Review: Home Sweet Home (Home #5) by T. A. Chase

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Yancey MacCafferty and Juan Romanos have been in love since the first time they met. In a gay bar in Texas, an underage Juan just wanted to dance. But danger was all around him. Yancey, a young rent boy, sees Juan’s innocence and naivete and falls in love, all while saving Juan from a predator on the dance floor. Eventually both ended up with their brothers on the ranch owned by Les Hardin and Randy Hersch, where they finished growing up and found their dreams. For Juan, it was all about the horses and being a world class equestrian, eventually ending up at a show bar on the East coast. Yancey chose another path, that of college and an education needed to become a veterinarian. And all during those years, Yancey and Juan never stopped loving each other, even though each was at opposite ends of the country.

Now Yancey has graduated from college and is ready to reunite with the man he loves and start his career. But to do that, he will have to leave the people he has grown to love including his brother for a new veterinarian practice in Virginia, just miles away from the show barn where Juan rides and lives. He and Juan have been parted long enough. He is sure that Juan feels the same way. Or does he? Yancey isn’t sure, exactly but its time to find out. Can Yancey and Juan’s puppy love mature into the forever love they have always wanted or will the reality of being and living together bring their dreams crashing down?

I have been waiting like so many others for Juan and Yancey’s story since the first time we met them in Home of His Own (Home #2 – their brothers, Brody MacCafferty and Tony Romanos story). These two young men were instantly endearing and their love story so heartwarming that it almost eclipsed that of their brothers. Happily, I can announce that it was worth the wait. Home Sweet Home is a wonderful story, reminescent of the first book in the series, No Going Home which remains my favorite.

In every book of the series, we kept getting glimpses of Juan and Yancey as they grew up. The author always managed to throw in little details of their lives, whether it was Yancey returning for the holidays from college or Juan’s equestrian training at Edward’s barns in Virginia. These small mentions managed to keep our interest in these young men alive and pique our curiosity over their future. In fact, one of the many aspects I love about this series is that Chase continues to bring together all the characters from other books into the latest stories. These people form a family, one cobbled together by need and choice so to have that family remain topical in every book is important to the cohesion and strength of the series.

The characters of Yancey and Juan have also grown as their characters have aged. From teenage gay boys to confident, mature young men, Chase has developed their characters realistically relative to their age. It’s wonderful getting reacquainted with these older versions of the boys we first met. Along with their characters, their love for each other needs to grow as well. Luckily, Chase has taken care of that too. The author has her characters adjust their views of each other and their careers in a very human and authentic manner. I just loved how tentative and yet determined each man is to make their relationship and Yancey’s move work. It is emotionally satisfying and oh so enjoyable to read about.

If I have a quibble, it would be with the ending. In the epilogue we fly forward from 1 year to 5 years into the future, missing out on so much of their lives together that it felt like a missed chance to round out their story in favor of a quick finish (note see my mini rant on storying endings). I don’t know if this rushed ending is due to Chase finishing up the series or just their story. Either way, it didn’t measure up to the first part of the story and that was a shame. But even with that quibble, I still love this series and recommend it. The Home series is heartwarming, sexy, and full of wonderful characters you will never get tired of. Home Sweet Home is another great installment and one you won’t want to miss.

Cover art by Posh Gosh. The young model in front is perfect for Juan and the cover gorgeous in design and detail.

Here are the Home series book in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters and the events:

No Going Home (Home #1) – my favorite
Home of His Own (Home #2) Tony and Brody’s story (second favorite)
Wishing for a Home (Home #3) Derek and Max’s story
Leaving Home (Home #4) Peter and Chaz’s story
Home Sweet Home (Home #5) Juan and Yancey’s story (a tie with their brothers)

Book Details:

ebook, 137 pages

Published May 27th 2013 by Total-E-Bound

ISBN 1781843228 (ISBN13: 9781781843222)

edition language English

url http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2125

series Home #5

Dog Days of Summer and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Here it is mid – August and the Dog Days of Summer are almost over. I know many of you have heard the term but do you really know where it came from? I know that some of you are looking at your four pawed companions panting away the summer heat beside you, whether on shared walks or just sitting together in the backyard. One look at how the heat is affecting them, and I am sure you think “ah, dog days indeed.” But to understand where the term Dog Days of Summer, you must look to the sky. The night sky that is and the Dog Star, Sirius, the brightest star above (no, we are not talking about the Sun right now).

The Egyptians called Sirius the dog star after their god Osirus, whose head in pictograms resembled that of a dog. In Egypt, and in ancient Rome, Sirius was in conjunction with the Sun in the summer (ie. it was up in the sky at the same time as the Sun) and ancient Egyptians and Romans argued that it was responsible for the summer heat by adding its heat to the heat from the Sun. Those in ancient times called the period of time from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction “the dog days of summer” because it coincidentally fell at the time of year when it was very hot.

The Dog Days of Summer start around July 7th ( I have also seen July 3rd at the start date as well) and runs until August 18th, normally the time in the Northern Hemisphere when it is the hottest. It is the time we head for the beach, the air-conditioning, anywhere but the office. It is also a great time to catch up on your reading and make headway on your “to be read” pile. Here are some books and one great series (Wicked’s Way by Haven Fellows) that you will want to add to the list.

Monday, Augusts 12, 2013: Nischal by Bailey Bradford

Tuesday, August 13, 2013: Wicked Incarceration by Haven Fellows

Wed., August 14, 2013: Wicked Guidance by Haven Fellows

Thursday, August 15, 2013 Guest Blog by Haven Fellows

Friday, August 16, 2013 Fall For Me by Ann Lister

Saturday, August 17, 2013: Home Sweet Home by TA Chase

I will leave you all with two quotes about the dog days of summer. Both perfection in tone and ability to paint a portrait of this time of year.

