Search Results for: mate with me

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

April 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
Audiobook narrated by Rosalyn Landor
Publisher: Print – Avon, Recorded Books (Audio Publisher)
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

1814 promises to be another eventful season, but not, this author believes, for Anthony Bridgerton, London’s most elusive bachelor, who has shown no indication that he plans to marry. And in all truth, why should he? When it comes to playing the consummate rake, nobody does it better… – Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1814

But this time the gossip columnists have it wrong. Anthony Bridgerton hasn’t just decided to marry – he’s even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended’s older sister, Kate Sheffield – the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate’s the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams.

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Anthony was such a forceful personality in The Duke and I that I wasn’t sure how he’d be as a hero in his own book, The Viscount Who Loved Me. I shouldn’t have wondered. He blew away my expectations.

Just like The Duke and I, once again I listened to this novel via an audiobook. When Kate has her nightmare, Ms. Landor, the narrator, was so effective and so emotional, I know my mouth was hanging open in shock, I felt the chills go up my spine, and my breath caught in my throat. It was so REAL! And Anthony was wonderful with her. It affected him as well, and he was determined to help Kate. I know I’m jumping the gun by mentioning something later in the book but that scene was so amazing, and profound and effective, I had to start with it. That scene sealed this story with a rating of 5 stars.

Now, to go back to the beginning, Anthony decided it was time to find a wife. His choice would normally make sense, until a reader understands that he’s being driven by a traumatic event from his past. Here’s the point – it’s a real thing. It’s not his imagination. What is even more amazing is that Ms. Quinn actually explains why she had Anthony do as he did in the wrap up after the novel ends. I can personally attest to that emotional response because my own dad and his brother thought the exact same way. In the back of their minds as they married and lived their lives, there was an age concern, will they live past that milestone, or will genetics win out? It’s a powerful motivator for good or ill. Ms. Quinn used it as a very effective internal plot conflict and because I knew it was a real emotional response in real life, it made the story come alive and it felt very relevant.

The novel isn’t so dark and heavy handed, despite the first couple of paragraphs in my review. Those were the things that touched me deeply on a personal level. But the majority of the book is wonderfully romantic, and with the Bridgerton family playing Pall Mall, hilarity, hijinks and fun is a guarantee. Pay attention to the Mallet of Death because in the audio version there is a second epilogue and Pall Mall provides a significant backdrop that made me laugh uncontrollably too many times to count. I truly mean that. I laughed out loud, giggled, snorted and grinned from ear to ear so long, it hurt. Ms. Quinn has a wicked sense of humor!

What I find interesting about this story is that the intense moments when the true conflicts show up happen after the hero and heroine get married. It’s fascinating. In most romance books, they end after the hero and heroine get their HEA which usually has an ‘I love you’ and off they go. Not so with this novel. No, the author did something different. It’s when people move in together, when they see each other first thing in the morning and the last at night, when all the little quirks and personal habits start showing up and they react. That’s when the true learning of a married relationship starts. That’s what I believe Ms. Quinn does in this novel and it works. It’s wonderful and I can’t say enough good things about it.

The Viscount Who Loves Me is awesome, and whether you read it in print or listen to it in audio, Ms. Quinn has penned a wonderful romance that should not be missed.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Careless Whiskers by Miranda James

March 16, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Careless Whiskers by Miranda James
A Cat in the Stacks Mystery
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When librarian Charlie Harris’ daughter is falsely accused of murder, he and his faithful feline Diesel must leap forward to crack the case in this all-new installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Charlie Harris has sworn off investigating murder and mayhem after a recent close call. Instead, he’s delighted to cheer on his daughter, Laura, who’s starring in a production of Careless Whispers. The theater department at Athena College is debuting the play written by a fledgling playwright with local connections and Charlie’s son-in-law, Frank Salisbury, will be calling the directorial shots.

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Charlie knows his daughter is innocent, and he’s not going to let anyone railroad his little girl. So, despite his intentions to put his amateur sleuthing days behind him, Charlie has to take center stage, and with Diesel’s help, shine a spotlight on the real killer.

There’s a murderer on the stage and Charlie’s intent on saving the day!

I like the Cat in the Stacks mysteries. They’re comfort food in book form. The writing is good and drew me right in, plus there are cats. The pacing was a little uneven at times, but I could overlook it because I wanted to know what happened.

Charlie is a sweet older man. I’m not entirely sure how old he is, other than he’s a widower and has an adult child, but I never really got a good picture of him. I did get a great picture of his cats, Ramses and Diesel. I’d love to live somewhere that allows cats that readily around town. Then again, I’d love a Ramses and Diesel of my own, as these cats literally follow him everywhere like a pair of dogs. I’ve never had a cat that would listen to commands and wasn’t so headstrong that commands didn’t mean anything. These cats are different. Then again, this is fiction, so it’s okay.

