An Alisa Audiobook Review: Behr Facts (Foothills Pride #3) by Pat Henshaw and David Ross (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Big, burly CEO Abe Behr is dismayed to discover someone—possibly a family member—is stealing from Behr Construction, which primarily employs Behr relatives. Abe takes the unprecedented step of hiring an outsider, likable CPA Jeff Mason, to go over the books and help find the culprit. They are drawn to each other as they talk to workers, including Abe’s two younger brothers and their shifty cousin.

Since he has sacrificed romance all his life to build the business, Abe’s surprised by his feelings for the handsome Jeff. He’s even more shocked when they are confronted by bigotry in the Sierra Nevada foothills community, which is being inundated by gays moving from the San Francisco area. As he and Jeff get closer, Abe must come to grips with coming out to a family and community that aren’t very tolerant. Fortunately, being the head Behr helps him find his footing and grab onto love when it bites him.

This is a nice continuation in this series. Abe has pretty much considered himself asexual as he has never found someone who has really awakened his attraction before. He is surprised when he realizes that he is definitely attracted to Jeff and doesn’t know what to do about it, it gets harder when he realizes he is in love.

We see this story from Abe’s point of view giving us a good view of his thoughts and feelings and how he is quite oblivious to many things going on around him. I love seeing Abe stand his ground against the naysayers in his family and community when he realizes that there is a problem. I had a bit of confusion with a few of the secondary characters actions and things they were saying at one point and then completely contradicting it a little bit later. It didn’t take away from the story, but just left a little niggle in the back of my head trying to figure out what was going on a bit.

David Ross once again did a wonderful job narrating this story. I was able to connect with the characters through his he showed the characters’ emotions in his reading of the story. He accurately portrayed Abe’s confusion of his feelings and what actions to take.

Cover art by AngstyG is great and gives us a great visual of the characters and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2hrs 59min
Published January 5, 2017 (ebook first published October 28, 2015)
Edition Language: English

Series: A Foothills Pride Story

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Redesigning Max (Foothills Pride #2) by Pat Henshaw and David Ross (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Renowned interior designer Fredi Zimmer is surprised when outdoorsman Max Greene, owner of Greene’s Outdoors, hires Fredi to revamp his rustic cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Fredi is an out-and-proud Metro male whose contact with the outdoors is from his car to the doorway of the million-dollar homes he remodels, and Max is just too hunky for words.

When Max comes on to Fredi, the designer can’t imagine why. But he’s game to put a little spice into Max’s life, even if it’s just in the colors and fixtures he’ll use to turn Max’s dilapidated cabin into a showplace. Who can blame a guy for adding a little sensual pleasure as he retools Max’s life visually?

Max, for his part, is grateful when Fredi takes him in hand, both metaphorically and literally. Coming out is the most exciting and wonderful time in his life, despite the conservative former friends who think they’re saving him from sliding into hell.

This story is a wonderful continuance in this series. Fredi is a little sad when he’s with his friend Jimmy and his boyfriend; he has to learn to jump in if he wants what they have in spite of the consequences. In addition to being known for his interior design, Fredi is also an award winning architect. He is amazed when he gets to visit Max’s home and expects something similar to his cabin, but gets the exact opposite.

This story is told from Fredi’s point of view, which gives us a good view of his thoughts and feelings. We still get to see the other characters pretty clearly, even if Fredi doesn’t see it at the time. I love how Max isn’t willing to let others’ prejudice affect his chance with Fredi and sees the light at the end of the tunnel when things go bad. It was nice to see how each of them admired the other, but didn’t know it until they began talking about their interests.

David Ross did a wonderful job narrating this story. I was able to connect with the characters through hos he showed the characters’ emotions in his reading of the story. We got to see Guy and Jimmy a bit which is always nice.

Cover art by AngstyG is wonderful and gives a great visuals of the characters and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2hrs 55min
Published December 20, 2016 (ebook first published July 29, 2015)
Edition Language: English

Series: A Foothills Pride Story

An Alisa Audiobook Review: What’s in a Name? by Pat Henshaw and David Ross (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Barista Jimmy Patterson thinks it’s a good idea to get rip-roaring drunk on his birthday after he’s dumped by his boyfriend. When the burly owner of Stonewall’s Bar rescues Jimmy, the night starts to look up.

