‘Scent of the Heart’ by Parker Williams #LGBT #BlogTour #Giveaway #DuoReview

Bethany and Eloreen Duo Review ‘Scent of the Heart’ by Parker Williams. Self-published on June 15th, 2015

Critical life events of choices that have shaped who you are.

Sitting down one day to at age 14 write a story, not really sure you can do it. You end up with 133 handwritten pages, and it’s not AWFUL. So you try another. And another. And another. All told, you’ve written six stories, all about the same length. Finally one day you write a story you can share with people (because the other ones were gay oriented, and in the 1970s and 80s you just didn’t tell people things like that) and take it to someone whose opinion means something to you. He takes it from your hand, looks you in the eye and says, “What are you wasting your time on this shit for? It’s never going to amount to anything.”

So you stop writing. For many years. Then one day you buy a Nook and discover the world of MM Romance! You get a free book from an author named Eden Winters (The Telling – if you haven’t read it, you really should!) and you fall in love with the stories, because they reflect on people who are just like you.

You figure, hell, I liked it so much, I am going to write the author and tell her what I thought of her work. Of course you don’t expect to hear back from her, because she’s an author. Famous. Won’t have time for people like me.

A couple hours later you get a reply, and she’s as sweet as a Southern peach! The two of you begin conversing and she asks if you write. You tell her the story of how you used to, and how someone took all the joy out of it for you with some poorly placed words that you never got over, and she tells you that the stories never go away, and it’s your responsibility to get them down. So you go sit down (at a computer now, because typewriters? PSH!) and begin working on a story called Pitch. It becomes a novel, and your sweet as a Southern peach friend asks to read it. She likes it, and asks if you’re going to submit it for publication. You said no, it’s not good enough. She assures you it is, and encourages you to try.

You talk to a couple of friends who tell you the same thing, so you hold your breath and hit the send button. Then the wait begins. In the meantime, another publisher posts an open call for stories about love songs on cassettes, and you ask if you can have the song 500 Miles. They say no one else asked for it, and it’s yours. So you write a story about Jase and Mark, and the publisher tells you that she cried reading it. And not long after you get a contract for Pitch. And on it goes.

So while the words I was told hurt, and to this day continue to impact the person I am, my friends are my voices of reason and hold my hand every time I have to do something scary.

When it comes time to do something scary, and to try something new, go for it. It may work out, it may not, but you’ll never know if you don’t try, and you’ll regret it somewhere down the road.

**********

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092418.Parker_Williams

Publisher: Parker Williams

Cover Artist: Laura Harner

Casey Scott grew up being told he’d never amount to anything, and despite the unwavering love and support from his best friend, Jake, the idea sticks in the back of Casey’s mind. When he discovers he has a unique destiny in an enclave where shifters and humans live together, he seizes the chance, wanting for once in his life to be someone special.

Tsvetok Yerokhin lost his parents to the evil ruler of the enclave when he was a boy. The responsibilities of raising his two younger brothers nearly overwhelmed him and self-doubt took over. When the new Alpha and his Protector arrive in time to save his life, Sev is grateful, but he’s even more shocked when he scents his mate with them.

Casey isn’t prepared for the feelings that sweep over him when he meets Sev, but he refuses to act on them because he’s straight. Still, there is something so alluring about Sev that Casey can’t help being drawn to him.

As the two explore the edges of their new discovery, an evil returns, determined to control the enclave or destroy it. The Alpha and Protector are powerless to stop it, but Casey holds the key to victory. If he can discover what it is, he has a chance to save them all. To be the hero.

Unfortunately, the hero has to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, and for Casey that means losing his heart.

Pages or Words: Approximately 69,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Romance, Paranormal, Bisexual, Fiction, Gay Fiction, New Adult

Excerpt:

“This night is shot,” Casey mumbled. “Hakii, if you’re there, I’m sorry. I need to find him. I’ll try to be back as soon as I can. Oh, and if you’re not there, I hope you’re getting a damn good laugh at me talking to myself.”

The night air had chilled considerably. Casey threw on a sweater and hurried to the Alpha’s house. Before he could pound on the door, it swung open. Jake stood there wearing nothing at all.

“Oh god, my eyes.”

Jake sighed. “You’ve seen me before. A lot, if I recall correctly.”

“And every time I do, I remember that I need to create eye bleach.”

Jake faked a laugh. “Yeah, you’re hilarious. What do you want?”

“A guy came to my house tonight. His name is Sev, and I think he’s in trouble.”

All humor fled from Jake’s face. “What happened?”

Casey told him about the visit. “He…called me his mate. What the hell is that about?”

“Later. We’ve got to find him.”

In an instant, Jake transformed into a beautiful black jaguar. Zak came rushing to the door. “What is wrong?”

Before Casey could answer, Zak grabbed a heavy coat and squirmed into it. “Jake will track him. You will come with us.”

“Zak, he called me his mate. Why would he do that?”

“You worry about this now? I do not see where this matters. If you prefer, you may stay behind.”

Casey sobered immediately. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry.”

They tracked Jake as he hurried to the woods. When they heard him roar, Zak and Casey ran to the edge of the forest. Jake had transformed back to his human form and, man, was he pissed.

“Come out here, now,” he demanded.

There was no movement, but Casey heard a clicking noise, followed by the familiar stamping of feet.

“You spray me and I swear to the gods I will neuter you. Put your damn tail down and face us as a man, Sev.”

Bethany: After I finished book one, ‘Protector of the Alpha’, I couldn’t wait to start book 2 and see what would happen. I loved book one so much that I didn’t know if book two would be as good. But you know what? It was even better. I think a big reason for that is book one spent a big part of the book building up to Jake, Zac, and Casey and finding out who they are and what role they play in the enclave. In this one we are already smack dab in the middle of this new world they belong to.

I fell in love with Casey in book one, so I was so pumped that book two would be about him. I had my concerns though, because you see – Casey is straight. So heartbreak, right? Well, let me just say that I was more than pleased with how he handled it. Yes, it upset him, but lets look at it from his pov. Twenty years of believing that he was attracted to women, only to come across a very male shifter claiming he was Casey’s mate is bound to throw him for a loop. And yes he did freak out a bit, and yes he did avoid his mate. But after upsetting the one person who was there for him from the beginning, and a very passionate talk with his mate’s brother, he does eventually wrap his mind around it all. And that is why I fell even further for Casey.

Now Sev, he seemed to handle things a bit better than Casey. He as well considered himself straight his entire life, but growing up as he has he knows that when the fates give you a mate it will never be wrong. So while he accepted Casey before the man could wrap his mind around having a male mate, I loved how patient he was with him. Never once did he push for more, even when Casey did come around he was happy just to be in his presence. Oh man I absolutely loved these two together, they were the ultimate gay for you couple.

While the first book in the series was filled with mystery we didn’t really see the full force of it till the end. With this one it starts way earlier, right when we see Casey and Sev, happy and ready to start their new lives. That’s when the big bad ugly shows his hand.

This story is a lot darker than book one. Don’t get me wrong, Casey is still hilarious and there were times I was laughing so hard my kids looked at me like I was crazy. But this sequel has more of a fantasy element to it. We see Casey become stronger and more sure of the shaman he can become, but it’s not Jake that helps get him there. No, its his mate Sev, the person made for him, the one who loves him more than life itself. A man willing to give his own life for the one his loves, his family and his people.

I could go on and on about how wonderful this book is, but I’m afraid if I do I will give too much away. So I will leave you with this. This book is a fantastic addition to an awesome series. I laughed, I cried, I got mad. I was totally gutted, but by the end I was put back together. Just writing this makes me want to go back and re-read them both. This is the second book in the series and it should be read in order as it will make more sense as to what is going on. This is a series I highly recommend if you are looking for shifters with a twist. Well done Parker, well done.

Eloreen:

This book was the one that intrigued me the most of the two, so I jumped right on this, after ‘Protector of the Alpha’.

It was great! Better than the first book. I loved Casey from book one, so I was glad he had his story too.
Zak and Jake have established themselves in the Alaskan pack. Now, we focus on Casey Scott’s story, Jake’s best friend and now shaman of Zak’s people.

Tsvetok Yerokhin is part of the enclave, an orphan too, raising his two younger brothers. The two men are attracted to each other, but Casey is straight. Or is he? We follow their road to love with greater highs and deeper lows. You will cry, and cry hard at some of the heartache. You will smile at some of the good things to happen. Most of all you see how trusting in your partner, and your love, really does conquer all.

I really enjoyed it despite crying through a third of it. Be prepared to have your tissues close and read this story. It’s worth it, despite the heartache awaiting. Thank you very much Parker. I hope to see more in this universe in the future.

I give it 10 out of 10 pots of gold.

-Eloreen

Sales Links: Amazon

Parker Williams believes that true love exists, but it always comes with a price. No happily ever after can ever be had without work, sweat, and tears that come with melding lives together.

Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Parker held his job for nearly 28 years before he decided to retire and try new things. He enjoys his new life as a stay-at-home author and also working on Pride-Promotions, an LGBT author promotion service.

Where to find the author:

Connect with Parker on: Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641

Or you can visit his website: http://www.ParkerWilliamsAuthor.com