Review: A Casual Weekend Thing by A.J. Thomas

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Doug Heavy Runner is the only member of the Baker County Sheriff’s Department that is also a member of the volunteer search and rescue team operating in his section of Montana. So it is no surprise when a 911 call results in Doug hanging over the edge of a cliff, hauling up a body caught on ropes below him. The man is an apparent suicide but his suicide note and death will draw his younger brother to town, along with complications and clues that point to a criminal operating in town, something Doug Heavy Runner left Miami PD to get away from. Doug lived an out lifestyle in Miami, but the undercover work and an abusive boyfriend sent him home to Elkin and life as a small town deputy and closeted gay. Now one death may unravel Doug’s new life.

San Diego PD Detective Christopher Hayes is still trying to recover from a devastating gunshot wound that threatens to end his career when he gets a call from a small town coroner in Montana. His older brother has committed suicide and Chris needs to identify the body and see to his brother’s estate. The problem is that Chris hasn’t seen his brother in over 20 years by choice as his brother was a convicted pedophile who Chris thought was still in jail.

On the way to Elkin to attend to his brother’s remains, Chris stops in to a local gay bar, hooks up with a Native American cop and a hot weekend of sex ensues. Imagine both mens surprise when the suicide’s brother turns out to be Chris and the deputy in charge of the case is none other than his weekend hookup, Doug Heavy Runner. When Chris’ brother’s house is burned to the ground and the cause is arson, all clues lead to another pedophile operating in the area. The deeper they probe into the brother’s life, the wider the scope of the investigation. Soon the FBI is involved and Chris’ partner from San Diego shows up, and everyone is second guessing themselves and each other as the case folds back to Elkin and its citizens. And all the while, Chris and Doug’s casual fling deepens and turns into something neither expects or can accept – love.

I was not expecting a book as complex and moving from the title, A Casual Weekend Thing. A.J. Thomas has written a book with so many layers to it that I was continually amazed with each reveal and new element she added to the overall picture. This book is a police mystery, a cop romance, a character study, and just a grand read.

At the core of A Casual Weekend Thing are two damaged men, each a gay police officer whose back history has made them who they are today, two driven individuals who run from commitment and any relationship other than friendship or casual hookups. Each is a runner, one by name and one by emotional need, a clever turn by the author. Christopher Hayes is an ultrarunner, a rare breed of runner who pit their endurance against distances from 50 to 100 mile runs in extreme weather conditions. Chris was told by his abusive brother to run for his life when he was 12 and run he did, never looking back. Chris is still running, from his past, from his tenuous future on the force, and from all relationships, never fully trusting anyone. In Christopher Hayes, Thomas has created an emotionally damaged man, who thinks he has coped with his past but in reality is in denial. It is a wonderful characterization, multidimensional and realistic in every respect.

Doug Heavy Runner is Chris’ equal in complexity and pain. In Doug, Thomas gives the reader a man who ran from his culture, that of a Salish-Kootenai Indian on a reservation where crime, poverty, and despair rule and very few escape. Doug fled to Miami, to become a police officer and live an openly gay lifestyle, passing as a latino. But the undercover work and abusive boyfriend combined to break him down until his path led him home to the reservation and the small town nearby. Doug is running just like Chris, too afraid to trust himself in a relationship or to come out to the community. Thomas balances these two men against each other’s past history even as the author starts them on the investigation that will hit close to home for both men. Thomas manages to create not two but multiple realistic characters, including Chris’ partner, Ray, a man who was supposedly “straight” until he wasn’t, to Chris’ surprise. Not once did I feel that any of these characters strayed into a less than authentic portrayal of a real person. Some were repulsive, some sympathetic, and others incompetent, but always real.

Great characters were certainly a necessity given the complex, and densely layered plots that play out in this story. Thomas takes the time to set up the situations for the events that follow. It is a slow build that pulls in element after element, revealed to Chris, Doug and the reader in small increments. As more facts are unearthed, a feeling of unease sets in. Then we discover the truth of Chris’ relationship with his late brother, and the horror arrives. That he treats it so unemotionally makes it worse. The more clues are discovered, the more horrific and wider the investigation becomes, pulling in the FBI and Chris’ partner. Thomas does a superlative job in creating a monstrous psychopath who eludes identification until close to the end. And intertwined with this investigation, is the romance between Chris and Doug, a tenuous thing given each man’s trust issues and past history.

I have to admit I came so close to giving this story 5 stars. I really wanted to. But there were a few minor issues with police procedure as well as some actions on the part of Chris that had me shaking my head in incredulity. I just don’t think a police officer of his experience and background would have committed the errors he did, given the clues he had at his finger tips. I can’t say any more but when you read the book, you will recognize the areas I am talking about. That, combined with a little rough transition at the beginning, kept A Casual Weekend Thing from being perfect. But it sure came close. It hooked me right from the beginning and keep me on the edge of the bed (so to speak) until the last page.

The end leaves us with a very realistic HFN and I think it needed it. A HEA for Doug and Chris, considering the events they just emerged from would be just implausible and not in keeping with the characters Thomas was so careful in creating. I can hope, however, that this will set them up to return in a future novel with another case to solve together. Now that would be perfection. Consider this book highly recommended. I can’t wait to see what A.J. Thomas has for us next.

Cover Art by Brooke Albrecht. I applaud the cover artist’s choice of model, although he looks far more Indian than Native American. Also the woods below aren’t really in keeping with the landscape around that area of Montana. I know, that’s really getting picky, isn’t it. But they get the tone of the book right.

Book Details:

ebook, 310 pages
Published May 13th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1623804876 (ISBN13: 9781623804879)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3806

Review: Heart of the Race by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Brian Christie has loved Varro Dacien since he was 9 and saw him for the first time out the window of his foster home. Varro and his brother Nico were getting ready to jump a go cart off his family’s rooftop. That day saw Varro in the hospital yet again and Brian moved into the Dacien home as a newly minted member of the family. The two boys proved inseparable, right up until Brian realized he was both gay and in love with his foster brother. Varro, a lover of all things fast, decides to be a professional motorcycle racer even as Brian heads off to college, unable to stand the pain of being near the man he can never have.

But without Brian at his side, Varro becomes reckless and heedless of others words of caution. Racing around on tough courses at hell bent speeds, Varro is crashing more than he is winning and he is sure it is because Brian is missing from his life. Brian is still trying to move on but his love for Varro is keeping him firmly moored unable to go forward with someone else. When Varro finally wakes up to the fact that he loves Brian not as a brother but a lover, will it be too late for Brian to accept his change of heart?

Heart of the Race is another sweet and sexy story of two men deeply in love , exactly we have come to expect from Mary Calmes. At 86 pages, it is shorter than most of the stories I have read of hers but the characters, their issues and slow build to a loving relationship all have the Mary Calmes hallmarks that make her stories a comfort read for all her fans, of which I am one.

I loved the manner in which the boys meet. That delightful and charming window into their childhoods really set the tone of the story for me. It was funny, it felt real, and had its moments of heartbreaking clarity with regard to Brian’s neglected life as a foster child. In fact I enjoyed this section of the story so much that I wanted to see more of Brian and Varro’s childhood and their close friendship growing up. It was one of my quibbles with this story that I wanted a firmer foundation for their background history because the few glimpses given just wetted my appetite for more. The author does such a wonderful job of setting the framework of the story that it just cries out for a larger book to do it justice.

Brian and Varro fall beautifully into the Mary Calmes pantheon of main characters. A foster child shifting from home to home, Brian’s need for stability and his love for Varro come through perfectly as his driving motivations for his actions. Varro’s character is in need of more substantive layering. My issues with Varro come from the fact that he is portrayed as a man slut, three and four women a night, so his jump to homosexuality is abrupt and not quite believable. Gay for you stories need a realistic platform in order for the switch to seem authentic and I had problems believing that of Varro. I think that the shorter length hurt the story in several ways, including making Varro’s walk to the gay side believable. I wish that we had been given more of Varro’s viewpoint during the year he was racing without Brian so we could see what Brian’s absence had on him and what, if any, changes he made to his sexually voracious lifestyle.

I thought Mary Calmes did a good job with the aspects of life as a motorcycle racer, something I was not familiar with, it was a perfect profession for Varro but I did miss descriptions of what it must feel like to race a bike on such a course, and how it felt for Brian to be a part of that life for a year. We get a bit of insight here and there but again, a longer book could have included that aspect of their time together and it would have highlighted the pain each felt while they were apart.

I did enjoy Heart of the Race. It was fast and sexy, just like the motorcycle races Varro rode in. If I came away feeling a little less satiated, I think that a longer book and a little more back history would have taken care of that. If you want a short tale of love and sex in the fast lane, pick this one up and have a great time.

I love that cover by Catt Ford. Just outstanding in every way.

Book Details:

ebook, 86 pages

Published June 1st 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN

9781623808

edition language

English

url

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3930

series

2013 Daily D

It’s Raining and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Once again it’s raining here in Maryland, formerly known as The Temperate State. Before today our rain total was 6.11 inches this month. I think its safe to say we will be adding several more inches to that total just on today’s rainfall alone. Hard to believe we are looking at July just over the horizon. My lavender is looking a little soggy and I have lost several herbs to the dampness. The only ones happy are the hosta and the frogs.

I have some wonderful books on the review schedule this week including a history of the riots at Stonewall Inn by Martin Duberman. I will be posting that on Friday to mark the 44th anniversary of the Stonewall demonstrations that sparked the gay civil rights movement. Yesterday I posted several Youtube videos on the topic. If you have a chance, check them out, especially the one on the Stonewall survivors. The vid and the people it focused on are just remarkable. As we wind down gay pride month and look towards the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, take a moment to remember all those LGBTQ youth in need of shelter and a hand. Organizations in need of donations can be found here and at the GLBT National Help Center.

Now about this week’s books, there are some terrific stories to be had this week. All fall within the m/m contemporary fiction range with the exception of Stonewall (non-fiction), but within that category you will find a variety of stories from the whimsically titled When Dachshunds Ruled the Serengeti by Michael Murphy to A Casual Weekend Thing by A.J. Thomas, a police mystery.

Monday, June 24: Heart of the Race by Mary Calmes

Tuesday, June 25: A Casual Weekend Thing by A.J. Thomas

Wed., June 26: Hobbled by John Inman

Thursday, June 27: When Dachshunds Rule the Serengeti by Michael Murphy

Friday, June 28: Stonewall by Martin Duberman

Saturday, June 29: The Curtis Reincarnation by Zathyn Priest

Yesterday, I had the best Cosmo I have ever tasted at Ricciuti’s in Olney. If you are local, and never had a meal or drink there, remedy that fact right away. Housed in historic Olney House, Ricciuti’s outsources all its food, fine and beer locally. It believes in using only seasonal and local produce and it shows. It has stone ovens, great staff and now the best Cosmo ever. It’s raining, a fine day to head over and taste some of the best food our local farms, wineries, and breweries have to offer. I might even see you there.

Review: Mighty Casey by Willa Okati

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Casey Sprague has a job he adores as a wedding planner and a wonderful committed relationship with a man he loves deeply, Nate Rule. Casey knows the man he loves is a man of many passions, and while Casey may take the top spot in Nate’s life, baseball comes in a very close second. Casey has never shared Nate’s love of baseball, primarily due to his name and a certain much quoted poem about the Mudville Nine. Casey has long come to terms with the irony that while Casey may plan others weddings, he will not be planning his own. Nate has a thing about getting married and Casey has come to accept that won’t be in their future, after all relationships are all about compromise and Nate has accepted Casey’s feelings towards baseball. Or so Casey thought.

When Casey loses a strip poker bet to Nate, his forfeit is to spend the day watching Nate’s team play a day of tournament games, all in the name of charity. But Nate has an ulterior motive for getting Casey to the game and as the day wears on and the games continue, surprises await both Nate and Casey, ones that will have lasting impact on them and their relationship.

This is the reason why I love Willa Okati. She has the ability to write long, angst filled stories of complicated men and their journey to love, slightly dark and full of heartbreak. And then Okati can write a story like Mighty Casey. I loved Mighty Casey. I finished it (it’s not long) and turned around and read it again. Why? Because it’s joyous, it’s fun, and it’s so full of life and the best things about being in a loving committed relationship, that’s why. When I picked it up, I thought cute premise and couldn’t wait to see what Willa Okati did with it. But oh, what a mighty swing and home run the author accomplished here (yes, expect baseball metaphors to follow).

First off the bat is Okati’s characters. I loved each and every one, not just the main characters of Casey and Nate, but the rest of the team like Mimi (a star in her own right) and Kenneth, and the various players from the other teams. Casey and Nate’s each are such realistic characters. They talk and feel like a couple who has been together for years and find themselves even more deeply in love after having made the necessary adjustments and compromises a long term relationship requires. You can feel the mutual respect and love that flows between them. Not once was there a missed ball by the author in terms of their personalities and the depth of their commitment. Obviously, Okati knows a thing or two about relationships and that knowledge underlies every scene and dialog between them. Just a perfect pitch every time. And the rest of the team? As I already mentioned, you couldn’t ask for a better line up, especially Mimi. Oh, she made a place in my heart right from the start. Sparkly, outsized personality, she is everywhere in the story, running in the outfield, making all the necessary plays that Nate asks from her (and not all of them include the game). Trust me, this is an all star line up.

Second at bat is the plot. At first glance, just a normal romcom situation (think minor league) but Okati takes it and elevates it into the owner’s box seats and beyond. She gives us one day in the life of Casey and Nate, but a very important one. She starts it off as the alarm goes off and carries us through to the end of the day and the last of the charity tournaments games. I won’t give away any spoilers but as Casey sits and watches Nate’s team progress through day, winning game after game, we see, through his interaction with Nate, Nate’s team, and the other players from competing teams, just how well these two are matched. We see the joy and contentment they find with each other, the sizzle and desire that bubbles just under the surface, and the manner in which they can still surprise each other after all the years together. You will find yourself laughing out loud, pleased as can be, as the day and the tournament unfolds before you. And to fully bring you to the edge of your seat in anticipation, Okati makes sure you (and Casey) know that Nate has something special planned for the end of the day. I thought I had it figured out, but the author gave me another little surprise here too that I loved. Great job, great game plan, perfect follow through, and another runner is on the base.

Third at bat? The heat between Casey and Nate. They love each other and are so familiar with each other’s bodies and sexual desires. In one funny and hot scene after another, Casey and Nate have little sexy interludes between games that speak of their love, their desire and their knowledge of each other. It is a great way to demonstrate the authenticity of their relationship and heat up the story at the same time. Now all these bases are loaded.

And here comes the home run to bring everyone over home plate and win the game. That would be the Epilogue. It’s the final resolution and it finishes off the story with all the glee, all the triumph, and gratification that comes from seeing a perfect game and acknowledging just how special they are. That is Mighty Casey all together. A perfect game of a novella. I cannot recommend this story enough. Grab it up, along with some Caramel Poppernutter Crunch, and settle in for a pleasure filled day of baseball and love.

Cover Artist: Mina Carter. It’s a fun cover but the models are far too young for the men in the story. Surely there are older models out there that could fit the bill and make the cover more in tune with the story. Plus where is the Poppernutter Crunch? Sigh.

Book Details:

Novella, ebook

Published May 28th 2013 by Loose-ID
ISBN139781623003180
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.willaokati.com/

Review: In Search of a Story by Andrew Grey

Rating: 3.25 stars

Reporter Brad Torrence is worried about his job. Brad hasn’t been able to write the stories he knows is inside of him, and he is stuck proofreading and fact checking other reporters stories. When his boss tells him that the stories he submitted are boring and to try and find one in the classified ads, Brad can’t believe it. But disobeying the boss means being out of a job, and Brad does as he was instructed. Brad is frustrated and ready to give up when a ad jumps out and captures his attention. For Sale: Nursery Items, Never Used. Thinking that a story of loss and regret would be a perfect subject for his next deadline, Brad contacts the person behind the ad and finds more than he had expected.

Anesthesiologist Cory Wolfe is still grieving over the loss of his best friend and the child he was to adopt. When reporter Brad Torrence contacts him about the ad he placed, Cory agrees to an interview, thinking it might help him obtain the closure he needs. During the interview, Cory finds the process of sharing his story emotionally liberating and healing while Brad gets something he can personally relate to in Cory’s story. After the interview is finished, both men find themselves attracted to and wanting to see each other again.

Cory and Brad find themselves in a relationship that is growing stronger by the day but another mystery finds its way onto Brad’s desk. Soon Brad is pursuing leads that threaten their new relationship and imperil their lives. What will Brad do in search of a story?

I love Andrew Grey’s work and look forward to each new story he writes. The last few books published, especially The Good Fight series, has been outstanding. I only wish I could say the same about In Search of a Story, but that is not the case.

In Search of a Story has a interesting premise, one that drew me in immediately. Who doesn’t look through the classified ads and find tantalizing bits of human history offered up in just a few lines. So I couldn’t wait to see where Grey took this plot and what spin he put on the narrative. And as far as the outline of the plot goes, the author did a good job. I thought the idea of a grief stricken almost parent mourning the loss of a child compelling. So too the idea that a connection between the reporter and the person who filled the classified ad is made. There was so much promise here, so much ground that could have been covered and turned into an amazing story. But two things kept that from happening. And unfortunately, they are the two main characters.

For some strange reason, neither Brad nor Cory are especially compelling. These characters came across as oddly flat from the very beginning. While “listening” to Cory tell his story, I was never really engaged in the personal tragedy that was being revealed, there was a distance from the characters and their history almost immediately. Brad too felt one dimensional, too cub reporter in search of a story that I have seen before. Much is made of his background with his mother but again the author has problems making that a part of the much larger picture of grief over the loss of a child after highlighting it in the narrative. From scene to scene, I kept hoping to find a spark that would let me feel part of their story and romance, but it never came about.

There is a secondary mystery here for Brad to solve. It serves to introduce a measure of suspense and danger into a story that really needs it. But again, this interesting segment was not given the attention or resolution that it was due and the outcome of this investigation ended up frustrating me with its incomplete story, rather than buttressing up the original plot as I am sure the author intended.

In the end, the story just has an off feel to it. It leaves the reader wondering more what went wrong, than happy over the characters and their relationship. If you are new to Andrew Grey as an author, there are so many great books of his out there to start with, so give this a pass. If Andrew Grey is an automatic must read, then take this as a note of caution and make up your own mind. Either way, I will be looking forward to his next book as always, because given how prolific Mr. Grey is, even he must have an off day at times. Consider this one of his.

Cover Art by Brooke Albrecht. I think the cover is ok, but nothing on the dramatic side. However, it is in line with the story inside the covers.

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published May 31st 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1623806143 (ISBN13: 9781623806149)
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3825

Review: Flawless (Irresistible Attraction #4) by Cat Grant

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Steve Campbell’s life has just hit a few speed bumps now that he has gotten a little older. His best friend and coworker has found true love, and now has little time to spend with Steve. They are also arguing about a new client and the direction a job should take. On top of that, Steve is frustrated by comparing his life to that of Connor’s new status as a happy man in love. Steve had long repressed his feelings for Connor, preferring to stay safely in the “straight” category until it was too late and Connor had met someone else. Steve realizes that his life is stuck on hold but is unsure how to move on, romantically and sexually.

Then Steve’s Ferrari refuses to start up in the parking lot outside his gym, and Gil Alvarez comes to his rescue. Gil Alvarez has not had an easy life. He has struggling through childhood and rejected by his family for a body that didn’t match who he was inside. A skilled driver and mechanicm Gil Alvarez now owns his own body shop but is struggling to make it a success. With all the complications he is currently dealing with, a white, rich, clueless guy is not what he needs in his life.

But one date and steamy night later and both Gil and Steve realize their lives have changed forever. Steve wants a committed long term relationship and thinks Gil is the one man for him, if he could just stop putting his foot in his mouth whenever the other man is near. For Gil, the obstacles are much greater. Gil’s ex has reentered Gil’s life, and not in a good way. Plus Gil harbors a secret that he fears will turn Steve away once it is revealed. Can Gil and Steve pull down the barriers between them and have the life and relationship both men crave or will they let love slip away?

Flawless is the fourth book in the Irresistible Attraction series but the first one I have read. Based on the high quality of the story I just read, I know I will be running back to grab up the rest of the books in the series. At 91 pages, it might seem a quick read but don’t let that short length fool you into thinking that it will be short on characterization and plot depth. Quite the contrary. From a slightly fluffy “boy meets boy” romcom meet cute start, the story then veers into a more complicated, and realistic tale of self-actualization as well as finding the courage to stand up for who you are as well as who you love. I have to admit I thought Steve Campbell pretty funny from a number of angles as well as being a realistic representation of a man who has been more caught up in his career than his personal life. Steve is someone not at ease in a casual conversation, particularly when he is talking to someone he is attracted to. Being brilliant in a lab does not translate necessarily to one’s personal life. Steve is awkward and just finding out who he is late in life, a wonderful characterization.

Gil, on the other hand, is someone Cat Grant has imbued with a number of personality traits more in line with someone who has had to pull himself up from a poor start to achieve his goals, yet Gil has more a feeling for community and history than Steve does. And there are further, more fundamental issues here that are only hinted at in the book blurb from Riptide Publishing. I really don’t want to get into that here, mostly because how it is brought to Steve’s and therefore the reader’s attention is so beautifully done that I would hate to spoil it for you all.

At the core of this love story is the fundamental idea of self, of one’s true nature. For Steve, it is something he has only recently acknowledged after having repressed feelings towards men all his life. It has cost him Connor and now he wants to come out but doesn’t know how. Gil is Steve’s opposite. Gil has always known he is a man but the consequences of that knowledge is something he is still having to deal with. Cat Grant does a wonderful job with this aspect of the story, treating it realistically and with great sensitivity. Gil Alvarez is a terrific character, one who captured my sympathies and compassion immediately, if nothing else but for the manner in which Gil was reaching for his goals, no matter the obstacles in his path.

I will admit that the length of the book does come into play. At 91 pages, Steve and Gil get a HFN rather than a HEA, there just is not enough time for them to achieve a deeper relationship. And that is precisely what this story needs in my opinion, a little longer peak into their relationship down the line to see how they adjusted to commitment and each other’s life. But as it is, I highly recommend Flawless, it is a great read and one that shouldn’t be missed.

Here are the other books in the Irresistible Attraction series. They can be read as stand alone stories.

Priceless (Irresistible Attraction #1)

Doubtless( Irresistible Attraction #2)

Fearless (Irresistible Attraction #3)

Flawless (Irresistible Attraction #4)

Book Details:

ebook, 91 pages
Published April 22nd 2013 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN 1626490120 (ISBN13: 9781626490123)
urlhttp://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/flawless
seriesIrresistitableAttraction

Cover Art by LC Chase who did a great job with the models and of course that cherry red Ferrari.

From Mourning To Joy Once More, Animal Adoptions and the Week Ahead in Reviews

You always hear that things have a way of changing overnight, but few experience it. It didn’t quite happen like that here but it was close. In my instance, things changed exactly one week to the day that I felt my heart shatter. On June 4, 2013, my companion of 18 years, Winston died. Exactly one week to the day, on June 11, another Winston came into my life, through circumstances so unusual, so connected, that I knew it was meant to be. I have written that story, The Tale of Two Winstons – A Terrier Comes Home, to chart the beginning of our journey together. Before that I had written of my first, indomitable Winston, my love of 18 years in My Winston. But there was one fact I had left out. You see, exactly one week before I found Winston, I had another dog, Snowflake, a rescue American Eskimo.

Snowflake was with me for two years, gorgeous and unfortunately so emotionally scarred by her previous family that only I could handle her. I never got the entire story but from her hatred of children and families in general, apparently she had been used as a target and punching bag by the people who owned her before me (and was rescued from). One day we were out in the pasture, running and checking around for a loose horseshoe, when bikers sped by and Snowflake gave chase down the fence line. Normally, that would have been fine as she couldn’t get through the wire and post fence, but sometime during the night a car had sideswiped the fence and taken down just enough to leave a Snowflake sized hole. I am sure you all can imagine what happened next as Snowflake darted out onto that winding country road. Even as we raced to the vet, I knew my Snowflake was gone.

One week to the day, on that same spot, a shivering, heavily matted, rail thin Winston was found and went home with me carrying him in my arms, the same way Snowflake left that same spot. Now 18 years later, exactly one week apart, my beloved Winston was gone and another Winston had arrived. And each time, I knew it was meant to be. How could it not? I am not sure I believe in Fate but all these connections? All these events strung together in order for one magical moment to happen? How do I not believe in that? Many people have said that Winston sent the other Winston to me, and I think I can agree there. During that week of almost overwhelming grief and loss, I swear I could hear the thunk Winston made as he jumped down off the bed to investigate something in the house during the night. Several times that occurred during that week, but since Winston arrived, not a sound. This Winston likes to bury his food bowl (on tile no less) just like my old Winston did. Perhaps one has taught the other his tricks without me knowing. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

My family now includes two rescued dogs, Winston and Kirby whose face adorns the banner of this blog. They aren’t my first rescues and most certainly won’t be my last. There are so many dogs (and cats) that need homes in shelters around the country. And there are so many shelters in need of support, both monetary and in donations of supplies. I know it is Father’s Day today but perhaps if your Dad is someone who has everything possible and you don’t know what to give him, maybe make a donation to your local animal rescue organization or humane society in his name as a gift. I know it would be welcome. I found my Winston by donating food to the shelter. Who knows if a four pawed love awaits you there as well? The larger groups, ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States, rescue animals from devastating events such as hurricanes and earthquakes and more. They need your help too.

So here are some links to get you thinking about rescues and the organizations who need your help to continue their mission to save animals in need:

ASPCA

Humane Society of the United States

Montgomery County Humane Society

Days End Farm Horse Rescue – located locally in MD but travel all over the US to rescue large animals. Truly an amazing organization.

I am sure there are so many local rescue organizations around you that need your assistance. They are only a tapped computer key away. Check them out as well. Here are a few pictures of Winston and Kirby playing, they have turned into the best of friends. Look below the pictures for the week ahead in reviews. Happy Father’s Day!

The week ahead in Reviews:

Monday, June 17: Flawless by Cat Grant

Tuesday, June 18: Fennel and Forgiveness by Ari McKay

Wed., June 19: In Search of a Story by Andrew Grey

Thursday, June 20: Infected: Undertow by Andrea Speed

Friday, June 21: The Heir Apparent by Tere Michaels

Saturday, June 22: Stonewall by Martin Duberman

Prelude (A Blue Notes book) by Shira Anthony and Venona Keyes

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

World-renowned conductor of the Chicago Symphony, David Somers, is not happy when his ailing guest violinist is replaced by famous rock star, Alex Bishop. Although he has never met the musician, Bishop’s fame and notoriety has preceded him, and David Somers has little patience for tattooed prima donnas of the rock star world. But when Alex takes to the stage and starts playing the opening notes of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, David Somers is completely entranced by both the man and his music.

Alex Bishop has persevered from his foster child beginnings to become a brilliant violinist and playing under the baton of conductor David Somers is a dream realized. And although David Somers welcome was reserved, something about the man spoke to Alex. Alex knew from sources close to Somers that he was both widowed and gay. And no one was more surprised than Alex, when David accepted his invitation to go out on a date. And everything seemed to be going well, until it wasn’t and the conductor fled.

Underneath that smooth, assured and somewhat cold exterior of David Somers lies an insecure, lonely man. Brought up by a bitter, emotionally removed grandfather upon the death of his parents, David’s upbringing was one of constant degradation of his dreams, rigid control over his actions, and the pairing down of the boy into a man who would be scion of the family business. At least that’s how his grandfather saw it. But finally David found the strength to pull away and strive for his place in the music world as he had always wanted. But the damage his grandfather had inflicted upon his self image was deep and long lasting, right into his inability to compose music and maintain relationships.

Alex wants to pursue a future with David, but there is so many obstacles in their path, the largest one being David himself. What will it take to break down David’s barriers and create the future they both want together? David must find his inner music once more before he loses Alex and his chance for happiness so long denied him.

Oh, my, what a lyrical and lovely book. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning, adoring the tapestry of music and love that Anthony (and now Keyes) has woven for us in this series. But in Prelude, I think I have found my favorite. Such a gorgeous blend of personalities, location and music, it kept me enthralled for the entire story and introduced me to a new musician as well, more about that later. In the author’s notes I have included at the end of the review, Anthony writes that Prelude is actually the prequel to the stories already published. In those works, David Somers and Alex Bishop are already an established couple. David himself is an open hearted and generous mentor to other younger musicians, a far cry from the man we initially meet at the beginning of Prelude. And that brings me to the wonderful characterizations of the men we meet here and elsewhere in the series.

David Somers and Alex Bishop are both very complex men with haunting back histories. I think what surprised and delighted me was that the man you might expect to be the most vulnerable, the most insecure about his background is actually the character who has not only come to terms with his childhood or lack thereof but is the most assured and confident of the two. That would be Alex Bishop, abused in various foster settings, someone who almost died freezing and along on the streets except for his mother’s violin. He has worked hard to arrive at this stage in his life, a brilliant musician, warm human being and happily gay. It’s David Somers, the famous conductor from a wealthy family, who is the fragile one here. His upbringing by his rigid, embittered grandfather has impaired David emotionally, making him withdrawn and almost incapable of maintaining close relationships. His grandfather also was responsible for killing his ability to compose music, an important part of his emotional makeup and dreams. Both authors bring us close to the heart of both men, making it easy for us to understand their motivations as well as their flaws. I think some readers might have trouble with David’s fear of intimacy as he continually pushes Alex away but close reading of his history with not only his grandfather but present day associates makes it not only realistic but natural. And it’s not just David and Alex’s characters that are so well done but those secondary characters as well, from his sister to Alex’s roommate, all make for a deeply layered, and satisfying story.

But the highlight in Prelude is the music. Shira Anthony’s familiarity and love of the music world with its brilliant musicians and timeless compositions floats through the story like the very violin concertos referenced within. Her knowledge and joy of music enhances and embellishes every aspect of this story and the series, her touch sure and light upon the narrative. We are drawn into the emotions elicited from the music that pours forth from the violinist and the symphony. The brilliance of the pieces spills out of the instruments and musicians and into our hearts and souls, from the light hearted renditions like Stéphane Grappelli’s Blue Moon (my new favorite) to the deeply moving concertos such as the Sibelius Violin Concerto which introduces us and David Somers to Alex Bishop at the beginning of the book. The fact that this series uses music as its heart, and the exemplary manner in which the authors accomplish that, sets this series apart from all the rest. Shira Anthony has assembled a play list for Prelude, just as she has for her other stories in this series. You can find the list and links listed after the review.

At 250 pages, the story just flies by. Anthony and Keyes deliver a smooth and concise narrative, the few flashbacks are used to help understand the characters better rather than impede the story momentum. By the end of the book, I am entranced by David and Alex and want to see them older and more established as they were in the other stories. So back to the beginning to enjoy it all over again. If you are new to this series, this works well as a stand alone story, if you are as in love with it as I am, you will be thrilled by Prelude and this couple. Either way, consider this highly recommended. Shira Anthony gives us the order in which the books work on the series timeline below.

Book Details:

ebook, 1st Edition, 250 pages
Published May 6th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 162380597X (ISBN13: 9781623805975)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3798&cPath=55_484
seriesBlue Notes #4
charactersDavid Somers, Alex Bishop
settingChicago, Illinois (United States)

Author’s Notes:

Notes from Shira Anthony on Prelude:

Book 4 in the Blue Notes Series is bit of a prequel to the other books, although it’s meant to be read as a standalone novel. For those of you who’d like to read the series in chronological order, it goes like this:

1) Prelude
2) Blue Notes
3) Aria
4) The Melody Thief

“Prelude” is the story of conductor/composer David Somers, who appears in all of the first three Blue Notes books. In those stories, David is friend and mentor to the young musicians who appear as main characters (Cary Redding and Aiden Lind, in particular). But David wasn’t always as outgoing and willing to befriend other musicians.

“Prelude” is David’s story of finding himself and finding happiness in music. I hope you enjoy it!(less)

Shira’s Prelude Playlist:

“Enigmatic Ocean,” Jean-Luc Ponty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9XHFqCvMIY

“Satisfaction,” The Rolling Stones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx0bLBk-BNM

Sibelius Violin Concerto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-P183jzdfw (my all-time favorite recording with David Oistrakh), or a slightly different interpretation by Joshua Bell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITTbY1n3Iz8

Berg Violin Concerto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSSHwFEn_8 (Itzhak Perleman)

Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYzYVsvD5as (Shlomo Mintz)

“Devil Went Down to Georgia,” Charlie Daniels Band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgvfRSzmMoU

Symphony No. 5, by Dmitri Shostakovich: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FF4HyB77hQ (Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic)

Mahler Symphony No. 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Tbi0Rfzs8 (Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic)

Chopin’s Opus 25 Étude, No. 11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj5Mp31nZlA (Anna Fedorova)

Gounod’s Ave Maria: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNNbtR5R68U (Anne Akiko Meyers), and a very old recording of Jascha Heifetz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtc4SMUjhG8 and a recording of operatic soprano Renata Tebaldi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVMSeFTHDEs

Thelonius Monk, “Round About Midnight”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMmeNsmQaFw

Dvořák Violin Concerto (last movement) (3rd movement, Allegro Giocoso): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kouKmC3yUOA (Josef Suk)

Stéphane Grappelli “Blue Moon”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhB5qAq7OkI

Mahler Symphony No. 9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHXJw9avAn0 (Danish National Radio Orchestra)

“Harold in Italy,” by Hector Berlioz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5B9iMLpDgU (Israel Philharmonic Orchestra)

“The World I Know,” by Collective Soul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7TLTjqUyog

Bach, Partita No. 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcB56k4vR5k (Hilary Hahn)

It’s Gay Pride Month and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Its Gay Pride Month, a great time to celebrate and give back to the community. Washington, DC’s Capital Pride is coming up this week and culminates in the Capital Pride Parade on Saturday, June 8 and the Capital Pride Street Festival on Sunday, June 9. If you live in or around the metro area, there is something for everyone to enjoy. I mean how could you not want to dress up as a super hero and attend SPANDEX: The Official 2013 Pride Week Superhero Party on Friday, June 7? Plus the parade on Saturday travels through Dupont Circle, a historically gay neighborhood. I worked there in the 80’s, and believe me, that place had gay pride before Gay Pride. Here are the links to the events and places to purchase tickets:

Capital Pride 365

Gay.com – Capital Pride

If you are in the area and taking pictures at the events, send them to me and I will post them here. And for those of you in other places, send me the dates and info and I will post that as well.

There are also many organizations that help LGBTQ youth from Promise Place on the DC/Prince Georges County line to The Wanda Alston House in Washington, DC. Or perhaps the Ali Forney Center in NYC or The Albert Kennedy Trust in the UK. A favorite organization of mine is The Matthew Shepard Foundation founded by Matthew Shepard’s mother, Judy Shepard. If you haven’t visited that site before, please do so. It’s both heartbreaking and immensely uplifting to see what has emerged from such a horrific tragedy.

There are not enough shelters and organizations to go around for all of those children and teens in need and those that exist really need our support in every way possible. One easy way is to buy ebooks. Several authors and one terrific editor, Kris Jacen, have contributed their royalties from several novels. S.J. Frost and Kris Jacen with Finding A Dream, Sue Brown’s The Sky Is Dead, and Lost and Found Anthology (Kris Jacen), whose entire royalties will be sent to Lost-n-Found Youth, Inc. And these are only the most recent. Enjoy a good book and give at the same time. It’s easy, its enjoyable, and it is needed.

So have a great week. Celebrate, dance, and make time to read a book or two! Oh, and check out the cocktail recipe at the end. Here is the week ahead in reviews:

Monday, June 3: Outlast The Night by Ariel Tachna

Tuesday, June 4: Flawless by Cat Grant

Wed, June 5: The Caveman and the Devil by Chris T. Kat

Thursday, June 6: The Jouster’s Lance by A.J. Marcus

Friday, June 7: Stonewall by Martin Duberman

Saturday, June 8: Prelude by Shira Anthony and Venona Keyes

Here is a specialty cocktail recipe just for Gay Pride (shakes head, you really went there, didn’t you). It came from Alex’s Cocktail Recipes

Gay Pride Cocktail:

1 shot Apple sourz
1 shot blueberry sourz
1 shot cranberry juice
2 shots 5 alive
pop rocks
Instructions

Put the cranberry juice and 5 alive into a tumbler. Pour the sourz into shaker over ice and shake well. Pour into tumbler and add a pink umbrella, then sprinkle with pop rocks

“A womanly drink, it won’t get you drunk but drink it wearing hotpants for the ultimate sense of gay satisfaction.” Alex also has links for other drinks, none of which I can print here. Visit his site for more information.

A Time for Remembering, Memorial Weekend and the Week Ahead in Reviews

The month of May has always been a month of celebrations, from Mother’s Day to birthdays to important anniversaries. For me and mine, May is a time for family, either by choice or blood, and of any configuration. For me, it is a time to celebrate those that I love, whether it is their birth, or mine and my sister’s (for my Mother), and anniversaries which helped bring all of us together. And if the weather cooperates, than even my gardens appear to be celebrating as the azaleas, dogwoods, and all the flowers burst into pastel hues in anticipation of the intense colors of summer.

With all of these emotions and thoughts directed towards celebrating those we love for most of the month, it seems more than fitting to end May with Memorial Day, a day dedicated to remembrance of those who lost their lives keeping us safe and making it possible to celebrate all those birthdays, and anniversaries of people and families we hold so dear. My grandfather is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and this year, we buried my uncle close to him in a ceremony so moving that people were stopped all over the vast landscape as the sounds of the gun salute rang out over the hills and the trumpet played Taps.

Rolling Thunder passes by my parents farm every year on their way into the District and my father, a veteran of the Korean war, goes outside and salutes them as they pass by. Our media here in the metropolitan area is full of pictures and videos marking the solemn day of remembrance as flags are put at every grave at Arlington and the crowds swell at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as well as that of the World War II one nearby. If you have never visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, then you have not experienced the power and overwhelming sense of loss that pervades that site. The Wall itself a marker of the high cost of valor and service to our country in the names of the men and women lost reflected back to us. In that black stone reflection, we see the list of names in chronological order and our own reflections, the recipients of their sacrifice. For me, never has a memorial to our dead felt so alive, awash in grief, and sorrow and gratitude.

For most people, this weekend brings barbecues and picnics, gatherings of families and friends. Take a moment and some quiet if you can, and remember. Remember and pause to thank those who lie buried here and abroad, claimed and unnamed, for their sacrifice. Because ,whether we acknowledge it or not, it is being reflected back to us across the picnic blankets and tables just as much as it is from the black wall itself.

Now for the week ahead in reviews:

Monday, 5/27: Memorial Day

Tuesday, 5/28 Damned If You Do Collection by JL Merrow

Wednesday, 5/29: Moments by R.J. Scott

Thursday, 5/30: Adapting Instincts by SJ Frost

Friday, 5/31: May Summary of Book Reviews

Saturday, 6/1: A Silence Kept by Theo Fenraven

There you have it. Enjoy your Memorial weekend for those of you who live in the US or Americans abroad. Spare some thoughts and prayers for those now gone and for those they left behind.

Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o’er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Dream of battled fields no more.
Days of danger, nights of waking.

-Sir Walter Scott

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