Review by Jodi: Daylight Again by S.E. Jakes

Title: Daylight Again (Hell or High Water: Book 3)

Author: S.E. Jakes

Publisher: click to purchase from publisher

Rating: 5/5 Smooches 

Blurb:

This title is part of the Extreme Escapes, Ltd. universe.

Hell or High Water, #3

Prophet Drews is a man on the edge, and he’s pulling Tom Boudreaux, his partner on the job and in real life, right over with him. When his old CO calls in a favor, Prophet asks Tom to join the off-the-grid rescue. But the mission raises all of Prophet’s old ghosts: CIA assassins, the terrorist Sadiq, and most importantly, John — traitor, former teammate, and Prophet’s first love.

To help bury those ghosts for good, Prophet and Tom gather the members of Prophet’s former SEAL team . . . and a spook named Cillian who’s been tailing Prophet for years. In the process, Prophet is forced to face his team’s shifting loyalties, ghosts who refuse to stay dead, and scariest of all, his own limitations.

With everyone’s lives in danger, Prophet and Tom must unravel a tangled knot of secrets, including their own. Prophet must decide how much to reveal to Tom, while Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go to help Prophet lay his ghosts to rest.

Review:

Prophet Drews has intense nightmares, multiple times a night. He is tense, high strung and an emotional wreck, not to mention the PTSD. The friction between Prophet, his lover Tom Boudreaux, his teammates, especially Mal, and CIA spook Cillian is building. As always, the Seal team is ready to roll with its own unique brand of justice, mayhem and revenge.

        With this third book in the Hell or High Water series, SE Jakes has again proven she is a master at plot manipulation, dialogue, action and tension. The James Thurber quote at the beginning of the book is very appropriate: “There are two kinds of light—the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.” In this case the light that is cast on the characters is a bit of both.

In Daylight Again, readers learn more of the truths behind the lies and obfuscations in the first two books. These veracities reveal the characters’ motivations. Although Tom has been connected with Prophet’s Seal team, he now has a clearer picture of what the team members had been doing over the years, and now he is fully invested in both the mission and in Prophet.

“And yes, Prophet was still an asshole. It was almost comforting. Almost. … Dealing with Prophet wasn’t entirely unlike dealing with a live grenade or a Claymore mine. You had to know when to ease off the pressure and when to stay firmly planted and unmoving so you didn’t die in the explosion. Then again, Tom supposed that Prophet would say that dealing with Tom wasn’t all that different.”

John Morse and the terrorist Sadiq are still in the wind, and Prophet is strung tighter than a brand new tennis racket. The purpose of this review is not to give away any of the secrets or reveal any of the intimacies that are woven throughout this book. Suffice it to say that there are some amazing reveals in this book and the conflicts and action will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the first chapter of the book. Jakes is a master at foreshadowing and irony, which is even more apparent in this book.

The relationship and interactions of Prophet and Tom are even more intense and passionate in this third book. Whether they are fighting, having sex or ignoring each other, the tension seems to sizzle from the pages.

“He was about to leave Prophet alone so his own anger of being the last to know—true or not—wouldn’t take over. It wasn’t the time for that now. But he was hit with that goddamned voodoo feeling, the same one he’d gotten when he’d told Prophet to have his eyes checked. And Prophet was watching him, like he fucking knew. And Tom truly understood, for maybe the first time, how much it sucked to have Prophet know him so damned well. Love and hate, like Prophet said.”

It is important to read this series of books in order to really appreciate the characters, their camaraderie and their motivations. In this series, Jakes has created a series of multi-dimensional characters that sometimes let their emotions dictate their actions, even though they are professional killers. Tom is still the odd man out but he intends to prove himself to these men even if it kills him in the process.

“So Tom relaxed, as much as he could, given all the circumstances, and watched the group dynamics, pictured these men in happier days—on the battlefield, in the mess hall, on leave. They were simply easy with one another and these weren't easy men. There was King, with his ever-present dark skullcap and blue-green eyes that almost looked see-through, along with his promised shadow, Ren, a stocky blond with piercing green eyes and a palpable energy buzzing around him. Tom got the feeling that if Ren really wanted to, he could lead all the people out of this club and off a cliff, and they would gladly go, drinking, laughing, dancing the entire time. As evidenced by the fact that Ren himself was happily on a table, drinking. Dancing. Laughing.

The men talked in the kind of shorthand born from knowing one another for years. Tom knew there was a plan forming, and he grasped bits of it, but the edges were still fuzzy for him. He knew Prophet would explain it later, but he wanted to get this. Needed to understand so he could help. He gained the most points with Mal—or maybe lost them—when he spotted Cillian before Mal did. He mouthed the spook’s name, and Mal straightened, glared—but whether it was aimed at Tom or Cillian, he couldn’t tell. With two signs at the men that Tom didn’t really get, Mal was gone. When Tom looked up, so was Cillian.”

In Daylight Comes Again, there is some closure to events that took place in Catch a Ghost and Long Time Gone, but this book does not bring an end to the major conflicts and turmoil. Tom and Prophet are magnificent characters and the plot, as it is in the previous books, is action-packed. The further development of the characters of Mal and Cillian in this book bring extra heat and, of course, anxiety. But the unease between Cillian and Mal is nothing compared to the tension between Cillian and Tom and Prophet, especially when Prophet realizes secrets are being kept from him.

These men are far from perfect, and that is what makes the characters so appealing. Their tragic flaws are palpable, and Jakes does a great job showing both the strength and vulnerability of her men. Not only was the exposition action-packed, but the dialogue was as well. There is a lot of dialogue in this book, which makes this a brisk read. These men worm their way into the reader’s brain and stay there lurking in the background long after the last page of the book.

The world that Jakes has created is violent and teeming with pressure and sexuality. Jakes is a masterful storyteller and a wonderful writer. Her style is realistic and gritty, and she has the ability to grab a reader around the throat and force him or her to hang on for the ride. In the Hell or High Water series, Jakes has created a brutal world, which, surprisingly, contains aggression and compassion. The love and loyalty the men share for each other is unparalleled.

 *Reviewer Note: Thank you to SE Jakes for providing advanced review copy of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Review by Jodi: Stuck in Oz by Andrew Grey

Title: Stuck in Oz

Author: Andrew Grey

Publisher: click to purchase from publisher

Rating: 4.5/5 Smooches

Blurb:

Tales from Kansas (Book 2)

When Jeremy and Petey’s mother died, their house was taken to pay the debts she left behind, leaving them homeless. Afraid Petey will be put in foster care, they have no one to turn to but their Uncle Milt, so they pack up Jeremy’s beat-up car and leave San Diego for Wamego, Kansas.

They arrive in the middle of a snowstorm and stop at the local diner to contact their uncle, where they meet Nate. Nate and his aunt help them contact Uncle Milt, and he agrees to help.

Jeremy and Nate hit it off quickly, but Jeremy runs when he’s made to believe their new home isn’t permanent. Nate goes after him, finds him, and convinces him that he’s wanted. However, just as Jeremy and Nate begin to trust each other, Petey’s estranged father appears and threatens to tear Jeremy’s new life and fledgling family apart.

Review:

When Dorothy clicked her ruby red heels together and said, “There is no place like home,” truer words could not have been spoken. However, as is the case in real life, the concept of home is relative. Home is not necessarily where you were raised, but simply where you find happiness. Welcome to Wamengo, Kansas, where love is in the air.

With this second book in the Tales from Kansas series, Andrew Grey has created a fairy tale romance with a twist. With his usual knack for writing beautiful prose and engaging dialogue, Grey has once again written a first rate romantic tale with some extra angst thrown in for good measure.

“’When I was a kid, I used to dream about going to Oz. The one after Dorothy got rid of the witch. I thought after that it would be a nice place and, generally, at home, things weren’t particularly nice. I used to collect Wizard of Oz things when I was a kid. They were just toys and stuff, nothing of value, but they were some of my favorites.’ Jeremy smiled and left off the part about how when he was ten his mother had said he was too old for dolls and had thrown all those toys away. He’d been heartbroken and hadn’t understood how she could be so mean.”

Heartbroken, scared and running away from the only home and family he has known, Jeremy Radcliffe is a bundle of nervous tension. He has not had an easy life, and he is determined to protect his younger brother Petey from the trials Jeremy has encountered.

When the reader meets Jeremy, he is an emotional and physical mess. Driving through a snow storm with his little brother in tow, Jeremy is looking for stability or at least a respite from the cold, both literally and metaphorically. He is in desperate need of help and seeks that at the home of his estranged uncle Milt.

“The road ahead was dark and he kept to a safe speed, thankful that Petey was asleep in his car seat in the back, completely oblivious to the near panic that ran through Jeremy. He took a deep breath and did yet another mental inventory of what he had. Pushed up under the seat was all the money he had in the world. He’d sold everything he possibly could. He’d even let his cell phone lapse because paying the bill would have eaten into his dwindling supply of cash. He really regretted that now. After his mother’s funeral, he’d realized Petey, his little brother, was all he had in the world. In going through his mother’s things, he’d found the address and number for her brother in Kansas, his Uncle Milt. Jeremy had called him. Uncle Milt had sounded nice on the phone, and he’d said he’d help Jeremy if he needed it. Jeremy had thanked him, thinking he was just being polite, but then the world had caved in on him. He’d called again, not knowing what else to do, and his uncle had told him to come to Kansas.”

Uncle Milt, although a bit stoic, seems to have a big heart and home that he is willing to share with his nephews, even though, he and their mother, his sister, are estranged. The death of Jeremy and Petey’s mother shifts their lives dramatically, and although, he turns to Uncle Milt for help, it is not easy for Jeremy to trust him.

“Jeremy was more than a little nervous. Over the past few weeks, things had settled into a fairly predictable routine for both him and Petey. Uncle Milt seemed to like having both of them around, but Jeremy was still worried that they’d be sent packing if they did something wrong. Petey seemed to have their uncle wrapped around his little finger, but Jeremy didn’t know how to read his uncle and that made him nervous. Over the years, he’d gotten very good at reading his mother’s moods so he could keep both himself and Petey out of the line of fire.”

It is difficult not to fall in love with Jeremy. He is an unselfish man whose main goal in life, to this point, seems to be protecting his brother. Beneath the surface of Jeremy’s paranoia lies some hardships that he has kept hidden. He doesn’t want to make waves or draw attention to himself. Although not innocent, he is a naïve young man who has never experienced love or a romantic relationship. He would “like to go on his first date before he was old enough to drink.”

From the first time Nate lays eyes on the young man, he is smitten.  A few years older than Jeremy, Nate is instantly infatuated with the younger man. Nate is battling his own inner turn oils, most importantly his fear of his high school bully and his parents abandoning him to move to Florida. Although Nate is older, independent and less naïve than Jeremy, he learns a lot about life, pride and standing up for oneself in the course of the story.

Andrew Grey is a master storyteller and he has the ability for grasping a reader’s attention and heart with his books. Stuck in Oz is no exception to this rule. Even though this is a novella, the characters and plot are well developed. These characters are endearing. The romance is lighthearted but the depth of the characters is not. Grey’s talent for writing smooth and natural dialogue can be appreciated throughout this book. Most of the action takes place between the lines. There are some subplots in the story that help the reader understand the characters’ actions and words. If you are looking for a contemporary m/m romance with character depth, angst, and, of course, romance, this book fits the bill.

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Review by Jodi: Into the Wind by Shira Anthony

Title: Into the Wind (Mermen of Ea, Book 2) 
Author: Shira Anthony
Publisher: click to purchase from publisher
Rating: 5/5 Smooches

Blurb:

Sequel to Stealing the Wind

Mermen of Ea: Book Two

Since learning of his merman shifter heritage, Taren has begun building a life with Ian Dunaidh among the mainland Ea. But memories of his past life still haunt him, and as the threat of war with the hostile island merfolk looms ever closer, Taren fears he will lose Ian the same way he lost his beloved centuries before. Together they sail to the Gateway Islands in search of the fabled rune stone—a weapon of great power the Ea believe will protect them — and Odhrán, the pirate rumored to possess it.

After humans attack the Phantom, Taren finds himself washed up on an island, faced with a mysterious boy named Brynn who promises to lead him to Odhrán. But Taren isn’t sure if he can trust Brynn, and Odhrán is rumored to enslave Ea to protect his stronghold. Taren will have to put his life on the line to find his way back to Ian and attempt to recover the stone. Even if he does find it, his troubles are far from over: he and Ian are being stalked by an enemy who wants them dead at all costs.

Review:

It is difficult to write a review of this second book in the Mermen of Ea series without giving away too much information about the plot and characters. There is a lot of excitement, intrigue and some unexpected surprises in this book including a couple of scenes where the reader will be hard-pressed not to gasp out loud.

Shira Anthony is a masterful story teller and a tremendous writer. She writes beautiful prose that grab a reader’s attention and imagination. The character development, dialogue and hot mermen sex scenes are only paralleled by Anthony’s ability to entrench readers in a completely fictional, fantastical world that is brilliant and harsh at the same time.

“He reached the edge of the cove and stepped into the water to avoid the outcropping that blocked the sandy trail. The late-afternoon sun hung low on the horizon, and the temperature had begun to drop in its wake. He knew he had walked this trail a hundred — perhaps a thousand — times before as Treande. Each step felt familiar; each sound reminded him of the happiness he’d had here with Owyn and called to mind the promise of his future with Ian.

“The sky filled with white clouds that danced about, taking on the shapes of familiar things. A boat, a bird, a dog. Taren watched as the dog seemed to sprout wings like a dragon’s. He thought of what Vurin had said about dragons. A year before, he’d not have believed merfolk were anything but legend. Now, he wondered how much of the world he’d failed to see. Why not dragons? Or sea monsters? Or furies? Or sirens who caused ships to wreck? Why should he doubt the existence of things simply because he’d never seen them for himself?”

       

The Ea world that Anthony has created is intriguing and complex. The basic premise is that the mermen, who have hidden their dual nature, – mermen and human forms – have been enslaved and tortured by both humans and their own people for centuries. Ian Dunaidh and Taren Laxley, reincarnated priests, find themselves as leaders of a brutal civil war. They are the underdogs in this fight and are surrounded by powerful mages and weaponry.

In Into the Wind, Ian and Taren are on a quest. They are in search of the rune stone, a legendary vessel of great and mysterious power. That power is essential to possess, but it is also very dangerous. It is the possession of this stone that caused the death of Owyn, Ian’s previous incarnation. Both Taren and Ian fear the results of possessing the stone again. It is imperative that readers are aware this is the second book in a three-book series. There are some incredible cliffhangers.

Taren and Ian have spent a lot of time interacting with humans, and although the humans are a threat to them, it is their own Ea counterparts that cause the most turmoil and damage, both physically and psychologically. 

In this book, Taren and Ian are fighting for the future of the Ea as well as trying to re-kindle their centuries old love. Along with the adventure, fantasy and angst, Anthony has written a beautiful romance. As Anthony noted in a recent interview, here,  Taren and Ian are reincarnated “soul mates” who are “fated to find each other when they’re reborn. It’s an incredibly romantic concept.”

“The memory of the battle returned, jarring him back to his senses. Ian! He remembered he’d been unable to do anything but watch the mizzenmast as it snapped. He remembered feeling Ian’s pain as keenly as if it were his own as Ian was injured by a falling beam. His gut clenched, his head spun, and he fought back a wave of nausea. His body seemed to float, carried away on his fear like driftwood battered by the waves. Goddess, please don’t take him from me again! He struggled to clear his mind; he knew he’d accomplish nothing if he panicked. He drew several long breaths as Vurin had taught him, and felt the sand beneath his body once again, familiar and reassuring. Grounded once more, he reached out for Ian’s presence.”

What makes this book so outstanding is Anthony’s picturesque prose and wonderful character development, and that applies to not just Ian and Taren, although the two of them are compelling. In this second book, Rider and Bastian make a dramatic appearance as do some of the other important characters from book one, as well as a new character, who is a bit of an enigma, to say the least.

In both Stealing the Wind and Into the Wind, Anthony has created and delivered a fantastical and well-crafted tale with biblical, mythological and Arthurian Legend allusions. The chemistry between the characters, both human, Ea, as well as the hybrids you will meet in this second book is compelling.

As author Cody Kennedy writes in his forward for this book: “Reading, at its very best, is an enthralling experience, and a good story draws us into another world and stays with us long after the book is closed. The worlds, characters, and events live inside us, piquing our curiosity and fueling our imaginations for years to come.” This description fits Anthony’s story to a T.

In this book (and series), Anthony takes the concept of a contemporary romantic fairy tale and turns it on its head. Unlike with the Blue Notes series, these books do need to be read in order to fully appreciate the tale Anthony weaves.

Into the Wind is a unique and richly layered fantasy world that will capture the readers’ hearts, minds and imaginations. It is a romantic tale exploring a journey of discovery, love, growth and coming to terms with the past. It also is a multi-layered adventure filled with war, violence, prejudice, pirates, treasure and passion. Although Stealing the Wind, the first book in this series, is a wonderful book, it is with Into the Wind that Anthony’s writing style and storytelling abilities shine bright.

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Author Post: Into the Wind Blog Tour with Shira Anthony

Welcome Shira Anthony to the Smoocher’s Voice blog!We want to thank Shira for taking the time to answer some questions about herself, her writing and her EA world. The second book in the Mermen of Ea Series, Into the Wind, releases today, May 5 on Dreamspinner Press. 

We are super excited for Shira to be kicking off her blog tour for Into the Wind with us. At the end of the post there will be a link to her rafflecopter give-away which will run until 5/31. There will also be links and dates to the other stops on the tour. 

Shira Anthony is a complete sucker for a happily-ever-after, and rarely reads or writes a story without one. Never a fan of instalove, Shira likes to write stories about real men with real issues making real relationships work.

In her last incarnation, Shira was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as “Tosca,” “Pagliacci,” and “La Traviata,” among others. Her Blue Notes Series is loosely based upon her own experiences as a professional musician.

Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 36’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.

Jodi: Welcome Shira. Tell us a little about yourself.

Shira: “I’m a former opera singer and longtime bookworm who started but never finished any long stories until about eight years ago, when I discovered the MM genre.”

Jodi: How long have you been writing in the MM genre?

Shira: “I’ve been writing MM romance for about 8 years now, and had my first book published with Dreamspinner Press in 2011. I got interested in writing MM when my good friend and fellow author, Venona Keyes, suggested we write a story about a conductor and a violinist. That short story became the inspiration for my book, Prelude, part of the Blue Notes Series from Dreamspinner Press. I’ve never looked back. I love writing MM and can’t imagine writing anything else!”

Jodi: Who are some of your favorite authors?

Shira:“My all-time favorite author is Marion Zimmer Bradley. Her Darkover series inspired me to write fantasy and, in particular, the Mermen of Ea Series. She wrote sweeping stories that bridged the sci fi and sword & sorcery genres that included loving heterosexual and homosexual relationships. I also love J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series. I grew up on Isaac Asimov, John Brunner, and Robert Heinlein. But I think my first favorite author was E.B. White (and my first favorite book, The Trumpet of the Swan).”

Jodi: The Blue Notes series is very realistic and based on your personal experiences, what made you decide to write a fantasy series?

Shira: “I read fantasy before I ever read contemporary romance, but the world-building involved seemed so daunting. I had written a few Blue Notes Series books in a row, and I really needed a mental break from my angsty musicians, so it seemed like the right time to tackle fantasy. I’m so glad I did! It’s been a lot of fun (and it’s been as challenging as I expected it would be).”

Jodi:  Why mermen? Tell us a little about this world?

Shira: “The idea for the Mermen of Ea Series started out as a pirate, captive/captor romance set on the high seas. In fact, I wrote the first three chapters of Stealing the Wind thinking that’s just what it would be. No mermen in sight. But after a vacation where I went scuba diving in the Caribbean, I kept imagining what it would be like to breathe under the water (without all the heavy gear). That’s about the time my character, Taren, told me he wasn’t a human being (sometimes my characters are pretty assertive!). I knew then that he was a merman, and I loved the idea that these mermen could shift in and out of merman form and pass as humans. That’s how the world of the Ea was born.

The Ea (mermen) in my series are survivors of genocide by humans who sought their power. They live hidden from humans and are extraordinarily distrustful of them. They make their home on land and have a navy to defend themselves. Over time, some of the Ea decide they wish to live alongside humans again, and this causes a huge rift in Ea society that leads to civil war. The stories take place about 20 years after that war.”

Jodi: There are various mythological and religious themes in this book (reincarnation being one). Is the EA world based on a specific mythology?

Shira: “Yes and no. The term “Ea,” also known as “Enki,” comes from our own ancient mythology, and describes a half man/half fish god (and a very virile one, which may explain why my mermen are very sexual creatures!). The rest of the mythology is pretty much my own. I love the idea of reincarnation and the existence of “soul mates” who are fated to find each other when they’re reborn. It’s an incredibly romantic concept. There are some biblical themes in this book, as well, although there is no Judeo-Christian faith in the alternate universe I’ve created. The Ea worship a goddess who shapes their lives and guides them to their destinies.”

Jodi: What kind of research did you do to come up with the EA world?

Shira:  “Since the book takes place in an earthlike place, but isn’t our earth, I was free to create much of the Ea history myself. I did, however, research ancient sailing vessels and sailing battle strategy, since I wanted the book to take place in an age of sail that mirrors our own. Even though my husband and I have a large sailboat and my husband’s an excellent sailor, I had a lot to learn about sailing in the heyday of pirates and privateers!”

Jodi: So, what type of research did you do to determine the biological constructs for the sex scenes?

Shira: “Ea, unlike some merfolk, are not fish at all, but mammals. I decided to base their physiology on that of dolphins. You’d be surprised to discover how many dolphin sex videos there are on the internet! Apparently they, like humans, enjoy sex and use it in a social way. The thing that made me laugh the most was that these videos are often taken by parents of young children at aquariums. Having a five year old ask his father, ‘What are those dolphins doing together?’ and watching the father squirm is so funny!

“All joking aside, though, dolphins have mating rituals. I studied these and tried to adapt them to my mermen. The merfolk, like dolphins, have sex organs that are sheathed inside their bodies (a merman penis is much like a dog's in that way – it is hidden until it’s needed for sex). I can’t tell you how much fun I had writing the mermen sex scenes! I knew when I created the Ea that I needed to write them having sex in their shifted (Ea) form.”

Jodi: In this second book we are introduced to a new, strong character who is enchanted with Taren and causes some strife with Ian. Did was this new character planned when you wrote the first book or did he just come into being as you planned for the second?

Shira: “I did plan this new character when I wrote the first book (there’s a mention of him at the beginning of Stealing the Wind, in fact). Of course, in writing Into the Wind, he took on a life of his own, with his own distinct personality and personal history. That part of him developed as I worked through the second book.

Jodi: Why did you permit Taren and Bastian to seem so accepting of the roles of being slaves? Why is Taren so determined to continue to serve Rider, even after it is clear he is not a traditional slave?

Shira: “Taren and Bastian really knew nothing more than their lives as slaves/indentured servants, and slavery is accepted by the humans in their world. Much as in our own past, many sea-faring men were sold into servitude by their families to pay debts. Pirates in our own history took slaves from ships they plundered, as well, so I drew on this history in the world I created in these books.

“As far as why he is determined to fulfill his contract with Rider, Taren is an incredibly loyal man. He comes to love Rider (he was always attracted to Rider, but that attraction grows into a non-romantic type of love), and Rider treats him well. Taren feels he owes Rider his service, since Rider saved him from a terrible life at Raice Harbor and shows him the joys of sailing (and of sex). With Rider and Bastian, Taren feels accepted, cared for, and even loved.”

Jodi: Do you have a favorite character in this series?

Shira: “I knew you’d ask that!  Ack!  I have a hard time choosing, so let me just say I have several favorites (how about that for dodging the question!): Taren, Ian, Bastian and the new character who appears in Into the Wind for the first time.”

Jodi: Does writing in third person point of view provide more opportunities to explore each character’s personality than it would if the books were written in first person?

Shira: “Yes! Definitely. I prefer what we call “close third person” point of view because I love getting into multiple characters’ heads, rather than a single character. I usually write characterizations first, plot second. To me, the plot is a framework for character growth, and what better way to show how a character grows and changes than to let the reader peer into the character’s mind. First person point of view is more limiting. Sure, there are books that lend themselves to that style, but I haven’t written one yet that’s screamed for it.”

Jodi: There is one more book in this series and another Blue Notes book coming out this summer. Do you have any more fantasy books planned?

Shira: “I have a vampire series of books in the works, and I’m considering a spinoff series to the Mermen of Ea. I’m pretty sure I’ll be writing more fantasy, though, if only because I’ve enjoyed writing this one so much!

Jodi: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me, Shira.

Shira: “Thanks for taking the time to interview me, Jodi! It’s been a pleasure.”

Blurb:  Since learning of his merman shifter heritage, Taren has begun building a life with Ian Dunaidh among the mainland Ea. But memories of his past life still haunt him, and as the threat of war with the hostile island merfolk looms ever closer, Taren fears he will lose Ian the same way he lost his beloved centuries before. Together they sail to the Gateway Islands in search of the fabled rune stone—a weapon of great power the Ea believe will protect them—and Odhrán, the pirate rumored to possess it.

After humans attack the Phantom, Taren finds himself washed up on an island, faced with a mysterious boy named Brynn who promises to lead him to Odhrán. But Taren isn’t sure if he can trust Brynn, and Odhrán is rumored to enslave Ea to protect his stronghold. Taren will have to put his life on the line to find his way back to Ian and attempt to recover the stone. Even if he does find it, his troubles are far from over: he and Ian are being stalked by an enemy who wants them dead at all costs.

****

Medium Length Slightly Sexy Excerpt:

TAREN CHASED Ian through the surf, the water flying about him as his bare feet slapped the sand. The warm autumn sun on his shoulders and the salty tang of the water made him smile.

“You’re too slow!” Ian called from halfway across the beach.

Taren laughed and dove into a wave, swam in his human form until he came upon Ian, grabbed him around the ankles, then knocked him into the water. Ian spluttered and transformed, planting his powerful tail. He paused for only an instant, then pivoted and swam against a wave that crested and broke near shore.

Taren looked around, trying to sense Ian. During the time they’d spent together at Callaecia, the powerful sensations he shared with Ian had only grown in their intensity. Even though he couldn’t see him, Taren felt Ian’s heart race as he swam, felt his pleasure, heard his lungs fill with water, and knew he was nearby. He didn’t see Ian until he surfaced in a spray of foam, took Taren’s hands, and dragged him down, forcing him to transform as well.

You cheated! Taren wriggled away from Ian and took off for one of the underwater caves near the cliffs. He flicked his tail harder when he sensed the movement of water behind him. Ian was the stronger swimmer, although in the months Taren had lived amongst the Ea at Callaecia, he’d learned to use his Ea body to its greatest advantage.

Ian caught up with Taren a moment later, swimming beneath Taren before encircling his waist with his powerful arms, capturing him in his embrace.

I yield! Taren laughed and allowed Ian to pull him closer. Besides, you’ve long ago captured my heart. He nipped at Ian’s neck, eliciting a low rumble he could feel in his belly more than hear with his ears. Taren still marveled that in his Ea form he could hear so much under the water. He’d asked Ian once why the Ea didn’t choose to spend their lives in this form, so taken was he with the joys of his Ea body and the beauty of the sea. Ian had just shrugged and told him that the Ea viewed their transformation as a gift from the goddess that set them apart from humans, but that they believed they were meant to live on land.

They swam out from land as they held each other, tails beating the water in tandem as they spiraled in a dizzying dance. More than anything, Taren found the Ea mating ritual a beautiful thing. Ian’s Ea body was also beautiful. In this form, Ian’s chest was broad and the muscles of his belly and arms more powerful. As a human, Ian was strong. As an Ea, he possessed strength and surprising grace few others did. Taren loved to watch Ian swim, watch the sinews of his body ripple as he moved his tail, watch his hair twist in the current. More thrilling, perhaps, was the knowledge that Ian was his, that Ian desired him above all others, that Taren held Ian’s heart.

Ian released Taren as they glided over the sand at the bottom. Large schools of silver fish followed the contours of their bodies, calling to mind the shimmer of moon across the waves. Here, many feet below the surface, the pressure of the water created a warm cocoon around Taren and drove the warmth in his chest to his extremities, making his fingers more sensitive.

Taren flicked his tail to propel him around so that he and Ian swam toward each other, arms extended, then moved upward as they laced their fingers together and floated perpendicular to the sea floor. They kissed and their tongues entwined. Ian tasted of the ocean and of the promise of Taren’s new life. Their former incarnations, Treande and Owyn, had been equals in everything. Partners, friends, lovers. Taren both relished and feared the power of his connection to Ian and the unexpected turn of fate that had brought them together, as well as the revelations of their past.

With a grin, Taren spun around so that he faced Ian’s tail. He rotated his arm so that the sharp tines that ran from his fingers to his wrist grazed the slick surface. He’d learned how to retract the barbs so they would not injure; he’d also learned that if used properly, the gentle scrape of the barbs was a sensual treat Ian could not resist.

“Goddess!” Ian shouted in his mind. “Is it your wish to render me completely helpless with lust?”

Taren repressed a chuckle as he continued to stroke Ian’s body. He might not be able to best Ian with his physical prowess, but he knew he held a stronger power over Ian. He relished the thought that he possessed Ian’s heart and soul, for it made his own uncontrollable hunger to be near Ian bearable.

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Contest starts 5/5 (release day) and ends at midnight on 5/31.

Prizes include:

Grand Prize: Handmade Merman Tail Fluke Pendant

1st Prize: Mermen of Ea Goodie Basket (includes autographed copy of “Stealing the Wind” paperback, t-shirt, and lots of other fun stuff)

2nd Prize: $10.00 Dreamspinner Press Gift Certificate

3rd Prize: Paperback copy of “Stealing the Wind” (Mermen of Ea #1) – or for non-US winners, a $10 Dreamspinner Press Gift Certificate

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Blog Tour Participants:

5/5 Release Day – Smoocher’s Voice  (Interview with Shira)

5/6 Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

5/8 Mrs. Condits and Friends (Merman Sex 101)

5/9 Tali Spencer’s Brilliant Disguise (Series and Worldbuilding: Recreating the Merman Myth)

5/10 Prism Book Alliance (Character Interview with Ian Dunaidh)

YA Review by Cam: Fag by Krissy Bells

Title: Fag

Author: Krissy Bells

Publisher: Harold Blue Publishing

Rating: 4/5 Smooches

Blurb: 

Aaron Garrett is many things in life: he is a son, a friend, a student, and caring boyfriend to his lovely girlfriend Leigh Ann. In these roles, he is kind, hardworking, smart, loving, dedicated, and considerate. At Jefferson High School, he is a leader, a football star, and well-respected by his peers. Aaron’s life is perfectly on track, he is pursuing a college scholarship and hopeful for the future, except for just one thing: Aaron Garrett is gay. When a former child star from Aaron’s small Southern town saturates the national media after making homophobic comments, Aaron’s life is turned upside down as supporters rally around the sentiments. Social media attention begins to swell nationally and locally until it begins to eat away at every part of Aaron’s existence.

Review:

Honestly this book was a hard read for me. My heart broke for Aaron and the ending made me angry. I don't like a book that leaves me hanging on a cliff. 

This book is about a boy who is gay in the south, living in a closet because he knows that he won't be accepted. This is a harsh reality even in these more accepting times. This kid exists in far too many families across this country. He is a nice kid, a kid who wants to do what's right and doesn't want to hurt anyone else. He wants to believe that it doesn't matter, until it does. It's real, and it's not going away, and people will find out. 

The word "Fag" in this book is a catalyst that sends Aaron into a tailspin after it is etched into a favorite teacher's blackboard. Suddenly he's having trouble reconciling what his mother, girlfriend, and best friends think on the topic, especially when he's harboring a secret locked deep inside him.

It always astonishes me how parents can stop loving their children over who they might fall in love with. It's like they forget that parental love should be unconditional. I don't love my children if... I love my children. I may not like everything that they do, but I love my children. I won't turn my back on them because they might fall in love with someone of a different religion or race, so why should gender matter? Of course, it shouldn't, but many many parents forget about that until it is too late. Too late to make amends. 

I don't want to give away spoilers about the book, but there are some triggers, and you need to be aware of that going in. This book does not have a happy ending, but it's an ending that happens far too often. 

Krissy Bells wove a captivating story, and I hope that this book has a sequel. This story certainly shows what can happen when a young person feels they are pushed to their limit. 

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