A MelanieM Review: High Stakes (Four of Clubs #4) by Parker Williams (Pulp Friction 2015 #15)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Ben Nelson marvels at the resiliency of his lover, Artie Middleton. He takes everything life throws at him and comes out the other end stronger than ever. It’s with this strength in mind that Ben tosses Artie a curveball that will change both of their lives forever.

A single question from Ben’s lips has Artie rushing headlong toward his happily ever after. One that he never thought he’d have and is now being served to him on a silver platter. He has it all—friends, family, and a future. But even a gifted psychic can’t see everything, and Artie is about to get a wakeup call.

Things he thought to be true about his past aren’t as clear-cut as he believed. His history with some of the people in his life runs deeper than he realized. And he’s about to learn a previously unknown threat from his childhood has returned to rip it all away.

Artie soon finds that in this game, the stakes couldn’t be higher: the lives of everyone he loves.

We’ve reached book four in the latest Pulp Friction series and we all know what that means if you’ve read any of the previous series. It’s time for some serious angst and despair. Boy, does Parker Williams and High Stakes deliver that in, well, clubs. Can’t very well say spades can we?

Using the poker game analogy, the stakes of the games are raised up even higher still. Within these 60 pages, Parker Williams fills in more of Artie’s history and family background, along with a connection to another character’s past. The author uses this information not merely to inform but to scare the living bejeezus out of us with the ramifications it brings.

If any book has a purpose in a series (and this one surely does), its to show the closing in of evil around our small gang of knights gathering to do battle. And the odds aren’t looking good. The despair pours off the descriptions, and the angst flows even over the most joyful of scenes. And that ending? A shocker to the soul. That one went beyond a mere gnashing of teeth and tearing of the hair into the “Oh Nooooooooooo!” *cue to screams of disbelief*.

I did not see that one coming. When you can hide something like that event in the small clues stashed away in bits and pieces throughout the tale, well, that’s wonderful storytelling. Well done, Mr. Parker! Still devastated but well done.

Two more books to go. One more by Parker Williams and then the series finale written by all the authors and combined story lines. I can’t wait to see how they are going to pull this off. I am totally perplexed about the whole thing. The villains, the subplots, and just how its all going to work itself out. Am I a happy camper? Yes, I am.

All the stories are short, so it easy to catch up if you need to start at the beginning of a series. There are four of them that are connected here. I have them all listed at the bottom of the review. Use it as a TBR list if you haven’t already.

Love paranormal romance? Murder mysteries? Supernatural beings? Why not combine them all in the style of a pulp fiction series? They have it all here. Now I just can’t wait to see how it will all end.

I highly recommend this series and all the interconnected series its attached to.

Cover art by Laura Harner. I’ve been ambivalent about these covers from the start. But I really like this one. Especially with the shadows that can be taken a number of ways. Great job.

Sales Links: All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 65 pages
Published September 13th 2015
ASINB015DBPJHE
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2015 #15, Four of Clubs #4
other editions (1)
High Stakes (Four of Clubs #4) (Pulp Friction 2015, #15)

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Playground (Four of Clubs #3) by Parker Williams
Diamonds Edge (Ace of Diamonds #3) by Laura Harner

Round Four:

Dead Man’s Hand (Jack of Spades 4) by Lee Brazil
Blind Heart (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows
High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams
Diamond Flush (Ace of Diamonds 4) by Laura Harner

A Melanie M Review: Texas Wedding (Texas #7) by R.J. Scott

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Sometimes Riley and Jack have to be the ones to fight other people’s battles and stand up for what is right.

Faced with the life changing prospect of a yes vote from SCOTUS on the issue of same sex marriage, Riley and Jack realise they have decisions to make. Add in some distressing family news and the very real possibility that old secrets may resurface, and this last book in the Texas series pulls together as many threads as the boys can manage to handle.

But through all the ups and the downs, children, family events, laughter, and tears, there is nothing as special as the forever love between these two men.

With a vote from SCOTUS, RJ Scott was able to bring her Texas series to an end with the wedding story it deserves in Texas Wedding. And she does it in a way that is layered with elements both sweet and bluntly realistic.

Through seven books, Riley and Jack have gone from hatred to tolerance to lust to deep and abiding love. They have been married three times. But in only once of those ceremonies, have their hearts been engaged. They have four children, a large extended family and a growing list of charities, one of which is based at their ranch. Life hasn’t slowed down at all but instead the increasing hectic pace is getting to them. In Texas Wedding, RJ Scott brings all the characters we have grown to love together to celebrate the lives of Riley and Jack Campbell-Hayes, their children and to tie up loose ends.

I have always loved the realistic manner that RJ Scott folded Max, Jack and Riley’s adopted autistic child, into the family. Now Jack and Riley have further challenges in helping a older Max to adjust to changes in his environment and schedules, including those that happen at school. In the story, that means that Jack and Riley need a support group, to try to “see” an issue from Max’s standpoint. Its a wonderful side story, and it helps to show how the future might work out for Max and his family. No magic pills to cure Max, just support and working things through as a family. Same goes for their daughter, Haley, who has a health crisis that is dealt with common sense and the facts. Its hard to part with this family that I’ve grown so fond of just as the twins are getting older, Haley is starting to date, and the boy she is determined to marry is….well, let’s not go there…save it for the book. Let’s just say I miss them already.

