A MelanieM Review: Snowman by Isabelle Rowan

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

We all find ways to run away. Some do it in seclusion, others in the arms of lovers.

Since the death of his long-time partner, Caleb Maguire lives a quiet life in Australia’s Victorian high country with only his dog and horses for company. Each day is the same. There are no surprises—good or bad—until a major snowstorm hits his mountain and Caleb is called out to rescue a stranded tourist. The late night snow brings with it a lost soul who forces Caleb to reassess his solitary life.

Paul Turner is a barista in the trendy Melbourne suburb of Carlton. He lives life totally in the moment, but a life of no commitments is about to change for this city boy. Three days is all it takes for Paul to fall hard for Caleb, and Paul returns to the city with a promise he’ll be back after turning his life around… but only when all the roads are clear.

I fell in love with the writing of Isabelle Rowan when I read her story, A Note in the Margin. Rowan’s characters leapt off the page and into my heart so believable and real I found them and their lives to be. When I saw Snowman on the Dreamspinner website, I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to acquaintance myself once more with this remarkable author. But there was also a bit of trepidation as well. Since that first book I had read tons more stories, with a variety of approaches to the M/M fiction genre. How would I feel about Isabelle Rowan’s writing now?

It was wonderful and I found myself falling in love all over again at her ability to bring Australia’s harshest landscape, in all it terrifying glory, and the men who love it deeply vividly to life. It takes a special person to be able to connect with that environment, who loves both the stark beauty enough to accept its devastating changes that can destroy everything around you, whether its avalanches or wildfires and drought. If these people, these men in this case, have their own scars and pain they carry, then it makes their attachment to this land all the more understandable and believable.

Caleb Maguire is just such a man. The loss of his long term partner has thrown him into a crevasse of grief he’s not even trying to crawl out of. Instead, Caleb has withdrawn emotionally and physically into their cabin high in the mountains, their animals and working dog Molly. He has so isolated himself that his only contact is when he heads into town for supplies and Sarah, the sister of his dead lover. But that all changes one snowstorm, when he gets a call from the local policeman. A man is lost up on the mountain and the blizzard is making it impossible for them to get to him. The temperature is falling rapidly and the “fool” needs to be rescued immediately or they fear he will die of hypothermia. Caleb is the only one close enough to reach him and with the resources to do so. The march to find the lost man and his vehicle is almost impossible in the whiteout conditions, and Rowan makes us take every hard won, treacherous step of the way with Caleb and Molly. The rescue itself is frightening as frostbite is numbing the man’s hands and the cold making him sleepy. It’s scary, the work to free the man from his car frantic as the snow piles higher around them. And its this scene, this rescue that pulls us into these mens lives and makes us care what happens to them. Both men, and Molly could have been lost here. But courage, and determination pulls them through, staggering home through the snowdrifts.

The man Caleb rescues? Party boy Paul Turner. Not immediately likable but somehow Rowan puts a spark in his “shallow” personality, one that makes you want his actions to change. Which he does ever so slowly. In fact both men change at an almost glacial rate, a pace I thought was not only realistic but necessary because of the character traits and types of change that needs to happen for this to become a love story to believe in. I fell in love with Paul, it took time but I did, just as deeply as I fell in love with Caleb. It takes time to make you think they belong together but when you “buy” into their relationship you will do so with your whole heart.

And that brings us to an element that will either make you crazy or leave you deeply in love with this story and its characters. It’s the pace, the flow at which things occur. This is a long story but it is divided into four chapters, each with the title of a season of the year. We start appropriately enough at Winter. It’s actually winter in the country but there’s also a winter of the soul in each of the men. One has given up, letting his heart become cold, freezing others out. The other? Has let life reduce him to a shallow party existence, devoid of richness of growth and life. Then we follow the story, these men and their attempts at a relationship through Spring, Fall and it ends with Autumn. We live through the changes in the landscape, and the myriad of changes that Paul and Caleb (and the others around them) must go through as well. Those transformations happen at the pace and whims of nature. It can be like watching the water drip from a melting icicle. In the mornings, its slow, the drop falling at long intervals. In the afternoons, with the sun shining with the promise of the approaching Spring and the icicles melt with a rhythm of a stream. Snowman‘s narrative follows such a pattern, it ripples and eddies, pools and then picks up the pace once again, following the path that nature sets out. I loved that about this story and pulled its slow permutations and evolutions of character around me like a soft throw, enjoying every minute I spent inside this story.

But if you like action, a sort of “wham bam thank you sir” sort of action, this will make you crazy. If you want Caleb and Paul to change and change now, well, that doesn’t happen here. Life altering changes take time, so does grieving over a major loss, one that you refuse to accept. Isabelle Rowan understands that and if and when changes happen to Paul and Caleb, its because they did in a logical and meaningful way.

If I had a quibble it was the insertion of drama with Stewart aka “Stewie”, Paul’s best friend. I’m not sure why this element was included unless it was setting up a sequel with Stewart at its heart. I would love that actually, but the drama that centered around Stewart took me away from the developing relationship with Caleb and Paul, already one that moves at a snail’s pace. It really didn’t need one more impediment. However, I did like Stewart and would love to see what happens with him down the line, with a reappearance by Caleb and Paul of course.

I love Isabelle Rowan and Snowman exemplifies just why I adore her writing and characters so. Snowman feels real, its characters flawed and throughly human and their journey towards each other and a relationship strewn with the pebbles and boulders life puts in their path. It’s the men, the people around them and the land they live on that comes together in one seamless portrait of life well lived and rich in love in all its aspects. I highly recommend this story and this author. Pick up Snowman and start your own journey with both today.

Cover art by Garrett Leigh. Lovely cover, works perfectly for the story and draws you in.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 276 pages
Published May 4th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN139781634760287
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love, & Devotion #4&5) by Tere Michaels

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Faith, Love, & Devotion: Books Four & Book Five

Cherished

After several years of happy coupledom, Matt and Evan can relax in the knowledge that their little family has survived the worst of it. The two older girls are away at college, the twins have yet to fully hit teen angst, Matt is doing well with his part time security consulting, and Evan is about to be promoted to captain—it seems like things are calm and bright.

Until they aren’t.

As the holidays approach, Evan and Matt get a shock no parent is ever prepared for: feisty Miranda, Evan’s eldest, has a new boyfriend, Kent, and they are talking marriage after just three months together. In fact, Miranda wants to bring him to Thanksgiving dinner—along with his parents, Blake and Cornelia.

Blessed

Lives are in transition as everyone gathers at the stunning Hamptons beach home of Daisy and Bennett to celebrate the christening of their new baby. Griffin and Jim—secretly growing tired of their rootless lifestyle—are in a rocky spot in their relationship. And as the godfather, Griffin finds himself yearning for something he’s sure Jim won’t be interested in.

Fatherhood.

Matt and Evan are looking to reconnect during the long weekend, as their respective careers pull them in separate directions. With less time spent together, Evan grows concerned about what will happen when the last two kids leave the nest.

1st Edition of Cherish published as an eBook by Loose Id LLC, November 2012.

This is the fourth and fifth book combined in the Faith, Love & Devotion series by Tere Michaels and it is a series close to my heart. We first met Matt and Evan in the first book Faith & Fidelity, at the angst ridden beginnings of their relationship. Then Evan was mourning the loss of his beloved wife and first and only person he has ever slept with. In addition to his grief, he was trying to do his job as a police officer and fill in the void for his four kids left behind when his wife died. Evan is full of pain, grief and overburdened by stress and doubts about his ability to be a good father and step up to the plate. Matt is a complete mess when the reader and Evan first encounter him. Forced to resign from the police force he loves over behavior issues, he has become a bitter, disillusioned drunk, getting by as a security cop and on anonymous sex with women. But a conversation in a bar and the exchange of personal confidences leads to an unlikely friendship that eventually turns into a shattering love affair that forces each man to rethink his sexuality and their acceptance of the fact that they love each other. It is a tough road for Evan and Matt, especially Evan, who has the reactions of his children, former inlaws and police force to think about.

One of the things I cherish about this series is that Tere Michaels lets us in on the emotional fallout and oscillating feelings, including bouts of denial, that come with identity earthquakes. By that I mean the paradigm shifts that occur within a person when the most basic self knowledge is proven wrong. And being gay or bisexual is a major shift for them both. The author lets their relationship play out, not over one book but four stories, including this one. The Evan/Matt relationship here is the strongest it has ever been (and that’s saying something) but even here it has its shaky moments, most of which come from the stress brought on by Miranda. Let me tell you, there are many times that I am as frustrated with Miranda as everyone else in her family. I don’t like her behavior, I can’t think of too many people who would. But it is realistic? Yes, I think so. And while we all would wish that Evan get a grip when dealing with her, those of us who have been in his shoes will also understand his reluctance. But does that sound like I think of them as characters? No it does not. And that’s the beauty of these stories and these amazing characters, they might make you gnash your teeth and pull some hair, but they are never anything less than believable.

Michaels also takes into account how much alike fathers and their daughters can be as Evan and Miranda’s behavior is often a reflection of each other. Matt too has aged and grown into his role as caregiver/second father to at least 3 of the kids, and his growth is as realistic and wry as can be. Tere Michaels has a wonderful grip on relationship dynamics, not only between romantic partners but familial relationships too. Siblings squabbles, family arguments, and the small joys of an established bond are all found here in this latest addition to the series.

Cherish takes place over Thanksgiving and includes the family of Miranda’s boyfriend, which adds that unknown element so often present at Thanksgiving when multiple family groups, including strangers, are brought together and forced to engage each other on the most intimate of American celebrations, the Thanksgiving dinner. Expectations are perhaps unreasonably high for what we think this holiday with its traditions of being grateful and giving thanks will bring. And that stress alone has blown up more turkeys than any fryer on the market. I will tell you that all ends well, at least temporarily for this wonderful family I have become so fond of.

Then comes Blessed and the tribe, at least part of it, is gathering together again…this time for Shane and Helena’s wedding. It’s stressful, funny, and wry look at relationships formed when older. But Shane and Helena’s marriage is making the others ask Matt and Evan when they will get married and once again the ground under them starts to shake. I loved this section because I adore the secondary characters Michaels created as a support system for the main couples.

Missing from the wedding? Jim and Griffin who are on their way to Albany where Griffin’s dad has had a heart attack. Griffin is a mess, Jim is being his rock and uncertainty is in the air. and then later at the Drake household where Griffin’s father has had a heartattack. And instead of the word blessed, I often thought of substituting the word blessed as in “There isn’t a blessed thing you can do about it!” Add a damnit or two as well. Because things are still shaky here underneath a calm exterior for a number of our favorite couples. Once again, Michaels has chosen to be into the raw and gritty of the relationship dynamics instead of the “hearts and flowers”. The author grounds us into the sometimes painful reality of the uncertainty, statsis and silence of non communication that can descend on the most loving of couples. And it plays out here for Matt and Evan, Jim and Griffin, and Daisy and Bennett. One happy moment in one of the couple’s relationship leaves an elephant of a subject matter in another pairing, a big relationship topic that the men are afraid to bring up. Why? Because doing so will take some deep introspection into their past lives and present emotional status. That’s always a scary prospect no matter how wealthy or experienced you may be and it sets the stage beautifully for the next book to come up.

Blessed is more a series of relationship vinaigrettes than a complete story. It skips from one situation and time line to the next. From the birth of Daisy and Bennett’s baby to their house in the Hamptons, with each scene portraying a moment or two in each couple’s growth in their relationship. I loved each segment, as it provides needed momentum and respite from the uncertainty and doubt that comes with most of the other stories. However, its Tere Michaels at the pen and however happy the couples appear, the cracks and fissures are starting to appear that will cause the foundations to shake for all of them in Truth and Tenderness, the 6th and final story in the series.

Truthfully, I can’t get enough of all of the couples and their combined stories. Sometimes their actions anger or frustrate, or give cause for hope and joy, or something realistically in between. Love and relationships take work. That’s a truth that should be painted at every wedding chapel or city hall. Fairy tales last but a moment and then real life sets in. That’s what Tere Michaels excels at giving us….couples we love living their lives realistically and authentically as possible. Yes, there are crimes committed, ones that get you locked up and others against the heart. Michaels charts them all and lays them out in this amazing series of novels.

I highly recommend them all and find myself eagerly awaiting the final installment. I’ll meet you there.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson. I find all these covers a little bland and nondescript. Nothing to separate this story from anyone else’s. Too bad.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 200 pages
Published February 13th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN139781634761994
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
seriesFaith, Love, & Devotion #4&5

Here are the books in the series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the history and couples involved:

Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #1)
Love & Loyalty (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #2)
Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #3)
Cherish (Faith, Love, & Devotion, #4)
Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love, & Devotion #4 & 5)
Truth & Tenderness (Faith, Love, & Devotion #6) series finale

A MelanieM Review: The Line by Angel Martinez

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5:

Rafael Schiller, vampire and sexual god without peer, believes himself the top of the food chain, until a bizarre creature feeding in an alley scares the deathless hell out of him.

Rafael Schiller’s had a long road and he’s forgotten the meaning of several human words along the way. Commitment? Relationship? Love, for all the gods’ sakes? What does a vampire need those for? He’s completely content treating his long string of one-off lovers as midnight snacks. He makes it good for them and has no reason for guilt or grief. Some nights still induce an odd, hollow ache, but he can just drown it in the next conquest. Master of his universe, he lives without a care…until he encounters a bizarre creature feeding in an alley.

It’s caught his scent, and now that it’s hunting him, Rafael remembers a word from his childhood. Krsnik—the hunters, the monsters who feed on the blood of vampires. He could run, but he’d be running forever, and that would sure as hell take the fun out of life. Time to figure out what the creature really is, what can defeat it, and why he feels so drawn to it.

The Line by Angel Martinez is another terrific story from this “auto read” fantasy author. The Line takes the typical vampire character, normally an apex predator when they aren’t sparkling, and gives him an adversary, the Krsnik, worthy of such formidable being. Furthermore, Martinez doesn’t just give us a remarkably scary hunter in the Krsnik, no, she gives us the haunting backstory as to how this creature came into being. By giving us those extra layers, Martinez’ The Line and her characters steps outside the ordinary “supernatural” narrative into something quite wonderful and unexpected.

Talk about a duo meant for each other in every way but romantic. At least at first. Rafael, is a vampire whose years of existence has taught him that killing his “food’ is unnecessary. Instead he leaves his “young men” sexually sated and happy when he is done and on his way out the door. It’s a lonely existence but Rafael has made his peace with it. Then a new predator appears in his town and Rafael decides to track it down and dispatch it. Only this predator feeds on vampires and is more powerful and just as cunning as Rafael. Now the hunter is the hunted, Rafael’s position at the top of the food chain is gone and his continued existence in doubt. It’s a lovely turn of events and the author wrings every bit of angst, suspense and shock out of this element.

Lan the Krsnik is remarkable as the predator of predators. He’s a truly fearsome creature. But he is also as layered a being as Raphael. I won’t spoil the surprises that come with his character but they brought to mind a quote I recently read that said when creating villains/dark characters, a good way to make them real is to give them vulnerabilities, a way for the reader to also understand and sympathize with them*. Angel Martinez has certainly done that here with Lan. Together Lan and Rafael become this dance of hunter and hunted that I never wanted to end. I loved every bit of it, including those instances where humor surfaces to ease the tension…for just a moment before it all gets deadly again.

I rarely find that I am happy with the length of any Angel Martinez tale because she provides such interesting back histories and world building to her stories that she often poses as many questions in her narrative as she supplies answers. At the end of each story I am always left wanting to know more….about everything. And yes, that happens here as well. Forty five pages? I could use two hundred and still be curious about small bits of history and back story that she teased us with throughout the tale. The only jarring element was the inclusion of the Johnny Cash song, The Line. I know it was included because this story was initially published as part of Totally Bound’s 50’s Mixed Tape Anthology but it could have been easily eliminated here, at least to my way of thinking.

Do you love tales of the supernatural? Are vampires in lust and love your thing as they are mine? Or you are just a fan of Angel Martinez as I am…in all case, pick up The Line by Angel Martinez. It’s a vampire tale you won’t want to miss and one I highly recommend.

*Can’t remember who made this remark at the moment. I will give them credit when my memory starts working again.

Cover Art by Pamela Sinclair. I have to say I am tired of seeing that one model everywhere. You know, the blond one. He’s an elf usually, or an angel. No matter, what he’s emphatically noticed for is being overused. Sigh. Surely, there is another stock model who could be substituted in his place?

Sales Links: Totally Bound Books All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 45 pages
Published December 20th 2013 by Totally Bound
previously published as part of the 50’s Mixed Tape Anthology
ISBN 1781849145 (ISBN13: 9781781849149)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttps://www.totallybound.com

A MelanieM Review: Diamonds & Dust: Ace of Diamonds One by Laura Harner

(PF 2015: Altered States Book 4)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

After the traumatic events that left Jamal ‘Jet’ Gorman’s the de facto Alpha of his pack, the time has come for Jet to take up the responsibilities and problems of a job he never wanted or thought would be his. There are rumblings of others who would fight him to the death for the position, and others maneuvering behind the scenes to make sure that Jet’s time as Alpha is a short one. Jet isn’t certain that’s not a fitting way to exit this world…even if it puts the werewolves he’s sworn to protect in the hands of a ruthless killer. A trip to the bayou with the ancient and enigmatic new vampire in town changes everything—in ways Jet would never have predicted. Now his new mission is safeguarding his late partner’s secret.

Nicolino Sanzio da Urbino—Nico to his friends, if he had any—has been undead for centuries, and given the betrayals in his own past, it shouldn’t surprise him the depths some will go to in order to seize a power to which they have no claim. After leaving his position with the Vampire Council behind, Nico’s new job with the Odd Squad provides more flexibility and challenges. It also comes with a lot more latitude when meting out justice, so when he discovers a plot to rid the local pack of their second Alpha in as many months, Nico decides it’s time to go hunting. That is until he meets Jet and everything gets…personal.

With hearts as hard as diamonds, neither man is seeking the odd connection that seems to flow between them—but the winds of change blowing through the Crescent City seem to have everyone on edge—and not all challenges are as simple as they seem. With more and more monsters coming out of the closet, only time will tell if these two survive long enough to play the hand they’ve been dealt—before they become dust in the wind.

I know, I know, I say this with each story, but Diamonds & Dust by Laura Harner may be my favorite. At least until the 2nd books in the next round pop up. I love Jet and the events that have already occurred at the beginning of this story shocked me! No way did I see that coming. And it left me a little heartbroken over Jet’s loss.

Then I met Nico. Heartbreak gone.

In fact I couldn’t even remember that much about Russ (Russ, right?) because Nico’s first, second, and third impressions are strong, charismatic, and absolutely addicting. He is everything that Jet (and the reader) needs. And the same holds true for Nico. Jet is that one being he has been waiting for. They are each other’s yin to the yang, the magnets that cling instead of repel. Their push me/pull you meeting and beginnings of a relationship hooked me in throughly. And when that is framed by a storyline full of vicious assaults, deep plotting by everyone around, evil doers on the loose, and tons of hot sex, well, you have the setup for a memorable and yes, haunting series.

Harner’s writing style is concise, her prose tight and expressive, and the storyline is propelled along at break neck speed. You will want to slow it down to savor certain lines or situations but the cast and plot won’t let you tarry. It hurls you along until you reach the….argh….cliffhanger. Yes, yet another ending that leaves you hanging. But that’s what serialized stories do best. Leave you hanging and wanting more.

This Pulp Friction series, PF 2015 Altered States, is “guaraunteeeed” (try saying it in the late Justin Wilson’s voice) to make you a little crazy. No one is safe, lots of people are going to die (and just maybe come back), with plots that are as hard to tie down as a will o the wisp! And I love every word and exclamation point of it. These stories are as addicting and satisfying as a New Orleans beignet!

But don’t take my word for it. This is the end of the first round of stories. Get in on the beginning. It really doesn’t matter which series you start with. Diamonds & Dust: Ace of Diamonds One by Laura Harner is a terrific place to start. Or go back even further to the Altered States series written by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb, that sets out the universe for the characters and events that happen here. Do that for a wildly scary and fantastic ride into the supernatural and beyond. One of my highly recommended reads!

Cover art by Laura Harner. Loving this group of covers, including this one.

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

Book Details:

ebook
Published April 1st 2015 by Smashwords Edition (first published March 31st 2015)
ISBN13 9781941841082

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

A Musical Interlude with Alex Beecroft and Blue-Eyed Stranger(guest post and contest)

If you have read the reviews of both of Alex Beecroft’s Trowchester novels, you will know that I am deeply in love with this small village and its inhabitants. In Blue-Eyed Stranger, the music and musical instruments that Alex Beecroft makes sing through the many passages of this story were old in origin but new to me in sound and shape. I had to go looking through the web for the pictures of the instruments themselves and the sounds they bring forth. If only I had this post before hand! Morris dancing, the kantele, and other folk tunes have become my latest obsessions thanks to these stories and their author. Read on and let them become yours as well.

A Musical Interlude – a Blue Eyed Stranger Guest post

It occurs to me that there’s a lot of music in BES, and it’s music of a kind with which most readers may not be familiar. ‘Folk’ in general conjures up different things on either side of the pond, and then there’s the Viking music which scarcely anyone has heard. So, come with me on a whistle-stop tour around the music in Blue Eyed Stranger.

Let’s start with the title. In fact the blue eyed stranger the title refers to is Billy Wright himself, champion dancer of the Stomping Griffins, but this is the dance and the tune that morris aficionados will think of if you ever say ‘Blue Eyed Stranger’ to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQGJj-gkaO0

It’s also a good example of the Cotswold style of morris, which the Boy prefers because of its technical difficulty, (lots of tricky footwork) but which tends to leave audiences cold.

This, on the other hand, is a good example of the Border style of morris, which the Griffins find themselves doing more often because it’s what the people like to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjRTALO-l1w

Quite honestly I largely agree with the people on this one.

Somewhere around the middle of the book, Billy takes an unsuspecting Martin to a session at his local pub. If, like Martin, you’ve never wandered into anything like that before and are a bit bemused, it goes a bit like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCzMh5f89Wc

Anyone can turn up. If you know the tunes you break out your instrument and start playing along with everyone else. If you don’t know them, you listen hard and try to pick them up by ear, or you go and buy another beer. If no one’s playing and you can think of a tune, start it and everyone who knows it will join in with you. If you don’t know the tunes it’s trickier, so it’s a good idea to go on somewhere like Folk Tune Finder and learn a few things before you go. Most folk music is in the key of D or G. Stick to those and you should be fine.

The world of folk music and dance is still a very vibrant and lively part of most English towns and villages. There’s little difficulty in coming across it if you’re looking. Indeed, sometimes when we break out the instruments people leave the pub, going ‘oh, blimey, we don’t want that!’ So sometimes you can even find it when you’re not looking.

The world of Ancient music is a different story, but it too is out there.

Here is an example of the five stringed kantele that Annette plays. I think if you listen closely you can just about pick up the sound of it singing to itself underneath the tune. It’s clearly something which is difficult to capture on a recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VEr-Suti4M

Technically, the kantele is a Finnish instrument rather than a Viking one, but as I’ve said elsewhere, the Vikings had trade routes just about everywhere. And speaking about things that are found just about everywhere, this next instrument – the Anglo Saxon hearpe (also known as a lyre) – is ancient and ubiquitous and found everywhere. You can evidently do a lot more on it than it initially seems. A lovely thing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHA5SvmJyJM&list=RDQHA5SvmJyJM#t=173

this is what Martin lends to Billy and Billy – who is a violinist – picks up immediately.

Later, after the book closes, they start researching the music of ancient Meroe, from which Martin’s ancestors come, but I found when I started looking into it that it was a huge subject about which I was not yet equipped to have an informed opinion. But interestingly, look

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApHRWB9zcLs

that lyre is not a far cry from the Saxon one, is it? I like to think the musical traditions would fit well together, since their players obviously have.

Blue Eyed Stranger (Trowchester #2) by Alex Beecroft

Billy Wright has a problem: he’s only visible when he’s wearing a mask. That’s fine when he’s performing at country fairs with the rest of his morris dancing troupe. But when he takes the paint off, his life is lonely and empty, and he struggles with crippling depression.

Martin Deng stands out from the crowd. After all, there aren’t that many black Vikings on the living history circuit. But as the founder of a fledgling historical re-enactment society, he’s lonely and harried. His boss doesn’t like his weekend activities, his warriors seem to expect him to run everything single-handedly, and it’s stressful enough being one minority without telling the hard men of his group he’s also gay.

When Billy’s and Martin’s societies are double-booked at a packed county show, they know at once they are kindred spirits, united by a deep feeling of connectedness to their history and culture. But they’re also both hiding in their different ways, and they need each other to be brave enough to take their masks off and still be seen.

Link to STRW Review: Find it Here

Buy It Here: Riptide Publishing

Book Details:
eBook ISBN: 978-1-62649-212-7
eBook release: Apr 6, 2015
eBook Formats: pdf, mobi, html, epub
Print ISBN: 978-1-62649-213-4
Print release: Apr 6, 2015
Word count: 67,000,Page count: 246
Cover by: Lou Harper

This title is part of the Trowchester Blues universe.

Alex Beecroft is an English author best known for historical fiction, notably Age of Sail, featuring gay characters and romantic storylines. Her novels and shorter works include paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.

Beecroft won Linden Bay Romance’s (now Samhain Publishing) Starlight Writing Competition in 2007 with her first novel,Captain’s Surrender, making it her first published book. On the subject of writing gay romance, Beecroft has appeared in theCharleston City Paper, LA Weekly, the New Haven Advocate, the Baltimore City Paper, and The Other Paper. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association of the UK and an occasional reviewer for the blog Speak Its Name, which highlights historical gay fiction.

Alex was born in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and grew up in the wild countryside of the English Peak District. She lives with her husband and two children in a little village near Cambridge and tries to avoid being mistaken for a tourist.
Alex is only intermittently present in the real world. She has led a Saxon shield wall into battle, toiled as a Georgian kitchen maid, and recently taken up an 800-year-old form of English folk dance, but she still hasn’t learned to operate a mobile phone.

She is represented by Louise Fury of the L. Perkins Literary Agency.

Connect with Alex:
Website: http://www.alexbeecroft.com
Blog: http://www.alexbeecroft.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexBeecroftAuthor
Twitter: @Alex_Beecroft
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Alex_Beecroft

Giveaway

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A MelanieM Review: Ever the Same by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Audie Barrack is in it up to his elbows with a sick calf when his son’s school calls. Seems Grainger has gotten into yet another fight. When he walks into the principal’s office, he’s shocked to find his son has been fighting with a little girl named Randi. And that’s not the only shock. The little girl his boy has been fighting with has a blind dad, a widower when his husband recently passed away.

Dixon has lost his sight, his career, and his husband. Thank God for his brothers, Momma and Daddy, and his little girl, or he would simply give up. The last thing he needs is for Randi to start trouble at school, especially trouble that puts him in contact with another dad who might expect him to be a functional human being.

Dixon is struggling to live as a blind man, Audie is terrified someone might see he has a closet to come out of, and everyone from the school to both men’s families is worried for the men and their children. Unless they get themselves together and commit to change, neither of them stands a chance.

It’s no secret to those of you who have read my reviews that I am a huge fan of B.A. Tortuga. She has one of the finest ears for regional dialects and culture in the genre as well as the ability to write memorable characters. And that gift is apparent here in Ever The Same. In fact this book has so many elements that are hooks for me, that it has taken a while, and another reading to think about what I was going to write.

Why? Because some of the parts of this story that I find alluring are ones that other readers might not connect with, something not unusual in a B.A. Tortuga story. Let’s start with the characters, who, yes, can be defined by their conversational style and wording. Audie is rooted in the soil of his family’s ranch and the horses he loves almost as much as he loves his son. He is a plain speaker, full of the regional euphemisms and colloquial speak of the area. This is Audie, in a capsule of speech:

He gave Momma a call as he pulled his shirt on. “Momma, I got to run up to the school. Can you get Sister to keep an eye on the calf?”

“Is he sick? Grainger, I mean, not the calf.”

“Nope. It’s no big deal. I’ll be back in a jiff.” He hoped.

“Okay, Son. Your daddy’s due in off the road next weekend. He wants to take that boy of yours to a picture show. Tell him if he ain’t good, PopPop won’t take him.

Audie is a man filled with family and its obligations. A person with a huge heart, open mind, and realistic view of himself and his situation. I fell in love with him immediately.

The father of the little girl his son has been fighting with at school, is so very different from Audie…at least on the surface. Dixon is a musician blinded in the same car accident that killed his husband and he’s lost in his grief while trying to maintain a life for his adoring daughter. And she is not coping well either with the changes in her life and the loss of one of her dads. It’s country meet city in the most unusual way. Dixon and his daughter have moved from the city into the small town where his mother and step dad raise llamas. It’s round peg trying to fit into a square hole for both of them. This is a small scene from the principal’s office where the initial meeting about their kids hasn’t gone very well.

“I’ll talk to her. If it happens again, I’ll… shit, I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll make it up as I go along.” The guy stood, and his mom handed him a cane. A white cane.

Oh Jesus fucking Christ. Seriously? Seriously, Grainger picked the kid with a blind dad and a dead….

Wait.

Her other dad was dead. Jesus. This guy was blind, had lost his man, and his kid was a shit? That sucked hugely. “I can try to get Grainger to help. I promise.” He had no idea why that popped out, except this guy’s life had to suck, and because it had been a long time since Audie had met anyone who would openly admit to being queer like he was.

“Take us home, Mom. Please.” Now that he could see the White guy, he kind of wanted to wince. Lean, tattooed—this guy wasn’t made to be here, and obviously he wasn’t a local. Hell, his parents weren’t that local; Audie didn’t know them.

“Of course, Son.” She stood and offered Audie a frosty smile. “Thank you for being so, er, understanding.” She put a hand on her son’s arm, and he turned her way, the cane tapping as they left the room.

Audie glared at Shannon Shields as soon as they were out of earshot. “You couldn’t’ve had Miz Laws warn me?”

“I assumed you knew, Audie. Everybody knows.”

The conflicts have been established, as well as some of their backgrounds and family circumstances and we are still early in the book. What a great job Tortuga has done to bring the readers into the various situations, letting us empathize with each “faction” and the small children involved. The need for understanding that is born out of this meeting will set the stage for the relationship and attraction to follow.

As with most of Tortuga’s plots and stories, no character exists as a isolated individual. Audie (25) is surrounded by his family, which includes along with his son, Grainger, a sister, Gracie, her kids, his “Momma”, and long haul trucker father. All on the family farm. Gracie’s husband is in the Army and is on tour abroad. This family has its own tensions, expectations, and stress along with the love. Dixon’s family is equally large and imposing, even more so. For Dixon (33) has brothers Damon 20, Dalton 18, Dan 31, along with his daughter Randi. Most are close with each other, and Dixon and Randi are now living with his upscale mother and step father on their llama farmette. I loved that while the two families have a foundation in agriculture they still couldn’t be farther apart in approach and style. Yet both sides are believable, layered and authentic. You can like them even if you aren’t fond of their actions.

The story winds through multiple stages of Audie and Dixon’s relationship and that of their kids, a major factor here just as it should be. For readers not fond of children or gay families in their stories, this element will put you off. Those of you, like me, with kids and who love to see them in stories, you will love following their growth and increasing closeness to each man. In this case, these two men and their children really do complete each other. It’s heartwarming and real. And yes, I loved it. Because the author makes every part of Audie and Dixon’s journey intimate and heartfelt. We are there along side them as Dixon starts to deal with his blindness and Audie becomes sure enough of himself to be openly gay in town. There are some very tough spots and situations to deal with but that’s pretty real and reasonable as well.

Tortuga includes a epilogue that stops the story just where it should. It’s funny, heartbreakingly alive, and leaves the reader satisfied as to how it all came out. How much do I love this story? Enough that when I want to smile and leave myself in a happy state, this will be one of the books I pick up. I highly recommend it and hope you will love it as much as I do.

Cover Artist: Christy Caughie did a beautiful job with the cover. I loved the colors and the composition. It easily draws the reader in. Great job.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 256 pages, also available in paperback

Published February 27th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN139781632168313

edition language English

A MelanieM Review: The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3) by A.J. Thomas

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

A year has passed since ex San Diego homicide detective Christopher Hayes’s brother committed suicide. Christopher is still recovering from the injuries he sustained when attacked by the main suspect during the investigation. The closing of the case saw more changes in Christopher’s life as he moved in with his lover, Montana police officer Doug Heavy Runner. But instead of the wonderful life Christopher thought he would be living, instead he finds himself deeply depressed by his isolated new location, surrounded by a small town’s blatant racism and homophobia. No one will hire him, he has made the seething racism his lover Doug Heavy Runner faces at work worse by adding homophobia to the mix, and his most recent jog through town ends when two gay-bashing teenagers hit him in the head with a rock.

Deputy Sheriff Doug Heavy Runner has never overcome the abusive relationship that traumatized and shattered him as a young cop. The memories, the lingering shame, and the fear he has never acknowledged have left him resigned to endure the discrimination he faces in Elkin. But he can’t stand it when Christopher becomes a target for that same hatred even as he is blind to the other issues Christopher faces in town.

A vacation in San Diego is cut short when the mutilated body of one of the boys who assaulted Christopher is found in Doug’s garage. Christopher and Doug return to Montana to find they must uncover a tangle of secrets, lies, and tragedy lurking beneath Elkin’s small-town façade. With their relationship at a crossroads, they’ll have to work together to catch the killer and maybe find a paradise of their own.

The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise by A. J. Thomas returns the reader back to the hidebound small town in Montana, and the lingering aftermath of the original case that brought Christopher Hayes, Doug Heavy Runner, Elliot Belkamp and Ray Delgado together in a series of related, horrific cases. The story opens a year later with Christopher and Doug still dealing with the consequences of that case and their decision to move in together. And none of it has turned out as either had hoped it would.

Elkin, Montana is that typical small minded town that exists all over America. Mired in the past and the tight incestuous connections that small town living breeds, Elkin is the last place in the world to welcome a gay couple in their midst, especially one where one partner is a Native American and the other a gay ex SDPD detective. Add to that unpalatable combination (to the townspeople) the fact that Christopher’s pedophile brother committed suicide there, a horrific case whose aftermath is still causing reverberations throughout the community, and you have a recipe not only for rejection but outright shunning and hatred. A. J. Thomas brings this putrid little town alive in all its homophobic, racist, closed down ways. From glares from citizens who cross the street rather than walk near Christopher to the acts of hatred such as thrown rocks when Christopher runs, its feels nauseatingly believable and authentic in every way. Yes, there are a few individuals that are bright spots of acceptance and friendship, but they are few indeed.

Living in this town has not helped either Doug or Christopher come to grips with the horror of the case or their past history that’s getting in the way of their relationship. Doug won’t talk about his trauma from his time in Miami, and Christopher is still using running to race away from his issues with Doug, the town’s treatment of Doug and himself, and the blatant racism and homophobia that no one seems to want to do anything about. He’s deeply depressed, a condition he knows he’s prone to and it’s getting worse because he can’t get a job, no matter his outstanding credentials because of the town’s prejudice against him. This is a complicated, angst driven couple in trouble and each is hiding their fears about their situation and relationship from the other. Is this an explosive situation? Absolutely! And Thomas makes us feel every shiver of dread and stomach turning bit of angst as the characters proceed through the story.

Christopher and Doug have fallen from one emotional precipice only to end up on another. It’s painful, its sometimes hard to read, but the promise and endurance of Doug and Christopher as well as Christopher’s ability to work through to the truth, will keep you glued to this story and the rocky path in front of them both. You want these two to succeed but the chances of that happening is never clearly set. Even when they finally acknowledge some of the issues facing them, its clear that love may not be enough to keep them together unless drastic changes occur. Thomas understands relationship dynamics in the manner in which Doug and Christopher have to work through the past and present problems in order to have a future.

A highlight here is the trip they take to San Diego. I don’t want to spoil it but it brings Ray Delgado and Elliot Belkamp back into the picture (not that they ever left). This section was the icing on a cake, the bubbles in the champagne. And I loved it!

The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (love that title and the way its explained) also contains another series of horrific murders and suicides. That they come about due to the festering attitudes and influences of small town bigotry will surprise no one. However, the cases are gripping, the action quick and surprising, and the ending explosive. I wouldn’t expect anything less from this amazing series and author.

Thankfully, this is not the last of the series. On the author’s website, Thomas states that an as yet untitled fourth story is in the works. Be still my heart! I can’t wait.

Are you new to this series? Run and pick up the first story, A Casual Weekend Thing, and work your way through books 2 and 3. All are on my Must Have, Must Read list and will end up on my Best of lists this year. Love complicated, angst driven men? Love layers, twists and turns to your romance and stories. Already a fan of this series? Then be prepared to love this story. The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise and the other books in the Least Likely Partnership series (listed below) are written for you. I highly recommend them all!

Cover artist Brook Albrecht. I really like this cover, its my favorite of the three so far.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages, available also in paperback
Expected publication: March 27th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632169785
edition languageEnglish
url http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/p/the-intersection-of-purgatory-and.html
seriesLeast Likely Partnership #3

Books in the Least Likely Partnership Series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, timeline and relationships:

A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership, #1)
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership, #2)
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3)
Untitled Four Book coming…

A MelanieM Review: Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership #2) by A.J. Thomas

Rating: 4.75 rounded up to 5 stars out of 5

San Diego homicide detective Ray Delgado never gets a chance to forget where he comes from, a wide spread criminal dynasty whose members are often linked to Ray by blood. So far Ray has put a number of cousins and uncles behind bars, making him persona non grata with his family, immediate and otherwise. Only two family members have remained close, his aunt and his cousin, Sophia, who Ray helped raise. When Ray’s crime lord cousin, Alejandro makes a violent late-night visit, Ray is in for a number of unpleasant surprises. Alejandro wants Ray to find his sister, Sophia, who disappeared from the UC San Diego campus, something Ray was unaware of. And Alejandro wants it done before the FBI digs too deep into his business. Why? Because millions of the Cartel’s money is missing and it looks as though Sophia, a computer whiz, is involved.

Special Agent Elliot Belkamp spent his entire life jumping from one place to another, including his last assignment which took him to Montana and an white hot encounter with the deeply closeted but oh so sexy Det. Ray Delgado. Now his new assignment assisting a FBI task force offers him a chance to settle down. It San Diego, California home to a certain homicide detective.

When Elliot catches a missing person’s case as his first assignment, the last person he thought to find poking around the victim’s dorm room is Ray, his one time hook that ended badly…at least for Elliot. After discovering Sophia’s disappearance is linked to a massive computer-based theft that has two powerful crime families ready to declare war, Elliot focuses on his investigation and tries to ignore Ray. As the search for Sophia turns dangerous, Elliot and Ray discover that tackling organized crime might be easier than resisting the intense attraction both still feel for each other.

Back in 2013, A.J. Thomas debuted her first novel, A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership #1) which went on to winner a Rainbow Award for that year. This novel was also the first in a remarkable series, Least Likely Partnership. Thomas’ story was brutal, raw, and realistic. It involved child abuse and the effects it had on its victims as they aged. It involved pedophiles within families, suicide, murder, mystery and much, much more. And once I started I couldn’t put it down no matter how wrenching the story got, and it was plenty traumatic on many levels. And introduced as secondary characters in that story were San Diego Homicide Detective Ray Delgado, a closeted officer obsessively crushing on his partner Detective Christopher Hayes, a main character and deeply damaged man. And who did Ray hook up with during the case that Christopher was involved with up in Montana? That would be FBI special agent Elliot Belkamp. They spent one hot and heavy week in a hotel in Montana after the case was over. Then Ray’s mouth and closeted status ended their relationship before it could get out of the motel. But somehow, the pull between these two was so intense that the reader just knew or perhaps hoped, that they would get another chance. And they finally do here in Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership #2).

Was it worth the wait? You betcha! Once again, A.J. Thomas hooks you in immediately as Ray jumps vividly to life from page one. Ray, Ray, Ray! Ray, Ray. The energy, that spark of magic, determination and power, that Thomas builds into Ray Delgado is impossible to resist. He’s part jerk and part obsessed super cop. And even when he’s berating his fellow officers for not following some procedure or safety protocol (and he’s brutal with his verbal dressing downs), they also know he is right, they won’t repeat that mistake, and that he’s really doing it for their benefit. Of course, he’s still a jerk about it. But you just can’t dislike this guy. He’s charismatic, he’s caring, and he has to try extra hard because he’s a cop from a hispanic crime family that he has a love/hate relationship with. And everyone knows it. Ray Delgado is one beautifully fleshed out characters, so real that you forget he’s been fabricated for a story.

Quietly intense, and Ray’s equal in power and authenticity is Special Agent Elliot Belkamp. Elliot is out, unlike Ray, and ready to settle down in every aspect of his life. He wants a home after multiple transfers, he wants a life partner, and well, he wants a life and relationship just like his parents have. Elliot is the one holding out for a fairy tale and won’t settle for anything or anyone less. And he’s chosen San Diego as the place to get started on the next phase of his life. Or rather the FBI has with its creation of its new crime syndicate task force based there. Elliot is a far more subtle creature than Ray but just as fascinating. Because as much as they differ, Thomas has also made them alike in some fundamental ways. They believe in family, and the determination to be the best law enforcement officers they can be, no matter the personal costs. They are highly intelligent and thorough. And its that respect they have for each other and their jobs, along with the intense physical attraction they feel that keeps them returning back to each other. A.J. Thomas makes their interplay and attraction real and compelling and she does so through intelligent, sometimes snappy dialog and believable law enforcement procedures where each plays off the other during the course of this convoluted case and investigation.

Elliot and Ray are among the least damaged of the two couples but they still carry plenty of baggage, especially Ray. And that includes the cultural and familial reason Ray has remained in the closet. With just a telling look from a doorman, Ray gets put in his “Hispanic” macho regulated place, and the fear and rationale behind Ray’s closeted status becomes clear. And when Ray finally decides to come exploding out of the closet, it gives the reader even more reason to cheer and celebrate. While Elliot is looking for his fairy tale and determined to get it, Ray is looking for a family to replace the one he lost when he chose being a police officer over the family business. That he finds a deep love surprises him because he never realized how much he wanted it.

Along with these outstanding characters, Thomas has created a cast of just as excellent supporting players. This includes Ray’s captain, Elliot’s boss (a sterling example of a strong woman), Ray’s fellow detectives, and so many more. Each a crystalline portrait of humanity as its best and worst. And yes, there is plenty of the “bad” to be found here, starting with Ray’s cousin Alejandro, a crime boss who could be Ray’s twin and was once as close as a brother to Ray. It’s one compelling character after another, and the situations and events that follow are as complicated and authentic as any in real life.

There will be horror and heartbreak, laughter and tears, revelation and exhilarating surprises for the readers here. I didn’t put this book down until 2 something in the morning. I couldn’t help myself. I had to know how it all ended. And it ended the way it had to, both heartbreaking and deeply satisfying.

I have to admit I have favorites. I love Ray and Elliot better than Christopher Hayes and Doug Heavy Runner. But that said, its a close race so I’m happy when I can get them all together. And that’s coming in the next book in the series, The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3). And yes, I have already read and am now ready for more. At least I hope there is more. I’m off to find out. Meanwhile if you are new to this series, start with the first story and work your way through. I know others will say its a stand alone novel, but its so much richer with the back history that the first story represents. I highly recommend this story and the author. She is on my auto buy list and this story is an excellent example why she should be on yours too!

Cover art by Brooke Albrecht. Not a fan of this or any of the covers in this series. I get the darkness, that works. But that model is far too young for Ray, surely there are older hispanic models out there to choose from.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 250 pages
Published May 9th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 8th 2014)
ISBN 1627987061 (ISBN13: 9781627987066)
edition languageEnglish
url http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/
series Least Likely Partnership #2

The Books in the Least Likely Partnership series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the timeline, events and relationships:

A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership, #1)
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership, #2)
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3)

A MelanieM Review: Death by Dragon by Madeleine Ribbon

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Since his mother died, the victim of an attack by a powerful vampire, Rafael “Fell” Harwick, has been living, no hiding, in his cabin deep in the woods. A half incubus and witch, Fell is considered a hybrid that other supernaturals avoid, either because of his incubus half or the fact that he’s a witch. Fell only goes into town when he needs to feed and that is infrequent because Fell hates feeling like a whore who needs the sex act to exist. Fell also doesn’t want to draw attention to himself and his location. Then a trio of shifters is pursued by humans to his doorstep and his world changes forever.

Humans aren’t supposed to know about supernaturals yet three shifters are being shot at and grievously wounded by a group of human hunters. Someone has broken the Silence and there will be hell to pay from the Immortal Council and their Keepers of Silence who enforce their laws. Despite Fell’s determination to remain hidden and apart, he goes to the aid of the shifters and uses his magic to help them.

Now revealed, Fell is pulled into a supernatural resistance group trying to bring down the very vampire who killed his mother and who wants him in his power. But acceptance is hard to come by as one of the shifters hates incubus and the other is a emotional mess. And even their leader doesn’t trust Fell because he’s a witch. Despite everything Fell is determined to go on…until one last piece of knowledge is revealed. One of the people Fell is helping will also be the one that kills him. What’s a half incubus and witch to do?

Death by Dragon by Madeleine Ribbon is the third book I have read by this author and it’s the best yet! Ribbon’s world building is marvelous and sets the foundation for the numerous clashes and supernatural relationships to come. Supernaturals and Immortals exist along side an unaware human population, divided by stringent laws that make it very clear that humans are not to know that the others exist. Those who break the “Silence” as the law is called, are hunted down by the Keepers of Silence, something to be avoided at all costs. Yet someone has broken or is bending the law as much as possible in order to obtain as much power and gain as he can. Already the tension is high between all the characters within the story. They can be found on all sides of the magical partition and even often straddle the boundaries laid out between various supernatural factions and families.

Caught in the middle while doing his best to remain invisible is Fell Harwick. Isolated by his circumstances and orphaned by violence and need, Fell is that character whose vulnerability and appeal immediately draws in the readers. We fear for the precarious situation he finds himself in and love his strength and determination that spills out even when fear and pain overwhelms him. Fell is a marvelously endearing character and I loved him and hated what was to come. And there is a ton of bad stuff ahead. As Fell is also part seer he knows (although the readers keep hoping not) that he will be unable to avoid the path already laid out for him. Ribbon takes this slight, angst filled young man and turns him into someone truly heroic by the end of the story by way of ordeals he endures and the travail that follow.

Just as there are layers upon layers to Fell’s character, the same hold true for the two shifters he saves, Jett and Theodore, members of the local resistance group. Opposite from each other in every way, from physique to emotional stability, they even differ on how they interact and accept Fell and Fell’s true nature. Truth be told I never liked Theodore much, understood him yes, liked him no. But Jett? There’s a character I adored, even when I wanted to throttle him for his stubbornness and rigidity. Ribbon has a whole slew of characters here to act as support for her plot and main characters, some are fully fleshed out, others disappear and you won’t miss them. But those characters that stick in your head, like Corran does, are ones that you will want more of at the end of the story.

Madeleine Ribbon keeps building various Venn diagrams within her layered plot, groups set apart by their nature, groups set apart by their political aspirations and schemes for power, groups set apart by family and groups set apart by relationships. Then Ribbon builds in stress, horror, pain, and suspense where each overlaps the other(s). There will be murder most foul, and even scenes that border on torture. Love, longing, and hot sexy scenes as well to offset the horror that arrives on its heels. Yes, my stomach did a flip flop or three in various places in this novel. I’m betting yours will too. Why? Because these beings become real and the readers, myself included, will find themselves full invested in each characters current circumstance (usually beyond precarious) and in agony over their futures, including if they are to have any at all. That Fell knows who will kill him is one of the overriding threads that will have you in tears. Her descriptions and vivid imagery will haunt you long after the story is done. Trust me on this.

Only the ending left me wanting more. More of the Keepers and more of what comes next for the characters involved. It felt a little unfinished and I’m hoping that’s because the author has more in store for us and this universe that’s so captivating and addictive.

Not familiar with Madeleine Ribbon? Death by Dragons is a wonderful place to begin your acquaintance. Love romance and shifters? Here is a terrific story for you! And yes, here be Dragons, dark, fierce and utterly memorable. I highly recommend this story to all. Grab it up and start reading today.

Cover artist:Syneca Featherstone. Not a fan of this cover. There were so many wonderful elements to draw on and this is the one she choose? Uh, no.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 283 pages
Published February 16th 2015 by Loose Id LLC
ASINB00TQ89CXI
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Blind Stud (King of Hearts #1) (PF 2015) 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.

Laurant likes sex…

Who is Laurant? An incubus of course, so the pleasures of the flesh aren’t just enjoyment, they’re food. However, Laurant isn’t attracted to women, but to men. In his family, being a gay demon means you are the wrong type of demon. And that makes Laurant’s life more than a little difficult when your family looks down on you for your choice of food and companionship.

But all that changes when Laurant catches sight of a lost and alone human who definitely needs his help…a gorgeous young man about to become prey to the human sort of predator. Once saved, a larger mystery looms. That of the stranger himself who is a stranger…to himself.

What are you supposed to do when you blink your eyes and realize you have no idea who or where you are? Pretty sure the answer isn’t trust a sex demon with your life…all things considered that may be the lesser of two evils…

You just know a series is going to be captivating when the first character you meet is not only unapologetically outrageous and charismatic but also oozes with merriment and sex appeal. That’s Laurant. A incubus with the appetites of a succubus. Laurant comes equipped with corny pickup lines and the ability to make the local squirrels and any other living being around him, go into a sexual frenzied state. He also has a more complex personality than is first apparent. I think all readers will love Laurant upon introduction. He’s a terrific character and Fellows did a great job in providing him with layers that makes one look past some of his more “eye rolling” actions and dialog.

But what or in this case who pulls at Laurant’s attention and needs is a young amnesiac he rescues off the streets in New Orleans. First given the name “Vic” for victim by Laurant, the young man sets the incubus straight (kind of) and names himself for the street they are on. For all the questions posed by his presence, Havan Fellows crafts a wonderful character who is a strong fascinating man behind the mystery and soon we are as drawn to him as Laurant is.

And yes, danger to both lurks just around the corner. Fellows throws so many neat clues around the mystery man that I was making a list of bribes to offer her so she would tell me who and what he possibly might be. And then that ending…

This story flew by so rapidly that it felt as though the ending appeared seconds after I started on page one. Not true but I was so into this tale, that the story was over before I was ready for it to end. For those of you for whom cliffhangers are beyond frustrating (you binge watchers know who I’m talking to), you just might want to wait for another story or two to come out. Those readers who love to be surprised, stymied by plot and events, and who enjoy every minute of it, grab this up and start reading.

Round One is four stories and only two are out. Each represents additional layers to the overall series and world building and you can see the stories start to interlock here as old and new characters appear. But as interesting as those peripheral (for now) characters are, nothing and nobody will steal your attention away from our couple here. They are amusing and astonishingly equal in their interactions, sexually dynamic, and just plain out engaging. And they make this story unputdownable – yes, that’s a word and I’m sticking to it.

I highly recommend this story and its companion in the Altered States Pulp Friction 2015 combined story. I’ve become a fan once more of serialized fiction and think you will feel the same. If you are new to the Pulp Friction gang, once you’ve delved into these stories, go back and read the Pulp Friction series of 2013 and 2014…all terrific and must reads for me!

Cover art by Laura Harner. Great cover, love the model and the branding at the bottom.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 49 pages
Published March 1st 2015 by Appleton Publishing Avenue
ASINB00U634T2Q
edition languageEnglish

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.

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

Not familiar with the Altered States series? Check them all out here:

Books in the Altered States Series in the order they should be read:
• Altered States (Altered States, #0.5) by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb
• Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1) by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb
• Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2) by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb
• Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3) by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb (aka Tom Webb)

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