Between Venus & Mars Review Tour

Blurb:

Once Upon a Galaxy . . .

Zana Starchild is on a mission to restore her tribe’s livestock and save herself from one more meal of kelp. Sure, it’s technically illegal to visit Old Earth, but to a rim rat like Zana, galactic laws are really just guidelines. Her wrecked starship just means she’ll need to use her backup plan to get off the abandoned world, an old Earth legend her uncle passed down to her.

Pulled from a relaxing shower, across the galaxy to Old Earth, Galactic Marshall Kyle Kepler finds himself naked and marooned with a quirky rim rat. Zana’s broken more laws than Kyle can count, and he plans to arrest her, just as soon as he can find transport off the planet and a pair of pants.

A junk heap of a starship, a magical tree, and a roving gang of mutant kangaroos are just the beginning of rollicking intergalactic journey filled with laughs, love, and adventure.

Excerpt:

Gasping, she reached the top of the hill, her eyes glued to the tree. This had to be her uncle’s Soul Mate Tree.

She scanned her surroundings. Not another tree in sight anywhere.

The twisted, gnarled trunk was just as he’d described it. Golden bark with dark brown patches. Small, oval leaves, pale green on top with silvery undersides.

“Not really the way I planned on meeting Mr. Right.” She’d decided to avoid that little occurrence indefinitely. In her experience, men were nothing but trouble. They wanted sex, which meant babies, which meant settling down. And they wanted to control everything.

Nope, not ready for that.

According to her uncle, she just needed to touch the tree for it to work its magic.

She reached out, palming the bark as she scurried around to put the trunk between her and her pursuers. “Come on, tree. Get me out of here. Any time.”

She hoped her Soul Mate didn’t turn out to be Andel Narkol. The boy was big and strong, but dumb as a stump. Kennen Plankold had a little more sense, but his nasally voice . . .

Maybe it will be someone I don’t even know yet. Though she was pretty sure she’d met all the eligible men on Konga 10.

“What the hell!” Deep, golden, bassy tones exploded behind her.

“Stupid tree. You were supposed to send me to him, not bring him here.”

Her hand shook as she fired at the first roo to crest the hill. She missed by a mile.

What the hell was she supposed to do now?

“Give me that.” A large, well-muscled, bare arm reached over her shoulder to snatch the blaster from her hand. “Teleporting sentient beings is against galactic law,” he snarled.

Great, the love of her life sounded like a cop. Still, he had a big, bumpy, delicious looking arm.

My Review:

5 stars

This is my favorite book in this series so far. It was a fun space opera and one heck of a ride. Between the engaging characters, the chemistry between Zana and Kyle, the humor, and the zany shenanigans going on (like mutant kangaroos), this was a fun, short read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a space romance.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour.

Author Bio and Links:

S.C.Mitchell grew up an avid reader of comic books, science fiction and fantasy literature. He’s been writing stories for over thirty years. In 2010 he left his job as a computer desktop support specialist to pursue his passion for writing full time. He is a PAN member of the Romance Writers of America as well as the Wisconsin chapter.

As a writer of paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy romance, S. C. Mitchell crafts unique and wondrous worlds where characters explore, romp, and fall in love. Whether traveling through dark, demon filled dimensions, the edge of wild space, or ancient mythological heavens, heroes and heroines, guided by their adventurous hearts, discover hidden strengths on their pathway to enduring love.

Website    |    Blog    |    Facebook    |    Twitter    |    Amazon Author Page

Buy Links:
Kindle     |     Print     |     Video

Hell and High Water Review

When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley’s testimony helps send his partner away for murder, the consequences—and the media frenzy—aren’t far behind. He soon finds himself sans boyfriend, sans friends, and, after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, he’s lucky he doesn’t find himself sans teeth. Dex fears he’ll get transferred from the Human Police Force’s Sixth Precinct, or worse, get dismissed. Instead, his adoptive father—a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron otherwise known as the THIRDS—pulls a few strings, and Dex gets recruited as a Defense Agent.

Dex is determined to get his life back on track and eager to get started in his new job. But his first meeting with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who also happens to be his new jaguar Therian partner, turns disastrous. When the team is called to investigate the murders of three HumaniTherian activists, it soon becomes clear to Dex that getting his partner and the rest of the tightknit team to accept him will be a lot harder than catching the killer—and every bit as dangerous.

