Tag: A MelanieM Recommended Story

A MelanieM Review: Love Happens Anyway by RJ Scott

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Hiring a boyfriend for Christmas; what can go wrong?

Derek is facing yet another Christmas where his life feels out of control. He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.

Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.

But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space.

It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

Love Happens Anyway is RJ Scott’s holiday take on that familiar romantic storyline whereas the romantic heroine or hero in our case has been hounded by family and friends for  weeks/months/years/an ungodly amount of time to bring a boyfriend home to the family, makes one up and then for whatever reason has to produce one just in time for a big family event or the family  holidays celebrations.

The Hallmark Channel would go broke if we took this staple of a theme out of their  rotation.

Derek has done his story up right.  It’s so detailed that he needs a notebook to keep all the make-believe elements straight, including all the names of the kittens his firefighter boyfriend rescued and who he gave them to.  Omg!  Yes, the cuteness aspect here is lovely! So the man he needs has to meet his exact qualifications.  As it so happens, one does.

Luke is out of a job (the why’s on this is nice twist in the story), and in deep need of money. I’ll save you on the hows and whys he ends up as Derek’s temporary boyfriend.  That’s the only part that seemed sort of a stretch here.  Everything else? Amazing and nothing I’ll spoil.  It has to do with Luke’s background and a part of NYC’s history.  With Luke’s family and background folded into what starts off as a familiar romantic storyline, RJ Scott deepens it, adding touch of poignancy and reality to a lovely heartwarming romance.  I loved the couple and the family and friends that surrounded them.

The holidays are a wonderful time to curl up in your favorite spot and read some wonderful holiday  romances.  Be sure to put Love Happens Anyway by RJ Scott on your list to read this holiday season.

Cover art is absolutely adorable.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

110 pages
Published December 2nd 2017
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Shattered Pieces (Heathens Ink #4) by K.M. Neuhold

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

 

I was sure my heart had withered away years ago, but then you smiled at me, and I felt it beat again.” ~Gage
Years ago, I fell in love with my best friend’s little brother. Then, he took his own life, leaving me shattered and unable to piece my heart back together. I’ve been a zombie for nine long years. Until a crazy, gorgeous man walked into Heathens Ink and injected color back into my world of gray. No matter how hard I try to resist Beck, he just won’t give up on me. I would need steel willpower to withstand his gorgeous long legs in those high heels and his drawer full of lacy lingerie. But is this just a kinky hook up or does it have the possibility for more?

“We’re both broken, but our jagged edges fit together well” ~ Beck
When you’re half of a whole you never contemplate what life would be like without your matching piece. Since my twin sister, Brianna, died last year, nothing I do seems to quiet my soul. I know there has to be some way for me to feel happy and whole again. And, when I look into the pained eyes of the tattoo artist at Heathens Ink, I feel like I have a purpose. I can’t explain it, but I feel like I have to find a way to put him back together.

Shattered Pieces (Heathens Ink #4) by K.M. Neuhold is simply an engaging, heartwarming romance between two people broken by grief and past loss.  I’ve not read any of the other Heathens stories and it’s not necessary because Shattered PIeces works perfectly on its own. K.M. Neuhold gives the readers all the back history and series foundation necessary without overshadowing the central story of Gage and Beck’s romance.

And what a  slow and wonderful romance it is.  Gage has been living a numb life for close to ten years ever since the young love of his life committed suicide, something he blames himself for.  Mired in grief, guilt, and loss, his world has greyed out until Beck comes into Heathens Ink asking for a peacock tattoo in memory of his twin sister.  The story is told from both points of view and it works beautifully here, making both characters fully come to life.

Gage’s needs to work through his grief, pain and fear that if he moves on, he loses his love and memory of Jay, something I think most people will understand.  Beck is caught up in a different way, drawn to broken souls because he knows he too is shattered and in need of mending.

I loved the whole slow recovery and forming a relationship here, it worked.  The writing was smooth and moved the plot along easily and quickly.  The dialog fit the men and their personalities and made me fall in love with them both.  It also piqued my interest in the other stories which I’ll be looking into now.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shattered Pieces (Heathens Ink #4) by K.M. Neuhold and absolutely recommend it.  Now on to see what the rest of the series holds!

Cover art by Inked Designs. I like this cover and the models work for the characters except where is Gage’s pink hair?  That’s a major failure as its an important element in the story.

Sales Links:

AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/2zZWnl2

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2zOYkj9

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 181 pages
Published October 31st 2017
ASINB076M878V2
SeriesHeathens Ink #4

A MelanieM Review: Deacon’s Law (Heroes #3) by RJ Scott

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Undercover cop Deacon Shepherd lost everything trying to maintain his cover – the man he loved and the future he craved. He walked away and never looked back because it was the only way to keep Rafe alive.

The last thing he needs is to be dragged back in that world, but an attempt on Rafe’s life is enough to make him risk his heart again.

Rafael ‘Rafe’ Martinez wakes up in hospital, the victim of a hit and run. He’s stunned when the first face he sees is that of the man who betrayed him and left him for dead three years before. Witness protection had stripped Rafe of his name and now it seems someone from his past wants him dead. The only way he can stay alive is to trust the man who tried to kill him and then broke his heart. But how can he ever trust Deacon, and how can Deacon protect Rafe without falling in love all over again?

Deacon’s Law is the third in the Heroes series by RJ Scott and it has everything you’ve come to expect from this series and author.  It has a suspense filled story,  multiple murders and a couple at odds with each other although they’ve fallen in love and an villain after them, whether it’s a person or organization.  In this case, a bit of both.

I love this series and the first two stories totally did it for me, as did their couples.  Deacon Shepherd?  Hot, hot, hot!  A undercover cop who went too deep inside an operation that was  bad in every way; drugs, murder, and, child trafficking, Deacon ended up getting emotionally involved in his last case, and has been paying for it ever since.  R.J. Scott gets us inside this complicated man.  She gives him layers, the hardness necessary to do the job he does as well as the pain and regret for the things he does and the life he feels he cannot have.  He’s one of those “let me be your bandage” men that readers always  connect with immediately.

Then there’s Rafe Martinez, who honestly keeps doing so many irresponsible things throughout this story I can’t even remember what his “new” name is under the Witness Protection program is.  He’s my problem here.  I liked everything else. I liked the storyline.  The crazed nutcase from the past, the suspense and the heart-stopping chases that RJ Scott does so  well.  All great!  But Rafe who goes after his uncle by himself to begin with, then disobeys WITSEC commands endangering everyone around him, and then continues to do so.  I won’t even go into his stubbornness about his protection detail because I get that.  No, I don’t get him withholding information on the location to look for said nutcase because it might affect deceased dad’s reputation (there are kidnapped children potentially involved here) or the way he escaped after being hit by a car, even with a heavy cast and wounded.   I just wanted to shake him myself.   So yes, there’s that.

Luckily, the story’s rocketing suspense pulled me in as did Deacon that I sort of went along with the romance.  Hey, we have know those couples where we only like one half of them right? Plus I got Kayden from the Sanctuary series which remains one of my all time favorite RJ Scott series, which is always a delight.  There is a happy ending that ties up all the loose plot threads in such a way that I wondered if this wasn’t the end for Heroes.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Can you read this as a stand alone?  I guess so but having the other books as a foundation certainly helps.  And not everyone will find they have the problems with Rafe that I did.  Others will absolutely adore him.  I found Deacon’s Law a fun, suspenseful read and a neat third installment to the Heroes series.  Yes, I recommend it as I do all the books in the series.

Cover art by Meredith Russell works for the characters and story, as well as branding the series.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | KOBO | iTunes

Book Details:

ebook
Published October 18th 2017 by Love Lane Books Limited
Edition Language English
URL http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/deacons-law.html

Series Heroes :

Heroes Series

A Reason To Stay (Book #1) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

Last Marine Standing (Book #2) – Amazon US | Amazon UK

A MelanieM Review: Would it be Okay to Love You? (Would It Be Okay to Love You? #1) by Amy Tasukada

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A robot fanboy. An erotic voice actor. When love comes calling, will they shed their armor?

Sato’s only long-term relationship is the one he shares with his Gundam collectibles. He dreams about the kind of unconditional love his parents enjoy. If only he could break out of his shell, he might find his special someone…

Outgoing playboy Aoi has sworn off relationships. He knows they only distract him from his budding voice acting career. He’s earned a few loyal fans, and if he keeps at it, he may even earn enough to never worry about being evicted again…

When Sato meets Aoi at the local anime store, there’s definitely a spark. But even as they tread carefully, their commitment issues and Aoi’s troubled past soon muck things up before they can start. In order for Sato and Aoi to have their happily-ever-after, they’ll both have to take a leap of faith… and hope to be caught.

Would It Be Okay to Love You? is the first book in a gay romance series set in Japan. If you like original characters, nerd culture, and simmering chemistry, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s charming multicultural love story.

Buy Would it Be Okay to Love You? to get your own love collectible today!

Would it be Okay to Love You? (Would It Be Okay to Love You? #1) by Amy Tasukada is a sweet gentle romance set in Japan.  Readers familiar with Yaoi or Boy’s Love manga will recognize that Amy Tasukada loves this form of fiction and in a way pays  homage to it with this lovely series and story.

I’m a fan of this author whose tales are often located in Japan, both historical and contemporary.  Her knowledge and love of the culture and people is as much a part of her stories as are the plots, they enhance them even as they are supplying an amazing foundation for her characters and world building.

Here Tasukada gives us Sato, shy nerd accountant at a anime studio and Aoi, a voice actor just becoming popular who meet at an anime store.  Between them, they have raised enough walls that it will take time for them to work their way to the relationship they want and need.  I loved that Sato goes with his family to the shrine and makes a wish for romance.  It’s sweet and so innocent in a way.  Plus a great contrast to Aoi, who is scrambling just to make ends meet and is much more street wise.

If you’ve read the author’s stories, then you know this is a slow-burn romance accompanied by terrific scenes that inform you about Tokyo and clubbing.  Here’s an example:

They strolled to the karaoke club. Sato rambled on about more aspects of his job. It wasn’t the most thrilling conversation, but the way Sato?s eyes glistened with light when he talked about numbers had its charm.

White walls with neon lights greeted them as they entered the karaoke club. Vinyl decals of classic anime characters reached from floor to ceiling. There was no doubt they were in Akihabara, the geek epicenter of Tokyo. If they ran through the offered songs, more than half would be anime songs from the past decade. Although, if Aoi really had to admit to himself, he was probably as nerdy about boys’ love as Sato was with Gundam robots. They both belonged in Akihabara.

The receptionist handed them microphones and escorted them to their room. A white sofa lined the decaled back wall, and a thick binder of songs sat on a table. The room was small, but two people didn’t need anything bigger.

What follows is a funny, charming scene where Sato and Aoi listen to CDs and sing karaoke.  I ending up just smiling and laughing along with them, totally won over.  I had also learned something new about going out in the Akihabara!

If you love romance, here is one to check out.  It’s a quick read, it has characters that you will easily connect with and a romance to root for.  I loved it.

Cover art is perfect for the characters and story.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

ebook, 152 pages
Published September 19th 2017 by Macarons & Tea Publishing
ISBN139780997865363
Series Would It Be Okay to Love You? #1

A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Drama Cruise (A Nicky & Noah Mystery #3) by Joe Cosentino and Brad Enright (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Theater professors and couple, Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, are going overboard as usual, but this time on an Alaskan cruise, where dead college theater professors are popping up everywhere from the swimming pool to the captain’s table. Further complicating matters are Nicky’s and Noah’s parents as surprise cruise passengers, and Nicky’s assignment to direct a murder mystery dinner theater show onboard ship. Nicky and Noah will need to use their drama skills to figure out who is bringing the curtain down on vacationers before it is lights out for the handsome couple. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, ribald, edge-of-your-seat entertaining third novel in this delightful series. Curtain up and ship ahoy!

I’m a real fan of Joe Cosentino’s over the top murder mystery drama series, The Nicky & Noah Mysteries.  Campy with a heart is one way I love to describe them, so I had already read Drama Cruise and was looking forward to the audio version.