All the side couples, some in flux, some not, are here. One or two old plot threads return to be tidied up, not neatly, life’s not like that. But enough so, that it works here at the series end.

Jack and Riley. Still at the heart of the series. Still hot. Still sexy. And still so very in love with each other. While their start may have been more of a “fairytale”, the way they go out is filled with authenticity, heart and realism. Overworked dads, (ok, extremely wealthy overworked dads) who need to make time for each other, adoption issues (Texas again), children problems, so many things ring true for this parent, and all these elements, all the various subject matters hang on a foundation of hope. And love. That final ceremony had me in tears. It was the perfect ceremony to end this book and the series. So many different things included here and all perfectly balanced with RJ Scott’s warm scripted narrative, full of heart and intelligence.

Is RJ Scott done with Jack and Riley? Maybe. Perhaps. At least she is for now.

We have seven books to remind us how much we love these two men and their story and we can revisit them as much as we want. Start at the beginning and continue on. It only gets better. Meet up at Texas Wedding! Its an ending you will treasure! I highly recommend them all.

Cover art by Meredith Russell. My only problem with this is that the models haven’t aged but Riley and Jack have. Maybe they should have been put in frames or something. It doesn’t work here.

␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣

Sales Links: RJ Scott Blog | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 216 pages

Published September 25th 2015 by Love Lane Books Limited

edition language English

url http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/texas-wedding-texas-7-blurb-reveal.html

series Texas #7

Texas Series:

The Heart of Texas (Texas, #1)

Texas Winter (Texas, #2)

Texas Heat (Texas, #3)

Texas Family (Texas, #4)

Texas Christmas (Texas, #5)

Texas Fall (Texas #6)

Texas Wedding

A MelanieM Review: Sloe Ride (Sinners #4) by Rhys Ford

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

It isn’t easy being a Morgan. Especially when dead bodies start piling up and there’s not a damned thing you can do about it.

Quinn Morgan never quite fit into the family mold. He dreamed of a life with books instead of badges and knowledge instead of law—and a life with Rafe Andrade, his older brothers’ bad boy friend and the man who broke his very young heart.

Rafe Andrade returned home to lick his wounds following his ejection from the band he helped form. A recovering drug addict, Rafe spends his time wallowing in guilt, until he finds himself faced with his original addiction, Quinn Morgan—the reason he fled the city in the first place.

When Rafe hears the Sinners are looking for a bassist, it’s a chance to redeem himself, but as a crazed murderer draws closer to Quinn, Rafe’s willing to sacrifice everything—including himself—to keep his quixotic Morgan safe and sound.

Rhys Ford’s “Sloe Ride” is the perfect title for the final story in the Sinners series. A combination of Sloe Gin and (at least in my thinking) Foghat’s ‘Slow Ride”, it works on so many levels for a story that brings together a virginal Morgan with the attributes of a mage and a wild musician looking for redemption and love. In “Slow Ride”, the beat and the lyrics are in total harmony, guitar riffs changing speed and climaxing towards the end, simulating love making. And the sloe berry of the sloe gin, tastes bitter unless its soaked in gin with a little sugar, ingenuity for using something not wanted, turning it into a drink that’s layered and warm. Perfect for Quinn and Rafe, two character who are in harmony with each other (if no one else). First they have to recognize their feelings about each other. Once that is done, along with the Morgan family’s acceptance of their relationship, Rafe and Quinn can explore what that means in terms of sex and their future. If they can survive another killer.

Yes, Quinn is a virgin at 30 and realistically so. He has chemical imbalances (not exactly spelled out, OCD, depression..not sure) that caused him to try to commit suicide when he was younger, and he was committed to a institute for a while. Of all the Morgans, he is the one that fell so far from the Morgan mold that the others continue to regard him as an frail oddity . Brilliant, his mother Brigid once remarked that Quinn could probably tell them why Stonehenge was built because he had been there. I love Quinn, he’s a remarkable character, strong, yet so vulnerable. Scattered yet earthbound. I adored him. And the wounded Rafe is perfect for him.

Yes, another deeply scarred musician in need of a Morgan to love and love him back. Rafe was a outlier of the Morgan family in his younger years, pulled closer when they realized how poor his family was. He had his own band but crashed and burned under the weight of touring, drugs and alcohol, but mostly drugs. A dead boy, overdosed in his hotel room, finished off Rafe’s career. Dumped by his band, Rafe’s life detonated. Only a final humiliation and a save by the Morgans, saw Rafe sober but ostracized by everyone he knew. Until Quinn.

Ford bluntly spells out Rafe’s drug addiction and the manner in which he burned all his bridges. Those “bridges remained burned”, sometimes you don’t get a second chance with people, and yes, you remain a addict. There is no miracle cure for Rafe’s past here and I liked that, just as there is no magic wand for Quinn’s chemical imbalances. You deal with what you’ve got and move on.

