RJ Scott - Author: Marie Sexton

Showing posts with label Marie Sexton. Show all posts

Marie Sexton talks Trailer Trash

Monday, 21 March 2016

If you follow this blog you'll see how much Marie Sexton's new book, Trailer Trash, just blew me away. It was stunning, and you can read my rambly near incoherent review a few days HERE.

Trailer Trash is out today from Riptide.

I decided to ask Marie to visit the blog and answer a couple of my questions...

So, on to the interview

What drew you to writing Cody and Nate's story? And why choose 1986 and the AIDS crisis as a backdrop?

I actually started this story back in 2011. It all began with this picture. [attached] That image immediately became Cody in my head, and I jumped right in.

I picked the 80s partly because it's when I grew up, and I sort of wanted to dump some of my teen angst into it, but also because I really wanted to write about the days before things like MTV and the internet opened the world up for the average teenager. I wanted to capture that claustrophobic feeling of being caught in a small town in the middle of nowhere, with almost no access to the larger world.

The thing is, as stupid as it may sound, I was several chapters in before I realized setting the story in the 80s meant dealing with the AIDS crisis. That was also about when I began to see just how angsty the story might get (boy, I had NO idea, even then). I toyed with moving it back further, into the 70s, but that didn't feel right either. I didn't want to move it into the 90s or later, because it would lose that haunted sense of abandonment that permeated small towns back then. And to be honest, I just wasn't ready to deal with it.

In the end, I chickened out and abandoned the entire story. I stuffed it in a virtual drawer and moved on. I pulled it out several times over the years. I think I always knew I'd finish it eventually, but it wasn't until last fall that I finally felt ready to jump in. Even then, I moved the story back and forth in the 80s several times, trying to find the sweet spot -- early enough in the decade that the town of Warren might realistically not have MTV, but late enough that almost everybody at least had the facts about how AIDS was spread and didn't still think it could be caught from the swimming pool -- and eventually settled on late '86/early '87.

Was this book difficult to write?

Good lord, yes. And not just for the reasons listed above. It just seemed to throw up roadblocks at every turn. Just when I'd think I had a handle on it, I'd realize I'd taken a wrong turn, and I'd have to delete thousands of words. At one point (I think in early December) I finished the book -- or so I thought. It was only about 45k words (only about half what it ended up being). The thing is, it just felt WRONG. It had a beginning and a middle and an end, but I hated it. I just knew I'd screwed it up, but I wasn't quite sure how. Then one night, I was brushing my teeth, getting ready for bed, and it hit me. I suddenly knew exactly what had to happen, but it absolutely broke my heart to even think about.

Now, if you've read the book, you know what I'm talking about. I won't spoil anything, but there's one big event that happens at about the halfway point of the book. I spent several days trying to tell myself no, I didn't really need to do this horrible thing, but the more I thought about it, the more I saw that it really did need to happen. So once again, I went back to the drawing board. I had to cut more than 20k words at that point, and let me tell you, I cried real tears more than once -- partly because of what I had to do, and partly because of how much work it made for me. But, in the end, it was exactly what needed to be done.

And when you get to that point -- and you'll know, when you do -- just know that I cried too. I really did.

The scene setting was so good, subtle and I was pulled right in, how do you go about researching your settings for stories?

It varies from story to story. In this case, the setting was partially based on my hometown (which is also in Wyoming). The City Drug and the Chinese restaurant and the crappy bar on the edge of town were all pulled directly from the town I was born in. But, to be fair, my hometown was quite a bit bigger than Warren (the fictional town in Trailer Trash), and my hometown was only an hour from Salt Lake City, so it didn't feel nearly so isolated. But I've driven that horrible stretch of I-80 across southern Wyoming more times than I can count. I've stopped at the truckstops and seen some of the people. It's a really desolate, windy, barren area. There's nothing but sandstone and sagebrush and roadkill. You hit "scan" on your car radio, and the dial just rolls over and over and over and never finds a signal. There's just this feeling that if your car died there, you'd never find your way home.

That's what I was trying to capture.

Can you tell me one scene that really stood out for you when you wrote this book?

That's hard, because there were many (and one of my favorites got cut when The Big Bad Event was added and changed the entire last half of the story). Let me think...

The Wheel of Fortune scene is one of the first scenes I wrote, and continues to be one of my very favorite. I also love when Nate and Cody go to Rock Springs for the day. I felt like there were some really great moments there, both with Nate blurting out things he didn't realize he was going to say, and Cody trying to tell him why they can't be friends once school starts. I also really like the scene early in the story where Nate and Cody discuss the things they learned from their mothers.

Excerpt

Nate had told Cody he’d meet him after lunch, but he ended up going to the field right after he got out of bed. It was a bit after eleven when he arrived, and Cody was already there, a half-empty pack of cigarettes in his hand.

“Wind’s still blowing,” Nate said as he sat down.

“Welcome to Wyoming.”

He didn’t even glance Nate’s way. A brand-new day, and somehow Nate knew he was starting fresh with Cody. Whatever camaraderie they’d shared the day before had been wiped away in the night.

“I hear it’s really nice up in the northern part of the state,” he said, in an attempt to make conversation.

Cody sighed and tapped a cigarette into his hand. “I hear that too. I wouldn’t know.” He tucked the rest of the pack into the upper pocket of his jean jacket and pulled out a lighter. Nate waited while he turned away, cupping his hand against the wind to get it lit.

“How long have you lived here?”

Cody blew smoke, his other hand clenching around his lighter. “My whole fucking life.”

“Well, you graduate this year, right? Then you can leave. Maybe go to college—”

“Ha!” Cody shook his head, leaning forward to put his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, right. College.”

Nate wasn’t sure what that meant. Maybe his grades weren’t good enough, or—

“There’s no leaving this town. Didn’t I tell you it’s the black hole of modern civilization? I meant it, man. There’s no escape. You’re born here, you knock up some chick, then you die here. That’s how it goes.”

“Uh . . .” Nate had no idea how to tackle that happy thought. “You’re planning on knocking somebody up?”

Cody laughed without much humor and contemplated the smoldering cigarette between his fingers. “Pretty sure nobody actually plans that. Don’t change anything, though. Gotta have money to leave, and by the time you’ve got it, it’s too late.”

“I don’t care what you say. I’m leaving, as soon as I can. Packing up my car the night before graduation and leaving five minutes after they put that diploma in my hand.”

“And going where?”

“Home, I guess, for the summer at least. Then I’m moving to Chicago.”

Cody frowned at him, and Nate hurried to elaborate.

“My aunt lives there. She’s a real estate agent, and she owns a bunch of houses and apartments. She has one she said I could use while I go to school.” Although the idea of putting in college applications in a few months turned his stomach to knots.

Cody ground out the last of his cigarette against the side of the wagon and tossed the butt angrily into the wind. “Lucky you.”

Nate studied him for a moment, taking in the ripped knees of his jeans and the way they ended a bit short of his ankles. The arms of his denim jacket left his bony wrists exposed. His tennis shoes had holes in both toes.

A small knot of shame formed in Nate’s stomach as he finally realized it wasn’t grades standing between Cody and college. He thought about Warren—windblown streets lined with lifeless, dusty buildings. No flowers. No joy. No jobs. Even the houses seemed to droop in defeat. The people he’d seen didn’t look much better. Dead-eyed women not much older than him dragging their screaming kids through the grocery store. The line of rusty pickup trucks parked outside the shitty, seedy bar on the far side of town, no matter what time of day it was.

Maybe Cody was right. Maybe there was no escape.

Nate cleared his throat, trying to think of something that hinted at hope. “My mom always says, ‘Despair is anger with no place to go.’”

Cody chuckled and put his head down. He ran his hands through his straight black hair. “I guess that makes me Despair, then.”

“My mom also says, ‘When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars.’”

“Oh yeah? Well, my mom says, ‘If the world didn’t suck, we’d fall off.’”

Nate laughed. He wasn’t sure if Cody had intended it as a joke or not, but either way, Nate couldn’t help it. Cody looked over at him in surprise.

“Well,” Nate said, still laughing a bit, “at least I know where you get your cheery disposition.”

Cody blinked at him once as if trying to decide how to take that comment, but then he gave Nate a grudging smile. “And I guess I know where you get yours.”

“Yeah.” Now it was Nate’s turn to duck his head in hopes of hiding his expression. It was true his mother had always been happy and upbeat. Right up until May, when she’d walked into Nate’s bedroom and casually told him she was leaving his dad.

“Your mom sounds like some kind of brainiac or something.”

“She’s an English teacher.”

“Will she be teaching at the high school?”

“No.” Nate couldn’t look at him. He twisted the class ring on his finger, watching the way the sun glinted off the light-blue stone. “She didn’t move here with us. She’s still back in Austin.”

Cody didn’t respond right away, and when Nate finally glanced up, he found Cody looking at him with more compassion than he’d seen from him before. “That sucks.”

“You have no idea.” As soon as Nate said the words, he realized maybe he shouldn’t have. He didn’t know anything about Cody’s family situation. It was possible Cody knew exactly how Nate felt. He wondered if he should apologize, but Cody didn’t seem bothered.

“When I was a kid, it seemed like I was the only one whose parents were split.” Cody looked toward the distant motion of the highway again, as if it held some kind of answer. “People were always asking me why my last name was different from my mom’s. Used to piss me off. But the older I get, the more it seems like the norm, you know? I don’t know if there really are more divorces now, or if it’s just because I’m more aware of it.”

Nate had always known about divorce, but he’d always assumed it only happened to kids with fucked-up family lives. Somehow, he’d thought the “broken home” came first, and the divorce second. He hadn’t quite realized the divorce was often what made it “broken.”

“I guess I thought it couldn’t happen to me,” he said.

He hated it. Hated his life and his parents and the fact that he was now one of those kids. He hated coming home to a house where his mother’s music wasn’t playing. He hated having to do his own laundry and the fact that there was never a pot of soup on the stove or a batch of cookies in the oven, and the fact that he never, ever woke up to pancakes and bacon for breakfast. He hated knowing he’d taken those things for granted for so many years. And more than anything, he fucking hated Wyoming.

“Hey,” Cody said, and when Nate looked over at him, Cody smiled. “When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars.”

Nate tried to smile back, but failed. “I only see the dark.”

“Me too.” Cody nudged Nate’s knee with his own, and this time, Nate did manage to smile a little. “Guess it gives us a reason to keep looking up.”

My heart hurts, a stunning book. Marie Sexton, Trailer Trash

Thursday, 17 March 2016

It’s 1986, and what should have been the greatest summer of Nate Bradford’s life goes sour when his parents suddenly divorce. Now, instead of spending his senior year in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he’s living with his father in Warren, Wyoming, population 2,833 (and Nate thinks that might be a generous estimate). There’s no swimming pool, no tennis team, no mall—not even any MTV. The entire school’s smaller than his graduating class back home, and in a town where the top teen pastimes are sex and drugs, Nate just doesn’t fit in.
Then Nate meets Cody Lawrence. Cody’s dirt-poor, from a broken family, and definitely lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Nate’s dad says Cody’s bad news. The other kids say he’s trash. But Nate knows Cody’s a good kid who’s been dealt a lousy hand. In fact, he’s beginning to think his feelings for Cody go beyond friendship.
Admitting he might be gay is hard enough, but between small-town prejudices and the growing AIDS epidemic dominating the headlines, a town like Warren, Wyoming, is no place for two young men to fall in love.
- See more at: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/trailer-trash#sthash.ngM3dXOi.dpuf

It’s 1986, and what should have been the greatest summer of Nate Bradford’s life goes sour when his parents suddenly divorce. Now, instead of spending his senior year in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he’s living with his father in Warren, Wyoming, population 2,833 (and Nate thinks that might be a generous estimate). There’s no swimming pool, no tennis team, no mall—not even any MTV. The entire school’s smaller than his graduating class back home, and in a town where the top teen pastimes are sex and drugs, Nate just doesn’t fit in.

Then Nate meets Cody Lawrence. Cody’s dirt-poor, from a broken family, and definitely lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Nate’s dad says Cody’s bad news. The other kids say he’s trash. But Nate knows Cody’s a good kid who’s been dealt a lousy hand. In fact, he’s beginning to think his feelings for Cody go beyond friendship.

Admitting he might be gay is hard enough, but between small-town prejudices and the growing AIDS epidemic dominating the headlines, a town like Warren, Wyoming, is no place for two young men to fall in love.

Review

I have to get these words out now, before I walk away from the world I was just in. I know this sounds weird, but I just this second finished reading this book and I didn't want to leave the world inside the pages. I know the words in my head will all disappear and I'll end up writing just *I loved it* and hell, this needs much more than that.

Not only is this the most beautiful story I have ever read, it is gut wrenching, heart breaking, and stunning. I cried ugly tears, I smiled, I cheered, I didn't know what to do with myself.

If you read one book this year, try this one. The world Marie creates... I just felt like I was right there with Cody and Nate.

Just stunning. And like I just typed to Marie in a private message; I have no words, stunning.

So highly recommended I can't even begin to rate it. Possibly my most favourite MM book ever.

See. I think this book has broken me.

http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/trailer-trash

Focus on the Tales of the Curious Cookbook series

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

For a Rainy Afternoon - RJ Scott

Robbie MacIntyre runs a small Post Office made from a converted Station House in a village northwest of London. He is stunned when a close friend leaves him the property as an inheritance after her death.

She owned the shop and has left everything to him. Not only that but she has left the place she lived, Apple Tree Cottage, to an American - a stranger who has recently moved to Barton Hartshourn.

The sealed box that they inherit includes several rare first editions and a cookery book. Only when the secrets of the ingredients in a particular recipe are finally revealed does everything begin to make sense... and a love story that began seventy years ago is finally uncovered.

Buy Links

All Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forarainyafternoon-1764777-149.html

Dreamspinner http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6212

Amazon (US) http://www.amazon.com/RJ-Scott/e/B00480VVB0/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=rjsc-20

Amazon (UK) http://www.amazon.co.uk/RJ-Scott/e/B00480VVB0/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&linkCode=ur2&tag=rjsc-21

Other books in the series:

Food for Thought - Amy Lane

Emmett Gant was planning to tell his father something really important one Sunday morning—but his father passed away first. Now, nearly two years later, Emmett can't seem to clear up who he should be with—the girl with the apple cheeks and the awesome family or his snarky neighbor who never sees his family but who makes Emmett really happy just by coming over to chat.

Emmett needs clarity.

Fortunately for Emmett, his best friend’s mom has a cookbook that promises to give Emmett insight and good food, and Emmett is intrigued. After the cookbook follows him home, Emmett and Keegan Malloy, his neighbor, decide to make the recipe “For Clarity” and what ensues is both very clear—and a little surprising, especially to Emmett's girlfriend. Emmett is going to have to think hard about his past and the really important thing he forgot to tell his father if he wants to get the recipe for love just right.

Lost Along the Way - Marie Sexton

Three months after losing his parents in a car crash, Denver weatherman Daniel Whitaker returns to Laramie, Wyoming. It’s bad enough dealing with the death of his parents and his failing relationship of fifteen years, but when he finds his childhood home full of clutter, Daniel is at a loss. He enlists Landon, his parents’ sexy neighbor, to help him sort through the mess.

Landon Kushner is a study in contradictions. He builds wind sculptures out of scrap metal and loves the outdoors, but he also rides a mint-green Vespa and has an affinity for knitting and fortune-telling. He's been friends with Daniel's parents for years, and he's more than willing to lend a hand.

Their plan is simple: clean the house so Daniel can sell it and get back to his life in Denver. But when a strange cookbook comes into Landon’s possession, Daniel begins to realize that the universe – and Granny B – may have other plans.

Cookies for Courting - Amber Kell

After his sister’s death, businessman Marshall Hunter gains custody of his niece. Unused to children, Marshall struggles to connect with her. In an effort to make her more comfortable in her new home, he hires professional muralist Pace Barlow to personalize her room.

Pace is intrigued by his tiny client, and even more interested in her handsome uncle, but Pace isn’t certain he’s ready for the commitment of an instant family.

When Marshall decides to move for the sake of his niece, will he be able to keep his relationship with his young artist, or will he have to give up love to become a good father for a lonely little girl?

The love baked into an old-fashioned recipe might bring the two men together, but some things take more than magical cookies to fix.

Just Desserts - Mary Calmes
Boone Walton has tried hard to create some distance between himself and his past. He's invested in his new life, his New Orleans art gallery, and in his friendship with Scott Wren. Things finally seem to be settling down to normal, and Boone couldn’t be happier.

Chef Scott Wren wants much more than normal with Boone. He wants to raise things to the next level, but Boone is terrified—and not because of the ghost in Scott’s apartment or Scott’s relatives. No, Boone's past is about to pay him a visit, and the only thing that can get between Boone, Scott, and a hinky recipe for chocolate mousse found in a curious cookbook is the river of pain Boone had to swim to get to this side of The Big Easy. There’s a secret behind the ingredients, though—one that might reveal the trust and love that have been missing from Boone’s life.

Win Marie Sexton Cover art

Thursday, 14 January 2016

Win a large postcard of Marie Sexton's Promises, from her Japanese translation!

And because this is only one thing I'll gift you a Marie Sexton ebook as well...

Closes 21 January 14:00 GMT (London)

Marie Sexton - news for 2016

Sunday, 3 January 2016

Welcome to Marie Sexton, visiting to tell us about her news in 2016...

I have a novel coming out with Riptide in March called Trailer Trash. It's about two high school seniors in small-town Wyoming in the mid-80s. I should have a preorder link for that very soon, but not quite yet.

I also have a novella called Damned If You Do coming out in June from Samhain. It's sort of a romantic comedy about a devil trying to win the soul of devout young musician. I have a project lined up with a co-author that will be published by Dreamspinner Press later in the summer, but I can't share too many details about that yet! Watch this space...

As for events, I'll be at RT in Las Vegas in April, and if all goes as planned, I'll be at the M/M Romance Meeting in Verona, Italy in May, and at EuroPride in Berlin in June.

That's about as far ahead as I'm able to plan. :-)

Marie Sexton

New Year New Read - Marie Sexton with Winter Oranges

Part of the New Year New Read project...

The first in Marie Sexton's Coda series, the wonderful Promises, is to me sheer perfection. I adore the characters, I love the romance, and it hooked me on her writing. The book I would like to gift on in my New Year New Read initiative is Christmas Oranges.

Want to try a few Marie Sexton books? Simply, comment below with your email address and I will pick a winner after close on 10 January 12:00 GMT.

Winter Oranges

Buylink: Riptide

Jason Walker is a child star turned teen heartthrob turned reluctant B-movie regular who’s sick of his failing career. So he gives up Hollywood for northern Idaho, far away from the press, the drama of LA, and the best friend he’s secretly been in love with for years.

There’s only one problem with his new life: a strange young man only he can see is haunting his guesthouse. Except Benjamin Ward isn’t a ghost. He’s a man caught out of time, trapped since the Civil War in a magical prison where he can only watch the lives of those around him. He’s also sweet, funny, and cute as hell, with an affinity for cheesy ’80s TV shows. And he’s thrilled to finally have someone to talk to.

But Jason quickly discovers that spending all his time with a man nobody else can see or hear isn’t without its problems—especially when the tabloids find him again and make him front-page news. The local sheriff thinks he’s on drugs, and his best friend thinks he’s crazy. But Jason knows he hasn’t lost his mind. Too bad he can’t say the same thing about his heart.

Review: This is a gorgeous book, so vivid in description and I was sucked in from page one. I'm a huge fan of Marie Sexton and this book is another perfect MM, a must read for Autumn and Christmas.

Also, for a non seasonal book try the Coda Series:

Promises

Buylinks: Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk: ARe: Dreamspinner

Jared Thomas has lived his whole life in the small mountain town of Coda, Colorado. He can't imagine living anywhere else. Unfortunately, the only other gay man in town is twice his age and used to be his teacher, so Jared is resigned to spending his life alone.

Until Matt Richards walks into his life, that is. Matt has just been hired by the Coda Police Department, and he and Jared immediately become friends.

Matt claims he is straight, but for Jared, having a sexy friend like Matt is way too tempting. Facing Matt's affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt's co-workers, Jared fears they'll never find a way to be together-if he can even convince Matt to try.

Review

What I love most about this book is that it is absolutel MM romance perfection. It was the first thing I read of Marie Sexton's writing and it started me on the entire Coda themed series of books. It includes romance, just the right amount of angst, a slow burn with UST... just perfect. And Marie's writing style is so nice that I always feel like I can relax and really enjoy the books.

What can I say about Matt and Jared to convince you to go try the book? Jared is utterly sure of who he is, except he isn't, and Matt is utterly unsure of who he is, except he isnt... and yes, I know that makes little sense. I just feel that while we are at first presented with Jared as a confident and out gay man, what we then see is how much of himself he hides away. Then we have Matt, the best friend, the one who has a whole heart load of conflict. Add in characters like the idiot (abusive) dad, the sister, the new baby, the ex, the crime element, and this first Coda book ticks every single one of my boxes.

Not that I would ever compare Marie's writing with my own (hell I wouldn't compare anyone's writing to mine ever, I wouldn't want to insult anyone!) but if you liked Back Home, Moments, The Ex Factor, Crooked Tree Ranch, Decisions, that kind of thing, then you will love Promises...

I promise you...

Have you read the rest of Marie's Coda series? All the books here and reviews are on this site.

Christmas Blog: Review of Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton

Monday, 30 November 2015

Winter Oranges **

Buylink: Riptide

There’s only one problem with his new life: a strange young man only he can see is haunting his guesthouse. Except Benjamin Ward isn’t a ghost. He’s a man caught out of time, trapped since the Civil War in a magical prison where he can only watch the lives of those around him. He’s also sweet, funny, and cute as hell, with an affinity for cheesy ’80s TV shows. And he’s thrilled to finally have someone to talk to.

But Jason quickly discovers that spending all his time with a man nobody else can see or hear isn’t without its problems—especially when the tabloids find him again and make him front-page news. The local sheriff thinks he’s on drugs, and his best friend thinks he’s crazy. But Jason knows he hasn’t lost his mind. Too bad he can’t say the same thing about his heart.

Review: This is a gorgeous book, so vivid in description and I was sucked in from page one. I'm a huge fan of Marie Sexton and this book is another perfect MM, a must read for Autumn and Christmas.

**This title is part of the Love for the Holidays: A Charity Bundle Benefiting the GLBT National Help Center collection. Check out the collection discount! - See more at: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/winter-oranges#sthash.4YQHcmsK.dpuf

For a Rainy Afternoon (Tales of The Curious Cookbook)

Friday, 2 October 2015

One of five books in a writing project with Marie Sexton, Amber Kell, Amy Lane and Mary Calmes.

* * * * *

Tales of the Curious Cookbook

It’s called comfort food for a reason.

Not much is known about the cookbook, except that years ago, the mysterious Granny B collected a set of magical recipes and wrote them down. Over the years, each book has been modified, corrected, added to, and passed down through the generations to accumulate its own unique history. The secrets behind these very special recipes are about to find their way into new hands and new lives, just when they’re needed the most.

Food created out of love casts a spell all its own, but Granny B’s recipes add a little something extra. This curious cookbook holds not only delicious food, but also the secrets of love, trust, and healing, and it’s about to work its magic once again.

My story - For a Rainy Afternoon

* * * * *

Available from Dreamspinner :-

For a Rainy Afternoon - RJ Scott
Food for Thought - Amy Lane
Lost Along the Way - Marie Sexton
Cookies for Courting - Amber Kell
Just Desserts - Mary Calmes

Buy Links - eBook

Buy Links - Print Book

Dreamspinner

Buy Links - Audiobook

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Audible | iTunes

Reviews

Love Bytes Reviews - 4/5 - "....This was such an enjoyable short story. Usually I find with short stories that I don’t get enough information to really sink my teeth into a story. But not with this one, R.J. Scott’s writing style is so beautiful and effortless that it captures everything you need to know even in a short story...."

Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock - 5/5 "....This is a well written feel good story about love and loss and learning how to deal with both. I would highly recommend this story. I am giving this a 5 out of 5 fangs...."

Rainbow Book Reviews - "....This first book in the ‘Tales of the Curious Cookbook’ collection definitely worked its magic on me. Warm, gentle, and with some delicious mentions of wonderful recipes, it is an excellent representative of what I would call “comfort food of the mind”. While Robbie and Jason are the focus of the story, Maggie and the slightly mysterious selection of recipes she passes on to them are characters in their own right...."

Words of Wisdom...from The Scarf Princess - "....RJ Scott's contribution to the Tales of The Curious Cookbook series is a heartwarming one that will make readers misty-eyed but with a smile on their face. When a young Englishman who's always felt a bit lost waiting for something he can't define, meets a carefree artsy American, their unexpected connection brings them together in a sensual journey to HFN that's richly rewarding. Throw in a bit of mystery courtesy of the matchmaking elder Maggie, who recently passed, and you have an entertaining story with a rich atmosphere that fully immerses you into their journey...."

Boy Meets Boy Reviews - 4/5 - "....I would say that to anybody who enjoys a good old fashioned love story then this is a story for you. Warm, moving and romantic, it is a beautiful little read...."

Crystal's Many Reviewer's - "There are wonderful recipes and mentions of food throughout this short tale. This is the kind of book that warms the heart and soul and makes the reader feel good after it’s all over."

Paranormal Romance Guild - 5/5 "...I don't want to give too much away, but the book involves a long lost love, secrets, M/M sex and a very old cookbook. Why did Maggie leave Robbie the station? Why did she leave Jason the cottage rather than any of her other relatives? A beautiful love story, at times happy and at other times sad."

Focus on: For a Rainy Afternoon

Thursday, 18 June 2015

One of five books in a writing project with Marie Sexton, Amber Kell, Amy Lane and Mary Calmes.

* * * * *

Tales of the Curious Cookbook

My story - For a Rainy Afternoon

* * * * *

Available from Dreamspinner :-

For a Rainy Afternoon - RJ Scott
Food for Thought - Amy Lane
Lost Along the Way - Marie Sexton
Cookies for Courting - Amber Kell
Just Desserts - Mary Calmes

Buy Links

Reviews

Crystal's Many Reviewer's - "There are wonderful recipes and mentions of food throughout this short tale. This is the kind of book that warms the heart and soul and makes the reader feel good after it’s all over."

Shotgun - Marie Sexton

Friday, 29 May 2015

As a young man, Dominic Jacobsen already suspects he’s gay, and he gets all the confirmation he needs when a rich boy from out of town climbs into the back seat of Dominic’s GTO. One night with Lamar Franklin is all it takes to convince Dominic he’s found the man of his dreams. Unfortunately, that one night is all he’ll get before Lamar returns to Tucson.

Fifteen years later, Lamar returns to Coda, Colorado after ending the latest in a string of bad relationships. He’s alone, depressed, and plagued by late-night phone calls from an unidentified caller. Lamar’s ready to give up when he comes face-to-face with his past.

Since he was seventeen, Dominic has dreamed of a reunion with Lamar, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready for it now. Facing small-town rumors and big-family drama is bad enough, but Dominic won’t risk losing custody of his teenaged daughter, Naomi. The only solution is to make sure he and Lamar remain friends and nothing more. Clothes stay on, no matter what.

It seems simple enough. But for better or worse, Lamar has other ideas.

Buy Links

TO FOLLOW

Review

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Recommended Christmas Reads

Marie Sexton talks Trailer Trash

So, on to the interview

Excerpt

My heart hurts, a stunning book. Marie Sexton, Trailer Trash

Review

Focus on the Tales of the Curious Cookbook series

For a Rainy Afternoon - RJ Scott

Other books in the series:

Win Marie Sexton Cover art

Marie Sexton - news for 2016

New Year New Read - Marie Sexton with Winter Oranges

Winter Oranges

Christmas Blog: Review of Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton

Winter Oranges **

For a Rainy Afternoon (Tales of The Curious Cookbook)

Tales of the Curious Cookbook

My story - For a Rainy Afternoon

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Reviews

Focus on: For a Rainy Afternoon

Tales of the Curious Cookbook

My story - For a Rainy Afternoon

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Reviews

Shotgun - Marie Sexton

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