Avery Duran on Writing, First Stories and the wonderful release ‘Ahava is Love (World of Love)’ by Avery Duran (guest post and giveaway)

Ahava Is Love (World of Love) by Avery Duran
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Reese Dante

Release Date July 5, 2017

Buy Links:

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Avery Duran here today. Welcome, Avery, please share with our readers something about your newest story!

Thank you so much to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting me today! I really appreciate being given the chance to talk about my upcoming release, Ahava is Love.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of three anthologies over the past eighteen months, but this novella represents the first time I’m the sole author. While the experience is beyond exciting, it’s is also terrifying. At all stages – submission, editing, and release – you are exposing a tender part of your soul for others to judge.

This was a story I felt needed to be told and that gave me the impetus to push through my own doubts and insecurities. Thankfully, I’ve had a publisher like Dreamspinner Press in my corner. Working with a company that offers so much support and respect for authors has certainly made this experience much less stressful. If I hadn’t been willing to face my fears, I never would have had this amazing opportunity.

In Ahava is Love, Yaron has lost his long-term boyfriend to a terrorist attack, as a result he is afraid to open his heart to someone new. Charming, outgoing, handsome – Yaron has so much to offer in a relationship, but instead chooses to play the field rather than risk being hurt again.

When Yaron meets Josh, who brings out emotions in him Yaron thought were long buried, he realizes if he wants to give their relationship a chance, he is going to need to work through his fears and expose himself to possible heartache.

I’m sure most of us can relate to this theme, in some way we have all had to push through something that scares us in order to achieve a sought after goal. Not every effort needs to be a big one—we all have daily fears we need to face: bugs, doctors, clowns—but facing them and moving forward is part of what makes life so thrilling!

Two men, traveling together for ten days, both with a great deal of love to offer, yet each afraid to open his heart to someone else. The attraction is instant, but nothing good can come of them getting together…or can it?

Thanks for taking the time to get to know a little about me and my writing process. I will be sharing more over the next week, so please join me as I visit the below blogs. They have been kind enough to host me to celebrate the release of Ahava is Love on July 5^th!

Ahava is Love – Ahava is the Hebrew word for love, I think you’ll enjoy falling in love with Josh, Yaron – and Israel!

June 29 – MM Good Book Reviews

July 4 – Open Skye Book Reviews

July 6 – Love Bytes

July 7 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

July 10 – Divine Magazine

Blurb

Brooklyn Realtor Josh Perlman desperately wants to settle down. Unfortunately he can’t find a man who wants the same. Tired of disastrous dates, he travels to explore his heritage.

Yaron is an Israeli security guard and medic charged with looking after Josh and his pilgrimage group. For Yaron, the need to protect has become more a duty than an honor since he lost his long-term boyfriend to a terrorist attack—a loss that continues to haunt him.

As they embark on their journey through the Holy Land, it’s hard to deny the attraction that sparks between Josh and Yaron. Yet with America calling Josh home, and Israel, and the death of his lover holding Yaron prisoner, it seems only a miracle can keep them together.

But Israel is an ancient land, one that has seen miracles before. Surrounded by structures that have been destroyed and rebuilt time after time, Josh and Yaron might just learn that their futures can be found in the wisdom of the past.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

About the Author

Parent Association President by day, Romance Author by night, Avery Duran enjoys the best of all worlds. She’s a minivan-driving, cupcake-baking, soccer mom, who works outside the home while raising three rambunctious boys. Easily distracted by shiny things, Avery found making up stories in her head was an effective way to fool people into thinking she was paying attention. Eventually she decided to write down one of those stories, and her alter-ego was born.

She’s always been a voracious reader, Avery’s mother still brings up the time her school called because she refused to stop reading during math class. Avery is pleased to confirm that she has managed just fine without whatever important math lesson was being taught that day.

A native New Yorker, she often incorporates her favorite city into what she writes. During the day, while driving, watching endless YouTube videos, or animated shows with her offspring, she plots her stories. At night, when her husband and children go to sleep, Avery sits in a quiet house and puts those words on paper. She loves spending her down time creating a world filled with people loving and laughing their way to happily-ever-after.

She’d really love to hear from you!

Author Social Media Links

Website & Blog: http://www.averyduran.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Avery-Duran/e/B018RE20I0
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/the.avery.duran
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheAveryDuran
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averyduran18/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/averyduran0234/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14742913.Avery_Duran

Giveaway

AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream + one $5 Amazon Gift Card

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A MelanieM Release Day Review: Ahava Is Love (World of Love) by Avery Duran

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Brooklyn Realtor Josh Perlman desperately wants to settle down. Unfortunately he can’t find a man who wants the same. Tired of disastrous dates, he travels to explore his heritage.

Ahava Is Love (World of Love) by Avery Duran is one man’s journey to find himself, exploration why he repeats the patterns that has him stuck in life and try to move forward. Of course, on this path, he happens to find that one man he’s been looking for. Avery Duran has done a marvelous job with bringing not only his characters to life (Josh and company are terrific) but also connecting the reader to their love of their religion and deep feelings for Israel, the setting for the story. Josh is active in his local temple and when a chance to chaperone a trip (it’s actually more than that) to Israel arrives just when he most needs a change in his life, he jumps at it. Duran is excellent is pulling us into Josh’s issues, as Josh is the narrator who looks at himself in a dry, self deprecating outlook. He’s more than aware of his faults, yet seems to overlook his good ones too. Luckily, the author shows us those through the eyes of his traveling companions/soon to be great friends.

Yaron seems to perfect at the start, thank goodness the author brings a poignant reality to this character, allowing him his own deep issues that almost derail his relationship with Josh. The sights the groups visits, the rituals they do as a whole that brings them all closer together just makes this story such a gem. The author really brings the sights, sounds and locations alive for us.

All the characters here are one I grew extremely fond of, not just the main ones of Josh and Yaron. They are so lively, bright and real that they go beyond that of secondary character and become those of family. What a joy it was to spend time with them as it was with the main couple.

Ahava Is Love is beautifully written, full of great characters, a setting with deep meanings for all those involved and an ending you will adore. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to read more by this author.

C0ver art by Reese Dante is great. Perfect for the character and great on the background.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 110 pages
Published July 5th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635336993

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Sunset at Pencarrow (World of Love) by Lou Sylvre and Anne Barwell

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Kiwi Nathaniel Dunn is in a fighting mood, but how does a man fight Wellington’s famous fog? In the last year, Nate’s lost his longtime lover to boredom and his ten-year job to the economy. Now he’s found a golden opportunity for employment where he can even use his artistic talent, but to get the job, he has to get to Christchurch today. Heavy fog means no flight, and the ticket agent is ignoring him to fawn over a beautiful but annoying, overly polite American man.

Rusty Beaumont can deal with a canceled flight, but the pushy Kiwi at the ticket counter is making it difficult for him to stay cool. The guy rubs him all the wrong ways despite his sexy working-man look, which Rusty notices even though he’s not looking for a man to replace the fiancé who died two years ago. Yet when they’re forced to share a table at the crowded airport café, Nate reveals the kind heart behind his grumpy façade. An earthquake, sex in the bush, and visits from Nate’s belligerent ex turn a day of sightseeing into a slippery slope that just might land them in love.

So many things about this book pulled me to it from the authors and that gorgeous cover to that idea of people meeting in an airport and making a special connection. Yes, I know….but overdone or not, the idea is magic and possible. Here the location, takes it that next step further. The story is located in Wellington, New Zealand so the authors take advantage of the many incredible sights including the Orongorongos during a camping sequence and the coast. We even get a small taste of an earthquake. But mostly we get two men making a personal exploration of each other, physically, mentally and emotionally.

And something like that can be wearing at times. Mind you this is a quick trip for one and a unfortunate delay for the other. And Nate comes off pretty awful at times in this story, argumentative and irritating. Sometimes Rusty is right behind him. Each time they work through their various issues, which is nicely adult of them no matter they are strangers strongly attracted to one another. Both Lou Sylvre and Anne Barwell write great characters and I see that both in Rusty and Nate. One man is still grieving the loss of his husband, the other trying to recover from a bad relationship; not the best foundation when meeting someone you find hugely attractive with a limited timeframe. So there is a lot of talking, stress, working things through internally and out. The story is told from both points of view and third person, necessary to get everything in the authors are trying to accomplish. However, when you are trying to do that in only 129 pages you might not be giving yourself (and the men) the time needed to let the reader in and really get to know these men and take them to heart. One aspect I adored? The fact that the men acknowledged they felt “something” more, maybe not love exactly, but something strong enough that they wanted to explore it further. I liked that realism and appreciated it. That was another factor that elevated this story for me.