There is a rhythm here different from the other stories. Slower, moving to a different beat, which works, considering the main characters are each so different from the ones in the previous stories (Miki and Kane, Damien and Sionn, Connor and Forrest). So it stands to reason that the murder mystery is just that much off kilter too. I really didn’t see that denouement coming. The reveal was a total surprise. Some people will hate that, others love it that they didn’t have a clue.

By the end of the story, the band is reformed and has a new name. I have loved each and every story. Each and every romance and couple. And I am so sorry to see it complete. It may be the end of the band but surely Rhys Ford can dig up another Morgan or two in need of love, along with a killer determined to stop them? I so want the Morgan stories to continue. Fingers crossed the author is listening.

If you love rockers, murder mysteries, and contemporary love stories, here is a series to love. Grab up all the books in the Sinners series and get started. Put on a little Foghat to set the mood. I highly recommend them all.

Cover art by Reece Notley is one of my favorites as it works the best for the characters involved.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 246 pages

Published September 4th 2015 by Dreamspinner press

original title Sloe Ride

ISBN 1634765281 (ISBN13: 9781634765282)

edition language English

series Sinners #4

Sinner Series:

Sinner’s Gin (Sinners, #1)

Hair Of The Dog (Sinners, #1.5)

Whiskey and Wry (Sinners, #2)

Tequila Mockingbird (Sinners #3)

Rotgut Gin (Sinners, #3.5)

Sloe Ride (Sinners, #4)

A MelanieM Review: Sinner’s Gin (Sinners #1) by Rhys Ford

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

There’s a dead man in Miki St. John’s vintage Pontiac GTO, and he has no idea how it got there.

After Miki survives the tragic accident that killed his best friend and the other members of their band, Sinner’s Gin, all he wants is to hide from the world in the refurbished warehouse he bought before their last tour. But when the man who sexually abused him as a boy is killed and his remains are dumped in Miki’s car, Miki fears Death isn’t done with him yet.

Kane Morgan, the SFPD inspector renting space in the art co-op next door, initially suspects Miki had a hand in the man’s murder, but Kane soon realizes Miki is as much a victim as the man splattered inside the GTO. As the murderer’s body count rises, the attraction between Miki and Kane heats up. Neither man knows if they can make a relationship work, but despite Miki’s emotional damage, Kane is determined to teach him how to love and be loved — provided, of course, Kane can catch the killer before Miki becomes the murderer’s final victim.

I arrived late at the Rhys Ford doorstep and am now reaping the benefits of being able to binge read through Ford’s amazing series starting with Sinners. What a rich tapestry Rhys Ford weaves with this first tale in the series, Sinner’s Gin. A musician, wounded in body and soul, a modern Gaelic warrior, read that police officer, who sees the treasure buried beneath the scabs and scars and a murderer bringing the past back with him makes this a story I couldn’t put down from the moment I started it. And did I mention a dog so entreatingly, believably scruffy and well, terrier true that he stole my heart as well? I wolfed down Sinner’s Gin the way Dude would a fine piece of steak, ok, any piece of steak. With groans of appreciation and a longing for more.

Sinner’s Gin, a band destroyed by a drunken driver which left one member alive to mourn the loss of not just the band but its members he called family, and the man Damien that Miki thought of as his brother. After a tramatic prologue, Ford drops us into what’s left of Miki St. John’s life and its depressed and ugly. Subsisting on booze and junk food, the only thing keeping Miki from death is the thought that Damie’s hateful parents would inherent his music rights (and other things) and use them in ways Damien opposed. That fight keeps him alive, just barely. Ford brings this despondent man alive, from his caustic thoughts to his life at the stripped down warehouse which we see through his eyes. It will take several grisly events and a scruffy terrier to get Miki moving again, the foremost is a eviscerated body dumped on the GTO Damien bought him. That brings his past back and Kane Morgan into his life.

Kane Morgan is not a solitary creation. And how I thank Rhys Ford for this. Kane Morgan stomps into the story and our hearts carrying with him the Clan Morgan from mother Brigid who could teach the warrior queen Boadicea a thing or two to Donal, the “da”, a father so huge and elemental that he is frequently described as Ent like (a description I not only loved but could see). It doesn’t stop there. Conner, the oldest brother, the twins Kiki and Ryan, Braden, Riley, Ian and Quinn. And yes I know I got the order wrong. Six boys and two girls. A cousin, Sionn on the Finnegan side. You take all that Irish, all that Gaelic love, heart, and fire and when added together it become narrative magic. One that carries over from book to book. Oh, and except for Quinn, who in another book or alternate universe would have turned out to be a mage, they are all law enforcement officers or firefighters or something just fierce. They are that known entity….an Irish dynasty found in police and firefighter families everywhere.

