A MelanieM Review: In Darkest Peru by Louise Lyons

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

Rhys White’s life has take a sharp tumble. His boyfriend of 5 years has dumped him and his employer just told him that her services are no longer needed. And although Rhys is sure that he can find another job as a computer programmer all his interviews to date have gotten him nothing.

Oddly enough it’s a stuffed animal given to Rhys as a gift that prompts Rhys to do something extraordinary and out of character for him. He buys a plane ticket to Peru.

Rhys’ adventure in Peru starts out well enough, but then disaster strikes. All of his belongings are stolen. Everything is gone—passport, wallet, phone, clothing, the lot.

Stranded in Cuzco, not too far from the famous Machu Picchu, Rhys tries to find someone to help him. He’s about to give up, when a sexy Brazilian named Rafael, comes to his rescue

I was excited to read In Darkest Peru by Louise Lyons for several reasons. One – Lyons is a new author to me and I always enjoy finding new writers. And secondly, the location, Peru, specifically Cuzco and the Inca Trail which is also a huge hook for me. Unfortunately this book fell far short of my expectations.

The opening pages revealed that the author started off her story on a creative and endearing platform of an idea. Are you familiar with Paddington Bear? That wondrous bear of the enormous red hat and blue coat? No? Well, his story, a favorite childhood book for many (A Bear Called Paddington) starts out with a small bear who was a stowaway, traveling from “Darkest Peru” to the United Kingdom. It seems that Rhys’ boyfriend had gifted him with a stuffed Paddington Bear whose gaze prompts Rhys to go off on an adventure of his own after being dumped. And much like Paddington, Rhys might have just as well had a sign around his neck that reads “Please look after this boy. Thank you,” to borrow Paddington’s line.

See? Right there, Lyons had me. Rhys was a sympathetic believable human being and I wanted to know more about his story. So far so good. But then Rhys landed in Peru, that magical, inspiring land of the Incas and Rhys’s journey and story start to head off course.

If an author is going to use any exotic or foreign location as a setting for their story, then they need to make that place come alive…people, places, culture. Make us believe that their characters are actually walking the land, and listening to the language and eating the local food. But here? Take away the names and the fact that the story states that Rhys flies to Peru, takes various transport here and there, you could relocate this story to Manchester or Liverpool or Kansas and it would give us as much local flavor. Rhys visits a museum in Cuzco that he said he always wanted to see but other than the name we never find out why. He flies over the famous Nazca Lines in a plane and notes he’s disappointed it was over so fast. Well, so are we because there’s no description of the Nazca Lines or what he sees or is feeling high above them. That lack.. of physical descriptions, emotions, feelings and thoughts…its everywhere here. What descriptions to be had here are slight in length, shallow in layers, and altogether lacking in any believable content and authenticity. Rhys continually “tells” us where he is going and that maybe he is sweaty but not much else. A few sentences that felt like plodding paragraphs and the famed Inca trail is done with. What a wasted opportunity for Rhys and the reader to make Rhys feel a part of the ancient and mystical trail and great adventure it represents.

Basically, its all forgotten when Rhys gets robbed and rescued by another hiker, a man from Brazil who wants to be a guide. But do we get any indication why (his name is already escapes me) wants to be a guide? Does he bring any emotion or knowledge really of the trail and conditions they hike? Nope, not to be found here either. Let’s just say that much sex ensues and leave it at that. Really the only reason it feels that Peru and the Inca Trail were used as settings as all was to enable Lyons to use that great idea at the beginning with the stuffed bear.

Now some will say “well, how about the romance?” What romance? There is no HEA or HFN. No, this is a vacation hookup story, albeit one that gives the main character a little bit more of a backbone that when he started. The best thing about this story? That bit about the stuffed bear and Paddington’s connection to Peru. I only wish this story had lived up to that inventive and wonderful concept.

So if you are expecting love or romance, this story will leave you absolutely irritated at the lack thereof. If you are expecting vivid descriptions and a feel for the country and ancient history, you won’t get that either. If you want a book that makes Peru and its history and people come alive, pick up Ariel Tachna’s The Path. It’s exemplary and you will feel you are walking those ancient arduous trails to a shining conclusion with its characters. And if you want an endearing tale of adventure, look no further than A Bear Called Paddington. Now’s there’s an adventure for you!

Not so here so I definitely recommend that you give this story a pass. I will try another story from this author and see what promise I may find there.

Cover art by Jay’s Covers by Design. Beautiful cover, one of my favorites this month. I only wish the book had lived up to it.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 51 pages
Published February 13th 2015 by Wayward Ink Publishing
ASINB00SSCKT58
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Shawn’s Law by Renae Kaye

Rating:5 stars out of 5

At the age of twenty-nine, Shawn O’Hara’s life is full, although not quite in the way he had always imagined it. Shawn had to quit his job to become the full-time caregiver of his Alzheimer’s-stricken mother. And if that isn’t enough, Shawn’s life has been a string of unfortunate accidents. What some people call Murphy’s Law (A rule that states, “If something can go wrong, it will, and usually at the worst time.”), is in Shawn’s case, Murphy’s Law doubled and known by friends and family as Shawn’s Law.

In what little spare time Shawn has, he spends it painting nude men and spying on the guy who walks his dogs along the street every day at four o’clock, someone he has affectionately dubbed Hippy-Hotpants. When Shawn takes a spectacular fall on his front steps, who is there to witness it other than the man of his dreams?

Harley (aka Hippy Hotpants) doesn’t believe in Shawn’s Law. But spending time with Shawn brings about a change in mind. Shawn is it for Harley and he is determined to make Shawn see it as well. The two men make it through a memorable first date, full of Shawn’s Law surprises, and still look forward to more. But when Harley is accidentally injured, Shawn is determined to save Harley’s life the only way he knows how—by breaking up with him. Not once, but twice. Throw in a serial killer ex-boyfriend, several deadly Australian animals, two dogs called Bennie, a mother who forgets to wear clothes, an unforgiving Town Council, and a strawberry-flavored condom dolly, and Shawn’s Law is one for the booksmind.

Ever had a book that made you laugh out loud? Not just a few giggles (although that happened), or episodes of gentle laughter (ditto). No, I’m talking about out and out guffaws, side stitching no holds barred cackles! For me, that is Shawn’s Law by Renae Kaye in a nutshell. Even now, just thinking about certain scenes and dialog makes me stop and laugh until I cry.

I have read and loved other books by this author (The Blinding Light, The Shearing Gun, Safe in His Arms) but nothing prepared me for Harley, Shawn, and their fabulous if accident prone path to love. The humor is searing, but its overlaid by some of life’s worst events, a mother in the last throes of Alzheimer’s, lost jobs, a stressed out sister and a solitary love life, all of which are realistically portrayed. Shawn is unexpectedly wonderful in almost every way. His outlook is positive (because the alternative would be depressingly scary). His physique? Well, let’s hear it from Harley how he sees Shawn:

And Shawn is definitely a man. He has short black hair and a strong jaw that needs to be shaved twice a day to keep the shadow off. He wears endearing black-framed glasses that look cute and geeky at the same time. He hates his glasses and is always threatening to buy something hip and cool, but he never gets around to it. Too many other things happen in his life. But there’s no getting around the fact that he’s short and has curves—his legs are curvy, his butt sticks out and his chest is rounded. He would never be called svelte or willowy, and that’s more than okay with me.

Yep, that Shawn, Short, “curvy”, kind hearted Shawn. He doesn’t even cuss because he accidentally taught his youngest niece the F word, so now everything is fudge, or sugar or any other sweet term you can think of (as in “Sugar creme puffs, Mum’s loose and naked again”) and from Shawn’s mouth it feels natural and unaffected. Shawn comes across as a human being you would love to get to know (albeit from the relative safety of 10 feet away). He’s friends with all the nurses and doctors at the local hospital through his many visits. All the local car towing company, animal wildlife rangers, plumbers,, etc are all of first name basis with Shawn due to Shawn’s Law in action. Man, this guy endearing and real. I love Shawn and he quickly became one of my favorite characters.

Harley is another finely drawn portrait of a activist at home in his own skin and looking for love in one of the most unlikely pairings around. Harley likes to let it all, I mean all as in his equipment, hang loose. No binding underwear for him and his dress or sometimes lack of it earns him the nickname Hippy-Hotpants. Maybe its his long hair too. Anyway, he cuts quite the figure through these pages and in Shawn’s life. Harley is far from perfect and Shawn brings about some serious reflection on how he views his life, Shawn, and the events that happen. I love that about this character and the storyline. The characters all show measurable growth. It unfolds realistically and sometimes painfully, although the humor is retained at various levels of intensity. But nothing is easy. Relationships take work, people have insecurities about their bodies, and sometimes people do the wrong thing by trying to do what’ they think is right and will create the least amount of havoc for someone they love. So yeah, their steps towards love are sometimes plodding, full of pratfalls and stumbles and a fair share of misunderstandings. But that only makes this story and their romance that much sweeter because it feels so real and right.

All the other characters are just as perfectly realized as Shawn and Harley. Whether its, Lisa (Shawn’s sister) or Shawn’s mum whose lucidity comes and goes (mostly goes), or any of the other myriad people that pop up, you will remember them all with great fondness and wish to see more of them as often as possible. I could have lived in this story and with these characters for a long, long time.

Renae Kaye’s writing flows so smoothly here. Told from both Shawn and Harley’s point of view the events unfold quickly and believably. And this short excerpt gives you a window into how it all starts. Here Shawn has just realized that his mother has slipped out of the house…again. And he follows a trail of clothing outside just as he was waiting to catch a glimpse of “Hippy-Hotpants”:

“Mum?”

Then disaster struck. Not apocalypse proportions, but just your everyday oh-man-that-just-ruined-everything disaster. My foot slid on something and flew out from under me. I was racing too hard to find my balance, and ended up falling on my butt, coming down on the edge of a step with a yelp of pain. I slithered down a few more steps before coming to a halt on my back, staring up in shock at the blue sky.

“Oh, holy fuu… udge bars.”

It was a small thing, but I made it a habit not to use the “F-word” ever since I’d accidently taught it to my niece when she was only two. The “Sh-word” was also out, so I now used words like fudge and sugar and darn for expletives. It wasn’t easy. My days usually need a lot of expletives. I turned my head slightly, thanked God that my neck still worked, and caught sight of something white in my peripheral vision. My head was resting on something and I yanked it from beneath me and tried to focus.

Ugh. Bras, briefs, panties, and lingerie. I’d skidded on the latest Target underwear catalog. Perfect.

“Are you okay?”

Want a story to keep you smiling and engaged? Shawn’s Law is one for the top shelf, you know the one where you keep your favorite stories! It’s a story you will want to pick up again when you want a laugh or when you want to renew your acquaintance with some of the most endearing, wonderful characters around. Oh, and that last chapter? The one that consists of 3 short sentences? Priceless, just priceless. But don’t take my word for it….go, right now and grab this up! It’s one of my most highly recommended reads!

Cover artist: Paul Richmond. The artist does this story and its characters justice. It’s perfect in attitude and humor, and I loved it. And yes, that’s a part of this story.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: March 6th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
original titleShawn’s Law
ISBN139781632167347
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Blue Eyed Stranger (Trowchester Blues #2) by Alex Beecroft

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

For Billy Wright and Martin Deng, life presents very different but just as challenging obstacles to overcome on a daily basis. Billy Wright’s problem? He’s only visible when he’s wearing a mask, which is fine as Billy performs at country fairs with his local morris dancing troupe. But when the dancing is over, Billy’s life is lonely and empty, made seriously worse by his crippling depression.

In any crowd Martin Deng would stand out but he is that more startling as a member of a historical reenactment troop . 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, Martin is lonely and harried. The headmaster as the school he teaches at 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. Or coming out to his family.

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.

The village of Trowchester crept into my heart with the first story in the Trowchester series, Trowchester Blues. I fell whole heartedly in love with the layered characterizations, and richly textured story set within a fictional town so memorable and believable that I never wanted to leave. I knew another story was coming but wondered if it could possibly live up to the story that preceded it. I shouldn’t have worried. Blue Eyed Stranger is just as moving and rich as the first, perhaps even more.

Blue Eyed Stranger (Trowchester Blues #2) by Alex Beecroft is not a continuation of Finn and Michael’s story. In fact, Finn, and his book club make only scant appearances here, along with Trowchester’s archaeologist James. No, this story belongs totally and gloriously with the characters of Billy and Martin, a duo so odd and compelling that I wondered how Alex Beecroft came to think of them at all, let alone as a couple.

Billy Wright has so many layers to his character. We meet him in the throes of a deep depression attack. He is unable to move, even if its to save himself from the cold and exposure. The thought that finally creeps through the blackness enveloping him is the county fair his Morris troop, Griffins, is to dance at and we begin to understand how important dancing is to Billy’s survival. The music, on my what incredible music,that exists in Billy comes later. With Billy, its at though he is enveloped in an invisibility cloak, one that oddly enough disappears once Billy dons the makeup and yes, cloak of a Morris dancer. And then he flies, and takes our hearts with him.

I didn’t really understand that much about Morris dancing, the various types (Border, Cotswold, etc) and apparel and facial makeup the dancers put on. But as Billy explains it to Martin, the knowledge and history (as well as misunderstandings about the black face makeup), flow as naturally in the dialog as it would in a conversation with someone new and interested in what you were doing. Beecroft gave me a nice foundation of knowledge that sent me off to Youtube for examples of all types of morris dancing and music. But its not just in the explanations but in the descriptions of Billy and his troop as they whirl and jump and the clash of their wooden staffs that make this element of the story come alive! I felt that not only could it see it happening, I could hear the various instruments played and the crowd react with glee and appreciation.

On the other side of this unlikely pair is Martin Deng, a phyically impressive man, whose biracial appearance sets him apart (father is from Ethiopia and an English mum). His profession is to teach history in school but his passion? To bring it to life as an active member and founder of a fledgling historical re-enactment society. Martin is not only passionate about being historically correct in appearance and actions but as a black Viking he calls attention to himself just in his presence alone. Martin is also gay, a fact he hides from almost everyone, including his family. His small group, Bretwalda, is a splinter group from a larger more restrictive society and Martin is buried under the pressure of a new troop, obtaining new recruits and managing their increasing fair/event schedule while maintaining his job. It a precarious position, and becoming more so by the minute. Martin may appear to be the opposite of Billy but underneath, that simply isn’t true. Both men care deeply and passionately about history and representing it accurately. While Billy is out with his sexuality, but unless he has his true self cloaked behind his Griffins attire, then Billy is less than assured about his attractiveness and appeal.

Their romance is believably full of obstacles, including Billy’s depression which is handled realistically and authentically and Martin’s fear of being ostracized if his homosexuality were known. Both Bill and Martin need to address issues within themselves before they can move forward as a couple together and the manner in which Alex Beecroft understands this and makes the reader a part of their process elevates this narrative even higher.

Bily and Martin’s journey is fraught with misteps, fear, and ignorance but the trip they take together is gripping, emotionally rewarding, and results in what is one of my favorite books of the year to date. You don’t have to have read the first story, Trowchester Blues, to read this one. It does beautifully as a stand alone. But together? The portrait of an amazing small village full of people you would love to meet becomes richer and, quite frankly, more addictive.

Need a new passion or several? Pick up Blue Eyed Stranger by Alex Beecroft, its my of my finest reads to date this year!

Cover art by Lou Harper. I love the cover, but the inclusion of the gun (a minor element) surprises me other than to brand the series. Give me a hearpe or a true Viking helmet instead!

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing All Romance (ARe) Amazon coming closer to April 6th.

Book Details:

ebook, 230 pages
Expected publication: April 6th 2015 by Riptide Publishing
original titleBlue Eyed Stranger
ISBN139781626492127
edition languageEnglish

Books in the Trowchester Series

Trowchester Blues
Blue Eyed Stranger (Trowchester #2) Expected publication April 6, preorder now
Blue Steel Chain (Trowchester Blues, #3)Expected publication: July 27th 2015

A MelanieM Review: Drawing Dead: Jack of Spades (PF 2015 Altered States) by Lee Brazil

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The world hasn’t been the same since the preternaturals came out of the closet. Much to many people’s chagrin, strange beings of all kinds are making life tricky for the “normals.” Vampires, werewolves, ghosts and ghoulies of all sorts.

Physics professor Dr. Sabine Brusilov has been obsessed with ghost hunting since he was eight years old. He’s gathered a wealth of knowledge, but can’t produce a shred of scientific proof. Almost. When Sabines found some old artifacts and bones at the bottom of a river, the last thing he expected was to see a ghost desolately sitting on the river bed next to them. Now the ghost is a constant presence in Sabine’s life, including his bed.

One hundred and seventy-five years of death haven’t done riverboat gambler Barton Montoire a damn bit of good. He’s still rash, impulsive, and prone to fits of temper and bouts of melancholy. He’s still trying to fit together pieces of his past, although the way he died, gunshot to the chest, feels as fresh as the day it happened over a game of cards. Now he spends his days and nights haunting the very handsome and gay Dr. Sabine Brusilov.

You’d think that when fate brought the two of them together, Bart’s lonely spirit would be calmed, and Sabine would have the proof his heart desires. But their future is as cloudy as Barton’s past, especially when a new evil arrives in town.

In a world where mythical beings are real, love is still the most elusive… and treacherous myth of them all.