I have to admit one of my favorite things about this story was the ending before the epilogue. It takes place in the airport. It has the right last minute romantic touch I just love in a story. Perfectly done! The Epilogue was even better. Still I wished for more length, more time spent with both men to get to know a bit more about them, their histories and maybe a little less of Nate “going off”. But this is a lovely romance, sweet and heartwarming with a great location. I definitely recommend Sunset at Pencarrow (World of Love) by Lou Sylvre and Anne Barwell.

Cover Artist: Reese Dante. What a gorgeous cover. Caught my eye and kept it there, romantic and pertinent to the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 129 pages
Expected publication: June 7th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635335200
Series World of Love setting New Zealand
World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Sun Still Rises (World of Love) by Laura Bailo

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Erik’s father lived for Pamplona’s yearly festival and the running of the bulls. Now he’s gone, and Erik flies to Pamplona on a whim to see the festival his father loved—without booking a room first. He’s looking at sleeping on the ground until friendly David from the tourism office offers to share his home.

When Erik realizes he trusts David, that he might even be willing to face his anxiety to get to know David better, he begins to understand what this trip could mean. Pamplona is even more beautiful when seen through David’s eyes, and Erik might have traveled around the world just to find himself. But can he hold on to his newfound confidence—and to David—when it’s time to go home?

The running of the bulls in Pamplona has always fascinated me. Combine that with the fact that the author lives there so I figured the story would be authentic in the customs and location and I was excited to read this story, The Sun Still Rises by Laura Bailo.

For the most part, the author delivered a delightful, layered story of recovery, connection, and closure that was also a romance. That’s a lot for a book that includes a sightseeing trip to Pamplona, Spain for its well-known running of the bulls. Did I mention it’s 86 pages long?

It starts off with a conversation between Erik and his father, someone who loves the City of Pamplona and goes yearly for the running of the bulls. Erik has never gone with him for a number of reasons that will be revealed. It’s a typical father son talk but layered over with the painful foreknowledge for the reader. We know what’s coming.

The transition forward is handled quickly in steps and I thought it was well done. We grieve with Erik for the loss of his father, someone he was so clearly close to while learning more about Erik himself and their relationship.

The biggest jump lands us in Spain and Erik totally out of his depth in every way. I loved every part of this section. Erik’s meeting with David, the reader’s immersion into the city of Pamplona, the rituals of the bull running (everything from the route to the prayer), and the slide into a relationship for these two men. Even the treatment of Erik’s anxiety attacks is handled accurately, folding it naturally within the romance itself, an element I really liked.

Another aspect of this story that I loved (and wished had been enlarged somewhat) was the character of Eli, a good friend of David’s and a fan of Erik’s. Much is made of this character, they are a big part here as well as being brought in at a timely place at the end of the story so I wanted more of them. Perhaps the author is planning another story about them. I hope so.

So if I loved this story so much why not a higher rating?

That ending. This story was all about Erik needing to find some connection to his father again and some closure with his death, learning to move forward or learning that he’d been mired more than he thought in his grief and could get past it. Connections and closure. But the author in a way denies the readers a final, delightful closure, leaving us that final, one step away from the finish line. I was astonished. I’ve seen other authors use this method and I’ve never been a fan.

I’m especially not a fan here. If you read it, tell me your feelings about the ending, I’m curious to know. As I said I really loved everything else about the book. At 86 pages, Laura Bailo showcased her city, wrote a sweet and gentle romance and introduced several intriguing secondary characters. If I could only get past that ending.

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht. Terrific cover, love the model, and the bottom with the streets of Pamplona and the bulls is outstanding.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 86 pages

Expected publication: May 17th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

Edition Language English

Series World of Love

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

J.C. LONG on Characters, Writing, and his new release ‘Hearts in Ireland’ (Guest Blog/Tour)

Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long
Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs | Tibbs Design

Available for Purchase at

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host J.C. Long here today on his Hearts in Ireland blog tour. Welcome, J.C.!

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Welcome everybody to the next stop on my Hearts in Ireland blog tour! I’m J. C. Long, author of Hearts in Ireland, coming May 10^th, 2017! I’m so glad to be here on Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. I love to talk about myself (just joking, haha. Okay, maybe not entirely a joke) so today I’m bringing you an interview! The people folks here at SW&RT asked some really good questions, and I’m really excited to answer them! Without further ado, on to the questions!

How much of yourself goes into a character?

I try to make my characters far more well-rounded than I am. If a majority of my characters were like me, the stories would be pretty boring pretty quickly, I think. But, with that said, there are definitely elements of my personality or little quirks that do shine through into the characters, though I don’t often realize it until I’ve finished writing. Noah Potter in my novel A Matter of Duty shares my love of spicy food and aversion to certain textures of food, like tofu. The self confidence issues that the character Tate suffers in Broadway Babe are very much my own. But Ronan, from this upcoming story, is the closest to me. He has the most of me I think I’ve ever put into a character.

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

I think it’s important for an author to avoid the perfect, idealized characters as much as possible. Perfection is boring. No one wants to read a character that doesn’t make a mistake, because those are usually characters with absolutely zero agency.

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

Honesty time: I hate most research, which does influence what I write, I think. Let’s just say you will NOT be getting a Victorian era historical from me (I hate that era, anyway). When I select a project that requires research, I always want it to be something that I love and am interested in. My Hong Kong Nights series required quite a bit of research into the city, but I found it to be really interesting and fun. Science fiction and fantasy have a great appeal because of the ability to make up worlds and cultures as I go along.

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

Yes! I have a contemporary romance WIP that’s sitting about 75% finished. I can’t touch it yet. It involves a character who loses his grandmother, who raised him. This time last year my grandmother passed away, and that loss was devastating. Any time I approach that story I get overwhelmed and can’t think straight. I hope to finish it one day, when the time is right, but for now it’s on hold.

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

I didn’t read romance much as a teenager; I was far more into scifi and fantasy. I do read it now as an adult. I’ve developed an appreciation for just how wonderful the genre is (and how difficult to write, as a writer, when the world is a dark and scary place).

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

I like this question. Part of the cover process for me is trusting the artist and the publisher. They know what’s marketable and what will sell the best. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve loved all of the covers I’ve had for my books. With Hearts in Ireland I was given three choices, and I was stuck between the one you see and a second. My boyfriend actually was the tiebreaker for me.

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

My favorite? That’s a bit difficult. Each story is meaningful to me in its own way. This one is the one that my heart is most invested in, I’ll say that. I can tell you my least favorite—it’s always the one I’m working on right now!

What’s next for you as an author?

I’ve got a busy year ahead of me! I’m currently working on the follow-up to Broadway Boys. When that’s finished I’m jumping into the third book in my Hong Kong Nights series and after that the third book in my Gabe Maxfield Mysteries series (the first and second will be out sometime this year).

Blurb:

When the future is shrouded and it’s hard to find direction, maybe it’s time to let the heart lead the way….

Ronan Walker stands at a crossroads, unsure how to pursue his education… unsure if he even wants to. Now that his mother is gone, all he has left are the wonderful stories of her youth in Ireland, and he’s drawn to the land of his ancestors. There, he seeks out his mother’s family and meets Fergal Walsh, who works at Ronan’s aunt’s bookstore. A love of literature facilitates a fast friendship between the two men, and even though Ronan cannot deny the potential—and his desire—for more, he cannot see a future for the two of them when he leaves Ireland. Fergal must persuade Ronan to give school in Dublin a chance—and convince Ronan that his heart has already found its home.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

About the Author

J. C. Long is an American expat living in Japan, though he’s also lived stints in Seoul, South Korea—no, he’s not an Army brat; he’s an English teacher. He is also quite passionate about Welsh corgis and is convinced that anyone who does not like them is evil incarnate. His dramatic streak comes from his lifelong involvement in theater. After living in several countries aside from the United States, J. C. is convinced that love is love, no matter where you are, and is determined to write stories that demonstrate exactly that.

His favorite things in the world are pictures of corgis, writing, and Korean food (not in that order… okay, in that order). J. C. spends his time not writing thinking about writing, coming up with new characters, attending Big Bang concerts, and wishing he were writing. The best way to get him to write faster is to motivate him with corgi pictures. Yes, that is a veiled hint.

Social Media:

Website: www.jclong.org
Twitter: @j_c_long_author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjclong?ref=bookmarks

A Melanie Release Day Review: Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

When the future is shrouded and it’s hard to find direction, maybe it’s time to let the heart lead the way….

Ronan Walker’s mother left her beloved Ireland to marry his father and move to America, leaving part of herself behind. Ronan was raised on stories of her family, songs of Ireland and her mother’s love for the land she left for a greater love. Now his mother is gone, and in his grief, Ronan is stuck. Mired in depression and his inability to move forward until a talk with his father and the sudden realization that he needs to go to Ireland…take the trip his mother waited too late to make.

The character of Ronan is easy to understand when you think about someone who has lost his mother, someone he was so close to, who almost grounded him his whole life. He has lost his mooring and now needs to find himself and in a way, his mother leads the way home for Ronan once more. She leads him to Ireland and family.

J.C. Long’s description of Abhainn Dún—River Fort, the village where Aunt Gwendolyn and cousin Hannah live is wonderful. I could see so easily the houses with the ancient Agas and the stores with the lanes leading up to them. I felt as though I’d been there and that includes the pub. In fact every part of this element of the story was vivid and real. It made Ronan’s journey to a new life and a new love grounded and believable. I got it when Ronan felt that he was finally at home in Abhainn Dún, amid family he knew of but now were a part of his heart. Even the character of Fergal Walsh, who’s less substantial in feel than the others, still has a ring of authenticity about him. This is a HFN, a promise of a start for Ronan and Fergal, which is as it should be, nothing more.

I could definitely see a sequel for Hearts in Ireland, Ronan has just begun his new start here in Ireland. But if that doesn’t happen, I’m happen to have read this story. It’s a lovely read, heartwarming and sweet. Definitely one I recommend.

Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs | Tibbs Design. Lovely with Dublin on the cover along with the River Liffey and a terrific representation of the character.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 119 pages
Expected publication: May 10th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
Original Title Hearts in Ireland
ISBN 1635334500 (ISBN13: 9781635334500)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series World of Love

In Our Recent Release Spotlight: My Paradise is You (World of Love) by Lucie Archer (exclusive excerpt and giveaway)

My Paradise is You (World of Love) by Lucie Archer
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Available for Purchase at

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Lucie Archer here today on tour for her latest novella, My Paradise Is You.

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Hello everyone! I brought with me an exclusive excerpt from my World of Love novella, My Paradise Is You.

This scene takes place on day 2 of 10 on the island, so Marc and Ian are still feeling each other out. It’s one of my favorite scenes because it really highlights how different they are on the surface as well as their rocky start. Plus I just love Marc’s tattoos. Hope you enjoy.

Blurb

When two very different men are stranded on a deserted island, will opposites attract, or will they end up killing each other—if the elements don’t get them first?

Marc Reed is an expert scuba diver and leads underwater tours of the infamous shipwrecks scattered around Bermuda. When a robbery forces him and his boss’s son—a man he despises on principle—to take shelter on an uncharted island, he might have to reassess his opinion of the spoiled snob.

Ian Blythe-Darcy II lives a life most would envy. He’s a trust-fund kid being groomed to take over his father’s empire of hotels and resorts. But it’s not a life that matches what’s in his heart. He’s in the closet and engaged to a socialite he doesn’t love, but he’s about to get a crash course in being true to himself—and maybe learn money can’t buy happiness after all.

Excerpt

Marc put his toes in the spring and shivered. The tree canopy kept the water chilled, but he couldn’t wait to dive in. “’S cold.”

“Feels amazing once you’re in,” Ian assured him. Not that he needed to; Marc had already made up his mind.

He peeled off his sweat-drenched shirt and tossed it on a rock and then pushed his swimsuit down his thighs. He had to smirk when Ian made an undignified choking noise. He must not have anticipated Marc’s lack of modesty. Without a word, he waded into the pool, leaving Ian behind at the water’s edge.

“Blow me?” Ian finally stammered.

