5 stars

Smoke & Mirrors by Charlie Cochet : Blog Tour, Playlist, Review and Giveaway

July 14, 2016 by Denise

Hello, all! Welcome to the next stop on the Smoke & Mirrors blog tour, celebrating the release of the 7th book in the THIRDS series. For those of you familiar with the series, you know what an important part music plays in both the books, and in the characters’ lives, especially in Dex’s life.

Most often than not, I listen to music while writing. Throughout the THIRDS especially, I listen to a lot to classic rock and eighties music, as well as some modern day pop. I have a paid Pandora subscription and several favorite stations set up for writing. When I come across songs that perfectly fit either the scene I’m writing, or fit great with another scene, they tend to make the playlist for that book.

A good deal of the time, it’s about the sound of the song and the mood it evokes, followed by the lyrics. Sometimes a song might inspire a scene, or something that happens in a scene. It helps me visualize what’s happening at that moment, and comes through in the description. For example, Lay All Your Love on Me by ABBA came on, and it inspired the dance sequence in Chapter 5 of Smoke & Mirrors. It also fits nicely when the brawl breaks out. I like to have a good mix of tunes from different genres and decades. Hope you enjoy it!

Spotify Link: http://bit.ly/SMPlaylist

Smoke & Mirrors Playlist

1. Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
2. Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones
3. What I like About You – The Romantics
4. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
5. Never Tear Us Apart – Paloma Faith
6. Lay All Your Love on Me – ABBA
7. Chains – Nick Jonas
8. Like I’m Gonna Lose You ft. John Legend – Meghan Trainor
9. Harden My Heart – Quarterflash
10. Smoke + Mirrors – Imagine Dragons
11. Unsteady – X Ambassadors
12. Home – Phillip Phillips
13. Centuries – Fall Out Boy
14. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
15. Irresistible – Fall Out Boy

ABOUT THE BOOK

Genre: Paranormal Gay Romance
Series: THIRDS
Length: Novel
Published: July 8th, 2016
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Ebook ISBN-13: 9781634773871
Paperback ISBN-13: 9781634773874

Life for Dexter J. Daley has never been easy, but he’s always found a way to pick himself back up with a smile on his face. Taken from his home, and the arms of his boyfriend and THIRDS partner, Sloane Brodie, Dex finds himself in a situation as mysterious and lethal as the Therian interrogating him. Dex learns what he’s secretly believed all along: his parents’ death wasn’t an accident.

Discovering the whole truth about John and Gina Daley’s homicide sets off a series of events that will change Dex and Sloane’s lives forever. As buried secrets rise to the surface and new truths are revealed, Dex and Sloane’s love for each other is put to the test, with more than their relationship on the line. If traversing the waters of murder and secret government agencies wasn’t enough, something inexplicable has been happening to Dex—and nothing will ever be the same.

ADD TO GOODREADS

READ CHAPTER ONE

DREAMSPINNER PRESS EBOOK | DREAMSPINNER PRESS PAPERBACK :: AMAZON :: ARe :: BARNES & NOBLE

michelle review
OMG….THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING WITH A BIG FAT CHERRY ON TOP
Hi, my name is Michelle, and I am a THIRDS NERD ADDICT! This little series has become quiet the obsession. It took a big push from a fantastic person to start the series and I am so happy I did. I am now a complete addict! Cochet is one of the best writers I have had the privilege to read. Her THIRDS world is unique but not too farfetched that you have no idea what you just read.
Cochet left me in a massive book hang over at the end of Catch a Tiger. It was a major cliffhanger and I have been chomping at the bits to see what happened. Smoke & Mirrors picks up exactly where book 6 left off.
I was nervous to start this. Wondering what would happen to Dex? Would Sloan and Dex’s relationship change? What happens if they can’t fix what happened? OMG….What if Dex never returned? I was already getting teary-eyed and getting heart palps wondering WHAT IF.
Talk about PACKING A PUNCH from the start. I will admit the beginning is not for the faint at heart! Cochet once again put some much emotion into every scene you can’t help but feel the agony and pain that Dex is going through.
Cochet delivers another no-holds-bar book with everything we expect to see……Action, Secrets (BIG SECRETS), Surprises at every turn and hot-off-the-chart scenes with our favorite couple.
If you’re already a THIRDS NERD than you already know what kind of rollercoaster ride you are in for. If you haven’t started the series…..YOU BETTER GET TO BUYING! You will need to start at book 1 but it is soooooo worth.
I will sit here patiently in the corner waiting for the next book! I will try not to ask WHEN… WHEN…WHEN because I know it will be worth the wait.
You are the SH@T Charlie……………………….5 BIG BRIGHT PIECES OF EYE CANDY

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Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From adventurous agents and sexy shifters, to society gentlemen and hardboiled detectives, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

SERIES READING ORDER

Hell & High Water (THIRDS, Book 1)
Blood & Thunder (THIRDS Book 2)
Rack & Ruin (THIRDS, Book 3)
Rise & Fall (THIRDS, Book 4)
Against the Grain (THIRDS, Book 5)
Catch a Tiger by the Tail (THIRDS, Book 6)
Smoke & Mirrors (THIRDS, Book 7)

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Dinner for One by Meg Harding: Release Day Review

July 13, 2016 by Denise

synopsis

Bastien isn’t used to bad reviews. His French restaurant is the toast of the town, and when a well-known critic insults it, he’s left off-kilter. Luckily for him he’s found a distraction. He’s just met an attractive writer at his niece’s school bake sale. He’s into food, into Bastien and the touch of kink they share, and there’s a chemistry between them that might make the perfect recipe.

James isn’t expecting to meet a good-looking French chef at a bake sale, but he’s not going to let the chance slide. It comes as a surprise when the chef turns out to be the owner of a place he knows—and has reviewed—and it puts James in a sticky situation. So he might have to omit some pertinent information to make it work… at least for now.

Title: Dinner for One
Author: Meg Harding
Release Date: July 13, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 200

deanna review

For me this was the perfect story! I loved everything about it. It was so refreshing to read a book where their is no angst or uncertainty about being gay. In fact, being gay isn’t even mentioned in the whole book. The main characters embraced themselves, their friends and families accepted them for who they were and it made for a wonderful story. I would love to see this dynamic become more mainstream, it would be awesome.

James is a well known food critic who gave a pretty harsh review to a local French restaurant. Bastien is the owner of said French restaurant and is really upset about his only negative review. The two meet at a bake sale for their nieces and nephew and hit it off immediately. The only catch, Bastien doesn’t know who James is.

James’s family talks him into keeping the secret and seeing where things go, because if they don’t work out their is no reason to come clean. The problem is, things are working out. Bastien and James are spending more and more time together and James’s secret is hanging over their heads like a lead balloon.

Just when James is about to come clean Bastien finds out on his own. Both are heartbroken and lean on their families to help them. Both will have to decide if one lie can spoil all of the wonderful time they had together.

Where do I begin. As much as I love James and Bastien I loved their quirky families as well. James’s siblings are crazy and funny. I was cracking up at their antics.

This was a slow burn kind of story. The build up was perfection. Their feeling steadily grew stronger without the insta-love feel. Even when things fell apart it was low on angst and drama. This was a great story about two mature grown men, even with James’s brothers antics nothing about it felt juvenile.

The dates that Bastien planned for them were so romantic, even when they didn’t go as he planned.

The way James wooed (is that even a word) Bastien after the fallout was so romantic and lovely and Bastien’s reaction was perfect.

This is my first read by Meg Harding and it won’t be my last. This book is definitely on my Best of 2016 list.

I can’t say enough good things about this book, just go read it!

5 pieces of eye candy

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ARe

Dreamspinner Press

Son of Money by Brandon Witt: Release Day Review dsp

July 11, 2016 by Denise

son of money Randall Morgan, youngest son of one of Seattle’s wealthiest families, rejected his family’s money to live free of their control and pursue his career as a photographer. To make ends meet, Randall does erotic photography and massage—a secret he keeps from his family so he can remain a part of his young niece’s life. But the price of that relationship is high, and Randall is once more slipping under his family’s thumb.

Noah Carroll is the spokesperson for the Seattle Humane Society, and the city holds a special place in his heart. When fate intervenes during a pet adoption, Noah finds himself face-to-face with his first love—Randall.

While Noah and Randall are not the teenagers they once were, the flame of a first kiss long ago draws them together. Their romance is beginning to grow, but someone is out to destroy Randall and expose all he keeps hidden.

When secrets and rumors thrust Randall into the public eye, his relationship with Noah isn’t the only thing that comes under threat.

Title: Son of Money
Author: Brandon Witt
Release Date: July 11, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 284

morgan review

This is my first book by Brandon Witt and I loved it. The writing was fantastic. The story was full of drama, passion, heartbreak, angst and tears. I loved the MC’s and I thought the chemistry between them was perfect. Even though Noah and Randall still have feelings from when they were kids, I enjoyed getting to watch them fall in love as the relationship grew. I fell head over heels for Noah and he was exactly what Randall needed as he fought some pretty rough battles throughout the story.

The secondary characters brought so much life to the story as well. I just adored Bailey and Kayla. Randall’s family was something else and Randall has such a great personality considering he grew up in that hateful, entitled household.

This story has twists and turns and is full of emotion and excitement. Be ready to stay up long into the night to finish because once I started I didn’t want to put it down. This is a definite reread for me and I can’t wait to check out more of Brandon’s stories.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

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Amazon

ARe

Dreamspinner press

Smoke & Mirrors by Charlie Cochet: Pre-Release Day Review

July 7, 2016 by Denise

synopsis

Life for Dexter J. Daley has never been easy, but he’s always found a way to pick himself back up with a smile on his face. Taken from his home and the arms of Sloane Brodie, his boyfriend and THIRDS partner, Dex finds himself in a situation as mysterious and lethal as the Therian interrogating him. Dex learns what he’s secretly believed all along: his parents’ death wasn’t an accident.

Discovering the whole truth about John and Gina Daley’s homicide sets off a series of events that will change Dex and Sloane’s life forever. As buried secrets rise to the surface and new truths are revealed, Dex and Sloane’s love for each other is put to the test, with more than their relationship on the line. If traversing the waters of murder and secret government agencies wasn’t enough, something inexplicable has been happening to Dex—and nothing will ever be the same.

Title: Smoke & Mirrors
Series: THIRDS Book Seven
Author: Charlie Cochet
Release Date: July 8, 2016
Category: Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Werewolves/Shifters, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 230

morgan review
WHAT A FANTASTIC STORY!!
When I finished this book I was a complete wreck, but in a good way. I believe Smoke & Mirrors is my favorite yet. Charlie has created an amazing world with the THIRDS and each story seems to be even better than the last. With this next installment we get to see a lot of our questions answered and a lot of new things about Dex’s past revealed. Dex and Sloane are met with even more struggles in their relationship and Dex is going through something that will blow everyone’s minds. This story had me laughing out loud, gripping my seat though the action scenes and crying my eyes out on more than one occasion. Omg, my emotions were all over.

Charlie is an amazing writer. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with for the next book in the series. I am really looking forward to seeing how the story plays out with Seb and Hudson. I have been completely hooked on this series from day one and she can’t write them fast enough. I was so happy with this new installment and Smoke & Mirrors definitely gets 5 pieces of eye candy from me.

5 pieces of eye candy

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denise review

I don’t give 5 pieces of eye candy out anymore. For me, the biggest factor on that is, is this a must re-read again. The answer to that is an emphatic YES!!! SOON!!!

Charlie has taken the THIRDS world and turned it on its head. We learned previous to this book, a little about TIN, and we certainly learn so much more in this book. And we learn how that affects Sloane and Dex’s lives. There is no turning back now.

The opening chapter literally gutted me. I couldn’t read it without crying, and cursing Charlie. (I “might” have been messaging someone about it, because I was upset). The rest of the book was a roller coaster like only Charlie can do. Things you think shouldn’t be related, definitely are. Things that happened in the recent past come back to change their worlds. Things that happened in the long ago past do the same.

Their worlds are changing, and we are so fortunate to have Charlie taking us along for the ride. My emotions were at a huge high, and a sad low. Few authors can take me on that journey, Charlie and her band of merry men did that.

A note of warning…before you read the epilogue, make a stop to grab some tissues. Your heartstrings will be pulled…tightly. What I see ahead for the group, well, it’s still a bumpy ride.

Without question, 5 pieces of eye candy. I will be getting it in paperback, and audio, when I can. And you should too!

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ARe

Dreamspinner Press

My Busboy by John Inman: Release Day Review DSP

July 3, 2016 by Denise

synopsis

Robert Johnny just turned thirty, and his life is pretty much in the toilet. His writing career is on the skids. His love life is nonexistent. A stalker is driving him crazy. And his cat is a pain in the ass.

Then Robert orders a chimichanga platter at a neighborhood restaurant, and his life changes—just like that.

Dario Martinez isn’t having such a great existence either. He needs money for college. His shoes are falling apart. His boyfriend’s a dick. And he has a crap job as a busboy.

Then a stranger orders a chimichanga platter, and suddenly life isn’t quite as depressing.

But it’s the book in the busboy’s back pocket that really gets the ball rolling. For both our heroes. That and the black eye and the forgotten bowl of guacamole. Who knew true love could be so easily ignited or that the flames would spread so quickly?

But when Robert’s stalker gets dangerous, our two heroes find a lot more to occupy their time than falling in love. Staying alive might become the new game plan.

Title: My Busboy
Author: John Inman
Release Date: July 4, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 210

deanna review
I loved so much about this book that I don’t even know where to begin.

Robert Johnny is a writer with a case of writers block he can’t shake and a stalker he can’t identify. Out to dinner for his birthday with his friend Chaz he happens upon a busboy with his first book in his back pocket.

Dario Martinez is working as a busboy to support himself while attending college. He is a huge Robert Johnny fan Andrew is lucky enough to meet the man himself. Maybe it was fate that put these two in each other’s path or maybe it was pure luck, either way it was electric.

Robert is so drawn to Dario he returns to the restaurant the next night for dinner and the two strike up a friendship. When Robert rescues Dario from is abusive boyfriend and whisks him off for the weekend to recuperate their friendship and the attraction deepens.

As the months go on Dario and Robert cement their budding relationship and Robert’s stalker steps up his game. The two are looking forward to forever, but they have to survive the stalker first.

The plot in this story was amazing! It was fast paced and kept me guessing the whole time. Every time I thought I knew who the stalker was, Bam a new twist.

Even with the age difference between Robert and Dario, the relationship just seemed right. There was no emotional disconnect, no immature angst. It was perfect, they were perfect.

There was humor, there was intrigue, there was genuine emotion. I was already a fan of John Inman, but this just skyrocketed him to a new level.

I can see this book being reread often.

5 pieces of eye candy

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ARe

Dreamspinner Press

A Second Harvest by Eli Easton: Release Day Review DSP

July 1, 2016 by Denise

synopsis

David Fisher has lived by the rules all his life. Born to a Mennonite family, he obeyed his father and took over the family farm, married, and had two children. Now with both his kids in college and his wife deceased, he runs his farm alone and without joy, counting off the days of a life half-lived.

Christie Landon, graphic designer, Manhattanite, and fierce gay party boy, needs a change. Now thirty, he figures it’s time to grow up and think about his future. When his best friend overdoses, Christie resolves to take a break from the city. He heads to a small house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to rest, recoup, and reflect.

But life in the country is boring despite glimpses of the hunky silver fox next door. When Christie’s creativity latches on to cooking, he decides to approach his widower neighbor with a plan to share meals and grocery expenses. David agrees, and soon the odd couple finds they really enjoy spending time together.

Christie challenges the boundaries of David’s closed world and brings out feelings he buried long ago. If he can break free of the past, he might find a second chance at happiness.

Title: A Second Harvest
Author: Eli Easton
Release Date: July 1, 2016
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 206

paula review

Two amazing characters coming together. David and Christie were beautiful together. Christie really grabbed me with his calm demeanor in regards to his interactions with David. His character was brilliantly written. His heart and his bravery in going for what he wants was amazing. Moving from Manhattan to Lancaster County was such a good move for him. I really like how he slowly made himself a part of David’s life. David was so endearing. Journeying with him through his internal struggle to be who he wants to be was so heartwarming. He also was really brave. Growing up surrounded my religion made him hide who he was for so long, but when he finally decided who he wanted to be, he stood his ground. The end bothered me a little bit because of the jump in time, I would have liked a little more of the story before the ending. But overall an amazing read.

5 pieces of eye candy

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