My Review:

5 stars

I loved this book! The characters, the writing style, the plot, everything! To start with, all of the characters, from Dex and Sloane down to all the secondary characters, were well-written and engaging. I felt like I was entering their world, they were so lifelike and three-dimensional. All the characters had their own personalities and quirks which might have been too much going on in the wrong author’s hands. However, Cochet weaves them together well, introducing a fascinating team dynamic that made the entire book such a joy to read.

Out of all the characters though, Dex stole the show and my heart. He’s a smartass who’s not afraid to say what needs to be said or do what needs to be done. Plus, he has some of the best quotes ever. “What’s Sparta, and please tell me there are guys in togas. “I don’t want you getting caught up in the gravitational pull of my awesomeness.” And he makes random fandom references! I could go on and on. He has so many hysterical moments, it’s just perfect. Plus I have finally met someone with a bigger music addiction than me. All in all, Dex summed himself up perfectly…“It’s dangerous having this much game.”

On par with all Dex’s quotes was the story telling. I love Cochet’s writing style, how she manages to slip in little funny bits that fit the story and let you learn more about the characters without having an infodump or dialogue, which is how you typically learn about characters. For example, “There were hot, sweaty guys beating the crap out of each other in the same room, and Cael was playing around online. Dex was going to have a serious talk with his brother.” Fun little tidbits that just made the story that much more enjoyable, and helped counteract the serious issues and sadness that arose from the murders and mystery going on.

As for the mystery, the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. I did not see the ending coming, which says a lot. I couldn’t stop reading all the way till the end, and even then I wanted to go back and re-read the book all over again…no, scratch that, I wanted to read the sequel and then go back and re-read both books. Yes, the story does end with a cliffhanger, which is why I put off reading the series for so long, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. We tie up the mystery and introduce the villain for book 2. Kind of like how Captain America ended his first movie being frozen in ice and then waking up in New York, setting him up for his inclusion in The Avengers. So I didn’t mind it as much as I thought I would.

And don’t even get me started on all the world-building going on. I loved the world that Charlie has created here with The Thirds. I could tell she put a lot of thought and effort into it just by reading the book, and it was phenomenal. I am just going to leave it at that because otherwise this will turn into an exceptionally long review.

All in all though, I cannot recommend this book enough. I loved it so much, that I am already through book 2 (which I will add my review for later) and on to book 3. To basically sum up my review…What are you waiting for? READ THE DANG BOOK!!

Amazon     |     Dreamspinner Press

The Harem Master Review

Lord Demir has spent his life trying to appease a brutal, selfish king, and keep the concubines under his care alive—and now he is on the verge of losing everything. The council wants to abolish the harems, there are no heirs to the throne, and the foreigners control the Steward. One wrong move will tip tensions into civil war.

Crown Prince Ihsan returns to find his home in turmoil, and the royal court so full of vipers it's impossible to say which of them will strike first. Removing his father from the throne, one way or another, should be a simple matter. Staying alive and proving himself a worthy king will be far more difficult.

Crown Princess Euren has spent the last five years in hiding so that she could not be used against her father or Ihsan. But she is the daughter of a soldier, never meant to wear a crown, never trained to fight battles where words are the weapon of choice. If she hopes to keep herself and her loved ones alive, she'll have to learn fast.

Note: This story contains polyamory

My Review:

5 stars

I have always loved Megan's books, and her Tavamara series is a personal favorite of mine. When I heard that this book serves as a prequel to the other books in the series, I had to read it. As a prequel to some of her earlier books, it shows how the harem system seen in those books came to be, something I found fascinating. 

Derr's writing is as phenomenal as ever. For example, there are multiple first person POVs that she switches between. I’m not usually a fan of multiple POV switches because they can confuse the story and because authors overuse them. Yet with Derr, the multiple POVs allow the reader to experience the events through different angles, allowing the various plots to be told and then seamlessly come together. This also allowed the reader to learn more about the characters and to form a deeper connection with them. All of the character were phenomenal, but my particular favorite was Lord Demir. Living in a precarious position, yet loyally fulfilling his duty as Harem Master, both master and servant…he is now one of my all-time favorite characters. 

The plot was also fantastic. When I started reading, several side plots were introduced along with the main overall plot. I was confused, since I didn’t know how the author could possibly manage to tie them all together to get to a HEA…yet she did. Once I made it to the end of the story I saw how it all came together, even when I didn’t think it was possible. 

