Tag: author Keira Andrews

A Lila Review: Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00070]Finding his brother breaking his promise isn’t what Troy Tanner expected to find when he entered Tyson’s hotel room. Unknowingly, his decision to leave their boy band tour, to travel from Australia to L.A., would change, not only his life, but the one of those in his path.

 Before he could second-guess his actions, Troy charters a private plane to visit his mother and talk about Tyson. Here is when he meets Brian who’s the plane’s first officer even when he’s more than qualify to be the captain. It doesn’t take long before the cyclone takes place, bringing Troy and Brian together. From that moment on, they depended on each other to survive on the deserted island in which they found shelter.

 We get to experience with the characters what it’s like to be stranded and losing hope of a rescue. Their journey to survive brought them together and their experiences cemented their relationship.

Their rescue took them by surprise, as well as their feelings for each other. They struggled separately, trying to adjust to a reality that felt almost like a lifetime ago. In the end, it’s up to them to see if their relationship can survive their new reality.

Beyond the Sea gets better the longer you read it. I need to admit that I considered a DNF several times during the first part of this story. The first forty percent moved at a snail pace, and some of the characters’ internal dialogues were not interesting enough to keep the boredom away. I think it has to do with the isolation and the unknowns they faced since this pages covered most of their survival efforts and the early discoveries of their friendship. But, as soon as Troy and Brian started to feel comfortable with their new routine, the story took off.

 The story is about survival. About how Troy and Brian had lived their separate lives until the accident, what they did to increase their survival chances, how they dealt with the possibilities of never returning to their friends & families, and most importantly, how they coped and managed life back to where they started. It’s an internal discovery of who they were until that moment, and the simple experiences that colored their new reality.

 I enjoyed having both characters’ POV. It gave the reader the chance to understand Troy’s and Brian’s fears and hopes about a life they considered lost.  Their acquaintance turned into a friendship that developed into a more personal relationship. Even when expecting the MCs to get together, I kept wondering about the final outcome and how the author was going to write their HEAs.

 The tenderness and understanding between the MCs created a deep connection between the characters. The UST was a little too much but fitted the situation. I do think Troy’s wants came without warning, but I guess their attraction was related to their journey together more than a physical attraction. Their inner qualities pulled them together, showing the reader the beauty behind a loving relationship without labels.

 Keira Andrew’s did indeed a good job creating a credible environment for the characters to be in. Everything from the weather, their delay routine, to their food and clothing had a purpose in this story. The memories they shared and their daily experiences added to the intimacy of their surroundings. Simple details like shaving, collecting water, and bathing in the sea felt as important as any other experience.

 The references to the movie Cast Away and the song that serves as the book’s title gave the story a reprise from the charged moments. I can’t stop thinking about the song days after reading the book. And yes, I listened to it online. It’s the perfect background soundtrack for Troy’s and Brian’s story. I did wonder, too, if they thought about buying the island after all.

 Overall, the story is an interesting combination of feels and self-discovery. In which everything other than their relationship and how they felt about each other became irrelevant.

 The cover goes with the island feel, but in my opinion, doesn’t match the characters or the scenes in the story. It’s very well done, just not for me.

 Sale Links:  Amazon | ARe

 Book Details:

 ebook, 275 pages
Published: March 15, 2016, by KA Books
ISBN: 9781988260020
Edition Language: English

A Mika Review: Kick At the Darkness by Keira Andrews

Rating: 5 star out of 5 stars

 

To live through the zombie apocalypse they have to survive each other first.

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00067]College freshman Parker Osborne is having the worst day ever. He humiliated himself trying to pick up a cute guy, he hasn’t made any friends at school, and his stupidly hot jerk of a TA gave him a crappy grade on his paper. He’s going to drop Adam Hawkins’ film class and start fresh tomorrow after he’s had a good sulk.

But Parker’s about to find out what a bad day really looks like—if he can survive the night.

A virus is unleashed, transforming infected people into zombie-like killers. After these quick and deadly creepers swarm campus, Parker only escapes thanks to Adam swooping him onto the back of his trusty motorcycle. Now they’re on the run—and stuck with each other.

When they’re not bickering, they’re fighting off the infected in a bloody battle for survival. Their only hope is to head east to Parker’s family, but orphaned Adam has a secret he’s not sure Parker will accept: he’s a werewolf. Can they trust each other enough to find some light in these dark days?

