A VVivacious Review: Regret (Under My Skin #1) by Christina Lee

Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Nicholas “Nick” Dell and Brian “Brin” Schubert have history together. But neither thought that they would ever see the other again. When Brin’s apartment is flooded and his friend offers to let him stay at his place little does he know that his friend’s roommate would be none other than Nick himself.

As these two find themselves in each-others’ sphere of influence, they find it hard to deny their chemistry but will Nick, still struggling to come to terms with his guilt and regret, manage to start living in time to give this relationship a chance? Or will Brin decide that once was quite enough and he isn’t ready to have his heart in peril again…

This story is wonderful. It has got everything, a wonderful story which is very well executed along with characters that make you feel. This book made for an amazing read.

My best part about this book is that it gets you so invested in Brin and Nick’s life that you can’t help but feel. This book just gave me so many feels it was amazing how much I connected with these characters. Another great thing about this book was balance. It often happens that books get skewed in their priority over one character especially if that character happens to be struggling in any way. In this book it is definitely Nick who struggles but despite the fact that Nick is still learning how to live, I liked how the author didn’t allow Nick’s struggles to overshadow Brin. I absolutely loved the fact that while Nick was dealing with a lot of baggage and emotional weight, Brin was simultaneously dealing with his own emotional wounds while trying to reconnect with his father.

Another amazing detail to this book is both the characters’ relationships with their parents I felt like there was a lot of truth to those relationships. Like how Brin tries to reconnect with his father and how Nick has to learn from his mother about how it is probably time to start living.

This book was pretty amazing with its character development. We get to see so many people grow especially Brin, his father, Nick and his mother. These four characters grew a lot over the course of this book and it was particularly amazing to see how the author handled Brin’s father and Nick’s mother in such beautiful ways giving them their own space to tell their story.

But the thing I most undoubtedly loved about this book was Nick’s journey his emotional journey is just so vivid and well-crafted it moved me to tears. The great thing about this book is that the story is very simple but in all its simplicity it is incredibly elegant and graceful. It was a thing of beauty to read about these two characters and their journey to love. With Nick it was a matter of great precision to get his story right without overdoing the emotion, I liked the way the author handled the build-up to the reveal. She didn’t overdo it so that the reveal would fall flat but she didn’t undersell it either so that when you are reading the moment you are moved but it is just part of the crescendo you were already riding.

On the whole, this story was such a delight. It was amazing and I loved Brin and Nick’s story.

Cover Art by Kanaxa Editing. Oh! I love the cover for this one.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 235 pages
Published June 25th 2017 by Christina Lee
Original TitleRegret
ASINB073B59969
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesUnder My Skin #1

A MelanieM Review: Accepting The Fall by Meg Harding

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Confronting the past is never easy.

Cole Whitaker is happy. He has the job and boyfriend he always wanted. His heart’s in no danger of being broken, and he can’t ask for more from life. As a kindergarten teacher, he sees it all; however, one troublesome student has him reaching out to the parent, wanting to help. There’s something about Savanah that tugs at his heartstrings.

He never expected her father.

Zander Brooks hasn’t had an easy life, and he’s made some mistakes. Freshly retired from the military and working as a firefighter, Zander thought he’d left Cole in the rearview mirror. He’s not expecting him to appear in St. Petersburg, Florida, of all places, teaching his daughter’s kindergarten class. Suddenly, his biggest mistake is being shoved in his face.

This is Zander’s chance to close a door he’d never fully shut, but time with his former flame might change his mind.

Meg Harding has done a great job with Accepting the Fall. Its enjoyable so many levels. You have the lovers reunited storyline and the second chance at love, which are always favorites of mine. Plus Zander Brooks, one of the main characters, has been handed the unexpected role of father in the fiery, troubled form of five year old Savanah Emerson, dropped of by her mother with her birth certificate and a wave goodbye. So we have a father/daughter new dynamic in play as well. So many layers here in this story and the author does a beautiful job of weaving them in and out, juggling the new/returning romance with the demands of new fatherhood.

The other mc? Cole? He just so happens to be Savanah’s kindergarten teacher, dealing with an angry child with abandonment issues and just maybe her father as well. Here Cole and Zander must pry apart their past issues before they can move forward, both as lovers and for Zander, as a parent. Harding brings in a terrific counselor, one I would wish for in many a school or child in this situation. Through the counselor, Harding gets to work through all the emotional issues of child abandonment/abuse and its repercussions on children now and into adulthood (with Zander). Its handled with sensitivity and impact.

I loved the romance here as well. Cole and Zander have issues to work out, so while the attraction is as strong as it was in the past, they work into it, also mindful of the child in the middle. Plus they are hot, hot, together.

Ah, Cole, he’s a wonder of a character. The teacher everyone would have wanted in kindergarten, with a house and yard full of rescued animals, Cole also has a past beyond Zander, one that bugged that heck out of me. Why? Because with the hints, mentions of it, and an actual “I’ll tell you later” which never happens”, we don’t find out what happened to him. It’s the main reason this book didn’t get a 5 star rating. There’s this HUGE mystery about Cole, it’s mentioned repeatedly throughout the story and I kept waiting for the bomb to drop and it never did. Then I thought, ok, there’s going to be another story after this. Nope, we got an Epilogue which sort of eliminated that. So why bring it up at all? You have a great story, leave unanswered things like this out if you aren’t going to resolve them. Or don’t make them such a big deal. Either way irritated the heck out of me and still does.

So minus that narrative kerfuffle I mentioned above, I loved this story. It’s sweet, heart-warming, romantic and layered. It’s one I definitely recommend. Pick up Accepting the Fall by Meg Harding and get started today.

Cover art by Black Jazz Design doesn’t really speak to the story, the age of the characters or anything. Meh.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 286 pages
Published June 8th 2017 by Oceanside Press
ASINB0725DR2FM
Edition LanguageEnglish

Release Blitz & Review Tour: While You See A Chance by Alexa Milne (excerpt and giveaway)

Buy Links: Manifold | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Publisher: Manifold Press

Length: 58,000 words

Blurb

As children growing up in South Wales, Sion, Phil and Helen were known as the Three Musketeers, always together and never apart – but time moves on. Sion left to lecture in history at Yale. Phil married Helen because it seemed the obvious thing to do, and they settled down to life in Manchester.

Now all three are approaching sixty. After the death of his partner, and wanting to solve a family mystery, Sion returns to his childhood home to start again. When Helen announces she wants a divorce, Phil also returns home, to a new teaching job, and to renovate the ruin of a house he and Sion once dreamed of living in.

Neither man knows the other is back. Neither man knows how the other feels. With so much unsaid, and so many years apart, can Sion and Phil finally face the truth and take a chance on finding happiness together?

Excerpt

“D’you want help with packing your shopping, sir?” the girl on the till asked in a sing-song voice typical of the area.

“No, thanks, I haven’t got much.” He pulled off a few plastic bags, a difference from the usual brown paper of American supermarkets. In a hurry, he didn’t pay much attention to the people around until a voice, that came from so long ago, distracted him. He lifted his head.

“You have to pay five pence each for those, sir. New rules.”

Sion turned his attention back to the girl. “That’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“You could get a bag for life, sir.”

“Whatever’s easiest.”

He glanced over to the other till in the direction of the voice where a large man stood stuffing his purchases into a bag. He stood well over six feet, with broad shoulders, which Sion supposed tapered down to narrower hips. A heavy suede coat covered the man’s rear, making it hard to tell. His luxuriant salt and pepper locks reflected the many shades that older ginger-haired men often had when mixed with grey. Strands curled over the fur collar of his coat. Something familiar about the man made Sion’s senses tingle.

The assistant at the other till spoke to the customer. “That’ll be eighteen seventy-four please, Mr Price, and I’ll see you at parents’ evening tonight. I hope Jamie’s been behaving himself this term.”

Sion’s breath hitched, and the girl on his till gave him a puzzled look as he turned away. The noise he’d made must have been more audible than he’d intended. Now he was absolutely certain of the man’s identity, even if he hadn’t seen his face. He leaned on the counter and took a deep breath, hoping to slow his racing pulse.

“Are you all right, sir?” the girl asked. “I guess with that accent you’re not from around here. On holiday, is it? It’s a lovely part of Wales, even at this time of year. Lots to do.”

“Yes, sorry, and no, I’ve just moved here,” he said, raising his head to meet her concerned gaze, but keeping his face down. “How much do I owe?”

The girl told him and he handed over the money in a hurry, not wanting to lose sight of the other man. Sion followed his childhood friend until he stopped behind a Land Rover near the entrance. Shaking slightly, Sion moved nearer.

“Phil?” he asked quietly, not wanting to make the man jump.

“What the – ?” Phil stared at him then rubbed his eyes as if he couldn’t quite believe them.

The shock on his friend’s face made Sion step back for a moment. He took in the figure in front of him. Phil had turned into a huge bear of a man, complete with beard. He’d always had the height, but now he had the breadth as well. Sion imagined his size might intimidate the small children in his charge. Now, Phil simply stared, his eyes wide with shock, then took a step backwards as if he’d seen a ghost.

“It’s me, Phil,” Sion said. He supposed he’d also changed over the last thirty years. His hair, now grey, was cut short at the sides but longer on top. He’d put on a few pounds since his teens, but remained lean and wiry, although more through luck and genetics, than diet and exercise.

“Bloody hell.” Phil continued staring, then put out his hand. Sion took it, and they stood shaking and saying nothing for an awkward moment. “My God, Sion, hmm, I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting … What on earth are you doing here? Are you here for Christmas?”

“I’ve just bought a house locally. I’m back to stay. I guess I’m the last person you expected to find out shopping. Mind you, I could say the same for you. I thought you lived up north.”

“I’ve been back four years. I’m head at a local primary school. When Helen and I got divorced, I decided to come home to Wales. So, why on earth are you here of all places?”

Sion had to collect his thoughts and process that information. Phil and Helen had split up? Come on, get your act together. “I decided to move back after … It doesn’t matter for now, it’s a long story. Look, why don’t you and I have dinner tonight and catch up? There must be a decent local restaurant – unless you’re busy, of course. Sorry, that was presumptuous of me.”

Phil lifted the bag into his car then slammed the boot closed. “No … I mean yes. I’m sorry, I can’t do tonight. I’ve got to get going. I slipped out at lunchtime to get a few bits and pieces for parents’ evening.”

Sion heard the shake in his old friend’s voice, but resisted the temptation to reach out and touch him again. “It’s okay,” Sion said, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. He took out a change-of-address card. “I live here now. Call me any time.”

Sion waited while Phil parked the trolley in the bay to the front of the building and returned to his car.

“I will, but I’m not sure when. It’s a busy time of year, leading up to the holidays.” Phil glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go.”

Sion moved closer and this time touched the other man’s arm. “It’s so good to see you again.”

Phil continued to stare at the ground, obviously unable to look him in the eye. “You too, but I must get off. I’ll call as soon as I can.” Phil jumped into his car without looking back.

Sion watched the Land Rover pull out of the car park before returning to his SUV. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he reached for his wallet again. Tucked away inside, he found the photo he’d carried with him for over thirty years, taken the day before he went off on his own to Oxford University. Everyone had called them the Three Musketeers, himself, Phil and Helen, always together, sharing everything except their deepest darkest secrets. Sion had loved Phil with a passion, but had never told him. Phil and Helen had gone off together to Manchester University, and had married not long after they’d graduated. Not wanting to stay, Sion had emigrated to America to lecture in history at Yale.

Leaning back in his seat, he thought back to the conversation he’d had with Helen the day before he’d left for Oxford. He’d often wondered if she ever told Phil about his confession that, being gay, he could never feel that way about her. Sion hoped she hadn’t. He’d been surprised to hear of their engagement, but hoped she’d come to love Phil. For the truth and tragedy of Sion’s life was that he’d only ever been in love with one person, and he’d just watched him drive away.

Author Bio

Originally from South Wales, Alexa has lived for over thirty years in the North West of England. Now retired, after a long career in teaching, she devotes her time to her obsessions. Alexa began writing when her favourite character was killed in her favourite show. After producing a lot of fanfiction she ventured into original writing. She is currently owned by a mad cat and spends her time writing about the men in her head, watching her favourite television programmes and usually crying over her favourite football team.

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BA Tortuga on Enchiladas, Austin and her latest story, Best New Artist (guest post)

Best New Artist by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is very happy to host BA Tortuga, talking about her latest release Best New Artist. Welcome, BA.

🎤

So, enchiladas.

Now, I know. I hear that my books make people all the time. I admit it. I’m a ‘food is love’ person.

I feed people because it’s one of the ways I express myself. I’m a better than average cook and so is my wife.

I tell you this because we are a weird, psycho convergence of enchiladas.

No, really.

You see, I grew up with what we called “Terrie’s enchiladas”. These were rolled flour tortillas stuffed with a mixture of beef and cheese and covered with chile con carne.

Then I moved to Austin and rolled corn tortillas with beef and ranchero sauce were like heaven on earth.

Seriously.

Amaya’s in Austin has the absolute best. Go. Try some.

I learned to make ranchero sauce from scratch, and I branched out to chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce.

Bring on ye olde wife. Grins

She makes her enchiladas flat, with green chile and a fried egg on top.

Can y’all see my problem? Seriously.

So now we have this hybridization of sorts. Sometimes we have flat ground beef with green chili. Sometimes we have chicken. Sometimes we have rolled cheese with red sauce.

I tell you this because in my books I remember the places that were wonderful, the foods that were wonderful, and the joy that I had sharing it with people who came to visit.

So when I’m writing about Austin, like in Best New Artist, I’m talking about places like Amaya’s, where I used to go and pick up enchiladas about once a month for the girls at the office. They came in these round foil containers topped with paper, and I would get them out to the car and have to drive all the way back downtown to the library and get them down out of the parking garage and up into the fourth floor office without spilling anything or burning myself or letting them get too cold (which most the time in Austin is an issue). Once we would finish lunch, the entire office would smell like enchiladas the rest of the afternoon.

Or there is dose sauces. I would be lying if I didn’t say I missed their Mexican martinis so much.

Of course, y’all do know the old saying, right? A Texan’s favorite Mexican food place is the one that’s the closest to his house.

Much love, y’all.

About Best New Artist

Kasey “Tuff” Tuffman just told Nashville to kiss his you know what. After winning Best New Artist at an award show, he knows it’s time to head back home to Texas. So after a very public meltdown, Tuff makes his way to Austin, where the Red Dirt music lives large.

Jonah Littlejohn once loved KT more than anything in the world. When KT loses it on national TV, Jonah knows he has to reach out and offer his home studio as a place to heal and make music. A bad relationship has left Jonah broken and wary of romance, but he wants to help his old lover out.

Seeing Jonah again proves to Tuff that he’s made the right decision. Now all he has to do is convince Jonah that they’re the most perfect duet there’s ever been.

About BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head. Find her on the web at www.batortuga.com

Cover Reveal for Take A Chance by Megs Pritchard (cover reveal and excerpt)

Title: Take A Chance

Series: Second Chance Series

Author: Megs Pritchard

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2017

Tom Carter

Kicked out at fifteen for being gay, Tom survived by selling his body on the streets. Four years later, Tom, now nineteen, doesn’t know how long he can continue living this life.

One night while out working, Tom sees a face from his past, one he had long forgotten. One he had used to fantasise about.

Sebastian Banks

Afraid of the reaction he will receive, Tom runs away hoping never to see him again. But Seb had other ideas.

Seb Banks

At twenty-five, Seb’s life is going exactly the way he had wanted. Having worked hard at University, Seb has been offered a permanent contract at a local solicitor.

While driving to a friend’s house to celebrate, Seb is shocked to find Tom, someone he hasn’t seen in years, on the streets, selling himself.

Feeling an overwhelming need to help Tom, Seb tracks him down and offers him a way out.

Is Tom willing to take a chance on Seb and accept his offer, or will his distrust of everyone from his past cause him to push Seb away?

Dodging a group of people who were already drunk, as they stumbled out of Via, Tom continued towards the end of Canal Street before heading towards Piccadilly Gardens. Not the safest of areas but one he knew well, and he knew the people who worked there both male and female.

As he was walking along, a car pulled up beside him. Tom turned towards the car and plastered a fake smile on his face as he walked over to the window. Leaning over, he saw who it was. “For fuck’s sake!” he muttered. “What do you want?” he asked as he pushed away from the car.

Seb parked up and got out, leaving the door open. “What? You working?”

“Actually, yeah I am, and you’re scaring away all the punters, so fuck off!”

Seb grabbed him and shouted, “No, I won’t.” He took a deep breath. “I won’t let you walk away again. I want to help. I’m not like your parents, and it doesn’t have to be like this. You don’t have to sell yourself. I don’t know what it’s been like for you, but there has to be something better than this.”

What. The. Fuck! “No, you don’t know what it’s been like for me!” screamed Tom. “My parents, they threw me out like yesterday’s rubbish, they didn’t give a shit. I was fifteen, man, how the hell was I supposed to look after myself? There’s nothing better for someone like me, so just leave me the fuck alone!”

“No, I can’t just walk away knowing what you’re doing. Explain it to me. Why this, Tom? Why turn to this?” Seb asked him with genuine interest shining from his brown eyes.

Tom spun away from Seb, looking at his feet while running his hands through his hair, as he paced back and forth in front of him. Talking about his choice to sell himself wasn’t a conversation he wanted to be having, but fuck, he’d made the best he could with what he had, which was nothing. He turned back to Seb as he looked up into the night sky. Closing his eyes, Tom inhaled deeply, holding the air in his lungs. How could he explain why he had resorted to selling himself? What could he say?

Tom glanced at Seb and exhaled. “I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, your brother’s mate, the rent boy, the whore, taking money for blow jobs or back alley fucks.” Tom paused and looked at Seb. “I look in the mirror and see who I am, what I’ve become to pay for food, the occasional roof over my head. I wish things could have been different. I wish they’d accepted me for who I am.” Tom shrugged. “I should have known they’d never accept their son as gay.” Tom laughed bitterly. “Do you know they never even let me get my stuff from my room? I left with the clothes on my back and money from my Saturday job. That was it. That first night on the streets, I didn’t know who to turn to or where to go.” Tom shook his head. “Do you think I want to be gay? Do you think I would choose this life?”

“Tom, I’m—”

“Save it, Seb. Whatever you’re gonna say, don’t,” Tom muttered quietly.

Megs Pritchard lives in England and is a mother to two small boys. When she isn’t working or being mummy, she is busy writing about complex characters that know the harsh realities of life but want a HEA.

A lover of M/M and M/F romances she believes everyone deserves to be happy, healthy and loved.

Growing up in a military family, Megs has traveled Europe and has a great deal of respect and gratitude for all the men and women who have and who still serve. Her dream job was to be a Bomb Disposal Expert and even had her own ‘kit’ when she was younger.

She is currently working on her first full length series called Second Chances.

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A Stella Release Day Review: Dating in Retrospect by Lila Leigh Hunter

RATING 3,75 out of 5 stars

Giving the commencement speech at his alma mater doesn’t fit Clay Keller’s meticulous schedule. As Chief Executive Officer of Travel Mogul—the largest travel connoisseur company on the West Coast—he has no time to get back in touch with his country roots. He left fifteen years ago without a second look, but a medical scare makes him change his mind about the speech and brings him face-to-face with his only regret.

Time always moves slower in Southeastern Iowa, and Aaron Grant loves it. He’s added solar farms to the Grant Lanes portfolio and has been teaching at the local university for a decade. The last thing he needs is to have his tenure application compromised by the return of his ex-boyfriend. If he had known who the commencement speaker would be, he would never have volunteered to be the administration liaison.

A proposal—to date for a year—will help them discover that time changes a person, even when everything else stays the same.

Clay has spent the last fifteen years in LA, he is now back to the town he grew up, the town he left so many years before to follow his dreams away from Iowa and away from Aaron, the boyfriend he left behind and now wants to reconquer.

I have to admit I had some problems with Dating in Retrospect. I read Tow Trucks & New Year’s Kisses a couple of months ago and liked it a lot, so I was very happy to have this new release on my Kindle. I think my big issues was with the MCs. I loathed Clay since the first time I saw him, he had the nerve to pretend fifteen years hadn’t passed, he acted like it was yesterday he and Aaron were together. The way he approached his ex-boyfriend was unbelievable, I truly wanted to slap him on the face and I didn’t understand why Aaron didn’t do it.

Then, going on with the reading, I started to love the story a lot. All the dates the couple found time for were very sweet and let me know them better. I followed them in the renewing of the love and desire they had for each other. I quite liked them both and I was able to see Clay from another point of view and I understand his attitude better. Plus the second characters were lovable too, especially Aaron’s dad, he was really a great man, the father all of us should have.

I’m a huge fan of “second chance at love” stories and adult characters. Although with some difficulties, I quite enjoyed Dating in Retrospect and can’t wait to read more by the author.

The cover art by L.C. Chase is adorable and well done. It caught my attention even before I read the blurb.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 107 pages

Expected publication: February 15th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1635333059 (ISBN13: 9781635333053)

Edition Language English

State of Love series

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Poppy’s Secret by Andrew Grey

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

A second chance born of love.

Pat Corrigan and Edgerton “Edge” Winters were ready to start a family–or so Pat thought. At the last minute, Edge got cold feet and fled. Pat didn’t bother telling him the conception had already gone through and little Emma was on her way. He didn’t want a relationship based on obligation. He’d rather raise his daughter on his own.

Nine years later, Emma and her Poppy are doing fine. Edge isn’t. He realizes what he threw away by leaving, and he’s back to turn his life around and reclaim his family. It’ll take a lot to prove to Pat that he’s a new man, and even if Edge succeeds, the secret Pat has hidden for years might shatter their dreams all over again.

If you read the blurb, you know the whole story. Its all there except for how Edge finds out the secret. Luckily Andrew Grey has done a fine job telling the story so that you don’t mind knowing what’s coming.

Its nine years after Edge has fled. Pat and Emma have a full life together, even though its lacking in the romance department for Pat. Pat puts Emma first, something he never had growing up, giving her stability and a parent who’s always there. His complicated relationship with his mother who figures huge in this story is one of the reasons I appreciated Poppy’s Secret so. There are so many layers and complicated family dynamics here and the author neatly intertwines them into his story, using the reality of the past to make various points without painting the mother as a monster or an abuser. There’s a lot of grey (if you will excuse the pun) and a lot of forgiveness to be found in Poppy’s Secret.

Then Edge moves back into town. The past literally arrives at Pat’s doorstep bringing with it all the feelings long buried as well as all the peril to his long fought for stability. The author could have gone for the high drama (yes, there’s some) but instead he chooses the path of adulthood, talking, forgiveness and love. Yes, there’s the believable anger and pain but how that’s incorporated into the story is another element I just adored.

Poppy’s Secret is a wonderful, heartwarming story of two men and a child getting a second chance at love together and as a family. It flows quickly, sweetly, and with all the heart you could want or hope for. I highly recommend this story. Need a ‘feel great’ sort of tale? This one’s for you.

Cover art by Bree Archer is absolutely adorable and perfect for the characters and story. I want to hug them both.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 190 pages
Expected publication: February 15th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitlePoppy’s Secret
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Release Day Review: Buyout by Dev Bentham

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Everyone deserves a second chance. Or do they? Sean and Martim fell in love at Harvard. Things broke apart when Martim fell into a downward spiral of addiction after his father died. Sean kicked him out but has regretted it ever since. He’s never gotten over losing Martim. But then, not many aspects of his life have lived up to his collegiate dreams.

When he’s sent to evaluate Martim’s family hotel for foreclosure, Sean is once again in the position to put Martim out on the street. In the time since they parted, Martim has pulled himself together, although both health and financial problems linger as a result of his years as an addict. Can the two men bridge the gap of distance and time to rekindle their relationship, or will they fall apart again under the burdens of guilt and disease?

Set in Lisbon, Portugal, this is the story of lovers reunited after more than a decade apart, and their second chance at romance.

I really enjoyed this story. Sean realized he has never really moved on from Martim and tries to make up for his guilt of kicking him out by paying for things for his string of young lovers. Just when he is beginning to reflect on how his life has turned out he is sent to Martim’s family hotel and is forced to see his ex lover after ten years.

I’m not sure about Sean’s family, but Martim’s has always been important to him, he even brought Sean to meet them when they were in college. We can easily see the bitterness both of them hold about their past in their interactions. We can see the guilt Sean is holding onto and how he feels about having to do what his job requires. Even when he finds a way to help he doesn’t feel that it will make what happened before better until he realizes that he doesn’t have anything left to lose if he just takes a chance.

Cover art by Catt Ford is nice and gives a great visual of our characters.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 69 pages

Published: February 8, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635333022

Edition Language: English

A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Worst Best Man by M.J. O’Shea

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

It was her special day… but his worst nightmare.

A rekindled romance wasn’t part of the plan.

Despite his American background, August O’Leary is the most sought-after wedding planner in London. Naturally, Libby and Edward come to him for a wedding the city will never forget. But Edward is an international businessman, so the details are left to Libby and her best friend—who happens to be the love of August’s life and the one who broke his heart eight years ago: Christopher Burke.

How’s August supposed to pull off the event of the year with Christopher distracting him and old feelings crashing the party uninvited?

Christopher has let money and status dictate his life, but no more. His failure to stand up to others’ expectations cost him his future with August—one he hoped would include marriage. Now he has to face August’s hurt and anger and prove he’s still the best man to make August happy.

When you start talking about a lovers reunited or a second chance at love story, you’ve caught my attention. I have to admit I’m a total sucker for those. The Worst Best Man is M.J. O’Shea’s tale of two former lovers reunited over one man’s best friend’s wedding and the clash of hearts that follows. Take the combination of London, wedding planners and old flames reuniting and M.J. O’Shea makes the most of it in this warm hearted and throughly entertaining story.

Really, the author had me at wedding planners.

When you think of all the things that can and do go wrong with weddings, the combustible bouquet of feelings waiting to ignite over the least thing from so many parties involved in wedding (not just the happy couple) and its no wonder people reach for wedding planners in desperation. But what happens when one of the wedding planners can set off a small explosion too? What a delicious idea! That would be American August O’Leary, the must have wedding planner in London and former dumpee of Christopher Burke, best man to his friend Libby who’s about to get married. And wants the best planner in all of London to work for her. Drumroll please!

But what could be high comedy becomes recognizable flawed human relationship choices (fear, pain, youth, its all there) in this sweet romance. Edward is not left off easy for his early cowardice, yes, everyone recognizes it for what it was. But its tempered by his youth and other factors. We also realize that doesn’t lessen August’s pain. O’Shea brings the past forward and makes it relevant as August regards Edward with shock and dismay in his office. The climb to realization that his love had never gone away take a little longer. O’Shea also takes into account here the role that status/strata plays in British society and the effect it had/has on August and Edward. I thought that was very realistic. Nice touches everywhere.

The Worst Best Man is full of great secondary characters, locations as well as a wonderful romance to lose yourself in. I absolutely recommend it. And of course, would love to see a followup.

Cover art by Bree Archer works for both the character, location and storyline. I liked it.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 208 pages
Expected publication: February 1st 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleThe Worst Best Man
ISBN 1635331439 (ISBN13: 9781635331431)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL

In Our New Release Spotlight: I Love You More Than Pierogi (World of Love) by K.A. Merikan (author guest blog and excerpt)

I Love You More Than Pierogi (World of Love) by K.A. Merikan
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anna Sikorska

BUY LINKS

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host K. A. Merikan, the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan. Welcome to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Tell our readers about I Love You More Than Pierogi?

We’ve been thinking about setting a book in our native Poland for quite some time now, and the submission call for “World of Love” helped us come up with an angle 🙂 The two main characters are former high school sweethearts who meet after several years, and after the bitterness that resulted of their breakup, the reconnection is everything but smooth. Through those characters we explored two conflicting feelings many immigrants face – the longing for home and everything it stands for, and the unstoppable curiosity that pushes them to explore. Who knows, maybe one doesn’t have to choose 😉

Blurb

Marek and Adrian dated in high school, but a bitter breakup led them to choose different paths. Adrian is out and proud while Marek is in the closet. Adrian embraces his eccentricity while Marek clings to a conservative image. And while Marek worked hard to build a successful life and financial stability by climbing the corporate ladder, Adrian threw caution to the wind and has spent the last five years backpacking across the world.

Now Adrian is back in Warsaw, Poland, but while Marek thinks they will have a hookup and have a blast from the past, Adrian is just looking for a place to crash. Worse still, Adrian turns up at Marek’s advertising agency for help with his outrageous new business venture, and if Marek wants to get promoted, he might have to work with the guy who broke his heart.

World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

***

Excerpt

Adrian stirred the pierogi, and already his mouth watered at their scent. This was exactly why he learned to cook in the first place. “I worked in many kitchens for the charities I had connections to. At some point I got an understanding of the most basic processes, and the cooks gave me tips. Obviously, foreign cuisines do stuff differently, so in the end I started asking my mom and gran for recipes. It happened organically.”

“Don’t you think that people in Poland might not have the same appreciation for our food as they do for foreign stuff?” Marek asked but sat up straighter on the barstool to have a look at the pierogi sizzling in the fat.

Adrian frowned. “Don’t you? What do you eat on a daily basis? Burgers, kebab, and sushi?”

Marek nodded. “Yeah, the usual kind of takeout. I like pizza but can’t really have too much of it.” He patted his flat stomach.

Adrian smirked. “Oh, I’ll fatten you up if you let me stay here a bit longer.”

“That’s what I’m worried about.” Marek laughed and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked much younger and more relaxed without the suit on. “Though I do miss the traditional home-cooked food,” he admitted. “Frozen pierogi are not the same, and I feel weird going to restaurants on my own.”

Adrian watched him, stirring the food in the pan. He could relate to Marek’s words all too well. “You know, when you immerse yourself in a different culture, everything seems great. It’s all fresh new things, and it’s all delicious. I love spiciness, the sweetness of coconut milk, and I think frying spices before adding anything else frees the flavors, but that kind of food also gets old after a while.”

Marek raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were all about visiting new places and trying new things.”

Adrian shrugged. “Yes and no. It’s all exciting, but at the end of the day you want a steaming bowl of bigos stew with juniper sausage. The comfort food your gran served you after a bad day.” He licked his lips. “Slavic cooking uses a lot of pickles and sour flavors. I really missed that. And when I learned to cook, it was a cure for feeling homesick.”

Marek cocked his head and had more borscht. “Weren’t you too busy to feel homesick?”

Adrian finished frying and put all the pierogi on one plate, generously topping them with lardons. He added a side of rhubarb and carrot salad and sprinkled the remaining chives over the plate. “I don’t think one could ever be too busy to be homesick.” He stopped, looking at the pretty picture that was the plate, and reminisced about the past. “At some point your emotions become a bit stifled, so you don’t think about it too much.”

Marek smiled at Adrian… shyly? “These do look great.”

He reached out for the plate, but Adrian pulled it away and grabbed a fork, then divided one of the pierogi in two.

He picked up one half and blew air over the hot food, watching Marek with amusement. “You will be all over my project after you try these. It’s a secret recipe.”

“Oh? What’s it with?”

Marek’s smile widened, and Adrian was once again reminded of how nice it was to be alone with him, without the roommates or Marek answering e-mails late at night. It made him think[KM1] of Marek’s failed attempt to kiss him and made Adrian wonder if he would ever try again.

He stepped closer, still blowing on the morsel, and put the food against Marek’s mouth. The filling was slow-cooked goose meat with root vegetables, but Marek would have to taste it to find that out. “It’s a secret.”

Marek looked up as he took a big bite, and Adrian couldn’t help but remember how Marek had looked at him while he sucked his cock all those years back. As if Adrian was the center of his universe.

Adrian pulled the fork away and put the remaining food into his mouth, sensing the sweetness of the caramelized onion, which was a perfect addition to the herby meat and vegetables. He stepped closer until his knee brushed Marek’s. “Good?”

Marek nodded with a smile and his mouth full. “Oh, it’s delicious. The real thing. My mom tried to teach me over Skype how to make pierogi with mushrooms one Christmas Eve, and it was such a failure. The dough turned out useless.”

Adrian grinned, looking at Marek while moving even closer between his spread knees. He picked up another piece and fed it to Marek. “It does require the right consistency. You can’t get that just by following a recipe.”

Marek ate more voraciously by the second. “Needs skilled hands. I’m afraid I don’t have the touch for it.” He stared into Adrian’s eyes. “So damn good.”

Adrian chewed on his lip, sensing that familiar tingle in the tips of his fingers as he fed Marek the crunchy salad. So many memories were flooding his brain now, like latent electricity that was finally tangible. “I’ve been told mine are very skilled.”

Marek took a deep breath through his nose. “I might have even been the one to tell you that….”

Adrian’s mouth twitched, and he slowly turned around before casually sitting on one of Marek’s thighs. Anticipation was far more than a tingle now, and he looked Marek in the eyes as he ate a piece of pierogi. “I think you did.”

Marek put his fingertips against Adrian’s back. “Maybe the business idea isn’t that stupid after all.”

About the author

K. A. Merikan is the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan, a team of writers, who are mistaken for sisters with surprising regularity. Kat’s the mean sergeant and survival specialist of the duo, never hesitating to kick Agnes’s ass when she’s slacking off. Her memory works like an easy-access catalogue, which allows her to keep up with both book details and social media. Also works as the emergency GPS. Agnes is the Merikan nitpicker, usually found busy with formatting and research. Her attention tends to be scattered, and despite pushing thirty, she needs to apply makeup to buy alcohol. Self-proclaimed queen of the roads.

They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and books. When you pick up a Merikan book, there’s one thing you can be sure of – it will be full of surprises.

e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:

K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KAMerikan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KA_Merikan

Agnes Merikan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgnesMerikan

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150530.K_A_Merikan

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KAMerikan/

Follow the blog tour:

December 29 – MM Good Book Reviews

January 4 – Boy Meets Boy

January 5 – Open Skye Book Reviews