Reviews

Books I’ve read and reviewed

Enlightenment at MY BUDDHIST CHRISTMAS–Review and Giveaway

My Buddhist Christmas tour banner
Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a contemporary YA novel from Jeremy Phillips. MY BUDDHIST CHRISTMAS relates the ups and downs of life for a young Buddhist American whose biggest aspiration (at first) is for his band to not suck in the school talent show. By the end he’s freezing his toes off eluding cops and trying not to let his father see how big a disappointment he really (believes he) is. Poor Chris!

Check out my review and enter the giveaway for a $10 Amazon gift card.

MyBuddhistChristmas_ecoverAbout the book:
It’s not surprising that sixteen year old Chris Jones has no idea where he fits in…

After all, he’s a Buddhist kid in America—during the Christmas season. Add in the fact he plays guitar in a punk rock band called The Dharma Bhumz, and his life is one giant paradox. Caught between the principles of his religion and the influence of his hard-partying bandmates, Chris is in a constant struggle for balance.

An upcoming talent show is his chance to shine—or fail spectacularly…

It’s already hard enough preparing for the show, since his friends are more interested in getting high than practicing. And now Chris has to worry about impressing pretty Mary Simpson. To make matters even worse, Mary’s parents are fundamentalist Christians, a few steps above his family on the social ladder, and they firmly believe Chris isn’t good enough for their precious daughter.

Conflicted about his friends, lying to his family, and still mourning a devastating loss, Chris wonders if being an American Buddhist guitar wizard wanna-be is worth it.

Or does any of it even matter anymore?

My Review:
Chris is a 16 y/o boy struggling with the loss of his mother, now almost two years later. His father is a loving and caring parent, shouldering the burden of working and parenting three teen/tween kids. Chris is the eldest with Tom a few years behind and Annabelle a few years behind him. They are a middle-class white family with a lifelong faith in Shin Buddhism, and have a regular temple in Spokane, Washington.

The story opens in the height of the Christmas season, and Chris explains that his family celebrates a secular Christmas–a tree and all–which, let’s be honest is a good portion of Americans do. (I have a bi-faith family, and this aspect resonated with me completely.) Chris has no feeling regarding Christmas, per se. He likes the overall joyousness, but it’s not really his faith so he doesn’t get worked up over it, as some others in the book do. He’s a closet smoker, and does drink a bit in the book–both rebellious acts of Chris trying to take control of his world. His band is a punk-rock styled affair, with two losers from his school who are dabbling rather heavily into drugs. They regularly get high and up the drug use into LSD trips, with Chris as an unwitting babysitter, especially when he expected for them to practice. The talent show is looming and they can’t even finish a song.

To make things worse, Chris meets Mary, who loves the idea of Chris being in a band, and also enjoys his musical display on one of their dates. The frustration of being a laughingstock makes Chris more and more angry with his band mates and their addictions. It seems, at first, that the talent show will be a turning point, and it is of sorts, but not for the story. Chris is less humiliated than he expected, and not because the band was good. It was all in his perspective-shift, one of triumph in the worst of circumstances. Mary isn’t impressed, but it doesn’t change how things sit between them.

I was really struck by Chris’ interaction with Mary’s bigoted parents. These affluent people had zero empathy and even less aplomb. I got really mad on Chris’ behalf for his treatment as “other” at a time when all should be welcome. It leads to the biggest climax of the book, and more problems for Chris. His decision-making is typical teen, so expect his impulsive, ‘going along for the ride’ mentality to lead him into bad situations. The light at the end of his muddle is getting back to his roots, and living the life that would make himself proud. We think. It sorta ends with Chris making several good decisions, and the reader trusting that trend will continue.

I liked Chris. He read as a truly approachable teen boy. His motivations were fully understandable. He’s not out to conquer the world, and he’s not terribly aggressive. He has simple goals which revolve around making music and talking to his girlfriend. At times I thought the Buddhist “lessons” were too lengthy in their explanation, and that slowed the pace for me. I also found there was dialogue that struck me as odd, or cliched, for a (supposed) teen boy which pulled me out of the story. The writing is clean, though expect plenty of drug/alcohol moments, including driving while under the influence.

Interested? You can find MY BUDDHIST CHRISTMAS on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Jeremy PhillipsAbout the Author:
Jeremy Phillips has been interested in Buddhist philosophy for more than twenty years and attend services at a Shin Buddhist temple in Spokane. When he isn’t writing or keeping busy being a father and husband, he works as a respirator therapist at several different hospitals.

He lives in Spokane with his wife, childrens, dogs and bonsai trees. You can find Jeremy online on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

ef137-yabounktourbutton

Fairytale Love in SINDERS AND ASH–Excerpt Review & Giveaway

Sinder and Ash Blog Tour BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing my re view for SINDERS AND ASH, a contemporary retelling of Cinderella, with a M/M romance twist. You know I adore Tara Lain’s contemporary romances (Knight of Ocean Avenue and Knave of Broken Hearts) so I jumped at the chance to read this one!

Check out the sexy teaser below, and make sure to enter the $20 Amazon GC giveaway.

SindersAndAsh-400x600About the book:

Housekeeper Mark Sintorella (Sinders) works diligently at a resort hotel while designing clothes anonymously, hoping to get into fashion school. Then his carefully planned life is upended with the arrival of Ashford Armitage, son of the fifth richest man in America—and the most beautiful guy Mark has ever seen. Ash must find a wife or he’ll lose his grandfather’s inheritance, and he settles on Bitsy Fanderel. But secretly Ash is gay, and the guy who cleans the fireplaces sets his heart ablaze.

Further stirring the pot is the little elf of a man, Carstairs Pennymaker, who has Mark wearing his own designs and masquerading as a girl to impress the fashion investors in the hotel. When the clock strikes twelve, two beautiful princesses line up for the wedding—but one isn’t a woman. Will the slipper fit? Only Mr. Pennymaker knows for sure.

How about a sexy little taste?

Ash’s heart hammered. He cradled Mark’s face, his fingers overlapping the knit of the cap. Mark’s breath smelled like coconut, and his lips looked more delicious than the crème brûlée. Okay, be gentle. Don’t scare him. Gently he laid his lips against Mark’s. One second. Sweet. Two seconds. Exploration. Three seconds. Hot! Oh God, heat crept from that soft contact up to Ash’s head and straight down to his cock. Whoa. Down, boy. He pulled back. Needed more control.

Before he got an inch away, Mark grabbed his head and pulled him back until his tongue pressed like a hot intruder into Ash’s mouth. Oh yeah. Ash slid his hands down Mark’s round butt and tugged him close. Hmmm.Got a nice moan on that one. Mark ate at Ash’s mouth, sucking in his lips. His tongue pressed deep. Wow. This guy was not kidding. Had Ash just thought he should go easy?

Mark pulled back a little and sipped at Ash’s lips, then ran his tongue over the bottom one. First outside and then… oh God, he slipped his tongue inside Ash’s lip and caressed that soft, sensitive skin.

Sweet Jesus, he couldn’t stand up. Ash leaned back hard against the counter, but he knew his knees were crumpling. Strong hands reached around and smoothed over his ass, and then a finger pressed against the crack of his butt like Mark was tracing the seam of the denim—up and down. Jesus, Ash’s cock throbbed. Too much blood in there. Too long since that cock had any exercise. He wanted to rip his pants down and let that finger do its business where it belonged.

Like Mark had read his mind, one hand moved to the front and began to unfasten the buttons on Ash’s fly. Shit, he couldn’t help it. His hips pushed forward, forcing his cock against that hand like a puppy looking for milk.