Not one of which is slighted in the character department. Each person is rooted deeply not only in the family and story but in the authenticity of their characters. In their very believability they carry weight within them, a depth of feeling and soul. But each is so different from the other, even if only slightly. And its that slight difference that makes them feel so much like family, along with a dialog and family dynamics that anyone with siblings will recognize.

Yes, I have to mention Dude. I have terriers. Dude is a terrier and continuing character. Yes, you should never give them broccoli. The farts are catastrophic and profound. It speaks of research or at least close proximity with terriers who are fond of greens.

The plot and killer will make you heartsick at times and adds in an element that continues through all the stories. That of musicians with wounded, abused backgrounds that will find their way into a new band with Mike St. John and into the Morgan family Clan. Music runs through this story and series, music is in lyrics at the beginning of the chapters or in mentions of favorite bands beings ticked off by Morgan sons. It flows everywhere.

By the end of this amazing story I was reaching for Whiskey and Wry (Sinner’s #2), hearing the beat of the Bodhrán pounding in my ears, growing louder as well as my anticipation for what I knew was coming next. The startling ending of Sinner’s Gin had me on edge and now I’m more than ready for my journey to continue with the Clan Morgan and the musicians they love.

I highly recommend this story and the next, and well, the entire series. Rhys Ford has quickly become a “go to” author for me I love it when that happens. Need a new author to love? A new series to read? Grab up Sinner’s Gin by Rhys Ford and get started. Amazing people and things await you!

Cover art by Reece Notley. I really like the covers for this book and the series, all done by the same artist. Great job.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 260 pages

Published December 24th 2012 by Dreamspinner press

original title Sinner’s Gin

ISBN 1623802490 (ISBN13: 9781623802493)

edition language English

series Sinners #1:

Sinner’s Gin (Sinners, #1)
Hair Of The Dog (Sinners, #1.5) free download at the author’s website
Whiskey and Wry (Sinners, #2)
The Devil’s Brew (Sinners, #2.5)
Tequila Mockingbird (Sinners #3)
Rotgut Gin (Sinners, #3.5)
Sloe Ride (Sinners, #4)

A MelanieM Review: Blind Hearts (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

In a world where supernatural creatures openly exist, who can blame them for coalescing in one of the most fascinating and erotic places on earth? Welcome to New Orleans.

Emotions are a human flaw, certainly nothing he’s familiar with…

Yet when Laurant looks at his mysterious lover, something happens deep within him. He’s a sex demon who has eyes for only one man. Man? When did he stop referring to his lover as a meal? And when did he turn into a green-eyed demon? Perhaps when family came calling, requesting help. No one wants their lover surrounded by sex demons. If Laurant can’t get a grip on his newly found emotions, humans and supernaturals alike will be in danger.

He lost his one chance of finding out who he is, what he is…

Gun’s been hunting down the witch that pilfered his memories and issued him false ones to no avail. It’s like she disappeared off the face of the earth. Unfortunately, that scenario is quite plausible. It leaves Gun with a major dead end and a mind that is no longer his friend. Memories of a false love with a beautiful woman hinder his present unexplainable need for a certain incubus. But does he truly belong here…with a lover who can’t feel love, a city that isn’t his home, and a ragtag group of poker players that now call him friend? It’s time for Gun to forget the past and create a future for himself. At least the forgetting part is simple.

They both have personal issues to conquer, if they could just stop trying to conquer each other first.

Havan Fellow’s round four story, Blind Hearts is so very aptly named. You couldn’t find two characters with bigger blinders on their hearts than Gun and Laurant. Gun is in the dark about his identity, right down to the type of being he is, except that its definitely not human. Not a comforting fact to be in possession of. Laurant seems to have so many people messing with his future, including his father. The fuddy duddies of the Incubus world aren’t happy that Laurant goes the male route instead of the approved female one when feeding. And one top of that? That Laurant is feeding from another supe, supernatural that is? As against the laws as they come. Plus there is a very big evil in town and…. now they are discovering they have feelings for each other to deal with? Nope, they would rather keep their focus straight ahead rather than have to look inside at what’ their hearts are telling them. Self imposed blindness indeed.

Fellows has created a merrily as sin, deliciously sexy as, well hell, demon, Laurant, and paired him up with an enigma of power, Gun. That the enigma is comes in the wrapping of a gorgeous hunk is all that Laurant needs to be hooked, not that he is ready admit it. The author has let the layers built up around Laurant at the beginning of the story fall away book by book, revealing a complex individual underneath the flamboyant persona Laurant shows to the world (all dimensions of the world).

Its been a wonderful show, one I have reveled in. Gun on the other hand, has had to be built up from nothing, added to layer by layer, book by book, a balancing act that’s been sort of mesmerizing to read about. Each character’s truth being revealed by adding or subtracting layers, scene by emotional scene. And still each is blind to the other man’s feelings about the other.

Blind Hearts takes off the blinder’s. At the end, of course. And does so with a kick to the heart and the head. But never with any definite knowledge of what it all means, if anything. It could still be all smoke and mirrors. Or not. Maybe its something far worse. A cliffhanger that will break your heart.

We will have to wait for book five to find out. I’ve heard tell I should be sharpening my pitchfork because of the events that are coming. Hmmmm. I can’t wait. I love the anticipation. Bring it on!

Cover art by Laura Harner. I can see Laurant in this model. He’s sobering up a bit, who wouldn’t under the circumstances.

Sales Links: All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 53 pages

Published August 31st 2015 by Appleton Publishing Avenue

ASINB014RDYY52

edition languageEnglish

seriesKing of Hearts #4, Pulp Friction 2015 #14

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round Three:

Round Four:

Dead Man’s Hand (Jack of Spades 4) by Lee Brazil
Blind Heart (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows
High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams
Diamond Flush (Ace of Diamonds 4) by Laura Harner

A MelanieM Review: The Articles of Release (The Release Series #2) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Just released from the military, wounded warrior Eric Tremaine is trying to put his life back together like the doctors reassembled his shattered leg. He’s a man with no home, since his Louisiana family rejected him, so Eric winds up in Texas with his old Army buddy, Adam Winchester, and his lover, Sage.

When Eric decides to stop sitting on his ass feeling sorry for himself, he is introduced to trainer Troy Daniels, who lost both his legs in a teenage accident. Troy knows what it’s like to feel as if your body is your enemy. While Eric and Troy have a bumpy start, they soon find enough common ground to make a friendship, if not more. But taking it to the next level means finding out what they have to offer each other, and the world, before they can trust that the love they find together won’t cause more pain than pleasure.

Each of the books in BA Tortuga’s new Release series deals with a character grappling with a torturous reentry into society. The first novel, The Terms of Release, has Sage Redding dealing with being a ex-con returning to the small town that condemned him to close to 10 years of hard time in a state penitentiary at the age of 18. And for a crime that may not have been his fault. In that story, Tortuga bluntly describes the discrimination ex-cons face upon release, the terms of said release and the accompanying difficulties of losing so much of your life away from the “main culture” that you can feel alone and adrift once you are back trying to find your way inside a community once more. That same thread is picked up again in The Articles of Release, book two in The Release series.

Making the argument (and proving it) that there are more ways of separating a person from society and community, here its injured vet Eric Tremaine who is coming out of the army, trying to adjust to a new status and situation he never wanted or thought would happen. A explosion and severe body trauma ended Eric’s military career, leaving him full of rage, pain, and no direction to his life. A Cajun (a familiar and well loved region for Tortuga) bereft of family, their choice, Eric turns to the only person he can think of, Win Winchester (The Terms of Release), an old Army buddy.

When BA Tortuga is clicking on all cylinders with her writing, as she is here with this series, she not only creates these unbelievably realistic tough, wounded men, but makes us pull for them in their recovery by ushering us intimately into their thoughts and feelings. Doesn’t matter whether its their out of control “just throw shit” anger or feeling so helpless that they need to break down and sob, either way we are there with them 100 percent of the way because BA Tortuga has made them flesh and blood and vulnerable.

When Eric seeks the help and support of Win, he also gets Sage’s as well. Sage is still undergoing therapy for the operations needed in the aftermath of the events in The Terms of Release. Sage proves not only a sounding board for Eric but a curiosity of a man and relationship mentor. Sage is also his introduction to trainer Troy Daniels. Troy is a double amputee with a need to prove himself and everything sexy Eric finds in a man.

That’s four dynamic characters, although towards the end Win spends most of the time traveling so its down to Sage, Eric and Troy. No this is not a m/m/m. Its strictly friendship between the two couples which I appreciated. All three have been through horrific ordeals and hard times, and primarily in the case of Eric and Troy, still working their way through their physical and emotional issues. Again BA Tortuga handles their problems and the manner in which their pain and avoidance issues manifests itself authentically, sometimes with humor, sometimes with frustration and rage. Whatever the situation, my attachment to these men and their relationships is so deep that my attention never wavered. These four characters form such a strong foundation for this story that I could really have kept reading for another 100 to 200 hundred pages at least.

I love The Articles of Release. I got Sage and Win from the first story and a wonderful new couple in Eric and Troy. This story has so many layers to it. The wounded veteran adjusting to his new civilian life and physical restrictions, the double amputee growing up and dealing with his need to prove himself in risky situations, that being a amputee doesn’t end your sex life, along with Sage and Win’s new life, so many defining moments for each character and for the story itself.

I highly recommend this story and the series to date. I certainly hope BA Tortuga intends to continue it. She’s really onto something here and I hope to see what the next book in the series might bring.

Cover art by Bree Archer. I like the cover, yes its another torso, but at least it has the appropriate military garb and background.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon (coming soon) | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 220 pages
Expected publication: September 4th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634764582
edition languageEnglish
seriesThe Release Series #2

The Release Series Books:

A MelanieM Review: Dead Man’s Hand: Jack of Spades #4 by Lee Brazil (Pulp Friction 2015:Altered States Book 13)

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Barton Montoire, the ghost of a nineteenth century riverboat gambler, is devastated and angry. His lover, physics professor Sabine, has exorcised him. Again. This time, there’s no denying the professor’s actions were intentional. Worse, Bart can’t seem to convince their friends to aid him in his quest get Sabine to listen to his side of things.

