Sooo...I'm not usually a fan of reverse harem romance but I was turned on to Kathryn Moon by a friend who RAVED about her books. Good Deeds is an extremely cute book. I've found that, for me, a sci-fi or alternate universe setting makes all the difference when it comes to RH. I'm actually able to suspend my disbelief.
I've read four of Moon's books now and my only complaint is that I find it hard to keep track of all the names and personalities (and what scent goes with which alpha) especially when half the characters are bikers with TWO names apiece.
So, there are a lot of reasons why I like this book. One of the two main characters is left-handed...or WAS left-handed--to be exact. I'm left-handed as well, and one rarely stumbles across a left-handed character, so that was interesting and refreshing. The other main character is a cop--an honest cop who is conflicted about his job. I've written SO MANY cop characters and they've occasionally struggled with similar issues, so it was nice to see how someone else handles the subject. Also, it's M/M which I generally enjoy. AND it's a murder mystery/romance set in post-WWI, which Charles does very well and which gives serious Agatha Christie vibes. Having read ALL of Christie's work back in my teens and twenties, it feels a little like coming home.
So, all in all, a very good read.
I probably haven’t been paying as much attention to release dates as I should because, much to my surprise, Jenny Schwartz’ new story, Hexes Fly, recently appeared in my Kindle library. Did I say surprised? I think I mean delighted!
This is book two in her new Caldryn Parliament series. As Jenny describes it, the series “is a homage to the Golden Age mysteries of the past, but set in a futuristic society that has magic.” Which sums it up nicely, I think.
Like her earlier series “Adventures of a Xeno-Archaeologist,” these books are set in the far future, on fictional planets that had been settled (in their distant past) by humans. Think Battlestar Galactica meets magical steampunk. Also like this series, (and her Hidden Sanctuary and Uncertain Sanctuary series) the stories are intensely political in a way that makes you (or me, at least) think deeply about philosophically about all manner of socio-political things. Which you might think would make it the LAST thing I'd want to read right now, but SURPRISE! it's not.
It's extremely comforting, somehow, to read about a seemingly sane political system even if it involves alien species, allows for magic and exists in a fictional universe. Or maybe it's BECAUSE of that. I dunno. Could be either one. But if you're as burned out with real life issues as I am, I highly recommend it!
Actually, I recommend it even if you're not burned out. It would make a great beach read, too. Check it out!
https://authorjennyschwartz.com/
https://www.pgforte.com/games-we-play-series-1
A quirky, family-owned resort on the Jersey Shore is the setting for this erotic, lightly paranormal series. Cousins Brenda, Luke and Gwyn are determined to turn their failing hotel business around. They have no time for love. They're in no mood for games. But it's not going to matter. Not when they're up against a handful of ghosts, a mischievous boggart, a family curse, and destinies written in stone.
The Games We Play crew are back! This time, with two new stories featuring Kristy's brothers. Tino and Rocky only received a passing mention in the first books, but this duology is All About the Bros!
I'm excited to introduce the Whole Latte Love Collection; three new stories set in my favorite fictional New Jersey small town.
This is just a good reminder. I'm currently dogless myself--but we won't talk about that. My grandson has a new puppy, and that's a much happier topic--although, since I've only spent a couple of hours with the newbie, I don't have much to report back on. Yes, it's another Frenchie and obviously he's adorable. And for my grandson, the timing was perfect, he was missing his last dog so much.
For me, it's still too soon. I'm still mourning my own pups AND my late grandpup, and haven't reached the stage where I'm open to another. Also, given the recent die-off among my cousins, I'm not sure how kind it would be to form a bond with a dog who might outlive me. Yes, I said it.
When my sister broke the news about our cousin, two of my four siblings were attending "celebrations of life" for someone else. That's a lot of death...which was not what this post was supposed to be about.
Anyway, puppies are cute and we should all try and be better people. lol!
This is another thrift store find. I couldn't resist the pool vibes. Does anything say summer more than a pool? I don't think so. My son just had a pool put in (no, this is not his pool) and we've all been enjoying it very much.
I grew up with a pool in my backyard, but in my adult life, pools have been hit or miss. We're just not stable people. But I love swimming (Pisces girl over here) and I look forward to making it more of a habit...one of these days.
It's actually funny, but I don't think I write a lot of pool scenes. I can't understand why. But here's a teeny excerpt from Sea Change, which at least mentions a pool in passing (literally). And hey, there's a cool pool on the cover!
It was late afternoon when they returned to the ship, still early enough that they had time for a pre-dinner cocktail on deck after they’d changed into their evening wear.
Cara sipped her virgin margarita and leaned on the rail, sighing sadly as she watched Avalon sink slowly into the sunset and out of sight. “I’d love to come back here, sometime,” she said wistfully.
Liam smiled at her. “Well, let’s plan to. Maybe this Summer we can sneak away for a long weekend.”
“Yeah,” she agreed softly. “Maybe.” That’s if they were still even speaking by then.
It was formal night and Liam looked heart-stoppingly handsome in his rented tux; at least that’s what Cara assumed the problem was, the reason why, every time she looked at him, she felt an aching wrench in her chest. When it was time to go in to dinner he held out his arm and she hesitated only briefly before she took it. For once, her body seemed willing to cooperate with her need to be close to him. Probably just trying to stay warm, she thought. The breeze up on deck wasn’t exactly cold, but it sliced right through the chiffon of her wrap and she was more grateful than usual for the warmth Liam offered.
Cara glanced longingly at the pool as they passed it. It had been so long since she’d been swimming, since she’d submerged herself in water and felt it flow over her, felt it caressing her skin. Maybe later, after dinner when everyone was busy elsewhere, she’d sneak back up...or no. She couldn’t do that, could she? She and Liam had other plans for after dinner. Plans that still caused a jittery, frightened sensation in the pit of her stomach and left her wondering how she’d manage to eat even a bite of dinner.
An Oberon Sequel Novella
https://books2read.com/Sea-Change-Oberon
In this sequel to the Oberon series (and yes, you'll probably want to read that first) Cara and Liam are still trying to find their footing on the sometimes rocky road to happily ever after...
When the going gets tough...the tough go cruising?
Love is supposed to overcome any obstacles—that’s what Cara always thought. But when love alone is not enough to help her overcome the trauma in her past, she knows it’s time to get creative.
Surely a change of scenery would help. A week at sea—new faces, new places, a fresh start with no expectations—how could that be anything but fun? At least that’s what her boyfriend Liam thinks when he books them on a romantic cruise vacation along the California coast.
Cara’s not so sure. She thinks the trip is likely to be a lot of things—memorable, life altering, a turning point. Fun isn’t one of them.
But, with so much at stake, and a New Year fast approaching, there’s only one thing the two of them can agree on: they’re both willing to try just about anything to make love last.
So, this is a mug I had made for my husband a verrrrry long time ago, when are kids were as pictured on the mug. It's faded considerably over the years. My daughter's skin was not yellow, her dress was pink, and my son was wearing a DARK green shirt.
Crazy right?
Oh, and also, the type in the picture below? Yeah, those were primary colors once upon a time.
Speaking of my son, he's a dad himself now, and his son is SUCH a mini-me that I'm not always sure whose photo I'm looking at.
So last week I posted about my love for enamel camp mugs--especially the blue speckled kind, so this week's mug should not be a surprise. I mean...other than the fact that it's actually ceramic and DOESN'T (usually) get too hot to handle.
This is (obviously) from Paso Robles, which is one of my favorite places that I've lived. It was like Oberon come to life--but with more wine. One of the houses we lived in there had been built for Frank and Jesse James' uncle. It backed onto an old growth forest, and was only three blocks from the downtown square. There was rumored to be a hidden tunnel in the basement, which we never did find. There were also FOUR fireplaces, two roof decks, a wraparound porch, a butler's pantry...GAH! I loved that house. Sadly, it was damaged in the earthquake that hit there twenty-something years ago and was rebuilt. Which is not the same at all.
I still miss that house.
By PG Forte
https://books2read.com/Que-Sera-Syrah
They may be keeping secrets and telling lies, but a little white wine never hurt anyone.
Allegra
It’s not every day that you inherit one-third of a winery. I should be on top of the world, floating on Cloud Wine, as they say. Instead, don’t you just know it? I’m about to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life. And that’s saying something. My family has always viewed me as something of a screw-up, not always fairly. But in this case? They’re not only dead right about me messing things up; they don’t even know the half of it. Yet.
Complicating my quest to redeem myself, earn my sisters’ respect, and help them turn our winery into a straight fire success, is my low-key relationship with Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Romero. Sure, there are risks involved in sleeping with the enemy, but ‘what’s meant to be will find a way,’ right? And whether Clay believes it or not, I know we’re fated. With a capital F.
Clay
We’re Capital F somethin’ all right; but I don’t think it’s fate. Ever since Legs (AKA Allegra Martinelli) blew back into town, I’ve been flirting with disaster. Literally. I doubt that woman’s ever met a rule that she didn’t want to at least bend. And, as luck would have it, it’s my job to try and stop her. I love my job, and I think I love her. But there’s not enough wine in Napa to convince me that I’ll be able to hang on to them both.
Legs keeps likening us to Romeo and Juliet. And as I keep trying to remind her; that kind of story tends not to end well. I’m sure there are exceptions, but are we gonna be one of them? I guess we’ll find out.
OR BUY THE SERIES:
https://books2read.com/Pour-Decisions
Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These partners in wine have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right?
Not so fast! Because, as it turns out, not everybody is happy for them. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.
There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But these sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.
By PG Forte
https://books2read.com/Que-Sera-Syrah
They may be keeping secrets and telling lies, but a little white wine never hurt anyone.
Allegra
It’s not every day that you inherit one-third of a winery. I should be on top of the world, floating on Cloud Wine, as they say. Instead, don’t you just know it? I’m about to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life. And that’s saying something. My family has always viewed me as something of a screw-up, not always fairly. But in this case? They’re not only dead right about me messing things up; they don’t even know the half of it. Yet.
Complicating my quest to redeem myself, earn my sisters’ respect, and help them turn our winery into a straight fire success, is my low-key relationship with Sheriff’s Deputy Clay Romero. Sure, there are risks involved in sleeping with the enemy, but ‘what’s meant to be will find a way,’ right? And whether Clay believes it or not, I know we’re fated. With a capital F.
Clay
We’re Capital F somethin’ all right; but I don’t think it’s fate. Ever since Legs (AKA Allegra Martinelli) blew back into town, I’ve been flirting with disaster. Literally. I doubt that woman’s ever met a rule that she didn’t want to at least bend. And, as luck would have it, it’s my job to try and stop her. I love my job, and I think I love her. But there’s not enough wine in Napa to convince me that I’ll be able to hang on to them both.
Legs keeps likening us to Romeo and Juliet. And as I keep trying to remind her; that kind of story tends not to end well. I’m sure there are exceptions, but are we gonna be one of them? I guess we’ll find out.
OR BUY THE SERIES:
https://books2read.com/Pour-Decisions
Meet the Martinelli sisters: Rosa, Bianca and Allegra. These partners in wine have just inherited a once-storied winery in the heart of Napa Valley. They’re living the dream, right?
Not so fast! Because, as it turns out, not everybody is happy for them. And that includes their Uncle Geno who’d assumed the property would come to him.
There are hoops to jump through, barrels to get over, and a mountain of regulations they'll have to scale. But these sisters are crushing it—and we don’t just mean the grapes. They’re making wine, falling in love, and working together to restore their inheritance to its former glory, one pour decision at a time.
