A MelanieM Review: Then the Stars Fall by Brandon Witt

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the four years since the death of his wife, Travis Bennett has become a shell of the man he used to be. Travis raises his three children, manages his business, and works as a ranch hand, his only companion his dog, Dunkyn. The hole inside Travis feels as deep and recent as the day she died, a situation that often leaves him depressed and unable to shake off the moods it leaves him in.

Fond memories of the small Ozark town of El Dorado Springs and the need to leave his broken relationship behind, find Wesley Ryan moving into his grandparents’ old home and temporarily taking over the local veterinary clinic while that owner goes on a much needed sabbatical. But while the loving memories remain, the small town atmosphere isn’t exactly conducive to his colorful clothes and admittedly “gay” nature. Wesley is feeling pretty lonely until Travis brings in his corgi for treatment.

Travis’ reaction to Wes’ recommendation of surgery is far beyond Wes’ expectations. Travis is adamant that Dunkyn, his dog, be treated without surgery, something Wes knows the dog needs. Wes is sure he will be seeing the duo again. Travis, dog and all, is exactly the type of man Wesley goes for. But with three kids and a beloved wife in the past, Wes is sure he is straight. Or is he? Wes does know he came to El Dorado to get away from his man issues and he’s not looking for a relationship,, especially one with someone as complicated and loaded down with baggage as Travis Bennett. Fate, however, has plans for Travis and Wesley whether they want it or not…

First that gorgeous cover and then the synopsis drew me to this book but it’s the story within that has kept me thinking and repeatedly revising my overall connection to and perception of Then The Stars Fall by Brandon Witt.

So many elements about this story had me off balance right from the start. The plot is situated in a small (pop 3000 plus) conservative town, El Dorado Springs, in Missouri. There some of the citizens, including main characters, think nothing of dropping words like “faggot” and “retard” frequently into their conversations. These offensive terms are thrown about so carelessly that I almost put the book down before I had gotten past the opening chapters. That the main character, Travis Bennett, and his best friend are the main offenders made it worse. Yes, they were called on it, by Caleb,Travis’ oldest son, but did it stop? No. And I was appalled that the author thought I would be able to connect with a man such as Travis. But I did….eventually. Because Travis for all his faults (and there are so many) comes across as a complex human being, a realistic work in progress, especially at age 42. The world of pain, loss, and conflict in his background, combined with episodes of good deeds and even better behavior will have the reader flip flopping like a fish out of water in their opinions of this tormented man.

Next up his crude, loud and over the top best friend, Jason Baker, who spews such slurs,derogatory remarks, and unfair judgements with an equally unsettling ease that again I couldn’t believe we were supposed to like him. Quite frankly, I was afraid that was never going to occur but it did as well. Between Jason and Travis the almost constant barrage of offensive terms and slurs almost derailed this story. Luckily, the author balanced such raw characters with ones that were easier to empathize with and enjoy. Characters such as Wesley Ryan, Travis’ sister Wendy who I adored,, the Bennett children, and even the Corgis Dunkyn and Dolan, all lined up to pull the reader along the rippling narrative and keep us afloat until most of the people of the town combine to win us over. Quirky, obstinate, surprising and recognizably human, the folks of El Dorado Springs continue to show new facets of their personalities each time they appear in the story. And it’s these layers that will make the reader grow fond of the town and fonder of its people.

What else threw me off? The constantly changing point of view. After a while it felt more like the play Our Town than a novel. Everyone gets a chance to chime in here, even Dunkyn the dog. I have to admit at times I thought him far more admirable than some of the others characters, but then Corgis are like that. That large number of voices took some time getting adjusted to, but when you do, then this strange format enables the reader to get a real, intimate feel for El Dorado, its history, its present, and hopefully its future. We get a sense of community and that’s necessary for the reader to achieve because this town is so much a part of its people that it acts as just one more main character in a story full of them.

Looking back I can’t even remember when the shift of perspective started, when the affection I felt towards the characters and story outgrew my irritations until those faded away. It was a slow changeover for me, and yes, for Wesley as well. This is a town that takes a lot of getting used to. In Brandon Witt’s Authors Notes, he writes about his childhood which prompted this story. Here it is in his words:

I KNEW I would return to the world of The Shattered Door, the town I grew up in, one day. I wasn’t sure when or how, but then Travis and Wesley showed up, asking to be with Dunkyn and Dolan—or maybe it was the other way around. Shattered told the tale of the pain, fear, guilt, bullying, etc. that I felt growing up. However, there was another part during those years in El Dorado Springs. Lightning bugs. Thunderstorms. My grandpa’s buffalo. My chickens. Friends that I loved dearly. Simone’s Drive-in (if you’re ever driving on 54 and pass through El Do, you have to stop and get a burger. They’re perfect!). Despite the pain I felt a lot of the time, there was so much good, as well. So much beauty and love. I hope I was able to capture that aspect of El Do with Then the Stars Fall.

By the end of this story, Brandon Witt had really captured it all. The joys, the hardship and pain, the gorgeous memories and the manner in which a town grows a part of you, no matter your age or location. It was quite the emotional journey that Then the Stars Fell and its characters took this reader on. It constantly challenged me to think about the people, Wes and Travis’ romance, and the town as well as my own opinions and judgements. It held me firm to the story until I was completely won over. It’s a journey you shouldn’t miss. Then the Stars Fell by Brandon Witt is one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words must reads of the year. If Brandon Witt isn’t on your list of authors whose stories are automatic buys, he should be and this is just one more example why he belongs there. Grab it up today!