With his lover Bart safe from shadowy threats of eternal damnation in the “other realm,” ghost hunter Sabine Brusilov is free to pursue his own risky investigation into the mysterious circlet and its connection to the shadow figure that’s been tormenting the unlikely couple. With the help of his friends, he determines to take control of the situation and bring Bart home.

I may have been a little harsh towards Sabine in the past, mostly because of his behavior and attitude towards Bart, his ghostly lover and favorite character of mine. However, with Dead Man’s Hand (book 4), Lee Brazil start’s repairing Sabine’s reputation, in my eyes and in that of his friends as well as supplying some explanations for some of the more bizarre actions and events that Sabine has been involved in. Has this made me mellow towards Sabine? Yes, it has, damn, it. Still that amount of arrogance has cost him.

Forty four pages isn’t a lot of time to turn a impression of a character around but Lee Brazil does it concisely and within the framework of a complicated plot. Its not, however, that Sabine changes but that our perspective of Sabine that gets revised now that we get to see underneath the surface of his actions. We see how the things he said and weird things he has done now fit differently into the whole picture. That tilt in viewpoint also shifts the story into another mode – a renewed sense of needing this couple to be together, something that might not have been there before.

Bart is still desperately trying to find his way “home”, seeking answers, for his own scary actions and Sabine’s. That dark evil influence had spread wider than anyone had thought possible. With Brazil reinstating Sabine as more in need of our compassion than scorn, Bart blindly trying to come come to Sabine, and the plot more deeply layered and vicious, the author is setting the stage for the explosions and fires that book 5 is sure to bring. Demons anyone? Evil demons that is? This is going to be painful, bloody, and someone, perhaps more than one is going to get hurt, but who?

Ah, Book 5, here we come, I can’t wait for the paranormal explosions to begin!

I highly recommend this story and all the stories that came before. Pick them up and devour them like the scary bon bons they are!.

Cover artist Laura Harner. Still wish they were darker and more frightening.

Sales Links: All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 44 pages

Published August 14th 2015 by Lime Time Press

ASINB013XZ611A

edition languageEnglish

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About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round One:

Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura HarnerRound Two:

Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura HarnerRound Three:Dead Button (Jack of Spades #3) by Lee Brazil
Blind Man’s Bluff (King of Hearts #3) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Playground (Four of Clubs #3) by Parker Williams
Diamonds Edge (Ace of Diamonds #3) by Laura Harner

Round Four:

Dead Man’s Hand (Jack of Spades 4) by Lee Brazil

Blind Heart (King of Hearts 4) by Havan Fellows
High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams
Diamond Flush (Ace of Diamonds 4) by Laura Harner

A MelanieM Review: Piece of Cake (A Matter of Time #8) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

After years of domestic partnership, Jory Harcourt and Sam Kage are finally going to make it official in their home state of Illinois. It’s been a long and rocky road, and nothing—not disasters at work, not the weather, not a possible stalker, not even getting beat up and having to attend the ceremony looking like he just got mugged—will make Jory wait one more day to make an honest man of the love of his life.

Should be a piece of cake, right?

Jory Harcourt and Sam Kage hold a special place in my M/M book heart as does their series, A Matter of Time. They were my first introduction to Mary Calmes, her stories and couples which I love so much.. So approaching Jory and Sam’s final story with any sort of objectivity is close to impossible, not only for me but I expect for a huge number of Mary Calmes fans who found her in the same manner.

Here at Piece of Cake, the eighth book, we know what to expect from Jory’s behavior. Adorable, stubborn, over the top in love with Sam and his kids, still a magnet for trouble…which always finds him. We know what to expect from Sam Kage. Totally in love with Jory, a lot of bellowing and roaring (not the same thing), a little waving of guns and scaring people, and lots of sex and love.. Here are the adorable kids, which arrived in the latter books, and always more trouble as well as domestic bliss. Was it predictable at times? Yes, but we knew that going in, perhaps, that was even part of the charm. We wanted them happy, we loved the arguments, the makeup sessions, and laughter, the familiarity of it all. Now at the series final, we are all close friends, wishing each other well and a happy bon voyage. No, that’s not a time for objectivity but for goodbyes.

Piece of Cake has not one but two weddings! Ok, one is a couple of scenes at the beginning when police Lieutenant Duncan Stiel and husband (and Jory’s ex) billionaire real estate mogul Aaron Sutter get married again in Chicago. Still! Two weddings! It should have been a double wedding with Jory and Sam. Didn’t happen because each man, Aaron and Jory, had vastly different ideas of what their weddings should be. Jory and Sam’s children, Hannah and Kola, Sam, and Jory are sitting in the 2nd row, and instead of watching the ceremony, all four are having a family “whisper style” argument over the use of the word “crap” at a wedding. Somehow that rang very true. And funny.

