3 stars

Puzzle Me This by Eli Easton: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

September 9, 2019 by Denise

Luke Schumaker designs computer games, working from his home. Every day he walks his dog in the woods nearby, never suspecting that someone who is completely smitten is watching.

The watcher is Alex Shaw, and he too works from home, designing logic and crossword puzzles. Alex’s options are limited: he’s too shy to approach Luke and his wheelchair won’t let him follow into the woods. His solution? Secret messages for Luke in the crosswords he writes for the local paper.

When Luke decodes them, romance begins, but then they face greater puzzles, like Alex’s interfering sister and what commitment to a man in a wheelchair really takes. And, most puzzling of all, how do you know if love is real?

Cover Design: Reese Dante

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Universal Link

A mixed, but still positive review from me.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, I just felt it was rushed and could have been fleshed out a bit more. I loved that the beginning had Alex wooing Luke with crossword puzzle clues. And while Luke was having fun with it, he also wanted to know RIGHT NOW who it was. That whole part could have been longer to really bring the romance early.

Both characters are lovable nerds. Luke, who is a video game designer and works from home and Alex, a crossword puzzle designer who may work from home part time? That was a bit unclear. But neither guy is a jerk, neither guy has the proverbial walls up, neither guy says hey let’s keep it casual. They are both grown ass men ready to find that special someone.

There are challenges of course. The biggest is that Alex is in a wheelchair and Luke likes to hike. In the grand scheme of things- this is a work around. Alex never gets upset if he can’t do something- but he encourages Luke to do it without him.

Of course there was a bit of conflict, mostly because Alex’s sister is overprotective and tried to scare Luke off. And there actually could have been a lot more angst and drama- family stuff, work stuff, etc etc. But it was mostly a light hearted romance between two men who really weren’t afraid of commitment. Shocker!

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.

In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

Her website is www.elieaston.com

You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

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A Pocketful of Stardust by JP Barnaby & Rowan Speedwell: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

July 30, 2019 by Denise

Super excited to have JP Barnaby and Roman Speedwell here with an exclusive guest post, centered around books, which is perfect for her new book A Pocketful of Stardust. Check out the list below and see if some of it matches your own! And while you are at it, grab up their new book!

Noah Hitchens loves the New York City life he worked hard to build. But when his father dies and leaves him a bankrupt bookstore in their sleepy Georgia hometown, Noah knows he has to save it. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know anything about business. He finds unlikely help in Henry, the man who owned Stardust Books before his 1966 murder, and Kyle St. James, a shy but kind-hearted out-of-towner with a past almost as mysterious as Henry’s.

Kyle came to Aster, Georgia, looking for redemption. On the run and out of hope, he’s just trying to get on with his life. Then he meets Noah, a ghost, and a big sloppy lab named Jake who redefine his idea of living. But his past is closing in, and when it finds him, they could lose everything.

Title: A Pocketful of Stardust
Series: Aster
Author: JP Barnaby & Rowan Speedwell
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Category: Paranormal – Ghosts/Spirits, Contemporary

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

11 Books on my Shelf – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

So, I’ll start off by saying I’m a big DNF girl. If I can’t get into a book in the first 10 pages, I’m going to put it aside. Being an author, software developer, and now grad student, I just don’t have the time to waste on bad books. But I have been reading a lot lately, and since our new book is about a bookstore, I thought I’d share some love.

Books I loved

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody

(Writing Structure)

I’ll be honest, I stayed away from this one for a while just because of the title. It seems everyone and their brother has read this book, but I just thought it sounded silly. Until I read it. It’s an awesome deconstructed look at what makes a book good. It gives a roadmap to taking the bones of novel structure and making it your own in beats that are easily recognizable. She also breaks down fifteen popular novels and maps them to the structure points for a great analysis.

Blurb: Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 “beats” (plot points) that comprise a successful story–from the opening image to the finale–this book lays out the Ten Story Genres (Monster in the House; Whydunit; Dude with a Problem) alongside quirky, original insights (Save the Cat; Shard of Glass) to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate–and a novel that will sell.

Low Pressure by Sandra Brown

(Romantic Suspense)

This book has stuck with me which is rare. Sandra Brown has such a deft hand when it comes to suspense. She keeps me guessing with every story and I love that. Her characters are well-developed, and the settings are vivid. If you like romantic suspense, she is a must-read.

Blurb: Bellamy Lyston was only 12 years old when her older sister Susan was killed on a stormy Memorial Day. Bellamy’s fear of storms is a legacy of the tornado that destroyed the crime scene along with her memory of what really happened during the day’s most devastating moments.

Now, 18 years later, Bellamy has written a sensational, bestselling novel based on Susan’s murder. Because the book was inspired by the tragic event that still pains her family, she published it under a pseudonym to protect them from unwanted publicity. But when an opportunistic reporter for a tabloid newspaper discovers that the book is based on fact, Bellamy’s identity is exposed along with the family scandal.

Moreover, Bellamy becomes the target of an unnamed assailant who either wants the truth about Susan’s murder to remain unknown or, even more threatening, is determined to get vengeance for a man wrongfully accused and punished.

In order to identify her stalker, Bellamy must confront the ghosts of her past, including Dent Carter, Susan’s wayward and reckless boyfriend — and an original suspect in the murder case. Dent, with this and other stains on his past, is intent on clearing his name, and he needs Bellamy’s sealed memory to do it. But her safeguarded recollections -once unlocked-pose dangers that neither could foresee and puts both their lives in peril.

As Bellamy delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Susan’s slaying, she discovers disturbing elements of the crime which call into question the people she holds most dear. Haunted by partial memories, conflicted over her feelings for Dent, but determined to learn the truth, she won’t stop until she reveals Susan’s killer.

That is, unless Susan’s killer strikes her first…

Closer Than You Think by Karen Rose

(Romantic Suspense)

I met Karen Rose at an author conference in Orlando and really appreciated the depth with which she researched for her romantic suspense stories, so I thought I’d give her a shot. She has incredibly intricate relationships across novel series, building gorgeous characters and then using them throughout the entire series. It’s truly inspiring to watch.

Blurb: Psychologist Faith Corcoran is desperate to escape the stalker who’s made her life a nightmare for the past year—desperate enough to run to the one place that has been her nightmare far longer. Her recent inheritance of her grandmother’s old house in Cincinnati offers sanctuary in which she can start her life anew, but requires that she face the dark memories that still resonate to this day. But she has no idea how close to home her fears still are…

Two college girls have gone missing in the area, and FBI Special Agent Deacon Novak is called to work on the case. When his inquiry unexpectedly leads him to Faith, he finds a beautiful and brave woman he can’t help but fall for. Soon they’ll discover that this seemingly simple investigation is anything but. Reaching back decades into Faith’s own past, it will shatter everything she believes to be true and will give terrifying new meaning to flesh and blood.

City of Endless Night by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

(Suspense)

I’ve been a fan of the Pendergast/D’Agosta dynamic since their very first book together (Relic). Preston and Child have a fantastic way of leaning this way and that until you’re not sure what to believe. And of course one has to wonder if his methods make Pendergast any better than the criminals he hunts. It’s a wonderful ride.

Blurb: When Grace Ozmian, the beautiful and reckless daughter of a wealthy tech billionaire, first goes missing, the NYPD assumes she has simply sped off on another wild adventure. Until the young woman’s body is discovered in an abandoned warehouse in Queens, the head nowhere to be found.

Lieutenant CDS Vincent D’Agosta quickly takes the lead. He knows his investigation will attract fierce scrutiny, so D’Agosta is delighted when FBI Special Agent A.X.L. Pendergast shows up at the crime scene assigned to the case. “I feel rather like Brer Rabbit being thrown into the briar patch,” Pendergast tells D’Agosta, “because I have found you here, in charge. Just like when we first met, back at the Museum of Natural History.”

But neither Pendergast nor D’Agosta are prepared for what lies ahead. A diabolical presence is haunting the greater metropolitan area, and Grace Ozmian was only the first of many victims to be murdered . . . and decapitated. Worse still, there’s something unique to the city itself that has attracted the evil eye of the killer.

As mass hysteria sets in, Pendergast and D’Agosta find themselves in the crosshairs of an opponent who has threatened the very lifeblood of the city. It’ll take all of Pendergast’s skill to unmask this most dangerous foe-let alone survive to tell the tale.

Books I read but didn’t really enjoy:

Outsider by Stephen King

(Horror)

This one was all me. The book had a great set up, but where Lincoln & Child take the paranormal and make it normal, King goes the other way. I think it would have been a better book had the antagonist been human.

Verses for the Dead by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

(Suspense)

While Preston & Child are an auto-buy for me, sometimes I’m just not on the same wavelength. This one just didn’t have the same punch for me that their other books have had.

Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose

(Romantic Suspense)

To be honest, by the time we got to the 4^th book, I was starting to hate Adam and it didn’t really get any better for me. Also, the subject matter was just too harsh for me to get into it. Sex slave operations and child predators.

Rule of the Bone: A Novel by Russell Banks

(Literary Fiction)

I had to read this book for a class and I can honestly say that I hated it. It’s the meandering tale of a self-absorbed teenager that I couldn’t stand.

Books I really wanted to read, but just couldn’t get into:

Burning Girl by Christopher Rice

Mindhunter by John E Douglas

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz

Want to read the charming book about the bookstore and its ghostly inhabitant?

Check out A Pocketful of Stardust by JP Barnaby & Rowan Speedwell

I’ll start by saying I liked this book. However, going into this book, I wanted to love it. Books with ghosts always intrigue me, and I wanted to snap it right up. It definitely intrigued me, and kept me guessing a bit, so yes, I did like it. Having it be based around a bookstore, just made it that much more enjoyable. However, as a reader, I felt there was a lot going on in this book, possibly too much.

There was Kyle’s past, which caught up to him towards the end. I felt a like some of it was bit unresolved (due to Hope), but that is real life…sometimes things don’t quite resolve as you’d prefer them to.

There was also Noah’s ghostly friend, Henry, which when we met him, I assumed we would find out more about his death. In the end, resolution for him came from a different path, still very enjoyable, but I felt he was gone too soon. Henry was awesome, though. Funny, sweet, and obviously caring. And his cat…made me giggle. 🙂

Noah’s life was a bit of a mess from the second he stepped back into Georgia following his father’s death. I did love how this was able to resolve, what a great feeling. And with Noah, you really got to see him mature, change and realize what family means for him. The reader was able to see him grow as a person.

The book was slow in a few places, but overall gave

JP Barnaby is an award-winning contemporary romance and romantic suspense novelist with over a dozen novels. Her heart and soul, the Survivor Series, has been heralded by USA Today as one of their favorites. She recently moved from Chicago to Atlanta to appease her Camaro (Jake) who didn’t like the blustery winters. JP specializes in recovery romance but slips in a few erotic or comedic stories to spice things up. When she’s not working on her latest novel, she binge watches superheroes and crime dramas on Netflix with her husband and Jack Russell Terror, Chase.

Come hang out in her Facebook Group – Between the Covers with JP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2228150134074004/

Aftermath (Ever After book 3) by Tanya Chris: Exclusive Excerpt and New Release Review

June 27, 2019 by Denise

The Ever After series concludes in Aftermath. Tragedy, redemption, love… Ever After

Once upon a time, Casey flirted with a pretty boy at a bar, and that changed everything. Recently released from jail, he’s starting to rebuild without the family who raised him to hate himself. He’s got a new job, a room at his aunt’s, and community service hours at an LGBTQIA community center. But his biggest challenge is figuring out how to live as the one thing his father and brother drilled into him he could never be: a gay man.

Once upon a time, Brooks was a confident Dom with a particular taste for bigger men. But since his run-in with a dangerous homophobe, he’s lost his touch. Big, buff guys are hot but scary, and hurting people isn’t as much fun as it used to be.

Until he meets Casey, the big guy with the problematic past. Casey’s willing to do anything, but does his submission stem from healthy kink or from an unhealthy need to be punished? And is Brooks doling out release or revenge? Two people who share a past as violent as theirs could never fall in love. Unless, somewhere in the aftermath, there’s forgiveness.

Content warning: internalized homophobia, homophobic language, and references to homophobic hate crimes that have occurred in the past

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

“Casey.” Brooks waited until Casey glanced up at him. “I’m not shaming you, okay? I’m just saying there’s safer ways of getting that feeling. Assuming you liked the feeling.” He wouldn’t ask if Casey had liked it. It wasn’t his business, and besides, he could guess.

Casey still didn’t say anything, so Brooks stood up. “All right, good talk. If you ever have any questions….”

“You’ve done it?” Casey’s words stopped him just as he was about to escape from the room. Apparently they were going to talk, after all. He shut the door and leaned back against it.

“I don’t choke people. There’s really no way to do that safely. Safer, but never safe. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”

“But other stuff?” Casey asked his boots. They were work boots, well-worn and hideous. Huge. Which of course didn’t mean anything.

“I’ve been in the scene since I turned eighteen, so yeah, I’ve done stuff. I could point you to some resources, give you a few links.”

Casey shuffled those large boots of his across the floor. “Which one are you?” he asked with a quick upward glance, curiosity brimming in his eyes. “Are you the one who hits people or the one who gets hit?”

“That’s personal.”

“Oh.” And there went the eyes back to the floor again.

“Fine. I’m a Dom. Does it matter? I’m going to point you to the same resources either way.”

Casey opened his mouth, and Brooks suddenly knew what was about to come out of it.

“No,” he said, before Casey could ask. “Definitely not.”

“Why not?”

For a moment, Brooks was tempted. God, imagine laying into this slab of a man, putting his marks all over him. Or just getting him to kneel. It didn’t even have to be physical. The emotional high of having his enemy kneeling at his feet would carry Brooks for a month.

But, God. No. Enemy. That wasn’t at all what BDSM was about. He couldn’t go into a scene literally wanting to hurt the person subbing for him.

“You said it wasn’t safe,” Casey said, “what I did. So show me safe.”

Book 3 of a trilogy. Yes, you absolutely need to read the first two books.

A super quick recap: Book 1, brother of man accused of murdering his boyfriend and the brother’s lawyer fall in love. Even though the lawyer is a hard core sub and masochist and the other might be but fights it.

Book 2: Newly acquitted Dom/sadist and lawyer’s assistant lawyer- who isn’t a sub or masochist fall in love.

And book 3. This one centers on one of the guys, Casey, who actually was responsible for the murder (and more). Although really it was his brother. Whatever. This kid needs a smack in the head.

He wants to make amends, so when he sees one of his victims, Brooks, in a bar, he follows him home. BRILLIANT. Also, he only ever tries to make amends with this one guy.

Brooks was a dom until the gay bashing and now he is afraid. Totally understandable. So you know the best way to get over it? Get in a relationship with a baby gay/ baby sub who helped beat you up. *eye roll*

I’m sorry, I am all about redemption and I could have really rooted for Casey’s redemption. If it wasn’t with their first victim. It just made no sense to me.

The book was definitely the BDSM’est of the three books, but it was for all the wrong reasons. Casey wants to be beaten as punishment and Brooks wants to do the beating as retribution. COME ON. No dom worth his weight in floggers would do that.

I did really enjoy the other story line involving the LGBT center and the kids- especially one kid- there. I liked seeing such a positive portrayal of an LGBT center and that it wasn’t just for runaways, but also for LGBT kids who were totally accepted but wanted to hang in a safe space.

I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

Facebook: http://bit.ly/TanyaChrisFB

Amazon: http://bit.ly/TanyaChrisAmzn

Goodreads:http://bit.ly/TanyaChrisGR

BookBub: http://bit.ly/TanyaChrisBookBub

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/djvjjL

Arctic Wild: An Alaska Romance (Frozen Hearts Book 2) by Annabeth Albert: New Release Review

June 14, 2019 by Denise

When a plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, the best place to land is in the arms of a younger man…

Hotshot attorney Reuben Graham has finally agreed to take a vacation, when his plane suddenly plunges into the Alaskan wilderness.

Just his luck.

But his frustrations have only begun as he finds himself stranded with the injured, and superhot, pilot, a man who’s endearingly sociable—and much too young for Reuben to be wanting him this badly.

As the sole provider for his sisters and ailing father, Tobias Kooly is devastated to learn his injuries will prevent him from working or even making it back home. So when Reuben insists on giving him a place to recover, not even Toby’s pride can make him refuse. He’s never been tempted by a silver fox before, but something about Reuben is impossible to resist.

Recuperating in Reuben’s care is the last thing Toby expected, yet the closer they become, the more incredibly right it feels, prompting workaholic Reuben to question the life he’s been living. But when the pressure Toby’s under starts closing in, both men will have to decide if there’s room in their hearts for a love they never saw coming.

Amazon

I love this author, so in all honesty I didn’t even read the blurb first. HA! So color me surprised when the plane crashed. (not a spoiler at all)

I really enjoyed the first book in this series. As I said, I am a big fan of this author AND I am a bit obsessed with Alaska. I was all in.

We got a brief glimpse of Toby in the first book. The happy go lucky one night stand guy who kind of seemed to be putting on a bit of a front. Turns out he was. Mostly that he was the sole provider for his family including his disabled father and 2 college age sisters. So not only is he bummed when his tour group drops from 3 people to 1 but also that the one person is grumpy and attached to his phone for work. And, yanno, the whole plane crash thing.

Let me be honest here, I didn’t feel the connection between Reuben and Toby. Not before the crash or after. I really felt like the story was more about Reuben and his daughter reconnecting.

Don’t get me wrong, there were some very hot sex scenes. But with his daughter in the picture with them, there was very little flirting and no touching or pda. Even their nighttime activities didn’t seem to have that clandestine excitement.

There were a few other things that were just off for me. Mostly concerning the aftermath of the plane crash. But if you’ve read my reviews, you know I am a picky bitch and stickler for details.

It was an enjoyable read, the sex scenes were hot if not detached and I really enjoyed the relationship between Reuben and his daughter.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

Third Time’s The Charm by K. Evan Coles: Exclusive Guest Post, Blog Tour, Release Day Review and Giveaway

May 29, 2019 by Denise

Sometimes you have to start over to get love right.

Luke Ryan’s life is too chaotic for romance, what with running his business and being the legal guardian to his ten-year-old niece, but he’s hopeful he’ll find the right man.

Trauma surgeon Finn Thomason recently relocated from Chicago to Boston, where his focus on medicine leaves him little space for a personal life. Making a commitment to find a better work-life balance, Finn hopes he’ll also find a relationship.

Caught in an evening rainstorm, Luke shelters under a sidewalk awning…and encounters a handsome stranger. The two strike up a conversation and Finn offers to walk Luke under his oversized umbrella. Charmed, Luke accepts and asks Finn out for coffee in thanks.

Luke and Finn quickly grow close, but, as the summer draws to an end, Luke struggles to keep his connection with Finn while Finn tries to come to terms with caring for a man whose attention is pulled in many directions. Both men are scrambling to get it right, but only time will tell if they’ll learn there is more than enough room in their hearts to go around.

Reader Advisory: This book contains references to child abandonment.

Book Title: Third Time’s The Charm (Boston Seasons, Book 1)

Author: K. Evan Coles

Publisher: Pride Publishing/Totally Entwined Group

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance, Erotic Romance

Trope/s: Hurt/Comfort, KidFic, True Love, Meet Cute

Themes: Family/Parenting. Friendship, Child Abandonment

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 68,000 words

Release Date: May 28, 2019

This is book number one in a series. It can also stand as its own story.

Add on Goodreads

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Amazon UK

Pride Publishing

When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I started writing when I was in middle school and did on and off over the years, purely for own enjoyment. Around ten years ago, I started writing steadily and putting words out there through writing contests and fanfic. I started co-writing with Brigham Vaughn and we decided we’d team up on a novel-length work and get it published for real. By the time the publishing happened, one novel had become two and I was fully immersed in the world we’d built.

How many books have you written?

As of this post, I’ve written six novels and published five, and published one novella and three short stories.

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

A novel is usually six to twelve months in the making, depending on its length and whether I’m writing alone or collaborating. Shorter works take less time, typically a month or so.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I enjoy imagining how characters meet because there’s a lot of romance in the way the stars align to enable such connections. I decided to write a story where the two mains literally bump into each other on a city sidewalk and went from there.

Who are your favorite authors?

Outside of the MM genre, my favorites include Margaret Atwood and William Gibson. Within the MM genre, my favorites include RJ Scott, Annabeth Albert, and Marie Sexton, but I read a lot and I’m always adding to that list.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Finding time is my biggest challenge—I work a demanding day job and that leaves writing time for evenings and weekends.

Where is your favorite place to write?

Anywhere I can set up shop undisturbed is my favorite place—I bring a tablet with me almost everywhere and I’ve been known to throw down words in the car or at a café over lunch. That said, I get a lot done at my kitchen table.

When you develop characters do you already know who they are before you begin writing or do you let them develop as you go?

Usually, I have a pretty good idea of who the characters are by the time I start writing. There’s a long time where they’re still very fluid, however, and that means they can change as I go. This is especially true when I make a deep connection with a character.

Do you aim for a set number of words/pages per day?

I don’t set word counts by day but instead by chapter. Typically, I try for 3-4K words per chapter (but usually fail and go over).

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Writing can be lonely because so much of it is happening inside your own head. As an extrovert, I like to direct my energies outward and that’s hard to do when the characters are literally in your brain.

What is the easiest thing about writing?

World building is something that comes very naturally to me. Once I’ve got an idea, my brain starts running on its own, even when I’m not writing.

Do you use images to develop your character’s looks?

Yes. I find face casts helpful for giving me a general method of describing facial features but often the characters are amalgams of multiple people.

Are your characters based on people you know?

Some characters have things in common with people I know or even myself—their sense of humor, or family/relationship drama—but none of them are strictly based on a real-life person.

Do you use your experiences in your books?

I have used some real-life experiences in my books, yes. As a person of mixed race, I sometimes draw on my background when writing characters who are persons of color.

Do you ever get writer’s block?

Not typically, no. But if I feel “stuck” on a story, I try to switch to a different project and that often straightens out the tangles in my head. Reading is also a restorative exercise for me.

What do you think makes a good story?

I want to really care about the characters and their happiness. I like for them to connect and, at some point, for that connection to be threatened. A little uncertainty about whether the relationship work or not makes the eventual outcome of the story satisfying.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Generally, I find writing energizing—it gets my creative juices flowing and my brain hums along. The exceptions are when scenes wring me out emotionally and leave me physically tired, too.

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?

Connecting with people—readers, writers, bloggers—through a shared passion for words and more has been a truly wonderful experience.

What do your friends and family think about you being a writer?

My family are supportive as are the friends who’ve watched me write over the years.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Outside of the day job, I like to read, honestly. I’m also fond of baking and photography, and I like to do needlework. And go outside! Fresh air is my friend.

Do you like music or silence when your write?

I can do either but if I’m listening to music it needs to be mostly lyric-less … otherwise, I start singing and no one wants that.

Do you outline or do you just write?

I get a rough timeline down with a general story arc before I start. This can be a full spreadsheet with notes for every chapter or just a quick paragraph. Then, I adjust as I go because the story changes as I go along.

Do you prefer pen and paper or computer?

I’m a computer/tablet person. Typing is faster for me and my handwriting is a nightmare.

Do you write as routine or do you write when you feel like it?

I try to stick to a routine when I can, both the keep on track and because the amount of time I have to write time is influenced by my day job. I take advantage of hours when I can!

What do you love best about your current book?

I’m a not-so-secret total sap and I really enjoyed indulging that side of myself and turning on the romance in “Third Time’s the Charm.” Also, there are a lot of dark things happening in the world right now—writing “Third Time’s the Charm” made me feel light and I hope some of that comes across in the story to readers, too.

What is your next project?

Currently, I’m working on two collab projects with Brigham Vaughn – we’re releasing Book #3 of The Speakeasy series this summer and writing Book #4 right now. My current solo works include Boston Season’s #2, the follow-up to “Third Time’s the Charm,” and a novella-length work I’m hoping to release in the fall.

This is my first read by this author, but any time I see a hot dad, or in this case, a hot uncle, I can’t help but get suckered in.

In this one, we have Luke, who is taking care of his niece, Ella while her daddy (Luke’s brother) is deployed, or stationed in a different state. Its been a few years and the routine is working for them, even if it does put a damper on Luke’s social life. I mean, not many single men want a ready-made family. Dating is hard when you’re a single parent… I remember!
And Luke’s life revolves around her, she’s his first priority….. as she should be.

Finn is a trauma surgeon and doesn’t have a whole lot of time for much. What with crazy work hours and really pushy friends to boss him around. I do have to mention that I didn’t like any of the friends in this entire story… Maybe, Mick, or Mack, I don’t even remember his name, but he’s one of the friends’ husbands…. He seemed alright, but everyone else was so bossy and pushy and seemed jealous or possessive. I just didn’t like any of them.

When Luke and Finn catch each other’s eyes at Starbucks, a phone call interrupts either man from saying hi. Luckily, they run into each other a few days later and that starts the “courting.”…. This goes on for a really long time. I felt like there was so much dialogue and explaining things, I found myself skimming a good half of the book. I’m sorry, I know that’s rude….but nothing important happened as far as I could tell. I didn’t feel like I missed anything and it was sooooo much of the same thing.

I liked how they took their time getting to know one another before introducing Finn to Ella. Finn wasn’t sure he was ready for such a big step and Luke wanted to be sure that Finn was going to be around before he started introducing him to family.

Ella, I was confused about. She seemed older for her age, and the cussing was kind of something that put me off. I mean, she’s 10, but swears in front of adults?? Not in my neck of the woods, her behind woulda been eating a bar of soap. And hey, I’m no prude… I live with 4 guys… I’ve heard it all, seen it all and have likely seen it all and said it all, myself…. But let one of my kids be that disrespectful and swear in front of anyone….. Wouldn’t happen more than once, I’ll say that.

Eventually, though, we get to the good stuff and these two fall for each other. There is somewhat of a misunderstanding… poor communication and again, the friends, or one in particular, gets in the way… but other than that, once the two talk about what they want with each other, the last third of the book is cute and doesn’t drag on so much.

It had a cute ending, so I can’t be too disappointed, but it’s not one I’d revisit or probably even recommend.

3 Pieces of Eye Candy

K. Evan Coles is a mother and tech pirate by day and a writer by night. She is a dreamer who, with a little hard work and a lot of good coffee, coaxes words out of her head and onto paper.

K. lives in the northeast United States, where she complains bitterly about the winters, but truly loves the region and its diverse, tenacious and deceptively compassionate people. You’ll usually find K. nerding out over books, movies and television with friends and family. She’s especially proud to be raising her son as part of a new generation of unabashed geeks.

K.’s books explore LGBTQ+ romance in contemporary settings.

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The Color Of Summer by Anna Martin: RDB, Release Day Review *2, and Giveaway

May 28, 2019 by Denise

Tattoo artist Max Marshall rushes into his hometown of Sweetwater, West Virginia—and is promptly pulled over for speeding. Max’s luck isn’t all bad, though, because he recognizes the deputy, Tyler Reed, Max’s childhood best friend’s older brother.

Reconnecting with Tyler helps Max settle back in, and it also leads to attraction. But when he tries to explore that connection at the grand opening of his tattoo studio—by kissing Tyler—awkwardness ensues. Max wants more, but has he misread Tyler’s signals?

As a single father raising a six-year-old daughter, Tyler doesn’t have much time to date. He’s ignored his attraction to men for years, but he can’t stop thinking about the kiss he shared with Max. If he can handle the complications of dating in a small town and the possible consequences to his career, this romance could blossom with all the colors of summer.

Length: 71,000 words approx.

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Design: Reese Dante

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Cute story, low angst, plus a kid…

Max comes home to Sweetwater, WV (if that doesn’t give you a clue as to the cuteness level) and immediately gets pulled over by his best friend’s older brother. But from there they form a friendship, which Max tests with a kiss. Cue perceived straight boy introspection, worry about job (big manly men cops) and his daughter.

But they decide to forge forward slowly. Tyler because not only is this dating a guy thing new, he hasn’t dated in years. And Max, the proverbial bad boy tattoo artist who doesn’t commit. Well, I think he is supposed to be like that but doesn’t put up much of a fight when he ends up spending tons of time with both Tyler and his daughter.

The writing is a bit stuttery for me. (Yes, making up words again). Although I know this author has a few books under her belt, the writing just isn’t smooth. It was a decent story though. It kind of reminded me of a traditional Harlequin romance. Formulaic, sweet, some sexy scenes, the big drama to bring them closer, the misunderstanding, etc, etc.

There were a few things left hanging, some unresolved tiny plot points. I don’t want to say what they are because you might not even notice.

I’ll call this a good beach read. Easy to pick up and put down, you won’t get lost in the story, but you’ll still be entertained.

3 pieces of eye candy

A tattoo artist and a single dad/cop…. Nuff said.

Max (the tattoo artist) is back in his hometown after his mother suffers a stroke and he wants to be closer to home. I like how close he is with his family, his mom especially. Upon entering town, he gets pulled over by his old friend’s brother, Tyler.

Tyler is the cop (duh) and single dad. Should’ve been swooning my socks off, but his back and forth kind of wore on me. I get with his occupation and him being a single parent, that coming out and even accepting oneself would be a tricky log to hop over… I didn’t begrudge him that, but he didn’t feel confused about it to me, it was just yes I am, no I’m not, but I am, and let’s not bring it up again.

But, I liked these two together and their friendly banter and easy conversation, even from the very beginning was cute and felt real. I’ve never read this author before, but sometimes dialogue gets a little cringy just for filling space I fell like, and I didn’t get any of that from this story… It was low angst and slow moving, … I’m not emotionally confident enough to handle a bunch of drama in my happily ever afters.

I loved Max’s relationship with Juniper, I’m always a sucker for kids in these stories, because I too was a single mom, once upon a time and finding a guy to step in and be great with your kids is tricky and it doesn’t always work, but when a Tyler finds himself in a situation and Max moves in to help him out, I couldn’t help but fall in love with all three of them.

The only thing that really bothered me was Tyler’s view of his sexuality and the back and forth. I hoped he would seem more sure and it wasn’t just a convenience thing, because even though I could tell that they had genuine feelings for each other… and they become this happy family in the end, they didn’t even say I love you…. I kept waiting on it, and it never happened, so it felt unfinished to me. I dunno, maybe I’m being too picky.

Overall, it was a sweet read and cute for anyone like myself who enjoys hot dads, cops or tattoo artists.

3 pieces of eye candy from me

Anna Martin is from a picturesque seaside village in the southwest of England and now lives in the Bristol, a city that embraces her love for the arts. After spending most of her childhood making up stories, she studied English literature at university before attempting to turn her hand as a professional writer.

Apart from being physically dependent on her laptop, Anna is enthusiastic about writing and producing local grassroots theater (especially at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she can be found every summer), going to visit friends in other countries, and reading anything thatís put under her nose.

Anna claims her entire career is due to the love, support, prereading, and creative ass kicking provided by her best friend Jennifer. Jennifer refuses to accept responsibility for anything Anna has written.

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