turns into more

Themes: Angst, injuries, some violence

Heat Rating: 4 flames 

Length: 3 hours and 33 minutes     

Add on Goodreads

  A one-night-stand turns into a love story full of dark secrets.

Blurb 

Metropolitan Police detective Pete Tucker’s world comes crashing down when his wife sues for divorce and sole custody of their only son.

Desperate to forget his sorrows for a while, Pete seeks refuge in a Soho bar where he is approached by a sexy, funny, and clearly interested stranger. Photographer Liam Jackson is just the ticket for one oblivious night of perfect passion.

However, their attraction proves too intense for a one-night-stand. To his surprise, Pete finds that he’s game for something more – but his baggage soon gets in the way. Then Liam’s own dangerous secrets claw their way to the surface, and threaten to derail the budding romance.

Is their growing bond strong enough to weather the violent storms ahead?

 

Buy Links – Listen to a sample here 

Audible US  |  Audible UK

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

 

About the Author 

Mel Gough loves writing about love – but with a twist. Nominated for the 2019 Selfies Awards, her bisexual romantic suspense novel He is Mine is a typical Mel Gough story. She needs her HEA fix, but on the way there will be thorns and fire, and sometimes brimstone. All right, that might be over the top, especially since her stories are firmly based in the real world – though not always in the here and now.

Born in Germany, exploring other realities has been Mel’s siren call since she was young. Books opened up a plethora of worlds, and soon gave her a strong love of the English language. After an MA in Anthropology, field work in the middle of nowhere seemed like one adventure too far, so Mel settled in London, which, to misquote Dr. Johnson, she will never tire of.

Mel loves to bend genres – her romances are gritty and dark, and sometimes there’s a dead body. She’s been told that her prose is beautiful yet disturbingly real. She’s curious about bygone times, and hopes to speculate about the future in one of her next books.

She was once asked “How to tell you’re in a Mel Gough novel”

  • You were either sick or in an accident, or you’re caring for someone who was 
  • You’re bisexual (or your partner is) 
  • Your partner has unusual eyes (probably grey) 
  • Life sucks a lot, but then you meet someone, and things get better 

 

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Instagram  |  Newsletter Sign-up

 

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

 

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A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Hellion (415 Ink #3) by Rhys Ford

Rating:3.75 stars out of 5

This is the third book in the series featuring five brothers who own a tattoo shop together. The whole series has a strong theme of survival and friends as family, so they would have the best emotional impact if read in order, but there is so much recapping that it’s not necessary. This opposites attract story revolves around SFPD Detective Ruan Nicholls and tattoo artist Ivo Rogers. I have to admit I was looking forward to this pairing, so I enjoyed seeing how they first met. It’s not what happens plot wise that is the draw so much as exploring what happens when people put aside their learned behaviors of defense mechanisms and judgment.

While I like both of these characters, most of the words were spent re-weaving a world that was already built. A novel without a lot of plot could have really delved into getting to know Ruan’s partner Maite, or his friend and landlord Cranson, or his boss.

The prose is always beautiful and focused on observations: “There was a simple beauty in an older woman—a purity of the soul having settled down through life, a river-tumbled gemstone run smooth from its journey through the waters and over unforgiving rocks.” Yet, no one is explored with much depth, nor are any of the words used to layer in more information about the other brothers and move their story forward.

About 50% of the way in, it gets real as Ruan and Ivo connect, talking about their professions, which are their lives. Then it grabbed me by the throat and ripped my heart out. While this scene is powerfully emotional, it is a standout. Also, it is way too much, too early, for a couple barely dating who have seen each other a few times. It works because it’s what damaged people do: throw it all out there to see if the other person runs away. Ivo definitely gives Ruan one hell of a test when he shows up at the police station. My complaint is that Ruan don’t seem to lay himself bare as much as Ivo does, which means the reader doesn’t get to know him in the same way. Yes, the books are about the brotherhood, but the person each picks–their person–needs to be as fleshed out as they are. It gives you glimpses of Ivo’s and Ruan’s daily life and how they start to mesh them into one, but I didn’t live and breathe it.

To be fair, I have been really thinking hard about why I’m a little disappointed because I know fans of this series will love this. While I don’t like to compare books, it’s difficult when I just read Ramen Assassin by the same author and it’s just so much more entertaining. This gives a nice, romantic ending that I think will please everyone. There is a bit at the end dealing with James, so the audience knows whose romance is up next.

The cover art is by Reece Notley (reece@vitaenoir.com). The covers of the series are eye-catching with great models and have a unified look. This isn’t quite how I picture Ivo because of the hair.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, First, 240 pages
Expected publication: September 17th 2019 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781644056301
Edition Language English
Series 415 Ink #3

415 Ink Series

Rebel

Savior

Hellion

An Alisa Audio Review: Dirty Mind by Roe Horvat and Vance Bastian (Narrator)

Rating:  2 stars out of 5

Alexander Popescu is a university lecturer in a quiet German town. He’s a respectable man in his thirties who stays fit, has a decent career and travels alone—his only vice is an occasional greasy meal. And beer. And violent computer games. Nobody has to know about the other Alex—the acclaimed porn writer. His ingenious erotic fantasies earn him good money and keep his capricious mind harmlessly entertained.

When his young friend and protégé Christian transfers to Freiburg for medical school, Alex is overjoyed…and terrified that Christian will find out about Alex’s indecent alter ego. The time they spend together, as lovely as it is, could overturn Alex’s carefully balanced life. Suddenly, the writing is not good enough, his hair seems to be thinning, his careful hookups leave him unfulfilled, and his dreams are haunted by the innocent young man he’s vowed to protect.

However, Christian is not a boy anymore. He’s a grown man of twenty-one, clever and deadly attractive. And he’s hiding some secrets of his own.

Ugh, so I’m going to preface this with the fact that I have been having a hard time in enjoying books lately, it seems when one thing bugs me it puts me off for the rest and I can’t determine if that’s the case or not with this book.  I think it was a combination of the narrating with the writing though I can’t be 100% sure I wouldn’t enjoy it if I was reading and ebook.  But I spent most of this book rolling my eyes or shaking my head in annoyance.

I felt as though Alex was whiney and immature, for being the “old man”.  He seemed so proud of being a smut writer but was also so ashamed of it too, I get not wanting to tell everyone but he acted as though it was a dirty secret.  Unfortunately the story was told through Alex’s eyes so I was unable to get an accurate read on Christian, everything seemed to be stilted by Alex’s point of view and in the end I just couldn’t really care if they figured everything out.  The whole situation with Christian’s mom was even weirder and all it did was make her sound a bit crazy.

This is my first book narrated by Vance Bastian and unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it.  His narration felt very stilted and uneven and it didn’t help me with the enjoyment of the story at all and actually hurt my enjoyment.

The cover art is okay and I think it works well for the story.

Sales Links: Audible | Amazon

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 5 hrs 10 min
Published: August 16, 2019 by Beaten Track Publishing
Edition Language: English

Rowan McAllister on Choosing Cover Art Work and her new release The Priest (Chronicles of the Riftlands #2)

The Priest (Chronicles of the Riftlands #2) by Rowan McAllister

Dreamspinner Press
Published September 10th 2019
Cover Art: Paul Richmond

Buy Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Barnes&Noble

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Rowan McAllister here today talking about writing, artwork, and her latest story in the Chronicles of the Riftlands series, The Priest. Welcome, Rowan.

✒︎

 

 

Hi there!  Thanks for joining me on stop three of my blog tour! And a big thanks to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting.

On this stop, I answer some interview questions that made me smile. I hope they make you smile too.

Ever drunk written a chapter and then read it the next day and still been happy with it?

Funny you should ask, LOL. The answer is, uh, mostly not. As it says in my bio, I’m a bit of a drinkie as well as a foodie. My hubby and I like to experiment with cocktails all the time, so there have been occasions when I’ve done a bit of drunk-writing, but not often. I’ve threatened it more often than I’ve done it. This is because I usually end up fixing most of it so it’s coherent when I’m sober again. But, I will say, a little alcohol can be a useful tool to get me past some of my hang-ups and out of my shell when necessary. I am by nature a reserved person, the product of a family of quiet, contemplative Michiganders- my husband coincidentally is the same way, also the product of Michiganders. A little booze goes a long way to loosening up some of that reserve, since ‘the feels’ is kind of why we’re here. No one wants to read about two people unable to share their feelings for an entire book, or sharing them in the most reserved, polite, and unimposing terms. Jane Austen aside, I think most modern audiences prefer a bit more meat with their potatoes, a bit more passion than a “I really am quite fond of you,” murmured from a respectful distance. When I need to write the passion, a little bourbon and ginger, gin and tonic, or vodka cocktail greases the wheels. But not too much, otherwise what seemed like a masterpiece through bourbon goggles the night before can look like a second-grade book report the next day. And I don’t think day-drinking is a habit I should probably get into. There are other hobbies that are a little easier on my waistline and my liver, because getting old sucks.

How do you choose your covers?

This particular question is timely since I almost had a cover redo for book one in this series so that we could go a different direction with book two’s cover. The scuttlebutt around the internets and the writing world is that drawn covers are out of fashion. Well, honestly, the hard, cold numbers support it too. On average, books with drawn covers don’t sell as well. As much as I love them, it’s hard to argue with numbers.

Now, I choose my covers to visually represent the feel of my books. I’m a visual artist of sorts on the side, mostly with fiber, so I definitely have opinions on the ‘look’ I want. I see it as an extension of the book itself. Like for my last historical, “We Met in Dreams”, the story was my deep dive into the over-the-top melodrama of the Victorian Gothic, so obviously, I had to have a gothic novel cover- i.e. our hero running away from a spooky house or castle. I don’t make the rules, people. That’s just how it had to be. Now, I didn’t include the white dress because it didn’t seem appropriate to my hero… but I wanted to.

For book one of the Chronicles of the Riftlands, The Wanderer, I chose a drawn cover because it fit the feel of the book so much better than the more intense, photo-realistic covers that are more popular now. The series is my homage to the fantasy novels of my youth and I still have a deep, abiding love for their quirky and unique drawn covers. I likened it to the animated version of the Hobbit from the 70’s vs the darker, live-action remakes of the 2000’s forward. Each has its appeal but the look of the 70’s version fit the feel of my work better.

But then, there the publisher and I were with the second book… and we all have to make a living. I tried with the newer, flashier concepts- with brooding men in black armor and demons with red eyes photoshopped in front of a desolated, fiery landscape. I really did. But they’re just not my style. Lucky for me, Paul Richmond took pity on me and drew the cover for book two, so I didn’t have to compromise this time. Isn’t it pretty? I may have to bow the pressures of the market someday, you know, to actually sell some books… but today is not that day!

What’s next for you as a writer?

The timing worked out that I’m actually just beginning to write book three of this series right when book two is being released. It helps put me in the mindset to talk about my new release since the juices are flowing in a fantasy direction. Between each chronicle in the series, I’m writing something else to keep my eyes fresh. About a month ago, I submitted a new contemporary for consideration that was a bit more of a struggle than I had originally anticipated and therefore took me much longer to finish than I’d planned. But sometimes the muse will not be tamed, and perhaps it will turn out to be a good thing promoting book two at the same time I’m writing book three after all.

 

The Priest..Chronicles of the Riftlands: Book Two

Brother Tasnerek, one of the infamous Thirty-Six stone bearers, is facing a dangerous crisis of faith after uncovering a secret that could shake the foundations of the Brotherhood of Harot. When Tas is sent to protect a tiny village on the edge of Rassa’s borders from Riftspawn, he struggles to resume his duties, risking his life and the lives of those around him.

Girik has always been an outsider, but to help his sick mother, he agrees to be the village’s offering in a painful ritual deemed necessary by the Brotherhood. But when the priest has a crisis of conscience, Girik offers his help to untangle a web of lies—even if it means getting closer than he ever imagined and committing sacrilege in the process.

With a monster lurking in the forest, a wandering mage mysteriously appearing, and more secrets awakening to unravel the truths of their world, Tas and Girik must make grave decisions. A life without danger seems a far-off hope, but love just might be theirs… if they survive.

About the Author

Rowan McAllister is an unapologetically romantic jack of all trades and a sucker for good food, good cocktails, rich fibers, a great beat, and anything else that indulges the senses. In addition to a continuing love affair with words, she likes to play with textiles, metal, wood, stone, and whatever other interesting scraps of life she can get her hands on. She lives in the woods, on the very edge of suburbia—where civilization drops off and nature takes over—sharing her home with her patient, loving, and grounded husband, three furry rescues, and a whole lot of books, booze, and fabric. Her chosen family is a madcap collection of people as diverse as her interests, all of whom act as her muses in so many ways, and she would be lost without them. Whether her stories have a historical, fantasy, or contemporary setting, they always feature characters who still believe in true love, happy endings, and the oft-underappreciated value of sarcasm.

rowanmcallister10@gmail.com

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Don’t Miss Out on the Blog Post for Wolf Lost (The Wolves of Kismet #1) by Sam Burns (excerpt and giveaway)

 

An excerpt from Wolf Lost. Sawyer is on the run from his former pack, and he’s taken refuge with the Kismet wolves for the night.
 
***


He wasn’t sure why the sound woke him, but he came to consciousness suddenly. For a second, his heart tripped in hope that Dez was sneaking into his room, but the alpha wouldn’t do that, and if he would, he wasn’t the man Sawyer thought he was.

Besides, this noise was coming from the door that opened onto a front terrace. An outside door.

He strained his ears and made out two heartbeats. Two flickering pack bonds. The betas who were following him. Apparently one of them knew how to pick locks, because there was a loud click, tumblers turning, and the door opened.

Sawyer sat up in bed and turned to look at them. They froze for a second, but it wasn’t as though Sawyer could fight his way through two beta enforcers.

In that moment, he had very few choices. Let them drag him off, which wasn’t an option at all. Fight, and lose. Or kick up a ruckus and hope that the Kismet pack were light sleepers. They were ex-military—it was normal for them to sleep lightly, right?

He grabbed the edge of the comforter draped over him and threw it up and over the beta’s head, and at the same time, yelled the first thing that came into his head. “Dez!”

There was movement from elsewhere in the house a second later, and a crash after that. He only had to hold them off a moment. He could handle that. The important thing was that unlike this morning, he wasn’t alone.

“Fuck my life,” the guy in the doorway hissed. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

The other beta ripped off the comforter, and glared at Sawyer with flashing yellow eyes. “That’s it. I’m gonna cut this little asshole. Alpha didn’t say he needed to be pretty.”

Without any further warning, he lunged at Sawyer, claws swiping out at his chest. Searing pain followed a second later.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal LinkExclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow With Kindle Unlimited
 
Length: 50,000 words approx.
 
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
 
Blurb



An omega on the run.


An alpha fractured.


Sawyer Holt can’t go home. The Alpha who has replaced his father wants to use him as a tool to cement his political power, and Sawyer isn’t interested in marrying his father’s murderer.


Dez Sullivan’s leg may never heal from his last mission in Afghanistan, but he’s getting used to that. What he can’t adapt to are the nightmares and the tremor in his hand that the doctors insist is all in his head. Next to that, being a brand new werewolf seems easy, until Sawyer Holt blows into his life. The omega activates his burgeoning wolf instincts in a new way, and they threaten to overwhelm his common sense.


Both men are in Colorado searching for a new start, a new pack, and the safety they’ve lost. Their meeting is pure Kismet.

 

 

Sam Burns wrote her first fantasy epic with her best friend when she was ten. Like almost any epic fiction written by a ten year old, it was awful. She likes to think she’s improved since then, if only because she has better handwriting now.
If she’s not writing, she’s almost certainly either reading or lost down a Wikipedia rabbit hole while pretending to research for a novel.

 
 
 

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