reviews_and_ramblings | Entries tagged with publisher: amber allure

The first book in the series had a similar incipit, twink meets hunk, and so it was not a surprise, but Why I Love Waiters is as funny as it was Why I Love Geeks, and as an added bonus, we have the chance to read more about Chuck and Herb from book 1.

This story follows John, Chuck’s brother, while he goes back to the small town where he is stationed and where he is falling in love with Heath. If he hasn’t yet done a move on the cute guy is only since he needs to decide if risking his military career is a price he is willing to pay. But as soon as he has the first taste of Heath, he is totally sold, and nothing will prevent him to make the guy totally his own.

There is the layer of homophobia playing in the story, but it’s also true that both Heath than John have a circle of supporting family and friends that has never given them the feeling to be alone; they have option, and finding an happily ever after is never a question, even if maybe they need to change their plans. The author decided to maintain the story on the light mood, she plays with her characters and with the reader, making this novel a little sexy, little funny thing, just a bit of this and that, without exaggerating with both ingredients. You smile and you coo on how cute Heath and John are together, doubling the cooing when Chuck and Herb come to visit: Heath and Herb together are almost too much, and that is the reason why Chuck and John give them little time to plot.

Nice, smooth, light read, for a R&R and lazy afternoon.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/WhyILoveWaiters.html

Amazon: Why I Love Waiters
Amazon Kindle: Why I Love Waiters
Paperback: 134 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (August 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611249465
ISBN-13: 978-1611249460

Series: Why I Love
1) Why I Love Geeks: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1769505.html
2) Why I Love Waiters

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Crossposts: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1934321.html

When I first started writing books with the intention of publishing, I devoured any writing advice I could find. One nugget of wisdom I read was to find your plots in the headlines of today’s papers.

I never thought much of it after that, one piece of advice among many, until I happened upon an article about a man stealing a truckload of pharmaceutical drugs in two and a half minutes—and getting away with it. Really? What kind of man had the nerve to pull that one off? He took shape in my mind: a rather small man, suffering classic “small dog syndrome.” He’d be cocky, irreverent, and borderline obnoxious. My mystery man took shape, with sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and hardened muscles from a punishing workout routine that was half penance/half necessity, to allow him to defend himself while in prison. Prison?

Why yes, my protag has been to prison. For drug trafficking. And in his former profession, he stole pharmaceuticals. Now he’s working off his sentence for the good guys. Allow me to introduce Richmond Eugene (Lucky) Lucklighter, a cocky little bantam rooster of a man. Oh, and I think I should mention that he’s not your typical romantic hero. He’s not gorgeous or rich, and grew up on a tobacco farm in North Carolina. He swills Starbucks coffee and peppers his speech with four letter words.

What’s a loose cannon without someone to rein him in when necessary? After his arrest, Lucky finds himself working for the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau’s Department of Diversion Prevention and Control, and one Walter Smith, a literal giant among men, once a DEA field agent, now head of the Atlanta branch of the SNB. He’s my protagonist’s boss, the man with the insight to hire Lucky for his insider information into the illicit pharmaceutical drug trade.

Now that we have the setup, let’s bring in Lucky’s foil, and possible love interest, William Patrick (Bo) Schollenberger, former Marine turned pharmacist, now working for the SNB after his own brush with the law.

I had no idea when I introduced Diversion that there would be a sequel, but as of this writing, the third book is in the works, and at least two more are planned.

Let’s get back to those headlines, shall we?

While a person goes about their life, seeing doctors when necessary and filling prescriptions at a chain pharmacy or a smaller corner drug store, there’s layer upon layer of activity hidden beneath the surface, from the manufacturer who creates the drugs to the pharmacy tech smiling and handing over a bag full of allergy medicine. If any part of the pipeline breaks down, the tech frowns and says, “I’m sorry, but we can’t fill your prescription.”

The stories in the Diversion series are what happens when the pipeline breaks down, horribly. And while Diversion and Collusion are works of fiction, the main plots came straight from the evening news.

Diversion is currently available at Amber Allure, an imprint of Amber Quill Press. http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/Diversion.html

Watch for Collusion, releasing February 24, from Amber Allure.

***

Collusion

Dead men can’t love.

Former drug trafficker Richmond “Lucky” Lucklighter “died” in the line of duty while working off a ten-year sentence in service to the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau, only to be reborn as Simon “Lucky” Harrison. The newbie he trained, former Marine Bo Schollenberger, is now his partner on (and maybe off) the job. It’s hard to tell when Lucky doesn’t understand relationships or have a clue what any sane human is doing in his bed. Bo’s nice to have around, sure, but there’s none of that picking-out-china-together crap for Lucky.

