Monday, June 22, 2020

Bad Dogs and Drag Queens by Julie Lynn Hayes (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title




ADULT title
by 
Julie Lynn Hayes

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GENRE:   Gay Romance

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BLURB:

Vinnie Delarosa and Ethan Thorne are partners—on and off the clock. Federal undercover detectives, they’re part of a covert task force designed to promote goodwill between the feds and local authorities. They lend an unobtrusive helping hand wherever it’s needed. No credit required.

Vinnie and Ethan work primarily in the Southeast region of the United States and live together in Richmond, Virginia. A mugger problem brings them to Roanoke, where Vinnie is thrown out as bait to catch the man who’s been snatching purses in a city park, but they end up with more than they bargained for. Why is Vinnie always the one who has to wear the dress? Ethan says it’s because Vinnie looks much prettier in a skirt. How can he argue with that?

Expecting to return to Richmond afterward, Vinnie and Ethan find themselves assigned a new case instead. They are to go undercover at The Stroll, one of the biggest gay nightclubs in Roanoke. Someone is terrorizing both the customers and the performers. Could they be dealing with a hate crime? Someone has to protect the drag queens of Roanoke, so it’s Vinnie and Ethan to the rescue!

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EXCERPT


“Now what? Should we take him by the station, let them deal with him?” Ethan asked.

“It’s a police station, not a dog pound. Besides, he has a home. That wouldn’t be fair to lock him up like he did something wrong.”

“He did do something wrong,” Ethan pointed out. “He stole your purse.”

I knelt, albeit painfully, beside the two of them, bits of loose pavement digging into my knees, and began to stroke the Peke’s soft, damp fur. He wagged his tail and looked up at me with hopeful eyes. “Looks like we don’t have much choice if we can’t reach his owner.”

“Vinnie, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Well, it’s not my first choice either, Ethan, but I don’t know what else to do. We can fix him up some space in one of the drawers. He’s little. He’ll probably like that. In the morning, we’ll get hold of his owner and then we can take him home on our way in to the station.”

“Yeah, okay.” Ethan gave in, as I knew he would. “You can carry him, since I’m driving.”

“Who says you’re driving?” I argued, even as I scooped up the unresisting pup. I tucked him into the crook of one arm, well away from the purse I’d slung over my other shoulder.

“Because I’m the husband and you’re the wife, and that’s how it works.” He winked at me.

Some days I just want to belt him.


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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Julie Lynn Hayes was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri, and still calls that city home. She first began to write over fifty years ago, and doesn’t see that stopping anytime soon. She likes to write in different genres, to stretch herself in order to see what is possible. When someone tells her something can’t be done, she feels compelled to do it. Much of her writing is in the m/m romance category.
When she isn’t writing, or working at her day job with a third party elevator inspection company, she enjoys crafts, such as cross stitch and crochet, and watching her favorite programs. Her favorite chef is Geoffrey Zakarian, and her favorite historical character is Aaron Burr—she is obsessed with all things Hamilton!  Never say never is her motto!

eXtasy Books
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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway



The tour dates can be found here 


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My review:


3.5 out of 5 stars


Bad Dogs and Drag Queens by Julie Lynn Hayes is the first story in the ‘Rose and Thorne’ series and features federal agents Vinnie Delarosa and Ethan Thorne, whose special talents (and fancy wardrobes) are used to solve cases for local law enforcement officials.

This contemporary gay mystery romance is a lighthearted look at the lengths some folks will go to nab their villains. Vinnie and Ethan are partners in life and on the job and have no problem dressing up to fit the role. The little dog and his actions almost steal the show, and he adds great “aww” moments. Although I love the connection the men have, at times I felt they were almost too sweet and mild, and I was surprised at the brief interludes of insecurity that almost blow their covers given the length of time they’ve been together. The interactions with the drag queens and their inventive names were fun elements but the motive behind the perpetrator seemed a little weak. I suspect that some of the dangling threads are going to be addressed in subsequent stories since this is the first in the series. Those in search of a low-angst fun read should give this tale a try.


A copy was provided for review
 


Saturday, June 20, 2020

On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe (Spotlight and review)




by
Mary Alice Monroe


About the book:
It’s been sixteen years since Caretta “Cara” Rutledge has returned home to the beautiful shores of Charleston, South Carolina. Over those years, she has weathered the tides of deaths and births, struggles and joys. And now, as Cara prepares for her second wedding, her life is about to change yet again.

Meanwhile, the rest of the storied Rutledge family is also in flux. Cara’s niece Linnea returns to Sullivan’s Island to begin a new career and an unexpected relationship. Linnea’s parents, having survived bankruptcy, pin their hopes and futures on the construction of a new home on Ocean Boulevard. But as excitement over the house and wedding builds, a devastating illness strikes the family and brings plans to a screeching halt. It is under these trying circumstances that the Rutledge family must come together yet again to discover the enduring strength in love, tradition, and legacy from mother to daughter to granddaughter.

Like the sea turtles that come ashore annually on these windswept islands, three generations of the Rutledge family experience a season of return, rebirth, and growth. “Authentic, generous, and heartfelt” (Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author), On Ocean Boulevard is Mary Alice Monroe at her very best.
  




(Note from ELF:  My apologies, I asked for an excerpt, but for some reason I could not get a response. Sorry!)



Twitter




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My review:



4.25 out of 5 stars


On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe follows the close connections of a group of women in the lowcountry of South Carolina, who are not only bound by love and friendship, but who are united in their care for the loggerhead sea turtles that many of them are devoted to helping survive. Linnea Rutledge has returned to her roots, but she’s far from settled, and it will be a challenge to navigate the personal and professional challenges, but her passion for the preservation of the environment never flags.

This contemporary women’s fiction story paints a vivid portrait of life on a special island and one of the families who are integrated into Charleston’s colorful history. Although I have never been to this area, I could almost smell the beach and I was delighted to share the experience of the lives of these characters and fascinated by the complicated hierarchy of the families. Although there are several books that touch on the Rutledge family, there is no problem reading this story as a stand-alone tale.


A copy of this title was provided for review

Friday, June 19, 2020

Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Gabbi Grey (Spotlight and excerpt) ADULT title



Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay




ADULT title
by
Gabbi Grey









Exclusive Excerpt:


A seagull flew overhead, dipping down to the ground to peck at a piece of trash.

Thomas shooed the bird away, scooped up the litter, and tossed it into a bin nearby.

Natural. Easy fluid movements. Sleek and lean. He might not be classically handsome, but his body was a thing of beauty. Something to be coveted, if I were so inclined. I wasn’t. Because feelings like this could complicate things.

Didn’t stop me from fantasizing what could be. If we could hold hands. If we could be boyfriends. If we could be lovers.

Buy Links:





Image by Karen Arnold from Pixabay






Bio


Gabbi lives surrounded by trees, racoons, deer, and other woodland creatures, on a mountain in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin poo keeps her safe from nasty bears.
Working for the government by day, she spends her nights writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances…and while she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love.

 




Personal links:











Thursday, June 18, 2020

Blue Magnolia by W.F. Ranew (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title






BLUE MAGNOLIA
ADULT title
by 
W.F. Ranew

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GENRE: Mystery-Thriller

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BLURB:

PI Red Farlow dives headfirst into a hornets' nest of extremists. His new client, Hank Tillman, only wants to get a shot at country music stardom. While playing in a Georgia bar, Hank—known as Cowboy to his fans—stumbles into trouble. The kind that kills. PI Red Farlow steps in to help him.

Hank’s song, Redneck Devil, attracts the attention of a violent group called the Blue Magnolia. Its leaders want him to perform at their next hate rally. There's another, darker reason the Blue Magnolia wants Hank in its fold.

An elderly patient in a Florida insane asylum reveals a decades-long secret that devastates Hank. It’s the worst kind of fake news.

Can Farlow root out the truth? The PI has his own problems as he confronts a hired killer face-to-face.

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EXCERPT

You couldn’t help but like Hank. He smiled broadly and often, friendly in a wholly Southern way. Which is why there was no easy way to explain what happened to loveable Hank Tillman. But it did happen. How could he offend anybody? Not easy, if you knew him. But he did.

Hank’s story told a long and complicated tale for his number of years, a romance bitten with tragedy, his life’s destiny crawling along like a rattlesnake on a hot July afternoon.

Yet, Hank himself smiled brightly. He always made most well-adjusted people feel good, whether he played in a honky-tonk or just talked while sipping iced tea on his mama’s screened front porch in Norman Park, Georgia. He preferred the sweet tea rather than bourbon during periods of hoisting himself up on the wagon for another short ride. Besides, his mother wouldn’t allow the hard drink in her house. Other times, liquor held on to Hank and wouldn’t let go. He tried Alcoholics Anonymous once. Didn’t take. Couldn’t take. Probably never would.

Hank’s story evolves from a crossroads in his life. There, he encountered some people who wanted to destroy him. He also met Red Farlow, who happened to be in the audience the night in Southwest Georgia.

Farlow worked as a private investigator with a checkered past in law enforcement and a real badass attitude. But, like Hank Tillman, Red was a pretty nice guy. Most of the time.
Cowboy’s story started in Nashville, Tennessee. If you asked Hank, he hoped it would end there one day.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:


W.F. Ranew is a former newspaper reporter, editor, and communication executive. He started his journalism career covering sports, police, and city council meetings at his hometown newspaper, The Quitman Free Press. He also worked as a reporter and editor for several regional dailies: The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, The Florida Times-Union, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ranew has written three previous novels: Rich and Gone (Tirgearr Publishing), Schoolhouse Man and Candyman’s Sorrow. He lives with his wife, Dr. Lynn Ranew, in Atlanta and St. Simons Island, Ga.






Find W.F. Ranew Online:



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GIVEAWAY



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The tour dates can be found here 


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My review:





3.5 stars



Blue Magnolia by W.F. Ranew is the second story in the ‘Red Farlow Mysteries’ series and follows the private investigator as he provides protection for up-and-coming country singer Hank “Cowboy” Tillman. Cowboy has written a song that makes him a target for members of a hate group known as the Blue Magnolia and they’re determined to recruit him, whether he wants it or not.



This suspense-filled and gritty contemporary tale has quite a few twists and turns, creatively alludes to very sensitive current events, and showcases the evils that some will perpetrate in their quest to remake the world according to their precepts. Those who have triggers or who are squeamish should be aware that there are multiple violent episodes, horrific hate crimes, and sexual assaults described.



There are entertaining and creative descriptions sprinkled throughout the story (e.g. “To proclaim the two dumber than dirt would insult dirt.”) and certain characters are vividly portrayed and capture the reader’s attention and sympathy. I struggled with the shifts in points of view and tenses, since much of the story is told in third person omniscient but has first person observations sprinkled in, and the tenses shift back and forth between present and past, which got a little confusing in places. There is an extensive cast of characters, with thumbnail histories provided for many, and this was a bit overwhelming and made me wish for a reminder list to figure out who was connected to who!



The story is reminiscent of a noir detective story and gives a unique (and frightening) look at a certain element of contemporary society. It’s thought-provoking and intriguing, and I have no doubt that Red will continue to have more exciting adventures to come.





A copy was provided for review



Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Fated Desires by Becky Flade (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT





ADULT title
by 
Becky Flade

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GENRE: Romantic Suspense

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BLURB:

Jenna Gavin is searching for a fresh start, but more importantly, balance. Her heart, and perhaps the hands of fate, has led her and her young son to Trappers' Cove, Minnesota. Settling in the small, quirky town, she's not in the market for a casual relationship yet finds herself in one with the young widower next door.

Former shortstop, Gabriel Foxx, is drawn to his difficult new neighbor. The more the prickly divorcee attempts to keep him at arm's length, the more determined he is to break down her walls. He can't avoid the passion she inspires but he won't allow himself to feel more.

When friendship grows complicated by stronger emotions and mutual desire, it just isn't enough. Will love be worth the risk?
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EXCERPT


“You may or may not have been avoiding me, but you have been thinking about me. Nice consolation prize.”
“How did you draw that conclusion?”
“Call it a hunch.”
“More like arrogance.”

“Tomayto, tomahto.” He stared at her mouth and saliva pooled under her tongue. “I’ve been thinking about you too.”

“I never said I was.” 

“Of course you were. You’ve been thinking about my age, right? Telling yourself I’m too young for you? That means you’ve been thinking about doing things with me where age might make a difference—not drinking coffee or talking about books, for example.” He leaned in, crowding her again. “I’m not too young.”

“What you are is delusional. And conceited.”

“I preferred arrogant. Sounded more noble.”

“Did you come in here to purchase something or to annoy me?”

“Both. But I changed my mind about the book.” He braced his hands on the edge of the desk, trapping her. His mouth was inches from hers and lowered his voice a whisper, “I can’t stop thinking about your lips.”

She heard Henley and Tala’s approaching laughter. They hadn’t seen her and Gabriel yet. He growled low in his throat, so low she thought perhaps she’d imagined it.

“Interrupted again.”




The book will be on sale for only $0.99.
(please check price before buying)






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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A city girl, born and bred, I tend to place my stories in and around southeast Pennsylvania, or at least have a character or two from the area. Home is where the heart is and I make mine with my very own knight in slightly tarnished armor, three beautiful daughters, my son-in-law and two grandsons. When I’m not busy living my own happily ever after, I’m writing about someone else’s.

I’d love to have you visit with me at any of my virtual homes or write to me directly at beckyfladeauthor@gmail.com

CONTACT INFO

Pinterest



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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The tour dates can be found here




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My review:




4.25 stars


Fated Desires by Becky Flade centers around divorcee Jenna Gavin, who has moved to Trappers’ Cove with her younger son, Finn. Her unexpected connection to former pro-baseball player Gabriel Foxx is complicated by his past and her son’s ongoing hostility toward her. The new location may not accomplish everything she’s hoped for, but may teach everyone the importance of being open to second chances.

This contemporary romance with fantasy elements is a lovely blend of tropes that come together for a satisfying, easy-to-read story. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone story without any problem. I was immediately invested in the heroine’s struggle to make a new life away from her jerk of an ex-husband and sympathetic toward her young son as he struggled to cope with the upheavals in his life. I wasn’t too thrilled with some of the things she let him get away with, but that’s just my personal bias. I definitely identified with Jenna’s ability to let her mouth run away with her, causing friction or hurt feelings due to lashing out defensively. Gabriel is a sweet and sexy foil for the fiery Jenna, and one can’t help but ache for his pain and want to comfort him. There are very tender and emotional scenes that made me reach for a tissue more than once.

There were a few issues that bothered me even though I was compelled to keep reading as fast as I could. The time passage was erratic, and I was disconcerted a few times to discover that days or weeks had elapsed when a new chapter started. I thought both the ex-husband and Gabriel’s Cassidy were a bit inconsistent in behavior, as was Jenna’s older son, although I know some conflict is necessary for the story. I also got a little confused about who Despite this, I liked the story and was delighted by the cameos by the stars of the previous two stories in the series and was tickled by the appellations of “Sass and Class” for the previous heroines. There are beautiful passages and poignant scenes that made this an enjoyable read and I thought this was a great addition to the series.



A copy of this title was provided for review