The mystery is interesting and I had no idea whodunit. I had to read through and it was quicker pacing near the end when the ending is revealed. I did like that the story picked up that way. I do have to admit I got a bit tired of the various meals Charlie ate, but again, it could be overlooked because the mystery was interesting.

If you’re looking for a comfort style story, something to pass an afternoon and that involves cats, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Ten Things Most People Don’t Know About Me by Luba Lesychyn – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 25, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Luba Lesychyn will be awarding a print copy of Theft Between the Rains to a randomly drawn winner (US or Canada ONLY) via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

10 things most people don’t know about me

In my two books, the main character is inspired by my own experiences and escapades working at Canada’s largest museum, the Royal Ontario Museum. But, there’s many things that people don’t know about me. Here’s my top ten list.

1. When I came up with the idea for Theft By Chocolate (about a woman looking for chocolate, love, and an international art thief in all the wrong places), I was a raging chocolate addict. But when it came to write the sequel using the same lead character, Kalena Boyko, in my own life I had gained control over my addiction. I suppose you could say I’m a recovering chocoholic.

So, when writing the sequel, Theft Between the Rains (a story about what happens when my lead character inexplicably begins receiving art work listed as still missing since WWII starts turning up on her doorstep), I diminished the number of chocolate references and put more emphasis on water as the primary motif.

2. When I attended a summer writing workshop at a Toronto college, where I eventually did a creative writing program, an editor from an internationally renowned publishing house as well as a highly respected Toronto publishing agent ripped apart, in front of the entire class (probably more than 100 aspiring writers), the sample pages I had submitted as part of the enrollment requirements. I never thought I’d live that down, but I did and I vowed to learn as much as I possibly could about the craft of writing.

3. I became a vegetarian and conscious eater between writing the two books. So, readers will find that I make more references to organic and fair trade chocolate in Theft Between the Rains and have avoided including certain commercial chocolate brands that enable unethical practices in farming and harvesting in developing countries.

4. My first passion was actually film, even from a very young age, and my writing career started with blogging about my experiences attending Toronto’s International Film Festival (where during a period of 10 days each year, I would see 50+ films) including my amusing stories about dashing between theaters and screenings.

5. When I wrote Theft By Chocolate, I was terrified that my former colleagues at the Royal Ontario Museum would think I didn’t do them justice and that my use of artistic license in describing museum life would not be appreciated. In fact, the opposite turned out to be the case and even people I would consider to be stalwart academics took the time to contact me and tell me how much they enjoyed both books. In fact, in the first edition of Theft By Chocolate, I called the ROM by another name, so when I wrote Theft Between the Rains, I called the museum by its actual name and subsequently updated Theft By Chocolate and changed all the references to the Royal Canadian Museum to Royal Ontario Museum.

6. I wasn’t able to find a publisher for several years for Theft By Chocolate. Eventually, I travelled to the Women’s Fiction Festival in the town of Matera in Southern Italy where I pitched my book and found a publisher that was smitten with my manuscript. Unfortunately, they closed their doors a couple of years later so rights returned to me. When I wrote Theft Between the Rains, I made a conscious decision from the start to self-publish the sequel.

7. I’m one of those writers who for the longest time suffered from imposter syndrome, thinking that I was not a ‘real’ writer because I didn’t do it full time. I not only had a really demanding full-time job, but I was also teaching yoga evenings and weekends. It’s only been very recently, after having written two books, and working on my third and fourth, that I have come to realization that I AM a writer!

8. Like many writers, I am an introvert and when I do readings, I can’t eat for hours before or after it takes place. Now that I am doing readings virtually, one would think that I wouldn’t get stage fright, but in some ways it’s even worse because you’re staring at a computer screen and praying technology doesn’t break down. Fortunately, I have been told repeatedly my jitters don’t show and, if anything, I have great testimonials about my apparent confidence and ease of speaking at such events. If they only knew!

9. Despite being shy, I have organized all my own library and private book events (including when I had a publisher – who were UK based and I live in Canada). I did all my own leg work and self-promotion.

10. And finally, I have turned into an audiobook hoarder. I currently have a ‘pile’ of 20 audio books to which I haven’t listened.

What would you do if you worked at a reputable international museum and art works listed as still missing since WWII began showing up on your doorstep?

That’s the substance of the newest urban art theft thriller Theft Between the Rains by Luba Lesychyn.

