Tag: A Paul B Review

A PaulB Review: Ansleigh’s Grotto by J.T. Cheyanne

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Ansleigh's Grotto coverWhen his grandfather passes, Dylan Matthews inherits his Virginia estate. Dylan must deal with his past both remembered and forgotten to fulfill the terms of his grandfather’s will.

Dylan Matthews spent his summers at his grandfather’s estate while growing up. Just after his eighteenth birthday, he has an argument with his father. Fifteen years later, his grandfather passes. At the reading of the will, the family learns that while the rest of the estate is to be divided among them, Dylan is the sole heir to the Virginia homestead so long as he lives there for one year. Also, there are two letters that his grandfather has left for Dylan to read explaining his actions.

Upon arriving at the estate, Dylan reacquaints himself with the staff of the manor. He also meets Leigh, whom they say takes care of the flora and fauna on the estate. Dylan is smitten by Leigh and the feelings are returned. Unknown to Dylan, this is not the first time he has met Leigh.

Leigh, or Ansleigh, is the grandson of the Seelie or Light Fae king. Many centuries ago, to end a war between the Seelie and UnSeelie or Dark Fae, the first grandchild of each king were promised to each other as mates. The only way to prevent this mating from happening is if one were to find true love and his Cosantoir or keeper. Ansleigh has waiting for fifteen years for Dylan’s return to the estate because he has formed this bond during Dylan’s visits. He is heartbroken when Dylan disappears one day without saying goodbye to him. Now he must get Dylan to fall in love with him again even though Leigh did something that might prevent that from happening again.

Dylan and Leigh must overcome how they left things fifteen years ago and must also deal with an UnSeelie prince who is bound and determined to claim Ansleigh as his as promised by their grandfathers. Their lives and the fate of the grotto depend upon the successful resolution of this dilemma.

I really enjoyed this book. The author creates a realistic fantasy world in the Virginia grotto estate of Dylan’s grandfather. The supporting characters are well rounded and give added humor to the thrills of the conflict. Making Dylan a game developer allows for a perfect epilogue though I saw it about half way through the book. I would encourage anybody to spend some time in Ansleigh’s Grotto.

The cover by Tracey Weston shows two men embracing above a manor house surrounded by lush greenery. It draws the reader in and gives a good representation of the grotto.

Sales Links:        Amazon             Buy It Here

Book details
Ebook, 179 pages
Published: January 28, 2015 by Laz & Lachi Publication
Edition: English
ISBN: 978-0-9899725-2-9

Heading Into March and This Week’s Schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

We are heading into March and this week holds many wonderful things for all of you.  The Pulp Friction Gang is back and talking about this year’s series which is located in New Orleans and set within Laura Harner and T.A. Webb’s Altered States universe of supernatural beings and events.  If you are thinking vampires, werewolves and ghosts you would be right. I will be reviewing the Altered States books all week to lead up to the first in the Pulp Friction series story !  Stay turned for more developments!

Here is our schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Splat coverOpening Day coverSong of the NavigatorStones in the Road cover

Monday, March 2:

  • Extended book blast ‘Oliver‘ by Catherine Lievens (Lion and Bear shifters….oh my!) (contest)
  • A Paul B Review:  Ansleigh’s Grotto by JT Cheyanne
  • A MelanieM Review: Splat by Anna Ankh
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Lights! Camera! Cupid! A Bluewater Bay Valentine’s Day Anthology

Tuesday, March 3:

  • In the Spotlight:  Annabeth Albert ‘Served Hot’ (contest)
  • A Stella Review: A Stone in the Road by Nick Wilgus
  • A BJ Review: Song of the Navigator by Astrid Amara
  • A MelanieM Review: Stolen Dreams by Sue Brown

Wednesday, March 4:

  • Opening Day by Alexis Woods‏ Book Tour and Author Interview
  • It Over by Hurri Cosmo Tour and contest
  • Catherine L. Byrne’s Some Other Freedom Tour and Contest
  • The Pulp Friction Gang is Here, And Its All About Pulp Friction 2015!
  • A MelanieM Review: Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1) by Laura Harner and T.A. Webb

Thursday, March 5:

  • On Tour With BA Tortuga’s Ever The Same exclusive excerpt tour and contest
  • Lissa Kasey’s Inheritance Book Tour and Contest
  • A Sammy Review: True Brit by Con Riley
  • A Paul B Review: Layne, River & Damion by Vicktor Alexander (Storming Love: Blizzard #4)
  • A MelanieM Review: Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2) by Laura Harner and TA Webb

Friday, March 6:

  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Rules to Live By – A BDSM Anthology
  • A MelanieM Review: Road Trip by A.F. Henley
  • MelanieM Review: Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3) by Laura Harner and T.A. Webb
  • A Stella Review: Shaken Up by Nicole Forcine

Saturday, March 7:

  • A Stella Review: Lucky Seven by E.L. Esch

someotherfreedom72 (2)Lucky Seven book coverShaken Up coverLights! Camera! Cupid! cover

 

 

 

A Paul B Review: Spearmint Warning by John Amory

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Spearmint Warning coverA regular customer who orders spearmint tea draws the attention of Thad, a barista at the coffee shop. Thad will learn what this man and the strange dreams he has been having are connected somehow.

