Twisted Fates by Adam J. Ridley

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I hope you’re all doing well. As some of you may have seen, I have closed up my Twitter/X platform. I’m still keeping the landing page, however I won’t be posting there any longer. I don’t know if I’ll be moving to another SM platform, but I’ll keep you posted. In the mean time you can still find me on Facebook (here), Instagram (here), Goodreads (here), BookBub (here) and YouTube (here).

Now onto some much more fun stuff. This week I’m reviewing another book from the Tales of Tarot Collection; Twisted Fates (find the book here) by Adam J. Ridley (find him here). Let’s get to it.

Blurb:

With his newfound powers, can the new Legacy Wizard save the man he loves, or will a backward turn of the Wheel of Fortune cost him everything?

In a world where the Wheel of Fortune spins their destinies, two souls collide in a whirlwind of magic and desire.

Damian, an ordinary taxi driver, is thrust into an extraordinary fate when a mysterious ring transforms him into a legacy wizard, bound to the eternal struggle between light and darkness.

Owen, a young lawyer, is drawn into Damian's world as he untangles the legacy left by Damian’s predecessor.

When their paths intertwine, a dangerous attraction ignites, threatening to unravel the delicate balance Damian must uphold.

With newfound powers at his command, can Damian protect Owen or will all hope for love and balance be lost to the darkness?

Review:

Another Brilliant novel in the Tales from the Tarot Collection

I couldn’t put this story down. The novel, the characters, and the writing were fantastic. Ridley is a brilliant author who creates such wonderful stories that you don’t want them to end. This was the case with Twisted Fates. I had such a good time getting to know the characters that when the story ended; I was bummed. The secondary characters were equally as enjoyable adding to the brilliance of the story.

I can’t go into too much detail about this novel without giving plot points away. There are a couple of bugaboos I have about this story that I’m going to share. First, I felt that the story was rushed to meet certain beats and plot points, which bothered me. When I enjoy a book, I want the author to dive deep so I can get to know the characters and the world. The other nit I have with this novel is that as much as I understood why things happened the way they did, I felt like the characters didn’t have much of a say in what was emerging around them, which did annoy me. However, that said, I get it and I appreciate why everything occurred the way it did. And despite this critique I really enjoyed the writing and the story. I hope Ridley revisits this world because I would love to know more and see what else these characters get up to.

That’s all I have for today. Until next time have a great week.

Larger than Love by Jole Cannon

Happy Thursday Scribblers, I hope you’re all having a great week. A special thank you and shout out to all the Veterans, thank you for your dedication and service to the our country. This week I’m back again with another book review. This times I reviewing a debut novel by author Jole Cannon (find him here) titled Larger Than Love (find the book here). Let’s get started.

Blurb:

Bernard feels like an outsider in the gay community. Thirty-five, chubby, and hairy, he doesn’t fit the image of the stereotypical gay man. Failed relationships in his past solidify the idea he is destined to be alone.

Rory is struggling with his identity. At thirty-five, he is still single. When he reunites with his childhood friend, his religious convictions and the desire to be with a man clash as he must choose between what the Church taught him is right and what his heart desires.

The two men are forced to face their fears and make a choice. Live alone and accept their fate or take a leap and challenge what they believe.

My Review:

Lovely Story. Great Debut Novel

Larger than Love is author Jole Cannon’s debut novel and, for a new author, this is a wonderful story. Reading through the book and getting to know the individuals in the story, I saw a lot of my first novel in this book. Which is to say, I noticed that the dialogue read very stilted to me in parts (this is something I had to work on as well). However, dialogue aside, this was a charming story, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I loved reading about people that are not from all the typical tropes. Bravo Cannon for tackling body image in your first go around.

This novel is a fun and frustrating read, which I’m not quite sure how to feel about. I’m not sure if the author had personal experiences he reflected in the story or not, so I can’t fault him for items that didn’t seem quite real to me. We all know people or have experienced people like Rory’s Mother, however she seemed way over the top to me, especially for someone who lives in Silicon Valley (yes, I’m counting Gilroy as part of the Silicon Valley). I’m not saying people like her don’t exist, especially in the 1990s, but I could see her more in the Southern US or even in a state like Utah. Also, some of the other characters, as lovely as they were, seemed a little to ‘perfect’ and ‘supporting’ of both Rory and Bernard. Not saying that couldn’t be the case, however, they didn’t quite feel real to me.

The other area I’m going to nit-pick is the setting. As someone who lives in San Jose and has been to Gilroy his whole life. If you are going to set your story here, then please give the reader a more detailed description of the setting. The South Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area is not well known outside of the San Francisco Bay Area and could use help when it comes to gaining more recognition. If you are going to point out locations, then point them out. Don’t shroud them in mystery or generic description. If you are going to have the characters go to Christmas in the Park, then call it Christmas in the Park. Don’t refer to the event in some obtuse way that people won’t have any idea of what you’re talking about. Same if they were going to the Holiday Lights at Vasona Park. If the story were set in New York, you wouldn’t say they went to a big Christmas Tree in Manhattan. You’d say they went to the Rockefeller Center for skating and to see the Christmas Tree. Things like this really annoy me and I find it more and more unforgivable in writing.

Overall, this was a lovely story with a beautiful message. The writing was good, and the characters were mostly relatable. This book appears to be part of a greater universe. However, the story is fully standalone and if I didn’t know that this novel is Book 1, I wouldn’t have noticed. I’ll be interested to see what’s in store for Book 2 and if Cannon is going to use other characters from this story.

This novel is worth the read especially if you enjoy romance and want to see characters that are outside the typical trope.

That’s all I have for today. Until next time have a great week.

Geist Fleisch by Christian Baines

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I hope you’re having a great day and I hope you all had a safe and fun Halloween. Today I’m back with another book review for you. This week I’m back with another book from the Haunted Hearts Series today I share my thoughts on Geist Fleisch (find the book here) by Christian Baines (find him here). The Haunted Hearts series is a collection of ‘ownvoice’ authors who came together and created a collection of ghost stories for the Halloween Season.

The Blurb:

Drawn by promises of excitement and freedom, how could Callum resist Berlin?

It's the end of 1932 and the Weimar capital is the heartbeat of the gay world, where a man like him can find companionship and love, even in the shadow of looming political disaster.

Still, Callum feels unseen, until he discovers a place where the dead mix with the living, an organization devoted to studying the supernatural, and a man in each world that could capture his heart... or seal his fate.

Haunted Hearts – Everyone deserves a happy ever afterlife!

Haunted Hearts is an Own-Voices Paranormal Romance Series about love and the things that go boo in the night. Join us on our romantic journeys over ten books from some of your favorite authors! Be sure to read the entire series so you don’t miss a moment of falling in love, or sometimes falling into a happily ever after-life! Each book is a standalone but why not read them all? Everyone deserves the HEA!

My Review:

Historical Ghost(ish) Story… Yes Please

Christian Baines continues to impress with his take on a historical ghost story. I wasn’t sure how this book was going to work out since the tale is set in 1932 Germany during the rise of the Nazis. However, Baines is an incredible author, and I wasn’t disappointed. The story follows Callum (an English man now living in Berlin), who has a unique condition that leaves him feeling unseen. This condition isn’t his only societal concern. He is a gay man living in a time when being gay could have gotten him killed or put away, even in Berlin during the height of gay culture for that time in history. These factors make the storytelling that much more impressive since Baines tackles the subject with the right amount of realism and fantasy. Making for a fun read.

I really enjoyed this story finding that Baines really puts you in the perspective of the main character as he includes quite a bit of German, making not only our protagonist confused at times, but us the reader as well, which I found enjoyable. The secondary characters were all unique and felt grounded for the time. Another plus to Baines writing and crafting of the story.

This is not your typical ghost story; however, the book has all the dark fantasy elements you want for a creepy novel. Definitely give the book a read.

There are my thoughts on Geist Fleisch by Christian Baines. I hope you check out the book and give the series a look as well, there are eleven books to pick from (find them here) so I’m sure you’ll find something to enjoy. Well, until next time have a great week.

The River City Chronicles by J. Scott Coatsworth

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope you are all having a great week and are greeting ready of Halloween. I’m back today with a review of a book that has been on my ‘to be read’ list for years. Today I’m happy to share with you my thoughts on The River City Chronicles (click here to learn more) by J. Scott Coatsworth (Find him here).

The Blurb:

Everyone in the River City has a secret, and sooner or later secrets always come out. A group of strangers meets at Ragazzi, an Italian restaurant, for a cooking lesson that will change them all. They quickly become intertwined in each other's lives, and a bit of magic touches each of them. Meet Dave, the consultant who lost his partner; Matteo and Diego, the couple who run the restaurant; recently-widowed Carmelina; Marcos, a web designer getting too old for hook-ups; Ben, a trans author writing the Great American Novel; teenager Marissa, kicked out for being bi; and Sam and Brad, a May-September couple who would never have gotten together without a little magic of their own.

My Review:

A Love Letter to Sacramento

I’ve read several of J. Scott Coatsworth’s novels and I can honestly say there isn’t one I haven’t enjoyed. Coatsworth writing is honest and open as he pours himself into each of his works. The River City Chronicles is no different in that regard. However, the story is unlike the other books I’ve read by Coatsworth which tend to be fantasy and science fiction based. This is a contemporary novel set in Sacramento, CA. Not only do you get to learn a great deal about the cast of characters in the novel, you also experience Sacramento through the eyes of someone who clearly loves this community.

The story itself is a rich chronicle following the lives and loves of the people who inhabit these pages. What impresses me the most about this work is that I feel like I’ve gotten to know each of the characters so well. After reading the book, I felt like I just made so many new friends that I was sad to reach the last page (I understand there is a second book coming out at some point, which will be on my list).

Another aspect of the novel I appreciated is that this book wasn’t your typical MM Romance (which given the glut of mm stories available on the market, most of which, if not all, feel like Hallmark movies). The book housed often ignored or forgotten characters, making the characters come across as that much more real and personal.

My only real complaint about this novel, and it’s not so much a complaint, but something I noticed is that Coatsworth clearly had an affinity for all things Italian as the story is peppered with so much Italian flare, the novel can be a bit much. However, that said, the Italian slant to the book helped to ground the novel in realism and helped to tie all the characters together. This is a wonderful novel that any fan of contemporary works should pick up and read.

Well there you have it, my thoughts on The River City Chronicles by J. Scott Coatsworth. Until next time have a great week.

Medium Rare by J.P. Jackson

Happy Wednesday Scribblers! How’s your week going? I hope you’re all doing well. I’m back again with a new book for you. Medium Rare by J.P. Jackson (find him here). Let’s jump into the book and my thoughts:

Blurb:

Cade Ivanov has inherited the family curse. Ghosts are everywhere, and lately, very angry. But Cade doesn’t know why. Desperate to be rid of the apparitions, he plans to move to a rural town where he hopes to find peace.

Jay McClaren is a single dad and real estate agent. When an unexpected call comes from a big city Medium looking to purchase, he’s thrilled for the business but is skeptical about his client’s professed abilities.

When Jay’s son starts experiencing violent hauntings, Jay has no choice but to rely on Cade for help. Can Jay and Cade battle the paranormal, or will the dead create a living hell?

My Review:

A Family Drama with Ghosts, Lots of Ghosts!

Did author J.P. Jackson just write his first ever Family Drama? Did he write a novel about family and community? Did he craft a story about people and how we all rely on each other? Did Jackson share a story about love and romance between not only two men, but them and their families? Could I have possibly read a novel by J.P. Jackson that didn’t make me want to hide under the covers, leave all the lights on, and call in a local priest to vanquish evil spirits?

The answer…

Yes. Yes, he did. However, in Jackson’s style you’ll get a dose of horror and gore and a lot of well written and tasteful ‘adult playtime’. Jackson’s words, not mine.

Honestly, this is quite possibly one of the best Romantic Fantasy or Romantic Horror novels I’ve read in a long time. Typically, with Jackson, you are in for a bloody good time with a lot of ‘adult playtime’. He is one of the masters of horror and telling tales that are creepy and dark. Making you not want to turn the next page, but darn it you have to, because you want to find out what happens and you want to find out how his characters are going to get out of the mess Jackson has put them in.

Medium Rare is a lovely story about community and what two men will go through to save and protect not only their family but also their neighbors.

As always, Jackson takes you on a wild adventure through the Canadian Prairie Lands of Alberta, which grounds the story in so much realism that you actually believe these are people going through some difficult times and not a story about some characters. Our two main characters are what you would expect from Jackson; rugged, men in their thirties, who would be classified as Bears. As with all of Jackson’s books you get a healthy dose of these two characters sexual adventure, which are not just thrown into the story to shout to the reader ‘here is your sex scene’. These scenes are used as moments of peace and building connections during some difficult times. This is something Jackson does well and I wish more romance writers would pick up on. In a lot of romance stories, I find I skip the sex scenes because they don’t bring anything to the story or they go on way too long. With Jackson these scenes are crafted in a way that you don’t feel like you’re being bombarded with ‘smut’ just to get the reader off (sorry that’s crass, but I couldn’t think of a better way to explain what I mean).

Romance aside, this is creepy and sweet. You definitely care for everyone involved and you absolutely hope that everything will work out. As always, Jackson’s characters are put through the ringer and you have to worry about if they’ll make it out okay. With Jackson, you can never be too sure.

Honestly, I enjoyed this book and read it one sitting. If you want an excellent romantic horror novel, this is the one for you. Medium Rare is part of the Haunted Hearts an Own-Voices Paranormal Romance Series celebrating own-voice authors and all things creepy and spooky.

There you go, my thoughts on Medium Rare by J.P. Jackson (find out more here). I hope you’ll check it out, as well as the other books in the series (learn more here). Until next time have a great week.

Curse of the Stag's Eye by Glenn Quigley

Happy Wednesday Scribblers! I hope you are having a wonderful week. As you can tell I’ve been trying to get through my ‘To Be Read’ list and I’ve been posting a lot of book reviews. I hope you find them helpful and more importantly I hope you pick up some of these wonderful books I’ve been sharing with you. This week I’m here to share another book; Curse of the Stag’s Eye by Glenn Quigley (find him here). Let’s jump into the novel and my thoughts.

Blurb:

High on a wave-dashed cliff, the ancient standing stone known as the Stag’s Eye jealously watches over a cursed lighthouse with a grisly past. Paranormal investigator Rhys has chosen this place to hold his first-ever ghost tour. Ghost-hunting veteran Dawn and her boyfriend Nikesh are eager to go exploring, while first-timer Gaz is hoping to learn more about the spirit world. He also intends to learn more about Rhys for various reasons, not all of which are entirely innocent.

The ghost of a murdered lighthouse keeper is said to climb the stairs every night, tending to the light, but other, far more sinister phantoms may lurk in the shadows. As the night wears on and the haunting becomes more and more hazardous, Rhys and Gaz grow closer. However, it soon becomes clear that not everyone on the tour is being honest about their reasons for being there. Can the supernatural activity be blamed on the curse of the Stag’s Eye or does someone know more than they’re letting on?

Curse of the Stag’s Eye is a part of the Haunted Hearts Series. (find out more here).

My Review:

The Curse of the Stag’s Eye takes author Glenn Quigley’s love of the sea and lighthouses to the next level. The Curse of the Stag’s Eye is not a typical Glenn Quigley novel, Quigley typically writes Historical Fiction (beautifully so) and I’m excited to see him branch out into something new (to be fair over the last few years Quigley has dived into other genres’ and I highly recommend them, find more of his books here) however, if you think this a departure from his other works you are only partly correct. Quigley writes a lot about the sea and includes lighthouses in his works. If you follow him on Instagram (which I suggest you do, find him here) you’ll see he has a love for all things nautical. So why not take his love of all things ocean related and throw them into a good old ghost story? But the Curse of the Stag’s Eye is so much more. You get a romance, mystery, ghost story, and a thriller all rolled up into one and the story is utterly brilliant.

This book hits all the right pacing and checks off everything you need for a well-written tale. You also get a good dose of history and lore about lighthouses thrown into the mix, which makes the novel a fun read.

I love how Quigley goes beyond the pale and shows us people who are not typically the heroes of the story. We get to see wonderfully colorful characters that aren’t your standard archetypes (and bless him for doing this).

The story is beautifully claustrophobic, and the cast is small, which means there isn’t a wasted character or someone there to take up space and fill the page in the entire book. This is another talent of Quigley’s that I wish more writers would acquire.

Is this book scary? No, but the tale has its moments. There is no gore or anything over the top (most brilliant ghost stories don’t need to be gory). Is there a lot of romance in the book? There’s some, and it’s tastefully crafted and perfectly planned out. The mystery and the thriller aspect of the novel are what shines through and makes this story so lovely to read and enjoy.

I realize this novel is a part of a larger series of stories written by several authors following the theme of haunted hearts. I’ll be interested to read and see how the others do with the theme.

If you haven’t guessed, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend the novel. Well done Glenn, well done!

Well, there you are, another wonderful book for you to check out. Until next time have a great week.


The Cultist's Wife by B.J. Sikes

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope you are having a wonderful week. Today I’m excited to bring you another book recommendation. This story is a bit different then what I typically read, but it’s worth your time and your money.

Today, let’s talk about The Cultist’s Wife by B.J. Sikes (click here to learn more about B.J.):

Gothic Thriller and Gothic Fiction for Sure

This weekend I finished reading The Cultist Wife by B.J. Sikes. This is a beautifully crafted story set in the early 1900s in the Bahamas during the height of the British Empire. The details are spot on and you feel like you are experiencing the oppressive heat along with our three main characters: Clara (The Mother), Elsie (The Maiden, more like The Child) and Irene (The Cone). I was expecting this story to be more Gothic Horror given the description, however that is not the case, so if you want Gothic Horror go read Anne Rice. What I ended up reading was this wonderfully told Gothic Thriller and fiction story, with a healthy dose of history thrown in.

My only issue with the novel (and this should be seen as a credit to the writer) is I found myself getting more and more annoyed with Clara. This really is her story, so we get to spend a lot of time with her. My annoyance wasn’t at how she lived or interacted in this world. My exasperation came from how true to life this character was portrayed. I wanted to reach into the story and yell at her for how she was acting and get on her case about the choices she made. However, Clara, like all the characters in the book, are a product of their time (and this is something Sikes does incredibly well) the characters in the book act as you would expect them to perform given that the story is set in 1908. You’re not going to have modern day characters in this setting (which is something a lot of historical fiction gets wrong), you are going to have female characters (who are strong and intelligent) acting like the subservient creatures that the men, and society, at the time expected. Which honestly annoyed me. Because Clara, as well as Elsie and Irene, are brilliant strong women. Who, if they lived today, would be fiercely resilient, powerful, independent women, and none of them would let the ‘men’ or society treat them the way that they are treated in this novel?

Is this Gothic Horror? Well, sort of, there is a cult, there is a ghost, and there is a bit of what we would call witchcraft/magic, however those items take a backseat to the meat of the story, which is a thriller and fiction adventure.

If Historical Fiction and Gothic Thrillers are your thing, then this is absolutely the story for you.

Well, that’s what I have for you this week. I hope you’ll check out The Cultist’s Wife (buy it here) I’m sure you’ll enjoy the story. Until next time have a great week.

Standard Candle by G.B. Lindsey

Happy Wednesday everyone. I’m back again with another review for you all. This week I’m reviewing G.B. Lindsey’s (find them here) short story Standard Candle (click here to get your copy). Without further ado, let’s jump to the review:

Sometimes you go into thinking a book will be one way, only to have it be something completely different. When I grabbed this book, I was excepting an erotic tale with not much substance (which I was fine with) however diving into this tale I ended up being completely wrong and all the better for it. This story was beautifully crafted and told. Yes, there was one erotic scene, but that was the story. The story was about two friends who grow to discover their relationship is so much more and it was touching. One of the things I enjoyed the most about this short story was really being in the head of Avery, you got to fully understand him as a character and care about him. And even though you don’t get to spend any time in Dev ‘head’ you still gain an excellent understanding of him through Avery and their interactions. This is by far one of the best MM romance/erotica stories I’ve read. G.B. did a wonderful job with this story and I highly recommend it.

About the Book:

Denny Wyatt: friend.

Denny, who sleeps in threadbare tees that smell like his cigarettes, who coats his arms in the guts of engines, who kisses like he's sampling you, scenting you, until you forget that there are things you can't afford to forget.

Denny Wyatt: with benefits.

It's not dating. You've both done enough of that. You're both stuck in this town, you're both going nowhere, but at night, you have each other. It's sex. It's an arrangement. It suits you both.

Denny Wyatt: yours.

Tonight, the lie shatters. Denny Wyatt is so much more than friend, than lover, than any one word. But you'd better speak—better find the words—or he's gone.

That’s all I have for this week. I hope you’ll grab a copy of Standard Candle (buy it here) and give it a read. I’m sure you’ll love it. Until next time have a great week.

The Ruins by Jonathan Pongratz

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I hope you’re all doing well. I’ve got another great book for you to check out and read. This week I’m excited to share Jonathan Pongratz (learn more here) newest novel; The Ruins (click here). As always here the info about the book.

Blurb:

Tyler Collins has it all. Good looks, the perfect boyfriend, and a paranormal vlogging career on the precipice of greatness. Pursuing his dreams of hosting his own paranormal TV show with the backing of his agent, Tyler and his boyfriend Gabe travel to the small village of Altalona, Peru in search of the legendary ruins of Ayar Kachi.

Unfamiliar with their surroundings they quickly exhaust their options, but just when all seems lost a twist of fate leads them to their destination. The ruins of Ayar Kachi have lain dormant for centuries, a foreboding palace of crumbling stone and strange symbols that has never been filmed by a living being.

Eager to make their aspirations of success a reality, Tyler and Gabe descend into the depths, unknowing of the peril they have placed themselves in. For within the ancient grounds lies a great evil, one that threatens the lives of anyone who enters and will stop at nothing until its hunger for the living is sated.

Here are my thoughts:

I had the pleasure of receiving an early copy of this novel, and I can tell you it’s another outstanding book by Pongratz. This story is a look at what happens when a paranormal vlogger chases views and becoming the next big thing while pushing everything else to the side. This story is very topical with the continued rise of vlogging and vloggers who have to chase the ‘clicks’ to stay relevant. For me this was a cautionary story of all things not to do in our bids to find our voice and our audience. I loved the paranormal story and the amount of research Pongratz had to do to make this story as real as possible. The author did the work and it shows in his story.

If you are looking for a story that will make you check the doors and windows, as well make you want to keep the lights on, this is the story for you. This is book 1 in a planned series, however the story is a stratifying read and doesn’t leave you on a cliff hangers.

Please get yourself a copy of this wonderful book (click here) sit back and let the story take you away. Until next time, have a great week.

The Magician's Heart by J.P. Jackson

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope you are having a wonderful week. Today I want to bring to your attention this wonderful new novel by J.P. Jackson (learn more here) The Magician’s Heart (click here). Before I share my review of the book, here are the details.

Blurb:

Patrick leads a nice quiet life with his dog companion Argus, and his pet raven Kaos. The quiet and calm of this lakeside cabin is the perfect place to be the area’s most powerful water witch and the local representative Magician on the Mage’s Council. Other than the odd task assigned by the Council, his only other responsibility is to answer the call from the local police when they come across a situation that might be magical. It’s a serene life, mostly, if not a little lonely. Could he have fallen into a bit of a rut? Is Patrick fulfilling his witchy duties and being the Magician he really could be?

Allan’s life is a mess. His friends regularly lead him into bad situations, and life never seems to go his way, until one night when his buddies drag him and his abusive ex along on an ill-fated camping trip. After a night of drinking, and another nasty encounter with his ex, Allan discovers he’s not exactly human. Once his witchy side takes hold, there’s no turning back. But in order to get a grip on his newfound abilities, he's going to need some expert guidance, not to mention making things right with the local Fae population who he’s managed to anger.

Patrick doesn’t want a student. Allan has no need for a mentor. But when the two of them come together, a new kind of magic blossoms that just might save them both.

The Magician's Heart is a standalone MM paranormal romance novel as part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card The Magician.

Here are my thought of the book:

I believe I have read everything published by J.P. Jackson to date, and as with all his other novels this one is brilliant. I’m not going to gush and go on and on about what a fun read this is. Just know that this is another amazing story by Jackson with rich colorful characters that you’ll enjoy reading about.

Allan and Patrick are an unlikely pair and I found them a bit of an odd couple at the beginning of the story. However, the more I read the more they grew on me. There were times I felt the story was a bit rushed and there were a couple of plot points that, in my opinion, got waved away. I would have liked deeper explanations into certain events of the story that never came. However, that all said I enjoyed the story and found it a lot of fun to read. I especially liked the dog and the raven. They provided some hints of levity and fun throughout the story that I appreciated.

One-bit of a bonus for me in this novel, was how encapsulated the story telling was. You really focus on the two main characters and you don’t have a lot of background characters fluffing out the story or getting in the way of the plot (this is also one of my bugaboos as well. When you read the story, I think you’ll understand why). All said, by the end of the story I felt like I really understood both of the characters and I wanted more.

This novel is part of a larger universe, so if you are so inclined you can read the additional stories, by different authors and see their take on the overall universe. But don’t let that sway you, this is a wonderfully crafted standalone novel that any reader of MM Paranormal will love and eat up.

That’s all I have for this week. If you enjoy Horror Novels then this is a must get (click here). Until next time have a greet week.

The World Continue to Crumble as the Unicorn Horn Thrives

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope you are having a wonderful week and I trust you all had a happy Easter. This week I’m pleased to share my review of J. P. Jackson (learn more here) newest short story; Skin Sessions: Stitched up Tight (find out more here). This is the fifth short story in Jackson’s Skin Sessions series. This is a dark and sexy story and not for the faint at heart, consider yourself warned.

Here is my review:

This is the fifth installment of Skin Sessions a short story series, by J.P. Jackson. If you aren’t familiar with J.P. Jackson’s work this is a dark and sexy series that has a way of boring into your skin and not leaving. Stitched UP Tight continues the story of the Unicorn Horn, a male brothel that finds itself owned by an Incubus Taz-rial. The demon has been true to his word so far, but we get hints that there is more coming, I’m not sure if Taz-rial is going to be all he appears to be, but for now he seems to be a demon of honor and doesn’t want anything to happen to his brothel or the men who work there.

If you enjoy mm sex then you are in for a treat as there are pages and pages of sex, however the scenes are written in a honest way that most authors in the mm romance/erotica genre can’t seem to grasp. In general, in not interested in reading the sex scenes (you’ve read one you’ve read them all) so I skimmed through them sadly make this story very short, (did I mention there are pages and pages of sex scenes), however I did have a pay some attention as Jackson wrangled story and plot elements into these scenes making them important to the plot (darn you Jackson!).

If you enjoy dark sexy stories this is another must read by Jackson.

Well, there you go. My thought on J.P. Jackson’s fifth installment of Skin Sessions (find the book here). Until next time have a great week.

The Great Santa Showdown (My Review)

I know it’s been some time since I’ve posted here, however I’ve been extremely busy with the lunch of my newest novel Mu; Legend of a Lost City. I’m not here to talk about that today. Today I want to share my thoughts on The Great Santa Showdown by Author Glenn Quigley (learn more here).

Author Glenn Quigley has a way of creating a world that you fall into and fall in love with. This short story has everything you could possibly want for the holiday season. You’ll smile the whole time you read this story, even as you wipe away a tear or two.

If you want a sweet holiday masterpiece then this is the story for you. If the Hallmark channel is listening here’s your next gay themed holiday movie.

As you can see I really enjoyed this wonderful short story and I highly recommend the short story. You can buy your copy here.

Well, that’s it for today. Until next time have a great day.

Red, White and Royal Blue (My Review)

Happy Wednesday Scribblers, I hope you’re all having a wonderful week. Eric and I finally got around to watching Red, White and Royal Blue and today, after much consideration, I thought I would share my thoughts on this Prime Movie, based on the book Red, White & Royal Blue: A Novel (click here) by Casey McQuiston. To be clear, these are only my opinions and my thoughts on the movie, so let’s jump in.

To begin, I remember when this novel first came out (May 2019) and all I could do was roll my eyes. Not because of all the attention this novel garnered, but because I felt like, here we go again, another MM Romance story written for the mass market. I asked myself, when are we going to get something different? Something interesting? Something exciting? Why are we getting another MM Romance novel? I refused to read the book because I knew exactly what this story was all about and how it would go. I’ve had to read hundreds of MM Romance books. They are all the same. Two guys meet, hate each other, are forced into a situation where they have to get to know each other, fall in love, have sex, break up (over something) and at the end get back together, and have more sex. This is the formula that all MM Romance stories follow (and I assume the same formula, all romance stories in general follow). Anyway, I wasn’t interested in reading the book, plus my TBR list is huge and filled with so many better, more interesting books, at least in my opinion.

After months of watching this novel get more and more attention, I learned that a movie based on the book was in the works. I mean, of course, let’s exploit gay men for the entertainment of straight women who get all doe-eyed when it comes to MM Romance. So again, I shook my head and did my best to ignore what I witnessed around me in the writing world when it came to this novel and soon to be movie.

Am I sounding bitter, yes, but not for the reason you may think.

As an author over the last few years I have learned about the publishing industry and watched what sells… Romance. Sadly, when we are speaking of gay novels, the only books that seem to get any attention are MM Romance novels written by people who are not gay men (if you don’t believe me here is a list of top MM Romance novels, click here, almost all written by non-gay men), which in general is fine because authors should be able to write and tell the stories they want to tell. However, because of this tendency, we are losing the writers who want to tell stories that honestly reflect their community. That is why I’m a bit salty about books and movies like Red, White, and Royal Blue.

Are you still reading this or did I lose you…?

Anyway, back to the movie. We watched Red, White and Royal Blue. For what the movie is they did a good job, however, I believe the main actors are both too old for the characters they play and sadly it showed on screen, but Hollywood loves to do this. I would love to continue to tell you everything else I despised about this movie, but there wasn’t anything else. The acting was solid, the characters were likable (if not stereotypical) and the story was enjoyable and I appreciated the overall message that the movie presented. Basically Red, White and Royal Blue is a solid movie and is one that can be watched and enjoyed (and has been enjoyed by several people I know who happen to be gay men). The movie is also a pretty accurate adaptation of the book, from what I’ve read and learned.

Am I being too harsh on the author for writing this novel, probably? Would I have enjoyed the story more if the novel was written by a gay man? Maybe. Would the story feel more real and true to life? Definitely. Would the book have ever seen the light of day if the story was written by a gay man… doubtful, but that’s how the publishing industry works. You want to sell; you write MM Romance and if you are someone other than a gay man writing the stories, you stand a better chance of getting the story out there. Again, if you don’t believe me, I suggest you review the list above again (click here).

Eric did make a comment to me about the movie after we watched and he said he didn’t care who wrote the story. He was glad to see the story out there. I had to agree with him (as I often do) seeing more stories out there like this is wonderful and appreciated.

If you want to watch an enjoyable movie with no surprises or that offers nothing new, then this is the movie for you. I would watch the movie again, as I enjoyed the movie and found it entertaining and fun.

A bit of a mixed bag today. I know I may sound harsh for my comments on the book and the movie, but honestly, I’m disappointed. I want to know when we’re going to embrace stories written by gay men reflecting their real lives and not some fetishized version presented to the masses? Sadly, I’m not sure it even matters as long as the stories get out there. Well, I hope you appreciated this review, until next time have a great week.

Skin Session (Short Story Series) by J.P. Jackson

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I know it’s been a minute since I last posted anything, I’ve had a lot going on and sadly couldn’t find a minute to pull my thoughts together and get something posted. However, today that changes. I’m excited to share with you my good friend J.P. Jackson’s (find him here) new creepy and sexy short story series; Skin Sessions. I’ve had the pleasure of reading each of these shorts and I can tell you they are not only sexy, but in his typical fashion, creepy.  As some of you may know J.P. Jackson is the master of disturbing stories with a focus on gay male characters. It’s so refreshing to support high quality stories written by gay male authors sharing novels reflecting gay men. These works clearly need more fanfare and to be celebrated.

Here are the blurbs for the first two short stories (there are more installments coming) and my thoughts on each of the shorts.

Skin Sessions: Demon at the Doorstep

Blurb:

The Unicorn’s Horn was once a hot and lively pleasure house. Folks would come from miles around to be satisfied by the stable men kept by Gavin Medici, the house’s owner.

Trouble is, the world is ending, and surviving is more important to the brothel’s customers than an evening filled with unspeakable delights. Before long the purveyors of favors find themselves broke, hungry and living in a decaying brothel.

With a simple witchy spell, a visitor who promises to make everything better comes knocking. But demons are unpredictable and often come with hidden agendas.

A little demonic possession and the odd human sacrifice seem like a small price to pay. But is that all it will cost Gavin and his men?

My Review:

Sometimes dark and creepy are just what the doctor ordered. And J.P. Jackson’s short story Skin Session: Demon at the Doorstep hits all the creepy vibes you want it to. There is a lush and rich cast of gay characters that make the story interesting and fun, especially since the setting of the short story is set in a dystopian future a few years from now.

As with all J.P. Jackson’s works you get his unique brand of story telling that will keep you wanting more, in fact, because this is a short story you will definitely want more.

Skin Sessions: Branded and Bedeviled

Blurb:

Gavin Medici, the owner of The Unicorn's Horn, has settled the arrangement made with the incubus Taz-rial, and within hours of completing his pact, the pleasure house is overwhelmed with customers and reservations.

Corbin, the witch boy who cast the spell that invited Taz-rial has an old client suddenly return. But in the middle of his skin session with his date, Corbin's old wound begins to fester. He's never told anyone that he's infected. And he certainly hasn't shared that the source of the infection is a flesh-eating ghoul.

As the undead virus begins to take hold, the boys of the pleasure house band together to save him, but in the end, it's Taz-rial who saves the day...for an additional small price.

My Review:

Continuing his short story series Skin Sessions, J.P. Jackson is back again with the continuing saga from The Unicorn Horn. In this installment we get a lot more ‘sexy’ time, a lot more creepy time, and a lot more character building. Jackson explores varying forms of sex, and given the series takes place in a brothel readers should expect to be exposed to many different fetishes, but none of the scenes goes overboard and even if these fetishes aren’t your cup of tea you can easily read through them as the scenes and the story moves quickly.

As the series continues Jackson builds out his characters; who they are and what their motivations are. Where the first short story was our introduction to everyone, now that we know them, we are getting more information on them and the world they inhabit, which I enjoy.

This story is darker and sexier than the first short story so be prepared.

That’s it for this week, don’t forget to check out Skin Session. Until next time, have a great week.

Skin Session by J.P. Jackson

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Today I’m back with an exciting new short story for you all to sink your teeth into. Author J.P. Jackson has released his dark and fun short story Skin Session (Demon at the Doorstep). As you may or may not know, Jackson is the author of dark and creepy books that will keep you up at night and make you wonder what really lurks in the shadows. And his newest short story doesn’t disappoint.

The Unicorn’s Horn was once a hot and lively pleasure house. Folks would come from miles around to be satisfied by the stable men kept by Gavin Medici, the house’s owner.

Trouble is, the world is ending, and surviving is more important to the brothel’s customers than an evening filled with unspeakable delights. Before long the purveyors of favors find themselves broke, hungry and living in a decaying brothel.

With a simple witchy spell, a visitor who promises to make everything better comes knocking. But demons are unpredictable and often come with hidden agendas.

A little demonic possession and the odd human sacrifice seem like a small price to pay. But is that all it will cost Gavin and his men?

I really enjoyed this short story and found the characters, setting, and world enjoyable and relatable. Jackson always manages to find a way to make even a creepy story sexy and fun. He’s says the stories come from the demons in his head? “They whisper things at night and force me to write about them.” And I think I believe him. The best part about this short story is the price; $.99. You can’t really go wrong. Jump on over to Amazon (click here) and grab your copy of this wonderfully dark short story.

It’s a short one this week. Remember to leave your comments below, especially if you’ve read this short story. I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time, have a great week.

A Review of First Born Sons

Happy Wednesday Scribblers! I hope you are having a wonderful week. Today I bring to you my review of Vincent Traughber Meis’s (learn more about Vincent here) novel First Born Sons. I’m please I got to read this book and I’m happy to share it here with you all today.

Frist Born Sons by Vincent Traughber Meis

Blurb:

A group of coastal Californians battle wildfires, racism, and their own demons in five distinct narratives set in late 2019 and 2020.

First Born Sons is populated by a cast of LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies who struggle to find love, comfort, and fulfillment. As the novel progresses, characters interact across the separate narratives and are brought together for a birthday and a disastrous Black Lives Matter demonstration. A man returning to the horrors that made him leave Mississippi, a blind gay man flirting with love, an FTM transgender starting hormone therapy, a woman struggling to protect her sons from her ex-husband’s surge to right-wing politics, and a teenager with two gay dads searching for his Black surrogate mom paint a disturbing tableau of modern-day America.

My Review:

There is a lot to unpack from this novel. First, I came into this novel not having read anything from Meis. So, that may have had me at a disadvantage. First Born Sons has several characters that we follow through out the story, which can be distracting at times, but overall all the characters are handled well, which I liked. Also, all the characters are related and intermingle through out the story, which made it much easier to follow. And I found that I liked each of the characters and felt like they were real people.

Typically, I don’t read contemporary novels (I prefer something fun to help me escape from reality) so this novel would not have been my first pick. That said, I’m glad I did read it. I found a lot of the characters easy to relate to and enjoyable to read about. I can’t pick out a favorite, because I don’t feel close to any of them, but I did enjoy learning about them. If you haven’t figured out from the blurb, this book takes place right before the pandemic and ends while the pandemic is still going, but things are opening back up and everyone is learning to deal with our new reality. Given the nature of the story, I had to wonder if the novel would stand the test of time, but then I figured that people could read this story to learn a bit about what the pandemic was like during this time.

First Born Sons, is well written and the tail is engaging overall, however I’m not a big fan of being hit over the head with a writer’s message or opinion. I prefer to have the message be vague and open to interpretation as well as come about naturally and organically, sadly First Born Sons is all about the message the author wants you to learn, which bothered me. I also, felt the book could be heavy handed at times with the message. Despite sensing what was coming I was disappointed to be proven correct. I think there may have been another way to achieve the author’s goal. I will say that I agree 100% with the message of the story, which made the constant beating of the drum bearable and, for me, forgivable. Perhaps this is my own bias and privilege speaking, so take it for what it’s worth.

In total if you enjoy gay contemporary stories that touch on a variety of lives with a clever weaving narrative, then this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

Well, that’s all for this week. Go out and pick up your copy of Frist Born Sons (buy it here). You won’t be disappointed. Until next time have a great week.

Colombian Drug Lord, what could go wrong?

Happy Wednesday Scribblers! Have I got a Crime Thriller for you to read this week. Personally, I’m not a big crime or thriller reader, however there are authors I make exceptions for, and Randall Krzak is one of them. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Randall and his writing over the last several years, and this book of his (which I finally finished) is amazing.

Here is my review of Colombian Betrayal:

This is another wonderful Thriller from Randall Krzak. I’ve been getting caught up on all my reviews and TBR list. This one, I’m sorry I didn’t finish and post sooner. What I love about this novel are the characters. Randall has taken the time to create a diverse cast with wonderful representation, which I personally enjoy (although I’m still waiting to see some LGBTQIA characters). The character that took this story to the next level for me was Olivia, she’s a no-nonsense woman who reads like a woman, which can be difficult when men write strong female characters. I really enjoyed getting the story from her end. It’s nice, is that the right word, reading about a woman Drug Lord who could also be your favorite aunt, sister, or parent’s friend and you would have no idea. That might sound a bit odd, but once you read the story, you’ll see what I mean.

As with all Randall’s books there are twists and turns that you don’t see coming and make the story a great read. Of all his books (I’ve read to date) this is one I can see as a Hollywood Blockbuster. I’m not saying the others won’t make great films, however, if I had to pick one, this would be the one… right now.

As I’ve mentioned several times Crime Thrillers are not typically my go too, but Randall is definitely turning me into a Crime Thriller fan.

You can get your copy here.

Learn more about Randall and what other books he has on offer here.

Well that’s all I have for now. Until next time, I hope you have a great week.

Sundowners by R.L. Merrill

Happy Wednesday Scribblers! This week I’m so excited to share with you author R.L. Merrill’s (learn more here) newest novel Sundowners (find the book here). This is a new vampire story that is set in one of my favorite places, Santa Cruz, California. I can’t begin to tell you all the wonderful times I’ve had in Santa Cruz, from a kid playing on the beaches to running around the Boardwalk, spending weekends in Aptos and Capitola, fishing in the bay and off some of the many piers, and going to the bars in downtown. I even got lost at UC Santa Cruz when I was meeting someone for a date… ugh, date did not go well. Anyway, this novel and story were something I’ve been looking forward to sharing with you.

Blurb:

Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him.

Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems.

Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.

My Review:

Vampires in Santa Cruz…again

Hear me out. Sundowners is about vampires in Santa Cruz, CA. If you are thinking that sounds familiar you’d be right… the Lost Boys took place in Santa Cruz, CA back in the late 1980s, but don’t think this is some kind of retelling or some fanfiction story, because it’s not. The author, R.L. Merrill, addresses the Lost Boys several times in the story as a wink and nod to the readers. So, R.L. Merrill is fully aware that she knows, we know. Which helps with the charm of the story.

These vampires however, are not the vampires of lore and are an exciting fresh take on the genre. I loved that the author used locations and places most people would be familiar with, (the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, UC Santa Cruz, etc.) and if you live in Santa Cruz or the surrounding locations you’ll recognize many of the more local places, which makes the story that much better and grounds it all in reality. There are a lot of plot points in the first book. We get to spend a lot of time with our main characters getting to know them as their relationship begins. As I mentioned we also get a lot of new vampire lore in this story which I enjoyed.

The two main characters Creed and Roman are what you would expect for characters in a vampire romance story (which is my only complaint. They are both young, attractive and intelligent with baggage. This kind of bummed me out, but didn’t stop me from enjoying the story and enjoying the characters, because R.L. Merrill made them interesting and unique enough to allow me to put my pretty boy biases to the side.) I won’t get into the characters a lot because I don’t want to ruin things for you, plus you can read the blurb and learn all you need to know. I will also add, that the secondary characters are as interesting as the main characters, which really helped to bring this story to life.

If you enjoy vampire stories that are set in unique locations then this is the story for you. Be advised this story is book 1 so there will be more to come. The ending works, however it sets things up for the next book and the series. So, keep that in mind.

You can get your copy of Sundowners here at Amazon or buy it at your local bookstore or anywhere books are sold.

That’s all I have for this week. I invite you to check out my book recommendations here, as I’ve been getting caught up on my reading list, and I have several new books I’m recommending. Until next time have a great week.

Two Queer Book Reviews

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I’ve been getting caught up on my reading list this past weekend, (I still have a lot to get through) however today I wanted to share my thoughts on the two most recent stories I’ve read. The first short story is Use as Wallpaper by Glenn Quigley (click here to learn more), and the second is a novella; A Symposium in Space by K.S. Trenten (click here to find out more).

First up, Use as Wallpaper by Glenn Quigley

I Smiled the Whole Time.

This is one of those stories that keeps you smiling the entire time you read it. Sometimes you never know what you are going to get with a short story and, for me, Use as Wallpaper was excellent. Author Glenn Quigley masterfully crafted this beautiful story set in the Georgian (the country not the US State) country side. As I read I felt like I was there with Stuart and Otar. The story is charming and sweet and doesn’t go crazy with the romance elements, meaning it’s not mm porn. The adult scene is tempered to not only match the characters but the flow of the rest of the story.

If you enjoy romantic short stories this is one to add to your list. It’s also a quick read which is nice. Well done Mr. Quigley, well done.

Get your copy here.

 

Second for today, A Symposium in Space by K.S. Trenten

Why Did I wait so Long?

This was such a unique story and a great read. If you are looking for a fun fast read this is the book for you. What is so magnificent about this novella is that it takes a classic The Symposium written by Plato and gives it a fresh spin. Written from the perspective of women as they talk about love. The world building (or universe building) in the case of this story is top notch. K.S. Trenten takes this classic and modernizes the story for today’s readers. I definitely wanted more especially with the ending between Phaedra and Pausania. We need to see more from this author.

Pick up your copy here.

 

As you can tell I really enjoyed both these books, and find it disappointing that they haven’t received the attention they both deserve. Both books are published by NineStar Press (click here for more). If you want to sit back for some quality reading that you can have finished in a few hours, both these books should be on your reading list. Well until next time have a great week.

ARC Copies – Free Books for Reviews

Happy Wednesday Scribblers. Have I got a magnificent offer for you this week, and I believe it’s a win-win for everyone. As you all, hopefully, know reviews are the lifeblood for an author, even more so than book sales. So, in that vein, I’m offering ARC copies of my books in exchange for reviews. The offer is simple. If you will leave a review of one of my books (see the list below) I will be happy to send you an eBook copy in your choice of MOBI or EPUB for free. The reviews must be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads. It really is that simple.

How I’m going to handle this is, you email me, click here, and let me know which book you want and I will send it to you. Then once you post the review, if you would like a second book let me know and once I verify a review has been posted on both Amazon and Goodreads (and if you are on BookBub that would be a bonus, but not required), I will send you your next book. This is your chance to get all my books one after the other. As long as you read and post the reviews, you are eligible to get the second book. There is no rush, so you can take as long as you would like (or until I’m no longer able to continue this offer). Here are the books you can pick from:

The Calling

Being nobody isn’t Duncan Alexander’s life goal. Juliet de Exter is an Immortal who is undertaking ‘The Calling’ – a search for a human to join the Immortals. How will Duncan navigate a forbidden romance with an outcast, keep the balance between the Light and Dark Immortals, survive vicious attacks while keeping the humans unaware? More importantly, who is this foe Duncan sees in his dreams?

 

The Called

The world is changing quickly for Chris now that he’s part of the Immortal Community. The events of his past are finally behind him. But, true magic is gradually taking hold in the world and nothing in the Immortal community is what he thought. Now enemies must work together and longtime friends may not be trustworthy. Who is lurking in the shadows? What does this mean for witches, immortals, and humans?

 

T.A.D-The Angel of Death

When Tad pushes the boundaries of his duties too far, his angel wings are stripped, and he is sent to New York City to live as a human. Lost and alone, he meets Doug, and the two start a friendship that will last a lifetime. But nothing is simple when you’re dealing with a former Angel of Death and a Drag Queen. Could these two cause our world to end, or will they manage to keep the future secure?

 

Contact-A New World (Book 1)

On the cusp of the greatest announcement humankind has ever witnessed, Todd’s personal world is thrown into turmoil when his estranged brother shows up on his front porch with news of alien ships heading for Earth’s orbit, holding a race called the Nentraee. Will this be the start of a new age of man or will bigotry and miscommunication bring this small world to its knees and final end?

 

Conviction-A New World (Book 2)

With Todd’s new appointment as Special Envoy for Terran Affairs by the nentraee, his goal is to build bridges between both people. However, this position brings with it a new set of problems that not only he, but his new allies must overcome. Will humans and nentraee learn to work together despite mistrust and threats of more attacks by a new global terrorist group, or will the terrorists win?

 

My goal for this promotion is to get as many reviews as I can, as I build up to the launch of Conspiracy-A New World (Book 3) and Volaria. Both books are due out later this year. Getting these additional reviews will help more readers find me and my works, and, I’m hoping, make the launch of each of these new books as huge as possible. At least that’s my goal.

There you have it, that’s it for this week. I hope you’ll consider the bargain and share this with your friends, because any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Well, that’s all for now. Until next time, have a great week.