Here we are at the start of another round of Pulp Friction stories, Drawing Dead: Jack of Spades by Lee Brazil, and it has all the hallmarks of a most memorable series. Taking place in New Orleans, whose name conjures up ghastly past events, hauntings and romance, Brazil’s characters and plot fit right in.

First is Dr. Dr. Sabine Brusilov, an intense physics professor and hunter of ghosts. Sabine is such an intently focused human being that he lurks on the edge of being self involved to the point of obsession and obliviousness to those around him. He is one character I hope shows some emotional growth as the storyline progresses because he comes close to dividing the main characters into two teams. Team Sabine and Team Barton. His careless treatment (in my eyes) or perhaps just lack of concern towards Barton comes close to derailing any affection I feel towards Sabine. Luckily, his lover more than made up for Sabine’s inadequacies in the personality department. Barton I adore. Ten years ago, while hunting for artifacts, Sabine came across some bones and personal objects buried in the river bottom. Sitting next to them? Their dead and now ghostly owner, riverboat gambler Barton Montoire.

That aspect of the story just drew me in. I love the idea of a ghost of outrageous character and gorgeous to boot and that’s Barton Montoire! He’s definitely my favorite character. Dressed in the clothes in which he died 175 years ago, he cuts quite the figure. In Barton, Brazil has created a vivid character, voluble and emotional (well, who wouldn’t be given his circumstances), whose memories and personality is still somewhat frayed by the “whole dead thing” experience. Barton is not only charismatic but made sympathetic by the way he is forced to “live” his ghostly existence. He can only be seen and heard by Sabine (at first), and he is restricted in movement and to specific locations by Sabine’s will. If Sabine doesn’t want him to travel with him, Barton is stuck in Sabine’s quarters, alone and frustrated. If Barton has anger issues (and he does), they are ones the reader can relate to. Really, he makes the story for me.

Sabine now runs a Dead Mens Tales Investigative Service and thats the plot point which introduces the mystery that launches an investigation that will threaten to bring both men, alive and dead, permanently down. Brazil does an excellent job of easing us into this portion of the plot. Sabine gets a phone call from an elderly woman, who may be dotty but is also definitely afraid of the tenants upstairs in her house. His initial investigation provokes a few jitters but the worse is yet to come. Little by little Brazil takes a mild case of suspicion and builds it into something ominous and heavy with evil intent. I loved that! It definitely gave me goose bumps. And using a gambler’s or magician’s sleight of hand, while our attention is focused in one direction, something equally awful and startling is happening in the other direction, just put a wonderful finishing flourish to all the events unfolding. In a totally scary and creepy way of course.

As the story heads towards its cliffhanger, other characters are introduced, some from the Altered States stories of Harner and Webb and others new and central to the Pulp Friction interconnected series. Be on the look out for wolfshifter Jet (from Altered States), Laurant the incubus from Havan Brazil’s series, among many others. I can’t wait to see what parts they all will play in the drama to come.

I definitely recommend this story and series. It’s haunting, dynamic and full of elements that will draw you in. Love supernatural tales? Ones full of mystery, romance and dread? This one’s for you. Along with all the others to follow. Get started today!

Cover art by Laura Harner. I love this cover and all the covers I’ve seen for the Pulp Friction series. Just gorgeous.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Published February 13th 2015 by Lime Time Press
ASINB00TL4F1XW
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.

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

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)
• Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1)
• Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2)
• Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3)

A MelanieM Review: Road Trip by A.F. Henley

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

At 35, car mechanic Boyd Matthis is feeling a bit disillusioned if practical about the way his life panned out. He makes just enough to pay his bills and get by. But what of the dreams he once had? On his wall is a faded map of the country with pins pushed into locations he always wanted to visit. A 60’s muscle car, another dream, would be the ideal ride that takes him out on the trip of a lifetime…all out of reach of Boyd’s finances. Until a miracle happens. Boyd finds his dream car for sale at a price he can afford after 15 years of saving and his life changes course.

One cross country flight later and Boyd has the keys to his new ’69 Roadrunner in hand and the pedal to the metal. He’s got a plan and a time table to meet before he has to be back at his job. It’s all working out for once. Until Las Vegas when Boyd runs into Oliver Martin, 24, a young man in trouble trying to return home to Maryland. Boyd just can’t turn his back on someone in such obvious pain and need of assistance. Now its two for the road with time to get to know each other and for affection if not more to settle as they ride east. But Oliver’s troubles aren’t over yet as the shadow of Oliver’s past is following behind them. What happens when the dreams of one man has the potential to change both mens future forever?

A. F. Henley’s marvelous Road Trip brought up so many emotions and memories for me. Boyd’s dream car, what is now referred to as a historic vehicle was a car of my youth, along with 8 tracks, wide tires, and call of the road trip and the idea that your dreams could be realized somewhere along the way of that smooth, wide asphalt. It was also a known “next stage” of adolescence. From a boy and a dog, to a boy and his car, although in my case it was girl and a dog, to girl, dog, and a car. It didn’t seem to matter that was a Ford Mustang ’65 or in this case a ’69 Plymouth Roadrunner, black on black. To be the ruler of the road and master of your dreams, your ride needed to be powerful too.

Henley’s Boyd is a weary, good man who has about given up on his dreams. Boyd has diligently saved for 15 years (at a small salary as a mechanic) to own his own holy grail of cars only to see life with all its mishaps continually reduce the4 savings he put aside to purchase his dream car. A faded old USA map full of push pins outline a journey to places Boyd has thought about since childhood. Those dreams combined with the 69 Roadrunner encapsulated the hopes and future Boyd once thought he could achieve but are fast slipping away. I loved that Henley’s Boyd feels so familiar and real. He’s matter of fact about his appearance, good points and bad. His view of his life is unobscured by filters and he is accepting that his status, as a hardworking gay man of “singular” status might be permanent. Bars and hookups for Boyd as a thing of his past. And we get that because Henley’s portrait of a decent, hardworking man is so vivid and believable that Boyd quickly works his way into our hearts.

And then Boyd’s dreams come true and the feeling in these words are almost heartrending in their quiet joy.

…It was so much more than just a car, or just a road trip… It was that thing he’d been planning for, that one thing, and it was finally happening. It didn’t matter that he still rented a falling-down shack while all his buddies were buying houses. It didn’t matter that he didn’t own his own garage or that he had to scrape by on sixteen bucks an hour. He was getting his car. He was fulfilling a dream.

It was that flurry of emotion that gave Boyd the stamina to ignore the oversized man sitting to his left on the plane who snored most of the way there. It was the same rush that stopped him from losing his mind on the irritating woman to his right who kept bumping his arm with her laptop. He’d even been able to turn a blind eye when the brat in front of him kept popping over the seat to stick out his tongue.

When he arrived at the airport, Boyd waited with a patience even he’d been surprised he could manage for the cab that would take him from the airport in San Francisco out to West Sacramento. He didn’t get irate when they got stuck in traffic on the bridge, even though bridges freaked him the hell out— especially ones that seemed as long as small countries were wide. None of it mattered.

None of the tiny issues were going to get in the way of his adventure. He could have charmed demons if he’d needed to. Nothing in life had ever felt so gratifying as the moment when he finally got to stand beside that sweet little machine and call it his; when he got to hold the keys with the garish, dangling eight-ball and claim them. She was perfect.

There we are, in the moment as Boyd stands beside his dream realized, and its feels as powerful and true as if we were Boyd himself. And it gets better as Boyd and Roadrunner hit the highway, heading for adventure and all those red pin destinations he has dreamed about his entire life.

Of course, Boyd’s intricately laid out plan hits a snag in Las Vegas (perfect place where many dreams go sideways). There Boyd finds and we meet the second main character to this story, Oliver Martin. Oliver is a scared, desperate 24 year old who followed his dream to Las Vegas only to see it crumble and try to destroy him. Now he’s at a dead end at his journey with no hope in sight. Until Boyd intervenes. Oliver is another entirely believable personage. Guarded, wounded, and clearly in need of help he won’t ask for, its a joy for the reader to see his character change and deepen as the men head east towards their respective homes in Syracuse, NY (Boyd’s) and Towson, MD (Oliver’s). Sometimes such a difference in ages between the characters doesn’t work but it does here. Oliver gives Boyd a fresh perspective on his vision of the trips and places they see plus Boyd gives Oliver a safe, firm foundation that allows Oliver to start to heal. Their relationship starts off shaky yet slowly becomes so much more. I loved that too.

And the third main character? Well, the ’69 Plymouth Roadrunner of course, black on black. From the moment Boyd grasps that key in hand, that car roars to life, becoming as important to their relationship and story as they are.

…It wasn’t just the way the sun glinted off the chrome or the brilliance of the car’s finish; it was the entire aura of the automobile that caught everyone’s attention. It drew people by the dozens, be it at the pier, the beach, or even the Denny’s that Boyd ate breakfast at. The men asked questions they hoped made them sound smart, and the women came to flirt as if the car was some kind of bizarre extension of his cock.

..he was sure that he could make up the time in Vegas. He donned shades against the early evening sun, popped in a cartridge of Del Shannon, turned up the volume, opened both windows wide, and drove the car hard. The engine thrummed and the speakers cooed, both working in time to drown out Boyd’s voice while he tried to hit notes he should not have.

A braided steering wheel, a box full of 8-track cassettes and the open road…and A.F. Henley puts us in the seat next to Boyd where we feel the softness of leather, shield our eyes from blinding light from the chrome and sit back, lulled by the hum of a powerful car doing what it was manufactured to do…complete someone’s dream. I could have stayed on the road with all three for pages and pages more than their journey ended.

But life and reality catches up with both in Maryland and what followed felt a little rushed and without foundation. I felt this section of the plot needed a little more fleshing out, whether in background or characters, to bring it up to the wonderful narrative that comes before. But it does supply a necessary element of drama and helps bring the story to a totally satisfactory conclusion. I loved this story and all the characters, car included.

I highly recommend that readers take this journey with Boyd and Oliver. Pick up Road Trip and remember what is feels like to have your dreams come alive and the whole world ready to explore. I leave you with the images of a car made to fly down our superhighways with the music blaring and you singing at the top of your lungs.

Cover artist Natasha Snow did a great job with incorporating important elements in a design that feels timeless.

Sales Links: Less Than Three Press All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published February 11th 2015 by Less Than Three Press
original titleRoad Trip
ISBN139781620045077
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Free Falling Crimson (Altered States #3) by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

New Orleans, Louisiana. 2015.

A bank is robbed and two guards are torn apart and yet the cameras show nothing. No suspicious persons to be identified and no clues to help search out the killer. Other than the bloody aftermath. Except the fact that the victims are human and the crimes occur in Human Only establishments. All signs point to a Preternatural killer with a grudge against humans. It’s not the first, and it won’t be the last.

Three years have passed since a vampire burst into flames on television and humans were forced to face a new world where supernatural beings exist. Caught up in the revelation and new world order are Sam Garrett and Travis Boudreaux, former NOPD detectives. Once human, they find themselves part of the preternatural world. Now everything is different, new lives, new rules, only their strange bond and attraction to each other has remained the same.

So much to contend with. Humans Only separatist groups are springing up everywhere ala KKK. Also out to get them is a vampire with political ambitions with huge plans of his own. No one’s safe in a world where humans—and supers—are forced to adapt, or die.

Working together as part of a team sanctioned by Homeland Security to carry out Justice Department decrees, Sam and Travis ensure the deadliest of supers pay for their crimes. Permanently.

Warning: This is a steamy urban fantasy. In this series the vampires don’t sparkle, werewolves kill.

Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3) by Laura Harner and T. A. Webb is the culmination of three preceding stories and its by far the best of them all. While the others were setting out the characters, relationships (no matter how tenuous), and world building, this story pulls it all together in a taut thriller guaranteed to make your heart race for multiple reasons.

At the center of this series is newly made supernaturals Sam Garrett and Travis Boudreaux. Their job as partners on the force pulled them together, their feelings for each other initialized a strange bond that even the calamitous events couldn’t destroy. Now back together again, Sam and Travis are trying to make their new relationship work amidst a crime spree that seems unsolvable and a new world order that seems to want to repeat the same mistakes made with those of Japanese ancestry during WWII. A Humans Only rights group is gaining in power and political leverage. Everywhere there are talks of internment camps and registering supernatural beings. And that makes solving this case even more important to all.

Harner and Webb understand complicated plots and they keep several important story lines in play at the same time to further deepen the mysteries and obfuscate important details and agendas. Secondary but hugely important characters have relationships in motion at every stage of the game. Some of imploding under stress and power struggles, others are being formed despite outward behaviors to the contrary. And each pairing is critical to the overall picture. The Altered States series is very much a chess game and the authors are very adept at keeping their end game a secret while constantly upping the suspense and, yes, sometimes terror at the events happening all around our characters.

Sam and Travis finally commit to each other and the sex scenes are intense and oh so hot! How I have waited for this to happen. Other couples find themselves in flux and compelling new characters find their way into the mix. Love, love, loved it.

Of course, it ends on a cliffhanger. A heartbreaking, pulse pounding cliffhanger. It is as marvelous as it is frustrating. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

At around 152 pages, this is not a quick read because you will find yourself backtracking to check facts, people and relationships along the way. I told you it was complicated, but as you gather hints throughout the story, you begin to get and appreciate the layers to all the characters and story lines woven into the Altered States series. Pick up the first story and get started if you are new to the series. But if you have been reading along as I have, than this is the book you’lll love on every front!

Cover artist Laura Harner. I’m not a fan of red covers and this one doesn’t change my mind. I get why the artist choose red but it just never works well, no matter the design. A smaller dosage of crimson would have highlighted the drama, instead its lost in the monotone palette.

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

Book Details:

ebook
Published February 1st 2015 by Smashwords Edition
ISBN139781941841006
edition languageEnglish
seriesAltered States #3

Books in the Altered States Series in the order they should be read:

• Altered States (Altered States, #0.5)
• Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1)
• Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2)
• Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3)

A MelanieM Review: Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States #2) by L.E. Harner, and T.A. Webb

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

“Wolf or vamp? Decide. It has to be now.”

A life altering decision made in seconds. For those were the last words Sam Garrett ever heard—as a human. And as something other than human, his career as a cop was over.

Travis Boudreaux knows exactly how Sam feels, its an all too familiar situation. But as Travis and Sam are about to find out… when some doors close, the golden window of opportunity opens. Crimes against supernaturals require a new and different approach, and once the Feds show up, the Odd Squad isn’t the only law enforcement game in town.

With paranormal crimes flourishing and a revenge-seeking vampire creating deadly havoc, the new federal agent-in-charge is on a recruiting mission—and he’s more than ready to fight fire with fire. What do you get when you mix old friends, new enemies, and a license to kill?

Pure dynamite.

Warning: This is an erotic urban fantasy. In this series the vampires don’t sparkle, werewolves kill, and the men sometimes have sex. With each other.

Alrighty then! With Deadly Shades of Gold, the romance of Sam and Travis is about to be well…something hot and wonderful. As well as totally unexpected. I loved this story wholeheartedly. It made me want to do a few high fives and “hell to the yeah’s”! To recap briefly, Sam and Travis were partners on the force and soon to be partners in love when a vampire attacked Travis and killed him. But Travis didn’t stay dead for long and his return (on the day of his funeral), revealed to the world that vampires and other supernatural beings were real and living along side of them. Surprise! And quite, naturally it split up Sam and Travis to go their separate ways.

In Deep Blues Goodbye, Sam became the focus of two warring supernatural groups and the end result was a life altering decision (not to be revealed here). The choice made is startling as is the effects it has on Sam, his career, and all those around him. It also brings Travis back into his life and that’s where this story takes flight for me more once more. I love this two together. Apart, its bittersweet but together? They become dynamic and compelling. It doesn’t matter whether they are human or supernatural, Harner and Webb have created a romance that feels powerful and real, a connection that jumps off the page and into your heart. This story starts them on the path back to each other and something more as it picks up from that moment.

I love how believable the authors made the characters adjustment to their new status. There’s plenty of confusion and pain to go around, second guessing and indecision often rules the day. The process of accepting and adjusting to being a supernatural takes time and we watch it happen as Sam works his way through this tumultuous period. More plot threads are revealed, including perhaps, a motive or two from the head villain himself. Unknown histories are starting to surface and more supernatural politics combine with romance for another superb installment in this series. I think this is my favorite so far.

I highly recommend this series. I love the world building, its layered and complicated, just like the characters themselves. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Cover art by Laura Harner. Love this cover, wish there was more branding to the series.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 134 pages
Published February 19th 2013 by Hot Corner Press
ISBN139781937252311
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://lauraharner.com
seriesAltered States #2
charactersSam Garrett (Altered States), Travis Boudreaux

Books in the Altered States Series in the order they should be read:
• Altered States (Altered States, #0.5)
• Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1)
• Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2)
• Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3)

A MelanieM Review: Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States #1) by L.E. Harner, T.A. Webb

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

With one startling action, the world changed forever. Recently deceased NOPD Detective Travis Boudreaux was in the process of being mourned and buried when he had the bad taste to sit up at his own funeral. Until that happened no one knew that vampires and werewolves had been living amongst them. Now two years later, the fight is on for civil rights for preternatural beings and most humans are on the bandwagon. Except whoever is killing vampires and would be vampires.

Since the death and return of his partner and almost love, Detective Sam Garrett has hated all things preternatural. Having your undead partner try to make you his first meal will do that to a guy. When Sam’s attitude gets the best of him on the job, Sam finds himself banished to the Paranormal Criminal Investigations Unit—the Odd Squad—under the oversight of Detective Danny Burkette.

Now it’s up to Burkette to work with Garrett by day and Boudreaux by night as they follow a trail of clues that leads from the historic cemeteries of New Orleans to the bayous of southern Louisiana. During the course of their investigations, both men come to the attention of a Master vampire and the local werewolf pack Alpha. If they aren’t careful, it won’t be just Boudreaux whose dead, but maybe even Sam as well. Some lessons in life—and death—take longer to learn…and Sam and Travis find out that not all second chances are created equal.

Warning: This is an erotic urban fantasy. In this series the vampires don’t sparkle, werewolves kill, and the men sometimes have sex. With each other.

Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States #1) by L.E. Harner and T.A. Webb deepens the amazing world building these authors are constructing for this series. New Orleans, that rich feast of a city, is the perfect setting for supernatural beings in love and evil schemes that are slow to unfold. After that shocker at the end of Altered States, I eagerly grabed this up to see what had occurred only to find that two years had passed and the aftermath is viewed through the various perspective of the characters involved. And yes, I was a little disappointed. After all, what happened at the funeral was a stunner for all involved, including the now animated corpse of Travis Boudreaux. But two years have passed since Travis was turned and now everyone has to deal with the fact that vampires, werewolves and more exist and live among them. And not everyone is happy about that, including Sam.

I adore Sam, he’s a piece of cynical perfection and disappointment. What happened to Travis altered Sam as well, especially since both men were so close to falling in love, if they hadn’t already. But a vampire and fate intervenes and their new relationship was destroyed…or so they think. It soon becomes apparent that Sam has never gotten over Travis and that just adds onto the bitterness Sam already feels about the whole undead thing and his partner. I loved the two of them together and their bonding extends past themselves and the pages to include the reader. In fact, I so bought into their burgeoning love affair that aspects of this story threw me off.

Without heading into spoiler territory, other supernaturals arrive to further complicate the current state of affairs and all their attention will be focusing on Sam. We see Travis as he is trying to move forward with his undead life with not a whole lot of success. We see Sam also trying to do the same, both are stalled and bitter. Something has to occur to break the stasis and it’s a doozy.

As part of the events that happen, a bonded pair will have some wild hot sex with one of our main characters. Normally this doesn’t bother me, especially when the authors make a case for it to happen. But here? Not an element I enjoyed. I understood where the authors were going with it, but I so bought into Sam and Travis’ romance that this aspect never became palatable. How a reader feels about this (it’s really not cheating) will likely foretell how they feel about this installment in the series. Some readers will be asking if they can skip over this book (and yes, the third book sort of resolves this), but no *shakes finger*, unfortunately you can’t.

Think of each story as a building block essential to the whole construct. Miss even one, and you miss key elements that not only enrich the series but deepen the mystery and suspense Harner and Webb are working hard to build. So much of this story is worthy of your attention and commitment. And, perhaps, the few elements that bothered me won’t phase you in the least. This is going to be one wild ride!

Another reason to start reading this series? This year’s Pulp Friction 2015 gang situates all their interconnected series in the Altered States universe. So its double or is that quadruple the fun for all! So get started. Each is a fast, wild, suspenseful tale…over before you know it. However, don’t be astonished if it lingers on in the questions and clues left behind (and even more shockers).

Cover art by Laura Harner works for the series.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 120 pages
Published August 16th 2012 by Hot Corner Press
ISBN139781937252243
edition languageEnglish
seriesAltered States #1
charactersSam Garrett (Altered States), Travis Boudreaux

Books in the Altered States Series in the order they should be read:

Altered States (Altered States, #0.5)
Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1)
Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2)
Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3)

A MelanieM Review: Stolen Dreams by Sue Brown

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

Five years ago Morgan Conway cheated on the man he loved all his life and their relationship imploded. Now Morgan, an up and coming assistant movie director has moved on. Morgan is engaged to be married to a popular actor, his career is going well, and the coffee shop he owns is busier than ever. All is good. Until Morgan hears that the man he loved and lost is back in town. When he shows up at Morgan’s coffee shop, all the old feelings return, unfortunately there for everyone to see, including his fiancé.

Shae Delamere was crushed when Morgan cheated on him five years ago. But when his father falls ill, he returns home and seeks out Morgan once more. Despite the fact that Morgan is engaged and Shae lives in Texas, they realize they never stopped loving each other. Their renewed friendship brings conflict on every side. Morgan still has a fiance. And friends and families unite to pull them apart again. As old alliances come to light and long buried secrets threaten to rise up and destroy them once more, Morgan and Shae must decide to either forgive and move forward or let their dreams of being together be stolen away forever.

Stolen Dreams by Sue Brown is definitely a book that will arouse strong feelings in a reader, although probably not the feelings the author had hoped for. I originally read this story back in 2012 when a now defunct press released it. It wasn’t until I was halfway through that I remembered the story…and why I didn’t much care for it then. And still don’t today.

The story starts off promisingly enough. Morgan is happy on all fronts. He has a gorgeous fiance who adores him, a career as an assistant director that’s taking off, and a coffee shop he owns that is popular with the latte crowd. All good. The interaction with his friends and employees is funny, sharp and gives the reader a good impression of the character and the story just underway. Then Shae Delamere, his ex (ex best friend, ex boyhood friend, ex lover, ex everything) resurfaces in town, and everything starts to head south, including the plot.

The official reason that Shae has returned is that his father is ill but there is another hidden reason as well. That is probably one of the biggest issues to surface in this story. Its that everyone has secrets…Godzilla- sized, huge secrets that either everyone knows about or is being kept from one of the main characters. The idea that any sort of respectful, equal relationship is or can be had between any of the characters here is tossed out the window immediately. They all constantly lie to each other (some because they are protecting a person, others because they detest a person, or everything in between). They did so in the past, are doing so now, and you are never sure what is too keep any of them from continuing this pattern. The only reason any of the secrets come to life is because someone accidentally “spills the coffee beans” as it were.

I kept wondering why Sue Brown, who writes such beautifully compassionate and relatable characters, would choose to plot an entire story around characters almost guaranteed to be off-putting and somewhat shabby in their behavior, especially towards those they say they love the most. I am not talking about the element of cheating here (although I know that’s a red flag for some readers). That doesn’t really bother me in a story if the author makes a good case for it and it feels plausible for the characters involved. Did I ever get that feeling here? No. The explanation behind the original cheating element felt contrived and shallow (kind of like the characters).

No, the poison goes far deeper into the foundation of the characters themselves as created by Brown. Shae, the one character everyone is supposed to relate to, commit to and understand comes off as cowardly, manipulative, and self serving. Ouch. And he’s the saintly one. I did feel sorry for Morgan who is apparently so fragile (not that it comes across) that he must constantly be protected from everyone and everything around him, including the truth about past events and peoples actions. Even his best friends feel that they know what is better for him than Morgan does. Every action, almost every relationship is built upon a foundation of deceit. And when it starts to crack, is it because people are finally doing the right thing? Being responsible or even kind? Nope. It’s because a light bulb finally goes off, someone gets a clue and then the explosions begin. Not because the author ever decides that someone in the story takes a moral or responsible stand. No, turns out they would have continued to hide or lie if they could get away with it.

Sigh.

The last issue I have with the story after all these have been dealt with? The ginormous hidden secret is easily guessed at early on in the plot. That pesky old secret/author plot device that everyone is hiding is so obvious that you wonder when all their intelligence took flight. And then you realize it happened back in the beginning of the story when Shae Delamere comes to town.

Heavier sigh.

By the end of the unrealistic happy ending, I was more than ready to wash my hands of Stolen Dreams and all the characters I found within.

And I hate to say that because I am a huge fan of Sue Brown. In a way, its great to see how much she has evolved as a writer since 2012. I can’t think of a recent story she has written lately that I haven’t loved. And I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in her Isle of Wight series, a favorite of mine. So if you are new to Sue Brown, you might want to give this a pass. Seek out instead The Sky Is Dead or any stories in her Isle of Wight series. If you are a fan of Sue Brown, then you might want to pick this up and give it a try. I’ll leave that decision up to you.

Cover art by Brooke Albrecht. It’s a nice cover but doesn’t speak to the characters or story within.

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

Book Details:

ebook, Second Edition, 240 pages
Published January 30th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
(first published March 18th 2012)
original titleStolen Dreams
ISBN139781632164049
edition languageEnglish
url http://suebrownsstories.blogspot.com/

A MelanieM Review: Splat by Alana Ankh

Rating: 3.25 stars out of 5

Splat!

That’s the sound Deacon Hearst hears when something hits his windshield. But what could it be? It’s unlike anything that Deacon has seen before and with good reason. It is a fairy—or rather a Sidhe—with a gaze the color of the moon and thus eloquently named Mooneyes. The little creature’s wing is broken by the windshield and its beginning to pour. What can Deacon do but take the fairy home to heal.

But as Deacon nurses Moon back to health, he discovers Moon’s beauty is more than skin deep. Though they’re very different, especially in size, they’re alike in their loneliness, their need for affection. Despite the weirdness of the situation, Deacon finds himself falling for Moon.

Moon is starting to feel the same. But they are separated by more than size, their worlds and families are about to collide. But Moon has a few secrets of his own, secrets that could change both their paths for life.

I have to admit it was that cover, title and plot of Splat that pulled me in. It was funny and warped enough that I had high hopes for the humor content inside. Instead what I found was a sweet, if not completely memorable, M/M fantasy romance by Alana Ankh. And it started off so well…

The story opens with Deacon fleeing his parents home and their continual attempts to see him straight and married to a daughter of one of their friends, no matter how often he tells them he is gay. To add to his poor mood, it begins to rain. And on his trip back home to his house in the woods, a fairy hits his windshield like a Palmetto bug on steroids. It’s pretty darn humerous right down to the sound effects of whooshing of the wipers and the visual effects of a small miserable fae going back and forth across the glass (ok, I found that funny, don’t judge).

Deacon meet Mooneyes (and with that name the story started to slide sideways for me). Deacon gets over the appearance of a fairy pretty calmly and after figuring out that a wounded fae in a downpour is not likely to make it, takes Moon home to heal. Attraction and lust ensues, albeit on a tiny scale.

Soon the author is throwing in more plot elements, one right after the other. Seems neither Moon’s or Deacon’s families want gay sons and are going out of their way to ignore their sexual choices in pursuit of their own plans. Plus there is several more fae complications to plow through. Ditto on Deacon’s side. I just wished that the author would have concentrated on the quixotical and funny romance at hand. But no, that’s not to be.

Ankh pretty much ignores the fairy world building with a few exceptions and that lack is felt throughout the story. Deacon’s background is better fleshed out but the side bits about his job and boss just add to the confusion. And a strange bit about a man who offers Moon his assistance.

Still where this story goes right is the interaction and feelings that spring up between Deacon and Mooneyes. That was sweet, and believable, even given the circumstances and the separation subplot that felt like a reasonable event given what happens beforehand.

Splat held out so much promise for something completely different yet it ended up as one more sweet,outside of the title and cover, love story. If that is what you are in the mood for and love fae/human romances, Splat might just be your thing to read. I will comfort myself in knowing I have one of the most memorable titles and covers to add to the Most Humerous of 2015.

Cover art by Paul Richmond. Pretty funny, I hope that was the intent. I did keep hearing “oh, no, Mr. Bill…”

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

Book Details:

ebook, 127 pages
Published February 11th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press, LLC
ISBN139781632164841
edition languageEnglish

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