Kick At the Darkness by Keira Andrews surpassed all my expectations. It was really good from beginning to end. No, let me say Parker surpassed all my expectations. Here I thought he was going to be this pretentious idiot but he was not. He was a fighter, and sure, I would have freaked out as well in his shoes. I thought the writing was very good. Loved Parker snarkiness. Can I just give K.Andrews a big ass high 5^ for naming him Parker Osborne, seriously You Rock!!!

Dude, this book helped me if there was ever a zombie apocalypse in the future. Now I know what to do and what not to do. I thought they were fortunate about the things that they were able to do and say. Also great? The pacing of the story. In situations like these, it always seems to me like Marshal law is the first thing that happens so I don’t know if I would be brave enough to leave my house in a situation like this. Unlike Parker.

For me the best part of the book was the FREAKIN DIRTY TALK. Parker, who is 18, is one of the dirtiest boys ever! I enjoyed every second of all the words that came out his mouth. The story was at 85% when Kiera Andrews wrote this scene and I damn near fainted because I can picture that in my mind! I re-read it 3 more times to make sure it said what it said. It wouldn’t be a zombie apocalypse book without some crazy people. Yeah that whole entire Pine resort thing was nice, but I seen crazy coming from a mile away.

I do wish I could have gotten a better ending. I understand it was 10% of Parker finding what he was looking for, but that’s it? We just are going to coast along. Hmmm that was a little disheartening. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

Cover Art by Dar Albert. I thought the cover was fitting considering the situation. I liked just seeing Adam & Parker plus Mariah the faithful motorcycle.

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

Book Details:

265 pages
Published May 28th 2015 by KA Books (first published May 26th 2015)
ISBN139780994092410
edition languageEnglish

A Sammy Review: A Way Home (Gay Amish Romance #3) by Keira Andrews

 Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Anna stepped back just as Eli appeared. She nodded to David and dashed back upstairs with an apologetic smile to Eli, who sighed.

“She reminds me of a horse I once had. Wouldn’t pull the plow no matter how much I coaxed or threatened.”

“What did you do with it in the end?”

Eli shrugged. “Let it run free. What else was there to do? Come now. I’ll take you where you want to go.”

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00067]In the third and final (for now) book of the series, tragedy forces David and Isaac to return to Zebulon, a place they’d left behind just months earlier.

The city has taken a toll on their relationship, but coming back to a place they once called home is even scarier than the chaotic streets of San Francisco. Here, they once again face their parents and loved ones, all who struggle to understand their decision to leave not only their family, but the Amish way, and in turn, lose their ticket to Heaven.

Between family pressure, repairing their relationship, and the threat of losing Nathan for good, this place in their journey is sure to be a difficult one.

He knew they had problems they needed to face, but there was a sense of certainty growing deep inside him that felt sturdy and right. A certainty that despite whatever mistakes they made, this thing between them was solid and sure, rooted deep into the earth like the roots of a tree. No matter what happened, they’d face it together.

This book couldn’t have been more aptly named. It truly was a lot about finding a way home, but more than that, figuring out what home really meant to each of them.

I complained about a loss of something magic in the previous book, and this book gained some of that spark back for sure. There’s just something about the forbidden nature of love in Zebulon and how it all relates to their family that adds a dimension to it. The family, though we did see Aaron, was missing in the last book. Not here, though. They’re all back.

And speaking of family, I can honestly say one of my favorite aspects of this story was feeling like I got to know them a bit better, especially Isaac’s mother. My heart absolutely broke for her and that the author allowed us to see her struggle and be so emotionally raw was truly a gift. One particular scene between her and Isaac felt so incredibly genuine that I almost was afraid to read it, like I was invading a personal moment between them. I had a rough idea of her as a woman before, but now I feel like I know her so much more.

I also really enjoyed getting to see Aaron and Jen come into this world. Like with Isaac’s mother, I feel like I got to know Aaron so much more in this book. Hearing about the love he has for his family, even now, and seeing it, are two completely different things, and we definitely see it here.

And of course, Isaac and David – this wonderfully enticing pair that kept me coming back for more. Love conquers all is such a cheesy thing to say, but in their case, I’d say it’s true. Throw in a dash of patience and understanding, and they really have something beautiful. They grow both apart and together in this book, and it’s a great thing to see. Sometimes in a series, the characters become kind of stagnant. There’s just a new plot line with the same old person, but that’s not the case here. They evolve more with each page.

What keeps this from being a full five stars to me is the ending. While I was mostly satisfied, something still felt off to me. The epilogue just seemed to jump to a random point in the future and try to wrap things up so quickly. The books rolled out so slowly and evenly, and then it’s just thrown together at the end, and I think that’s what left me a bit off. I felt like they all deserved more of a full ending, but hopefully we get to see more of them in the future.

The cover art is very nice and flows well with the others in the book. The only thing I can pick at is that the guy on the left has this skin roll thing happening, which is completely shallow, but it simply sticks out to me in a not-so-great way. He’s attractive, it’s just the angle that’s causing the problem for me.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Expected publication: April 8th 2015 by KA Books
ISBN139780993859892
edition languageEnglish
seriesGay Amish Romance #3

 

Gay Amish Romance Trilogy:

Forbidden Rumspringa coverA Clean Break coverPageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00067]

 

In The Spotlight: Keira Andrews and A Way Home (Gay Amish Romance #3) (interview and contest)

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00067]A Way Home (Gay Amish Romance #3) by Keira Andrews

The end of the Trilogy

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words, we fell in love with Keira Andrews from the moment we picked up A Forbidden Rumspringa, the first in her Gay Amish Romance trilogy.  And now with A Way Home, the trilogy is over but not our romance with this author and her stories.  We invited her here today to talk about the inspiration behind her stories and what’s next in line for Keira Andrews.

Our Interview with Keira Andrews on A Way Home and her Gay Amish Romance Trilogy

1. Did you know this was going to be a trilogy from the start?

Yes. Well, initially it was going to be a novella, but I soon realized Isaac and David had a LOT more to say. Once I started writing, it quickly became a planned trilogy.

2. Why the Amish as a main story element?

It started out as a chuckle with an m/m blogger who mentioned that she got a lot of hits for “sexy Amish men.” It started my mind working, and I took out a book on the Amish from the library. It’s a fascinating culture so different from mine, and I thought readers might find it interesting as well. I’m also a huge fan of forbidden love.

3. I found the scenes within the Amish community so effective and real, how much research did you do in order to accomplish that?

Thank you! I read a lot and also connected with some former Amish. Their stories and recollections were incredibly helpful.

4. Coming out is hard enough, to do so in such a closed and restrictive community must be shockingly difficult. You got that across in the stories. Was there a key to finding your way inside such characters and moments in their lives?

I think it was just to put myself in their shoes as firmly as I could. Leave all my prejudices and experiences behind, and imagine that world and their experiences as authentically as possible.

5. Parts of these stories just broke my heart and others made it soar, do you find yourself as emotionally affected when writing the scenes?

Totally. If I make myself cry, I know it’s an effective scene!

6. What is the first word that enters your mind when thinking about this series?

Gratitude. I’m so grateful to readers for embracing Isaac and David and loving them as much as I do.

7. What is next for Keira Andrews?

My next book, Kick at the Darkness, is coming in May. It’s a contemporary romance about a college student and the TA he hates (who is also a secret werewolf) being stuck together on the run as they try to survive the zombie apocalypse. So it’s just a little different from the Amish series! A lot more blood and adventure, and fewer barn raisings. I like to challenge myself in a variety of genres, and this one was really fun. But I do have an idea for a fourth book about Isaac and David that would take place down the road, so I’ll be working on that as well.

STRW Author BookSynopsis

More About A Way Home:

Will returning to their Amish roots renew their faith in each other?Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00067]

Isaac and David never thought they’d go back to the Amish world. But when Isaac’s younger brother is stricken with cancer, they don’t hesitate to return. Their relationship is on the rocks after insecurity and fear drove a wedge between them in San Francisco, and David is determined to make things right. Yet if they thought navigating “English” life was confusing, being back in Zebulon is even more complicated.

Their families are desperate to bring them back into the fold, and pressure from the community builds. Isaac and David yearn for a future together, but each day it becomes harder to hide the truth about who they really are. They’re caught between two worlds, and if they’re not careful it could tear them further apart.

Can Isaac and David make their way back to each other—and find a place to call home?

This is the final chapter in a trilogy of forbidden Amish love.

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

Book Details: ebook, 240 pages
Expected publication: April 8th 2015 by KA Books
ISBN139780993859892
edition languageEnglish

The rest of the Trilogy:

Forbidden Rumspringa cover

A Forbidden Rumspringa (Gay Amish Romance #1)

When two young Amish men find love, will they risk losing everything?

In a world where every detail of life—down to the width of a hat brim—is dictated by God and the all-powerful rules of the community, two men dare to imagine a different way. At 18, Isaac Byler knows little outside the strict Amish settlement of Zebulon, Minnesota, where there is no rumspringa for exploration beyond the boundaries of their insular world. Isaac knows he’ll have to officially join the church and find a wife before too long, but he yearns for something else—something he can’t name.

Dark tragedy has left carpenter David Lantz alone to support his mother and sisters, and he can’t put off joining the church any longer. But when he takes on Isaac as an apprentice, their attraction grows amid the sweat and sawdust. David shares his sinful secrets, and he and Isaac struggle to reconcile their shocking desires with their commitment to faith, family and community.

Now that they’ve found each other, are they willing to lose it all?

Note: Contains explicit sexual situations and graphic language. This is not an inspirational/Christian romance.

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

A Clean Break (Gay Amish Romance #2)
They’ve escaped to the outside world—but can they really be free?A Clean Break cover

David and Isaac have found happiness in each other’s arms. In faraway San Francisco, Isaac’s brother Aaron helps them explore confusing “English” life and move beyond the looming shadow of their Amish roots. For the first time, David and Isaac can be openly gay, yet they struggle to reconcile their sexuality with their faith. At least they don’t have to hide their relationship, which should make everything easier. Right?

But while Isaac thrives at school and makes new friends, David wrestles to come to terms with the reality of the outside world. Haunted by guilt at leaving his mother and sisters behind in Zebulon, he’s overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the city as he works to get his carpentry business off the ground.

While David and Isaac finally sleep side by side each night, fear and insecurity could drive them miles apart.

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

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

 

About the Author:Keira Andrews pic

After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

You can find Keira Andrews at http://www.keiraandrews.com/

 

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

To celebrate the end of the Gay Amish Trilogy and the release of A Way Home, Keira Andrews is giving away a copy of A Forbidden Rumspringa, the wonderful novel that started it all.  Please leave a comment below as well as an email address where you can be reached, that’s part of the entry process.

To enter to win, you must be 18 years of age or older.  Use the link provided to enter and for all additional contest details.

Contest ends midnight, April 30th, EDT.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Sammy Review: A Clean Break (Gay Amish Romance #2) by Keira Andrews

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

A sense of power flowed through him. Isaac was splayed out—so trusting and vulnerable—and David wanted to keep him safe always. They may be sinners, but Isaac was still a gift from God.

A Clean Break coverA Clean Break picks up where A Forbidden Rumspringa left off. Isaac and David have fled from Zebulon, left behind the plain ways and entered a world completely new and different. It’s amazing and freeing, but somehow so constraining all at the same time.

They thought they knew what they were getting into, but life outside their small community in Minnesota is far more complicated than either of them imagined. More than that, they still have to deal with the guilt that comes with leaving behind not only your family and the only life you’ve ever known, but also turning your back to God.

San Francisco may be their destination, but they still have a long way to go.

The thought of having a workshop again—the scratch of pencil on pad as he sketched, the grind of sandpaper, and the resistance of the lumber as he sawed and shaped it to his will—it filled the spaces in him like water around rocks. Yet when he imagined it now, working alone somewhere in the maze of the city, he ached.

A Clean Break is told from David’s point of view, providing a deeply saddening view into what comes with the freedom of an English world. Keira Andrews does a great job of conveying the doubts that linger and the guilt that continues to fester within David, as well as balancing a small sense of hope that this new life with Isaac is somehow all going to work out.

A lot of the story, to me, was about trying to find yourself when everything is so completely foreign. It was a journey for David, and it struck me how alone he felt at times, even when surrounded by people. It’s easy for people to say that this is a great thing – the boys leaving the Amish lifestyle and coming to San Francisco, but there’s so much more to it, and that’s what this is all about.

I really appreciated that the transition was made to be realistic. There was no super smooth, easy fix. I think it also helped that things were different for David and Isaac. Isaac dealt with things in his own ways, and David his. They had to find their own ways – together.

I did miss a bit of the strengthening of the relationship, or growth in general, but I think we began to get more of it toward the middle/end. I felt like David was keeping so much of himself from Isaac and it made me a bit uncomfortable to know all those things, like I was invading some private space.

I also loved the brief bits with Anna and June. It was great that we weren’t just left to wonder what was happening back at Zebulon, we got some answers.

There was just a special spark that existed in the first book and seemed to be a bit dimmer here. Still, it was a great book and I really (no, really) can’t wait for the next.

The cover art by Dar Albert is quite lovely. I’m glad that it includes the water and the bridge, which both seem symbolic to me in this story – a sign of freedom, but also the journey yet to come.

Sales Links:   All Romance (ARe)        Amazon        Buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 245 pages
Expected publication: February 3rd 2015 by KA Books
ISBN139780993859861
seriesGay Amish Romance #2

Series Includes in the order they were written and should be read: