A Lila Review: Tiny House (Buchanan House #3) by Charley Descoteaux

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Tiny House We were first introduced to Nathan and Paulie in book one, Buchanan House, together with the rest of their misfit band. Their story starts just after the ending of book #2, Pride Weekend. We get to see how Nathan’s life changes in minutes and how important his connection with Paulie it’s to both of them.

For eighteen years, they had danced around each other but have been the only ones that didn’t see how deep their connection was. They struggled with their daily life and after moving apart, they think that what they feel for each other wouldn’t have the opportunity to blossom.

During most of the story, Paulie and Nathan are just friends, struggling to overcome their circumstances without letting others help. Nathan’s abandonment issues are taking over the new life he wanted to build. Paulie’s self-image troubles made him settle for less than he deserved. It’s up to them to take a leap of faith and trust that the other would be there to catch them.

Tiny House is a lovely story. I liked Nathan in the previous books and was happy to see that his story lived up to my expectations. Even when in pain, he maintained a serenity that brought people in and made them feel special. Paulie too had that quality, but mostly, he was the only person, other than Eric, that made Nathan feel love.

Even when the main characters have had sex multiple times over the years, this story is a slow burn. Maybe too slow in some parts. I wanted them to have a little more in-page time together, but in the end, the distance made their HEA sweeter.

More characters were introduced to their eclectic bunch, and we get to see more of the family Nathan left behind. This story is more than just a romance. It’s a promise that life gets better and that a family goes beyond the one you were born into. The Buchanan House is the place where everyone can feel safe and love, and Nathan is one of its pillars.

Overall, another great story in this series. And since I’m an architectural geek, I loved seeing the Tiny House take form and the way Nathan and Paulie make it theirs. It was a cocoon for their love affair.

The cover by L.C. Chase matches the previous two books in the series, but it felt rushed and a bit generic. Perhaps an issue with the lettering.

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Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published: April 29, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1634768779 (ISBN13: 9781634768771)
Edition Language: English

Series: Buchanan House
Book #1: Buchanan House
Book #2: Pride Weekend
Book #3: Tiny House

A Lila Review: Prince of the Playhouse (Love in Laguna #3) by Tara Lain

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

In this third installment, we finally get to know more about Ru Maitland. He was Shaz’s sidekick and best friend on Knight of Ocean Avenue, and we get to see him again briefly in Knave of Broken Heart. As soon as this story starts, we learned about Ru’s obsession with actor Gray Anson. He had dedicated his free time to watch Gray’s movies over and over for the last couple of years in order to compensate for his lack love life.

Ru is getting ready to present his first collection as part of New York’s Fashion Week. But before he starts working on these designs, he takes part of a charity event, unveiling several designs. This local fashion show opens the door for Ru to be offered the opportunity to create the costumes for an adaptation of Hamlet at the local Playhouse. He has planned to decline the invitation until he finds out that Gray Anson has accepted the lead during opening week.

A random encounter the night of the charity fashion show sets the stage for Ru’s past and present to collide. We get to see him struggle as he tries to deal with all the responsibilities from the play and New York Fashion Week as he manages to keep his ghosts at bay. His world starts to spiral out of control when Gray is added to the mix, and their newfound relationship starts meeting with the life he had left behind.

On the other hand, Gray Anson is set on making his relationship with Ru work. He has a lot of people depending on him, and he feels pressure to keep appearances at all time. As he tries to get a go with Ru, he stays in the closet, using famous females to cover for him. The rumors of his sexuality are taking a toll on him and those surrounding him.

In the end, it’s up to Ru and Gray to keep their individual lives under wraps in order to enjoy their stolen times together.

Prince of the Playhouse is full of clichés, stereotypes, and troupes as the previous books in the series, but they worked well with the main characters and their hopes for a future together. This is an easy read, even when drama is involved. The author did an excellent job filling the gaps between serious topics and situations with a healthy dose of comedic relief.

The secondary characters are outstanding. The characterizations were entertaining and their histories and relationships relevant. Together, they gave the story a frame of reference, setting the atmosphere and helping the plot move forward. Even fillers had a purpose to exist. The setting too played an important role in Ru’s life and the events of the story. We get to revisit some locations used in previous books as well.

One of the reasons I didn’t give this book a five-star rating was Ru’s obsession with Gray. Its intensity was overwhelming before they met in person, but at the same time felt forced. Almost, like the first steps taken by a stalker. And the way Gray got smitten by Ru, seemed a little unbelievable. He had two personalities, his big superstar facade, and his reserved, almost shy private persona.

Overall, this story is worth reading as part of the series. It can be read as a stand-alone or out of order, but it’s easier to understand Ru’s and Shaz’s relationship if read in order. The characters from book #2 weren’t even mentioned here.

The cover by Reese Dante follows suit with the previous two books. It works well as part of a series, and at the same time, give us a clear image of Ru— from his sense of fashion to his confidence.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Published: April 4, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781632169648
Edition Language: English

Series: Love in Laguna
Book #1: Knight of Ocean Avenue
Book #2: Knave of Broken Heart
Book #3: Prince of the Playhouse

A Lila Review: House Hunt (The Power of Zero #3) by Jackie Keswick

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Jack Horwood hates owing favors. But when a simple day out to treat Gareth to the best oysters in England leads to a discovery of drugs and counterfeit money—things that neither Jack nor Gareth have the jurisdiction to handle—he has to call in help. Help that doesn’t come cheap, and that forces him to do something he promised himself he’d never do again—walk away from Gareth and the family he’s starting to make for himself.

Three months undercover is a long time. After missing Gareth’s birthday, Jack is determined not to miss their first anniversary. But coming home and being home are two very different things. So when he is asked to assist with a corporate espionage investigation, Jack can’t say no, despite knowing it will impact his already straining relationship.

Except, of course, he’s walking into a trap….

House Hunt is a less elaborate version of the first book in the series. Instead of overlapping events, we get to see them happening one after the other; affecting, not only their outcomes but Jack’s and Gareth’s relationship and newly formed family.

In my opinion, this streamlined version of events took away from the complexity of Jack’s life and mind. Perhaps, now that he has Gareth in his life, things are not as chaotic as in the beginning, but I missed the intensity of following unrelated plots, all at ones. There’s no lack of action, just a simple structure that wasn’t present in Job Hunt.

There’s a separation between the drugs and counterfeit undercover work, the MC’s life together, and the corporate espionage investigation. This is not bad, it just slows the middle part of the story and makes the ending feel rush. Not enough time to enjoy the resolution. And my biggest pet-peeve were the fade-to-black scenes, not only the sex scenes but the majority of the transitions.

As before, the author did an excellent job getting the reader into the story, the MCs’ mood, and the British landscape. Food plays another important role from the opening scene to the very end. It not only shows how much Gareth care, but how aware Jack is of Gareth’s attentions and his need to take care of others.

The characters didn’t live in a bubble even when most of them worked at Nancarrow Mining. They had relationships and a role to play in order to advance the overall plot. But we do get the sense of home when Jack and Gareth were at Richmond, Gareth’s house. It was their space to be a couple, to learn how to be together when the stress of their real life tried to blindside them.

Jack’s and Gareth’s relationship moves forward in this installment, and we get to see a side of them we had hope for before. There’s more background about their time together in the Army, and what Gareth does for Aidan. Plus, more Nico and Daniel and a house hunt for their family to be together.

Overall, another good addition to The Power of Zero series. I’d definitely look forward to more about Jack, Garreth, and their band of misfits.

This is the third cover by Maria Fanning and the concept still very similar— showing a main event in the story. Personally, it feels more like a café than a house, but the whole idea works well.

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Book Details:

ebook, 300 pages
Published: March 30, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781634771382
Edition Language: English

Series: The Power of Zero
Book #1: Job Hunt
Book #2: Ghosts
Book #3: House Hunt

A Lila Review: Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Finding his brother breaking his promise isn’t what Troy Tanner expected to find when he entered Tyson’s hotel room. Unknowingly, his decision to leave their boy band tour, to travel from Australia to L.A., would change, not only his life, but the one of those in his path.

Before he could second-guess his actions, Troy charters a private plane to visit his mother and talk about Tyson. Here is when he meets Brian who’s the plane’s first officer even when he’s more than qualify to be the captain. It doesn’t take long before the cyclone takes place, bringing Troy and Brian together. From that moment on, they depended on each other to survive on the deserted island in which they found shelter.

We get to experience with the characters what it’s like to be stranded and losing hope of a rescue. Their journey to survive brought them together and their experiences cemented their relationship.

Their rescue took them by surprise, as well as their feelings for each other. They struggled separately, trying to adjust to a reality that felt almost like a lifetime ago. In the end, it’s up to them to see if their relationship can survive their new reality.

Beyond the Sea gets better the longer you read it. I need to admit that I considered a DNF several times during the first part of this story. The first forty percent moved at a snail pace, and some of the characters’ internal dialogues were not interesting enough to keep the boredom away. I think it has to do with the isolation and the unknowns they faced since this pages covered most of their survival efforts and the early discoveries of their friendship. But, as soon as Troy and Brian started to feel comfortable with their new routine, the story took off.

The story is about survival. About how Troy and Brian had lived their separate lives until the accident, what they did to increase their survival chances, how they dealt with the possibilities of never returning to their friends & families, and most importantly, how they coped and managed life back to where they started. It’s an internal discovery of who they were until that moment, and the simple experiences that colored their new reality.

I enjoyed having both characters’ POV. It gave the reader the chance to understand Troy’s and Brian’s fears and hopes about a life they considered lost. Their acquaintance turned into a friendship that developed into a more personal relationship. Even when expecting the MCs to get together, I kept wondering about the final outcome and how the author was going to write their HEAs.

The tenderness and understanding between the MCs created a deep connection between the characters. The UST was a little too much but fitted the situation. I do think Troy’s wants came without warning, but I guess their attraction was related to their journey together more than a physical attraction. Their inner qualities pulled them together, showing the reader the beauty behind a loving relationship without labels.

Keira Andrew’s did indeed a good job creating a credible environment for the characters to be in. Everything from the weather, their delay routine, to their food and clothing had a purpose in this story. The memories they shared and their daily experiences added to the intimacy of their surroundings. Simple details like shaving, collecting water, and bathing in the sea felt as important as any other experience.

The references to the movie Cast Away and the song that serves as the book’s title gave the story a reprise from the charged moments. I can’t stop thinking about the song days after reading the book. And yes, I listened to it online. It’s the perfect background soundtrack for Troy’s and Brian’s story. I did wonder, too, if they thought about buying the island after all.

Overall, the story is an interesting combination of feels and self-discovery. In which everything other than their relationship and how they felt about each other became irrelevant.

The cover goes with the island feel, but in my opinion, doesn’t match the characters or the scenes in the story. It’s very well done, just not for me.

Sale Links: Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 275 pages
Published: March 15, 2016, by KA Books
ISBN: 9781988260020
Edition Language: English

A Lila Audiobook Review: Job Hunt (The Power of Zero #1) by Jackie Keswick and Narrator Fox Ballard

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

You don’t greet your new boss dressed like an underage rent boy. But when Jack Horwood—ace hacker and ex-MI6 operative—opens the door to Gareth Flynn, he’s too busy to worry over details like that. And anyway, his potential new boss is his former Commanding Officer – the same guy Jack has had a crush on since he was seventeen. So he should understand, right?

When he applied for the job in Nancarrow Mining’s corporate security division, Jack had hoped for peaceful days repelling cyber attacks. Maybe a bit of corporate espionage on the side. His plans didn’t include rescuing abused children, hunting pimps, or dealing with his overly protective and hot-as-hell boss, Gareth Flynn.

Walking away is not an option. Jack never takes the easy way out. More than that, meeting Gareth raises old ghosts that Jack needs to put to rest. Rescuing kids. Taking risks. Saving the day. Jack can do all that – but deciding what to do about his attraction to Gareth isn’t the sort of cloak-and-dagger game Jack plays well. Yet Gareth, strong and smart and always on hand when needed, might be Jack’s salvation.

Job Hunt is a complex thriller with multi-dimensional characters, and complicated twists and turns. There are enough questions and mysteries to keep the reader into the story and guessing its outcome. Following both investigations, it’s not complicated, but the Nancarrow Mining’s cyber attacks plotline was not as well thought as the one involving Jack’s undercover work.

I’m glad I listen to this story because all the distinct voices helped with the POV changes. Also, the narrator gave it an authenticity feel. Each character becomes an individual with their own quirks and traits.

Even when a romantic plot is present in this book, the story is all about the cases the MCs are working. Jack is the real man character in Job Hunt. Gareth is there as a protector or sidekick more than someone that we get invested on.

The rest of the ensemble can be considered as supporting characters instead of secondary because they were there in order for Jack to accomplish his goals. The author did an excellent job, though, making them memorable instead of simple fill-ins.

The sense of place and location is very present, even for someone that had never been in Richmond, Wimbledon, or any of the other areas mentioned. Everything from the smells, looks, and weather are taken into consideration. And the food had its own role in the story, too.

In the end, Job Hunt is an enjoyable read, and its only downside is the amount of events unfolding at the same time. Together with some areas of internal dialogue.

Fox Ballard did an excellent job with the narration. He made differentiating between the many POV changes easy. He’s one of the first narrators I had listened to that had managed to voice females characters without making them sound too masculine. All the accents were amazing, even when hard to understand at some points.

I like the way the calls were integrated into the audiobook. They sounded authentic and gave the story a realistic boost. My only complaint would be about the music separating the chapters. It was kind of jungle fever and didn’t go with the book’s content. And, the pauses between chapters, and/or POVs, were too long.

The cover by Maria Fanning didn’t work for me. It makes the books seem paranormal, which it is not. You have to be very close to it to realize it has the data information in the background. The audiobook cover is just a modify version of the original.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Fox Ballard
Length: 9 hours and 38 minutes

Published: February 11, 2016 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B01BMQFFE6
Edition Language: English

Series: The Power of Zero
Book #1: Job Hunt
Book #2: Ghosts
Book #3: House Hunt

A Lila Review: Love and the Exorcism by Melanie Hansen

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Tom Hannity is not boring, despite what his ex-boyfriend says. He loves his circle of family and friends and finds peace in the beauty of flower arranging. Still stinging from his recent breakup, Tom attends an Anti-Valentine’s Day “Ex-orcism,” hoping for some fun and forgetfulness.

Mario Tellez is tired of party boys, and he’s had his eye on Tom for a while. When they run into each other at the Ex-orcism, sparks fly, until an accidentally overheard conversation drives Tom to do something he normally doesn’t do.

What should have been a hot and fun night turns into Tom and Mario seeing each other at their absolute worst, although surprisingly, it brings out the best in them, too. Navigating around the toxic people in their lives isn’t easy, and after a small series of bumps in the road, they finally come around full circle… to Valentine’s Day and laying old demons to rest.

We meet Tom and his sister as soon as the story starts. It gives us the opportunity to learn about Tom’s past relationship, his job, and his family history. As well as his social life and some of his insecurities.

The exorcism part sounds childish, but we get to understand why it came about as it happens. Tom and Mario met during an odd confrontation during the party, but in the end, it worked for them. They are the kind of couple that would have a story to tell their grandkids when they ask how they met.

We get to see the worst of them just minutes after they talked for the first time, but their flirty demeanor creates a connection between them. Their one night stand is sensual until life happens, starting the chain of events that would eventually bring them together.

Their relationship develops off-page, and we move to a point in which they’re finding their footing as a couple. Like every short story, it moves quickly over time, until they start having some problems in their relationship. But as with any good romance, we get a delightful reconciliation and a fulfilling happily ever after.

Love and the Exorcism is a lovely Valentine’s short story. Perfect for a quick fix of romance between longer books. It’s sweet, easy, and it has a simple, but believable story line.

The main characters are cute and quirky together. They are happy and realistic. Most importantly, they have insecurities any young gay men could possess. Their background stories were not happy ones, but they learned to overcome them and became productive men. There’s no trauma dragging them down and making them miserable.

This book is all about their love story and how Mario and Tom get to know each other and move forward after their first problem as a couple.

My only complaint would be about what caused the problem on Mario’s side. I think the characterization of those involved was stereotypical and felt out of place in such a sweet story. It takes the reader completely out of the “feels zone.” Other than that, I believe the author delivered a nice romance.

A beautiful cover by Bree Archer. It goes well with the Valentine’s Day story and Tom’s job and character.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 47 pages
Published: February 11, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781634770439
Edition Language: English

Melanie Hansen on How to Throw a Anti-Valentine’s Day Party & Love and the Exorcism (author guest post)

Love and the Exorcism by Melanie Hansen
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Bree Archer

Goodreads Link

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Melanie Hansen here today to share her thoughts, delicious as they are, about Valentine’s Day, how to throw a anti-Valentine’s Day party, and some thoughts on her story, Love and the Exorcism. Welcome, Melanie.

**********

If you’re like me, Valentine’s Day might not be one of your favorite holidays. Maybe you’ve been with your significant other for a long time and nobody cares, or you’re single and nobody cares, or—like my character Suzanne in my new short story Love and the Exorcism—you’ve just gone through a painful breakup and you don’t want to care. No matter how we each feel about Valentine’s Day, it’s over, and we’ve all survived it another year…

Discount chocolate for the win!

If for some reason you find yourself on the outs with Valentine’s Day again next year, consider throwing an Anti-Valentine’s Day party like Suzanne did in my story. It was cathartic for her, and bonus, it brought my heroes, Tom and Mario, together!

Here is Suzanne’s Anti-Valentine’s Day Ex-orcism in all its glory, drink recipes and all.

If you’re a Valentine’s Day hater too, enjoy!

Suzanne’s Anti-Valentine’s Day Party

First, send out some invites that will really get the point across:

When the big day finally arrives, decorate accordingly…

…and greet your guests with some theme music!

“Love Stinks”

“Love Hurts”

“I Will Survive”

“What’s Love Got to Do With It”

“Heartbreak Hotel”

Have some treats out for everyone to nibble on…

…and put out some plain sugar cookies and frosting for everyone to decorate with their own anti-sentiment!

(Don’t forget the severed head cake pops!)

While all this is going on, have a variety of the all-important alcoholic beverages available. Suzanne’s favorites, plus recipes, are below!

Adios Motherfucker

Ingredients:

½ oz. Vodka
½ oz. Rum
½ oz. Tequila
½ oz. Gin
½ oz. Blue Curacao liqueur
2 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
2 oz. Lemon/Lime Soda
1 Maraschino cherry
1 Lemon slice

Preparation:

Pour all ingredients except soda in chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Top with soda and stir gently. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and lemon slice.

Cupid’s Broken Arrow

Ingredients:

3 oz. Mango Vodka (We used Three-O Mango Vodka)
½ oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Cranberry juice
Splash of Lime juice
1 Cherry

Preparation:

Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry.
As an ice breaker for shy guests, or just to have some fun, consider offering these party games and crafts while everyone is still somewhat sober:

Broken Heart Bingo – Before your guests arrive, create grids with boxes. Write a statement in each box. Some suggestions of statements you can use:

“I have never received a dozen roses.”
“I still own an old engagement ring.”
“I’m still friends with my ex.”
“I have had 2 different dates on the same Valentine’s Day.”
“I’m still sleeping with my ex.”
“I have never had a date on Valentine’s Day.”
“I love Valentine’s Day.”
“I think Valentine’s Day is a stupid holiday.”

Put the same phrases in a different order on each grid. As guests arrive, put each person’s name in a bag. Then tell everyone to wander around the party and find people to sign each square that holds true for the person signing. After everyone has quite a few signatures, start drawing names out of the bag. The first person to have 5 names in a row is the winner!

Bitter Arts & Crafts – Make sure that everyone coming to the party brings pictures of an ex. (If not everyone has pictures, I’m sure that some people have more than one picture, and will be willing to share). Invest in some permanent markers and create “art” on your ex with the markers. Give them titles like, “My Ex Without Me,” or “Without Makeup.” Another fun activity is to write out your ex’s full name, and create an acronym. For example:

Clown-like
Rude
Ignorant
Lazy

Everyone can share their artwork with the rest of the guests! A prize should be awarded for the best work of art.

I think it’s pretty obvious by now that I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day, but I am a huge fan of happily ever afters, and I’m so glad that Valentine’s Day brought Tom and Mario to theirs.

Blurb

Buy Link: Dreamspinner Press eBook

About the Author

Melanie Hansen has spent time in Texas and Florida prisons…for work. She’s been in a room with a 17-year-old mass murderer who was also one of the most soft-spoken and polite teenagers she’s ever met. After a 13-year career as a court reporter, she can tell many stories both hilarious and heartbreaking.

She grew up with an Air Force dad, and ended up marrying a Navy man. After living and working all over the country, she hopes to bring these rich and varied life experiences to her stories about people finding love amidst real-life struggles.

Melanie left the stressful world of the courtroom behind and now enjoys a rewarding career transcribing for a deaf student. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

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Love and the Exorcism by Melanie Hansen Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist Bree Archer

Blurb

About the Author

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Love and the Exorcism by Melanie Hansen
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Bree Archer