“Sophia and Grandmother sat down by the shore to discuss the matter further. It was a pretty day, and the sea was running a long, windless swell. It was on days just like this–dog days–that boats went sailing off all by themselves. Large, alien objects made their way in from sea, certain things sank and others rose, milk soured, and dragonflies danced in desperation. Lizards were not afraid. When the moon came up, red spiders mated on uninhabited skerries, where the rock became an unbroken carpet of tiny, ecstatic spiders.”
― Tove Jansson, The Summer Book

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. There is no thunder, no relieving rain. These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.”
― Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

Review: Fever Anthology by M Rode

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

If you love cowboys, than this is the anthology for you. From cowboy tv stars to those that ride bucking bulls and every permutation in between, these 8 stories will make you laugh, make you sigh, even reach for a fan or too but always make you remember why you love a cowboy.

Stories included in Fever are:

Loose Riggin’ by Julia Talbot
Two Buckets and a Snakeskin Suit by Aaron Michaels
Torn by Sean Michael
Cowboy and Indian by Rob Rosen
Heart of Dixie by Mychael Black
Ready to Ride by Katherine Halle
White Hat/Black Hat by Kiernan Kelly
In the Pocket, a Roughstock story by BA Tortuga

I really enjoyed this anthology, especially because cowboys are a real weakness for me. Of special interest was the new story from BA Tortuga in her Roughstock series, I cannot get enough of those boys. It also introduced me to a series I hadn’t heard of, Mychael Black’s Hearth and Home series, so that was a plus too. Here in sequence as they appear are mini reviews of each story:

1. Loose Riggin‘ by Julia Talbot: 3.5 stars

One cowboy on the way up, one cowboy bull rider on the way down. Baron LeBlanc is a top bullrider at the end of his career. During one ride he injuries himself badly and an young bull rider, Arlen Deamus, offers to take care of him and become his traveling partner. I loved this story and thought the characters and the plot were full of promise. It is the perfect introduction for a longer story. Julia Talbot draws us in with her wonderful characters, great names and vivid descriptions but just as we are settling in, its over. As a short story, it ends so abruptly that it feels incomplete and the reader feels more than a little frustrated after investing emotionally in the story. I would love to see this author expand Baron and Arlen romance into a full length book. I will be first in line to pick it up.

2. Two Buckets and a Snakeskin Suit by Aaron Michaels: Rating 3.5 stars out of 5

While on vacation, Marcus and his sister Shelly attend camel races outside Las Vegas. Shelly is dying to meet an Australian cowboy and these camel races have more than their share of those. But when Marcus is hurt after he falls off a camel, he is the one who captures the attention of the only Aussie cowboy there. This was a cute little romance between a man talked into riding a camel by his sister and the Aussie cowboy who just happens to be a chiropractor who comes to his aid. Michaels did a nice job with presenting us with a well rounded character in Marcus and Shelly but I would have loved a little more back story on Vic. But it’s cute, hot, and has a realistic HFN.

3. Torn by Sean Michael: 5 stars for the heat alone

Pistol, an injured bull rider, returns home to his partner Bender and their ranch after a long 6 month absence on the rodeo circuit and shoulder surgery. He is unsure of his welcome after receiving an angry phone call from his partner following his injury. Bender’s love for Pistol is both the source of his anger and the one thing that will heal it. This is my second favorite story in the collection. Sean Michael gets everything right in this story. We get all the information we need about these two men and their long term relationship from Michael’s descriptions of their tense posture, their loving gestures and a dialog that telegraphs a well established intimacy at every level. Bender is tired of his lover’s injuries and this last one scared him badly. Pistol loves riding bulls and is frightened that his time as a bullrider is coming to an end. The situation is tense, hot, loving, angry, gentle, just everything you would expect from two scared people who love each other deeply and are faced with a serious situation. The ending is perfection, but then so is this short story. It doesn’t need to be longer, it doesn’t need any additional backstory. It ends where it should. Lovely. Here is a tease. Pistol is returning home after surgery unsure of his welcome:

He opened the door, pushed it open and stood, trying to keep them from the arm still in the sling. “Hey y’all, you happy to see me?”

“You should have called and let me know.” Bender waited for the dogs to have their hello, blue eyes on him like twin laser beams.

“I didn’t want you worrying. Jack needed his guest room back.” He’d been imposing. Not to mention, the man’s mother-in-law had come to help with the last few days of Mary Ellen’s pregnancy, and he’d wanted to come home. Bender told the dogs to “scatter,” and they did.

Before Pistol could say anything Bender was on him, mouth covering his in a kiss that smashed his lips against his teeth and totally stole his breath.

Oh. Oh, thank God. He pushed up into the kiss, damn near sobbing with relief.

4. Cowboy and Indian by Rob Rosen: 2 stars out of 5

Jed sees a poster for a fifty-dollar prize for the longest bronco buck advertised outside a saloon. He figures his horse Bessy needs a new saddle and aims to get it for her by riding in the rodeo. Along the way he runs into an Apache warrior, Taza, who wants to help his people. They make love, not war and end up with a future neither of them ever dreamed of. There are quite a number of things about this story that I have issues with, but the portrait of Taza, an Apache warrior, is the largest. Having a Native American character, especially in a historical story, can be a iffy element if not handled just right. For me, Taza just did not work. From his pidgin English which reminded me of the “Me, Tonto, you white man” variety to the fact that he drops trow for an unknown white man just after the awful Apache wars have ended….well it’s not just unrealistic but downright ridiculous. Here is their first interchange:

“Jed,” I told him, with a polite nod. “White man sounds so, well now, formal.”

With his free hand, he pounded his chest. “Taza,” he informed me. “In your language, means Apache warrior.”

I nodded my head. “Pleasure, Taza.”

And then he nodded, releasing the beast before sending it swinging. “You want to pleasure Taza?”

The only way that piece of dialog would work is in a Mel Brooks comedy. And it just goes further downhill from there. This is the one story I would skip over.

5. Heart of Dixie by Mychael Black: Rating 4 stars out of 5

Mack Sexton has been in love with his best friend and handyman Les Spencer for a long time. Les feels the same but neither man has acknowledged let alone acted on their feelings. Then one day everything changes. Heart of Dixie is a snapshot of a relationship that is part of a series called Hearth and Home by Mychael Black. I am unfamiliar with that series but got enough of a taste of it from this story that I will be scampering back to pick up the rest. Black develops the characters and setting to the point that it and both men feel real and the reader connects with them from the start. Mack’s sister, Kate, is a lively character in her own right and the interaction among the three of them comes across as long established and affectionate. Enjoyable and romantic. I loved this one.

6. Ready To Ride by Katherine Halle: 4 stars out of 5

Eric is an orthopedic surgeon volunteering his time with the Justin Sports Medicine program. Ben Greene is champion Saddle Bronc rider Eric has come to love. When Eric’s volunteer time with the rodeo comes to an end, Ben must travel on the circuit alone. And while neither man has talked about where their relationship is going, both love each other deeply. When Ben is receives a season-ending injury during a ride, Eric decides that, conversation or not, he is bringing his man home for good. I loved Halle’s characters and thought she got the character of Ben with his avoidance of “mushy talk” just right. While most of the story is seen through Eric’s eyes, Halle shows us that Ben’s actions telegraph his feelings perfectly to his lover and that words are not always necessary. This story has romance, cowboys and HEA in a nice short package.

7. White Hat/Black Hat by Kiernan Kelly: 4.25 stars out of 5

The time is 1968, the place Hollywood where a new TV western is getting ready to go into production. Two men, Dallas Frank and Stone Grant, arrive to audition for the two leads, Black Bart and Sheriff Carson Star, the White Hat/Black Hat title characters. To each man’s surprise and delight, they win the roles and secretly the love of each other. For the next forty years, they pretend to hate each other in public while continuing a love affair that has lasted as long as their show. Then their show is cancelled. What will they do now? Kelly gives us a terrific look back at old Hollywood and its outlook on homosexuality. Through small interludes we watch as Dallas (real name Joe Bob) and Stone Grant (real name Arvin Mason) settle into a long term relationship while playing the Hollywood game to protect the series and their reputation. The ending is rewarding, the relationship has a very authentic feel as does the times the men pass through. My third favorite story of the collection.

8. In the Pocket, a Roughstock story by BA Tortuga: 5 out of 5 stars

Sterling is a new bullfighter and he loves his job. He also loves working with his hero and fellow bullfighter, Coke Pharris. But rodeo clown Dillon Walsh is tired of the youngster drooling on his man and figures a little matchmaking is in order. When stock contractor Colby Tyburn asks for an introduction to Sterling, Dillon sees an opportunity and takes it, maneuvering Sterling into a date with the stock contractor. Colby Tyburn has been watching Sterling for some time and loves what he sees….a gorgeous energetic young man, all want and desire. Sparks fly at the first introduction but neither man expects the white hot sex to turn into something deeper and just perhaps, permanent. In the Pocket is a Roughstock story. So if the reader is familiar with the series, than you already know all about Coke Pharris and his rodeo clown lover, Dillon Walsh. They happen to be a favorite couple of mine so it is wonderful to see them make an appearance here. But the focus of the story is the young (and virginal) bullfighter, Sterling, and the older, more experienced man, Colby Tyburn, a roughstock contractor.

Sterling is a bouncy Tigger of a character. He is youthful, energetic to the extreme and has a bad case of hero worship when it comes to Coke Pharris. Unfortunately for Sterling, Coke is taken and Dillon is not happy that Sterling can’t keep his hands off his man. BA Tortuga paints the perfect portrait of innocent enthusiasm and lustful need all wrapped up in one young man who doesn’t seem to know what to do with it all. I just loved Sterling, he absolutely made me smile. Colby Tyburn could have come off as a predator but his appreciation for Sterling and all of his qualities, not just his physical traits, brings him back to a person the reader can relate to. Their sexual encounter is sexy, white hot, and ultimately very touching. It is not necessary to have read the other Roughstock stories, but it does help to round out the back history of the other men mentioned, however casually. There are over 17 stories in the Roughstock series, Coke and Dillon’s story is called Roughstock: And a Smile- Season One. I absolutely recommend them all. Here is a taste:

Nate (was) screaming his head off to get the bull’s attention. Joa landed, but luckily the Brazilian was ready, and they sort of strong-armed each other.

“Gotcha.”

He flung Joa toward Pharris and put himself between the cowboy and Merry-Go-Round. He heard Coke grunt, but then he and Nate were busy playing a game of slap the bull on the nose, trading off as it went round and round. This was his favorite part, the fun part. They did their little dance, and he pulled his butt in, hearing the whoosh as two thousand pounds went by.

“Woohoo!” He grinned at the gate shut, jogging over to Pharris, who clapped him on the back.

He loved his life.

Loved it.

Cover illustration by BSClay is perfect in tone and design for this collection.

Book Details:

ebook, 195 pages

Published June 5th 2013 by Torquere Press

ISBN

1610404858 (ISBN13: 9781610404853)

edition language

English

url

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76&products_id=3911

Review: Pickup Men by L.C. Chase

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Marty Fairgrave is a top Pickup* man in the rodeo. It’s his business to make sure that the bull and bronc riders get back to the gates safely. The riders count on him and he rarely makes a mistake. Then Tripp Colby catches a ride on a bull named Shockwave and the events that follow prove to be a life changer for both men. Marty has been in love with Tripp Colby for several years now and knows that Tripp loves him back. But Tripp is also deep in the closet and not even an injured Marty can make him come out.

For Marty the romance is over but Tripp is determined to get him back. But what will a closeted cowboy do when no one is there to pick him up, not even the one he loves?

From May to August, the PBR is on break, so what a great time to get caught up on all the rodeo fiction that has been published recently. If you are a fan of hot cowboys and rodeo action as I am, then you will appreciate this story from L.C. Chase. In Pickup Men, the author’s focus is on the unheralded, but important profession of the pickup man. Here is the definition of a pickup man from Jerry Nelson’s Frontier Rodeo website:

Rodeo Pick Up Men* are vital to the safety of the cowboy. A Pick Up Man’s job is to rescue the cowboy after his eight second ride from a bucking bronc. The cowboy’s job is to first ride the bucking bronc for the eight second ride with one hand, then grab on with two hands and wait until the Pick Up Man rides in along side the bronc and picks him up and they ride off to safety. The cowboy then is easily set down to the ground without injury. The Pick Up Man’s job is also to remove all equipment from the bronc and to remove the bronc from the rodeo arena after the competition. Pick Up Men also play a role in the calf roping and steer wrestling events, by roping calves and steers after competion and gentling coaxing them out of the arena. Pick Up Men are also a vital part of keeping the show fast paced. Pick Up Men have a great rapport with the livestock and have years of training in horsemanship.

They are the unsung heroes who time and again save both the rider and the roughstock. So it was wonderful to see a book with a Pick Up Man not only as the title character but as the title itself. Way to give these men their due, L.C. Chase!

In Marty Fairgrave, L.C. Chase gives us a wonderful character who exemplifies the best qualities of a Pickup Man in more ways than just his career. Marty is one of the top men in his profession and in his personal life, he is also the pickup man for Tripp Colby, a closeted mess of a champion bull rider. The two men have been having a romance that has been kept hidden from those around them because Tripp fears that he will lose his sponsors once the truth is known that he is gay. As the stress of this situation builds, Marty risks everything to save Tripp, and the result is disastrous for both of them. For me, this is actually the best part of this book. It is raw, the descriptions are vivid, and the action so swift that you feel as though you are down in the arena with the action taking place. This is how it all starts:

Two thousand pounds of pissed-off beef, aptly named Shockwave, tossed around the man on its back like a ragdoll. But Tripp wouldn’t be dislodged. He clung to the spinning beast with an ease and confidence that belied the skill and athleticism—not to mention pure guts— required to compete at the professional level.

Sitting astride his best pickup horse, Fairgrave Flyer, near the chutes of the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo arena, Marty Fairgrave couldn’t suppress the smile that fought for freedom across his face.

It was a beautiful sight watching a champion at work.

But what happens next takes your breathe away, and its impact upon the reader is immediate and heartpounding. Really, some of the best descriptions happen here. Clearly, L.C. Chase is familiar with the rodeo and has great affection for those who make it their life’s work. And while the fan may only see the 8 second ride, a story like Pickup Men lets the reader go behind the scenes of the rodeo, where a hundred jobs and actions must take place to pull off such an event. This includes what happens when the cowboys are injured and the physical ailments that are part of the job. There is the constant traveling, the stress of being tired for long periods at a time and of course, the injuries. L. C. Chase gets this aspect right as well.

But the problem here is the character of Tripp Colby. He is not terribly likable at the beginning. As I said earlier, he is a closeted mess and the reader comes down hard on the side of Marty when the two are apart. Later on as Tripp’s story is revealed, he does earn our compassion, especially during a trip to San Francisco. But for the majority of the book the character that Chase has created in Tripp serves more to disconnect the reader from his story rather than engage them. And, as the book winds down, it is hard to bring the reader back into his corner.

There is a considerable amount of miscommunication between the men, including one incident that eludes any type of plausibility for me. And the narrative becomes a little uneven towards the middle of the story. The other thing is that Tripp is 33 years old, and that is old in a profession where most bull riders are between the ages of 20 to 25. It is a young man’s sport. And while most bull riders hate to give up riding, most accept that they have a certain time frame to work with. All of which makes Tripp’s attitude a little more whiney than perhaps the author wanted it to come across.

But those issues aside, I did enjoy this story. It moved along at a nice clip most of the time and had a lovely cast of secondary characters that I wished I had seen more of. From Marty’s mother, a champion rider in her day, to his small circle of friends, they are a well rounded and charismatic group. I enjoyed my time with them immensely. So for all those fan of the rodeo as well as fans of L.C. Chase, I can recommend Pickup Men as a fun way to spend the time while waiting for the rodeo to return to cable. Pick it up now!

* I have seen Pickup Men written several different ways by several different rodeo organizations. From Pick Up Men to Pickup Men to Pick up men, all seem to be correct.

Cover art and design by L.C. Chase. Just an outstanding cover, perfect in every way.

Book Details:

ebook, 166 pages

Published July 8th 2013 by Riptide Publishing

ISBN13

9781626490284

url http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/pickup-men

series

A Book Giveaway, Riding the Weather Rollercoaster, and the Week Ahead in Reviews

So far the Washington Metro area has felt like Seattle, WA, and now we are aiming for Phoenix, AZ. We have had close to 12 inches of rain in the last month alone, and that doesn’t seem to be letting up as we head towards the middle of July. Really, folks, nothing like 100 percent humidity for a smokey Fourth of July. Now the heat wave that baked the western states has hit here as well. Temperature is rising to 98º today. Now add to that the fact that the ground squishes with every footstep and a high humidity….well, it is little wonder I expect to see monkeys swinging from the maples at any time. It is downright tropical outside. Well ok, we did see a runaway red panda last week that escaped from the National Zoo (now safely back home after a trip to Adams Morgan, a very trendy place). And a couple of teenage black bears that decided to tour downtown Washington for a suitable condo to live in. I am betting air-conditioning and a pool were on their list of must haves! So I am seeing a day spent inside knitting and reading on the agenda for the rest of the day. I did get my coleus and caladiums bought on sale planted yesterday, as well as some yanking of smartweed but anything else will have to wait until the temperatures go down.

Now on to the exciting week ahead. Kendall McKenna’s latest release, The Final Line is just out. It is the another book in her wonderful Recon Diaries series. On Monday, Kendall McKenna will be here with a guest blog and a book contest. We will be giving away, courtesy of MLR Press, a copy of The Final Line to one of the people who comment on her blog and my review, which will be posted the next day. Here is the blurb for the book:

Staff Sergeant Corey Yarwood is an instructor at the Basic Reconnaissance Course. His last deployment ended in horror, but he can’t remember those events. Battling severe PTSD, Corey’s drinking is growing out of control.

Sean Chandler walks into a dive bar, and into Corey’s life. An actor and a musician, Sean has the empathy and compassion to sooth Corey’s pain, and the strength to support him as he struggles to heal.

Corey’s lost memories are pivotal to a civilian murder, and a military investigation. Remembering could mean salvation, or destruction. Will the truth be too much for Sean to handle?

So mark your calendars for July 8 and 9 for your chance to win a copy of this wonderful book! And thank you, MLR Press and Laura Baumbach for the copies of The Final Line. Now here is the week ahead in reviews:

Monday, July 8, 2013: Guest Blog with Kendall McKenna, author of The Final Line

Book Contest. One copy of The Final Line will be given away

Tuesday, July 9, 2013: Review of The Final Line, last day to comment for the contest

Wednesday, July 10,2013: Pickup Men by LC Chase, winner of contest announced

Thursday, July 11, 2013: Changing Planes by Karenna Colcroft

Friday, July 12, 2013: Fever Anthology by M. Rode

Saturday, July 13, 2013: In Pursuit of the Bang On, Well Done, and apparently Endangered Short Story

So that’s our exciting week ahead. I will leave you with a picture of Winston, recently groomed. He has settled into our family as though he has

always been there. And here is a recipe for a drink to keep this hot weather in its place! This cocktail is called appropriately Adios Motherfucker or AMF. I have included the recipe as well as a link to the video on how to make this delicious drink. A great way to say goodbye heatwave or anything else to want to get rid of:

AMF Recipe:

Scale ingredients to servings
1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz rum
1/2 oz tequila
1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
2 oz sweet and sour mix
2 oz 7-Up® soda

Pour all ingredients except the 7-Up into a chilled glass filled with ice cubes. Top with 7-Up and stir gently.
Read more: Adios Motherfucker recipe http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink735.html#ixzz2YHs7Z756

Review: Bully for You (Dreamspinner 2013 Daily Dose) by Catt Ford

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

When Martin Du Bois decides he wants something, then the path is set in concrete. What Martin wants is a cowboy and figures the rodeo is just the place to find one. After convincing his friends that a night at the rodeo is just the thing, an evening watching hot guys in boots and chaps is not enough, Martin wants to meet one. A tip from another fan at the rodeo points Martin and friends in the direction of a local bar visited by the participants. When guylinered, sparkly Martin enters, he is accosted by a drunken cowboy. While handling the drunk in his normal mouthy manner, the bullriders and in particular a well known rodeo star, Jesse Cumberland, come to his rescue, then offers to buy him a drink.

Soon Martin is in heaven as Jesse is gay and more than interested in flaming city boy Martin. A one-night stand leads to another, and then a trip to watch Jesse on the road. Before he is aware of the fact, his one-night stand has become a relationship, and that scares Martin to no end. A former boyfriend and a bad relationship have made Martin wary of any deep emotional involvement and that is exactly what Jesse appears to want from him. Can Martin overcome his past hurts to grab up the man in front of him or will he let love slip away due to their differences?

Catt Ford loves writing about the rodeo and the cowboys who live by it and I, for one, am so happy that she does. I recently reviewed her book, Bullheaded, and enjoyed it. But I was unprepared for how much I adored the characters of Marti and Jesse that I found inside Bully for You. This is a short story, just 92 pages, that was a part of Dreamspinner’s 2013 Daily Dose, and it is just a sparkly little romance that is giddy with glitter and a touch of love.

Martin Du Boise, aka Marti, is a flaming, sparkly gay city boy. He lisps, he twirls, he is exuberant, and outgoing in the extreme, But under all that confidence, Marti is also someone who has been hurt and the pain of that betrayal has left him unwilling to take the chance of being hurt again. Ford gives Marti all the personality traits and mannerisms that could have become a cliche and makes the total a warm, endearing flame of a man with more depth to him than is first apparent. Jesse Cumberland is also a nice surprise. He is not the average closeted rodeo star but someone comfortable in his own skin to acknowledge his homosexuality and pursue the man he wants, no matter the differences. I thought Catt Ford did a good job with him as well. Taken separately, each character has some flaws that would have bothered me in a longer story. Marti becomes a little too unhinged by their differences for such a confidant person, Jesse’s handling of his two ranch hands bothered me enough that I wish Catt Ford had addressed that issue instead of letting it slide by. These issues bothered me but the charm of the characters smoothed those bumps in the storyline over enough that it did not reflect on my enjoyment of their romance.

But my biggest quibble would be the HFN ending. It is far to abrupt for the emotional events that preceded it. I have no problem with HFNs. Often this type of ending is the only reasonable and realistic ending that could occur. But I would like to see it rounded out, and emotionally satisfying as a resolution to the story and I am not sure that happened here. It just ends. The fact that the story is a short story does not automatically mean an abrupt ending but I am seeing more and more of that these days as authors do not seem to know how to bring a short story to a viable end. Sigh. But that is a blog for another day.

Do I recommend Bully for You? Absolutely, I loved this little bit of glittery romance. Both characters endeared themselves to me, enough so that I would love to see what happens next in their romance. So, Catt Ford, if you are listening, can we have a sequel please? I will be first in line to pick it up. Now on to get the rest of Catt Ford’s rodeo stories.

Cover art by Paul Richmond. That cover is just as adorable as the characters inside. Great job and one of my favorites, really there are a lot of Paul Richmond covers out there that are marvelous. He just keeps getting better and better.

Book Details:

ebook, 92 pages

Published June 1st 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN

1623808197 (ISBN13: 9781623808198)

edition language

English

url

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3924

series

2013 Daily Dose: Make a Play

What An Amazing Week in LGBTQ History and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Last week was such an amazing week for the LGBTQ community. SCOTUS ruled on DOMA and Proposition 8, declaring DOMA unconstitutional and returning Prop 8 to the lower courts, essentially removing the opposition to gay marriages in California, marriages which resumed almost immediately following the decision. Celebrations were countrywide, loud and joyous. Even the President phoned to offer his congratulations on the ruling to the couple named in the suit. True, the opposition has vowed to continue to fight equality, but that tide is turned and their efforts will ultimately be futile ones. Some people will always continue to be clueless (see Paula Deen) about history lessons. No putting the genie back in the bottle or ushering people to the back of the bus once they have tasted equality. To be adult about it, nuhuh, ain’t goin’ to happen, folks, so just deal! Woohooo, what a week.

In the FYI portion of the blog, I found Fynn’s F*&k You Scarf Pattern from Missouri Dalton’s The Night Shift. You can find the pattern here, courtesy of Ravelry and Missouri Dalton. Really, this pattern is too hysterical for words and looks great too. Winston is doing great in his adjustment to the household and other dogs, almost seamless. He is a joy for all of us. New books are arriving in the Bellingham Mysteries series from Nicole Kimberling (Loose id) and the Recon Diaries series by Kendall McKenna, so look for book giveaways soon.

It’s been a soggy, humid week around here, with fireworks going off willy nilly it seems at local jurisdictions seemed to have planned Fourth of July celebrations anywhere but on the fourth. Let me tell you, my dogs are not happy about that! Sigh.

So here is the week ahead in reviews:

Monday, July 1: Scattered Thoughts June Book Review Summary

Tuesday, July 2: The Curtis Reincarnation by Zathyn Priest

Wed., July 3: Birds of a Feather by Nicole Kimberling

Thursday, July 4: Son of a Gun by A.M. Riley

Friday, July 5: Bully for You by Catt Ford

Sat, July 6: Pickup Men by L.C. Chase

And here is a Fourth of July cocktail recipe for you to enjoy. Happy Fourth of July in advance!

American Flag Cocktail:

American Flag drink recipe made with Blue Curacao,Creme de Cacao,Grenadine,. How to make a American Flag with all the instructions and ingredients.
Recipe Rating: 4.6 stars based on 13 votes
Ingredients to use:
0.33 oz Blue Curacao
0.33 oz Creme de Cacao
0.33 oz Grenadine
Directions:
Mix together with crushed ice in a glass and garnish with mint leaves

For more Fourth of July cocktail recipes, visit this site.

Scattered Thoughts May 2013 Book Reviews

It was a great month in book reviews. While most of the book fell into the contemporary fiction category, there was a book in just about every genre. One of my favorites this month was Fragile Bond by Rhi Etzweiler, a science fiction gem of a story from Riptide Publishing. I have also found new authors like Sue Brown and her outstanding The Sky Is Dead. Don’t pass either of these by. And if you loved Country Mouse by Amy Lane and Aleksandr Voinov, then you won’t want to miss the followup novel, City Mouse (Country Mouse #2). I thought it was even better than its predecessor.

There are stand alone stories and new books in continuing series. This includes one series (The Night Wars) that I will be reevaluating on the basis of the third book in the series, a real stunner called The Hellfire Legacy by Missouri Dalton. This is a terrific book and I had not rated the second book very highly. Now I am going back in June, reading all three together and write a review of the series in June (and probably a mea culpa or two on my part as well).

The titles are linked to my reviews. Really, there is something for everyone here. Here are May 2013’s book reviews in order of rating:

5 Star Rating:

City Mouse (Country Mouse #2) by Amy Lane and Aleksandr Voinov (contemporary)
Fragile Bond by Rhi Etzweiler (Science Fiction)
The Sky Is Dead by Sue Brown (contemporary)

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:
Adapting Instincts (Instincts #4) by S.J. Frost
Bad Attitude (Bad in Baltimore #3) by K.A. Mitchell (4.25 stars) (contemporary)
Bullheaded by Catt Ford (4.25 stars) (contemporary)
Closet Capers Anthology (4.25 stars) mixture
Damned If You Do: The Complete Collection by J.L. Merrow
Leaving Home (Home #4) by TA Chase (4 stars)
Moments by R.J. Scott (4.25 stars) (contemporary)
Never A Hero (a Tucker Springs novel) by Marie Sexton (4.5 stars) (contemporary)
Night of Ceremony (Notice #4) by M. Raiya (4.5 stars) (fantasy, romance)
Noah by Ben Ryder (4 stars) (contemporary)
Shy by John Inman (4.25 stars) (contemporary)
Still by Mary Calmes (4.75 stars) (contemporary)
The Hellfire Legacy (The Night Wars #3) by Missouri Dalton (4.5 stars) (supernatural)
The Isle of…Where? by Sue Brown (4.5 stars) (contemporary)
The Unforgiving Minute by Sarah Grainger (4.75 stars) (contemporary)

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:
Chateau D’Eternite by Ariel Tachna (3.75 stars) Fantasy
Fire Horse by Mickie B. Ashling (3.75 stars) (contemporary)
His Heart To Reap by Erin Lane (3 stars) (supernatural)
It Takes Practice by Willa Okati (3 stars) contemporary

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Review: Breaking the Devil by Bailey Bradford

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Twelve years ago, Mack Wilson made the mistake of his life, giving his love and virginity to his best friend Justin who then threw his love back at him telling Mack he was just a youthful experiment before leaving town for good. Justin’s hateful message left Mack a broken man unable to get past that experience and Justin. Now Justin has returned wanting to pick up where he left off, in Mack’s bed. And despite Mack’s pain and fury, he lets him. But the past is still haunts Mack and Justin has many obstacles to overcome before he can reclaim the man he walked away from.

Will pride and pain stand in the way of true love or together can Mack and Justin break the devil of a past to have the love they always dreamed of.

Normally when I finish a Bailey Bradford story (either in the Southwestern Shifters or Leopard’s Spots series), I allude to the shortness of the book as one of its faults. Here at 127 pages, I can actually declare that Breaking the Devil is far too long. But let’s get to the positive element of Breaking the Devil. That would be the storyline. I love a “lovers reunited” story as well as the next person. I can’t wait normally to see what each author brings to such a common plot line. Bailey Bradford has the ability to create interesting universes or flesh out cliched ones, unfortunately neither of that happens here. But at least she started out with one guaranteed to catch ones interest. Too bad it stayed at that level, an idea.

First the plot and the title, Breaking the Devil, which refers to a stallion Mack has been given to break. Right away things go off course as Mack states

Inside the corral stood the meanest, foulest stallion he’d ever seen—and also the most magnificent. A huge horse, too, his size matching his nasty disposition. Mack wondered half the time why he’d ever bothered buying the damn critter. The other half of the time he admitted it was because he didn’t like anything that was easy, not in most cases, at least. While he didn’t want a horse that was going to stomp him to death, he did like a challenge.

In that paragraph, Mack has bought this stallion. Now a mere two paragraphs later, see if you can spot the error:

“Enough already,” he scolded himself. It was a certainty that Justin hadn’t wasted years—years—dwelling on what might have been. Normally Mack didn’t think on it so heavily himself, but that angry red horse just stirred up memories. He really shouldn’t have agreed to tame the damn critter.

Yep, quickly it has changed from Mack owning the horse to Mack taming the horse for someone else and that is at the beginning of the story. Plus Mack starts to “gentle” the horse, not break him, a huge training difference (except to an author who hasn’t done the homework). This is one of the mildest of errors located in Breaking the Devil. Because shortly thereafter this scene, Justin reappears and for the next 100 or so pages, they do nothing but hump like bunnies, tons of by the book sex scenes that actually lack the heat of Bradford’s other stories.

The reader is told that Justin’s leaving broke Mack (his word) but instead of exposition we get tons of sex scenes. What happened to the storyline? Why did Justin leave and what happened to all the anger and pain Mack storied up over 12 years? Seemingly unimportant because we have to wait until almost the end and then get just the thinest explanation possible. I don’t know about you but I like a story with my story.

Then there are the thin characterizations. Both characters come complete with over the top emoting and dialog more suited to Telemundo’s telenovelas. The men glare and “squeal like girls” , (again Mack’s description), ready their fists and sneer, voices hit “like daggers to the heart”, and they swoon and are consumed by love. Now keep in mind, Justin is a hardened vet, with several tours of duty behind him and Mack is 30 years old rancher and you can see the issues. Mack and Justin, and particularly Mack seem more like a conglomerate of personality traits than an actual character. Even the dialog put into Mack’s mouth is as disconnected as the aspects of his personality. He will call someone an “idjit”, then “bub” , then a countrified saying like “He asked me what was wrong when he found me in the barn, sobbing like a baby denied the tit, you know.” pops out , then Mack returns briefly to sounding like a 30 year old. Mack is a seasoned rancher but can’t stand the sight of his own blood, a real problem when just the daily chores brings more cuts than you can imagine. This might seem like a funny trait to give a character but if you are well acquainted with the chores of a ranch hand, then you know it makes no sense. Justin too never comes across in any realistic way as a Marine.

A character called Craig, a soldier with Justin, returns with Justin to help run his ranch. We are told Craig, a fellow Marine, is dangerous, a murderer for his country (Justin’s words), etc, and the reader starts to have expectations that Craig will figure greatly into the storyline. Instead after considerable buildup and attention to Craig’s explosive persona, the character disappears completely. I thought this a real misstep as Craig was far more interesting than either Justin or Mack, although more thug than Marine.

The ending finished it off for me. I have ridden horses all my life and owned three. At the end of the story, Justin and Mack decide that Diablo (the stallion now has a name) will remained unbroken, that they

“…kind of like the evil bastard like this, all angry and righteous and untamed. He’s beautiful, like raw power set free on this earth, and I know it sounds silly probably, but I just would hate to see his spirit lessened from this brilliant, fiery sun to a dim glow.

*head desk*

And all I could think was really? How was the horse to get groomed? Or the vet to give him the necessary shots or float his teeth when the horse can’t be touched? And basically they didn’t “break the devil” after all. So much for the title and so much for any type of research. All dumped in favor of an unrealistic ending to a mess of a book, more a collection of cliches than actual realized plot. Give this book a pass even if you like Bailey Bradford’s stories because there isn’t one here.

Cover art by Posh Gosh is lovely but just as over the top as the storyline.

Book Details:

Breaking the Devil

ISBN # 978-1-78184-315-4

Edited by Eleanor Boyall Total-E-Bound Publishing

Previously published by Loose id in 2009 at 66 pages. Skip that version too.

Endangered LGBTQ Youth, Books Proceeds, and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Tis the season for winding down of the school year and various holidays, Mothers Day and Fathers Day among them. And while there are many families out there celebrating their love for one another, there are also many children, including 40 percent of LGBT youth*, who will be spending these holidays out on the streets, abandoned by the very families who should be their mental, emotional, and physical support.

The current fiscal situation at the Federal and local government levels has been devastating to the few shelters currently operating and a hindrance in opening new badly needed shelters and group homes. In our area, a bright light has been the opening of a new LGBT shelter, Promise Place, on the Washington, DC/Prince Georges County, MD line. But on the flip side, the Wanda Alston House is in dire need of donations and assistance in order to continue. And the same can be said for the Ali Forney Center in NYC, whose outreach building was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy last year.

Every day we hear more about bullied or harassed gay youth in the media, the politicians make speeches and little seems to be done at the practical level. We need more legislation, more enforcement of said legislation, and just an increase in overall awareness of the fragility of LGBTQ youth in our society today.

Luckily, there are a number of M/M authors who are helping the cause with donations of royalties from their books. I will be listing some of them here. If you know of others, please let me know and I will add them to my list. This week, editor Kris Jacen introduced the anthology Lost and Found by Featherlight Press. Her announcement and the book details are listed below. I have not read it as yet but its on my list to do so. If you have read it, and want to post a review, contact me. Also listed is Sue Brown’s book, The Sky Is Dead, recently reviewed here and a must read recommendation for me. Sue Brown is also donating proceeds of that book, here is her comment:

Thank you so much for the review. Your review highlights many of the issues LGBTQ kids face. The royalties from this book are going to The Albert Kennedy Trust, a UK charity supporting homeless LGBT kids.

And Kris Jacen on the Lost and Found Anthology:

From Kris Jacen, editor to various M/M author websites:
Hi all,
Some might know, others might not, but I’ve been working with ten very talented authors on an anthology entitled, Lost and Found. The book released last night from Featherweight Press. All of the stories deal have the theme of hope for those teens that are kicked out/told they don’t matter by their families for being who they are or loving who they love. Each author (and me) is donating their royalties to charity. Below is my editor’s note from the front of the anthology. I hope you pick up a copy or help spread the word so that we can make the most of the donation to help these homeless LGBT teens.

Lost and Found http://www.featherweightpublishing.com/ShowBook.php?YA=ANTH_LOSTNFND
In the Fall of 2012, DH Starr approached me about Featherweight publishing an anthology that he was a part of. It was a special project being organized by Michele Montgomery. All the authors wanted to donate their royalties from the anthology to charity. They wanted the monies to go to a specific cause—they wanted the money to go to a charity that worked with LGBT homeless teens.
The inspiration for the anthology was a picture that they had seen with the text over the image that said “40% of homeless youth are LGBT. The #1 reason they’re on the streets in family rejection.”
Once we got to final editing stages we realized, we didn’t know WHICH charity to donate the monies to. There are so many great charities out there working with LGBT youth that we weren’t sure which to choose. We wanted to make sure that no matter how much, it would make a difference. So the search was on.
I was pleasantly surprised to come across one that had the name of the anthology almost exactly—Lost-n-Found Youth, Inc. It seemed like fate talking to me and after speaking with one of the board members, I was convinced of it. You see the board member told me that the day before we spoke, they received a call from a teen that had been on vacation with his parents and when they found a gay romance on his eReader, they left him on the side of the road. Yes, you read that correctly, abandoned him for reading a gay romance.
Our hope is that with these stories, these teens realize that there are many out there that care about them. That no matter what anyone says—THEY MATTER.

~~~
Kris Jacen
Executive Editor
ManLoveRomance Press http://www.mlrpress.com
Passion in Print Press http://www.passioninprint.com
Featherweight Press http://www.featherweightpublishing.com

So I am making a list of books whose proceeds or part of their proceeds will be donated to LGBTQ youth shelters and organizations. I know I am missing quite a few so help me fill in the list and send me the names and publishers. Here are the first ~~two~~ three books to start the list:

Finding a Dream by SJ Frost

Bullied and harassed at school for his sexuality, Dillon Davis can’t see his life getting any better, but he can see it getting worse. Depressed, wounded in spirit and body, he’s nearing a point of hopelessness, until he sees a picture of his favorite stage actor, Brandon Alexander, with his partner, Shunichi Miyamoto. At learning Shunichi runs a karate dojo, a spark of hope comes to Dillon of learning to defend himself, and most of all, meeting Brandon.

Brandon Alexander is filled with compassion for Dillon the moment he meets him. He knows all too well what it’s like to be scorned for being gay. He and Shunichi want nothing more than to help him, but when Dillon never returns to the dojo, they fear what’s happened to him

Per SJ Frost: “Kris Jacen and I are donating our royalties from this story to The Trevor Project.It’s with the support of all who buy this book that we’re able to do this, and from both of us to you, thank you, so very much, for joining with us in giving to those in need.”

ebook, 79 pages

Published December 28th 2010 by MLR Press

ISBN139781608202829

edition languageEnglish

original titleFinding a Dream

urlhttp://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=FINDREAM

seriesConquest #4charactersDillon Davis, Brandon Alexander, Shunichi Miyamoto

settingChicago, I

Lost and Found Anthology:

Lost and Found (from the Goodreads website):
by Kris Jacen (Editor), MF Kays, T.A. Webb (Goodreads Author), Tabatha Hart, Dakota Chase, Caitlin Ricci (Goodreads Author), Jeff Erno (Goodreads Author), D.C. Juris
*Some statistics say that 40% of all homeless teens are GLBT. They’re on the streets after their families have thrown them away, told them that they don’t matter, that they’re not normal. Well, guess what? Those families are wrong. This collection of stories by ten talented authors spans the spectrum (historical, paranormal, transgender, cutter, gay) to show that – it’s okay, there are people out there that care, and these teens are perfect just the way they are.

All royalties from this anthology are being donated to Lost-n-Found Youth in Atlanta, Georgia. A wonderful charity working with these teens, helping them find their new place and get on their feet.
Paperback, 421 pages
Expected publication: May 31st 2013 by Featherweight Press
ISBN139781608208661
urlhttp://www.featherweightpublishing.com/ShowBook.php?YA=ANTH_LOSTNFND

The Sky is Dead by Sue Brown:

Danny is young, gay, and homeless. He lives in the park, preferring to avoid attention, but when thugs confront a stranger, Danny rushes to his rescue. He and the would-be victim, Harry, form a cautious friendship that deepens months later, when Harry persuades Danny to visit his home. Daring to believe he has found happiness, Danny finds his world turned upside down yet a…more
ebook, 232 pages
Published April 17th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781623806088
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

And now the week ahead in book reviews:

Monday, May 20: Breaking The Devil by Bailey Bradford

Tuesday, May 21: Noah by Ben Ryder

Wed., May 22: Still by Mary Calmes

Thursday, May 23: Closet Capers Anthology

Friday< May 24: Isle of Where? by Sue Brown

Saturday, May 25: Unforgiving Minute by Sarah Grainger

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