Cover Artist: Anne Cain. What an astonishing cover. So evocative of the farm and township of the story. One of the best of the year.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) amazon Buy it Here

Book Details:

ebook, 350 pages
Published September 29th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1632162598 (ISBN13: 9781632162595)
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.brandonwitt.com/

A Sammy Review: The Eskimo Slugger by Brad Boney

Rating: 4 stars out of 5:

“Don’t look elsewhere; look to what you have. And what we have is each other. Always. I know we live our lives as individuals. I can look out into the world and see that. I’m not an idiot. But I also know that thirteen billion years ago, there was no ‘we.’ There was only an ‘I.’ Everything that exists now existed then. Everyone who exists now existed then. There is only one of us. And that, Brendan, is not New Age bullshit. That’s physics. To our detriment, we emphasize our individual spirits and journeys over our collective spirit and journey. We teach our children that life is a process of learning, but if we’ve been around since the beginning of time, what could there possibly be left to learn? We only need to remember what we already know. Our struggles are not born of ignorance, but of forgetfulness. If you want to attract love, the first step is to embrace the idea that we are all connected to each other.”

Trent Days never wanted a life in the spotlight, but with the talent he has for baseball, the spotlight found him. He’s branded the Eskimo Slugger, awed by those he meets… and he hates it.

An unfortunate injury sends him back home where he meets Brendan, a law student with a flare. A skip on the record brings them back together, and be it auras or sparks, something keeps them together. It makes no sense, but within days they form an irreplaceable bond, one that will never break, not even when time stretches and lives come and go.

The question is, how do you measure the success of your life? Is it the number of home runs you hit or how many bases you steal? Or is it the lives you touch and the people who love you?

Before I go into my review, I want to note that I read this without reading The Nothingness of Ben or The Return first. Many people highly encourage doing so, but I took the dive and decided to try it without them. Do I think my experience suffered from it? Perhaps. I think there were nuances I likely missed, and that the last part with Trent and Brendan would’ve been more emotional for me had I been through the other books and experienced it there. Still, I enjoyed the book.

When I’m reading, I save page numbers for quotes. I can usually tell how much I liked a story by the number of quotes, and I’ll just say that this one has quite a few.

At first, I was hesitant. The beginning was a bit lackluster for me, including a slip-up in which the author named one of the characters before he actually introduced himself. It took me a while to actually buy into them, but once I did, I flew through the reading.

It’s important in a romance to have the main characters stand out, but I also love a good cast of side characters, and this was chalk full. The author did a brilliant job of weaving the life into their stories and making me care. I fell in love with Bill Walsh, Quincy, and of course Stanton and Hutch.

I will say that if you haven’t been spoiled as to the a particular theme of the book reincarnation, the chapter before the last one will be a bit of a shock to you. Hints are dropped throughout the story, but I’m not entirely sure I would’ve caught it as much if I hadn’t been spoiled previously. It’s sad on its own, but hopeful when you know the underlying story.

I’m very excited to read the other two books now and then maybe come back to read this again and find the little things I missed. Overall an enjoyable read that had a lot of heart.

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond. On the note of the cover, Paul Richmond did a great job of capturing an image that I think speaks to the story. There’s significance to the number 8 and it’s vague enough to let the reader have some imagination, while still capturing one of the characters.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) amazon The Eskimo Slugger

Book Details:

ebook, 230 pages
Published September 29th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 163216227X (ISBN13: 9781632162274)
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.bradboney.com/

A MelanieM Review: Saving Crofton Hall (Stately Passions #1) by Rebecca Cohen

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Benjamin Redbourn, Earl of Crofton, has enjoyed his life of wealth and leisure. And he had every intention of continuing that lifestyle until a frantic phone call from sister interrupts his idylls in New York City. His widowed mother’s secret gambling debts lead her to forgery, putting up Crofton Hall as collateral. Now the family faces the possibility of foreclosure by the bank, and Benjamin is forced into opening their beloved estate to the public. But he must act fast and he has no idea how to accomplish turning her into a historical venue.

Enter Ashley Niven. A friend of Benjamin’s sister, Ashley has experience managing events, and he also loves history. Ashley is also in need of a job when his current employer cuts back in the staff. Being in charge of opening Crofton Hall is a dream come true, one he has held from the moment he saw the estate. But its not just the charms of Crofton Hall that Ashley finds himself drawn to but to the dashing Earl of Crofton as well.

Much like Crofton Hall herself, there are layers to be discovered under the charming fascade of Benjamin Redbourne, if only Ashley can lower his barriers of self defense enough to undercover them.

Crofton Hall has many secrets, and something hidden for over four hundred years is about to change all their lives.

Picking up Saving Crofton Hall was a true delight. First I was returning to a setting made familiar with The Crofton Chronicles, a trio of stories set in the mid 1500’s that revolved around the lives and relationship of Anthony Redbourn, Earl of Crofton, and actor Sebastian Hewell. I adored those stories and this author’s ability to bring those times and her characters vividly to life. Secondly, I hoped to have more insight into Crofton Hall’s history to discover any additional details of Anthony and Sebastian’s life together. Did I get it? Hmmmm, yes in a totally unexpected and wonderful way, something I will let the readers discover for themselves.

Saving Crofton Hall brings that grand old estate into modern times, along with the Redbourn family. Benjamin Redbourn is the 16th Earl of Crofton, his father having recently passed. The oldest son and heir, Benjamin has been blithely yet determinedly pursuing the wild life since an earlier breakup left him devastated. His search of the fast life and faster men have taken him far aboard, leaving Crofton Hall in the hands of his mother unequipped to handle it with a younger brother and sister unable to deal with their mother and the situation. Once more, Rebecca Cohen delivers us into the middle of this historic and charming estate but this time to a family facing ruin and the loss of everything that has been in family for hundreds of years, including Crofton Hall.

Crofton Hall continues to act as an important character in this story. Objects found along her halls or in the gardens, will instantly bring up fond recollections of those earlier stories, much like visiting an old friend will make older shared events and joint memories fresh once more. The hall also serves as an intimate and immediate frame of reference for Benjamin Redbourn. As the 16th Earl of Crofton he faces challenges to his family and estate the previous owners would never have thought of while retaining those responsibilities and duties that come with the title. Benjamin remains a combination of the old and the new, history and honor, with a sense of entitlement that gets an adjustment in face of an unthinkable loss. I liked Benjamin immediately. He’s a good person hit with a series of personal and emotional shocks, the first of which is a mother with a hidden gambling problem. He’s believable, relatable, and sexy. I adored him.

Next up is Ashley Niven, another character who makes this story and romance both real and endearing. Like some of those drawing room comedies, Ashley’s drawn towards Benjamin and spends an inordinate amount of time fighting his own impulses…much to our delight. Lively dialog ushers in two men in flux. Each has qualities that mesh with the other and how they find their balance makes their romance and relationship sweet, sexy, and as charming as Crofton Hall herself. And the scenes with Ashley, Benjamin, and the people who come to “rent out” Crofton Hall are some of the most poignant and humorous scenes described. When the members of the local UFO society have their meeting at the Hall, its as funny as you would expect, then its followed by a wedding so moving that sniffling is sure to occur. But the character of Ashley also has quite the unusual pedigree and that surprising background just adds more spice to an already delicious dish of a story!

There’s Mrs. Weather, Billins, Kitty, and so many others that give Saving Crofton Hall the feeling of a close-knit community pulling together to save home and hearth. None feel extraneous to the estate or the story, more a needed ingredient that gives a depth that would be missed without them.

Here is a story rich in history and appreciation for family and tradition. Saving Crofton Hall is the first in a new series, Stately Passions, by Rebecca Cohen that features various estates in the UK. I can’t wait to see where this terrific author takes us next. While Saving Crofton Hall can certainly be read as a stand alone, for the wealth of history and romance lurking in the halls and foundation, pick up the three stories that make up The Crofton Chronicles. I have listed them all for you at the bottom of this review.

I highly recommend Saving Crofton Hall by Rebecca Cohen, an author with an ability to make history feel alive, and give modern times a rich patina of culture and tradition that sets her narratives on strong foundations from which they can grow and become memorable.

Cover artist: Reese Dante. Terrific cover, and that estate looks exactly the way I pictured Crofton Hall.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner ebook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) amazon Saving Crofton Hall

Book Details:

Published November 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632165084
edition languageEnglish
series Stately Passions #1

The Crofton Chronicles in the order they were written and should be read:

The Actor and the Earl (The Crofton Chronicles #1)
Duty to the Crown (The Crofton Chronicles #2)
Forever Hold His Peace (The Crofton Chronicles #3)

A MelanieM Review: Precious Metals by L.A. Witt

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

As a provision inspector below the Chilkoot Pass during the Klondike Gold Rush, Constable Paul Benson of the North-West Mounted Police has seen it all. The monotony, the fights, starvation and even death that has come with the miners rushing to make their fortune in gold. But even as the masses of humanity crowd into camps, Paul has been able to keep himself emotionally separated from the madness and madmen around him. Until the arrival of Joseph Starling in his life.

Joseph Starling appears in camp, practically dead. Joseph and his two brothers had been among those mining gold up north but there the brothers met a familiar fate. They were robbed, one brother killed and the youngest still in the clutches of the men who attacked them. Now Joseph is on his way to find his brother and bring him safely home.

It’s to Paul that Joseph is brought to and its Paul’s plan Joseph will use to catch up to the robbers. Only Paul never counted on going with Joseph on a journey that will change them both in ways they never expected. From eight-legged mechs with minds of their own to crash-prone airships, this is a trip with no guarantees, for success and even coming out alive.

Just the cover and the title alone is enough to recall the wonderful steampunk universe L.A. Witt has created for this remarkable series. The first novel, Noble Metals, firmly established a steampunk world where the Klondike Gold Rush includes steam driven 8-legged brass mechs, mechanical beasts of burden instead of horses or sleds, where the North-West Mounted Police patroled the borders and camps instead of the Royal Canadian Mounties, but the human frailties, greed, and despair remain firmly entrenched by the pursuit of gold. I loved that story. It was inventive, believable, and a terrific romance to boot.

Now comes Precious Metals and that treacherous, amazing world comes alive once more. Using the same format of alternating points of view, L.A. Witt takes the reader from perspective to perspective easily without jumbling her narrative. The story opens with Paul Benson looking over the teeming mass of miners gathered to get permits and head north into the Yukon. Immediately we realize that being a Mountie is not the passion for Paul that one would think, an aspect of this story both unusual and telling. Into his line of vision comes a tattered group of miners walking beside a worn mech, lying on top is Joseph. From the minute Joseph wakes up in the make shift infirmary, his heartbreaking portion of the story unfolds and Precious Metals takes flight.

Joseph Starling stole my heart immediately. There are so many facets to this character, loving and loyal brother, ingenious engineer, and courageous, intrepid explorer and that doesn’t even begin to cover it. There is another surprise in store for the readers concerning Joseph that the cover happily does not give away.But this element of Joseph’s character and its part in the story adds not only depth but heart to this amazing journey. It’s Paul that I had to warm up to. Paul Benson has his own decisions to make and he tends to need a lot of internal prodding to get moving forward. But once he does, then the reader is sure to embrace his character as much as we do Joseph’s.

Oh, the descriptions of the arduous trail north that L. A. Witt treats us to! Heavy snowfalls, avalanches, bone chilling, death causing temperatures, and always, always something worse waiting to happen just around the bend. And the vivid, wonderful passages make us feel every exhausting, frozen, torturous inch of the trail north. And did I mention that there are airships afloat as unreliable and crash prone as the mechs themselves? By the end of the story I found it hard to believe that the journey itself only unfolds in a short time frame because we were in the trenches with Paul and Joseph, For them, as well as us, the heightened danger and close proximity brings an understanding, though not love, that feels as real as the journey itself.

For unlike the couple in Noble Metals, here the attachment forms quickly, yet realistically. Is it a case of instant love? I think not, but certainly a romance with a future if the men have any say. Yes, this is a HFN that is satisfying in a book that I loved perhaps more than the last. I highly recommend Precious Metals and its predessor, Noble Metals. Pick them both up today and begin your passage to Chilkoot Pass , the Klondike Gold Rush and the men who find themselves and love along the way!

Cover artist April Lee’s drawing is both lively and a little rough, a bluntness about it that adds to its charm in my opinion.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing All Romance eBooks amazon Precious Metals

Book Details:

ebook, 150 pages
Published October 27th 2014 by Riptide Publishing
original titlePrecious Metals
ISBN139781626491748
edition languageEnglish

Book in the Metals steampunk universe can be read as stand alone novels:

Noble Metals

Previous Metals

A MIka Review: Heart by Garrett Leigh

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Cornish pastry chef Seb Wright dreads the summer tourist season. The cash injection to his artisan fudge pantry is more than welcome, the extra work, less so. Then one summer, a shadowy Good Samaritan catches his eye. Irish Traveller Dex is bewitching, a beautiful sullen enigma who turns Seb’s world upside down until he disappears in the night, vanishing like a mystical summer rain.   Twelve months later Dex is in the midst of a dark storm. A slave to his master, ‘Uncle’ Braden, he spends his days cleaning caravans and his nights working in Braden’s other businesses. His short summer with Seb seems a lifetime ago. Lost in the savage violence of the murky underworld, he doesn’t dare dream he’ll ever find his way back, until one night, a brutal crime opens the door for a chance escape. A new life beckons, old faces emerge, and immersed in the heady vibe of London’s East End, new love begins to heal his fractured heart.

Garrett Leigh has become a must read author for me since she put out Only Love. That book is still my favorite m/m book of this year. Heart is about finding one self, finding love, what it means to be in love, and family. Garrett Leigh always seems to put us in these dark places and we get to see these guys find their way to the light. From the beginning of the story we are introduced to this amazing man name Seb, for someone his age which is mine, the amount of compassion and love he has is astounding. I’m a sucker for abuse, dark gritty tells, under educated that’s just me. Seb was a twenty-something guy working in a town that he grew up end making fudge. He is about the only good Samaritan around in my opinion. He finds himself walking home one night and he got the feeling that someone was close which they were. It was Dex, beautiful, sweet, homeless gypsy Dex, and what does it do, honest Dex tells Seb he dropped his wallet he did. I think for me from that view point I wanted more Dex, that’s all I cared about. Reading from Seb’s point of view was so satisfying because he was enthralled just as much as the reader was. It’s a point in the beginning of the story where it’s the weather conditions are horrible and Seb see’s Dex underneath an awning trying to stay warm, Seb invites him in for food and shelter. What broke my heart was what Dex said next. He automatically went into thinking what did he owe Seb for doing this for him. As if everyone in the world expect something from a 19 yr old boy.

Things progress from there for a while. One morning Seb wakes up and Dex is gone. Surprisingly I didn’t cry, which I thought I was going to the entire time. The point of view changes to Dex story now, and man did I cry. He went through so much hard ache and pain. I can’t imagine people having to go through this. He was apart of a gypsy carnival. He was a prostitute who never seemed to come out on the winning side. As I don’t like to give away the plot I can only talk about how I felt towards these characters. I felt anger mostly. I felt anger because he had to go on years with out Seb and only have his memories as the only good thing in life. He does get save it’s not sweep off your feet. It’s hard, and Dex worked really hard for whatever he did in life. Those moments in the story pulled at my heart more and more. I really appreciate his growth, determination and usefulness.

Seb Wright is an amazing character. One thing I could say that really gave him an edge was his patience. He was super patient with Dex when they reunited. I loved how Seb was willing to move mountains for Dex. I will continue to support this author as long as Garrett continues to write. I wish I had beautiful words to encompass of how I felt. Sometimes I do have the words, and other times I just write what comes to me. I can say the angst was alive and kicking. I recommend this book to lovers of Garrett Leigh, lovers of angst. People who want to believe and succeed in life. Don’t ever give up is my only words of wisdom.

The cover artist: G.D. Leigh. I liked the cover; it doesn’t give much away for the story. Upon reading the story you kind of guess which character it’s for. The cover does make you feel at peace with what has transpired for one of the main characters.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner eBook & Paperback All Romance eBook amazon Heart

Book Details:
eBook, 204 pages
Published October 27th, 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781632163677
Edition Language: English
url

A MelanieM Review: Terra Firma (Earthquake #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #20) by T.A. Webb

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

With everything that has gone down in the past months, Charlie Turner would rather take a bullet than hurt the man he loves, Amos Greene . But Charlie is in possession of some knowledge that he’s not sure Amos wants to know about. And the indecision and secrecy is killing him.

Amos Greene grew up in a series of foster homes that left him abused, hardened, and closed off. Meeting Charlie Turner changed his life. Now Amos is part of a family. But there’s still a little bit of him that wonders who he really is. Little does he know that Charlie has a file in his possession that will change everything for both of them.

Now all Charlie and Amos need is a little more courage and trust to see them through to the ending they both deserve and desire.

Terra Firma by T.A. Webb has settled into my heart like the warm glow of a crackling fire on a cold winter’s night. The warmth and light draws you in after leaving the cold and dark behind. You appreciate it so much more because of the past surroundings and the journey you took to hearth and home. Terra Firma feels like that. It feels like coming home.

Through a remarkable four stories we have watched Charlie Turner and Amos Greene struggle with commitment, trust issues, bigotry, horrific abuse, and a family in tatters. And cheered as each man faced the obstacle in front of them and survived, as individuals and, finally as a couple we have learned to love. Along the way, Charlie and Amos became a family, along with Charlie’s younger brother, Damon. Still there always seems to be one more barrier to overcome, one more secret to surface before things can become sane and happy once more.

T.A. Webb drops us into Charlie and Amos’ life just as another wave of change approaches. And while Charlie sees this one coming, what it will leave in its aftermath is anyone’s guess. All three of the main characters that make up this complex family have been wounded by life, yet Webb meshes their damaged natures and needs into a whole that feels real and intimate. Terra Firma is that place Charlie, Amos and Damon have been looking for, emotionally and physically and now it seems that another barriers has to be faced, although this time they do it together.