Mark murmured, “Yessss.” He undid the last button, slipped his hand into the top of Ash’s boxer briefs, and found the promised land.

Whoa! Slow down there boys! LOL. Having read that scene, I can tell you, it only heats up from there!

My Review:
This is a cute tale with creative use of the Cinderella trope. Mark Sintorella, “Sinders” is a housekeeper at a posh NY resort known for its privacy and discretion. Mark is a self-trained clothing designer and spends all his spare money and time sewing couture gowns for women, using himself as a model for patterning. Because Mark’s a man, he’s often given the unwelcome task of cleaning the many fireplaces that decorate the hotel. He’s versatile, however,  (yes, pun intended) in that he also works as a server in the dining room when they are short-staffed. Enter a funny little man, Carstairs Pennymaker, who assures Mark that his androgynous physique and face are the ticket to getting his designs noticed, and Pennymaker promises to introduce Mark to prominent fashion designers. Only, when he does so, Mark is identified as “Mariel,” Pennymaker’s “niece.”
Graphic Teaser 1v2 - Sinders and AshMark’s caught up in the hubbub surrounding the arrival of billionaire Ashton Armitage and his impending wedding.

Problem? Ash isn’t engaged.

Nope, not engaged and not even interested in getting married. However, Ash has two weeks to find a spouse or risk losing his trust fund. His grandfather had written a clause into the trust mandating Ash be married by his 25th birthday or his entire trust would be liquidated and given to charity. Ash is the typical playboy, without any of the scandal. He’s got a prime education, but never worked, and he’s a closeted gay man. He’s considering making an ‘arrangement’ with a suitable woman. one who would understand he has no sexual interest in her, and would be a good companion for the ten years the trust proscribes his marriage must last.

Graphic Teaser 3 - Sinders and AshWhile staying in the posh hotel, Ash meets two women, Bitsy, who has no desire to marry him, and Mariel, niece of Mr. Pennymaker. While he’s intrigued by Bitsy, and is sure he could get along with her, Mariel turns him on. And, well, that’s NEVER happened. He’s not sure if Mariel is Pennymaker’s niece, or “piece,” but he wants to know her better. And, finding out that Mariel is Mark is only more appealing.

I liked the fast-paced transitions in this story. We have several points of view, mostly Mark’s but also Ash and even Ash’s BFF Ronnie, who has her eyes on the voluptuous Bitsy.

There are some good mis-directions, here, and a couple indecent proposals. I was glad there was so much candor, actually. I didn’t want to hate any of the characters for being liars, and I didn’t have to. As this is a M/M romance expect Mark and Ash to get to together. And expect it to be sexysexy. The whole drag thing, Mark/Mariel was a little campy and also a little rom-com-y, and I was reminded that this is more of a romantic comedy than a gritty romance. There are preposterous stakes, marrying in two weeks to receive a trust, and an equally preposterous wedding scene, which (after a big switcheroo) was something actually totally endearing when I read it.

I liked Ash and wanted him to grow up, which he did. I thought he was a little clueless regarding the clauses of his trust agreement, but that only made him seem more romantic and lovable for being willing to toss it all away. Mark is a good sport about a lot of stuff, and I was glad to see that his hard labor was appropriately rewarded. Plus, who doesn’t love androgynous fashion models and kitchen sex? Answer: Nobody.

Interested? You can find SINDERS AND ASH on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and AllRomance.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her best­selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.

She lives with her soul­mate husband and her soul­mate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at:

Presented By

 

Super Heroes? Not So Fast My Friends! Reviews & Giveaway!

Superheores banner
Hi there! Today I’m reviewing two novellas about men with superpowers. Or, are they? In FLYBOY’S FIRST MIADVENTURE we learn this hero can fly. Sorta. Mostly he excels at crash landings. And CC, A MAN OF UNUSUAL TALENT? Well, ain’t nobody gonna believe what he can do. At least he’s sweet. These two “average Miltons” star in their own romances, and I had a fun time reading their misadventures.

Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the gift card giveaway!

Man of Unusual Talent_1400About the books:
A MAN OF UNUSUAL TALENT:
Collin Crane is a man of unusual talent. Really unusual. Too weird for the Guinness Book unusual. On the fifty-year plan to a doctoral degree in physics, and a quiet quest to understand his own oddities, Collin clings to obscurity. This superhero has learned the hard way that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Enter Mathias Giraud, football hero, local cop, and CC’s secret fantasy since high school. Mat’s a simple man with a hero complex fostered by comic books and Marvel movies. Saving the world is his fantasy, but since his roots are firmly planted in Morrisonville and reality, he’ll settle for protecting and serving. Until he clashes with CC at the local convenience store and is reminded of his own high school crush.

When marshmallows are involved, the course of true love is bound to get sticky.

A delicious nibble…

Mathias squirmed on the seat. Had to piss. He cast a glance at his partner. Dillon was such a hard-nose. “Hey…how about you pull into that gas station over there? I got to take a leak.”

Dillon’s lip curled, but he swung the patrol car into the convenience store parking lot. “I told you not to get the grande coffee at Mabel’s. Good thing it’s dead tonight.”

“Want anything while I’m in there?” Mat paused with his hand on the door latch, cocking his head at Dillon. Guy wasn’t so bad…just a walking encyclopedia of procedure and a nitpicker. He gave out more jaywalking and broken taillight tickets than any cop on the force.

“No eating in the squad car.” Dillon turned to face him, lips narrow and tight, radiating disapproval.

“You know…if you weren’t my brother…” Mat shoved the door open with unnecessary force. The captain was punishing him…all because he’d missed last Sunday’s dinner with the family. Well, Pop should learn to separate work from personal. Riding with Dillon for a week was going to be torture. If Pop…Captain Giraud, head of Morrisonville’s twenty-five man police force…made good on his threat to force his grandsons to ride together for a month they’d be lucky if the both of them survived.

Shaking his head, Mat slammed the cruiser door as forcefully as he’d opened it. A poster on one of the convenience store’s huge plate glass windows boasted of sixty-four ounce sodas in refillable Hulk, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Thor cups. Mm. I need to go see that new movie. “I’m getting a soda,” he called over his shoulder to Dillon as he opened the door. “Can I get the restroom key?”

His gaze automatically surveyed the interior, noting it was deserted except for the cashier…a cute little guy named CC he vaguely remembered from high school…and two hoodie-wearing teens. “Everything okay tonight, CC?” he asked. Not that he expected a negative answer; it was just that Collin Crane looked a little freaked. The two kids weren’t any bigger than Collin and weren’t familiar to Mat, so he figured they weren’t troublemakers. Generally he’d had dealings with most of the town’s rowdy teens.

“Yeah, fine, these two were just getting gas. Thanks for coming in, fellas.” CC stepped back, grabbed the restroom key off the hook, and tossed it to Mat.

Mat caught the keys, watching the boys leave without speaking. “Seriously, CC. Those kids giving you trouble? I can talk to them.” Something about the smaller man…regret probably, for ignoring the way the kid was bullied in high school…made him feel a little protective. It was weird, but Mat had learned a lot since he’d turned his back on bullying when he was a kid. Then he’d thought it was enough that he didn’t participate when Jake and Thorn and the others messed with the younger kids. Now…social guilt? Whatever. He was a better person at thirty than he had been at fifteen.

CC looked up, cheeks flushed a little, lower lip trembling. “No…it’s okay. They just wanted gas.”

“Okay. I’ve gotta go, but I want a Thor cup when I get back.” He nodded and walked toward the narrow hall lined with empty boxes which led to the restroom.

“You a fan of The Avengers?” CC called after him.

Mat paused and glanced back over his shoulder, letting his smile widen. “I’m a huge fan of Thor…that is one well put together man.” He was still chuckling over CC’s strangled response when he closed the restroom door.

My Review:

This is such a cute story. Really. Mat was a jock in high school, a football player and an all-around good ol’ boy. Collin “CC” Crane  was a waifish geek, and routinely harassed by the jocks, including Mat’s own cousin, until he pulled the town’s most epic prank–filling the boys bathroom, full, with marshmallows. Thing is, it wasn’t a prank, per se.

Mat’s returned to his hometown to work on the police force–just like all his family, even his ball-busting grandad–but he’s got a semi-secret. He’s gay. And, he’s attracted to the lean and graceful CC. Mat’s family knows his sexuality, but they’ve asked him to keep things quiet. Mat’s willing to risk a lot to spend time with the man who smells like sugar and kisses like nobody’s business. Cradling slender CC in his arms makes Mat feel like the hero he always dreamed of being.

For his part, CC’s sure Mat’s setting him up, or dating him is destined to become an EPIC mistake, but he can’t help wishing his high school crush fantasies are coming true. With his secret superpower just *itching* to reveal itself, CC’s at a loss to explain the sudden appearance of puffy deliciousness wherever he goes.

This is a sweet and tender tale, with a bit of steam and a cop on the warpath–when his boyfriend is in peril. I dug that the bully tried to make amends, and also that Mat was absolutely smitten with shy, sweet CC. I ate this novella up.

Interested? You can find A Man of Unusual Talent on Goodreads, Smashwords, AllRomance, and Amazon.

Flyboys First_1400FLYBOY’S FIRST MISADVENTURE:
Secrets? Oh yeah, Dean Wades has a doozy. When he goes up, he doesn’t necessarily come back down. Okay, that’s not true. Dean’s a master at falling, it’s the landing that could use improvement—a lot of improvement. After thirteen years of attempting to conquer this gravity defying mystery, he can no longer live with not knowing what he is anymore. So he heads cross-country to see the two people who just might be able to give him the answers he seeks…his folks.

Easygoing Gavin Trevor is always willing to help his family, even when they have ulterior motives…like forcing him to make up with his annoying older brother. When a simple task at his parent’s house puts him in a position of danger, he’ll need a lot more than luck to avoid a serious injury—he’ll need his very own superhero.

And the fates collide, well sort of. It may not be love at first sight—Gavin was unconscious in Dean’s arms for their initial introduction…but perhaps these two men can make it a relationship at first flight?

A threat against Gavin’s family throws a wrench in their plans, and while Dean gladly offers his amateur talent to help the mission, Gavin doesn’t want to put his rescuer’s life in jeopardy by risking exposure of the greatest secret ever.

This proves to be a rescue adventure for the books. Or is that a rescue misadventure?

A tasty morsel…

He attempted to roll the green-eyed man with the dreamy voice off him, but only succeeded in flipping them over so he was now stuck on top. What the fuck? He glanced down their bodies and noticed a cord of some kind wrapped repeatedly around their midsections and legs. No wonder his legs had stopped obeying him. A quick look up showed him numerous clothes line poles with no actual line attached to them.

Well, that was probably because it was all bound around their bodies…and tight too. In the middle of their airborne Cirque du Soleil auditions, their bodies managed to rearrange themselves so the clothesline wrapped them up in the missionary position. With them being damn near close to the same height they lined up quite perfectly with each other.

And that thought made Dean’s cock jump and want to do a few flying lessons of its own.

Dean saw the fog lift from his captive’s eyes as they narrowed with suspicion. His voice was steely this time, not whimsical and light with confusion. “What is happening?”

When all else failed, there was one surefire way to handle what appeared to be an unhandleable situation—channel his snarky best friend Tia.

So he put on a lopsided smile and shrugged as he tried to loosen their bonds somewhat. “You know how Mondays are…run out of coffee, get an extra dose of paperwork at the evil day job, end up in a neighbor’s backyard tied to a charming and well-meaning stranger…” He forced a chuckle out for good measure.

The man’s intense voice didn’t cut him any slack. “Today’s Sunday.”

My Review:
Oh the drama! This is a fun, but harrowing, tale of amateur heroes making a big ol’ mess and also saving the day.

Dean and his snarky BFF Tia are traveling to Florida to visit his parents and determine if they can help him with his dubious superpower. See, Dean can fly. Not well, mind, but he can fly. It’s landing that’s his problem. He falls. A lot.

En route to his folks’ retirement community home, Dean rescues Gavin, who had bashed his head on the gutter and was tumbling off a tall ladder to the cement sidewalk. In the process Dean revealed his secret flying skills and now he’s sure Gavin will blow his cover. Gavin, who’s got a bit of a hero complex due to his bossy cop of a big brother, has no problem blowing, ahem, something of Dean’s, but his cover it is not. Wink. Wink.

In usual big bro fashion, Gavin’s brother, Melvin, assumes that Gavin had been attacked when he sees the bloody gutter and overturned ladder. He stages a siege on Gavin’s life just when Gavin and Dean were getting much better acquainted.

This is a quick little short that seemed ultra-fluffy and took me in a whole different direction when Melvin gets caught in a bad situation and Gavin calls on Dean and Tia to help. Expect blood. And serious bad stuff going down. And domestic violence. And a dramatic rescue that is 87% crazy and 13% dumb luck.

I enjoyed this Most Excellent Misadventure, which seems to be the beginning of a possible series of books for Gavin and Dean. Yay! They are a cute couple and Tia and Melvin seem to be getting on like an Arizona brush fire. Hot and fierce.

Interested? You can find Flyboy’s First Misadventure on Goodreads, AllRomance, Smashwords, Amazon.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win one of TWO $10 gift card to AllRomance Ebooks.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Meet the authors:
LEE BRAZIL
Somewhere in a small town in up-state New York are a librarian and a second grade teacher to whom I owe my life. That might be a touch dramatic, but it’s nevertheless one hundred percent true. Because they taught me the joy of reading, of escaping into worlds crafted of words. Have you ever been nine years old and sure of nothing so much as that you don’t belong? Looked at the world from behind glasses, and wondered why you don’t fit? Someone hands you a book, and then you turn the page and see… There you are, running from Injun Joe in a dark graveyard; there you are fencing with Athos; there you are…beneath the deep blue sea- marveling at exotic creatures with Captain Nemo.

I found myself between the pages of books, and that is why I write now. It’s why I taught English and literature for so many years, and it’s why my house contains more pounds of books than furniture.

If I’d had my way, I’d have been a fencer…or a starship captain, or a lawyer, or a detective solving crimes. But instead, I am a writer, and I’ve come to realize that’s the best thing in the world to be, because as a writer, I can be all those things and more. If I hadn’t learned to value the stories between the pages, who knows what would have happened? Certainly not college…teaching…or writing.

Where to find Lee online:
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Newsletter

HAVAN FELLOWS:
I annoy, love, respect, scare, seduce, hurt, anger, infatuate, frustrate, flatter, envy, amuse and tolerate everyone. I just do it better in writing thanks to a little thing called…edits.

Okay no, seriously…I’m a simpleminded person who enjoys the escape from real life through a book. I write with the group Story Orgy and hope to continue doing so for a long time. I also am privileged to be with the Pulp Friction writers, creating intermingling books in a world all our own.

I recently took the drastic step of quitting my EDJ (evil day job) and am now living in the gorgeous desert in Arizona making a go at this writing stuff full time…and I can’t see me regretting this decision ever.

Just like every other red-blooded human—I get a little bouncy when I get mail (any kind too…email, comments, private messages…you wanna do it, do it with me *winks*). So feel free to drop me a line—whether it’s on my blog, twitter, Pinterest, or you track me down on FaceBook or Google +…it’s easy to catch someone who wants to be caught.

I specialize in writing boyxboy though I read almost everything…and I fancy myself as slightly funny every once in a while. 🙂

Find Havan online on her blog, Facebook Page, twitter, Pinterest.

pride

Second Chance Love For THE BOLLYWOOD BRIDE

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for a newly released contemporary romance from bestselling author Sonali Dev. THE BOLLYWOOD BRIDE is a reconnection romance between two people whose lives went astray after their families got involved. It features Ria, a Bollywood star, and her forsaken love, Vik, meeting at the wedding of their mutual cousin Nik after a ten year separation. It is tender and torrid, and deals with mental illness and the Indian community.

The Bollywood BrideAbout the book:

Ria Parkar is Bollywood’s favorite Ice Princess–beautiful, poised, and scandal-proof–until one impulsive act threatens to expose her destructive past. Traveling home to Chicago for her cousin’s wedding offers a chance to diffuse the coming media storm and find solace in family, food, and outsized celebrations that are like one of her vibrant movies come to life. But it also means confronting Vikram Jathar.

Ria and Vikram spent childhood summers together, a world away from Ria’s exclusive boarding school in Mumbai. Their friendship grew seamlessly into love–until Ria made a shattering decision. As far as Vikram is concerned, Ria sold her soul for stardom and it’s taken him years to rebuild his life. But beneath his pent-up anger, their bond remains unchanged. And now, among those who know her best, Ria may find the courage to face the secrets she’s been guarding for everyone else’s benefit–and a chance to stop acting and start living.

Rich with details of modern Indian-American life, here is a warm, sexy, and witty story of love, family, and the difficult choices that arise in the name of both.

My Review:
I really enjoyed many aspects of this second-chance romance.

Ria is a Bollywood star, with a reputation as an Ice Princess. She has no trysts, and only a few skeletons–a casting couch issue and her clinically insane mother who beat her near to death as a child and killed her father after setting their home on fire. The press hounds her and catches her in a compromising position on her balcony–but her manager has it handled…for now.

In the meantime Ria’s cousin Nikhal is getting married and she’s being summoned back the the only real home she ever knew: her aunt and uncle’s house in suburban Chicago. Problem? Nik’s other cousin, Vikram, will surely be there. And Ria and Vik had a bold love affair ten years ago that ended REALLY REALLY badly. Ria hurt Vik super, duper bad (it was for his own good!!!) and he’s not likely to let that go.

First, and foremost, I loved the Indian cultural aspects–from tumultuous Mumbai to the Chicagoland settings. The relationships were delightfully depicted. All the auntie’s and uncle’s weighing in on the proceedings. All the families of their community being so close-knit is an accurate representation of first-gen immigrants here in Chicagotown. I’ve had many experiences with the Indian community (even dated a young Indian man as a girl) and they are a lively and loving group. Be prepared to lose track of the accessory characters…there are many and they all have actual names and nicknames.

Second, I loved how loving this part of Ria’s family is. Everyone embraces everyone else with open arms. Nik’s fiance is Chinese, but she is so captivated by Nik’s family that she plans a proper Hindu wedding. Ria’s expertise (having been a bride in about 20 Bollywood films) is indispensable and welcomed.

It’s not all sunshine and samosas, however. Vik’s absolutely furious with Ria, still, after ten years. He lost his youthful heart to her, and it set his whole life off course, in his parents’ opinions.

Anywho, Ria’s a big celebrity in the Chicago Indian community, and she’s aloof but gracious, as always. Inside, she’s a wreck. She’s still gone over Vik, who’s a Class A Jackass to her and his current girlfriend. I get that he’s had it rough, but I half expected him to demand sati over the pyre of his broken heart. He’s ice-cold, then luke warm, then cold, then burning hot, and it’s a lot to take in. Especially for Ria who’s not sure she’s altogether there, mentally. Remember, her mom’s crazytown, and everyone said she was normal until she gave birth. And the same was said about her maternal grandmother. Ria “comes from insanity” so she can never be a true partner to anyone, least of all her beloved Vik.

I think the ending was spectacular. And I was so glad that there was some happiness for Ria, and for Vik (though this was less of a priority for me). By the end I didn’t dislike Vik anymore, and I really, really liked Ria. I know she’s supposed to be hesitant, and second-guessing due to her fears of insanity, but it got to be a little much. She clearly drove herself to obsessive-compulsive behaviors in her contemplation of her mental health. Which, was NOT GOOD.

That said, I loved the culture, I loved the family, and I liked the romance, which heated up quite nicely. I wanted more likable main characters, but I got human ones with reasonable frailties instead, and that’s pretty okay, too.

Interested? You can find THE BOLLYWOOD BRIDE on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Also in libraries and discount booksellers like Target, Walmart, etc. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:

Sonali Dev’s first literary work was a play about mistaken identities performed at her neighborhood Diwali extravaganza in Mumbai. She was eight years old. Despite this early success, Sonali spent the next few decades getting degrees in architecture and written communication, migrating across the globe, and starting a family while writing for magazines and websites. With the advent of her first gray hair her mad love for telling stories returned full force, and she now combines it with her insights into Indian culture to conjure up stories that make a mad tangle with her life as supermom, domestic goddess, and world traveler.

Sonali lives in the Chicago suburbs with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog.

You can find Sonali online on her website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends.

Dangerous Love Between THE SHEPHERD AND THE SOLICITOR-A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for a new historical M/M romance from the writing team of Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon. THE SHEPHERD AND THE SOLICITOR is a slow-burning romance that develops between two people of completely different worlds. One is a cheeky London lawyer, and the other is a reclusive sheep farmer–who is likely the missing heir the lawyer was sent to find….

The Shepherd and the SolicitorAbout the book:
When a storm is brewing, taking shelter could be the most dangerous move of all.

One careless, public sign of affection cost Daniel Pierce’s lover his life at the hands of a hate-filled mob. Grief-stricken, Daniel retreated from society to a sheep farm in the wilds of the north. Years later, Gregory Tobin erupts into his solitary life.

Sent to confirm the existence—or the death—of the Pierce family’s lost heir, Tobin isn’t sure he’s found the right man. The gruff, shaggy hermit calling himself Jacob Bennet bears little resemblance to photographs of the younger Pierce. Tobin needs more time to study his quarry.

With lambing season in full swing, Daniel grudgingly admits he could use an extra hand. Through a long, exhausting night, they parry back and forth as Tobin probes closer and closer to the truth. And something beyond casual attraction simmers between them.

They come together in a crash of desire, but ultimately Daniel must overcome the terrors of the past to reconcile the man he was with the man he’s becoming—a man capable of loving again.

Warning: Many sexy encounters on a sheep farm—NO, not like THAT!—between two adult males with temperaments as different as night and day.

My Review:
This is a historical M/M romance about a reclusive sheep farmer, who may be a missing heir, and the solicitor who’s tasked with the job of finding him. It is set in 1880’s England.

Daniel Pierce saw his lover, Jacob, murdered by a mob when Jacob made one slight romantic overture in public. That was three years ago. Since then he fled London and changed his name. Jacob Bennet is a sheep farmer, and a recluse. He’s worked hard to hide himself away, but he’s not put his past away–only buried it under grueling hours of work.

Gregory Tobin knows exactly who he is: a conscientious solicitor with a moderate income and a lackluster life. He enjoys being sent to track down missing persons, and is good at cajoling them to come home. His most recent regular lover has caved to his family’s pressure to marry–and wants to keep Tobin as his “bit on the side” which is unappealing and appalling to Tobin. He’s glad for the opportunity to hunt the Pierce heir far away from London.

The adventure begins in Kentshire, with dubious leads and a spooked nag–who drops Tobin unceremoniously at the remote grazing field of Mr. Bennet. Being dusty and mucky and unwilling to walk the 8 mile return trip to the village, Tobin begs to stay one night; Bennet grudgingly agrees. It’s lambing season and he’s up to his elbows, quite literally, in sheep. Tobin’s enchanted with the vagaries of farm-life, and looking to ingratiate himself with Bennet, so he pitches in where he can. Tobin’s quite caught unawares regarding his interest–it’s such a different life from his own well-ordered, clean, natty-dressed existence. Under the wide night sky he feels able to breathe, in a way he hasn’t in a long time.

Over the course of a couple days, Bennet and Tobin exchange confidences–Tobin could see the changes in the young man he’d sought, buried beneath the ragged clothes and unkempt beard. Still, there’s an attraction brewing in the lambing shed. It’s an awakening for Bennet, who hasn’t had a man since Jacob was murdered–and never expected to want one again.

Dealing with his secret being out is not so easy, Daniel Pierce is a different man, now–one afraid of crowds and loud voices. Try as he might, Tobin coaxes and cajoles, with little budging on Pierce/Bennet’s part.

I liked how these two lonely souls found solace. That’s what Tobin offered Bennet, and that was what Bennet needed most. The end went a different direction than I expected, which was all to the good. Daniel Pierce restarted his life twice, and the second time was far better than the first. There’s a bit of heat, here. Not too much, but enough to build a bond and drive their growing affection forward. Tobin is a cheeky man–and this is both scary and fantastic to Pierce. The idea of openly loving a man is too dangerous, but their remote locale provides enough cover for their illicit acts. I love historical books which have a realistic depiction of clandestine love affairs. The resolution was excellent, for me. It’s the best kind of HEA in an environment where cohabitation is not feasible, but affection and love still thrive.

Interested? You can find THE SHEPHERD AND THE SOLICITOR on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, AllRomance and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Authors:

Summer Devon is the pen name writer Kate Rothwell often uses. Whether the characters are male or female, human or dragon, her books are always romance.

You can visit her on twitter or her facebook page, where there’s a sign up form for a newsletter (she’ll only send out newsletters when there’s a new Summer Devon or Kate Rothwell release and she will never ever sell your name to anyone).

Her blog is available here.

She also has a blog with Bonnie Dee, a frequent co-author. It’s mostly just announcements, but we might do good give-aways on occasion.

Bonnie Dee began telling stories as a child. Whenever there was a sleepover, she was the designated ghost tale teller. She still has a story printed on yellow legal paper in second grade about a ghost, a witch and a talking cat.

Writing childish stories for her own pleasure led to majoring in English at college. Like most English majors, she dreamed of writing a novel, but at that time in her life didn’t have the necessary focus and follow through. Then life happened. A husband and children occupied the next twenty years and it was only in 2000 that she began writing again.

Bonnie enjoys dabbling in many genres. You can find her online on her website, twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Out today THE ONE THAT I WANT–And a Cover Reveal!

The One That I Want Facebook Cover ArtHi there! Today I’m sharing my review of THE ONE THAT I WANT, a new contemporary M/M romance from RJ Jones. This book is a mix of musicals and men, which I can’t not love! Also, I’ve got the cover for the sequel, too!

TOTIW_Cover_RJJonesAbout the book:
Jason escapes into the magic of a Broadway play every weekend. Musicals always have a happy ending and for a few hours he can believe there’s a happy ending waiting for him, too. When the tall drink of water who works on the top floor of Jason’s building, wants to take him on a date, Jason is surprised. After all, Jason is awkward and skinny, and sees himself as a boring accountant, while Paul is tall, dark, and incredibly hot.

Despite Jason’s reservations, Paul and Jason start dating and attending the shows Jason adores. But if Paul likes musicals as much as Jason, why does he always doze off? Is Paul leading a double life? Does he have a wife tucked away somewhere?

Jason knows Paul is hiding something and when the secrets come out, Jason finds his fantasy comes to life, right there on the stage.

My Review:
Jason is a non-descript accountant working in a cube in NYC. Nothing special really, though, when he was disowned by his family after high school for coming out, he simply worked hard to educate himself and afford the small studio he now rents. He has recently noticed the growing attention he receives at the elevator bank by a gorgeous man in tailored suits. Paul, as he learns, works on the top floor of the high rise–for a marketing agency. Jason knows it’s too much to hope that his admiration is reciprocated. Likely that Paul would despise him, or worse: use him.

So, Jason decides to walk the three flights to his office everyday instead of bumping into Paul. And that’s when Paul gets creative!

This is a quick read with a cute romance. Jason is easily overwhelmed by attention, as attention has always meant trouble in his experience. Thing is, Paul is really persistent. He tracks Jason down, and fully demonstrates his earnest interest. This could have come off creepy, but it didn’t. They begin to build a rapport over work lunches and Broadway shows. And sexytimes…

Paul’s hiding a secret about himself that is beginning to wear on Jason. They can never go to Paul’s place, and he isn’t allowed to meet his family, and Jason suspects Paul’s married and he’s just a “closet bit on the side”…which is unappealing, but also not problematic enough for Jason to flee. He’s been affection-starved for too long, and vulnerable. Still, when Jason’s offended there ain’t nothing like his pullback.

I was glad this turned out positively. And, it was a sweet resolution. Especially as I got my GREASE fix handled. Yep, expect LaRPing, in the Broadway sense.

Interested? You can find THE ONE THAT I WANT on Wayward Ink Publishing, Amazon (US, UK, AU, and DE) and AllRomance.

Also, this is a quick read, but the author has a one-two punch planned: the sequel is due out very, very soon. (October 23rd!) Look at this cover and tell me a happy ending isn’t guaranteed!
HD_1000x1595
About HOPELESSLY DEVOTED:
One year on from Paul’s proposal, Jason is living a life he never dreamed of. As he fusses with his tie and readies to walk down the aisle, he reminisces about the previous twelve months. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the happy couple in the lead up to their wedding, with obstacles big and small thrown in their way.

Marrying one of New York’s most eligible bachelors has Jason’s stomach in knots. Expectations of their society wedding are high, but out of love for Paul, Jason goes along with the grand plans because he understands Paul’s family has a reputation to maintain. But Paul has a surprise up his sleeve that just may see Jason getting the wedding of his dreams.

Follow Jason on his journey as he prepares to marry one of the most eligible bachelors in New York and find out just how Dave the cat got his name.

You can pre-order HOPELESSLY DEVOTED on Wayward Ink, Amazon (US, UK, AU, and DE) and AllRomance.

About the author:
R.J. Jones started as a reader and eventually made the progression to reviewing. It wasn’t until two men popped into her thoughts, insisting on telling her their story that she started to write.

It started with one scene. A hot and dirty one in the shower…

R.J.’s initial thought was if she could write their scene then they’d shut up and allow her to concentrate on other aspects of her day. Not so. That shower scene ended up being 3000 words long and three hours of work. And still, they didn’t shut up. They told her their entire story and she didn’t sleep for days. Sometimes she couldn’t keep up with what they were telling her and she had to keep a notebook by her bed.

Whilst she was writing their story a side character decided he needed his story told too. Then other characters followed suit. You see the problem? If she ever wants to sleep again then she needs to write. R.J. is a wife and a mother to two boys. She is surrounded by males. Even her dog is a boy.

R.J. can be found online on her website, Facebook, twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

EyesOnBooks

Their Love is OTTER CHAOS–Review and Giveaway

OC-BannerHi there! Today I’m sharing my review for PD Singer’s new release, OTTER CHAOS. This is a super fun contemporary M/M shifter romance which features an otter shifter! In Colorado. Oh, the powder.

Except, there isn’t any powder, just conniving werewolves and one mixed up otter. I adored! Check out the excerpt and giveaway, too!

Otter ChaosAbout the book:

Lon Ewing snowboarded in and turned economist Corey Levigne’s life upside down, introducing him to a world he didn’t know existed. Corey’s still adjusting to a boyfriend who shifts into an otter and raids the koi pond—and now Lon says Corey’s department chair is a werewolf?

Wolves at the university, wolves in the bank—across Lon’s desk sits Professor Melvin Vadas and his hench-wolves, demanding a construction loan for the pack’s new lodge in the mountains. There’s just one little problem: the proposed building site is home to a breeding population of rare fish.

What do wolves care for stupid human rules, an otter who’d barely make a good snack, or one pesky human determined to protect the environment? Once they’re snout to snout with Corey and Lon, there’s more than silverscale dace on the Endangered Species List.

Includes Tail Slide, the short story that launched Otter Chaos.
Fresh powder snow and running water in the Colorado back country call Lon like the moon calls the wolves. Belly-sliding to a good time on the weekends makes up for a workweek at a desk, and meeting Corey adds a whole new level of fun to snowboarding.

It’s easy to slip away for time alone in the woods without raising suspicion, but how’s Lon to entertain himself when bad snow and a worse spill force them off the mountain too early?

Never give an otter a box of Cheerios.

How About a little taste?

Threading his way between the tables to reach the group, Corey intended to set the glass down on the small table in their center without interrupting the flow. Maybe he didn’t really need to steady himself on Lon’s shoulder, but it was a good excuse to touch his boyfriend, get a little squeeze and a promise for later in at the same time. “Bet you need to wet your whistle.”

Lon jerked up hard enough to jostle Corey’s arm. Brown liquid slopped over the rim of the glass. At least it missed Lon’s instrument, but what—?

“No. Sorry. But no.” Lon twisted under the strap of his guitar. “We need to leave. Now.”

“Wha—?” Corey all but dropped the glass. “Why?”

“Now. Please.” Lon was up and sidling toward his guitar case.

Corey followed. What else could he do? The man who’d been gleefully leading fiddles and mandolins had cased his instrument and bolted out the side door. Lon barely waited on the porch of the old house turned brewpub, dashing to the passenger side of the RAV4 before Corey was quite outside in the chill spring night.

“Go, go, go,” Lon begged. “Quick.”

“Okay.” Corey tucked his long legs under the steering wheel and peeled out of the parking lot. “Want to explain the sudden need to be elsewhere?”

Lon’s knuckles practically glowed with their whiteness—if the armrest of the passenger seat breathed, Lon would have choked the life out of it three blocks back. “I smelled wolf.”

That again. “I did see Melvin come into the pub.” Corey aimed the truck toward south Boulder, because Lon had that trembly look where his dark brown hair and beard seemed to puff out bigger. Absolutely no reason to stress him, and every reason to take him home and pet him into exhausted, sweaty peace.

“Can you get a job at Harvard or Stanford or somewhere far, far away from CU?” Lon whimpered. “Or decide you don’t like me anymore?”

“No and no.” Corey gave his lover a stern look on the turn into the driveway. “I’m headed for tenure here and I love you. I don’t want to change either one of those things.” He pulled Lon across the console to plant a kiss in short, sleek, hair. “Let’s go look at the koi one last time, and then last one into bed is a rotten egg.”

“Rotten egg! Ick!” But Lon was diverted enough to scamper to the back yard, not too fast to be caught.

My Review:
This is a sweet and different M/M shifter romance.

Lon and Corey are newly coupled–just moved in together–and are working out all the kinks. As is normal for a new couple they need to figure out who’s gonna do the household chores, and how they’re going to manage car use and date night activities–but these “usual” issues are complicated by one simple fact: Lon is an otter shifter.

Every week he needs to spend some time in his otter form, 1-5 hours generally scratches that itch, while longer than 12 hours of otter fun has Lon lost in a haze between both worlds where the water is his best friend and all he wants to do is play. See, when he’s an otter, Lon’s really an otter–lost in his otterness. He hunts and behaves like and otter–even if it means eating the decorative koi he and Corey put into the pond out back, or shredding all the toilet paper rolls in the house.

In his human form, Lon’s a loan officer for a Boulder bank, and he’s not happy when a trio of werewolves appear at his desk for a loan to fund building the Full Moon Conservancy on forestry land. Lon knows that the property is part of the protected habitat of the silverscale dace, an endangered indigenous fish, and that’s part of why he declines to approve the loan–approval can only come after the environmental impact studies.

Some problems? Werewolves don’t like to be told no. Also, the alpha of the pack, Melvin, is Corey’s department chair at U-Colorado. He recognizes Lon’s scent on Corey, and that’s a whole new dimension of TMI. Lon fears that the werewolves will eradicate the dace from their property, or kill Corey, or himself, and takes some bold strokes to prevent that–little does he know the werewolves have a dastardly plan to get rid of the dace “naturally” with the help of a few hungry otters…

What I really enjoyed about this story is the in-depth characterization of Lon, and Corey. They both have to deal with the otterness of Lon, and Corey’s doing his darnedest without knowing truly how to help Lon. Because Lon’s pretty protective about the ins and outs of shifting. In some ways it seems that Lon doesn’t actually KNOW the answers to the questions Corey poses, because he’s a whole different being as an otter and this is not translatable. Like, there aren’t words much when he’s an otter. And, if he’s an otter for several hours Lon loses his ability to speak when he pulls his fur back.

As Lon deals with the werewolves, Corey tries his best, though it’s not good enough. Lingering effects of shifting threaten to pull Lon into otterness forever, and it’s all Corey can do to keep him on this side of the pelt. It was a great psychological story, and I loved the development of the relationship between them. Poor Lon, who loves the tasty koi! Poor Corey, who doesn’t know how to deal with a truly wild mate!

They are a great pair. The pace of the story, and the switching POV both hit the mark for me. I liked the sexytimes, and the emotional context for this couple felt right. They are still getting acquainted–they’ve only dated a couple of months, and the growing pains of coupledom had authenticity.

Also, baby otters!
Baby ottersSeriously, this book is filled with cute. I loved the short story, TAIL SLIDE which is part of the book, and gives up the skinny on how Lon and Corey met and fall, quite literally, for one another… D-lish!

Interested? You can find OTTER CHAOS on Goodreads, Amazon, AllRomance eBooks, Smashwords, Rocky Ridge Books, iTunes, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win 1 signed copy of Otter Chaos, 1 ebook (mobi, epub or pdf), or an otter ornament! ( 3 different winners, yay!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Luck and keep reading my friends!

About the author:
P.D. Singer lives in Colorado with her slightly bemused husband, two rowdy teenage boys, and thirty pounds of cats. She’s a big believer in research, first-hand if possible, so the reader can be quite certain PD has skied down a mountain face-first, been stepped on by rodeo horses, acquired a potato burn or two, and will never, ever, write a novel that includes sky-diving.

When not writing, playing her fiddle, or skiing, she can be found with a book in hand.

Catch Ms. Singer online on her website, email, Facebook, twitter, and Pinterest.

pride

Had to KICK AT THE DARKNESS–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for a paranormal-zombie-shifter-apocalypse-M/M romance! As you know I’ve loved me some Keira Andrews books, including her gay Amish romance trilogy including A FORBIDDEN RUMSPRINGA, A CLEAN BREAK, and A WAY HOME. When I heard about KICK AT THE DARKNESS, I was nervous. It seemed like there was A LOT going on! I bought it, and set it aside–until I could give myself a bit of time to enjoy it. I just finished it last week, and I’m so glad I didn’t let this one slip past me.

I like to feature paranormal romances in October, and this one is certainly a thriller…

Kick at the DarknessAbout the book:

To live through the zombie apocalypse they have to survive each other first.

College freshman Parker Osborne is having the worst day ever. He humiliated himself trying to pick up a cute guy, he hasn’t made any friends at school, and his stupidly hot jerk of a TA gave him a crappy grade on his paper. He’s going to drop Adam Hawkins’ film class and start fresh tomorrow after he’s had a good sulk.

But Parker’s about to find out what a bad day really looks like—if he can survive the night.

A virus is unleashed, transforming infected people into zombie-like killers. After these quick and deadly creepers swarm campus, Parker only escapes thanks to Adam swooping him onto the back of his trusty motorcycle. Now they’re on the run—and stuck with each other.

When they’re not bickering, they’re fighting off the infected in a bloody battle for survival. Their only hope is to head east to Parker’s family, but orphaned Adam has a secret he’s not sure Parker will accept: he’s a werewolf. Can they trust each other enough to find some light in these dark days?

My Review:
This book was more than awesome.

I’ve had it on my TBR too long. I bought it months ago and never had the chance to read it, due to scheduled blog reads. And, I’ll admit it right now–I was afraid the hype was overblown. That I’d read it and be like: #Meh.

I was SO wrong! I want to kick the darkness out of myself for delaying.

Parker is a freshman at Stanford, and in danger of doing poorly in his film class–the one blow-off class he picked. And blew off. He’s furious with his TA, Adam, who won’t change his grade because Parker is a prick and he did a bad job. Before Parker can drop the class, however, the world descends into chaos as a virus spreads like wildfire across the country–creating zombie-like infected hordes that are out for blood. It is only Adam’s fast pace and even faster motorcycle “Mariah” that saves Parker from becoming zombie-lunch.

This is an adventure which becomes a romance. Parker has no idea that Adam might be interested in him, and frankly, both of them are too busy not getting killed to worry about sexytimes. But they happen, unexpectedly and deliciously! Parker is swooning, quite honestly, when he learns how Adam is such a good protector (insert paranormal element here). It’s not enough to diminish Parker’s ardor, because he fell for the man, first. #AsItShouldBe.

There are entanglements where there should be hospitality which creates a good deal of drama and a daring rescue. While I personally object to “mad scientist” tropes, being a scientist who occasionally gets mad, it worked in this book. I was so on board Mariah, feeling the wind whip through my hair, hoping against all reason that Parker and his family would be reunited.

The end is a lovely and unexpected surprise. #Adored. #ImmediateReRead

Oh, and yummy sexytimes and a solid romance which develops honestly.

Interested? You can find KICK AT THE DARKNESS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance.

Keira AndrewsAbout the Author:
After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

You can catch up with Keira on her website, Facebook, twitter, and Goodreads.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

Learning IT’S A WONDERFUL DEATH–Review & Giveaway

its a wonderful death tour banner final
Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for a contemporary YA adventure from Sarah J Schmitt that’s just in time for Halloween. IT’S A WONDERFUL DEATH is a cross between Mean Girls, Defending your Life, A Christmas Carol, and It’s a Wonderful Life. I did enjoy this wild ride of one miscollected soul.

Drop down and make sure to enter the big Prize Pack giveaway.

its a wonderful death bigAbout the book:
Seventeen-year-old RJ always gets what she wants. So when her soul is accidentally collected by a distracted Grim Reaper, somebody in the afterlife better figure out a way to send her back from the dead or heads will roll. But in her quest for mortality, she becomes a pawn in a power struggle between an overzealous archangel and Death Himself. The tribunal presents her with two options: she can remain in the lobby, where souls wait to be processed, until her original lifeline expires, or she can replay three moments in her life in an effort to make choices that will result in a future deemed worthy of being saved. It sounds like a no-brainer. She’ll take a walk down memory lane. How hard can changing her future be?

But with each changing moment, RJ’s life begins to unravel, until this self-proclaimed queen bee is a social pariah. She begins to wonder if walking among the living is worth it if she has to spend the next sixty years as an outcast. Too quickly, RJ finds herself back in limbo, her time on Earth once again up for debate.

RJ is a snarky, unapologetic, almost unredeemable, very real girl. Her story is funny and moving, and teens will easily connect with her plight. Prepare to meet the Grim Reaper, who’s cuter than you’d expect; Hawaiian shirt–wearing Death Himself; Saint Peter (who likes to play Cornhole); and Al, the handler for the three-headed hound that guards the gates of Hell. This cast of characters accompanies RJ through her time in the afterlife and will do their best to gently shove her in the right direction.

My Review:
Mean girl RJ is in the wrong place at the wrong time. She’s getting her fortune told at a Halloween carnival when the gnarled gypsy tosses her at the Grim Reaper. Gideon can’t undo the damage now that he’s collected RJ’s soul–even if it’s a mistake. She has no choice but to ascend to the Lobby with him. There, she watches as group after group of souls called to Judgement. She encounters a fellow soul unwilling to advance, Sandy, who’s awaiting her beloved James to arrive. Throughout, RJ is professing her frustration over being miscollected–and being a bit of a diva over it. Naturally, as RJ is a diva over everything.

She raises, in this case, holy hell, and it leads to an unprecedented Tribunal of angels who must decide if RJ’s worth the trouble of unraveling time to re-insert her into her timeline. And, honestly, the verdict is no. She’s been a nasty, mean, lying, conniving wretch of a girl–all in the pursuit of popularity. Her two Guardian angels help to plead her case, that she’s young a redeemable, but it is Death Himself who arranges a series of tests–to verify if RJ would make the right choices given the chance. She has spirit guides from her own life (ala A Christmas Carol) leading her back to three key times when RJ departed from a good path.

RJ is quite a character. She is unashamedly self-centered and made many, many wrong choices with her life, but she is adamant that she’ll do better. And, in many ways she does. The bulk of the book is her arguing her case to all and sundry, begging to be heard. And, even when she is heard, those in charge will likely not do as she wishes. Why should they, after all? She is not a worthy soul, in their opinion. And, they’re right. But this tough girl makes even her Grams proud as she meets and exceeds Death Himself’s challenges.

I will admit to being frustrated by the ending. I wanted so much for RJ to live the life I pictured for her, and sadly it’s not the case. That said, this was a fantastic redemption tale with a very human, and believable, main character. Her journey was quite a wild ride, and how she made amends was thoroughly believable. For all the Heaven and Hell parts of this book, it’s not preachy and it’s not churchy. Again, like A Christmas Carol, RJ must ponder the parts of her life that went wrong. She has to overcome her Mean Girls training and fight for the right to live a better life than the one she was collected from. I adored how the angels were honest. Brutally honest. RJ is little more than a pest, in their view. Turning back time is a huge undertaking–and opens the gates for other souls to complain that their time should not have been up. Oh, the legalities of final Judgement!

Interested? You can find IT’S A WONDERFUL DEATH on Goodreads and Amazon

****GIVEAWAY****

Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a fantastic prize pack!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Goodluck and keep reading my friends!

Early Praise for It’s A Wonderful Death
“Fun, Funny and Full of Life” – Kirkus Review

“A snarky joyride of a book with a deep moral core; long after you’ve finished laughing, you’ll still be thinking about RJ’s journey and perhaps asking yourself: What defines a life well lived?” – Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall

“It’s a Wonderful Death is a wonderful gem.  Both snarky and uplifting, it sneaks inside you and makes you smile and cry at the same time.”
-Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of Vessel and Drink, Slay, Love 

“It’s A Wonderful Death is a great mix of mirth, myth and metaphysics; I enjoyed it greatly and I’m certain that YA readers will as well.”
– Daniel Waters, author of Generation Dead

“Mean Girls meets A Christmas Carol! Smart, sassy, and humorously original with clever world-building and a host of interesting characters, It’s a Wonderful Death will have you laughing out loud and rooting for RJ from the first page!”
– Amalie Howard, best-selling author of Bloodspell

“Just the kind of story I love — full of snark, heart, and contemplation about the meaning of life! It’s a Wonderful Death will get you thinking about what you want to leave behind and how you want to live until then.”
– Kristen Lippert-Martin, author of Tabula Rasa

“RJ’s witty narrative had me both laughing out loud and weeping into the pages. It’s a Wonderful Death is a delightful read that questions the butterfly effect of choices made…and unmade.”
– Danielle L. Jensen, author of Stolen Songbird

“You know a story’s going to be good when Death shows up as a surfer! I loved every bit of this funny and heartwarming tale of second chances.”
-Lisa Maxwell, author of Sweet Unrest

Sarah J. SchmittAbout the Author
Sarah J. Schmitt is a K-8 school librarian and Youth Service Professional for Teens at a public library who, in addition to planning a variety of events, enjoys opening up the world of books to reluctant readers. She runs a teen writing program that combines Skype visits from well-known authors and screenwriters and critique group style feedback.

Prior to immersing herself in the world of the written word, Sarah earned her Masters of Science in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs from Indiana University where she worked with first year college students as they acclimated to college life. Sarah lives outside of Indianapolis with her husband, two kidlets and a cat who might actually be a secret agent. She is an active member of SCBWI, ALA and the Indiana Library Federation and is a regular participant at the Midwest Writer’s Workshop. Her debut novel, IT’S A WONDERFUL DEATH, is newly released from Sky Pony Press.

You can find Sarah online on her website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

Finding Love WHEN THE STARS ALIGN–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a review for WHEN THE STARS ALIGN, a contemporary New Adult romance from Jeanette Grey. I picked this one up, needing a good romance between, wait for it, scientists! Yep. I’m a total nerd, and I want nerds to fall in love. I was aching for these two to make it work. And, they did.

When the Stars AlignAbout the book:
Their passion burned hotter than the stars . . .
For Josephine “Jo” Kramer, nothing has ever been easy. When she earns a summer internship in Puerto Rico, working at one of the world’s preeminent scientific facilities, she’ll let nothing distract her. Not her own insecurities, not the arrogant scientists, and definitely not her tall, chiseled research partner, Adam.

For Adam McCay, physics is simple-it’s women who are complicated. Especially brilliant, beautiful ones like Jo. From the moment they meet, he can feel the heat smoldering deep beneath her icy exterior. And Adam knows just what it will take to make Jo melt . . .

Under the endless stars of a tropical sky, Jo and Adam indulge their every desire. But as their internship comes to an end, their perfect island paradise is threatened. Was their time together a summer fling? Or is their passion hot enough to last the long winter nights?

My Review:
4.5 Stars for this contemporary New Adult romance.

https://i0.wp.com/www.naic.edu/public/about/photos/hires/ao001.jpgJo is a mess of a woman, a junior in college studying astronomy. She’s just begun a ten-week internship at the Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico, and she’s not happy to be assigned a female mentor–because she’s always been pawned off on the “lesser” scientists, and Jo’s serious about making it in astronomy.

Thing is, Jo’s had it rough. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father was aloof, distracted or grieving. He’s a bit of a nightmare, actually, even saying that he’d wished for a son. His inability to be anything resembling a caring father has hurt Jo deeply. She’s sheltered herself in men’s clothes, and refashioned herself as asexually as possible–hiding in her own studies, and having a giant chip on her shoulder about men in science. (I can relate. Me = female scientist)

Adam is a man in the middle–of a breakup. His long-time girlfriend, Shannon, has asked for a “break” hoping that will ease the transition. This is hard for Adam who has a secure life, and loving relationships. He wants to be able to share the wonders of his internship, and Puerto Rico, and he his calls and messages to Shannon are intermittently returned and received in a luke-warm fashion.

jo from the facts of life

Imaging this gal, with facial piercings and a full back tat…

Adam has plans to return to the States for a scientific meeting, and meet up with Shannon in person, but she’s dragging her feet on her plans. And, completely separate to this thing with Jo. She intrigues Adam in a way that he never anticipated. She’s pierced and tattooed and filled to the brim with “Back Off!” and it draws more attention than he wants to give.

Their mentors are research partners, so Jo and Adam spend time together, lonely nights repositioning the scope’s sight. It leads to conversation, and the simmering attraction that neither can explain or deny.

Jo has always set herself apart, never opening herself for someone to hurt, and Adam’s so generous with his feelings, and his friendship. It could be more, except for Shannon. Which, honestly, is only the idea of Shannon–and of a man who does the right thing, at the right time, always.

Adam is truly a lovely guy, and even Jo recognizes that he’s someone worth her fragile heart taking a chance on. I loved the slow burn here, and how these two are the complete package, together. Jo is prickly. She’s not used to making herself vulnerable, but Adam’s a very patient guy. He’s sure Jo is a woman worth working to know. And love. Because love does bloom in the jungles of Puerto Rico, in the numbers and calculations that Jo tries to bury herself within.

I particularly liked how Jo took her time to come to terms with the big changes in herself, and her desires. I liked how driven she was, and how she examined herself at every turn. How thoughtful that she was regarding her life choices, and how she was willing to take steps to find happiness. She had to get over her fears, and her long-ingrained feelings of abandonment and worthlessness. This is not an immediate transition–and it didn’t happen immediately. It felt very organic, and realistic. As did the fledgling relationship Adam and Jo built.

Of course, there are only a handful of weeks left in their internship, and they both attend colleges in different cities. A long-distance relationship isn’t really what either of them wants, but is it possible?

This book has a positive resolution, with an HEA. There are some steamy sexytimes, as well. I loved that this was a story about two excellent people. They are not self-serving or jealous, or addicted to anything. They just want a good connection–even if Jo doesn’t want to admit it.

Plus, SCIENTISTS finding love!!!

image.pngYay!

Interested? You can find WHEN THE STARS ALIGN on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Google Play, and Kobo.

JeanetteGrey-color-close1About the Author:

RITA® finalist author Jeanette Grey started out with degrees in physics and painting, which she dutifully applied to stunted careers in teaching, technical support, and advertising. When none of that panned out, she started writing.

Never content to do just one thing, she is published in new adult, as well as contemporary, futuristic, and male/male romance. Her short fiction has appeared in two consecutive annual editions of Best Erotic Romance, and her novella, Take What You Want, was named one of Library Journal’s best books of the year.

In her spare time, Jeanette enjoys making pottery, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and her pet frog. She lives, loves, and writes in upstate New York.

She is a member of the Professional Authors Network of Romance Writers of America, as well as a member of Capital Region Romance Writers. She is represented by Mandy Hubbard of D4EO Literary Agency.

You can contact her via Twitter or FaceBook or by emailing jeanettelgreyATgmailDOTcom