Thad is the barista at a college coffee shop. For several weeks, a man enters the shop shortly after Thad begins his shift, orders a spearmint tea and sits wearing his sunglasses until closing time. His manager asks Thad to find out more about the man as his behavior unnerves most of the employees. Thad finds the man,  Guy, is blind and interested in Thad.

Later that night, Thad catches up with Guy and they talk. That night Thad has a dream of Guy at a French estate. Then Guy asks Thad for a date after his shift. While sitting on a park bench, Guy stops an attempt on Thad’s life. When asked what was going on, Guy insists that Thad follow him home so that he can explain about himself and the attack. Guy is actually a vampire and his creator has been obsessed with him for years.

This is the first novel by John Amory that I have read. The author does a good job in explaining his view of the paranormal world. He does this through a conversion between Guy and Thad about the “real world” of vampires as compared to most modern media. It also explains how Thad’s dreams at the beginning of the novel fit in with the story.

Another difference with Mr. Amory’s work is that this is not a case of instant love that a lot of paranormal writers use. I loved how at the end of the book, after dealing with the crazy creator that there is the possibility of a future romance between Thad and Guy and they were not mad crazy in love already. It left me wanting to know what is going to happen next to these two.

The cover art by BSClay is of a shirtless man with blood running down his chest. I assume it is to represent Guy after his conversion to a vampire. The extra blood streaks on either side of him while representative to the story behind Guy’s conversion, kind of detract from the cover for me.

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

Book Details
Ebook, 42 pages, included in the Eternally Dark Anthology
Published: October 2014 by Torquere Press
Edition: English

A PaulB Review: His Sleeping Beau (Wickedly Ever After #2) by Jess Buffett

Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars

His Sleeping BeauWhen Zanth’s car refuses to start on his twenty-fifth birthday, he didn’t realize that his whole world is about to be turned upside down. He will learn that the life he has lead up until that point has been carefully crafted to protect him from an evil he knows nothing about. With the assistance of his Guardian Liam, Zanth learns of his true nature and must return to his ancestral home in order to face his destiny of the leader of his people.

“His Sleeping Beau” by Jess Buffett is a gay retelling of the classic fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty.” Stephan is the leader of the Ignis Tribe of Mages. At the naming ceremony for his new born son, Aurelius, Stephan’s brother Malcolm shows up and curses the child. By the end of the child’s twenty-fifth birthday, he will prick himself on a sharp point and fall into a death-like sleep.

Flash forward twenty five years. Zanth Aurelius is having a really bad birthday. First, his car won’t start when he finishes his day teaching school. Then a stranger appears as he exits his shower. As Zanth is getting ready to defend himself against this stranger, said stranger says Zanth’s life is in danger and he needs to come with him in order to be safe.
The stranger is Liam, who is a Guardian and Changling who has been assigned to protect Zanth from birth. Hearing windows breaking downstairs, Liam protects Zanth, whom he recognizes as his mate, from the invading force while preparing him for a hasty retreat.

At a safe house, Liam explains to Zanth what is happening to his life. Liam describes the curse that was brought upon Zanth at the naming ceremony and the steps his family took to protect him. One thing that they had done was tell Zanth his birthday was three days before it really was. This was done to provide his protectors time to get Zanth to the tribe in time to claim his role as the new leader of the tribe. While at the safe house, Liam mates with Zanth but they do not complete the bond. They also are visited by the Guardian Elders, whom have an interest in Zanth claiming his rightful spot as the ruler of his people.
On the way to their village, the pair is attacked by a group of sorcerers which include Zanth’s ex-boyfriend. The ex has been working with Zanth’s uncle who is trying to make sure that his curse is carried out. With the assistance of the Elders, the pair manages to break free of this attack and continue on their way to the home village. As they rest at a motel that night, Zanth decides to complete the mating bond.

Once at the village, they find what amounts to a civil war going on. Several of the mages and guardians have sided with Malcolm trying to establish a new order. As the fight rages on, Malcolm takes Zanth prisoner and injects him with a poison that causes him to fall into a deep sleep. Liam takes on Malcolm, killing him in the process. Zanth recovers from the poisoning due to the love and mating bond he has with Liam.

The relationship between Liam and Zanth comes along quickly as most fated mate relationships go. Liam realizes Zanth is his mate when he is in danger. Zanth, who has not grown up in the world of fated mates, feels some type of pull towards Liam is resistant at first. Zanth accepts his feelings and the bond between the two after Liam defends Zanth from the various threats to his well being.

The author brings elements of the paranormal world not usually associated with your typical fairy tale. Adding shifters to the classic tale brings a new unexpected twist to the usual story. I also enjoyed the fact it diverged from the classic tale in that the villain takes a more active role in carrying out the curse.

This is the second book of the Wickedly Ever After series by JK Publishing. Each story is self contained. (The first book retells the story of Robin Hood from a female Robin’s perspective.)

The cover art is by the author and does well in depicting the heroes of the story. It shows Zanth in the foreground with Liam watching over him in the background. Well done cover.

Sales Links: JK Publishing         All Romance eBooks (ARe)      Amazon         His Sleeping Beau

Book Details:
Ebook:
Published: August 26, 2014
Edition: English
Series: Wickely Ever After

Series:
Robin and Her Merry Men (Wickedly Ever After #1) by Willow Brooks (m/f and m/f/m)
His Sleeping Beau (Wickedly Ever After #2) by Jess Buffett (m/m)