That’s exactly why I love these stories so. Mary Calmes combines the love that Jory and Sam have for each other and their children into a funny, human moment any parent will recognize. Its a balance she maintains throughout this story and all the others. That moment of family squabbling, whispered so not to attract any (more) notice but you know that’s unavoidable yet you are treating your kids and their questions/statements with the attention they deserve. Later on, when Jory ignores the danger signs pointing ginormouse arrows at his head and you want to roll your eyes a teensy bit, those earlier moments pull you back, and let you believe that its all just a part of Jory’s character makeup. Jory is Jory, and you’ve long come to accept and love his shortcomings as has Sam Kage.

Now Jory and Sam are preparing to get married in their backyard with their friends and family in attendance, so what could go wrong? Hmmm.

Well, there’s that strange car that seems to be following Jory everywhere…that he’s not taking seriously. Yep, that sounds familiar. Of course its a villain from the past to be dealt with, which happens. All their family and friends we have met and gotten fond of have small parts here, if nothing else as guests at the backyard wedding. Finally Sam and Jory get married and live happily ever after.You just know they do. In short, Mary Calmes gives us and Jory and Sam exactly what we wanted. We all get a Happily Ever After. Sigh.

I happily recommend Jory and Sam and their series, A Matter of Time. Please don’t start here if you haven’t read any of these stories before. This doesn’t give new readers enough of a feeling for the couple, their history, and their relationship for them to enjoy it like those of us coming to it with a ton of good will and back knowledge.

Bon voyage, Jory and Sam, its been a treat!

Cover artist is Reese Dante. That cover is about right. Guns and wedding cake, perfect for Jory and Sam.

Sales Link: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 70 pages
Published August 12th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634765909
edition languageEnglish
seriesA Matter of Time #8
characters:Jory Keyes, Sam Kage

A Matter of Time Series (Goodreads Links):

A Matter of Time, Vol. 1 (A Matter of Time #1-2)*
Books 1 through 4 are also earlier separate editions

Ears, Eggs and Bunnies (A Matter of Time, #6.5)

Parting Shot (A Matter of Time, #7)

Piece of Cake (A Matter of Time, #8)

A MelanieM Review: Diamond Edge (Ace of Diamonds #3) by Laura Harner (Pulp Friction 2015 #12)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Alpha Jet Gorman might once have been a reluctant leader, but when he discovers someone is willing to murder in order to hide the origins of the newest members of the pack, his protective instincts are out in full force. To prevent further injury to the younger wolves, he works to uncover the truth of his deceased lover’s past—but the real answers he seeks may remain elusive as ever.

As an ancient vampire and former executioner for the Vampire Council, Nico Sanzio da Urbino takes a longer view when it comes to telling the truth—all is fair if you get there eventually—but the conflict between duty and heart have never been so personal. The price may be more than he is willing to pay as he attempts to keep his own secrets intact while helping Jet uncover the previous Alpha’s mysterious past.

With the New Orleans preternatural population continuing to increase at an unnatural rate, the local Alpha and the Odd Squad’s chief enforcer should have their attention focused on maintaining the human-to-super status quo, but with things between them heating up, their mutual distraction could prove deadly.

Give me the right vampire/werewolf combination and I’m all in. With Jet and Nico, Laura Harner has her vampire and werewolf dynamic balance exactly right. Its on the edge, the power shifting subtly to each side from moment to moment. Nico and Jet are drawn to each other past what either had anticipated. One has age and knowledge, the other a youthfulness as well as a ability to love that the vampire has been missing. But their pull on each other goes beyond attraction and the need for blood into something unnamed and unknown…as yet.

Harner makes this attraction between Nico and Jet white hot and sizzling. Their scenes together when they finally give in to their feelings of lust…well, bring on the fans! But it was more. Jet was still in so much pain over the loss of Russ and reeling from the revelations that their investigations were uncovering about the rogue baby wolves and Russ’ involvement. To have him, accept Nico and give him blood? That moment of exposure and acceptance? Made me love this couple even more. Then came the undercurrents of mystery and hidden secrets Jet was receiving from Nico and others which had Jet starting to wonder who exactly he could trust. So typical of this series.

I loved the buildup of suspense. The two point perspective helps to build our anticipation of further “emotional explosions” and angst to come, because we’re in the heads of both our beloved protagonists, for better or sometimes for worse. In case of this story and ending, far, far, worse.

Diamonds Edge, so sharp it can cut the hardest of materials, is by far my favorite so far. That ending is a killer! Now I need more. Won’t get it, but definitely want it. This series is so addicting! Grab up all the stories and make it yours. Must be read in the order they were written. I highly recommend them all. Read them one by one or wait until they are finished and binge read. Whatever is your reading pleasure!

Cover Art by Laura Harner. This is my favorite yet. I don’t know if its because I’m just a back slut or if its because that stormy background combined with the muscly back gives off the supernatural vibes I’ve been looking for, either way, I love this.

Sales Links: All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 73 pages

Published July 30th 2015 by Hot Corner Press

ASIN B0134S3J5M

edition language English

series Pulp Friction 2015 #12

☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.
Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Round Two:
Dead Blind (Jack of Spades: 2) by Lee Brazil
Stud Player (King of Hearts: 2) by Havan Fellow
Up the Ante (Four of Clubs: 2 ) by Parker Williams
Diamond Draw (Ace of Diamonds: 2) by Laura Harner

Round Three:

Cover Reveal Time for Eden Winter’s Redemption (Diversion #5) (excerpt and giveaway)

Redemption (Diversion #5) by Eden Winters
Release Date: August 8, 2015

Goodreads Link (Add to your shelf)
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Sales Links: Amazon

(Bonus link: Check http://www.rockyridgebooks.com/334/
to get Diversion, the first book of the series, for .99!)

Living is the easy part.

Agent Lucky Lucklighter and his partner escaped Mexico alive, only to plunge into bureaucratic fallout from their mission. Hell, maybe Lucky should have stayed south of the border. Especially when the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau places Bo into rehab, and Lucky’s facing both therapy and an inquiry into a fatal shooting. Watching over his shoulder for a vengeful drug lord or a cartel don calling in favors leaves him scarcely able to imagine a future for them as agents, or as a couple.

Bo Schollenberger once had a vision for their life together, but he’s bowed beneath the weight of his undercover work. Lucky’s hanging on by his deeply chewed fingernails, clinging to hope by making Bo’s dreams of a home into reality. The last thing he needs is a phone call from a dangerous man who knows too much, summoning him back to Mexico for “an early Christmas present.”
Not when the SNB brass asks tough questions, like “How well do you know your partner?”

Pages or Words: 73,000 words

Categories: Crime fiction, Fiction, Gay fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Thriller

“What’s your current credit rating?”

Lucky didn’t often use credit. After getting out of prison to work for Walter, he’d bought his car from a police auction for cash, and lived a low-key lifestyle. Before that, Victor Mangiardi had taken care of him. A nice way to live, but other than a car stereo in his teens, he’d never made payments on anything. And he’d been Richmond Lucklighter then. He’d only been Simon Harrison for a short time, and although he’d used credit cards to make expense reporting easier when on assignment, he paid them off every month. “I’m not sure.”

“Then let’s see.” The woman tapped on her laptop and whistled. “Mr. Harrison, I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting you the loan.”

He owed Walter one hell of a lot of those frou-frou coffee drinks from Starbucks for giving him a credit score to make a loan officer whistle.

An hour later Lucky fought to hide a grin from a woman who’d put the Energizer Bunny to shame. “Now, I’m familiar with the house you’re considering. Offer 180. Trust me.” She winked and handed him the phone.

He pulled a dog-eared card from his wallet and dialed.

“Mr. Harrison?” The Realtor didn’t sound too happy to hear from him, not that he blamed her. She’d been working hard for her commission. That’s why she got commission.

“Is that house still available? The fixer-upper in the gated neighborhood?”

“Y… yes.”

“I want to make an offer.”

Now what was he gonna tell Bo?

Captivated young by story-telling, Eden Winters’ earliest memories include spinning tales for the family’s pets. Her dreams of writing professionally took a sojourn into non-fiction, with a twelve-year stint in technical documentation.

She began reading GLBT novels as a way to better understand the issues faced by a dear friend and fell in love with the M/M romance genre. During a discussion of a favorite book, a fellow aficionado said, “We could do this, you know.” Good-bye gears, motors, and other authors’ characters; hello plots and sex scenes.

Somewhat of a nomad, Eden has visited seven countries so far. She currently calls the southern US home, and many of her stories take place in the rural South. Having successfully raised two children, she now balances the day job with hiking, rafting, spoiling her grandchildren, and stalking the wily falafel or elusive tofu pad Thai at her favorite restaurants. Her musical tastes run from Ambient to Zydeco, and she’s a firm believer that life is better with fur kids and Harley Davidsons.
Find Eden’s other works at http://edenwinters.com or contact her at edenwinters@gmail.com

Where to find the author: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdenWinters
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eden-Winters/300380906658065
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenWinters1
Blog: http://www.edenwinters.com
E-mail:edenwinters@gmail.com

Tour Dates & Stops: August 1, 2015
Parker Williams, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, BFD Book Blog, Mikky’s World of Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Bayou Book Junkie, The Hat Party, Jessie G. Books, The Jena Wade, Christy Loves 2 Read, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, TTC Books and More, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Iyana Jenna, Andrew Q. Gordon, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Ogitchida Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Reviews by Jessewave, Velvet Panic

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Redemption’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Prizes and link provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books in the Diversion Series in the order they were written and should be read for character development, and plot development (not standalone stories):

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About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

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☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠☠

About Pulp Friction 2015

Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection. Four authors. Four Series. Twenty books. One supernatural finale.

Share this:

Redemption (Diversion #5) by Eden Winters Release Date: August 8, 2015

Goodreads Link (Add to your shelf) Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Sales Links: Amazon

Share this:

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Redemption (Diversion #5) by Eden Winters
Release Date: August 8, 2015

Goodreads Link (Add to your shelf)
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase