Where Did the Month Go? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

3d-person-sit-pile-books-reading-book-26141531Where on earth did April go?  It seems like yesterday that the first of April was just approaching and now its almost over.  With the arrival of May, spring finally settles in and we can see summer edging towards us.  What a lovely time of the year!

Spring is a month rich in fertility, new growth, new beginnings are everywhere.  There’s an almost luxurious feel to this time of year.  So it seems with the books releasing as well.  What authors and stories have me over the moon?  Truth and Tenderness from Tere Michaels, the end of her Faith, Love & Devotion series, an all time favorite of mine.  I am savoring every line and paragraph not wanting it to end….it’s truly marvelous.  Joy Lynn Fielding’s Blowing Off Steam has me singing her praises and that of this incredible story too! Barb is loving The Tales of the Curious Cookbook series including Lost Along The Way by Marie Sexton!  Paul loved Amber Kell’s Unexpected Alpha, a book whose proceeds go to The Autism Society of Washington,  so check that out, including the author’s note at the end.  An Intrepid Trip To Love by Charlie Cochet brought a 5 out of 5 stars from Stella while Hoarfrost, in Jordan L. Hawk’s Whyborne and Griffin series, is a favorite of Mika‘s.  If you haven’t already entered that contest, find it here, along with our author review.  Sammy is busy reading and writing as is BJ, more from them soon!  And I have the first in the Round Two stories from the Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States connected series for you this week as well.  More great books are on the horizon and we can’t wait to tell you about them.   What a great way to  end the month of April!

So stay with us all week, here is our schedule along with some favorite covers….

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Blowing Off Steam coverLost Along the Way coverUnexpected Alpha Amber kell coverFoolish Encounters cover

Sunday, April 26:

  • Where Did The Month Go? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, April 27:

  • Where There’s Smoke by Cari Z Tour and Giveaway
  • E.E Montgomery’s ‘Just The Way You Are‘ virtual tour – contest
  • A Stella Review: Family of Lies: Sebastian by Sam Argent
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Foolish Encounters Anthology
  • A MelanieM Review: Dead Blind by Lee Brazil (PF 2015)

Tuesday, April 28:

  • A Paul B Review: A Good Deed Done by Pelaam
  • A Mika Review: Scarred Souls (Scarred Souls #1) by T.T. Kove
  • A MelanieM Review: Blowing Off Steam by Joy Lynn Fielding
  • Best Covers of April 2015
  • Best Books of April 2015

Wednesday, April 29:

  • Morticia Knight ‘Justice Prevails‏’ Tour and Contest
  • In the Book Spotlight: Dreams of the Forgotten by Lexi Ander (excerpt and contest)
  • Lisa Oliver’s The Biker’s Omega Tour and Giveaway
  • Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review – Lost Along the Way (Tales of the Curious Cookbook) by Marie Sexton
  • A Mika Review: Crossed Hearts by K. Vale

Thursday, April 30:

  • Jayson James – How It Was Supposed to Be book blast and contest
  • In the Spotlight: K. Vale ‘Crossed Hearts‘ and contest
  • A Paul B Review: Unexpected Alpha by Amber Kell
  • A MelanieM Review: The Line by Angel Martinez

Friday,May 1:

  • MelanieM Review: Truth and Tenderness by Tere Michaels
  • A Stella Review: An Intrepid Trip to Love by Charlie Cochet
  • A MelanieM Review:  Emerald Keep by A Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder
  • A Mika Review: I’m The Guy You Hate by Isa K.

Saturday, May 2:

An Aurora YA Review: Once Upon a Time in America (The Knight Cycle #5) by Michael J. Bowler

Scarred Souls coverEven the Innocent coverIm The Guy You Hate cover

A Good Deed Done cover

 

 

 

It’s A Series Spotlight! Storming Love: Flood from MLR Press! (6 authors, 1 giveaway)

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 Storming Love: Flood 6 Book Collection from MLR Press!

Storming Love: Flood Authors: NJ Nielsen, Jenn Dease, Jambrea Jo Jones,

AC Katt, Pelaam, Cherie Noel

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Winter has left, however slowly, and Spring is upon us!  With it can come torrential rains and the accompanying floods.  MLR Press has a new collection with love, romance and wild weather once more at its heart!  This time its floods.  Check out all the authors, titles, couples and details below.    Now grab an oar and let’s start paddling!

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Storming Love: Flood Couples names:
NJ Nielsen: Adrian and Lockie
Jenn Dease: Bridge and Doug
Jambrea Jo Jones: Pete and McKenzie
AC Katt: Derrick and Steven
Pelaam: Euan and Gregg
Cherie Noel: Patric and Sam

A note from Jambrea Jo Jones on Pete and McKenzie,her Storming Love: Flood Couple!

Thank you for letting me stop by the site!

I’m part of the Storming Love series MLR Press is doing. I’m taking on the disaster that is known as the flood.

We have our fair share of floods in Indiana. I remember one really bad one when I was younger. I’m pretty sure it made national news.

Watching the national news and seeing cars floating in the street because someone didn’t pay attention to floor warnings has me shaking my heads, but I can see how it can happen. You think you’ve got a car that can take a little bit of water then it starts gushing in and you’re stuck. Which happens to my poor hero, McKenzie. You can find out what happens when you read the book.

Please leave a comment for your chance at an ebook copy of my story from Storming Love, Pete & McKenzie.

Jambrea_Jo_JonesBlurb:

McKenzie Hallowell was born and bred in Copper Creek. He knew what could happen during flash flood season, but that didn’t stop him from driving through water during a storm. Almost dying might be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Pete Compton moved to town five years ago to take over a feed store. He’d been crushing on McKenzie Hallowell almost from the start. A flash flood brings them together, but will it also bring them love?
Again, thanks for letting me stop by!

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Release dates and Blurb(s):

April 3
STORMING LOVE: FLOOD – Adrian & Lockie by N.J. Nielsen: 30,270 wordsN.J._Nielsen
Adrian Clarke knows his life is a hot mess. This is only one of the reasons he boards a plane and flies halfway around the world—so he can escape everything that’s determined to see him break. Lockie Rivers has worked his whole life on Tenderfoot Downs. After his boss died, Lockie remained as caretaker for the new owner—a man who’d never even set foot on the place. When circumstances bring them face to face, a flash flood comes along to threaten their very existence. Can virtual strangers work together to save their home, their hearts, and find their own slice of heaven?

April 10
STORMING LOVE: FLOOD – Bridge & Doug by Jenn Dease: 22,400 wordsJenn_Dease
Fourth generation lawman, Bridge Bridgerton, has never seen Copper Creek, Texas, flood before. Doug Jones is a lifeguard stopping in Copper Creek to look after his grandfather’s house. Together, they help rescue some of the residents trapped in the rising water. And together, they feel an attraction for each other that gets stronger day by day. But, will they be able to stay together once the water goes down?

 

April 17
STORMING LOVE: FLOOD – Pete & McKenzie by Jambrea Jo Jones: 10,300 wordsJambrea_Jo_Jones
McKenzie Hallowell was born and bred in Copper Creek. He knew what could happen during flash flood season, but that didn’t stop him from driving through water during a storm. Almost dying might be the best thing that ever happened to him.
Pete Compton moved to town five years ago to take over a feed store. He’d been crushing on McKenzie Hallowell almost from the start. A flash flood brings them together, but will it also bring them love?

 

April 24
STORMING LOVE: FLOOD – Steven & Derrick by A.C. Katt: 13,102 wordsA.C.Katt
When a flash flood strikes, Steven stays behind at school to find a little girl who hid from the storm. His lover, Derrick, comes to rescue them both but can only get Josie out. Will Derrick be able to get back to the elementary school in time to get Steven or will he lose him to the raging flood waters?

 

May 1
STORMING LOVE: FLOOD – Euan & Gregg by Pelaam: 21,527 wordsPelaam
Euan looks forward to spending time with his best friend, and unrequited love, Gregg. But Gregg has a confession himself, he isn’t the straight jock Euan thinks. When the truth emerges, Euan learns of a side to his friend’s life he never imagined.
Just as they find out the truth Mother Nature unleashes her fury and they’re trapped on a mountain during the flood.
Even if they weather nature’s storm, there is still a more personal fury to be faced.

May 8
STORMING LOVE: FLOOD – Patric & Sam by Cherie Noel: 17,515 wordsSamPatric_CherieHall_StormingFlood
Patric Carselowey stole Samuel Touchet-Smith’s heart six years ago in an incendiary act of passion. Then he disappeared, joining the Army without a word. When he returned, treating Sam like stranger, he broke Sam’s heart. Now Sam’s meddling Maman and sister have booked him a hiking tour with Patric as the guide. Caught in the unexpected storm, will Sam’s wounded heart be healed during their race to safety or crushed once and for all by lingering misunderstandings and lost memories?

Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Kris Jacen
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Romance, Western/Cowboy (Please note that not all books will contain all elements.)

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Sales Links:  Storming Love: Flood at MLR Books

Patric and Sam by Cherie Noel
Chapter One

Sam’s first indication that the damnable duo of Céleste and Delphine Touchet-Smith were plotting about his love life—again—came during Sunday dinner. The twin terrors of Copper Creek, Texas, a.k.a. his beloved maman and mostly tolerated sister, couldn’t go more than six months without interfering in les affaires de coeur, or if you wanted it in plain English, matters of the heart. Sam’s heart to be precise. They called it trying to get him settled. He called it a damned lot of tom-foolery. Seeing as Maman and Del were well into their eighth month without any shenanigans, Sam let himself get a touch too comfortable. He couldn’t help it. He liked the lack of what his maman called—and good Lord did the woman ever lay on the French accent thick as anything when she said it—eligible bachelors showing up out of the blue for Sunday dinner. He really should have seen it coming, though.
Sadly, he didn’t. Instead he tumbled through the weather beaten door of the hundred year old farmhouse where he’d grown up with only seconds to spare—if he was lucky—before his maman decided he was late. Lord help him if that happened, because then she’d start to think up ways to punish his “lack of proper decorum”. His mind firmly fixed on the delicious meal in his immediate future, Sam hot-footed it into the house blind as a new kitten and innocent as a fluffy little baby chick. With his mind more on squeaking in under the wire than being alert to signs and symptoms of meddling, he was ripe for their not-so-subtle machinations.
His wind-milling arms and rubber-chicken legs were half excessive speed on the well waxed floorboards of the front hall, half pure nerves, and one hundred percent Sam. He thanked his lucky stars he wasn’t in Del’s line of sight when he came in, because that would have been fuel for her to heap on the bonfires of their lovingly antagonistic sibling rivalry. She got plenty of mileage out of his clumsiness as it was. His whole life had been plagued by the same trademark lack of grace–it happened anytime he got too nervous. Today’s occurrence made perfect sense in light of his late arrival and the possible revocation of all beignet and crawfish étouffée privileges for a full week. Sam whimpered at the thought.
While enduring a longer span of time than seven days without Maman’s famous étouffée caused severe mood swings, more than three days without beignets might well be a death sentence. That was Sam’s philosophy on the matter and he saw no reason to ever risk such a dire outcome. So he zipped out of his Jeep, sprinted across the front porch, and then yes, tumbled through the front door with no thought to who or what might be on the other side.
Maman and Del’s chattering voices flowed from the kitchen, echoing back and forth down the hall. Paying them all his attention, he tripped over Cletus, otherwise known as Cletus the Lazy, Maman’s old brindle mess of long legs, floppy ears and slobber. Maman insisted he was an example of canine perfection. If you asked Sam the mutt was far from achieving the pinnacle of dogdom. In point of fact, the disreputable lump spent ninety percent of his time masquerading as a throw rug in the front hall—directly in the path of anyone coming in the door. Therein lay the problem. The dog too, or Sam might have gotten all the facts quicker and hightailed it out of Maman’s front door before he got caught in her matchmaking scheme.
All Sam knew in the moment was that he was sweating like a whore in church and praying Maman was in a good mood. Then, he swore he heard Del saying his name with intent as stepped forward to shut the front door. He tip-toed along like a ninja or a spy—at least in his mind—but was foiled by Cletus. The mange infested throw rug yelped out a piteous aaaarrrhhh—oooo—wee and followed that up with a snuffle-whuffle and the doggy sad-side-eye. All sounds from the kitchen ceased. A weighty beat of silence passed, and then Sam’s maman called out. Her dulcet tones dripped false innocence as they echoed along the passageway. Good Christ, he really should have known.
“Samuel, cher, we’re just finishing up in the kitchen. You go on mon fils, wash up now. We be through to the dining room in a moment.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Maman, we ain’t in de Louisiana bayou no more. You gotta use English. Proper American-style English. I know you speak it, what with all the times you done tanned my backside for not speaking proper when I was in school.”
A choked off snort followed by a thwapping sound came from the kitchen. Then the amusing melody of his sister’s indignation. “Maman, you didn’t have to smack me with the spatula. You got to admit, Sam talking his personal proper Texas-American style language is pretty damn funny.”
Another thwap echoed down the hall. Sam snickered. Del yelped, louder than Cletus had, and then Sam’s maman was talking. Her tone, all edge of the bayou Creole haughty with a dash of pure southern belle temper made it clear he’d gone and stepped in a heap of trouble. Between her conciliatory tone, the lack of reprimand for stepping on Cletus, and her handling of Del, the handwriting was on the wall. It was too late for him to escape altogether, but he stood a fair chance of mitigating the damage if he could figure out what the heck those two half-crazy bayou belles were plotting. Waiting in silence should push one of them to fill the void. Maman’s long, soft vowels and deliberate Parisian-style French warned him. Whatever they were planning, he was gonna be madder than a twice baited bull.
“Ah, we-el, mon fils, je suis tres desole. No matter. I will do my best to speak only the finest King’s English, no?”
Delphine appeared around the edge of the kitchen door before Maman stopped speaking. Her soft brown eyes huge in her little heart-shaped face, she hissed at him. Waving her hands back and forth like angry birds picking at a scarecrow, she advanced.
“Oh my gosh. Sam, I swear Maman dropped you on your head every day you was a boy! Lock up your lips tout de suite before Maman kicks us both out without supper. Just think about it. No more homemade beignets, no crawfish étouffée…and a whole week long to wait for another chance at them.”
Narrowing his eyes, Sam sniffed and pointed at his sister. “I can make my own red beans and rice, little cat, so put your claws away. And…ah, hell, get out of the way so I can go apologize to Maman.”
His vain attempt to camouflage the utter terror of going so long without Maman’s beignets only caused his sister to smile, flip the long tail of her braid over her shoulder, and murmur as she sashayed around him. “Suck up.”
Sam grunted. “You’re damn skippy I am, cher. Ain’t a body on Earth can cook like Maman…I plan on staying in her good graces forever.”
Del laughed, just like he knew she would. Warmth spread through his chest. Sisters. Shaking his head, Sam curled one side of his mouth up and flicked the end of her braid. He never got tired of being able to predict how she would react. Chuckling quietly, Sam ambled through the kitchen door. Spreading his arms, hanging his head and gazing up through his lashes, he gave his best little boy grin. “Sorry Maman. I didn’t mean no disrespect.”
Céleste tossed a small kitchen towel over one shoulder. “Hmmpf.”
Sam snuggled up to her, bending down to hug her tight. “Je suis tres desole, Mamam. Ne soyez pas en colère contre moi.”
Laughing, Céleste pushed him toward the dining room doorway. “Delphine is right. You are a suck up. You sit down, cher. I still be serving crawfish étouffée, you terrible boy. Non, non, you were late getting here, Sam, and you think I did not notice? On second thought, you get right back up. Go help your sister set the table if you want to earn your way back into my good graces.”
They waited until he was stuffed fuller than a suckling pig destined for the table before dropping the bomb. When Del met his eyes directly, and Maman cleared her throat twice in a row, Sam froze in place. Del’s smile wobbled ever so slightly as she began to speak.
“Now, Sam, we done paid already, and there’s no refunds possible.”
Eyes closed to mere slits, Sam waited her out.
“The thing is, you been working too hard. Everybody says so. And wel—”
Maman folded her napkin with small, neat motions, and Sam dropped his head forward to rest his forehead in the palms of both hands. “Just tell me what the two of you have cooked up besides the delicious étouffée I done just ate too much of?”
Del turned beseeching eyes toward Maman. The elder Touchet-Smith woman at least had the grace to get a splash of red in both cheeks. “Samuel, cher, we done booked you a little hiking trip. With Carselowey Tours. You work so hard taking care of us, ever since your père et grand-père, ah, father and grandfather passed. We just wanted to say thank you.”
Sam choked, coughed, and sprayed a mouthful of étouffée across the table, missing Delphine by inches. The bright smile Maman wore as she spoke dimmed. She and Delphine both stared down at their plates. Del grimaced.
“Oh, Sam, it was such a good deal, but because we booked so close to the departure date they can’t offer a refund. Well, except in case of death or extreme medical emergency. And I’m pretty sure bull-headed refusal to take a vacation don’t count.”
Closing both eyes, Sam sucked in a steadying breath before giving in as gracefully as he could.
“Ah. I guess that clears up the issue of what to do with my vacation days this year. When do I leave?”
Delphine cornered him in the front hall after he’d made his farewells to Maman and before he made good on his bid for freedom. Wrapping a strand of her curly brown hair around one finger, she plunked her back against the front door and pressed both little palms against the center of his chest. “Listen, you hard head—I been hearing some things. I want you to promise me to go on this trip. I know you got some kinda powerful dislike for Patric Carselowey, but Maman put down a heap of money she had put by for something else just so’s you could take some time away from that store. I—just you promise to go, you hear me? Go. And maybe find out if there might have been some reason he did whatever made you come all over fulla hate for him so quick. Can you do that for me, cher?”
Sam glared down at Del. “You so fulla yourself. One day somebody going to throw a little magic your way bayou girl, and we see how you like that.”
Del huffed out a breath. “I never!”
“Ha. I’m going on this trip. For Maman. But you? Best admire those eyebrows while you still got them.” Sam backed away as he spoke, knowing Del would do the same thing as always in three-two-one…
“I’m gonna tell Maman you threatening my eyebrows again!” she screeched and lunged toward him. Sam dodged around her, jerked the front door open and ran like the wind. He laughed his fool head off all the way to his Jeep, too.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

  • About the authors:
    NJ Nielsen: NJ needs to write like she needs to breathe. It’s an addiction that she never intends to find a cure for. When you don’t find NJ arguing with Vlad, her muse or writing about the wonderful men in her stories, you’ll find her reading work by other authors she greatly admires. NJ lives in the SE of Qld, Australia with her family who all encourage her writing career even if she does occasionally call them by her character’s names. NJ thinks that anyone taking the time to read her stuff is totally awesome.
    Jenn Dease: Jenn Dease is a Chef with a reading and writing addiction. The six bookcases in her bedroom are proof of this. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh with one of those families that have four generations in a four block radius. The Redheads, or her sisters, are the best things in her life. When they want to be.
    Jambrea Jo Jones: Jambrea wanted to be the youngest romance author published, but life impeded the dreams. She put her writing aside and went to college briefly, then enlisted in the Air Force. After serving in the military, she returned home to Indiana to start her family. A few years later, she discovered yahoo groups and book reviews. There was no turning back. She was bit by the writing bug.
    She enjoys spending time with her son when not writing and loves to receive reader feedback. She’s addicted to the internet so feel free to email her anytime.
  • AC Katt: She lives in New Mexico with her husband and new cat who, just as she does loves paper and words. She got a late start to her writing career but is now in a writing frenzy. Go figure!
  • Pelaam: Living in clean, green New Zealand Pelaam is a multi-published author of m/m romance and erotica. She’s loved writing since childhood and to become an author is a cherished dream come true. She grew up reading fairy tales and watching science fiction, horror and fantasy. When not writing she can be found indulging in her other passions of cookery and wine appreciation.
    Cherie Noel: Cherie’s been in love with words since before she drew breath, and doesn’t see that ever changing. She write stories, full stop. Sometimes there’s music with them, sometimes they’re poems, and lately, to her great delight, a plethora of M/M fiction and erotic romance. Yum. Smexy man to the second…or third power…now that’s the kinda math Cherie can get behind!!

The hair curls or frizzes as it will, the eyes are green and tend to look in two different directions—no, really—and the rest is subject to change. You know the guy who didn’t know if he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man or a man dreaming he was a butterfly? Yeah, that’s Cherie, but substitute drag queen for butterfly and wacky, wild ex-Army chick for man.

Where to find the authors:

On Goodreads:

NJ Nielsen: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5042080.N_J_Nielsen
Jambrea Jo Jones: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2856938.Jambrea_Jo_Jones
Pelaam: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4425974.Pelaam
Cherie Noel: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4874967.Cherie_Noel

Facebook:
NJ Nielsen: https://www.facebook.com/norma.nielsen.9
Jenn Dease: https://www.facebook.com/Jenn.Dease.5
Jambrea Jo Jones: https://www.facebook.com/JambreaJoJones
AC Katt: http://www.facebook.com/ackatt
Pelaam: https://www.facebook.com/pamela.pelaamone
Cherie Noel: https://www.facebook.com/CherieNoel

Facebook Author Page:
NJ Nielsen:https://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Nielsen/793520884042153?ref=bookmarks
Jambrea Jo Jones: https://www.facebook.com/groups/565548900226323/
Pelaam: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pelaam/1467778320131583?ref=hl
Cherie Noel: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cherie-Noel/253662497986298

Twitter:
NJ Nielsen: @NJNielsen1 https://twitter.com/NJNielsen1
Jenn Dease: @momsdesk1 https://twitter.com/momsdesk1
Jambrea Jo Jones: https://twitter.com/Jambrea @jambrea
AC Katt: https://twitter.com/ackatt @ackatt
Cherie Noel: https://twitter.com/authornoel

Pinterest:
Jambrea Jo Jones: https://www.pinterest.com/jambrea/
AC Katt: : https://www.pinterest.com/ackatt/
Cherie Noel: https://www.pinterest.com/authorcnoel/
Other:
NJ Nielsen: Blogger: http://normanielsen.blogspot.com.au/ WordPress: https://nielsennj.wordpress.com/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/public-profile-settings?trk=prof-0-ovw-public_profile-secondary Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108478475874292907770/posts
Jenn Dease: WordPress: http://www.jenndease.com
Jambrea Jo Jones: http://www.jambrea.com
AC Katt: http://www.ackatt.com http://www.ackattsjournal.com
Cherie Noel: Blogger: http://talesfromthewritingcave.blogspot.com/ Website: http://www.cherienoel.com/
Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/cherie-noel/46/b2/52/

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Tour Dates & Stops:Parker Williams, Inked Rainbow Reads, MM Good Book Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, Bike Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Carly’s Book Reviews, Tara Lain, BFD Book Blog, Hearts on Fire, Velvet Panic, Cate Ashwood, Charley Descoteaux, Chris McHart, The Hat Party, Up All Night, Read All Day, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

 

 STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $50 Gift Card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Prizes and links provided by the publisher, authors, and Pride Promotions.

PLUS……Each author is also giving away a small gift at each blog stop. Either some small bits of swag, an eBook copy of their food story, or something from their backlist.   Leave a comment and an email address where you can be reached!

Rafflecopter Code:
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Down Under Showcase Author of the Day: Pelaam

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Meet Pelaam!

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Pelaam is a prolific author with over 30 titles, including a new holiday release from MLR Press “The Magic of Christmas.”

To get to know New Zealand author Pelaam a little better, she agreed to an interview. Look for the interview below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word found somewhere within.

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍Author Bio 1

Living in clean, green New Zealand, Pelaam is a best-selling, multi-published author of gay romance and erotic books. When not busy writing she can be found indulging in her other passions of cookery and wine appreciation.

Pelaam’s book “Breath of the Feathered Serpent” is a finalist for the 2014 Rainbow Awards in Gay futuristic/sci-fi and has been given an Honourable Mention. “Bedazzled” and “Firebird” were a combined finalist for the Rainbow Awards in Gay futuristic/sci-fi 2013.

 

 

Author Contacts

Author Books Stories Down Under1 copy

Among Pelaam’s many stories and titles are the following:

Breath of the Feathered Serpent
Haunted by the Past
Captive
On Dragon’s Wings
Addiction (Dark Hollows Press)
Familiar or Not  (MLR)
The Magic of Christmas (MLR)
Horse of Bells
Dragon’s Lair

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Genre(s):

Sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you, Pelaam) is an eBook copy of “The Magic of Christmas”. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

The Magic of Christmas: Blurb:TheMagicofChristmas_WD (1)

On a friends’ getaway in a winter wonderland, Jared and Casey discover real Christmas magic.

Jared joins his four best friends on an early Christmas holiday in a beautiful winter wonderland. He’s been in love with the talented and extroverted Casey for years, but lacked the courage to say anything.

Casey loves Jared, but despite his gregarious exterior, inside lurks someone shy and insecure and so he’s never spoken up.

Both men are about to experience real Christmas magic.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find the Hunt word/phrase highlighted in green. Collect all the words/phrases from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

******************************************Author Qand A

Q Where do you draw inspiration from?

I can get inspired from a single image, a word or phrase, or a scenario. I like fantasy, myth, and legend and draw a lot of inspiration from there when searching for something to stimulate my Muse.

Q. Favorite genres to write in and why?

Sci-fi/paranormal/fantasy. These have always been my greatest loves. They give my imagination the greatest level of freedom when writing.

Q. Title or characters or plot? Which comes first?

I generally have an idea for a plot, then come the characters, and usually the title is last of all. However, there is one where the title came as part of the plot. That’s “Breath of the Feathered Serpent.”

Q. Do you have a specific writing style?

I’m very much a “pantser”. I can’t write starting at the beginning and working my way through to the end and I don’t storyboard. I write the scenes as they come into my mind. That sometimes means I have the end written before the beginning, and subplots can be completed before I have the main plot worked out. But it works for me and I go with the flow.

Q How do you think books written from authors in Australia or New Zealand differ in style, language, and culture?

We have our own way of looking at things, and our own way of saying things. I quite often find I have to rewrite something I know would be understood by a New Zealand or Australian reader, but I’m told wouldn’t be understood by an American reader.

Q. If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?

I’d like them to see the magnificent scenery, some of the beautiful beaches, and the vibrant cities. I’d like them to leave with the knowledge that there’s something for everyone when they visit New Zealand.
Q What are your current projects?

I worked my way through NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) again this year and reached my 50k target. Now I need to fill in some of the scenes and polish the draft before seeing if “Furture Imperfect” will also be published. My last NaNo effort was “Breath of the Feathered Serpent” which not only got published, but was a finalist in the 2014 Rainbow Awards for sci-fi/futuristic.
Q. Favorite quote (doesn’t matter the source)?

“We have a responsibility to stand watch over one another, we are watchers, all of us, watchers, guarding against the darkness. You’ve taught me that we’re all needed, even those who sometimes think we’re worthless, plain, and dull.”

(Dean Koontz, “Watchers”)

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Review of Horse of Bells by Pelaam

Rating: 3 stars

Horse of BellsPrince Donal and his younger brother, Caolan, are hunting in the royal woods when a mysterious stranger saves Caolan from a wild boar.  A case of love at first sight, the two make a pact saying that they will meet back in the woods as soon as possible, saving themselves only for each other.  But royal politics interfere with that promise as their evil stepmother is plotting to kill them and have her nephew seated on the throne. To interfere with her plans, the princes are sent away for their safety and Caolan never returns to the woods.

The princes plan to stay in exile until Donal comes of age but a trick by their stepmother, Queen Doireann, sends the brothers on a quest to obtain the Horse of Bells from the Dark Prince, a mission destined to fail as all the others who have tried have been put to death after entering the Dark Prince’s lands. On their journey, the stranger from the woods joins them in their travels.  But the kindness is gone and in its place a bitterness towards Caolan that threatens to derail their mission before they get started.  In this fairy tale, two brothers must fight for their honor and for love if a happily ever after is to be theirs for the taking.

This story has all the basics of a fairy tale.  It has the princes in danger, the evil stepmother, the clueless  King, the dark strangers to the rescue, and even a magical horse.  What is missing from this tale is the charm to go with the Prince Charmings, the warmth and glow of a childhood tale reworked for adults.   I love a good adult fairy tale but unfortunately this one felt a bit flat.

I will skip over the two instances of instant love as that is certainly permissible in a fairy tale, but give me characters that make it even a little bit believable.  All of the characters that Pelaam delivers are pretty one dimensional people, from the princes to the Dark Prince to the King. Even fairytale characters must be fleshed out enough that we identify with them to some degree. How can we feel any angst at all that the prince will be torn away form his true love if we don’t care about the characters?  All have so little depth that it flattens out the story, wiping it of any gaiety and joy  associated with stories of this genre. It  did have one little bit of darkness in it but it felt out of place considering all that had gone on before.

I did like the magical Horse of Bells, a nice creation and the stepmother was suitably “evil” in her mechanisms but I keep waiting for the literary magic to begin, to be swept away into a enchantedl kingdom, where everyone is gay, and all good Princes wait for their Prince to appear.  That would have made a great fairytale.  But I can tell you after reading this, I am still waiting for that Kingdom to appear.

It’s 70 degrees here in Maryland and the Week Ahead in Reviews

It’s January and it feels like mid Spring.  The woodpeckers are banging out their territory rhythms, the maples are budding out, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the hyacinths and tulips start to peek out above the ground.  The meteorologists keep saying that it will get colder, and it does, for about a day and then the temperatures start to rise and voila, back to Spring.

Now for us in the past, February is the month to look out for.  It brings heavy snows and ice and all things wintery.  Except for last year, when it brought nada.  We need the water from snow melt, and that is not looking promising for us or any of the surrounding states.  So each day is a surprise, more so than usual.  What will our changing climate do to our day today?  Will it bring Spring or Winter?   Will it be quiet and calm or will winds with hurricane speeds be whipping over our rooftops?  No one can say for sure.  The one thing I do want to do is take those climate change doubters, those head in the sand ostriches, and give them a shake or two.  Tell them to get their heads out of their nether regions and take a good look around.  Time for us to make a change, one person at a time, while it is still possible. Still tut tuting over a favorite backyard azalea that is trying to bloom.

Here is a list with 50 easy ways to help the earth.  Wire and Twines “50 Ways to Help the Planet – go green, its not that hard!

Now for the Week Ahead in Reviews:

Monday, 1/14:                          Revolution by Bailey Bradford

Tuesday, 1/15:                         Some Kind of Magic by R. Cooper

Wed., 1/16:                               Horse of Bells by Pelaam

Thursday, 1/17:                       An Unsettled Range by Andrew Grey

Friday, 1/18                              Knight of Wands by Theo Fenraven

Saturday, 1/19                          Trick of Time by J.L. Merrow

So there it is, let’s see what happens.  Have a wonderful week.

Review of Bedazzled by Pelaam

Rating: 3.75 stars

Jem’s life has been hard since his father died.  His stepmother has control of the family business, his step brother and sister have all her affection, and his health, both physically and mentally, was shattered by his loss.  Only his good friend, Byron, makes it possible for Jem to get through his day of cleaning and restocking the shelves in Diamond, the bar where they both work. Then in an instant, Jem’s life changes when he rescues a stranger being attacked on his way home.

The stranger is none other than Prinz, the only son of the Space Station’s galactic billionaire businessman.  He is immediately attracted to Jem, and when the gorgeous young man disappears after rescuing him, he vows to find him.  Jem can’t get the man he saved out of his mind, and the stranger occupies his dreams nightly. Byron is mystified and more than a little protective when Herne appears in the bar asking for Jem.  Herne is Prinz’s best friend and bodyguard, sent to look for Jem and reunit him with Prinz.  He doesn’t count on his reaction to Byron or Bryon’s to him. It seems like love is all around the space station.  But there is more to all 4 men then they are telling.  Secrets mount up until the night of the Station ball when one is revealed to Jem’s devastation and he runs away.  How will this fairy tale end when the futures of not one but two couples rest in the balance.

This is a very cute retelling of the Cinderella story, ala Cinderfella times two.  It has been relocated to space with a mixture of alien shapeshifters thrown in for good measure.  It’s light  and frothy and the slight danger to our hero is never more than that.  The main issue here is that the secondary pairing is much more interesting than our Cinderfella and Prinz.  All the characterization details and depth is given over to Byron, a shapeshifting being with a slutty reputation he neither earned or deserved and Herne,  Prinz’ best friend and associate, who finds himself falling for the alien despite the rumors around the station.  Not making these two the main characters was a missed step in my opinion.  I got the feeling that even the author had to remind themselves to return to Prinz and Jem’s storyline after getting carried away with Byron’s backstory.  Alas, the names Prinz and Jem (get it, he is a priceless gem) says look at me, fairy tale here while the other duo asks for more serious respect.  And they get it.

There is, of course, the evil stepmother.  The bratty step siblings make a slight appearance as well.  Sinister doings are happening aboard the station and it is never in doubt as to the villain behind it all.  Alls well that ends well.  Again, almost too well as a third pairing makes an appearance at the end and its a Gay for All, toasts, celebrations and well, you know, a Happily Ever After in caps. Come at this with low expectations and a small amount of time to spend reading it and you will find an enjoyable fairy tale read.  But if you like our fairy tales done expertly in an adult manner, then perhaps this is not the story for you.  But I will pick up the next book by Pelaam if only because of the promise shown by Byron and Herne.

cover: Cover art by Lee Tiffin.  Great cover.  I love the colors, the graphics and the font choices.