Finding Zach by Rowan Speedwell


Finding ZachFinding Zach by Rowan Speedwell

Blurb:
For five years, Zach Tyler, son of one of the world’s richest software moguls, was held hostage, tortured, and abused. When he is rescued at last from the Venezuelan jungle, he is physically and psychologically shattered, but he slowly begins to rebuild the life he should have had before an innocent kiss sent him into hell.

His childhood best friend David has lived those years with overwhelming guilt and grief. Every relationship David has tried has fallen apart because of his feelings for a boy he thought dead. When Zach is rescued, David is overjoyed—and then crushed when Zach shuts him out.

Two years later, David returns home, and he and Zach must come to terms with the rift between them, what they feel for each other, and what their future could hold. But Zach has secrets, and one of them might well destroy their fragile love.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Got a thing for Dick, Taff?

The Letter Z by Marie Sexton

The Letter ZThe Letter Z by Marie Sexton

Blurb:
Sequel to A to Z
Spin-off of Promises

Zach and Angelo have settled into their new lives in Coda, Colorado, finding their place in the community with the help of their good friends Matt and Jared. Zach and Angelo are also working out the particulars of their relationship, but when they make a decision Jared disagrees with, Angelo finds himself at odds with his partner’s best friend. And his best friend’s partner.

When the four decide on a quick trip to Vegas, Angelo thinks he and Jared may be back on the right track. But a chance encounter with Zach’s ex-boyfriend will make Angelo question everything about himself and his relationship with Zach. Matt and Jared have always been there when Zach and Angelo needed help. But when it comes to sorting out their relationship, their friends may do more harm than good.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

sequel to a spin off of a sequel?

Winner Takes All by Elizabeth Silver & Jenny Urban


Winner Takes AllWinner Takes All by Elizabeth Silver & Jenny Urban

Blurb:
Dominic Taylor and Matt Harris have been friendly rivals – with occasional benefits – for a few years. With the downturn in the economy, though, Matt’s business is struggling. Dom, whose company is doing well, offers Matt a bet that could help save Matt’s company. But the terms of the bet would literally put Matt’s ass on the line and change the dynamic of their friendship.

As the deadline approaches, they graduate from making out to making love, raising the stakes as they each come to terms with what they really want, and what really matters.

No matter who wins, there will be no going back for either one of them. Because the winner takes all.

smutty, sexy fun

After the Storm by Chrissy Munder


After the StormAfter the Storm by Chrissy Munder

Blurb:
Angry and frustrated with his chronic illness, Vincent Poulsen moves into an old lighthouse to live out the few days he has left. After a dangerous collapse, he meets the ghostly Captain Cason, who shares stories of his distant past. In the process, Vincent stumbles over the tragedy that binds the captain to the lighthouse and his haunted memories. Then fate offers them in death a chance to make right what they couldn’t in life….

Reprint: This short story was originally published in the Dreamspinner Press anthology Desire Beyond Death

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

really good ghost story..

The Chosen by Annette Gisby


The ChosenThe Chosen by Annette Gisby

Blurb:
Love or duty — which would you choose?

Prince Severin has been brought up to put duty before all else. Now, his duty is to marry and produce an heir. He has his choice of princesses. Unfortunately, his passion is for princes.

Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his powers are discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by a Prince and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong. Unfortunately, his passion is for Severin.

With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, and magic in the air, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

classic fantasy epic.. minus the epic length

Greene V. County of Sonoma.

Good Morning!

It’s been a busy week in the blog sphere. For those of you still following the Blog Crawl the following Letters have been published so far:

http://kassa-rvws.livejournal.com/ to  JD Robb/Jordan Castillo Price
http://tamsreads.blogspot.com/ to  Lynn Lorenz
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/ to  Susan May Warren
http://wrenboudreau.blogspot.com/ to  Charlie Cochrane
http://smokinhotbooks.com/blog/ to  Josh Lanyon

Keep following the crawl for more great letters!

Teddy Pig has posted an update on the Harold and Clay, the elderly couple of Sonoma that were treated horribly by the county when Harold was injured. The National Center for Lesbian Rights is suing the county on their behalf. They’ve put together a page outlining the details of the case up to now – read it here.

As a result, All Romance Ebooks has set up a fundraising venture with authors donating 25% of all profits from the sale of their books to the cause. You can read about that HERE!  There are a lot of authors and books listed to choose from. Hopefully even more publishers will step up. 

If you haven’t read last friday’s post about unlikable characters in books, you really should. Oddmonster posted a hilarious look at those dicks we just love, no matter how bad they are. 

Val has a great post up about the mistakes reviewers make. As demanding as we are, Val points out ways that reviewers can trip up and offers tips on how to avoid potential pitfalls. 

Lessons in Trust by Charlie Cochrane


Lessons in Trust (Cambridge Fellows Mystery #7)Lessons in Trust by Charlie Cochrane

Blurb:
He thought he knew who he was. Now he’s a stranger to himself.

Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, Book 7

When Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith witness the suspicious death of a young man at the White City exhibition in London, they’re keen to investigate—especially after the cause of death proves to be murder. But police Inspector Redknapp refuses to let them help, even after they stumble onto clues to the dead man’s identity.

Orlando’s own identity becomes the subject for speculation when, while mourning the death of his beloved grandmother, he learns that she kept secrets about her past. Desperate to discover the truth about his family, Orlando departs suddenly on a solo quest to track down his roots, leaving Jonty distraught.

While Jonty frantically tries to locate his lover, Orlando wonders if he’ll be able to find his real family before he goes mad. After uncovering more leads to the White City case, they must decide whether to risk further involvement. Because if either of them dares try to solve the murder, Inspector Redknapp could expose their illicit—and illegal—love affair.

Forgive him? If our paths cross again I’ll run him over in the Lagonda.

Urban Shaman by Lyn Gala


Urban Shaman by Lyn Gala

Blurb:
New York City cop Miguel Rassin’s life is going downhill fast. He’s got a spotty record from the Army, a one-night stand who won’t go away, and a flock of reporters trying to crucify him for shooting a civilian waving a toy pistol. Now kids are turning up missing in the Bronx, and he’s partnered with by-the-book Detective Rob Jackson, a man with problems of his own. Their first suspect is a local shaman, Nikolai Adleman, who is either the strangest holy man ever or a con working his own angle.

Miguel’s trying to navigate a baffling case that has more questions than answers, caught between a surprising physical desire for Nikolai and his new partner’s suspicions about a shaman who claims supernatural forces are at work. Miguel has always tried to avoid relationships out of guilt and fear, but Nikolai sees the darkness in Miguel’s heart—and the fortitude Miguel has hidden deep inside, a strength that will help him solve the case and reclaim his life.

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

for something totally different….

Fan letter to an author


Here is my fan letter to kick things off. Going first is a mite intimidating and I had a few panic attacks, rough drafts, and author qualms. There are so many favorites, how to choose just one? Do I stick to ebooks or go into favorite print books? Decisions! I went with instinct on this one and here is my contribution:

Dear JD Robb