The only downside about the book were all the grammar and editing mistakes. Usually Derr’s books are edited better than this, so I’m not sure if this is because I received a review copy or if that is present in the final book. All in all though, this is a wonderful story that I highly recommend. You can read it as a standalone novel, though I would recommend reading books 1 and 2 of the Tales of Tavamara series first, as you would get more out of this book if you read those two first.

*Review copy provided via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.*

Soap.club Mens Soaps Review

Sea Breeze

Soap is our passion. In fact, it's our only product. We focus on premium quality soap aged up to 6 weeks and made fresh with pure ingredients that will stimulate your senses. Every product is made by hand, from stirring the recipe, cutting the bars and even packaging each individual item. You will notice the soft gentle lather that feels like lotion instead of rough sharp edges that feel scratchy or rough on your skin. Feel the guilt free, sensual indulgence of our soap.

Our Pledge:

-All natural, organic and biodegradable materials
-No Harsh Irritating Chemicals
-No Detergents
-No Artificial Colors
-No Preservatives

Our Risk Free Guarantee:

If you have an issue we will replace the first bar of soap with a new scent or refund your money. No risk and no hassle.

Kona Coffee Kick

Kona Coffee Kick

Rich & intoxicating, the scent is drawn from energizing, freshly-ground Kona coffee. Brighten your skin with our natural cellulite-repellent soap, which stimulates your senses as much as your skin. The caffeine acts as a natural cellulite repellent and coarse grounds help exfoliate & moisturize the skin. Plus, the soap is loaded with natural antioxidants to help minimize wrinkles and is used in aromatherapy as well as also being the only coffee served at the White House

Sea Breeze

Like the gentle freshness of ocean spray, our soap is invigorating & renewing, sloughing away dead skin cells to reveal brighter, healthier skin beneath. Infused with fresh water scents & exfoliating sea salt for true sensory stimulation. Using olive oil based soaps such as this lead to silky, smooth, healthier and soft to the touch skin as it hydrates and gives life to old dry skin. It also reduces brown spots and scars, as well as minimizing wrinkles.

My Review:

3 stars

I tried two different scents. The first one was Kona Coffee Kick. I couldn't stand it. I've been to Hawaii and have had Kona Coffee. This smelled nothing like it. It smelled disgusting. I asked over a dozen people if they wanted to use it so that I could still write a review, and they all hated it too. No one could get over how bad it smelled, even the avid coffee lovers I know. For that, I would give the soap 1 star. Fortunately, once I contacted SOAP club, they offered to let me choose a different scent free of charge.

For my second scent, I chose Sea Breeze. I loved this scent. It was fun, tropical, and relaxing. The soap lathered well, and made my skin feel great. The soap is a good size, and I give it 5 stars. While this is a bit pricey for a bar of soap, I still greatly enjoyed using it and would recommend giving their soaps a try, as the company's customer service is great and will work with you to make sure that you find the scent you like.

I ended up giving this 3 stars since I gave the Kona Coffee Kick 1 star and the Sea Breeze 5 stars.

*I received this product for a heavily discounted price in exchange for an honest review.*

Pro Chef Kitchen Tools Portable Travel Laundry Hooks Review

With Pro Chef Kitchen Tools Portable Travel Laundry Hooks, you can hang up anything, virtually anywhere. You can turn a door knob, a shower rod, a drawer handle and many other things into a place to hold hanging clothing and accessories. The sturdy hooks can be hung on a rod up to 1 inch in diameter, opening up the door to hanging clothing in new places in your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, office, laundry room or hallway. At just 3 inches in size, the hooks fit easily into a travel bag for use in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, RVs and even in tents when you're camping.

Using the hooks is incredibly easy. Just squeeze the top of the clip to open the mouth up to create an extra wide 13" by 16" opening. Slide your clothing in and release! The eight matching ribs on the clip grip all types of fabric with ease, and because the clip is coated with nylon padding, the clip catches without leaving behind a single crease. Unlike plastic clothespin hooks, our metal hanging hooks are built to last. We use heavy-duty double nickel plated steel for their construction, making them stronger and far more durable than those other hooks that bend and break. See for yourself how easy it can be to keep your clothes and accessories damage and wrinkle free.

My Review:

5 stars

I love these! No seriously, I absolutely love them. They are so handy and helpful, and really came in handy recently. While traveling I ended up staying in a hotel that didn’t have a single clothes hanger in the closet. Fortunately, I had these in my bag since I wanted to review them, and I was able to hang up two of my shirts and my long dress to boot. These work so well, and they do a great job keeping my clothes wrinkle free. I also used this as a hook to hang my purse on and it stayed there all night long (and if you know me, you know my purse is not light). I also dropped one in the shower, and not only did it clean well, there’s no sign of rust or damage, which is great.

Since I’m traveling again in a few days, I will be adding a video showing my use of the clips then, but you’ll just have to settle with a photo for now. All in all, these are so useful and helpful, I highly recommend getting a pack and putting them to the test.

*I received this product in exchange for an honest review.*

Throwback Thursday - Old Loyalty, New Love by Mary Calmes

When jackal shifter Quade Danas was banished from his pack for being gay, he spent years in the military escaping his father's prejudice before returning to civilian life as a bodyguard for Roman Howell, the teenage son of a very rich man. After Roman is in an accident that leaves him physically scarred and emotionally distant, Quade is the only one who can get through to him. As Roman becomes a man, he realizes what he wants—his bodyguard by his side and in his bed. Unfortunately, Quade can’t seem to see past the kid Roman once was to the man he has become, certain Roman’s feelings are merely misplaced gratitude. But Roman knows a lot more than Quade realizes, and he’s used to persevering, no matter how many impediments life throws his way. He wants the chance to prove to Quade that he’s strong enough for a jackal alpha to call mate.

Despite the decades Quade has been away, and the heartache of his father’s rejection, his inborn loyalty to the pack remains, and his abrupt departure left the jackal shifters without an alpha heir. As a psychopath shifter staking claim as alpha draws Quade back home, and Quade feels compelled to heed the call, he may be forced to make a choice he never anticipated. But doing so means he must leave Roman behind… unless somehow they find a way to make loyalty and love work together. 

Amazon     |     Dreamspinner Press     |     ARe

My Review:

5 stars - Originally read in Feb. 2014

When I first read the blurb, I was a little iffy about reading the story, and it took some time for me to really get into the story. However, the story really took off for me, and I couldn't stop reading. And yes, the writing style takes a little getting used to, but I actually preferred it and enjoyed it. Most of all, I loved how Roman and Quade jelled together. They fit together well, and I loved the chemistry. The way they talked, completed each other's sentences, etc. I also loved the humor in the story, as it definitely enhanced my enjoyment, plus was a great comic relief. I am officially in love with both Roman and Quade, and I sincerely hope they're going to get sequels like Jin and Logan did (Change of Heart series). Highly recommended read.

Beginning of Throwback Thursday - The Violet and the Tom

Looking back, I have reviewed many books, but every now and then, I run across a book that sticks with me long after reading. And so, starting this week, I will not only be doing my weekly Wellness Wednesday post, but I will also be doing a Throwback Thursday post as well. I’ve been very busy with all the changes happening in my life recently, but with these changes, I’m hoping to become better about blogging regularly.

So today, I’m going to start with my review for The Violet and the Tom by Ocotillo.

5 stars

Originally reviewed in 2012

Loved it, loved it, loved it!! A wonderful story with a surprising twist on the master/slave genre. I absolutely loved this story and if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I was extremely surprised when I found out that this was a free online story because it was better than a bunch of stories I've bought lately. Definitely a story I will read again and again!

InsideSmarts Delicates Laundry Bag Review

Your Laundry. Done Smarter.

1) Delicates Laundry Bag Perfection.
If you've tried any ordinary laundry wash bags, you'll notice the InsideSmarts difference in no time. These #1 Rated Wash Bags are made of premium-grade mesh that makes them as strong & durable as they are luxurious & smooth.

2) Everything in its Place.
This popular lingerie wash bag set ships to you with 4 Luxury Wash Bags (2 Medium: 12" x 15" & 2 Large: 16" x 19"). Keep like-colors separated using the 3 white wash bags for light-colored loads, and the 1 large black bag for dark-colored items.

3) Every Wash: Quiet & Safe.
Zippered mesh laundry bags can be noisy, but not this new, 2015 Delicates Wash Bag design. Slip the rustproof zipper under the smart zipper guard to protect & ensure a quiet, snag-free wash.

4) Our Famous "Smart-Wash" CONSTRUCTION GUARANTEE.
If you're not satisfied for any reason, return your purchase for a 100% refund, no questions asked. You literally RISK NOTHING trying this product.

Buy Link

My Review:

5 stars

My long dress (67")

I never used to use wash bags, but after using these, I’m never going back. Not only did these bags work to protect my bras, they also helped keep my socks together in the wash. In fact, I haven’t lost a single sock since using these laundry bags. I just pick up the bag full of socks and throw it straight into the dryer, saving time and making it easier to find and sort them afterwards.  

I also found that I could use the bags to safely wash my delicate formal wear. For example, I used to use a pillowcase to wash one of my long dresses (recommended by the seller). However, often the dress would fall out of the pillowcase during the wash cycle, so it wasn’t a truly effective method. When I received these bags, I used the large white bag to wash my dress and it worked like a charm. I’ve since used the bags to wash a variety of my formal dresses and shirts, and I’ve noticed that since I’m using the bags, I can throw my delicates into the regular wash cycle with my other clothes with no damage to the delicates. Plus, the bags didn’t make a racquet when in the washer and dryer, which I was partially expecting due to the zippers, and they even prevented the zippers on some of my dresses from being as noisy in the wash as usual.

My dress in the large bag

The bags also come with a 365 Smart-wash Guarantee. All you have to do is register your order on their website (which barely took me 3 minutes) and voila, you’re protected. They also offer no questions asked, hassle-free refunds if you’re not satisfied. Plus, to top it off, you can also enter a monthly $100 gift card giveaway, just for purchasing a set. AND, if that’s not enough, if you join their SavvyShoppers VIP list, you get a 20% off coupon, which can save you an additional $3 on the bags.

All in all, after using these for over 2 months now and after numerous washes, they still look brand new and work great. I am very satisfied with them, and I highly recommend giving them a try.

*I received this product in exchange for an honest review*

Wellness Wednesdays: Microbiome Plus+ Heart Probiotic Review

Well, I planned on starting this on Wednesday, until I realized I scheduled another post for tomorrow already. *facepalm* In my defense, I was tired when I wrote that post on Sunday. Anyways, to kick off Wellness Wednesday, I’m going to post today. Here’s something I received to review, and best of all, a giveaway! But first, here’s a little bit about the Microbiome Plus+ Heart Probiotic I got to try. (Note: Always check with your physician before starting any supplement product and specifically Microbiome Plus. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition. Keep out of reach of children.)

Microbiome Plus+ Heart Probiotic is a more complete heart health dietary supplement that provides the full American Heart Association daily dietary recommendation of omega-3 which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease plus the probiotic L. reuteri NCIMB 30242, which supports normal cholesterol levels and inflammatory response.

This is both a probiotic and omega-3 supplement. Benefits:

-COMBAT HEART DISEASE

-HEALTHY BLOOD PRESSURE & CHOLESTEROL

-DIGESTION & IMMUNE SUPPORT

-INCREASE GOOD BACTERIA, DECREASE BAD BACTERIA

-SUPPORT HEART & STOMACH

My Review:

5 stars

I loved using this! I’m notoriously horrible about remembering to take meds, especially if I need to take them at multiple specific times, even if it’s just at meals, since I don’t always stick to a schedule (ok…I rarely stick to a schedule). However, the packaging helped with that. A week’s supply of the probiotic and Omega-3 came together in a pack and each individual pill came wrapped by itself. Not only did you have each day numbered, but there was an AM and a PM pack, making it easier to track which pills I’d taken without any effort on my part, a definite plus in my book.

After taking these for almost a month, I do feel better. My stomach hasn’t acted up as much as usual, and even when I got food poisoning, I recovered quickly. Whether that’s due to taking a probiotic, I don’t know, but I’d like to think it helped. Plus, I also liked the fact that I received both an Omega-3 and a probiotic for a dollar a day. Just $1 a day to help my heart and gut health. The benefits definitely justify the cost to me. I know there are cheaper alternatives out there, but Microbiome also has a deal going on where if you have your doctor give you a prescription for Microbiome, you get a $10 discount on it as well. And now that I've used Microbiome, I know that I'll be getting a quality product, well worth the price to me.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Microbiome not only offers the probiotic and Omega-3 for heart health, they also offer two other variations; Microbiome Plus+ Bone and Microbiome Plus+ Gastrointestinal. So there’s something for everyone to try. Taking probiotics is a great way to help improve your health, so why not give them a try?

*I received this product in exchange for my honest review.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is courtesy of Microbiome, and they are responsible for sending the prize to the winner. I am in no way responsible for shipping the product to the winner, aside from providing the winner's information to the company.*

A Tale of Three Shorts Blog Tour

A Tale of Three Shorts Tour gets readers up close and personal with three late fall releases by Taylin Clavelli. The three short stories, Invisible, Sleepwalking, and DIY Delights, will take you from loss and sorrow, to tender love, to laughter, and a deep sigh when you finally reach the end of each tale. Come meet the men of A Tale of Three Shorts and their stories!

Invisible

What do you do when you become invisible to the love of your life? 

Review:
3.5 stars

The story was interesting for me, because instead of watching a couple fall in love for the first time, you get to see them deal with a fading relationship. Sean and David have been together for 12 years, but they have started to drift apart. So many times you read a book and at the end it's "...and they lived happily ever after." But life is never that easy, so it was nice to read a book where the characters had to work to keep their relationship going, and deal with the fallout from drifting apart. 

I enjoyed reading the story, but felt that it would have done better as a longer story, since you see the direct aftermath and then there's a time skip to see what happens in the future. While I liked hearing from both men's POVs, including the self-discovery they went through in the immediate aftermath, I would have also liked to see more details about how they mended their relationship, instead of just seeing a small portion of it and then skipping ahead to the future. All in all though, I did enjoy reading Invisible, and would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Amazon     |     Amazon UK     |     Amazon AU

B&N     |     ARe     |     WIP

Sleepwalking

Devastated by loss, Matthew sleepwalks through life, existing but not living. 

Can someone rescue him from his waking nightmare and help him to live again?

Review:
4 stars

This is another book that deals with a lesser seen aspect in romance, the death of a loved one. I liked how the author really described and talked about not only the emotions you go through when dealing with a devastating loss, but also how she didn't rush the resolution. Matthew wasn't magically healed, it took time and effort. I also enjoyed how Matthew and Elliot's relationship slowly evolved and I loved the little details the author added, such as the visits to different art museums, which just added to the story for me. All in all, I greatly enjoyed this story, and I think the author did a great job writing about such a difficult topic.

Amazon     |     Amazon UK     |     Amazon AU

B&N     |     ARe     |     WIP

DIY Delights

While renovating his first house with his partner, Mike, Duncan discovers a plethora of reasons to use his favourite word… Bollocks!

Review:
5 stars

This is my favorite of these three shorts. I mean come on, the book starts out with examples of how to use bollocks in a sentence and the energy and humor continue on from there. 

The whole story is one man's view of his life, viewed through a very odd lense: how his usage of the word bollocks has changed over the years and over the course of a home renovation. The entire story is told through a conversational narrative from Duncan, a humorous and quirky character that I loved getting to meet. It's funny and sexy, full of tragically funny mishaps and DIY surprises and of course, lots of smexy times. All in all, this was a fun little read that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend if you're looking for a laugh.

Amazon US     |     Amazon UK     |     Amazon AU

B&N     |     ARe     |     WIP

Taylin, thanks so much for stopping by. So, why don’t you tell us a little about yourself?

 Many thanks for having me. I am married with two children and live in central England. I am not far off reaching my half century, but it’s only my body that creaks. My brain tries to convince me I’m half that age. I enjoy horse riding, martial arts, writing, and movies.

How did you get started writing?

 I used to read a lot of fanfiction – still do - and had an idea for a plot I’d like to read. I asked an author whose stories I’d been reviewing, if she’d be interested in writing something along the lines of my plot bunny. She said, “Why don’t you write it?”

When I heard her words, I thought she was kidding, but she convinced me to give writing a go and the rest they say is history.

What was the inspiration for your book?

There are three short stories all of which had differing inspirations. DIY delights was inspired by my experiences doing up the family home. The storyline of the bathroom that ended up 4 inches bigger all around is my actual bathroom.

Invisible was again personal, but more emotionally personal. The nugget of the plot of feeling invisible to one’s partner happened to me and several of my friends. Thankfully we came out the other side of it. But for my characters, my experience wasn’t colorful enough for a story, so I took my knowledge and applied it to my boys.

As for Sleepwalking, it was inspired by the Adam Lambert song Sleepwalker. The person in his song sounded so sad; the emotion tugged at my heartstrings. After that, various images kept entering my head, and I had to get them down on paper. The first line – I saw a picture of you hanging in an empty hallway --inspired the opening sequence where Matthew see a picture of his dead husband on the fallen wall of the police station. 

What’s the one genre you haven’t written in yet that you’d like to?

 Futuristic. I don’t mean a few years down the line, but hundreds, maybe millions of years in the future. The barrier for me though is having enough of an imagination to create a world that stands up to the laws of physics, but is sufficiently different to anything already out there. I am a huge fan of Star Wars and Star Trek.

Are there any genres you won’t read or write in? Why?

 I don’t like hardcore horror. Won’t watch it on the TV or read it. I’ve tried but have been unsuccessful in getting past the first chapter. I watched a couple of horror movies as a child, and they gave me nightmares for months after.

As for won’t write – I won’t write BDSM stories. I have read many stories that include BDSM and have enjoyed them. I can understand why that world is something to desire and experience. The reason I won’t write in that genre is that I don’t know enough about the culture and don’t have the balls to research it enough to do the genre justice. I wouldn’t be able to do it justice.

So, what are you working on right now? Have any releases planned, or still writing?

 I am working on two stories. One is called More Than Biology – where a boy researches sexuality and asks the questions, “Are we born gay, or can we choose to be gay?” Internally he is confused, and the story is his journey of discovering what is right for him.

I am also working on a story called Secret Of The Manor, which is a story of a man who encounters a ghost who needs a champion to enable him to rest in peace.

In the Wayward Ink anthology, A Likely Story, due out in December contains my story Chimera Air. It is an airline completely staffed by gay people, where the customer isn’t always right. The anthology also contains a collaborative comedy piece written by Lily Velden and myself Dr. Justin Gaylord. He’s a sex therapist who has issues with some clients. On the outside, he remains perfectly professional, while, in his head, he fights a war between his professionalism and his wayward thoughts.

Alright, now for some totally random, fun questions. Favorite color?     

Blue.

Favorite movie?    

Oh, so many, but for now I’ll say, Lord Of The Rings.

 Book that inspired you to become an author?

 There was no one book which inspired me to become an author, but the one story which got me into reading M/M was Money Matters by cbaty.

Alright, you have one superpower. What is it?    

See in the dark.

You can have dinner with any 3 people, dead, alive, fictitious, etc. Who are they?

Thranduil from the Hobbit. Arthur C Clarke and Sir Ian McKellen 

Last question: Which of your characters are you most like and how/why?

They all have bits of me in them, so can’t choose.  

About the Author:

Taylin Clavelli lives in the United Kingdom, about 15 miles south of Birmingham, and a short journey from the world famous Cadbury’s Chocolate factory. She’s married with children and loves her family with all her heart.

Her love of books has been a long standing affair, with Taylin liking nothing better than to lose herself in an imaginary world.

Until she met Lily Velden, she never considered trying her hand at writing. However, after talking ideas, Lily encouraged her to put pen to paper—or rather, fingers to keyboard. Since, with a few virtual kicks in the right place, she hasn’t stopped. Her confidence eventually led to her writing an original work for submission.

Her first published work was Boys, Toys, and Carpet Fitters, developed for the Dreamspinner Press Anthology – Don’t Try This At Home.

Now she absolutely adores immersing herself into the characters she creates, and transferring the pictures in her brain to paper, finding it liberating, therapeutic, and wonderful.

Outside of writing, her interests include; martial arts (she’s a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-do), horse-riding, all of which facilitates her love of a wide variety of movies. Her action heroes include Jet Li and Tony Jaa—finding the dedication these men have for their art combined with their skill both amazing and a privilege to watch. If pressed, she’ll admit to thinking that the screen entrance of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl, and Shadowfax in LOTR, to be the greatest screen entrances ever. Her all-time favorite movies are Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

The simple things in life that make her day, putting a smile on her face are:

Laughter – especially that of her children.

The smell of lasagna cooking – it makes her mouth salivate.

The dawn chorus – no symphony ever written can beat the waking greetings of the birds.

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