Rusty Knob by Erica Chilson Blog Tour

The townsfolk of Rusty Knob, West Virginia, see the Gillettes as ignorant wastes of space– worthless drunk sponges. As the youngest, Wynn may be a Gillette, but he doesn’t act, nor think like one. At only seventeen, he studies hard, plays basketball harder, and works the hardest.

Wynn is numb to his core, no longer feeling the hits that keep knocking him down to the ground. He’s unable to see the bright future laid out before him. Royce Kennedy, a distant relative, tries all he can do to save the youngest generation of Gillettes from the dark shroud of bitter ignorance infecting them via their neglectful upbringing.

Wynn’s studying is to the backdrop of drunken chaos, his relationship with friends and family are tainted by a narrow world view, and his life is filled with more questions than answers. His every dollar earned is bled dry come payday, only to have his parents piss it down the toilet or blow caustic smoke to billow in the air.

A warped sense of loyalty forces Wynn to be his family’s enabler, and he’s paying the ultimate price. With the support system of Royce, the mentor of the school district’s LGBTQ online community, and Wynn’s friends, they try to prove to Wynn he deserves anything he needs, whether he earns it or not. Growing up in an ignorant wasteland, he never learned love, friendship, and respect are unconditional, can never be purchased, and should never be abused.

Wynn Gillette is at a crossroads. One thing’s for sure, he cannot continue on this destructive path. Wynn has to end the only life he’s ever known, breaking the bitter legacy passed down from one generation to the next. One way or the other. Permanently.

Book 1
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“Are men born with the ability to shut their ears to a woman?”

That warm feeling in my heart is radiating with the force of the Sun. I start chuckling. “Yeah, it’s our only defense against a woman’s momma voice.”

“Shush now, and eat your… plate of gray.” Penny sets our plates on the table, and then nudges my books to the side. “I’m sure it’s tasty.”

I swallow thickly as I stare down at the viscous mass glued to my plate. “Do we have any pepper?”

Penny growls, “No,” while never taking her eyes off of me.

“Kids, did you know kings and queens employ royal food testers to see if they’ve been poisoned?” I stick my fork into the funky-textured food. “We might be getting a dog… and some pepper.” I choke down a bite, holding back a shudder as my taste buds revolt.

Everyone digs in after I swallow.

I down half a glass of water, trying to flush away how it coats my tongue. It’s surprisingly tasteless. I’m not sure how Penny accomplished that feat.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

In the interest of full disclosure, I will begin my review by telling you that I was one of the beta readers for Rusty Knob. For those of you who don’t know what a beta reader is, that means I was asked to read the book for storyline continuity, errors, flow, and my general impressions on it. As I have been a huge fan of Chilson’s writing since I stumbled upon her first book Restraint as a freebie three years ago, I was delighted for the opportunity to get my gritty little paws on Rusty Knob as it’s the author’s first venture in this genre – a full-fledged M/M coming of age novel. Although I typically read a book a day, I allotted myself several days for the beta read as I planned to read it twice because I wanted to help the author deliver you the best copy of her work possible. This turned out to be a good decision on my part because I found myself getting so caught up in the storyline that I forgot to look for errors – even on the second read through when I already knew what was going to happen. I was sucked in.

I absolutely loved Wynn and despised his parents and the life he was forced to live because of them. Yet because of it, Wynn knows who he is as a man even if he has no idea who he is as a sexual being. I identified with Wynn so much in this book – not the sexuality issue, but the wanting to do more with his life than tradition called for (and fortunately I had family support that he did not). Because Chilson presents the book from Wynn’s point of view, I felt and experienced his frustration, his confusion, his pain, his ah-ha moments, his relief once he became aware of his sexuality, his lust and love for that person, his anger, his elation, and his overwhelming love for his family (even those who didn’t deserve it). Chilson writes the first person point of view so beautifully that I find myself immersed in her characters (whatever the book) and I am loath for it to end, and Rusty Knob was no exception. Despite the maelstrom of emotions that Wynn experiences, I loved being in his head. Wynn is a good kid, a confused kid who has been forced to grow up long before he should have, but a good kid with a good heart who only wants the best for those he loves. But even Wynn has his breaking point and when he found his, I found myself grabbing for the tissues because I was bawling…on both reads. I repeat. I. Was. Sucked. In.

Now for your warnings. The beginning of Rusty Knob contains a lot of very authentic hillbilly speech, so if you are a reader who cannot deal with a book in which the dialogue is written as the words are spoken you may have an issue with early parts of the novel – but do soldier on because it’s so worth it. As someone who grew up in a redneck area, I recognized many of the ideals and misconceptions fostered by the older generations found in Rusty Knob and this added an authenticity to the book that will drive some readers bonkers because they won’t want to believe people still think and act this way. My final warning is borderline spoilerish so I’ll try to say it without spelling it out. Rusty Knob is a Coming of Age novel about a young man questioning his sexuality and as Wynn is a good kid, there are no full-on sex scenes. But don’t despair because this does not meant that the book is lacking in sexy fun times because what does occur once Wynn embraces his sexuality is HOT!

One of the many reasons I enjoyed Rusty Knob and Chilson’s writing in general is because she makes me laugh and cry and everything in between and it doesn’t matter whether it’s the first time I read the book or the fifth. For me, that’s the mark of a truly enjoyable book and a talented author. Thankfully I have a handful of authors whose writing affects me that way who I can call upon when I’m in need of a cathartic read. And in the case of Rusty Knob, Wynn’s journey is fraught with emotion and I enjoyed every single page of it. In case you haven’t figured it out, I loved Rusty Knob! While I am admittedly biased as Chilson is one of my favorite authors, I do so hope you take a chance and give it a read. As for me, I’m anxiously awaiting the beta read for its sequel and thanks to a rabid muse, I shouldn’t have too long to wait.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Erica Chilson does not write in the 3rd person, wanting her readers to be her characters. Therefore, writing a bio about herself, is uncomfortable in the extreme.

Born, raised, and here to stay, the Wicked Writer is a stump-jumper, a ridge-runner. Hailing from North Central Pennsylvania, directly on the New York State border; she loves the changes in seasons, the humid air, all the mountainous forest, and the gloomy atmosphere.

Introverted, but not socially awkward, Erica prides herself on thinking first and filtering her speech. There are days she doesn’t speak at all. If it wasn’t for the fact that she lives with her parents, giving her a sense of reality, she would be a hermit, where the delivery man finds her months after expiration.

Reading was an escape, a way to leave a not-so pleasant reality behind. Reading lent Erica the courage she gathered from the characters between the pages to long for a different life. Writing was an instrument of change, evolving Erica into the woman she is today- a better, more mature, more at peace thinker.

Erica has a wicked mind, one she pours out into her creations. Her filter doesn’t allow all of it to erupt, much to her relief. Sarcastic, with a very dark, perverse sense of humor, Erica puts a bit of herself into every character she writes.

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I was provided a free copy of Rusty Knob (Rusty Knob #1) by Erica Chilson to read and review.

Hollywood Bound by Morticia Knight

Hollywood Bound by Morticia Knight

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



That was not a very nice way to end the book Ms. Knight. Sweet, sweet Jack did not deserve that bitch-slap from the universe, thank you very much. Hollywood Bound is the first of the Gin & Jazz series and introduces the reader to Jack and Nick. We learn almost immediately that Jack is gay and there is no disputing the fact that the world was not a safe place for a 19 year-old gay man in the 1920s. Fortunately for Jack, Nick took a shine to him almost immediately, assuming the role of his protector and has looked out for Jack as if he were his younger brother. A mixture of hero worship and unrequited love means that Jack is grateful for all that Nick does for him and he’s happy to have Nick in his life, even if Nick never recognizes or returns his feelings.

Despite the fact that the era is not one that typically interests me, Ms. Knight does an outstanding job of creating scenes and settings that felt authentic to me – both in New York and Hollywood. I enjoyed the way that Nick looked out for Jack, doing whatever he had to in order to preserve Jack’s innocence as long as he could. While I hated that Nick fell victim to one of Hollywood’s alternative casting couches, I appreciated that it started a chain of events that eventually enabled Nick to come to Jack’s rescue, or rather their rescue. The author’s inclusion of the seedier side of Hollywood, including the speakeasies, the sordid parties, and the backroom deals, added to the realistic feel of the novel.

Of course, the part of Hollywood Bound I enjoyed the most was the relationship between Jack and Nick and how it evolved over the course of the novel. As Nick had never been attracted to anyone before, let alone another man, his was a journey of self-discovery and the choices he made resulted in some major hits to his feelings of self-worth. Because Nick is portrayed as the stoic male typical of the era, he keeps his emotions closed down tight – even during his internal monologues – and the reader is left to infer much of what he feels from his actions. This often leads to episodes of insecurity on Jack’s part, which made those times when Nick opened up that much sweeter. Because this is the first real relationship either man has had, we get to play voyeur to some seriously hot and equally sweet sex scenes as they find out together what it means to be in love with another man. As the book drew to a close, it was easy to see how life in Hollywood was negatively impacting their relationship. Despite knowing what was coming, I wasn’t prepared for the heartbreak or the cliffhanger that Ms. Knight delivered. As this is only the first book in the series, one can only hope that Jack and Nick find happiness in the next installment.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #Throwback: Hollywood Bound blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Uncovering Ray by Edie Danford

Uncovering Ray by Edie Danford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This is the first book I have read by Ms. Danford and I am impressed. I began Uncovering Ray with my preconceived notion regarding the androgynous main character Ray and his or her gender. I won’t tell you what it was because if I slip up and say whether I was right or wrong, I don’t want to be the reviewer who lets the cat out of the bag on this one. What do I mean by this? Ms. Danford does such a wonderful job in building the story that the reader does not find out for certain as to whether Ray is “a chick or a dude” until 46% in when Wyatt sticks his hand down Ray’s pants. I know what you’re thinking, surely Wyatt’s character, specifically Wyatt’s sexuality, would give some hint as to what Ray’s gender is, but no he does not. In fact, when Ray attempts to call Wyatt out on his attraction, he says “I know what attraction is. I know when I’m feeling it and I know when someone else is attracted to me.” There is absolutely nothing in Wyatt’s actions toward Ray that reveal Ray’s gender until that moment, but when Wyatt goes in it is clear by his actions that he knew whether Ray was “a chick or a dude” and wasted no time in making the opportunity count. Both before and after the reveal, the chemistry between Ray and Wyatt is apparent and lends a very sensual nature to their moments of intimacy.

While Ray’s androgyny is obviously a large part of the story, Uncovering Ray is a stunning coming of age tale. Ray is floundering in life and is unsure of what path to pursue. Despite Wyatt’s best attempts to learn more about Ray as he attempts to befriend Ray, we don’t know much more about Ray’s parents other than that they’re not all that involved in Ray’s life, especially since Ray dropped out of college. The most stable force in Ray’s life is Dave, the pseudo-stepbrother belonging to Ray’s mother’s second husband, Tom, from Tom’s marriage after Ray’s mom. Confusing – only in writing this review because in the book Ms. Danford does a much better job of laying out the relationship and while it doesn’t look like it in the beginning (think tough love parenting), Tom is the other stable presence in Ray’s life. Slowly and persistently, Wyatt works his way into Ray’s life as he intends to become yet another source of stability tor Ray. But Ray has a terrible track record with relationships and doesn’t plan on Wyatt coming back around after summer break. Ray’s motto seems to be no plans = no disappointment. But coming of age requires growth and with growth comes growing pains. And Ray’s growing pains are harsh, terribly timed, and nearly devastating. But this is when Ray finds out who it is that can be counted on to have Ray’s back and there are far more people vying for that position than Ray ever anticipated. Uncovering Ray was a beautiful story and I look forward to Ms. Danford’s next book to see what she has in store for the students of Ellery College.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Uncovering Ray (Ellery College #1) by Edie Danford blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Lucky Seven of E.L. Esch

Lucky Seven by E.L. Esch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Lucky Seven is a really sweet coming of age story. I adored both Dante and Sven’s characters and loved watching them both come into their own. Based upon the prologue and the comments of Dante’s roommate, it seems that Dante has spent most of his adolescence and young adulthood in an asexual manner. Well I’m not sure that asexual is the correct term as it’s not so much that Dante has no sexual feelings, but rather he refuses to consider them in fear of what he may learn about himself. Dante seems to have adopted the attitude of “You can’t miss what you’ve never had.” Yet suddenly he finds himself thrust into a situation where he has to consider who he is on a sexual level when he meets Serena and Sven and finds himself drawn to both a woman and a man.

Being that Lucky Seven is an M/M romance, it was inevitable that Dante would come to accept that he was attracted to Sven. But as I often say, it is the journey to the final chapter that truly makes the story and Dante’s story is a perfect example of this. At first he doesn’t understand why he’s drawn to Serena because, as reluctantly admits to himself, he’s never been attracted to a woman. With each “date,” he comes to realize that he just enjoys spending time with her and his feelings are completely platonic. Once he comes to understand that he is not attracted to Serena sexually he feels awful because he feels as though he has led her on – which just goes to show how nice of a guy Dante is. That he is plagued by guilt and worries that he will lose her friendship further demonstrates Dante’s character. Fortunately for Dante, circumstances unfold in such a way that Dante is able to let Serena know how he feels without ruining their relationship – and thus begins Dante’s true journey of self-acceptance.

One of the things that impressed me most about this book is that the author did not feel the need to rush the main characters into sex and remained true to the Coming of Age genre. The combination of Dante’s innocence and Sven’s shyness meant that the characters became friends first. There was far more of an emphasis placed on the emotional aspects of their relationship than the physical ones; in fact, Sven pretty much told Dante more than once that there was no rush and that if he [Dante] never felt comfortable going all the way, then so be it. As such, their sexual interactions occurred in a natural progression from learning to kiss, to making out and heavy petting, to oral, and to… well, you’ll have to read the book to find out if they actually go all the way. I will say that if you enjoy M/M coming of age romances, you won’t be disappointed because the author does a wonderful job of balancing the excitement of discovering one’s sexual being and the sweetness of falling in love. I adored Lucky Seven and cannot wait to read more of Ms. Esch’s work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Lucky Seven by E.L. Esch blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Totally and completely, one hundred percent, loved this book. As someone who works with persons with autism, I was taken aback with how well Ms. Cullinan portrayed Emmet, especially how well his actions and thought processes reflected what we know and what we believe we know about autism. That she included other characters with autism to illustrate the similarities and individuality of the spectrum was brilliant. As if that were not enough, Jeremy struggling through life with major depressive disorder and clinical anxiety while dealing with parents who seem to think that he can just “snap out it” elevated the complexity of Carry the Ocean. And while each of these characters’ story is compelling on its own, it is how their relationship develops over time and how they become one another’s anchor in the world that truly made Carry the Ocean an inspiring read for me.

As the book is told from both Emmet and Jeremy’s points of view, the reader gets to see firsthand how their disorders affect them and the lives they lead. I connected with both characters almost immediately and was sucked into their stories completely. I found myself rocking with Emmet when he was upset and wanting to crawl under the covers with Jeremy when his depression bottomed out. Because of this connection, I found myself cheering for them when their friendship began to evolve in the way that Emmet had hoped. It is why I was so appalled by Jeremy’s mother’s reaction when she caught them cuddling and practically accused Emmet of taking advantage of Jeremy. It is also why it broke my heart when Emmet’s mother tried to discourage his relationship with Jeremy. While I understood her maternal drive to protect Emmet from heartbreak, I hated that in doing so she was sending seriously mixed messages to Emmet. I’m not sure which I enjoyed most: move-in day to The Roosevelt, the Blues Brothers’ dance through Target, Jeremy finding his purpose in life, Emmet and David becoming friends, or one of the many other achievements the characters made in the book. I think it would be easier to point out what I didn’t like about the book and that was Jeremy’s parents’ reaction to Emmet but mainly because of the realism of it.

Carry the Ocean was such a beautifully moving tale and I feel woefully inadequate in my ability to express just how much I enjoyed reading Emmet and Jeremy’s story. I suppose the fact that it led me to start my Top Ten list for 2015 is rather telling. This book was a wonderful look at the human condition that shed light on several disorders that are near and dear to me on both a professional and personal level. That it is the first installment in The Roosevelt series and said series will obviously be focused on the residents of The Roosevelt gives me hope for many more inspiring stories to come. With just one book, Ms. Cullinan has made a fan of me and I look forward to checking out her other books while I await my next visit to The Roosevelt.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Carry the Ocean (The Roosevelt #1) by Heidi Cullinan blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Into the Deep End by Leesa Freeman

Into the Deep End by Leesa Freeman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Into the Deep End has got to be one of the saddest yet most hopeful heart wrenching books I have read in a while. Even knowing what it's like to lose my best friend and soul mate, I still cannot fathom the loss that Luke experienced, especially at such a young age. He lost the best friend he had in his twin sister, his best friend Rob, the use of his legs, his college scholarship, and his future in competitive swimming, including an almost guaranteed spot at the Olympics. The level of depression and anger that Luke exhibits at the beginning of the book is completely understandable. Which is what makes the change he undergoes throughout the course of the book so beautiful.

The book opens with Luke basically being forced by his father to go with Adriana to work as a counselor at a camp for persons with Spina Bifida and spinal cord injuries (SCIs). As the only other survivor of the accident, Adriana’s presence is a painful reminder of all that Luke lost that night. The idea of being stuck with her at a camp for other people in wheelchairs in the middle of nowhere for three weeks is maddening to Luke. That Luke is jealous of Adriana’s inability to remember the accident while Adriana is resentful that he can remember but won’t tell her does not help their situation at all. As much as he didn’t want to be there and despite his attempts to leave, being at the camp was exactly what Luke needed so that he could gain a new perspective on the life ahead of him. Because each week of camp was for a different age group (children, tweens/teens, and older teens & adults), Luke learned different lessons. He also benefited from the physical therapist who seemed to channel her inner drill sergeant when working with Luke. But Luke was not the only one who benefited from the camp – Adriana also showed signs of healing and the two were able to reconnect and begin planning for life after camp.

Despite only being three weeks in length, the time at camp spanned just over half of the novel as it was imperative that Luke, and Adriana, have the chance to begin the healing process. It also gave the reader time to become acquainted with Will and Gina, who play a big part in Luke’s life after camp is finished as he moves into an apartment in their complex at Will’s urging. That Gina grew up with a father who also had an SCI gave her a perspective that was vital to Luke’s continued improvement post-camp. I will admit that I was angry and sad on Luke’s behalf when Adriana began dating. Yet Ms. Freeman provided a resolution to Luke’s love life that was perfect. I was impressed with the way the author addressed Luke’s concerns about his sexuality – or lack thereof in his mind – and the importance of finding that person who accepts you as you are. I absolutely loved this book and stayed up until 2 am to finish it because I had to know how it ended and it was sooooo worth it. But be forewarned, don’t start this book without a serious supply of tissues because I found myself crying both tears of sadness and joy while reading Into the Deep End.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Into the Deep End by Leesa Freeman blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Review of Burning Down the House by Allie Gail

Burning Down the House by Allie Gail

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



OH. MY. GOD!!! This book was amazing. When I read the blurb, I knew I had to read the book. Suffice it to say, the blurb does NOT do this book justice. I expected an angst-filled read about a troubled teen and the girl who tried to save him. Although that is one of the themes of Rob and Sara’s story, it is not the sole focus of the book. We not only get a wonderfully written coming of age romance, Ms. Gail gives us a tale with murder, arson, abuse, affairs, hot sex (thank goodness Rob and Sara are eighteen), and a closet full of skeletons.

It’s difficult for me to write a review about a romantic suspense novel as so many of the things I want to comment on are spoilers and I prefer my reviews spoiler free. Burning Down the House kept me engaged from beginning to end. I found myself laughing at the teens’ lunch-time conversations, getting hot and bothered when Sara did her short stint as a Peeping Tom, cringing when Rob got hit by a bad tackle, near tears when Rob told Sara the story, and getting all giddy when Rob’s romantic side starts to show up as their relationship develops.

Burning Down the House is a well-written novel with an awesome storyline, great characters, and an ending I never saw coming. Ms. Gail did an excellent job in combining romantic suspense and coming of age to produce this novel and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Burning Down the House by Allie Gail blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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