Book Reviews, Rants, & Raves!: Dreamspinner Press

Showing posts with label Dreamspinner Press. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Nicholas by Dianne Hartsock

Author Name: Dianne Hartsock Book Name: Nicolas Release Date: December 18, 2015

Thank you so much BRRR for finding a spot for me during this busy holiday season. The question is how does my story differ from other stories? I like to think my NICOLAS is unique in that I didn’t use the well-known legend of Santa Claus and his elves. My story involves the Krampus, the terrible creature that chases St. Nicolas through the centuries.

Instead of sweet, magical elves helping Santa deliver toys and goodies to everyone, my Nicolas has a dark troll at his side, haunting his steps, bringing nightmare and terror in his wake. In the legend of the Krampus, he’s the one who punishes the children when they are bad. He’s the dark side to Nicolas’s goodness.

I twisted this legend a little, having my Nico fleeing from this dark entity. He only wishes to be left alone, to continue spreading his word of unity and peace to the world. But the Krampus won’t let him be. Nico had stopped him from murdering three children, accidently killing the man the Krampus had been in the process. The Krampus won’t forgive him for that, and Nico can’t forgive himself for taking another’s life.

The Krampus uses this feeling of guilt against him, destroying every relationship he tries to have by making him feel unworthy of love. But then Nico meets Jamie, an artist who has given up on love. They come together against the Krampus, but will their love be enough to defeat him?

NICOLAS is the story of fear and guilt, love and redemption. It’s a legend brought to life, with a dark twist and a promise of a happy future. A slightly different take on the Santa Clause theme.

Happy Holidays!

Blurb: Betrayed by a lover, Jamie rents an isolated cabin on Lake Huron, wanting only to be left alone. Instead, he is pulled from his solitary existence as an artist and tumbles headlong into the legend of Saint Nicolas. As a young man, Nicolas accidentally killed a man intent on murdering three children, only to have the man's malicious spirit rise up against him. Fleeing through the centuries from the Krampus, the evil troll-like creature that dogs his steps, Nico finds refuge with the young artist who takes him into his home and bed. But Jamie has questions. Who is Nicolas, and why does the Krampus want to destroy him? When the Krampus begins to torment and torture anyone Nico comes in contact with to punish him, Jamie’s life is put in danger. And Jamie isn’t sure whether he can help Nico defeat his nemesis or if he’s merely a pawn in the Krampus’s game.

Dom of Ages by K.C. Wells and Parker Wiliams

Author Names: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams Book Name: Dom of Ages Series: Collars & Cuffs Book: Seven Release Date: December 21, 2015 Blurb: Eli may only be thirty, but he has had enough of pretend submissives. He wants a sub who truly knows how to submit. So when he spies Jarod in a BDSM club, everything about the man screams submission. It doesn’t matter that Jarod has to be about twenty years older than Eli. What does age matter, anyway? Not one to miss an opportunity, Eli moves fast and takes Jarod home with him, without thinking things through. All he can see is what he’s always wanted – a sub who wants to serve. Jarod spent twenty-eight years with his Master, until Fate took Phillip from him. Four years on, and Jarod is still lost, so when a young Dom takes charge, Jarod rolls with it and finds himself serving again. But he keeps waiting for the shoe to drop. Because there’s going to come a point when Eli realizes he’s a laughing stock in the club. Who would want to be seen with a fifty-year-old sub? And when the moment of humiliation does arrive, Jarod flees. He’d be better off with Phillip. Despite several missteps, what happens forces Eli to understand that Jarod needs him as much as he needs Jarod. But he knows in order to find happiness, they need friends who will understand. A friend keeps telling him Collars & Cuffs is what they need. Eli finally goes to visit, refusing to risk Jarod being hurt again, and finds everything he's heard about the club is true. When he takes Jarod, he watches as his sub is met with open arms. As they settle in to their new life, Eli begins to see things differently. And he dares to think he can have it all. Until the phone call that shows him he didn't realize what he could lose.

The Planet Whisperer by E E Montgomery

Author Name: E E Montgomery Book Name: The Planet Whisperer Release Date: December 4, 2015

Blurb: Jonah Starovski, a Planet Whisperer, harnesses the energy surrounding dead planets and redirects it into new growth. Abandoned by the man who bought him from a brothel sixteen years ago, Jonah flounders in a world he’s ill equipped to deal with. He must accept the help of a stranger in order to rebuild his life. First Lieutenant Marcus Davis volunteers as Jonah’s assistant without realizing the terraforming process requires Jonah’s sexual release. Balanced on the knife-edge of fear and ambition, Marcus is faced with his mother’s machinations and threats to his career. Marcus’s parents bring their illegal scientific experiments to the planets Jonah is terraforming just as Marcus learns to accept himself and his feelings for Jonah. At the same time, Jonah’s past catches up to him, putting them both in danger. Jonah and Marcus must trust in each other to put a stop to the illegal activities, rescue an endangered animal, and create the future they both want—a future they can share.

Truth and Consequences by Sarah Madsion

Today I’m excited to have Sarah Madison, author of Truth and Consequences, Book 3 in the Sixth Sense series on the Book Blog!

Hi Sarah, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

I like skydiving and growing my own food. I used to ride event horses and worked in a stockyard. I’ve been an actress, an astronaut, a receptionist, and a medical professional. I once had to deworm a snake. There is truth as well as fiction in this paragraph, which makes me a storyteller first and foremost!



Truth and Consequences is book 3 in the Sixth Sense series. It features FBI Agents Jerry Lee Parker and John Flynn, and the events that occur when Flynn accidentally touches a mysterious artifact and gains unusual powers. As the Sixth Sense series unfolds, we learn there is a set of such boxes, and that Lee and John aren’t the only ones looking for them. They’re in over their head, and the water is just getting deeper…

1)      Tell us something about your character’s friends.

Jerry Lee didn’t have a lot of friends before he met John. Partly because of his annoying ability to remember everything he’s ever seen or heard, and partly because he expects people to let him down. John, however, is a natural charmer who thinks people are only with him because of his looks. They make an odd pairing, but they really are each other’s best friend.

2)     What is your character’s favorite meal? Favorite dessert? Favorite snack food?

Jerry Lee fancies himself a bit of a gourmand, so he loves eating out in general. He loves seafood, and John doesn’t, so he eats fish every chance he gets. The last meal he ordered out was rainbow trout with lemon biscuit breading and a blueberry Hollandaise sauce, served on a bed of couscous and asparagus. Dessert is usually something chocolate, though depending on the season, he might go for pumpkin pie or peach cobbler and ice cream. His favorite snack is a sharp cheddar with flatbread crackers.

3)     What activity does your character absolutely hate?

Exercise for the sake of exercise. Jerry Lee would much rather play a pickup game of basketball than go jogging, but unfortunately the nature of his job means he has to stay fit and he keeps long hours. That means putting in time at the gym, which he loathes.

4)     What other author’s book do you think your character would be good in?

Oooh, that’s an interesting question! Perhaps Whitley Gray’s High Concept—the characters there also deal with danger as part of their jobs working for the FBI, and I think Lee and John would have a little fun showing off their special talents for Zach and Beck.

5)     What’s your favorite decade and why?

The 1940s. Why? There was something about the way so many people pulled together during World War II and did their part for the war effort. It was a time when women entered the workplace in great numbers, and great sacrifices were made. Besides, I love the clothes.

Blurb:

When FBI agent Jerry Lee Parker wakes from a coma after a murderous attack on his life, he has no memory of his immediate past. In the blink of an eye, he has gone from having a nearly photographic memory to recalling nothing of the last six months of his life, including his partner and lover, John Flynn. While Lee tries to reboot his past and reconnect with John, there are events at play around him he doesn’t understand. John is keeping secrets from him, secrets which could get them both killed.

Matters come to a head when Lee is hounded to turn over a mysterious artifact, of which he has no knowledge. The two men wind up in a fight for their lives as they risk everything to keep the powerful relic out of the hands of a ruthless killer. In order to protect those he loves, however, John may be forced to make a deal with the devil.

Pages or Words: 258 pages

Categories: M/M Romance, Mystery, Paranormal

Excerpt:

I knew the moment John walked into the bar. It was like my sonar pinged, my radar lit up—you name it. I heard the door open, and without turning around, I knew it was him because the hair on the back of my neck stood up. Because something in my gut tightened, and my cock lifted in earnest. I watched him in the mirror as he scanned the room, locked in on my presence, and stalked toward me like a panther in a pen full of sheep. Everyone else in the room was aware of him as well. I practically preened when he came up beside me. He took a seat and signaled the bartender, who came over with flattering attention.

Buy the book: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6974

Meet the author:

Sarah Madison is a veterinarian with a big dog, an even bigger horse, too many cats, and a very patient boyfriend. She is a terrible cook, and concedes that her life would be easier if Purina made People Chow. She writes because it is cheaper than therapy.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akasarahmadison

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sarah-Madison-Author/106445646104338

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMadisonFic

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahmadisontoo/

Other: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004K9QY5C

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4057853.Sarah_Madison

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Tour Dates & Stops:

14-Oct: Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, The Blogger Girls, MM Good Book Reviews

15-Oct: Jessie G. Books, Divine Magazine, Lee Brazil

16-Oct: Iyana Jenna, Three Books Over The Rainbow, KathyMac Reviews

19-Oct: Kimi-Chan, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

20-Oct: Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Emotion in Motion, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

21-Oct: Full Moon Dreaming, Happily Ever Chapter

22-Oct: The Hat Party, Bayou Book Junkie

23-Oct: Hearts on Fire, Love Bytes, My Fiction Nook

26-Oct: BFD Book Blog

27-Oct: Molly Lolly, Inked Rainbow Reads, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of 'Unspeakable Words' – Book one in the series

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Behind the Eight Ball by M.A. Church

I'm excited to have M.A. Church on the blog again today, talking about her latest release. I asked, what makes your new novel different than the rest:

One of the main differences is the shifter itself. While I love a werewolf story as much as the next person, I’m not a “dog” person. I prefer cats. And while I find the big cats fascinating and exotic, I don’t particularly want one running around underfoot, lol.

My shifters are basically house cats, but I’ve modeled them after Savannahs, which are a hybrid cat breed. It’s a cross between a serval and a domestic cat. A serval is a medium-sized African wild cat native to sub-Saharan Africa.

Savannahs can weigh up to thirty pounds, and can be up to 17.1 inches (43.43 cm) from shoulder to toe. The cats in my series weigh forty pounds and are 20 inches from shoulder to toe. They also don’t have the same coloration as a Savannah.

My werecats aren’t homophobic like humanity tends to be. No one’s fur gets ruffled at threesomes, though such a coupling is rare. Trouble Comes in Threes, the first book in the series, is based on such.

The clowder didn’t have a problem with three men being together. No, the problem came when one of the men happened to be human. And that’s something else that tends to be a little different about my series. Instead of humans being prejudiced, the shifters are.

Many clowder members in my series have an ingrained aversion to humans. Each beta I focus on from the West Falls clowder is paired with somebody else, thanks to the goddess Bast. The “somebody else” so far has been a human.

In book #3, the pairing is going to involve another paranormal, but this paranormal isn’t a were. And guess what the clowder’s reaction is going to be? *Gasp* It’s not going to be favorable because this certain paranormal is very, very strong and powerful.

So once again we’re going to be dealing with preconceived ideas and prejudice!

Blurb:

A cool morning, a yard full of birds, and a kitty on a mission. What more could a werecat want? Beta Heller Wirth has it all, except a mate—a shifter mate, that is. The last thing he wants is one of those dangerous humans who kill without remorse. Heller knows about that firsthand. So what does the goddess Bast do? She gives Heller exactly what he does not want—a human: business owner Lawson Dupre.

Lawson hasn’t a clue what just happened in his car detail shop. One minute a cute client is about to pass out, then he perks up and starts flirting. Next thing, he runs out the door like the hounds of hell are after him. Learning that Heller is a werecat doesn’t freak out Lawson. He happens to be one of those rare humans who knows paranormals exists. He even lives with one. Watch the fur fly as Heller and Lawson battle hurt feelings, misguided beliefs, and a power shift in Heller’s clowder.

Pages or Words: 76,000 words

Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Excerpt:

Step.

Stop.

The rustling of dead leaves caught my attention, and I froze with one paw still in the air. Not moving and barely daring to breathe, I waited. My whiskers twitched as a cool October breeze disturbed the scent of decaying leaves and rich soil. The foliage trembled again as something rooted around.

I slowly lowered my paw. The disturbance wasn’t very noticeable except to my predatory gaze. The movement continued. Gradually, bit by bit, I crept forward, making sure my long fur didn’t disturb the surrounding mounds of dying leaves. It was times like these I wished my coat were short like Dolf’s. One thing was for sure—whatever was below those leaves was going to be mine shortly. All I needed was to cover a little more distance and I’d be close enough.

Step.

Crouch.

Heart thumping, I watched as the movement continued. My muscles tightened and my bottom started wiggling. Unable to wait, I sprang forward, claws extended. Leaves flew into the air as I landed on my target. Bugs scattered. Eyes narrowed, I searched for…. There! There was the little bugger. I growled at the big black beetle and trapped it with my paw.

Seconds passed. The bug wiggled under my paw, tickling me. Hunched down, I carefully lifted my paw and peeked. Dammit, can’t see. Unable to get a good look, I lifted my paw a little higher… and there it went, scuttling across the ground. Gleefully I slammed a paw down, trying to trap it. Slap. Slap. Slap. Arrgh! What’s the deal? I keep missing.

Looked like I’d found myself in a game of whack-a-mole, except with a beetle. And off we went. The bug scurried away with me hot on its trail. Every time I thought I had a paw on it, I ended up missing. Stupid critter was fast. I bounded along behind as it raced across the ground. Then it suddenly cut back and ran straight under me.

Surprised, I leaped in the air, all four paws coming off the ground. Whoa! Zigged when I should have zagged. I landed and nonchalantly licked a paw. Hope no one saw that. I had to give the bug credit. That was a smart move. The shrill cry of a mockingbird caught my attention. I lifted my head, searching for the little tattletale.

Up in a tree it sat, its warning cries echoing around the yard. I eyed the tree. Hmm, I could climb it, but the stupid bird will probably just take off. Still, might be fun. Maybe after I finished playing with the bug… and damn. The bug.

My attention returned to where it had been, my tail slashing. Great. Lost it. Stupid bird. I sat up and threw a glare over my shoulder at the bird. Standing, I turned my back to the little menace, tail held high. That’s what I think of you, buddy. I prowled around for a while, sniffing, enjoying the coolness of the morning.

In the early morning sunlight, the dew on the grass sparkled like diamonds. Maybe it was pretty, but the stuff was also cold and wet against my paws. I was glad for my fur. As I wandered back toward the house, my stomach growled. I was hungry and… I sniffed. Oh, was that a blue jay I smelled? Oh, oh, a blue jay. Yum.

The human side of me groaned, but the kitty part wanted to jump with joy. The noisy little shits were actually quite intelligent. Catching one was always a feat. Quick as I could, I hid in the bright fall foliage by the back porch. I stayed very, very still so the stupid bird three feet from me didn’t fly off in a panic.

I licked my lips, my whiskers twitching as I watched the little rascal across from me raise its head. Shit, shit, shit. What caught its attention? Come on already. It’s all fine, nothing to worry about here. No cat hanging around. Just go back to pecking around on the ground. Everything’s good. See? I’m not moving, not even breathing.

Crouched low, I waited while my breakfast relaxed and returned to looking for acorns. Other birds came and went, but I refused to get distracted. I knew the one I wanted. Inch by agonizing inch, I crept closer to my prey. My mouth watered and my heart thumped.

The chatter of the birds around me was easy and relaxed, no distress calls sounding. That’s right. Just keep on eating. Soon I’m going to be eating you. My body tensed, back legs ready to spring me into action….

And the phone in the house rang.

Buy the book:

Meet the author:

M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.

She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013 and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Rainbow Romance Writers, and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ma.church3

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Church/173797619379487

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nomoretears00

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nomoretears00/

Other: Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007A8JA4C

Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5141393.M_A_Church

Goodreads Link:

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Tour Dates & Stops:

12-Oct: Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Multitasking Mommas, Parker Williams