Drawing on her more than 20 years at Canada’s largest museum, Luba reintroduces many of the affable and quirky characters from the prequel, Theft By Chocolate. Also resurrected is the malicious art thief who has been on the world’s most wanted criminal list for decades.

Theft Between the Rains takes readers behind the scenes at museums and to parts unknown of Toronto. And with water being a character unto its own, Luba uses both humor and thriller elements to weave a page-turning story while simultaneously illustrating how changing weather patterns and flash flooding are impacting metropolitan centers globally.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Lying slumped back in a chair, my body felt as though a truck had dumped a load of concrete over me. I mustered enough energy to crank my head upwards, but my brain was foggy, punch-drunk, as if I’d overdosed on gluten. In a mirror on the opposite wall, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. What was that dark mark on my throat, small and round? My head drooped downwards, and I noticed the door swelling open, incrementally, a sliver of light growing by millimeters. And then…a leg came into view. And, another. Where was I? Who was this coming in? Was I asleep, having one of those 3:00 am witching hour anxiety dreams? Should I get up? I couldn’t get up. Neurons were misfiring. I knew that person at the door. He was saying something to me…but the words seemed out of sync with what I was hearing.

Why did this guy sound like Johnny Cash…singing “Hurt”? Oh my god, it was Marco Zeffirelli, and now he seemed to be screaming at me, but it sounded as though he was underwater.

“Huh, what’s going on?” I said. Was I on some kind of drug trip? I didn’t do drugs. Did someone drug me?

Marco’s hands came towards the sides of my face, tugged at something, and the music stopped. Oh, right. It was all coming back to me. I had been listening to my iPod while working at my desk.

About the Author: Luba Lesychyn is a popular Toronto-based mystery writer, a graduate of the Humber School for Writers, and a respected author in the library readings and events circuit.

In her two books, she draws from her more than 20 years of work experiences at the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada’s largest museum), and her time working for a private museum consulting firm to write humorous, international art theft thrillers featuring amateur sleuth Kalena Boyko. Her newest book, Theft Between the Rains, is a sequel to Theft By Chocolate (about a woman looking for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places) published in 2012 by Attica Books and launched in Canada and the UK.

Luba currently spends her time writing and virtually touring Theft Between the Rains in which lead character Kalena Boyko returns to find herself pulled into international art theft intrigue when masterpieces missing since WWII start appearing on her doorstep.

Website | Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Kobo Author Page | Pinterest | Twitter

Buy the book at Amazon or Kobo.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , , ,

Cupid Returns to the Lonesome Buzzard Ranch by Hebby Roman

February 22, 2021 By 1 Comment


Cupid Returns to the Lonesome Buzzard Ranch by Hebby Roman
The Lonesome Buzzard Ranch Series Book 2
Publisher: Estrella Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Will a long-awaited wedding at the Lonesome Buzzard Ranch spark another round of unlikely romances?

Les Springer, the owner of the Lonesome Buzzard Ranch, is a little rusty on relationships. When his new girlfriend, Lilly Mayfield, feels neglected and wonders if he’s seeing someone else, she decides two can play at that game.
Eva González, Les’ widowed housekeeper, and Jiggs Davis, Les’ bachelor foreman, can’t wait to be married until Eva’s unconventional daughter shows up and has Jiggs bolting for the door.

Cheyenne MacPherson thinks she’s in love with Jayce Fulton, but her observations of wedded bliss leave a lot to be desired. Jayce wants a forever-after-kind of love, but can he convince Cheyenne to let him put a ring on her finger?
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Laney Springer, Les’ oldest daughter, hasn’t had a serious relationship since her fiancé dumped her in college. When she runs into her childhood friend, Edward Coleridge, he makes her feel desirable again. Edward has known Laney since they were children. But he’s six years younger and worries she only thinks of him as her kid brother.

María González, Eva’s daughter, has failed at everything she’s tried. At the ranch, she’s swept off her feet by the multi-millionaire, sophisticate Nigel Lafitte. But María worries she’s not good enough for him. What does Nigel have to do to convince her to take him seriously?

Chris Henderson, Laney’s roommate, swears off cowboys when she learns her current boyfriend is two-timing her. At the Springer ranch, she meets New Mexico’s most eligible cowboy millionaire, Connor McCullar. Connor’s trust has been shattered in the past, and he prefers to play the field. Will Chris be the woman to break down his defenses?

Brenda Thompson, Cheyenne’s best friend, is divorced and a single-mother, and after years of disappointing dates she’s almost given up on men. Chuck Hornbill is shy and awkward with women, and while Brenda fascinates him, she also scares the pants off him. How can he convince her to give him a chance?