Drama Cruise is one hilarious story about a cruise full of professors, Nicky, Noah, their parents, and a killer out to kill of the professors one by one.  I laughed my way through the book, puzzling over the mystery, loving the interaction between men, their parents, and all the crazy wedding plans.  Really, the book is terrific.  So how did the audiobook version measure up?

Great story is still there, so is the mystery.  But somehow the narration of Brad Enright just didn’t do it for me.  His voices seemed to slide between either way too bland.  I had a hard time telling the difference between some characters unless the author told me there was a change to the hugely campy tones (think 50’s television Italian roles in comedies) used for Nicky’s parents.  I just felt that the narration swung from campy to realistic to bland which threw me off.  I felt the narrator should have chosen one tone and then just  gone for it.

Love the Nicky and Noah mysteries?  You’ll love this one but I think I would go ahead and read the ebook or paperback version.  That’s the story I highly recommend.

Cover art is the wonderful movie poster/high camp version I so love and come to expect.

Sales Links:      Amazon | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 5 hours and 56 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Joe Cosentino
Audible.com Release Date: August 10, 2017
Whispersync for Voice: Ready
Language: English
ASIN: B074N6Q1SB

A MelanieM Review: Burning Tracks (Spotlight #2) by Lilah Suzanne

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Gwen Pasternak’s got it all. Or so it seems…

In the sequel to RT Book Reviews’ Top Pick Broken Records, Gwen’s life looks perfect: She has a job she loves as stylist to the stars, a beautiful wife, Flora, and a house in the heart of Nashville. But the more she works alongside country music’s dynamic princess Clementine Campbell, the less Gwen is certain of her commitment to a life of domestic bliss.

Meanwhile, her business partner Nico Takahashi is happily settled down with reformed bad-boy musician Grady Dawson. But when Nico questions the permanence of their relationship, Grady retreats into some dangerous old habits. Will Gwen ruin the life she’s built with Flora for something new and exhilarating? Can Grady be convinced of Nico’s devotion before it’s too late? Burning Tracks is a story of tough choices, taking risks, and the pressures of living life in the spotlight.

Burning Tracks, the second installment in the Spotlight Trilogy, sees Gwen Pasternak take center stage in this saga of intertwined relationships.   Gwen and her wife Flora have always been an integral part of Nico Takahashi’s life.  She’s his partner, sometime life support, best friend and even foundation when things have gone wrong.  And Nico has been hers, even if that put Flora on the outside.  So bringing Gwen out here and letting us see more of her life makes total sense.  She and Nico switch places for a book, with Nico and Grady switching places, their relationship drama swirling as a secondary although still greatly important element here in Burning Tracks.  Neither Gwen or Nico can be separated from each other.

We have been leading up to crisis in relationships, small, large and everything in between and the cause of them.  Here the push has been for a child from Flora, something that Gwen doesn’t really think she wants or is capable of being a good parent to.  Adding to that pressure is a new client, Clementine Campbell, who  wants all of Gwen all of the time.

Lilah Suzanne expertly threads us through the confusion that Gwen feels about all the complications in her life, the pressure she feels, the knowledge that she’s on the precipice of her relationship with her wife who she loves….we feel it all and love Gwen all the more.  She’s so human and vulnerable yet trying to do her best.

Clementine Campbell, the powerful charismatic country star on the rise is just as amazing.  She’s so brilliant a character, she shines off the page, even at her most irritating.  Only Flora comes off as a grey figure here in comparison which is a shame.

Nico and Grady, and the others are all here too, fighting for their relationship, making mistakes still due primarily to communication, something that seems to plague them all.

I love the aspect of the country music business and style here.  That never fails to entertain and inform.

Now to the sex.  Yes, there’s a lot of F/F sex here.  If you don’t care for that, then you can fly over it and still stay at the heart of this story, the relationship dynamics, the mistakes people make, and the paths back to the people who are really their HEA.  I really enjoyed this story, loved it place in the trilogy and highly recommend it.

Cover art again is perfect.

Sales Links:  Interlude Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Published August 11th 2016 by Interlude Press
ASINB01FSLEMXQ
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Spotlight Trilogy: