Book Blast ~ Civil War and Broken Hearts by Julie Lynn Hayes ~ (Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)
Author Name: Julie Lynn Hayes
Book Name: Civil War and Broken Hearts
Series: Rose and Thorne
Book: Two
Release Date: August 24, 2016
Blurb:
Hollywood comes to Roanoke when a major film studio announces they’re shooting part of their Civil War film at a local plantation. Vinnie is dismayed to discover that the lead actress is none other than the beautiful and popular Caroline St. Clair. Ethan and Vinnie made her acquaintance in LA the previous Halloween, while undercover, and Vinnie still hates her for hitting on his man. Ethan reassures his partner that Roanoke is big enough for all of them to co-exist without running into one another.
But Fate has it in for Vinnie and Ethan, and they find themselves assigned to a new case involving the actress. Apparently she requested Ethan specifically, to Vinnie’s dismay. But he doesn’t have a choice, he has to play nice. It’s small consolation to Vinnie that his new undercover identity involves Hollywood heartthrob Troy McGarrett, who is very handsome and openly gay. Troy isn’t shy about letting Vinnie know he finds him attractive.
Jealousy abounds in the second book of the Rose and Thorne series, and time is not on Vinnie and Ethan’s side. If they don’t solve the case before the film shoot is done, there’s a good chance they’ll be separated for the first time since they were partnered. Assuming Vinnie doesn’t kill Caroline St. Clair himself.
The author is donating 10% of the royalties from this book to No Kid Hungry. Visit nokidhungry.org for more information about this organization.
Pages or Words: 50,000 words
Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor
Excerpt:
“Hey, Vin, did you see who’s in town?”
I was slumped at the kitchen table, my head cradled on top of my arms. I was grumpy and sleepy—and maybe a few of the other Seven Dwarves—and I needed my first cup of morning coffee before I could even consider being slightly civil.
We’d spent most of last night sitting in our car, in the goddamn middle of nowhere, staring at nothing, assigned to a fruitless surveillance in a small town about an hour from Roanoke. As it turned out, all the real action was in a different small town in the complete opposite direction from where we waited, because our so-called informant couldn’t spell the name of the place correctly. What a difference one letter makes. So we’d ended up completely wasting our time, got lost trying to find the rest of the task force at the end of the night, almost got hit by a deer that came out of nowhere and took a sudden shine to our car, and then suffered the indignity on our return of being asked where the hell we’d been all night—and we still needed to do the paperwork. And now Ethan wanted to play Twenty Questions?
“Don’t know and don’t care,” I mumbled.
I heard him slap something down on the table. I forced one eye open, just in time to see him sashay toward the coffeemaker. Okay, for that ass, I’d open the other one too. I watched as he poured the blessed elixir into two mugs, added the appropriate amount of creamer and sugar to each, then returned to where I still watched him and set one in front of me.
Right next to the morning paper. Real subtle, Ethan.
Buy The Book:
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
Vinnie and Ethan are back in another installment of the Rose and Thorne series and they're as hilarious and as in love as ever as they have to take a case involving Caroline St. Clair, an actress who the guys had met previously and who had hit on Ethan, much to Vinnie's chagrin. So, of course, Vinnie isn't too happy about this, but Ethan isn't either, as Troy McGarrett, Hollywood's heartthrob and leading man in the movie with Caroline, seems to find Vinnie very attractive.
When Caroline pulls some strings to take Vinnie off the case, and as the date of her return to LA looms closer and the possibility of Ethan having to go with her, Vinnie and Ethan must work against the clock to find the person who wants to harm St. Clair, if Vinnie doesn't do it first, that is.
Let me start by saying I absolutely adore this series and Vinnie and Ethan! Vinnie is so sarcastic and fun, and Ethan is just the stuff dreams are made of. They just fit together so well, their chemistry is amazing, the love they feel for one another is obvious from every single gesture and word and really, as work partners, they simply rock it! It was nice to see them struggle because they couldn't actually be together and find ways to see each other for just a bit.
I wanted to strangle Caroline most of the book, but at least she got what was coming to her, so I'm really glad about that. On the other hand, I really liked Troy and it was lovely that Vinnie played matchmaker for him, with any luck, he and Brendan will work in the long run. And of course, it was lovely to see Benny again! He's adorable!
Overall, this was a fantastic sequel, fast-paced, intriguing, interesting, charming and romantic, which is a fantastic combination in my opinion. Very recommendable!
If I could ask for something, I'd really, really like to read a prequel with how Vinnie and Ethan met and got together, so I hope Ms. Hayes is listening. *makes puppy eyes*
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
Meet the author:
Julie Lynn Hayes first began publishing short stories and poetry in the 1990’s, when it was a different ballgame altogether, and Ebooks hadn’t been dreamed of yet. That changed in 2010 with the acceptance of her first romance novel. She’s come a long way since that first book appeared, and is finding the journey a very educational one.
She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and her cat Ramesses. She often writes of two men finding true love and happiness in one another’s arms, and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She likes to write in different genres, to stretch herself in order to see what is possible. Her great challenge is to be told something can’t be done—she feels compelled to do it.
When she isn’t writing, she enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, needlepoint and knitting, and she loves to cook, spending time watching the Food Network. Her favorite chef is Geoffrey Zakarian. Her family thinks she’s a bit off, but she doesn’t mind. Marching to the beat of one’s own drummer is a good thing, after all. Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, eXtasy Books, and Wayward Ink Press.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.l.hayes.7
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorjulielhayes
Goodreads Link: : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Tour Dates & Stops:
Parker Williams, Happily Ever Chapter, Bonkers About Books, Outrageous Heroes, MM Good Book Reviews, The Jena Wade, MM Book Escape, A.M. Leibowitz, Havan Fellows, Molly Lolly, BFD Book Blog, V's Reads, Charley Descoteaux, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Open Skye Book Reviews, Nephy Hart, Unquietly Me, Alpha Book Club, Butterfly-O-Meter, My Fiction Nook, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Kirsty Loves Books, Velvet Panic, Divine Magazine, Louise Lyons, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Dawn’s Reading Nook
Rafflecopter Prize: Win a Dreamspinner gift card courtesy of Julie Lynn Hayes!
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Congratulations on your new release Julie I wish you many sales!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirley Ann! I appreciate your confidence! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteThanks so much for having me here today! I'm happy to tell you that the third book will cover more about them, but the fifth book will feature their complete beginning! I am in the process of finishing the fourth book now and then it's on to how they began!
ReplyDeleteSo I'm very much listening :)
Thank you for the excerpt and review!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for much success with the Rose and Thorne series! I can't wait to read them! I have them loaded onto my kindle.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ree! I hope you enjoy them! Thanks for stopping by!
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