Marc looked back and wasn’t surprised to see him staring at his ass. He had a watercolor tattoo of a blowfish on the right cheek, with the words Blow Me written on the other. “Wicked, huh?”

Ian looked down at his feet before taking off his shirt. “It’s, uh, nice.”

Marc eyed him as he fiddled with the hem of his trunks, thumb brushing over the tattoo on his hip. “What’s yours?” he asked.

Ian pulled up the hem. “It’s nothing.”

Marc didn’t push. If Ian didn’t want to show him his tattoo, that was his choice. “Do you want me to turn around?”

Ian must have decided against skinny-dipping, which slightly disappointed Marc. “No need,” he said as he waded into the water.

Marc stretched out and let his feet float to the surface, his head drifting back as he closed his eyes. The white noise from the waterfall had his bones relaxing for the first time in days. He needed a vacation, and he couldn’t have gotten any closer to paradise than one of Bermuda’s many islands.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Ian asked, breaking the silence.

“Depends on the question.”

“You said your ex was a he, so that would make you—”

“Sooo gay… is that a problem? Because I declared this island gay friendly when I conquered it.”

“No, no problem. I was just curious.” Ian chuckled. “You seem so casual about it.”

“Why shouldn’t I be? It’s no different than being straight. Aren’t you casual?”

“I’m not gay!” Ian spat.

“I just assumed you were from that rainbow tattoo on your hip.”

“I have a fiancée. She’s a she.”

Marc scoffed. “Okay, then.” The accuracy of his gaydar could lead him to the only gay guy in a sea full of straights like he was magnetic north, but if Ian insisted he was straight, then that was something else Marc didn’t intend to push. He knew better than to force anyone out of the closet who wasn’t ready. He’d seen that happen to a friend of his, and he didn’t approve.

Marc attempted to change the subject. “I have a jellyfish on my ankle. In case you hadn’t noticed.” He leaned back and lifted his foot out of the water so Ian could see it.

“It’s really beautiful.”

They continued swimming in silence for a while, Marc content to float there for hours. Ian cleared his throat, and it threw off his balance, causing him to right himself again.

“It’s… a seahorse,” Ian said.

“Colorful.”

“I don’t usually show people. It’s kind of personal.”

“I didn’t mean to pry, just saw it.”

“Kind of hard to miss, I suppose. I got it when I turned eighteen to symbolize being free from my father’s rule. Guess he didn’t get the memo.”

Marc shook his head. “What is it with you two?”

“What do you mean?”

“You work for him, right? You don’t exactly come off as happy with your day job, so why not quit?”

“It’s not that simple.” Ian sighed.

“The money’s too good, huh?”

“You don’t know anything about me!” Ian huffed, his brow scrunching up into a wrinkled mess. “We’ve known each other all of one day, so don’t you sit there and presume that you do.”

“You’re right, I don’t… or maybe the truth hurts.” Marc shrugged before sinking down under the water. When he came back up, Ian had stormed toward the bank, his heavy footsteps stirring up the water in his wake. “Dammit,” he chided himself. They’d just made up and he’d managed to piss him off once again. “I’m sorry.”

Ian’s response came in the form of two fingers held up in what Marc thought to be a peace sign.

“Peace?”

“Stupid American,” Ian spat, folding down one finger until only his middle finger remained. “Better?”

“Well, yeah. If you’re going to flip someone off, at least do it right.”

How about that snark! I love it. For more, be sure to pick up My Paradise Is You.

Meet Lucie!

Lucie Archer is a student of the universe who is obsessed with the stars, in love with beaches, and crazy about dudes falling in love. She tells stories of romance, love, and life, with a little bit of passion thrown in for good measure. Because what’s life without a little pop and sizzle?

When she’s not writing, she can be found tending to her garden, playing with her four-legged children, or procrastinating. Although, she spends a lot of time fending off random plot bunnies that threaten to derail her WIP’s.

Website & blog: www.luciearcher.com
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/writerluciearcher
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Lucie_Archer

Giveaway

Link and code for my rafflecopter giveaway (ends March 10th): Link and code for my Rafflecopter giveaway (ends March 10th): http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ed56cffc2/?

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Blog tour:

February 23 – MM Good Book Reviews

March 1 – Dreamspinner Press Blog

March 3 – Alpha Book Reviews

March 3 – Love Bytes

March 6 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

March 7 – Sinfully Gay

March 8 – Long and Short Reviews

A Lila Release Day Review: I Love You More Than Pierogi (World of Love) by K.A. Merikan

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Marek and Adrian dated in high school, but a bitter breakup led them to choose different paths. Adrian is out and proud while Marek is in the closet. Adrian embraces his eccentricity while Marek clings to a conservative image. And while Marek worked hard to build a successful life and financial stability by climbing the corporate ladder, Adrian threw caution to the wind and has spent the last five years backpacking across the world.

Now Adrian is back in Warsaw, Poland, but while Marek thinks they will have a hookup and have a blast from the past, Adrian is just looking for a place to crash. Worse still, Adrian turns up at Marek’s advertising agency for help with his outrageous new business venture, and if Marek wants to get promoted, he might have to work with the guy who broke his heart.

I Love You More Than Pierogi is all about Poland; especially their food. This is my first World of Love story and I like the idea of reading about countries I haven’t visited. It’s easy to see the authors’ affinity for the country and how they’re transmitting some of their own experiences throughout the story. It feels personal and realistic.

I love second chance stories and the relationship between Marek and Adrian is no exception. You can see the sparks between them from the moment they get back in contact. The paths theirs lives took after their original relationship ended transformed them into the man they are and somehow changed the expectations between the two.

The first part of the story is a bit slow and filled with information that helps the reader get into the smells, sites, and tastes of Poland. I had to google most of the food terms, including pierogi, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I like learning new things as I read new stories.

The descriptions of the streets, architecture, etc. and the way of living (apartments, cars, and so) go hand in hand with what I knew about the country and its post-war reality. Some of the ways Marek’s office operates and the people they met were a bit over the top for me, but it added to the foreign feel.

The characters are beautifully written and their friendship is lovely later in the story. I just had trouble with Marek’s and Adrian’s mood swings, and some of the side stories. But overall, this is a great introductory romance with Poland at its heart.

The cover by Anna Sikorska is beautiful. One of the best I have seen in a while. The colors, the images, and the model work perfectly together to entice the reader to look further into the story.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | Nook

Book Details:

ebook, 101 pages
Published: January 4, 2017, Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781635332100
Edition Language: English

In the Spotlight: The Weather Baker’s Son by Peter Grover (author interview)

The Weather Baker’s Son (World of Love) by Peter Grover
Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 21, 2016

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Purchase it here

Thank you Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Reviews for having me on your blog! My book, The Weather Baker’s Son, second one issued in the Dreamspinner World of Love project, takes place in southern France. I have ensured much local color is found in the book. Here are my answers to your questions:

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

Most often from the memory of a place and the sights seen in that place. Sometimes it does involve the journey along the way as well. The quirky things one sees in someplace new are always an inspiration. I am also working on a project that is inspired by an event that occurred 2,000 years ago, and how it impacts people today.

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

I am currently a hybrid or plantzer. I started as a pantzer as I love to dwell on certain scenes, almost as standalone and create the vibe around them, the interaction between the characters as well as add any of the local beauty that should be incorporated. As a result, and as predicted by those who are planners I have had to delete much, rearrange other things and waste a lot of time. But at the same time, I have enjoyed my distractions. However, the advantages of planning have not been lost on me. I have been practicing planning from day one with a new project which is now several months into writing while at the same time being a pantzer again with another project. I have found the one being planned interesting to do and have gained a great appreciation for the complexity of the process. The planning is indeed helping me but occasionally I need to break out of the process to sketch an entire chapter just for the love of it!

Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else? Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

That’s a hard question as all have attracted me over time. I was a voracious reader of science fiction as a youth. I also studied at university the great classics of European and Latin American literature for many years and have degrees in modern languages. Regarding my own current writing however I am mainly drawn to contemporary narratives.

Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

Yes and yes! In The Weather Baker’s Son I am in love with the weather baker’s son in every way and also have a more subdued affection for the weather baker herself! They are definitely my favorites characters.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

Authors could be any or all of Ogden Nash, Oscar Wilde, Amy Lane, Kim Fielding, Damon Suede, Anna de Noailles.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

Probably around the age of 9 and into my teenage years but I never did anything with the output and much of it is lost. Then came a long career as a legal wordsmith in a commercial environment. While it may sound dry I really enjoyed it and I believe my opinions were respected for their thoroughness and clarity. Only now am I back into creating fiction for my own enjoyment and hopefully that of my readers.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I come from a family of voracious readers and we all read constantly and early on. As my parents both did shift work we were not often read to, but we were always encouraged to read! I would say I especially enjoyed science fiction, notably the greats like Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury but I would also devour non-fiction, such as history and biographies.

About The Weather Baker’s Son

Nature’s call of desire among golden fields and intoxicating red-lipped poppies seems to proclaim a path to love and healing in southern France. Yet Peter, an American university student struggling with self-doubt following a failed love affair, is determined never to be hurt again. While on a vacation with his widowed mother, Peter is smitten by Gaston, a handsome local baker. Gaston, less bold than Peter, is drawn to Peter as well but fearful of the loss of family esteem—particularly the respect of his cousin Mario, who looks up to Gaston. Their friendship grows into more as Peter continues to visit the bakery, but their increasing intimacy does not go unnoticed. The road to fulfillment becomes increasingly obscured, and internal doubts and external events spiral out of control. The arrival of a handsome stranger, suspicions of murder, and the threat of harm might spell the end of more than just their relationship.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

About the Author

Peter Grover has received no end of inspiration from his life with his husband and a gaggle of ghosts in a Gothic Victorian house. Peter has now arisen from a pile of dusty law books to relaunch his background in languages and literature, early passions before his career. Combining these passions with his many travels for work and pleasure has allowed him to illustrate local poetry, arts and landscapes that draw the reader into other, often exotic worlds. Peter loves to hike the deserts and mountains of the Southwest US in the winter while enjoying the lush scenery and lakes of Central Canada in the summer.

An Alisa Release Day Review: Chase This Light by Francis Gideon

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

When Jason Flores moves to the Yukon for a new job, he’s not sure what to expect. His son Micah seems enchanted by the wildlife, but his recent fear of the dark means that the eighteen-hour nights in the winter will be a difficult adjustment. When Jason takes Micah to the local museum’s interactive lecture series on the gold rush, it turns out to be one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

Pete Odjick, a tattooed First Nations and Inuit man, dresses up for the weekly lectures as Skookum Jim, one of the first prospectors to find gold. He takes an immediate interest in Micah and an even bigger interest in Jason.

As their flirtation grows into something more serious, Jason’s job at a big name oil company and Pete’s volunteer work with an environmental group become a point of contention. Can they come to an understanding and give Micah a family again? Or will the drastic differences between them tear them apart? As the winter nights grow longer, Pete and Jason worry their love won’t be enough to chase the darkness away.

This was a wonderful story. Jason has uprooted his whole life to move to the Yukon when he is transferred for his job. He can only hope that this move will give his son, Micah, a chance to grow after the loss of his mother and grandmother.

Jason and Pete meet when Jason brings Micah to the museum to get out of the house after the long move. Pete and Jason both recognize the need to move slowly because of Micah and also what they are both looking for. Micah is such a sweet boy, but not unnaturally so as I see in so many stories.

We see this story from both character’s points of view. Jason has to deal with not only his own grief when he and Pete have a misunderstanding, but also Micah’s. They both are willing to make compromises to help each other so that their relationship can grow.

Cover art by Bree Archer is perfect and I wouldn’t change anything.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 117 pages

Published: October 12, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781634777582

Edition Language: English

Series: A World of Love Story

Ahava Is Love (World of Love) by Avery Duran Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist Reese Dante

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Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs | Tibbs Design

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My Paradise is You (World of Love) by Lucie Archer Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Bree Archer

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The Weather Baker’s Son (World of Love) by Peter Grover Dreamspinner Press Release Date: December 21, 2016

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Purchase it here

About The Weather Baker’s Son

About the Author

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Ahava Is Love (World of Love) by Avery Duran
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Reese Dante

Hearts in Ireland (World of Love) by J.C. Long
Dreamspinner Press

My Paradise is You (World of Love) by Lucie Archer
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

The Weather Baker’s Son (World of Love) by Peter Grover
Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 21, 2016