While fighting PTSD, memories of a horrid childhood, and a prescription drug addiction, Bo is paying for his mistakes. Using his pharmacy license for the good guys provides the sort of education he never got in school. Undercover with his hard-headed partner, Bo learns that not everything is as it seems in the world of pharmaceuticals.

When a prescription drug shortage jeopardizes the patients at Rosario Children’s Cancer Center, it not only pits Bo and Lucky against predatory opportunists, but also each other. How can they tell who the villains are? The bad guys don’t wear black hats, but they might wear white coats.

Find Eden at www.edenwinters.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EdenWinters
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdenWinters1

For a giveaway of Collusion, please visit: http://www.edenwinters.com/2013/02/collusion-release-party.html

Crossposts: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1906750.html

This novel is dark and gritty, very hard to digest, and it’s more a cop novel than a romance, and that is probably an advice I’m passing to many readers: if you want something real, something that, even if it’s giving you a romance, it’s not forgetting this is real life you are reading about, than Latin Boyz is the novel. It’s not making no discount, and it’s targeting you heart, for good and bad.

That between Alejandro and Gabriel is love at first sight, but it’s also a modern Romeo and Jules; Alejandro is a cop and he is also from a very influent Latin family, one that is “American” for the last three generation, arrived to America with money and not though an illegal border trespassing. Gabriel is from the wrong side of the city, actually from the other side of the river; a place so far away from your reality that, even if he is living in Los Angeles, he has never seen the Ocean, since he has never once left his neighbourhood.

Gabriel’s uncle is a former criminal, his brother is in prison to life and his mother was killed in a drive-by attack that left his 14 years old sister with a bullet in the head and the mind of a 5 years child. But this is the only world Gabriel knows, he has really no chance to escape, not even if he wants to go straight (no pun intended). And he for sure cannot trust a policeman, since cops have never done anything to help him and people like him.

I’m true, I think Alejandro takes Gabe’s case at heart since he has his own agenda on the boy. True, Alejandro is a different type of cop, someone who really believes in helping people, and for whom career doesn’t mean nothing, he want to stay on the streets since it’s there that he can help. But he was already like that, and until Gabe, he limited himself during his office hours. Now he is like a Guardian Angel, patrolling the places where Gabe and his sisters are, bringing people to help, being there in and out his official role. And he is no playing fair, making friends with Gabe’s sister to be able to reach her brother’s heart. Gabe knows he cannot raise Nattie alone, that he needs help, and with his uncle Tio’s health declining, he will soon need someone.

There is no chance for Gabe to escape once Alejandro starts the crusade to Gabe’s heart, but it was nice to read about him trying, even if, truth be told, he is not putting much resistance in the end.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/LatinBoyz.html

Amazon: Latin Boyz
Amazon Kindle: Latin Boyz
Paperback: 250 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (March 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611249244
ISBN-13: 978-1611249248

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading_list&view=elisa.rolle

This novel could have been heartbreaking and horrific at the same time, but the author decided to put a “veil” a top of it, like to tune down a little the raw feelings.

Paine is a young man living a nightmare; dumped by his drugs addicted mother when he was only 2 days old in the hands of his uncle, Paine grew up in a nightmare: his uncle started to pimp him to his “business” associates when he was only 12 years old and the nightmare is still on. Paine’s uncle is managing an illegal dogs fighting circuit and he is not only prostituting Paine, but also his own two daughters, 16 and 14 years old. Nothing seems to break through the cloak of desperation around them, not until Jules, an undercover cop who falls in love not only with Paine, but also with the dogs Paine is trying to save.

Jules is like a knight in shining armor, even if he is in love with Paine, I really don’t think he has an hidden agenda, he is not helping Paine with the hope Paine will forever grateful to him. Jules is really a good man, someone who wants to help without expecting anything in exchange.

As I said, horrific things happened and is happening to Paine and his cousins, but while the author decided to give you one glimpse in Paine’s nightmare, when it’s time for Paine and Jules to share intimate moment, it’s like the author decided not to allow anyone inside that room. We know Paine and Jules managed to be intimate, but it’s their private moment, like if, after all the public horror Paine had to go through, this time he has the right to be all alone with Jules.

There is no hiding the drama these young man and his cousins had to go through, but the undertone of the story is subdue, whispered more than shouted, a lot like the behaviour of Betsy, one of the girls, who is always present but almost silent, letting other imagining her drama, more than her telling it.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/VoiceForSilent.html

Amazon: Voice For The Silent
Amazon Kindle: Voice For The Silent
Paperback: 154 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (January 14, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611249791
ISBN-13: 978-1611249798

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Aislinn Kerry builds a future possible world where clones are common occurrences, arriving to have women “bear” their own clone instead of risking to have a child with a stranger. Adrien and Cristian’s case is not the same, being Cristian only few years younger than Adrien, but they grew completely apart from each other, Adrien in the US, the son of show business people and becoming himself an actor, and Cristian in rural Spain where he is now the owner of a B&B. I don’t know if the author wanted to make a statement about human genetics and homosexuality, since she really didn’t highlight it too much, but both Adrien than Cristian are gay, even if their upbringing was completely different.

Adrien doesn’t know about Cristian, while instead Cristian knows about the actor, and every step in his life is conditioned by that knowledge. Cristian has a mix of love and hate for Adrien, he cannot really hate him since he knows about their connection, but loving him is not either possible, being Adrien out of reach. But when Adrien knocks at his door, that is Cristian’s chance to complete his life since until that moment a piece was missing, the other half of himself. Cristian is in a relationship with Felix, and Felix will work us conduct between Adrien and Cristian, through the sharing of a partner, Adrien and Cristian will be able to reconnect.

I think many could find odd, if not even too kinky, for a man to have a sexual relationship with his clone, but for me is at the same level of a woman who decides to give birth to her own clone, it’s all a question of biology more than morality. In a way the author lets understand the reader she is not really fine with the idea of giving birth to your clone, but no prejudices is expressed for Adrien and Cristian’s sexual relationship, or at least I didn’t feel any.

Adrien, Cristian and Felix will build a perfect ménages, each of them completing or giving something one of the other two needs, something the other lover was not able to provide. Removing one of the three will unbalance the relationship, and so it’s essential for them to be together.

Aside from all the clone thing, the future world where Adrien, Cristian and Felix are living is pretty much the same as today, the issues Adrien is facing with his notoriety are exactly the same, the lack of privacy, the need to satisfy the public demand, and so on.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DoubleFeature.html

Amazon: Double Feature
Amazon Kindle: Double Feature
Paperback: 236 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (August 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611249503
ISBN-13: 978-1611249507

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Sweet Reunion: Jason and Danny were first best friends as kids and then lovers as teens. But Jason had nightmares which pushed him far from Sutter’s Bay, the little coastal town where they grew up. Years later he is back home to stay with his dying mother for her last days and it’s only natural to search for Danny, in the little chance he is still free. Danny hadn’t actually waited for Jason, he himself went to the big city and found another lover, but nothing and no one was like Jason, and he is now back in Sutter’s Bay, teaching at the local high school. Jason and Danny’s love story is sweet and easy, with little regret for the lost time, both of them realize there is no mean in pining after what they didn’t have, it’s more useful instead to try to reach for what they can still have.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/SweetReunion.html

Amazon Kindle: Sweet Reunion
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (October 18, 2009)

Twice In A Lifetime: Jude made his first appearance in Sweet Reunion and he was so nice that the author decided to give him his own story. He is a little mysterious and not only since few knew why he first came to Sutter’s Bay; actually that is one of the secrets he reveals to Rex pretty soon, while, without Rex quite being conscious of that, most of his real secrets remain hidden. Jude is from England, he has a British accent, but we don’t actually have many info on his background if not that he inherited the love for flowers and plants from his grandmother. Jude is a troubled soul, and losing his former boyfriend didn’t help his inner balance. His colorful looks, his using of make-up, are all layers he puts on to not let people see his true self. Rex instead is open and friendly, he is not uncaring, but his “light” attitude is what probably Jude needs. Apparently Rex is not searching to help Jude, meaning that he is not there giving out advices like candies, and Jude feels safe enough to let him near, believing maybe one like Rex will not intrude into his trouble. But Rex is everything other than uncaring, and as soon as he is able to tight a bond with Jude, he will do everything to not let Jude running away.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/TwiceLifetime.html

Amazon Kindle: Twice In A Lifetime
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (September 4, 2010)

Galaxy’s Heart: Galaxy and Adam’s love story, like the previous ones set in this nice little coastal town, Sutter’s Bay, is sweet and with a comfort feeling that is quite in the same mood of the town itself, mostly sleeping during the year and then sparkling with life in the summer. Galaxy and Adam had actually met 10 years before, Adam was Galaxy’s first lover, but they had a one night stand without strings attached. It was good for both of them, a fond memory, and so when fate puts them together again, they have nothing against the idea to continue like the last 10 years weren’t between them. There is a lot going on for them, Galaxy especially, but the author decided to not close all the loose strands, but to concentrate on Galaxy and Adam’s relationship, that is, as I said, easy and good.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/GalaxysHeart.html

Amazon Kindle: Galaxy's Heart
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (May 14, 2011)

At the end of the third story, a lot is still brewing in Sutter’s Bay, so I think the author has not put down the pen yet; Tony, Galaxy’s best friend, and Leo, his brother, have yet to tell their story.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/SuttersBay.html

Amazon: Sutter's Bay
Paperback: 206 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (August 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611249473
ISBN-13: 978-1611249477

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Scott is Madison’s best friend and he knows her brother Anson to be a spoiled little brat; plus last time they met, 18 years old Anson tried to kiss 23 years old Scott and Scott ran away so fast to run over Anson’s turtle, Myrtle… not exactly the best exit and one that is still in the memory of all Madison’s family. So it’s for sure with a lack of enthusiasm that Scott accepts to spend Christmas with Madison’s family.

He starts to change idea when they go and pick up Anson, now 21 years old and very, very hot. But still a brat. It will not be an easy Christmas for Scott, but also for Anson it’s a time to come to term with his insecurities, and also to decide if his crush for Scott is something that will can turn in forever love, or instead it has to remain a good memory of his teen years.

I like the tone of the story, it was funny and light, the typical dramas happening when you put together in the same room people who have still to come to term with their own personal issues; even if it’s Christmas this doesn’t mean troubles remain out of the door, on the contrary, they seem to implode at the same speed as the Christmas day is approaching. But the drama are not so big to prevent these people to understand that they are lucky to have a family supporting each other, and even if there are little disagreements, in the end love is bigger than them.

Maybe I have only a little complaint, while I love the Grandpa character, and his escape with the Christmas tree was fantastic, his little secret seemed a little too much, I think that to have him supporting of his nephew would have been enough. But again, it’s a minor complaint from my side, and in the end, Grandpa is probably the best character of all the story.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/IllRunAway.html

Amazon Kindle: I'll Run Away For The Holidays
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (December 31, 2010)

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

This is a novel that masterly mixes together adventure thriller, romance but above all comedy: it’s not often that, while reading about drugs dealer and dangerous situations you find yourself laughing for some of the gags Adrian comes out with.

An unwilling hero, Adrian is a young anthropologist who decides to change his life once he sees his young neighbour dying in front of his eyes. Actually a two weeks mission in the Amazonian forest is not so much a big change, but it’s for sure different from working as a white collar in a civilized Canadian city. Adrian is not exactly your hero type, on the contrary he is more on the cute twink side, like he proves already in the airplane taking him in South America having sex with a handsome, but complete stranger, Tom.

From this starting you could think sex will be on the front stage of the story and instead this is actually the only real sex scene you will find (aside for the wet dream both Adrian and Tom will share); almost immediately after that, Tom got “turned” into a jaguar and he will spend most of the novel in that form (and no, there is no kinky sex in shifted form): actually more than a romance the novel is a solo man adventure with big cat along; Tom will become Adrian guardian angel, he will protect and hunt for his past lover, but Tom will be a feline, with the behaviour of a feline, so sometime temperamental, sometime cuddling, sometime fierce.

There are two parallel stories entangling together: Tom is an agent for a special agency fighting drugs dealer, Adrian is going in Amazonian to study ancient pictographs, both of them will crash with the same villain but more or less they will spend most of the novel alone in the forest searching for an ancient temple. In the path they will meet funny characters, helping them or viceversa.

As I said, even if scared, hungry and totally helpless in the Amazonian forest, Adrian will never loose his sense of humor and after the initial reticence, he will adapt to the oddity of having a lap-cat which is bigger than him (and that is coming from someone who thought to not like cats in general). Of course being Tom in feline form, he has no “rational” thoughts, and so all the novel turns around Adrian.

This novel surprised me for the comedy touch, something that was totally unexpected and that I’m not used to find nor in paranormal or thriller romance. If comedy lovers skipped this story for the same wrong-belief, I recommend to reconsider it.

http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/ShiftHappens.html

Amazon: Shift Happens
Amazon Kindle: Shift Happens
Paperback: 242 pages
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC (December 21, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611249864
ISBN-13: 978-1611249866

Reading List: