Lights, Camera, Cupid!

A Bluewater Bay Valentine's Day Anthology

By: SE Jakes, Amy Lane, Anne Tenino, L.A. Witt, Z. A. Maxfield

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo, Dorian Bane

Length: 6 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

Cupid is visiting Bluewater Bay, and he's leaving chaos in his wake.

Nothing's been the same in this sleepy little logging town since Hollywood came to shoot the hit TV show Wolf's Landing - especially Valentine's Day.

In L.A. Witt's "Just Another Day", beloved actors Levi Pritchard and Carter Samuels have an announcement for their fans, while in Z.A. Maxfield's "I'll Be There", actor Spencer Kepler and his boyfriend Nash Holly brave a blizzard and a fan convention to spend their first February the 14th together.

Of course, it's not just TV stars celebrating the day. In Anne Tenino's "Helping Hand", an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage. In SE Jakes's "No Easy Way", a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. And in Amy Lane's "Nascha", a Bluewater Bay elder recalls how his own unconventional family used to celebrate the holiday.

Real life may be nothing like TV, but when Cupid comes to town, there's plenty of romance and drama to go around.

©2015 SE Jakes, Amy Lane, Z.A. Maxfield, Anne Tenino, L.A. Witt (P)2016 Riptide Publishing

Fun Valentine Stories

This was a fun and eclectic mix of stories. Includes stories of special memories, old friends reunited, and braving the elements to get to the man you love.

Engaging, Passionate Variety of Romances

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Most definitely! I love this series for bringing together many talented authors writing about a small town setting and a variety of situations. This anthology is a good showcase and chance to catch up with some and set up others.

I will say that this should be read/listiened to in order to get the most out of it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Oh boy, that is tough. I'm going to go with Nash Holly from ZA Maxfield's I'll Be There, but he barely edges out Nascha from Amy Lane's Nascha. Nash has a splendid dry wit, but he's sweet and protective, too. Nascha (oops, just noticed that both picks are names with 'N') was an old man who had really lived, but is now vulnerable and sad that he is a burden to his loved ones.

Which character – as performed by Nick J. Russo and Dorian Bane – was your favorite?

The answer to this one is pretty much the same as the above question.

But I will add that no matter that even if it was characters that didn't do it for me, the narration for both these audio actors was fantastic and spot on. Nick J. Russo read four of the five and his voice worked for an old man liked Nascha to a young guy like Anne Tenino's Lucas.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Ugh, this is not my talent, but okay,

Love on Valentine's Day Comes in Many Ways and Form!

Any additional comments?

As I mentioned earlier, this anthology works best when read in order as two stories are follow ups and two more are set-ups for the stories immediately following.

I received this book from Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Some cute stories, some very hard... strange mix

Just Another Day by LA Witt narrated by Nick J Russo

This is a SUPER CUTE “epilogue” to Starstruck with Levi and Carter NOT celebrating Valentine’s Day. It’s light-hearted and sexy and reminds us that relationships still take work even though the ILYs have been said. This was easily my favorite in the bunch!

**

Nick Russo did a great job with his narration, just as he did with the original Startstruck. He gives Levi a gruff, rumbly voice and Carter a lighter, but not effeminate voice and it works PERFECTLY!

5 of 5 stars



Helping Hand by Anne Tenino Narrated by Nick J Russo


This, by itself, is a very unsatisfying look at first love and coming to grips with one’s sexuality until you realize it’s the prequel to Wedding Favors and helps to set the tone for that story. By itself it’s kinda sad (romantically ) but very hopeful in that it lays the groundwork for Lucas’ own growth and that of his family. Since we get to see their HEA later, I still give it good marks.

**

Nick is great at giving us manly men and Gabe is VERY manly. I hope he narrates the full length novel as well.

4.5 of 5 stars



I’ll Be There by ZA Maxfield Narrated by Nick J Russo

If you enjoyed the original story, Hell On Wheels, you’ll like this little peek at our couple later on in their relationship. It shows some really heartwarming moments between our guys and gives us a peek at Healy and Ford, too.

**
Nick, who also did the original, did another wonderful job and I was so, so glad he got to do these continuation stories!

4.5 of 5 stars


Nascha by Amy Lane Narrated by Nick J Russo

This is a prequel to Amy’s The Deep End of the Sound and while it gives a lovely look into the background of Cal’s family, it was sad and hard to read/listen to (especially given the overall light-hearted nature of the other stories and it being a Valentine’s Day book and all…) While I love Amy’s writing and her angst, this just wasn’t my cup of tea.

**

Nick did a great job – especially with the heartrending emotional moments in this story.

3 for the story, 5 for the narration, overall 4 of 5 stars

No Easy Way by SE Jakes Narrated by Dorian Bane

This is it’s own story and the longest in the anthology. It’s about two lovers who re-unite and learn that history isn’t always what we remember. It’s got the most “steam” of all the stories and in SE Jakes’ way – it’s HOT!

Because it’s a short story there isn’t nearly as much relationship building as most of it is devote to explaining their past, but by the end we get a solid HEA. I’m hoping we see these guys again in a full length novel.

**

Dorian Bane narrates this (his only in the anthology) and he does a great job with the dialog and giving each character their own style.

4 of 5 stars

tags: anthology, audio, Bluewater Bay, Valentine’s Day, established couple, historical, m/m/f , m/m, prequel, epilogue, riptide, gay, virgin, second chance at love, snowstorm, coming of age, reunion

Fabulous Collection

Lights Camera Cupid is a great collection of short stories featuring some of Blue Water Bay favorites. There is a little bit of something for everyone. I am a big fan of this series and I enjoyed this collection a lot!

The narration is awesome but that is expected by these to amazing narrators.

5 Meows L.A. Witt’s Just Another Day, Levi hates Valentine’s Day and all the commercialism and has made no pains about it. When he gets home Carter is making their favorite meal, has bought a hard to find movie and Levi thinks it's all about Valentine's. He hasn’t stopped to take I the fact perhaps Carter wants to celebrate, but how can he make it up to Carter and not give in to the traditional Valentines day? I loved this story. I love Levi and Carter, but this story really brought out some emotions and struggles of real life, not just stardom.

5 Meows Z.A. Maxfield’s I’ll Be There, Spencer is at a fan convention and its Valentines. There is a huge Bizzard and Nash has to get from Texas to Spencer in just a couple days. But the weather is against him. Will he be able to get there in time or will they be alone for their first Valentines together? I loved Spencer and Nash. I loved the Narrator’s accent for Spencer and the touch of humor when everyone thinks he is a different British Actor. There is the bit of humor, a touch of sadness and lots of tension. I adored this story.

4 meows Anne Tenino’s Helping Hand, an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage.

Lucas and his friend Audrey have always gone to prom together, this year Aubrey wants to go with someone else after she finds no one asks because they think her and Lucas are a couple. Lucas has other issues needing to tell his parents he wants to go to art School. But could the interest of the sexy lumberjack be enough to keep him I There?


5 Meows S.E. Jakes’s No Easy Way, a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. Kerry isn’t sure how to deal with things when Dillon comes back from the service to be a security Guard at Wolf’s Landing. Kerry has a boyfriend that comes once a month and is happy with his life. But seeing Dillon brings up a lot of memories and Dillon doesn’t plan to let him go again. I LOVED this story. I loved all the characters and could’ve listened to more of their story for hours. I especially loved Dillon and how he wanted to act out Kerry’s book. HOT



3 meows Amy Lane’s Nascha is a Blue Water Bay Elder that recalls his past with his Lovers Kitten and Rollins until one night his sister is killed and he have her young daughter to raise.
This story starts out very explicit and lots of sex, but as the story moves on it gets very heart wrenching and sad at times. There is a lot going on and I wasn’t familiar with any of these characters. I think the last two-thirds of the story redeemed it all in my eyes. I like a good tear jerker, and this one kept me on my toes.