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Every time I say that I think of the movie, Annie. It’s totally irrelevant but that is how I feel after finishing Cupid Returns to the Lonesome Buzzard Ranch. I read the first book in the series and was anticipating this release. A significant amount of time has passed since I finished the first book but I was pleased that it all came back to me once I started reading book two. I can see how this could be read as a standalone but I just can’t suggest that with good conscience. The overall experience is more fulfilling if they are read in consecutive order. In fact, when the series is complete, I think I’ll go back and binge read all of them again.

I didn’t hesitate this time reading a book with multiple romances going on since I didn’t have an issue with the first book in the series. I dove in with confidence that I’d be treated with an entertaining read. I suggest the reader to check out the synopsis and decide if they think it sounds too busy for them or not. I typically would have a hard time with this type of romance book but Hebby Roman is one of my trusted authors. I know her writing style will smoothly guide me through the transitions.

Once again, I can’t pick which was my favorite couple. However, I’d lean towards Christine and Connor. They made me laugh the most. Each couple is unique and lovable. I got an extra chuckle because I actually read this book on Valentine’s Day. I can’t think of a better holiday to read a romance book. There was an abundance of love in the air today. If you’re looking for a fun read with elements of comedy then pick up this witty romance book.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Second Chances in Cedarwood by Megan Slayer – Spotlight and Giveaway

February 19, 2021 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Megan Slayer who is celebrating the recent release of Second Chance in Cedarwood. Enter to win a fabulous gift package and get a FREE eBook from the author!

Who knew love could be found at a small-town hot dog shop?

Jack Walters opened his hole-in-the-wall restaurant to serve hot dogs—being a chef is all he’s ever wanted out of life. Love hasn’t worked out for him, so the last thing he expects is to find romance at his shop. But Jack’s been hurt before and he’s leery of the sexy man who keeps visiting his restaurant.

Henry Lord has been all around the world. He’s visited gourmet foodie places and tiny restaurants, but he loves the ambience at Jack’s Hot Dog Shop. He’s also in lust with the sexy owner. Henry’s shy, but he’s determined to get Jack’s attention. There are people who want to use Jack and change him.

Not Henry. It’ll take a herculean effort to prove to Jack that he’s the one for Henry. Good thing Henry believes in love, second chances and finding his home…in Cedarwood.

Reader advisory: This book contains mentions of homophobia, and emotionally abusive exes.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Who needs a hot dog?” Jack Walters stood behind the grill at his one-room hot dog shop and surveyed the landscape. Fifteen people had packed into the space—ten waiting on orders and five spread among the three tables. People waited outside. He could almost hear the chatter of the customers over the sizzle of the grill.

Jack lived for the blur of action. He loved his shop and serving food to the people of Cedarwood. Truth be told, he liked being needed in the community and he enjoyed the din of conversation. He’d heard so much gossip over his twenty years at the shop. Couples splitting, people cheating on lovers and spouses, people cheating in business, discussing business, politics…he’d heard it all.

Unlike some of the restaurants in Cedarwood, he kept his business rather plain. Sure, there were metal signs from other hot dog shops and old advertising signs on the wall, but he wasn’t going for upscale ambience. He wanted a quick in-and-out type of establishment. Cash only and most customers took their food to go. He’d considered opening at a bigger location, but why mess with what worked?

He spotted Henry at one of the tables. Most people didn’t bother to stop and sit. They wanted quick and convenient. Henry seemed to linger every day, coming in after one in the afternoon, then staying until closing at three.

Jack filled orders, but his mind wandered to Henry. He didn’t know much about the guy beyond that he was a writer. He’d read a few of Henry’s articles in the local paper and seen his work in magazines displayed in the bookstore.

He’d learned the most about Henry—most of which he doubted was true—through the gossip grapevine in Cedarwood. Everyone talked about everyone. Henry lived alone, wrote stories and articles, traveled and didn’t say much. Henry liked order and could be cranky when things didn’t go his way.

Most people got irritated when things didn’t work out. He knew—he’d seen it at the shop. Hot dogs without the right toppings, with the right ones but cold or too hot, or swearing they’d been overcharged. He shook his head. Every hot dog cost exactly three dollars. Condiments were free, but cheese, jalapenos and chili cost an additional fifty cents each. The sodas were two bucks and fries cost a dollar. Easy.

Jack served up another handful of hot dogs, then read through the new orders. He added a new batch to the grill and glanced over at Henry. He wondered how old he was, since no one seemed to discuss that point. He couldn’t be much older than Jack’s forty-five years. Sure, he had some gray hairs on his temples and scattered through his short sandy tresses, but lots of people went gray far before middle age. Hell, he’d started showing grays at twenty-eight. He swore the loss of color came from the stress of the shop.

Maybe it did. Maybe he needed to loosen up. He’d been told he’d relieve stress if he visited a BDSM club, but he wasn’t sure he wanted someone spanking him.

He served up the hot dogs and only a few people were left in the shop. There tended to be a lull at two in the afternoon. People couldn’t seem to remember if his shop was open until two or three, even though he’d kept the same hours since he’d opened the shop twenty years before. The lull always happened at the same time, but the action ticked back up at two-thirty. “I’ve got to rush to get an order in before you close,” they’d say. He didn’t care.

Anna, his lone employee, closed the cash register and joined him at the grill. “That’s the last one for now—Henry’s paid.” She elbowed him. “He’s only asked for one refill.”

“He ordered,” Jack murmured. “All I ask is they buy food if they’re going to linger and he eats here every day. Leave him alone.”

She picked up an onion and one of the larger knives. She chopped the vegetable into small bits. “Just makes me wonder why he hangs out here so much. Think he’s bored?”

“No.” He’d kept an eye on Henry. Every day, Henry brought his notebook with him and jotted in the pages while he ate. Jack scraped the grill down, then lowered the heat. “I’m going to stretch.” He left the spatula in the holder, then rounded the grill. He strode right up to Henry. “Can I refresh your soda for you?”

“Oh.” Henry blushed. “Sure.” He closed the notebook. “Sorry. Got lost in my writing. Am I bothering you?”

“Nope.” He ducked behind the counter long enough to refill the cola, then brought the glass back to Henry. “I’m taking a break. Mind if I sit with you a moment?”

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Now that he was right across from Henry, he could really look at him. The grays in his hair worked for him and gave him the look of seriousness without seeming severe. His blue eyes sparkled when he smiled, and Jack swore he had a dimple on the left side. Henry folded his hands on his notebook. Jack liked hands and preferred men with clean ones. Blunt working ones were fine, but he preferred pianist ones. Henry didn’t disappoint. Jack wondered what he’d look like holding a fountain pen. Probably sexy. He suppressed a snort. He barely knew Henry, but he’d already fantasized about him. At least the man was handsome—close-up and far away, too.

“You’re staring at me.” Henry’s blush increased. “Am I wearing mustard on my mouth?”

“No.” Jack averted his gaze. This time, his ears burned. “I’m sorry. I spend so much time behind the counter, and I don’t get much of a chance to talk to the customers. You’re always in here, so I wanted to chat, but I got lost in the comfort of sitting.” Jesus. How ridiculous? The comfort of sitting? He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Henry held out his hand. “I’m Henry Lord. I write travel articles for magazines and I’m a libra. I’m forty-seven and single. I like long walks at sunset and the quaintness of this shop.”

He laughed at Henry’s means to break the tension. “Thank you.” He nodded. “I’m Jack Walters. I own the Hot Dog Shop and I’m not sure which astrological sign I am. Never bothered to look. I’m forty-five and single, too. I spend too much time at the shop and not enough at home.”

“Nice to meet you.” Henry smiled. “Looks like we’re both a bit flawed.”

Jack shrugged. “There’s something to be said for flawed.”

“There is.”

The bell dinged and a group of customers entered the shop. Jack sighed. “Duty calls. Maybe next time we’ll get to chat for more than a few moments.” He winked, then left his seat and resumed his position behind the grill. Of all the times he had to work, it had to be this one, when he wanted to get to know more about Henry. A travel writer. Interesting. He’d barely ventured out of Ohio. Henry had probably traveled all over the globe. His partner had to be either very forgiving or the travel had led to their breakup.

A thought occurred to him. Henry hadn’t said he was gay, but he’d mentioned he was single. Christ, he had to get his overactive imagination under control. For all he knew, Henry wasn’t gay—just single. All the handsome ones in Cedarwood tended to be straight. Most of the gay men had paired up.

Jack focused on making food and tried to ignore the need to look over at Henry. He’d felt a spark when they’d locked gazes, but Henry seemed shy—not attracted. Jack shook his head. Knowing him, he’d overestimated the spark. Again.

He wanted to be in love. Wanted to be needed. There had to be someone out there for him. Someone who understood he had a business and was required to be there if he wanted to make money. Someone who could love him, despite his tendency to close himself off. He needed a partner. An equal.

Talk about a lot to superimpose on someone. Henry might not be interested in being all those things. Might not want to be any of them.

Jack focused on grilling hot dogs for the two-thirty rush and did his best to ignore Henry.

Why focus on what might not even be possible? Because sometimes the impossible did happen.

About the Author:Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and BDSM themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best author, best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice.

Find out more about Megan on her website and sign up for the newsletter here. You can also check out her Blog, Amazon Author Page, Bookbub and Instagram.

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ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A LOVELY GIFT PACKAGE AND YOUR FREE MEGAN SLAYER ROMANCE BOOK! Notice: This competition ends on 2nd March 2021 at 5pm GMT. Competition hosted by Totally Entwined Group.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Guest Blogs Tagged With: ,

Terry Fox and Me by Mary Beth Leatherdale

February 17, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Terry Fox and Me by Mary Beth Leatherdale
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, this picture book biography tells the story of a friendship defined by strength and love.

Before Terry Fox become a national hero and icon, he was just a regular kid. But even then, his characteristic strength, determination and loyalty were apparent and were the foundation for his friendship with Doug. The two first met at basketball tryouts in grammar school. Terry was the smallest – and worst – basketball player on the court. But that didn’t stop him. With Doug’s help, Terry practiced and practiced until he earned a spot on the team. As they grew up, the best friends supported each other, challenged each other, helped each other become better athletes and better people. Doug was by Terry’s side every step of the way: when Terry received a diagnosis of cancer in his leg, when he was learning to walk – then run – with a prosthetic leg and while he was training for the race of his life, his Marathon of Hope.

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What does it mean to be a hero?

The best scenes in my opinion were the ones that explored the friendship between Doug and Terry, especially after Terry had to learn how to walk again after losing his leg to cancer. They provided an excellent example of what it means to be someone’s friend when they’re going through a scary and difficult experience. Not only was Doug kind and supportive, he did everything he could to help his best friend achieve something that would be pretty difficult for any athlete to accomplish.

I do wish this picture book had covered what happened to these characters while Terry was running his Marathon of Hope from one coast of Canada to the other. It stopped right before this part of his life started up. While many Canadian adults already know of what happened during that long marathon, most young kids will probably not be. This will be even more true for anyone who isn’t already aware of this part of Canadian history.

There were some wonderful anecdotes from Terry’s early life included in the first few scenes. He learned how to keep trying no matter how low his chances of succeeding were long before he was diagnosed with cancer. I liked the fact that the author gave so many examples of how Terry persevered in life. Most people will never have bone cancer, but everyone should learn from an early age how to remain determined and hopeful no matter what obstacles they may face in life.

Terry Fox and Me was a heartwarming true story about a true hero.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

You Belong To Me by Sam Crescent

February 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


You Belong To Me by Sam Crescent
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

After completing his last mission, Quinn Powell leaves the Navy SEALs behind to tackle what just might be his greatest challenge: claiming Kaley Woods. The woman is both his sister’s best friend and Quinn’s ultimate weakness, two things that would send any sane man running in the opposite direction. But he’s not the type to run.

When Kaley hears Quinn is coming home, she wonders if he’ll still affect her in the same way. Now that he’s living in her apartment, she has her answer. Everywhere she turns, he’s there—strong and intent—his effect on her more powerful than ever. She knows he’s returned in search of something. What she doesn’t realize is he’s determined to make her his … in every way possible.

Quinn was ten years older than his sister Dorothy, but it’s her best friend Kaley that he’s always had his eye on. While Quinn had wanted to stake his claim and make Kaley his in every way when she turned eighteen, Dorothy had convinced Quinn to let Kayley enjoy college and have her life for a while. Reluctantly Quinn had waited another six years, but now he needed Kayley to learn and know exactly who she belonged to – and that he was hers in every way.
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This is a steamy and enjoyable quick read. While I admit the plotline is a little cliched and worn to me – older guy is in love with his little sister’s best friend but they’ve both been keeping their distance and waiting for each other – I felt the three main characters were refreshing and individual enough to make this a really fun and entertaining story to me.

Kaley was the typical young and shy book nerd – and I was extremely grateful the author didn’t just turn her from this sweet thing and into a sexy siren in the blink of an eye for no real reason except to steam up the storyline. Kaley was more multi-dimensional than just the usual “bookworm” character and this was really appealing to me. I also really liked the fact that Quinn was trying hard to give Kaley as much time and space as he could, but that there was a limit to how far he was willing to wait.

I was impressed that the author didn’t just have these two do a complete about face – jumping into the sheets and become kinky sex masters without any build up or reason behind it. The pace of Kaley and Quinn coming together was believable and I enjoyed the fact it was well detailed and explained – I felt it was really shown to me, not just told and I needed to accept it as such.

Finally, I was intrigued by some of Quinn’s other Navy SEAL team-mates and would be interested to see if Dorothy and one of them might feature in an upcoming story. I liked that the author left the door open for more stories potentially coming down the track and will be keeping an eye out for them.

Fun, sexy and with interesting characters this was a good short story.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Meri by Beth Linton

February 11, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Meri by Beth Linton
The Guardians’ Trust, Book 3
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Sci-fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Some women are born identical—one in the human world, one in the jungle of the Other Realm. It is their fate to change places. Book three of The Guardians’ Trust series tells Meri’s story…

IN LUST WITH HER HUSBAND

When Dr. Meri Stevens discovers she’s destined to take her medical skills across the gateway to aid the Resistance, her ordered life is thrown into chaos. She trades the hospital for a jungle, a war, and a husband she craves. Struggling to cope with the changes in her life, can Meri accept love and fulfil her destiny?
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ANIMAL PASSION

Handsome and good-spirited, Cadell uses humor to conceal his desire for a family. Named for Meri, he throws heart and soul into the match and as the Resistance fight for survival, Cadell fights for his future … and soon two wolves join their war.

We return to the Other Realm as Meri leaves behind everything she knows. Not without a fight though. I loved how upset she was when it was first mentioned. After all, that is the normal, human, reaction, and I think Beth Linton nailed it. Obviously, she goes, otherwise there’d be no story, but going there is only the beginning.

So many excellent parts to this story! It was brilliant to see Brenin and Ana again, and to see how their relationship is progressing. The main bulk of the story is how the Resistance is fighting Griffin, plus the attraction and growing relationship between Meri and Cadell. I just with the little trick of smelling your mate when suffering from morning sickness was real! I could have done with that years ago.

For the first time, we actually get inside Griffin’s head, which was both unexpected and a gift. Not that I like him, but it was good to see his thought process.

We finish with the new Chosen and their reactions. I can’t wait to read Meredith, but these two? Wow!!! Bring it on.

A fantastic addition to the series that I completely recommend. Just read them in order so you get the full story and maximum enjoyment!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Soft Stone by Megan Slayer

February 10, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Soft Stone by Megan Slayer
Celestial Mates, book 8
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Paranormal
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Two men from different walks of life find they’ve got more in common than they think, but can they have a shared love, too?

Zeus has cursed so many beings. He’s done things he’s not proud of and believes he’s unworthy of love because he’s damaged. When he visits Vegas looking for a weekend fling, he meets Stone, a human posing as a statue. Can the most dangerous god find love with a man pretending to be a sculpture?
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Stone Martin wasn’t looking for love. He needs money and fast. The bills are piling up and his troubles are deepening. He only poses as a sculpture because the cash is decent. He meets Zeus and knows he’s too good to be true. When Zeus offers him a way out of his dead-end life, will he be strong enough to believe in the magic or will he lose his chance at having the love of his life?

After many years alone Zeus is not just lonely, but tired of his relationships failing. Determined to walk among the humans and try just once more, he comes down to Vegas and decides to try his luck and find a lasting lover. Stone was a statue performance artist and although at first he’s dubious about wanting to spend time chatting with Zeus the man intrigues him and so he gives in. Can they each find what they want from the other?

This is a fast paced M/M romance that is different and interesting. I was a little surprised Zeus didn’t seem as egotistical and overbearing as he is often portrayed. This sort of made sense seeing as he is one of the two heroes – but the different outlook on the Greek god threw me for a little while. I grew attached to Stone much more quickly, partly because I had no pre-conceived notions about him but also as a human and quite modern he felt a lot more relatable to me. I was impressed and intrigued how Zeus and Stone interacted and how their characters came to know each other.

I was pleased that while this story has plenty of steamy sex there was an intense and detailed plot as well. Zeus has some personal stuff to work through but Stone’s life – his work and his sister in particular – make two very interesting sub-plots as well. Readers who enjoy a steamy romance but plenty of plot as well should be particularly pleased with this quick read. I felt the author did a great job both with the pacing and balance between relationship and plot.

While there is mention of previous books in this series I haven’t read many of them and could still follow along with everything quite well – I feel this book stands well on it’s own and the others don’t need to be read for this to be fully enjoyed.

Hot and with two interesting characters and a lot of solid plot – this was a good and quick read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Where Ideas Come From by Sara E. Tall – Guest Blog and Giveaway

February 2, 2021 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Sara E. Tall will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Where Ideas Come From

Thanks so much for hosting me! For my guest post today I wanted to talk about writing inspiration and where ideas come from. The cool thing about writing is there are so many places and ways to get ideas for books and other writing. I feel like I find a new source of inspiration every day.

Most of my story ideas come from dreams. I’ve even plugged some of my dreams in as character backstories or side plots. If you have an overactive dream imagination like me, then I definitely recommend keeping a dream journal to write down your more captivating dreams. Usually when it comes from transferring dreams to story ideas I ended up tossing a lot of it because most of the dream is completely nonsensical, but there’s usually a powerful moment or emotion that I can’t get out of my head, and I find myself crafting an entire story around that one moment.

My story ideas that don’t come from dreams usually come from something I saw in another book or other fictional story. There’s either a character dynamic or world element that I’m obsessed with or think was underdeveloped, and that obsession eventually develops into a story. This is also fun to do with plot holes. Figuring out what a story would look like if certain plot holes were filled in is a great starting book for our own stories.
Those two ways cover about 95% on my story ideas, but there are a bunch of other inspirational activities I’ve heard about and want to try.

For those of us writing speculative fiction, cutting edge science magazines or other wacky news sources can be a great way to get those creative juices flowing. I recommend finding an article or news story that interests you, identifying what about it interests you, and then asking a bunch of what-ifs about that question. From there, a story, conflict, or even characters usually start to emerge, and you’ve got yourself a great premise for a speculative fiction story.

And of course, there are the real life inspirations. The family drama, the wacky best friends, even the weird people you encounter at the train station can be great inspiration for characters or novels. It’s been said a million times but I’ll say it again. Writers have universal permission to eavesdrop in the name of inspiration. I’ve also made sure to warn all my friends that anything they say or do might end up in a story one day.

Piper’s Song has a bit of unique inspiration story. It was originally meant to be my first series that taught me how to write, but I fell so much in love with the story, I just kept revising and revising until I was so in love with the finished product, I knew I had to publish. The story itself was mainly inspired by the Mortal Instruments. I found the dynamic between two characters, where deception mixed with chemistry was the driving force of the relationship, absolutely intoxicating. The dynamic between these two characters mostly happened behind the scenes, and it was my constant imagination of what those two characters may have been like that brought Alpha to life.

My other inspiration was the Winx Club, which was a show I used to watch as a kid. In that show The Fae and the Witches went to rival schools. The Witch school had its own set of mean girls that were constantly terrorizing the Fae. While I’d like to think I’ve given my Witch characters more nuance that that, there’s no denying their origins.

Billie’s relationships were also inspired by my relationships. I had a lot of female friends growing up, so Billie is the same. I would say her relationship with her friends is far more complicated than mine ever were.

Thanks so much for reading everyone! I hope you’ll check out Piper’s Song to see these ideas in action!

Billie thinks stopping her fellow students from committing murder and almost getting kicked out of the Realm is as bad as it gets, but she should know better. Not only are seven of the most powerful students out for her blood, but Sedna —her former enemy turned ally— turns her enemy again when Billie refuses a part in her revenge scheme. What’s more, Alpha Administration’s refusal to address the injustice in their school is sparking a full-on rebellion, and a lot of innocents are going to be caught in the crosshairs. It isn’t just the school either, the Realm itself is overrun with violence and hatred, which will have deadly consequences. Lucian, her self-imposed magical guru, insists Billie’s extraordinary magic is the key to stopping the flood of violence coming their way. Billie knows her magic is extraordinary, but she also knows its destructive power. It might do more harm than good.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Nothing said, “I’m sorry,” like a scalding hot iron mallet to the face. Especially when you were a Faerie, and allergic to Iron. Saranya and her friends really knew how to make a girl feel special.

At least, we heard they were going to attack me with a mallet, it was hard to keep up with all of Saranya’s schemes to get revenge on me for preventing her from torturing another student. The nerve of me.

I tightened my grip on the empowered soap Iris, my roommate, had given me. It paid to be friends with an Elf, I’d learned, as they possessed the ability to infuse magical properties into a variety of house-hold objects. And all she ever wanted in return was my help getting books down from her top bookshelf.

“Uhh, Billie,” Thea, my other roommate, said. “Perhaps it would be in your best interests to not look so tense? We are supposed to be discussing a class project, after all.”

I loosened my grip on the soap and gave her a quick smile. Thea was terrified of Saranya and the others, but that hadn’t stopped her and Iris from telling me about their plan, or offering to help me thwart it. She had a lot to lose, too. As a Wizard, she had a certain image to keep up, and helping a Misfit against other Wizards would do nothing good for that image.

About the Author:Sara’s enjoyed creating fantastic stories since she was old enough to hold a play sword, around the time she learned how to walk. Gradually she learned to direct her creative energy into writing, and it’s been a downward spiral ever since then. When she’s not writing she’s probably either dancing or reading batman comics. She also loves running away to the mountains of Utah and Montana. Nothing gets more fantastic that those views.

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