Now Jimmy just wants to know the bartender’s first name since he’s worn a different name tag every time Jimmy’s seen him. “Guy” Stone gives Jimmy seven guesses, one for each night he takes Jimmy out on a date.

While Jimmy’s trying to come up with his name, he’s distracted by the destruction of his coffee shop and what looks more and more like a hate crime.

Jimmy’s life seems to be in shambles with his boyfriend leaving the bar with a different man, but Guy takes care of him. Guy’s name is a mystery to Jimmy and wants to learn the name of the man so generously taking care of him. Guy continues to stay by his side when some locals start to have problems with him opening a new store.

This story is told from Jimmy’s point of view, which gives us a good look at his thoughts and feelings, but we are able to see the other characters fairly well even though Jimmy was a bit oblivious at times. Guy is so patient with Jimmy’s questions and sweet I loved him from the beginning. Guy and Jimmy are just perfect for each other and they are both willing to make their quick building relationship grow and develop.

David Ross did a wonderful job narrating this story. He did a wonderful job of showing the characters’ emotions in his reading of the story. It helped with connecting to the characters even more than the story already did.

Cover art by AngstyG is wonderful and gives a great background for the story and visuals of the characters.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2hrs 49min
Published October 21, 2016 (ebook first published January 21, 2015)
Edition Language: English

Series: A Foothills Pride Story

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Relative Best (Foothills Pride #5) by Pat Henshaw

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Relative Best A Foothills Pride Story

Sometimes love sneaks up when you’re least looking for it….

Zeke Bandy, owner of Bandy’s Finest Hotel in Old Town Stone Acres, California, is too busy for love. Not only does he oversee the operations of the historic hotel and uphold his family’s tradition of offering refuge to strays and runaways, Zeke also sings and plays down-home music two nights a week at the Stonewall Saloon and for occasional celebrations. Then Zeke meets Victor Longbow, the man of his dreams.

Vic isn’t looking for love either. In fact, because of his upbringing in a strict, white foster family, Vic’s not sure he believes in love. He’s in Stone Acres to open a branch office of a national brokerage firm. He’s also hoping to find a vintage photo of what might be his Native American ancestor.

After their paths cross, they become friends, then more. Connected by their experiences as orphans raised by flawed fathers, Zeke and Vic realize that some men must find love, hone it, and create families for themselves.

Pat Henshaw’s rich and wonderful Foothills Pride series keeps rolling along with this latest edition, Relative Best. And in keeping with the tone of the others, it can certainly be read as a stand alone but having the others as backup knowledge of the town, the history and all the characters you will meet in the town and places work to enrich the story even further. I certainly enjoy seeing them again and again as they pop up in various scenes as does the places they run in town.

But back to the new story at hand.

Relative Best is that romantic story that I have come to expect from Pat Henshaw and the Foothill Pride series. The characters have a somewhat complicated, with perhaps a dark history. The ties to the town goes almost to the bedrock and somewhere history will popup and become part of the tale. All that happens here and with wonderful characters to boot.

Zeke Bandy is the owner of Bandy’s Finest Hotel, a Victorian era lady who’s the center of his life. A ginger-haired singer with a complicated history of his own, Zeke has no love life until he runs into Victor Longbow, a man in search of his past. Victor’s complicated, dark childhood has left him with little need for a love life as he searches for his true ancestors, thinking Bandy’s Finest Hotel might hold the answers.

How Pat Henshaw fleshes these men out and make them believable is terrific, but as I often mention the short length of the story often leaves me wanting to know more about each man’s upbringing as troubled as it was. We get flashes and brief memories, nothing more. That the hotel is used as a halfway house for runaways is another aspect I wish was explored more deeply. Henshaw has so many great plot threads here in Relative Best that the book could easily double in size.

I realize the the impact and message the author wants to carry over is that its not the ancestry that makes the man but what the man makes of himself that matters most and the story conveys that beautifully. The romance between the men works, their connection to each other snaps alive and I so wanted to see what happened to them both after the story ended. I suppose I will have to wait until the next tale in the Foothills Pride series to catch glimpses of Zeke and Vic or maybe Pat Henshaw will carry on their story further. Bandy’s Finest Hotel is full of stories. This can be but the first of many.

I love the Foothills Pride stories and highly recommend not only Relative Best but all of the stories in the series. Pick them up and get started today.

Cover Artist: AngstyG. The cover art does a gorgeous job of relating the old time feel to the contemporary story. Both are important themes and its so well done.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 80 pages
Expected publication: August 17th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN 1634775716 (ISBN13: 9781634775717)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series Foothills Pride

What’s in a Name? (Foothills Pride #1)
Redesigning Max (Foothills Pride, #2)
Behr Facts (Foothills Pride, #3)
When Adam Fell (Foothills Pride, #4)
Relative Best (Foothills Pride, #5)
Foothills Pride Stories, Vol. 1 (Foothills Pride, #1-4)

A MelanieM Review: When Adam Fell (Foothills Pride #4) by Pat Henshaw

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

When his lover Jason’s drug addiction spiraled out of control, TV celebrity chef and cookbook author Adam de Leon walked away from him. Adam also abandoned his renowned restaurant in San Francisco to start a small bistro in the Sierra Foothills.

Five years later Adam is battling the conservative leaders of Stone Acres, California, to open a new restaurant in historic Old Town when Jason turns up on his doorstep—a recovered Jason, now going by the name David and claiming he’s overcome his addictions. What’s more, he begs Adam to take him back and says he’s ready for their happily ever after.

Adam has enough on his plate with problems plaguing the opening of his restaurant. And now he’s having a hard time deciding which to follow—his head or his heart.

Another in the wonderful Foothills Pride series, When Adam Fell brings us the broken love affair of celebrity chief Adam de Leon and his lover Jason, two men together since childhood who allowed the past and fame to destroy their love and relationship. Now its five years later and Adam has removed his restaurant and home to the foothills, and closed down his heart. Then Jason reappears asking for a second chance.

Pat, Pat, Pat. You only give us 92 pages when this story cries out for double that! These are such complicated, wounded men and you have given them a wonderfully layered past, one you could pick at from so many angles. I loved that. The “beautiful boy” stuff? Great! I could have sunk myself into chapters alone with their past history and relationship. But that was not to be. Sigh.

The Jason that reappears has remade himself down to a new name. Its a shakeup for Adam and the reader who now have to adjust their perspective on this man. To Pat Henshaw’s credit as a writer, we do. She makes the case that Adam has never lost the feelings he had for Jason and is now rebuilding them in a new, healthier way. And this time Adam has a strong support system (Stone, Fredi and the rest of his friends) to help him make the transition.

As much as I loved this story (and make no mistake, I do), I felt that some parts were still missing for me, more of their past perhaps, more of Jason, I’m not sure, but there’s a hole here somewhere. Its too short for the scope of the story and the men involved. And that restaurant, the new one? Loved that. I hope we see more of it and the new people they are hiring to work there So many great possibilities for new stories on the horizon.

I love this series and each couple that has come about. The Foothills Pride series is rich with wonderful stories, believable people and moving romance. When Adam Fell is the fourth, grab them all up! I highly recommend them all.

Cover art by AngstyG is perfect for the story, characters and place.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 92 pages
Expected publication: February 24th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634769709
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series Foothills Pride

Its Back to Foothills Pride with When Adam Fell by Pat Henshaw (excerpt and giveaway)

When Adam Fell by Pat Henshaw
Release Date: February 24, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

Blurb

Adam has enough on his plate with problems plaguing the opening of his restaurant. And now he’s having a hard time deciding which to follow—his head or his heart.

Pages or Words: 29,800 words
Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

I watched Jason rise from the stoop.

He looked good. His golden hair sparkled in the day’s first light. A happy smile tinged with nervousness spread across his lips. He was wearing a silver-gray Bogner jacket, some sort of expensive pants, and sturdy boots. Hanging from his shirt collar, his sunglasses looked like those high-priced titanium ones. All in all, the guy standing in front of me could easily have fit into the young, hip app crowd now flooding the valley. Too much money and no idea where to spend it. He looked like a guy who’d eat at the Bistro and then fucking strut up to me after dinner, put a wad of Franklins in my pocket, and whisper, “Quit this job and come cook for me.”

Nothing tempted me, especially not the hundred-dollar bills I’d thought were Monopoly money the first time I’d seen them. Nothing had moved me like this, seeing Jason rise straight up in front of me like a fucking miracle.

Standing there in my scuffed clogs, beat-up jeans, and ratty Stanford Cardinal T-shirt, I felt underdressed for this particular dream. Shouldn’t I at least be wearing my chef’s regalia, toque and all? Shouldn’t I have a Henckel in one hand and a Wüsthof in the other? Or maybe clutching a shield made of my cooking classics, which I’d written with an angry, tormented mind but a clear eye to royalties?

“Cat got your tongue?” the vision asked.

“Fucking A, man. Is it really you, Jason?”

“Sorta. Who else would come knocking at your door looking like me?” He flung his arms out like he wanted me to hug him or some shit.

I backed away and kept my hands to myself, though my dick perked up immediately. Did Jason have a twin or a younger brother, somebody who resembled him? I didn’t think so. All I’d thought for five years was nobody—and I mean nobody—could ever have come back from where my Jason had buried himself. At least I never thought so.

There’ve been moments in my life when I was sure I was losing my mind. When I knew whatever tenuous grasp on reality I thought I had was really smoke up my ass. This moment smacked of those. As the legendary John Fogerty sang and the great Yogi Berra is supposed to have said, it was like déjà vu all over again. Only not.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked. Suspicion tasted bitter on my tongue.

Slowly his arms came down, and he gave me a pained but understanding look.

“Yeah, well, it was too much to hope we’d just kiss and make up.” His husky croak had once made me roll over and do anything he asked, but not now. “Can I come in? It’s a little chilly out here.”

I wasn’t cold, but then I’m tall and stout, a real cliché chef image. Fuck, I guess somebody’s got to be the cliché, right? It’s how clichés are born.

I shrugged at his question, swiped at the sweat rolling from my forehead, and moved aside. “Kitchen’s downstairs.” I gestured to the steps.

He walked past me, letting his hand trail over my groin. Once I would have nearly come at the gesture. Now I ignored my dick because my mind was numb and had been for years. He might think he could reawaken my love and lust, but I was pretty fucking sure that ship had sailed and gotten lost at sea.

Buy the book:

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon |Amazon UK | Barnes& Noble

Meet the author

Pat Henshaw, author of the Foothills Pride Stories, was born and raised in Nebraska where she promptly left the cold and snow after college, living at various times in Texas, Colorado, Northern Virginia, and Northern California. Pat enjoys travel, having visited Mexico, Canada, Europe, Nicaragua, Thailand, and Egypt, and Europe, including a cruise down the Danube.

Now retired, Pat has spent her life surrounded by words: Teaching English composition at the junior college level; writing book reviews for newspapers, magazines, and websites; helping students find information as a librarian; and promoting PBS television programs.

Her triumphs are raising two incredible daughters who daily amaze her with their power and compassion. Fortunately, her incredibly supportive husband keeps her grounded in reality when she threatens to drift away while writing fiction.

Where to find the author:

Website: http://patbooked.blogspot.com
Series website: http://foothillspride.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pat.henshaw.10
Twitter: https://twitter.com/phenshaw
Amazon author page
Email: patoisca@yahoo.com

Tour Dates & Stops:

FEBRUARY 24, 2016 – RELEASE DAY BLAST

Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Divine Magazine, The Hat Party, Happily Ever Chapter. BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, KathyMac Reviews, Velvet Panic, Unquietly Me, 3 Chicks After Dark, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Tasty Wordgasms, My Fiction Nook, Making It Happen, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, MM Good Book Reviews, Kirsty Loves Books

VIRTUAL TOUR: FEBRUARY 25 – MARCH 9

25-Feb: Velvet Panic, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

26-Feb: BFD Book Blog, Book Lovers 4Ever

29-Feb: Jessie G. Books, Kirsty Loves Books, Hearts on Fire

1-Mar: Inked Rainbow Reads, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

2-Mar: MM Good Book Reviews, Open Skye Book Reviews, KathyMac Reviews

3-Mar: V’s Reads, Divine Magazine, Love Bytes

4-Mar: Making It Happen, Unquietly Me

7-Mar: Havan Fellows, Happily Ever Chapter

8-Mar: The Novel Approach, A.M. Leibowitz

9-Mar: Bayou Book Junkie, Alpha Book Club, Rainbow Gold Reviews

Giveaway

Enter to win a Win one of THREE $10 Starbucks gift cards. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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When Adam Fell by Pat Henshaw Release Date: February 24, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: AngstyG

Giveaway

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When Adam Fell by Pat Henshaw
Release Date: February 24, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG