Please give a big welcome to Jackie Nacht. She's here with a excerpt and you can enter the rafflecopter drawing for some lovely prizes. Excerpt: Knox seethed in the common area as Oren came over and sat next to him. He loved that Oren and Daegal had finally gotten their shit together and were happy, but he couldn’t stand being in this room another minute. “How are you doing?” Oren asked. Across the room, Knox watched as that fucker Duke was giving the small Omega, Myles, shit. Myles was one of the smallest shifters there, only five foot six and sweet, too. Yeah, that was the right word for him. Sweet, because even during his shift, the noises he would make while in pain were these little, Ow. Ow. Ow, while everyone else was screaming their fucking heads off. “I fucking hate this. Every month, it’s the same.” Knox gritted out. Knox watched as Duke grabbed a hold of Myles. Enough! In an uncontrollable rage, Knox crossed the room. He was all over Duke, pounding into the Alpha, uncaring if he killed the asshole. He was thirsty to end this guy as his fists connected over and over with Duke’s face. Shouts could be heard from a distance. Sloan, his best friend and Alpha, was there screaming at him, but he was lost. Lost to the anger, the smell of blood; he craved more. Then, suddenly, Knox was pulled off. How dare they take him from his kill? A growl erupted deep within him and unleashed on those that interfered. He was ready to go back at Duke when Malach came into his vision. The look of sorrow on his face had Knox baring his teeth. Malach pulled a syringe and struck him with it. The world became fuzzy along the edges, and Knox suddenly had a little clarity. What the hell am I doing? That was his last thought before he fell into darkness. Talk to Jackie!Tour Dates: 7/7/14 Tour Stops: Velvet Panic, Redz World, Iyana Jenna, MM Good Book Reviews, SA McAuley, Kimi-Chan, Emotion in Motion, Night Owl Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Amanda C. Stone, Prism Book Alliance, Fallen Angel Reviews, Book Whores United, Love Bytes, Parker Williams, The Blogger Girls, Dawn’s Reading Nook, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake Today I welcome EE Montgomery, thank you for stopping by. I love creating book titles and can't write without having one. So, I was very pleased when EE offered some of her own insight on that same subject and brought us a wonderful book. I find titles incredibly difficult to choose—or incredibly easy. I like to have a title that has some relevance to the story and resonates with it or me. I’m a character-driven writer and my titles reflect that. Generally, my titles reflect something about the character’s life or the core of their personality. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I get it very wrong. Ordinary People, as a title, came to me within the first paragraph of writing. It had no other incarnations. Vinnie is such an ordinary person that you’d never think there’d be anything extraordinary about his life. He’s a study in contrasts from macro to micro, and I like that the title foreshadows the contrasts. It’s a good title and I can’t think of another one that would work better, but it would also be a good title for a series.My historical stories have been difficult to choose titles for. Both Between Love and Honor and The Courage to Love began life as something else entirely. Between Love and Honor was originally submitted as My Heart is Broken but luckily was changed before publication. The Courage to Love started life as From Over There, a disaster of a title. I didn’t settle on the current title until I’d finished the book and was onto the third version in my editing before submission. One of my disaster titles is What About Him. That’s the question that ran through my head the whole time I was writing the story but it stopped me thinking beyond that question when it came to choosing a title. Blurb: When Queensland Police Force Constable James Laramee raids a hotel room, he finds Vinnie Canterbury on top of a naked, dead man, covered in blood. Vinnie promptly vomits all over James’s shoes. Thanks to a cocktail of horse sedatives and Hendra vaccine, Vinnie’s memories of his ordeal are fractured. Finding the culprits and the reasons behind his abduction will be a challenge. With his apartment trashed, his building set on fire, and his clothes, phone and wallet gone, Vinnie needs a place to stay. To his surprise, James not only takes him in, but also lets him cry on his shoulder. It must be true love. Vinnie has plans for his future with James all mapped out, and he hopes he can get James on the same page. Excerpt: His bed was stripped to the mattress. The shredded mattress. Foam stuffing bubbled up between the slashes like pus weeping from an infected wound. He tore his attention from the bed to find his sheets and duvet scattered all over the floor. In pieces. He whimpered. “I just bought that set.” He pressed his fingers against his lips. Even in his shock he recognized the inanity of his comment. His gaze was drawn to the freestanding full-length mirror beside the windows. Black writing marred the polished surface. NEXT TIME DO WHAT YOU’RE TOLD FAG OR THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO YOU. He turned to see Laramee beside him, his hand again clamped on Vinnie’s arm. “What was I told?” he whispered. “I don’t know what I was told.” It was too much. He flung himself at Laramee, buried his face in the warm, slightly harsh fabric of his uniform, ignored the button digging into his forehead, and burst into tears. “I don’t even know your name. I can’t sob all over you if I don’t know your name,” he wailed. Tour Dates & Stops: 7/3 – Emotion in Motion 7/10 – Smoocher’s Voice 7/17 – Prism Book Alliance 7/24 – MM Good Book Reviews 7/31 – Velvet Panic 8/7 – Because Two Men Are Better Than One 8/14 – Decadent Delights 8/14 – Hearts on Fire 8/14 – Love Bytes 8/21 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words Connect with EE Montgomery Give a big welcome today to Havan Fellows! Blurb: Archer Hehnier is a hard-core businessman through and through. He's not afraid to make the merciless decisions, to put in the long hours, to lose himself in his work for the greater good of his company and his clients…even if it means losing a piece of himself in the process. But when does a man with a mind always turning at two hundred rotations per second get his personal needs met? Dalton is an uncompromising businessman, who could, no doubt, go toe-to-toe with Archer in the boardroom—but that's not the room Dalton wants to tackle Archer in. With a little help from his friends at the premier BDSM club, The Sanctuary, Dalton hopes to fulfill every one of Archer's hidden needs. **Previously released as part of the Don't Read in the Closet V.II M/M Romance Collection in 2011. Since then it has been reworked and edited for your reading enjoyment. Cover Artist: Allison Cassatta Publisher: Appleton Publishing Avenue Excerpt: I watched him walk in exactly at seven. You could set your watch by him. I knew his routine—bar for a double scotch neat then a corner table for two, but only he would occupy it. As usual on Thursdays, he ordered the fisherman's catch: salmon, a spring salad with strawberries, and steamed baby veggies. The only starch he allowed to pass between those thin sharp lips tonight was a well-buttered roll, no potatoes for my man, and no alcohol with dinner either. He favored water with fresh squeezed lime and was very adamant with the server about the simple fact lemon was not a substitution. Even at this late hour and having put in a full day of numbers, his attire was never mussed—Armani was safe on his capable body. I couldn't wait for him to roll in here Friday. It was my favorite day to see him. He broke away from his favored charcoals and wore color. The third Friday of the month…hmm…oh yes, green. Love him in his deep green suit with the lighter shade silk shirt and tie. I always found it amusing how everyone maneuvered around his table, purposely walking on the other side of tables out of their way. My man had an aura about him, sort of a "back the fuck off before I eradicate you with just my thoughts" type of thing going on. Of course he wouldn't curse. Foul language was beneath someone who could make a grown man cry with just a cock of the eyebrow. Yes…Archer Hehnier was a badass in constant control of his surroundings. All of them. From the strangers that walked in and out of his life to the paid help at his overpriced house. I even suspected that he had a way of turning all the traffic lights green on his drive home, but hadn't been able to test that theory yet. So why did I eat at this same restaurant practically every night and memorize his routine? Simple, he had something I wanted, and I had something he needed. And I do believe that green Friday would be the day I explain this to him. That should be interesting. Connect with Havan Fellows Welcome Draven St. James! Blurb(s): Michael prides himself on being the man that everyone can depend on until one of his firefighters is severely wounded on the job. Will he be allowed to process the situation alone? Not when a loud and persistent Simon Winters shows up on his doorstep. The man hasn't met a boundary he didn't skip across. Simon has had the biggest crush on Lieutenant Firefighter Michael Donovan since the first day he saw him. Which just happened to be at an interview for a job to work as a firefighter. Before his desire to lick the gruff older man from head to toe affects his work, Simon transfers over to being a paramedic. Just when he's begun to build a life that doesn't include hot shower fantasies of Michael, the object of his angst is thrust into his path. All too quickly, Simon begins to barrel through Michael's defenses and dig up the desires Michael has fought so hard to hide. As passions flare out of control, tragedies collide from every side. Michael's struggle to keep Simon at a distance starts to crumble beneath the weight of the secrets that Simon is hiding. Will Michael be able to protect Simon when he needs it the most or will he lose Simon forever? Excerpt: Michael stepped forward and grabbed Simon by his shoulders. “Why are you really here?” he snarled. “Because you’ve locked yourself away?” Simon whispered and gazed at him with eyes filled with concern. That look stabbed into Michael. “And you care why?” “Because…” Simon shrugged, dislodging Michael’s hold, and then cupped Michael’s face with a trembling hand. “What happened wasn’t your fault, and you needed someone to come and shove that truth into your face.” “You picked the short straw?” Michael hated that Simon’s hand on his cheek brought him more comfort than anything else had. Just like at the hospital. Simon shook his head, and his gaze fell to Michael’s lips. His hand came down to brush against the edge of Michael’s bottom lip. A pink flush rose along Simon’s cheeks. Michael felt that innocent touch like a jolt through his body. He tilted Simon’s face up, and the sensual invitation in his eyes shocked and inflamed him. He didn’t have the energy to fight against what he wanted, and right now that was Simon. With a groan of defeat, he smashed his lips to Simon’s and took the sweet oblivion that Simon offered. Tour Dates: 6/27/14 Tour Stops: Rainbow Gold Reviews, Love Bytes, Amanda C. Stone, MM Good Book Reviews, Havan Fellows, Velvet Panic, Parker Williams, Fallen Angel Reviews, Reviews and Ramblings, Emotion in Motion, Tara Lain, My Fiction Nook, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons, Sinfully Sexy, Top2Bottom, Iyana Jenna, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Lee Brazil, LeAnn’s Book Reviews Author Bio: I’m a born and raised Oregonian. I’ve traveled extensively in search of mischief and mayhem to fill my books. My ventures have been quite successful in inspiring a wealth of stories both sexy and humorous. It gives me a great excuse to do some crazy stuff in the name of research. Of course at the end of the day, coffee within reach, laptop at the ready is where I find my peace. Connect with Draven St. James Purchase Links Today I'm pleased to welcome Lee Brazil as part of his tour for Less Than All. Blurb: Nicholas Danville doesn’t trust his lover to share the depth of his attraction. He knows full well Victor must marry to fulfill his duty to his aristocratic family. Assuredly marriage will mean the end of their liaison. A youthful indiscretion leads to a humiliating encounter between Nicholas Danville and Lord Victor Ware. Nicholas is sent home in disgrace, and Victor continues life in the Ton. Years later, Nicholas's reproving parents send him to town to attain a degree of polish before he prepares for life as a member of the clergy. A chance encounter with an old friend leads to a new confrontation between Nicholas and Victor. This time, the attraction between them burns brighter, Nicholas is old enough to know his own mind, and Victor is done with self-denial. From ballrooms to gardens and opera houses, Victor sets about proving that a passionate liaison between two men is possible even under the narrow gaze of the Ton. Excerpt: Peter had evidently taken the time to pull his glossy Hessians back on because Victor had swallowed half the glass before he heard the door click behind him. Lifting the glass to study the amber liquid in the firelight, he spoke without turning around. "I pay you an adequate allowance to cover your own establishment Peter, exactly because I do not wish to find hordes of drunken revelers have invaded my home." "I'm glad for Peter's sake that you're a generous man, My Lord Ware. But I'd hardly call our little gathering a horde." Victor whirled about to find Danville lounging in altogether too close a proximity. A single lingering glance impressed upon Victor the slender lithe frame, lovingly outlined by tight buff colored breeches, fine white linen shirt open at the neck. Both his discreetly embroidered waistcoat and his black tailcoat hung open. Danville’s inappropriate dishabille enticed him as the devil tempted sinners. He held up a hand as though to ward off the smaller man, but Danville stepped impossibly closer, and Victor groaned as his blood thrummed and his head swam. Strong arms wrapped around his neck, tugging his head down, and soft wet lips pressed lightly against his mouth. "I've waited years for this moment, Ware." Then Victor gave up listening, gave up fighting the response of his body as an agile tongue probed the seam of his lips, seeking entrance. He accepted Nicky's kiss, opened his mouth to suck at the questing tongue. He chased Nicky's tongue for what seemed like ages, his body hardening and heating with lust. His arms closed around Nicky's slender waist, hauling the man close so he could seek solace for the ache of his prick in grinding against the silk of Nicky's evening breeches. The shattering of his whiskey glass on the hearth broke the mood, and Nicky pulled away, retreating to the door. "I'm going now." He paused, hand on the doorknob. A strangely earnest expression crossed his face as he tilted his head to glance back at the stunned Victor. "Shall I return? Or do you forbid Peter's friends the run of your home?" He slipped from the room while Victor struggled to frame a coherent response. Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Amanda C. Stone, Fallen Angel Reviews, Love Bytes, Emotion in Motion, Havan Fellows, MM Good Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Hearts on Fire, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Prism Book Alliance, Top2Bottom, Kimi-Chan, Iyana Jenna, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons, The Hat Party Author Bio: Somewhere in a small town in up-state New York are a librarian and a second grade teacher to whom I owe my life. That might be a touch dramatic, but it's nevertheless one hundred percent true. Because they taught me the joy of reading, of escaping into worlds crafted of words. Have you ever been nine years old and sure of nothing so much as that you don't belong? Looked at the world from behind glasses, and wondered why you don't fit? Then turn the page and see… there you are, running from Injun Joe in a dark graveyard; there you are fencing with Athos; there you are…beneath the deep blue sea- marveling at exotic creatures with Captain Nemo. I found myself between the pages of books, and that is why I write now, it's why I taught English and literature for so many years, and it's why my house contains more pounds of books than furniture. If I'd had my way, I'd have been a fencer…or a starship captain, or a lawyer, or a detective solving crimes. But instead, I am a writer, and that's the best thing in the world to be if you ask me, because as a writer, I can be all those things and more. If I hadn't learned to value the stories between the pages, who knows what would have happened? Certainly not college…teaching…or writing. Purchase links The World of Desires’ Guardian Morning and thank you for having me over. Today I thought I’d talk a little about the setting for Desires’ Guardian, and the entire Desires Entwined series. You see, it’s set in a modified version of Milwaukee, WI USA. Now, I know it’s probably not the first place many think of, but I absolutely love Milwaukee. It’s a lively city that hosts a great deal of shopping, art, culture, and history. When I set out to begin the Desires Entwined series, I wanted some place I could visit, that had a lively and wonderful GLBT community. In fact, the MKE LGBT Community Center—or well, a variation there of—exists in the DE world, though you won’t get to see much of it in this story, lol. Have to wait until September for that. ;) But as it’s set in Milwaukee, I had to add a little of my favorite things for my readers to enjoy and share with me. At one point there is a diner at Stackner Cabaret, and yes, it’s a very real place—with foods so delicious you will want to visit the city just for a trip there. The restaurant is in The Milwaukee Rep, which is also visited in the story. If you love theater, then it’s a double feature not to miss. Another prominent feature of Milwaukee is Harley, as in the motorcycle, is located here, so of course, Rhys has to ride a Harley Soft-tail. I’ve always loved motorcycles, especially, Ducati, Harley, and Honda, so you will see all three in the story. But no matter what feature or activity you enjoy, there’s a good chance it’s somewhere in Milwaukee in one form or another. It’s one of the things I so love about the city, it’s like a million small towns and yet a huge city all in one. Now, in Desires’ Guardian, the city isn’t quite the same as reality, but it’s close. We authors do tend to take a little artistic license when we write, but I hope you enjoy the minor variations in the lovely city I hope to one day move to permanently. Desires’ Guardian by Tempeste O’Riley Desires Entwined, #2 M/M Erotic Contemporary Romance Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Release Date: June 6, 2014 (ebook/print) Length: Novel / 200 pages Order: ♥ Dreamspinner Press ♥ All Romance ♥ ♥ Amazon ♥ B & N ♥ Add to: Goodreads Description: Most people see Chase Manning as the party-boy twink he seems on the surface. Only James, Chase’s BFF, knows the depth of his loyalty and the extent of the wounds Chase carries inside. When Chase meets Rhys Sayer things don’t go well, but he can’t shake his attraction to the huge, sexy man. Rhys is a man of contradictions and fear—a strange combination for a PI and bodyguard. He’s in a bad place emotionally when he sets eyes on Chase for the first time. When Chase puts the moves on him, Rhys insults him, thwarting any possibility of a relationship. Rhys doesn’t see himself as a complicated man, but he dreads the very kind of connection he desires. Just as they’re trying to overcome their uncertainties, Chase is put in harm’s way. Luckily Rhys and their friends have all the right talents to help Rhys save the man of his dreams. Resource Links: About the Author: Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud omnisexual / bi-woman whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what she couldn’t–defy the hate and come out. He has been her hero ever since. Tempe is a hopeless romantic that loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, she has done many things in her life, though writing has always drawn her back–no matter what else life has thrown her way. She counts her friends, family, and Muse as her greatest blessings in life. She lives in Wisconsin with her children, reading, writing, and enjoying life. Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, Rainbow Romance Writers, and WisRWA. Learn more about Tempeste and her writing at: Website ♥ Goodreads ♥ Twitter ♥ Facebook ♥ Google + ♥ DSP ♥ Blog For all its steampunk trappings, If Two of Them Are Dead, is a mystery at its heart. Mysteries are devilishly hard to write in short fiction, which is why this story grew to a long novella. I opened the story knowing who would die: Permelia Westbrook, wife and sister-in-law of two wealthy brothers, Benjamin and Abraham respectively. That's where the story started, and it was all I knew about these characters. I didn't even know who had killed her and why. Poor Permelia had to die so that her brother-in-law, Abraham could cross paths with Victor, the detective trying to solve her murder. At first I thought, the easiest way to work up a motive would be to have a love triangle and that would suffice. And it would have. Watch just about anything on Discover ID and you'll see that it is one of the commonest motives. However, that is what made it less attractive to me. Permelia needed more to her than being an adulterer. There isn't much more I can say about that without giving away the plot. Of course, Abraham becomes an instant suspect. As a rather eccentric millionaire, he was in his nearby home working on his inventions while his brother, Benjamin, was down in New York City dealing with the family business. Abraham had access to the victim, and Permelia and he didn't particularly like each other. Victor is instantly taken by Abraham but fights to put him out of mind. He can't possibly get involved with a suspect, even if the man wasn't a wealthy widower on top of it. As Victor noses into all aspects of Permelia's life, often finding doors closed to him as the Westbrooks equally wealthy friends circle their wagons, he finds himself hoping to uncover something that will put Abraham in the clear. Victor quickly learns there is no shortage of suspects and motives. However, finding a way to clear Abraham and his brother will prove harder. Victor’s attraction to Abraham distracts him from his job. Soon, it becomes a race to the find the killer before someone else dies. Thanks to Elizabeth for having me over! excerpt – If Two of Them Are Dead “Thank you for your time, Mr. Westbrook. Again, I’m sorry for stirring up the bad memories.” Victor gestured to the machine. “I have to ask. What is this thing?” “A difference engine. I use it for computations. Would you like to see how it works?” Victor held up his hands. “I would, but I’m afraid I don’t have much time.” Abraham got up. “Do you have time to see one thing?” Victor knew he didn’t, but he said yes anyhow. He wanted to spend as much time in this man’s company as he could. Was he imagining that Abraham seemed to be trying to keep him around even when it was obvious their business was done for the day? Victor could hope so. He followed Abraham outside to another outbuilding on the crowded property. Abraham threw open the door. Inside was the smallest airship Victor had ever seen. “I used the difference engine to come up with the math to allow me to engineer a personal airship. It’s fairly new, but I’m sure it’ll catch on once I get to marketing it.” Abraham beamed, sweeping a hand to the ship, whose bright red and gold coloring put Victor in mind of a circus train. It was barely more than a hot air balloon gondola with a couple of seats under the gaudy gas balloon. A compact engine took over one end of the gondola. Was that a little bar near the seats? Yes, it had to be. “Amazing.” Victor peered closely at the control panel. He wasn’t even sure what a couple of the buttons were. Abraham had created something completely new there. “How do you get it out of here?” “Over here.” Abraham crossed to the side of the building and thumped a furnace. “You fire this up, and the steam drives the machinery to open the ceiling. It’s my newest baby.” “I would love to fly something like that.” Victor ran his hand over the sleek, lacquered side of the gondola before going to check the engine. “I miss flying after retiring from the Air Corps.” “Maybe one day, once this is all over, you can fly it.” The offer stunned Victor into silence. Abraham shrugged, and a sheepish grin cut across his face. “I like intelligent people, Victor, and you are smart. I can tell. I’d like to take you flying.” He patted Victor’s back. “Besides, it was Permelia who cared about breeding and money, not me. I care about the person and his actions.” Victor thought about those words and the invitation long into the night. Purchase Link Jana Denardo's career choices and wanderlust take her all over the United States and beyond. Much of her travels make their way into her stories. Fantasy, science fiction, and mystery have been her favorite genres since she started reading, and they often flavor her works. In her secret identity, she works with the science of life and gives college students nightmares. When she’s not chained to her computer writing, she functions as stray cat magnet. Jana is Queen of the Geeks (her students voted her in) and her home and office are shrines to any number of comic book and manga heroes along with SF shows and movies too numerous to count. There is no coincidence the love of all things geeky has made its way into many of her stories. To this day, she’s still disappointed she hasn’t found a wardrobe to another realm, a superhero to take her flying among the clouds or a roguish star ship captain to run off to the stars with her. Bound by Desire by Tempeste O’Riley Desires Entwined series #1.75 M/M Erotic Contemporary BDSM Romance Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Release Date: May 30th 2014 (ebook) Length: Short Add to: Goodreads Description: Part of the Desires Entwined series – Ideally read between Designs of Desire and Desires’ Guardian. Despite his past abuse, James has come to terms with his relationship with his Dom and lover Seth. Seth treats James with all the trust and love his sub desires. There is only one thing left to do to make it all complete: Seth needs to put a collar on James. About the Author: Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud omnisexual / bi-woman whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what she couldn’t–defy the hate and come out. He has been her hero ever since. Tempe is a hopeless romantic that loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, she has done many things in her life, though writing has always drawn her back–no matter what else life has thrown her way. She counts her friends, family, and Muse as her greatest blessings in life. She lives in Wisconsin with her children, reading, writing, and enjoying life. Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, Rainbow Romance Writers, and WisRWA. Learn more about Tempeste and her writing at http://tempesteoriley.com. Website ♥ Goodreads ♥ Twitter ♥ Facebook ♥ Google + ♥ DSP ♥ Blog Like many authors I use beta readers, who serve many functions. They proof-read for those grammar and spelling oops moments, check for plot holes, basically all the things an editor does but before a manuscript is submitted for publication. Beta readers are a writer's first taste of being edited.
I could fill a year's worth of blog posts writing about the wonders and horrors of beta readers and editors. Of course after the beta reading and the editing the reviewers get their turn. There are people who fill more than one of these positions, but not usually for the same book. I've come to a conclusion about all three: to do their job they have to be brutally honest and impartial. One of my friends, and beta reader, has within the last year or so spread her wings and on top of beta reading she is now a reviewer for Top2Bottom Reviews. I asked her to write a bit on making the transition from pre-publication beta/editor to post-publication reviewer. I can personally attest to the brutally honest aspect of her work since I've had my knuckles virtually slapped by her on more than one occasion. I'm sort of glad she's in England and I'm in the US. For the record nothing Smidgeson reviews is a book she worked on as a beta reader. She also did some editing on this post! Review or Beta? by Smidgeson Recently I got the opportunity to start writing book reviews for Top2Bottom Reviews website after many years of beta reading/editing stories and have been asked several times what the difference is and which is better, so I thought I’d try to explain. Beta reading started out as proof reading and brain storming for a close friend, which led onto being called an editor and asked to overall edit a huge fan-fiction project consisting of a Virtual Season of 22 Farscape stories. That built confidence and I then found the world of Live Journal fan-fiction and slowly began to build up a group of writers from across the world who came asking for beta-reading. Out of that group one, Elizabeth Noble became a published Dreamspinner Press author and from there she recommended me to other writers as a beta-reader. Elizabeth has become a dear friend thanks to the joys of the internet making the world small and during our regular chats she’s learned how much I love to read. So when she saw a request for new book reviewers for Top2Bottom Reviews she thought of me. The processTop2Bottom uses is to email their reviewers usually once a week with the requests they have for book reviews. As a reviewer we choose just the ones we want to read and you can take as many or as few as you want. We then receive the books as PDF documents and can take up to a month to read and review them. I never realised until I started just how different reviewing a book is from beta-reading. I’ve spent years leaving comments on story posts on Live Journal and mistakenly thought it would easy to write a review of a whole book. How wrong I was. It’s so easy to read a book and think I liked that or I didn’t like that, but why, that’s the tough bit. We’re encouraged to make the reviews positive and that is where I find the problem. I’ve spent years as a beta pointing out errors and working out where stories go wrong and suggesting improvements. As a reviewer I can’t do that, I have to find the positives even if most of what I remember about a story is the things that irritated me. I’ve seen other reviews give an extensive recap of the storyline. I really don’t like to do that. As a reader I find book blurbs that give too much detail about the story actually put me off and I think the same thing about reviews. So I try to titillate the readers with tiny details rather than a rehash of the whole story like how in one book the skunk really didn’t appreciate being the subject of magic. Often when I start to write a review, it writes itself but when I reread what I’ve written it’s become more of a critique than a positive review. Then I have to scrap it and start again, reminding myself to think about what I liked. Luckily in all the books I have reviewed to date, there has only been one book that I chose to review that I actually hated and couldn’t give a positive write up for. Even though I wrote a review I told Top2Bottom I couldn’t make it positive because I thought it was so bad and left it up to them whether they used it or not. As a reviewer it has been interesting to note that there can be quite a difference in the quality of books between different publishers. Not just differences created by missed typos or spelling errors, but also in the quality of the PDF document we are sent. Normally these are not noticeable when viewed on a computer but they become abundantly clear when I transfer them onto my kindle. The size of print suddenly varies as does the font type and it is extremely distracting but I have no idea why this happens. So far the best publisher I have received books from is Dreamspinner Press, the PDF transfer to a kindle without problem and the stories are always well presented and generally free of annoying errors. On a personal front I have chosen to review under a pseudonym because of the type of books that Top2Bottom deal in and I won’t review any book that I have beta read prior to publication. If you are interested you can read the reviews I have written by following this link: FOLLOW MY REVIEWS New York Cowboy is the prequel to a Christmas short I wrote the year before last, Too Much Christmas Spirit. Other projects got in the way and when I eventually started it, New York was supposed to be a twenty thousand word short showing how Vance and Adam met. Unfortunately, while I was writing, my friend Keith, my best friend's husband, lost his long battle with cancer and I decided I wanted to lengthen the story and dedicate it to him. He was unfailingly brave and never gave up. His determination to beat this disease, even up to the very end, was awe inspiring, and he was definitely cowboy material—although he would have been a lot happier astride a motorcycle than a horse, lol. I also decided to donate 20% of the royalties received for each copy of New York Cowboy sold, to the hospice, the Friends of Roxburghe House, who cared for Keith in his last weeks and who continue to care for those still waging their war with this awful disease. All donations will be made to their Just Giving page,in Keith's memory and after quick calculations, we have already raised over £150 in the few days since New York Cowboy's release. That in itself is mind-blowing and I want to thank everyone who has or intends to buy the book. Blurb: It's been six months since Vance Wolf buried his father. Driven to an early grave by the constant harassment of the new owner of the neighboring property, Andrew Blackwell. Now Vance's cattle are disappearing faster than he can replace them and their cash flow has been wiped out by the new barn they had to build after the other one mysteriously caught fire. The local sheriff's pockets are being lined by Blackwell, so Vance knows they're on their own and is at his wits end. Then his mother suggests they open up the ranch to business types as a cowboy camp. Adam Prentiss arrives at Wolf Creek Ranch on a team-building exercise with the four colleagues in his department. He is not the cowboy type, but has no choice as his boss, and father, has sent him to Wolf Creek with instructions to delve into the financial status of the ranch and report back to him. Falling for Vance Wolf had not been part of the plan, but the connection between them had been instant. But what was he more afraid of? Disobeying his boss or Vance finding out Adam's father was in fact Andrew Blackwell and he'd been sent to help him appropriate Vance's land by any means necessary? 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