Earthquake has always been a series played out on a smaller stage, with the cast of players decreasing story by story until this last installment is almost a cast of three. It’s a warm, close knit group that now feels as familiar as old friends. The last hurdle? A file folder containing information about Amos’ background and history, something that has caused him profound pain and determined his life path towards Flagstaff and Charlie. As the scene plays out, the dynamics between Amos and Charlie, Charlie and Damon, and Damon and Amos, step onto the stage, each unfolding with believable interchanges and loving dialog. And as the men grapple with the information, the cloak of family falls over all of them, and makes it possible for them all to move forward.

As I said, Terra Firma, the solid foundation Charlie, Amos and Damon have been seeking, has arrived and it is my favorite story of them all. It’s comforting, warm, and embracing. Its love, family, and the future you always wanted rolled into one. How amazing that T.A. Webb accomplished so much in only 40 pages. That’s the power of succinct storytelling and a depth of characterization that continues to pull you in line after line. That’s a beautifully constructed and well written narrative doing the job it is supposed to do and then some. That’s Terra Firma by T.A. Webb, short story writing at its best. Dont miss out on this amazing book. But start at the beginning, enjoy the journey. It will make this happy ending so much more satisfying as well as one to remember.

Cover art by Laura Harner. Another great cover in a series of covers. The branding is especially effective.

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Terra Firma

Book Details:

ebook, 40 pages
Published October 31st 2014 by A Bear on Books
ISBN139781311836977
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2014 #2

About Pulp Friction 2014

Pulp Friction 2014 Authors: Laura Harner ~ Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ T.A. Webb
The Pulp Friction 2014 Collection. Four authors. Four Series. Twenty books. One fiery finale. Spend a year with an eclectic group of strangers brought together through circumstances, as they are tested by life, and emerge as more than friends.
The strongest bonds are forged by fire, cooled in air, smoothed by water, grounded in earth.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment. The Pulp Friction 2014 series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, events and plot:

Round One:
Firestorm (Fighting Fire: 1)by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Whispering Winds: 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake: 1) by TA Webb

Round Two:
Controlled Burn (Fighting Fire #2) by Laura Harner
Cold Comfort (In From the Cold #2) by Lee Brazil
Blown Kisses (Whispering Winds #2) by Havan Fellows
Moving Earth (Earthquake #2) by TA Webb

Round Three:
Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blown Hard (Whispering Winds #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by T.A. Webb

Round Four:
Flare-up (Fighting Fire #4) by Laura Harner
Out In The Cold (In From the Cold #4) by Lee Brazil
Blown Chance (Whispering Winds #4) by Havan Fellows
Aftershocks (Earthquake #4) by T.A. Webb

Round Five:
Radiant Burn (Fighting Fire #5) by Laura Harner
Cold Day in Hell (In From the Cold #5) by Lee Brazil
Final Blow (Whispering Winds #5) by Havan Fellows
Terra Firma (Earthquake #5) by T.A. Webb

Sixth Book Series Finale Written by all the Authors coming in December.

Side Stories or Interludes:

Taking Chances by Lee Brazil (a In From the Cold story)
Wicked Winds (Whispering Winds 3.5) by Havan Fellows – bonus book, Whispering Winds
Frankie’s Knight (Elemental Connections: IV) (Earthquake #3.5)
Kismet & Cartwheels – bonus book, Fighting Fire

A MelanieM Review: Semper Fi by Keira Andrews

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

The war is over. The battle for love has just begun.

Little did Jim Bennett and Cal Cunningham know what the future had in store for them when they met abroad the train bound to South Carolina and the training ground for the Marines. The time is 1942 and WWII is underway. From that initial meeting, a strong bond was forged, one that would see them through the rigors and pain of Parris Island where they became Marines then across the ocean to the Pacific campaign where the horrors of Guadalcanal and Okinawa awaits them. And through all the blood, tears and anguish, the bond grows from friendship to love at least for Cal, a love undeclared, buried and forbidden.

After the war, Cal stays connected to Jim from afar until Jim’s wife dies. Then Jim’s need for Cal’s help overrides Cal’s plan to stay away from the man he loves and he arrives at Jim’s farm thinking to stay just a short time. But Jim is a man in pain, suffering from PTSD and with an orchard and two small children to care for. The bonds between them snap back into place and the loves Cal holds for Jim is stronger than ever. But what happens when Jim begins to see Cal in a new light? Soon their relationship starts to deepen in ways neither expected. Can they build a life together as a family and find happiness in a world that would condemn them?

With Veteran’s Day almost upon us, I can’t think of a more appropriate time to recommend you discover this poignant and heartwarming novel Semper Fi by Keira Andrews, author of A Forbidden Rumspringa. A richly layered saga of a love that begins on board a rickety train bound for Parris Island in the year 1942, the story continues through the war years and ends in 1957. All the social upheaval, all the National milestones that came with WWII, it’s all here, bound up in an intimate tale of the struggle for love and family.

From the moment we encounter these men on the train, we know that these men are remarkable. These characters exude a vitality perfect for their ages while brimming over with an authenticity of the times and the impact that Pearl Harbor had upon the nation. Young men were eager to enlist and serve their country, a naive enthusiasm that is quickly dispelled by their Drill Sargent and the rigors of boot camp at Parris Island. Keira Andrews has done her research for the history and minutiae incorporated into the story are factual while overlaid by the emotions and physicality of their situation and the times. We experience “the breaking down to build up” that goes on in boot camp. It’s humiliations, pain, and hardship that have to come before the rewards that the men go through. And throughout it all we feel the bonds growing into place between Jim and Cal. This deep emotional attachment that forms soon includes the readers in its intimacy and scope which translates well when the story moves into 1948 and Jim’s small home town.The characters of Jim Bennett and Cal Cunningham, both from New York but separated by social status, wealth, and self knowledge, are men who will capture your heart with their struggles and journey towards a loving relationship that must always be secretive and unacknowledged by those around them.

The author has chosen an unusual format here. Each chapter includes two different time perspectives. One in the “present” 1948 and Jim’s Clover Grove Orchard in upstate New York, then it returns to 1942 and the start of Jim and Cal’s relationship and journey through WWII. I hate to call this a flashback because it doesn’t feel that way. More a turn of a prism that incorporates the whole of someone’s life journey. A twist of the crystal and another facet comes into the light before turning once more. We start out in 1948 as Cal arrives at Jim’s farm. Then its 1942 and they are meeting on a train to South Carolina and training camp. Each chapter moves the story forward in each time frame. Far from being disjointed, this format serves to bring balance and a deep sense of history to the scenes occurring in 1948. The men in 1948 are still trying to deal with the devastating emotional and physical aftermath of the war. The men of 1942 are so young in outlook and naivete, a viewpoint that is eroded by war time experiences full of blood, horror and death. And the reader is there with them …on the beaches, in the sweltering jungles of the Pacific, and the pounding bombardments of artillery fire from both sides. And it all happens so gradually, while interfaced with scenes from the present, that we don’t even realize at first that their pain and suffering has become ours as well.

Another important element of the times and story? The need for homosexuals to stay hidden even as they search out like individuals in situation after situation plays out again and again here. The desperation and hunger that is found in the darkness and anonymity for people like Cal comes across the pages with a realness that almost hurts. Cal has always know he was “queer” and the implications that it has had on his upbringing and outlook. Jim? That’s a far more complex and hidden aspect of his personality, one he doesn’t deal well with. For him, his feelings are a “sin”. Their situation is fraught with peril, full of subtle touches and emotional support and the joy of discovery and the pain that arrives as well makes this story one you won’t soon forget.

There is a mystery to unravel, believable children to win over, and always a relationship in flux between two characters we have come to love. I can’t recommend this story enough. With Semper Fi, Keira Andrews now has two books in Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words “Must Read” Top Lists of 2014. This story will tug at your heartstrings while making our past and the sacrifice of so many young men feel immediate and haunting. Pick up both stories today and start your journey with this remarkable author.

Cover design by Dar Albert is as lovely and haunting as they story itself. A top cover any way you look at it.

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Semper Fi

Book Details:

ebook, 320 pages
Expected publication: November 11th 2014 by KA Books
ISBN139780993859854
edition languageEnglish

Head to New Zealand with Meredith Shayne’s Cutting Out! (book tour and contest)

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Love Hot Men, Heartache, and HEA? Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne has it all and then some. One of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Must Reads, this book has heart, substance, and a captivating setting as well. But a country like New Zealand is not without its dangers, so Meredith Shayne is here today on tour to talk about “Living with Earthquakes”, a major component in Cutting Out. We have an excerpt, and a contest you won’t want to miss out on!

Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne

Christchurch NZ – Living with Earthquakes

There have been several major earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand in the last 4 years, but the first two, a magnitude 7.1 quake that hit at 4.35am on Saturday, September 4th 2010, and a magnitude 6.3 quake that hit at 12.51pm on February 22nd 2011, were the most shocking. The first one because it was the first, and the second one because it was absolutely devastating to the city and its people.

When you know that Christchurch was built on reclaimed swamp lands, you realise that no earthquake in the area is going to be a good thing, but I don’t think anyone thought that the impact would be quite so big. We don’t dwell on those kinds of things, do we? If we did, we’d never leave the house. On that day in February 2011, a lot of people who left their houses that morning never came home; 185 people were killed, and a lot of the city centre was destroyed, including the iconic Christchurch Cathedral. Here is a video of the immediate aftermath, and some visuals of what parts of the city are still like today (warning: video contains some disturbing images):

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alC7JpUuDMI

For those of us who lived in other NZ cities, it was a stressful time, texting loved ones and waiting, waiting, waiting to hear from them via a phone network that was groaning under the weight of everyone trying to use it. That was nothing to what people in Christchurch were going through, of course; in the news over the following couple of days were a pair of siblings, a brother and sister, who sat vigil outside one of the collapsed buildings in the CBD, the building where their mother worked, waiting for news of her. They sat there for days, but it wasn’t good news. Their mum hadn’t survived.

But there were other stories on the news too. The university students, nicknamed the “student army”, who went round to people’s houses with shovels and wheelbarrows to dig the mud and muck that was sometimes feet deep out of people’s yards, the people who went from door to door checking that people who lived alone were all right, the millions of dollars that got donated. The Kiwi sense of humour that never goes away for long started to emerge, with competitions to see who could build the best backyard toilet (the “long drop”, essentially a hole in the ground with a seat over it):

Website Link: http://www.showusyourlongdrop.co.nz/

It’s been almost 4 years, and the city still has a long way to go. But there’s resilience too; I was there in April of this year, and I was struck by the effort that had gone in to making things more cheerful: the barriers keeping people away from derelict buildings decorated with mosaic flowers, the bright patterns on the walls surrounding the mangled cathedral, and the new shopping mall made entirely of brightly coloured shipping containers that’ll stand up to any quake. The city is not there yet, but it’ll get there.

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Bottom Drawer Publications is proud to present Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne, a contemporary mm romance based in New Zealand.

Book Details: Novel
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
Release Date: October 11, 2014

Cutting Out Blurb

A twenty-year veteran of the shearing shed, Aussie Shane Cooper loves his job, and the home he’s made for himself in New Zealand. If he’s a little lonely, he’s got good mates to keep his spirits up. When a hot, cocky young shearer named Lachlan Moore catches his eye at a competition, he’s content to look but not touch, knowing the young man is out of his league.
Lachie wouldn’t mind a piece of Shane, but the gorgeous gun shearer from Australia is soon forgotten when the Christchurch earthquake hits, and tragedy strikes Lachie’s family. Lachie deals with it the best he can, cutting himself off from all he knows. A year later and he’s back in the shearing shed, out of practice and lacking confidence. That Shane’s there to watch him flounder doesn’t help his nerves.

As Lachlan struggles to re-acclimatise, Shane can’t resist giving him a hand to get back on his feet. As they move from friends to something more, Shane finds himself wanting to know everything he can about Lachie. But Lachie’s got secrets he desperately wants to keep, and when things come to a head, those secrets might just mean the end of them before they’ve truly begun.

Buy Links: Bottom Drawer Publications amazon iTunes All Romance (ARe)

Barnes & Noble Book Stand Kobo Smashwords

The e-book is available for sale for $5.99 via the BDP Digital Shop
and other online booksellers.

Release & Blog Tour Giveaway: Paperback copy of Cutting Out, $10 BDP voucher and 3 x Cutting Out e-books! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided for the entry form and for additional contest details.
a Rafflecopter giveaway or enter at FB Giveaway (same contest multiple ways to win)

Find Cutting Out on: Goodreads, on Bookalikes, and at it’s Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words review, where it is a highly recommended read!

For more information:

Visit Bottom Drawer Publications ( www.bottomdrawerpublications.net) or contact them at:
Email: mailto:bottomdrawerpub@gmail.com or info@bottomdrawerpublications.net

About the Author Meredith Shayne

A scientist in a past life, these days Meredith Shayne mainly uses her scientific training to poke holes in television pseudoscience. Originally from Australia, she moved to New Zealand to start a new life a few years ago and hasn’t regretted it for one minute, even if she frequently wishes that the New Zealand weather was a little better; if she’s forced, she’ll admit that the refreshing lack of animals that can kill you in New Zealand makes up for a little rain.

Meredith travels a lot, so much so that she has developed a shameful love of airplane food and knows her passport number by heart. When she is at home, she enjoys baking, horrible music from the 1980s, reality television, and gloating any time Australia thrashes the living daylights out of New Zealand on the sporting field.

Find Meredith at her website: ../../../../Marketing-Promotion/Books/I’m Your Man/www.meredithshayne.com”

A MelanieM Review: Cold Day in Hell (In From the Cold #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #18) by Lee Brazil

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs…

Cannon Malloy has been through hell and back, from the horrific events in Atlanta to the loss of his career as a surgeon in that aftermath. But moving to Arizona has changed him. Mountain Shadows campground has given Cannon not only a new family of friends, but a man he has come to love like no other, Finn Lorensson. But recently Finn has been acting remote and secretive. Just when Cannon is ready for the final commitment for them both.

Finn Lorensson is in trouble. His big heart and concern for Cannon allowed him to make some poor judgements that have put himself and his relationship in danger. But what is he to do? All he wants is a future with Cannon but now that seems to be in jeopardy. One thing Finn realizes is that it will be a cold day in hell when he lets the man he loves walk away. Now if only he had a solution for their problems…

Here we are, Cold Day in Hell – Story 5 (or 18 depending upon how you are counting), and the stakes have never been higher for both of our remarkable main characters. It has taken two series, with more heartache and pain than any character should go through, to get Cannon Malloy to this point in his life. Lee Brazil has taken us on a journey that saw the reader disliking Cannon because of his treatment of Chance (PF2013) of Chance’s Are, then slowly bring about this character’s evolution. Cannon has grown from a self centered story irritant to a complex man finally coming out of the closet and into his personality. It has been a rough and tumble sort of metamorphosis that involved a psychotic killer, a Dom, a lot of regret and finally a move to Flagstaff, AZ. And every painful step forward that this complex, intelligent man has taken moved the reader closer to him as an individual and a part of the Cannon/Finn coupledom,

If you had told me I would end up loving Cannon Mallow after my initial impressions, well, let’s just say my disbelief would have been huge! But Lee Brazil has skillfully made this progression of feelings towards Cannon resolve itself into one of compassion for and understanding of a man in transition at a later point in his life. We now “get” Cannon, his issues and the road he had to travel to become the man that Finn Lorensson loves today. And that was partially made possible by the marvelous character of Finn Lorensson himself. What a noble (overly so), self sacrificing (yes too much), hugely brilliant Viking of a man! Brazil has constructed a man you want to jump because of his brain and body, and then smack upside the head because of his actions. Is Finn believable? Absolutely, which makes it both hilariouis and frustrating when the actions run counter to those the readers want to happen. And sometimes that behavior turns the story dark and scary.

Pulling the pieces of their various pasts back into the picture and their relationship is a large element of this story. Cannon’s children, Finn’s past actions…it all needs to come out and coalesce for Cannon and Finn to have a future together. How Lee Brazil does that is both the charm and the terror of this story. What a dichotomy! Cannon’s grown children need to see the man their father has become and the life he has made for himself in Arizona. Finn needs to resolve the mounting problems he created, out of the best intentions of course, that now threaten everything he loves and has worked for. Family and threat to family, loving relationships balanced by those that were never meant to happen. And while we (and our heartstrings) are zigging and zagging along the many plot twists Brazil has in store for us, the siren song of Cannon and Finn’s love has never been stronger. It is that ocean swell that carries us and the men along to that final story and, hopefully, their HEA.

Yes, one more group story to go. Just one. One to tie up all the loose ends (and there are many). Bring all the lovers, their famlies together for a resolution we can cheer for because we have so much invested in these characters and their stories. So look forward to December and in the meantime, if you are already along on this journey, get prepared by reading Cold Day in Hell by Lee Brazil. It’s a heartgrabber, just like the men it revolves around. If you are new to the series, back, back, I say! Go to the beginning and start there with this series and all the rest. Don’t miss out on a story, not one.

Cold Day in Hell takes it’s place among the top stories/series of the year for Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. See you back here in December for the finale! Happy Reading.

Cover art by Laura Harner. These covers are wonderful. The artist does a great job branding the series with the logo and the model works for the character.

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Cold Day in Hell

Book Details:

ebook, 51 pages
Published October 1st 2014 by Lime Time Press (first published September 30th 2014)
ISBN13LBRZL0201441
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2014 #18, In From

About Pulp Friction 2014
Laura Harner ~ Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ T.A. Webb
The Pulp Friction 2014 Collection. Four authors. Four Series. Twenty books. One fiery finale. Spend a year with an eclectic group of strangers brought together through circumstances, as they are tested by life, and emerge as more than friends.
The strongest bonds are forged by fire, cooled in air, smoothed by water, grounded in earth.

Round One:
Firestorm (Fighting Fire: 1)by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Whispering Winds: 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake: 1) by TA Webb

Round Two:
Controlled Burn (Fighting Fire #2) by Laura Harner
Cold Comfort (In From the Cold #2) by Lee Brazil
Blown Kisses (Whispering Winds #2) by Havan Fellows
Moving Earth (Earthquake #2) by TA Webb

Round Three:
Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blown Hard (Whispering Winds #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by T.A. Webb

Round Four:
Flare-up (Fighting Fire #4) by Laura Harner
Out In The Cold (In From the Cold #4) by Lee Brazil
Blown Chance (Whispering Winds #4) by Havan Fellows
Aftershocks (Earthquake #4) by T.A. Webb

Round Five:
Radiant Burn (Fighting Fire #5) by Laura Harner
Cold Day in Hell (In From the Cold #5) by Lee Brazil
Final Blow (Whispering Winds #5) by Havan Fellows
Terra Firma (Earthquake #5) by T.A. Webb

Sixth Book Series Finale Written by all the Authors coming in December.

Side Stories or Interludes:

A MelanieM Review: Heat (Salisbury Stories #1) by R.J. Scott and Chris Quinton

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Lewis Mandineau is at the lowest point of his life. His parents were killed by a drunk lorry driver, a crash that left his beloved sister, Rachel, with brain damage and the functional age of a child. Worse still, in the months after while Lewis was trying to cope with his loss and tend to his sister, his boyfriend at the time betrayed and stole from his family’s historic restaurant, Laurels. Now, the unthinkable has happened. Laurels, the restaurant that had been in his family for generations had to be sold to Trelawney Enterprises, an American corporation, to repay the debts incurred by his ex lover and restore the Mandineau name.

Enter Devon Trelawney III of Trelawney Enterprises. Sent by his father to assess the viability of the restaurant and its staff, Devon knows all about family tradition. But he also knows sentiment has no place in business matters, and the Laurels’ potential is swamped by the debts it has accrued. Devon is ready to arrive, assess and leave with the recommendation that Laurels be sold. But nothing has prepared Devon for the impact that Lewis, Rachel, and Laurels itself will have on him and his future.

While Lewis and Devon are adjusting to each others presence, their attraction, and the possibility of more to come, other restaurants in the area are set aflame. As the heat increases between a grief stricken chef and a hard nosed businessman with a plan, will the obstacles around them crumble or mount higher than ever before?

Heat by Chris Quinton and RJ Scott grabbed at my heartstrings right from the beginning of their story and never let go. From the moment we meet Lewis and his sister, Rachel, their situation and love for each other pulls the readers into their lives and heartbreaking present. Lewis is an especially appealing and romantic figure. A chef, surrounded by long term, almost family, employees, Lewis is a man under attack from all directions. The pain and loss of his parents, the betrayal of a man he loved and trusted, his sister’s brain damage and now total care, now Lewis must deal with the devastating loss of Laurels, a family owned restaurant that has been theirs for hundreds of years. That Scott and Quinton make the character of Lewis such a believably honorable, gentle soul makes his situation all the more heartrending to all around him and the readers as well.

At the same time we meet Lewis, we are also introduced to the confused, damaged 19 year old sister, Rachel. And your heart is broken all over again. The debilitating impact of the crash upon Rachel turns her into a child, one that loves Jelly Babies along with her brother. Again, Scott and Quinton have done with research with Rachel, so that her behavior that wavers along with the emotional atmosphere at the restaurant is in line with realistic profile of someone with the same type of brain damage this character has incurred. I adored her. You will too. Plus I think I have found a new candy addiction as well.

A harder nut to crack, per se, is the character of Devon Trelawney. His first appearance puts everyone on guard, from the Mandineaus to the readers. The authors make his personal growth and change in outlook such a strong element of this story that when the “real” Devon Trelawney emerges he takes our breathe away with his warmth and caring. That switch allows us the embrace his relationship with Lewis, Rachel, and beyond. This romance aspect of Heat is charming and oh so hot! Trust me, the heat is not restricted just to the kitchen here (but yes, that kitchen is a very sexy place too), but all over Laurels and the intense attraction that flares up between these not too dissimilar men.

I finished the story and then made sure I had it right. Heat is but the first in a new series entitled Salisbury Stories from RJ Scott and Chris Quinton. If this book is any indication, then Heat and the Salisbury Stories will be on everyones “must have, must read” list for the year and beyond. But don’t take my word for it. Pick up Heat (Salisbury Stories #1) today and begin your introduction to these captivating characters, their restaurant, and a romance to cheer for. Its a definite recommended read here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words and a sumptuous banquet for all lovers of romance and hot men.

Cover art by Meredith Russell. Russell delivers a wonderful cover, complete with charming location.

Sales Links: Love Lane Books All Romance eBooks amazon Heat (Salisbury Stories#1)

Book Details:

book, 205 pages
Published October 24th 2014 by Love Lane Books Limited (first published October 23rd 2014)
edition languageEnglish
url http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/heat.html
seriesSalisbury Stories #1

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Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

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Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Terra Firma

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Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Semper Fi

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Cutting Out by Meredith Shayne

Christchurch NZ – Living with Earthquakes

Cutting Out Blurb

About the Author Meredith Shayne

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Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Sales Links: Love Lane Books All Romance eBooks amazon Heat (Salisbury Stories#1)

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