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Road Trip #1-2
Road Trip Vol. 1
Road Trip Collection
The road to love is notoriously bumpy, full of twists and turns that can throw even the best driver. With obstacles around every corner, Sonny and MJ try to keep it between the lines in two tales that blend steamy romance with high-stakes action and intrigue.
Racing the Moon
Sonny runs moonshine the old-fashioned way. Too bad some fool blew up his road in the Carolina mountains, keeping him stuck, high and unfortunately dry.
Explosives expert and ecoterrorist MJ’s mission is to protect the environment by shutting down a logging company. An encounter with Sonny in the misty forest sheds a new light on his quest, but it’s not until Sonny drugs and kidnaps him for an impromptu holiday that their engines really start to rev.
Steam and Sunshine
A mission they can’t resist lures Sonny and MJ out of retirement when they get word of a man creating dangerous weapons for the government. They head to California to take him down.
What they find is Paddy, a physicist who doesn’t understand the scope of his own discovery, and Neil, his bodyguard. During a wild and unpredictable cross-country ride, an uneasy partnership develops between kidnappers and targets when the four men discover they have a common enemy.
First Edition of Racing the Moon published by Torquere Press, 2006.
Second Edition of Racing the Moon published by Torquere Press, 2007.
First Edition of Steam and Sunshine published by Torquere Press, 2007.
The road to love is notoriously bumpy, full of twists and turns that can throw even the best driver. With obstacles around every corner, Sonny and MJ try to keep it between the lines in two tales that blend steamy romance with high-stakes action and intrigue.
Racing the Moon
Sonny runs moonshine the old-fashioned way. Too bad some fool blew up his road in the Carolina mountains, keeping him stuck, high and unfortunately dry.
Explosives expert and ecoterrorist MJ’s mission is to protect the environment by shutting down a logging company. An encounter with Sonny in the misty forest sheds a new light on his quest, but it’s not until Sonny drugs and kidnaps him for an impromptu holiday that their engines really start to rev.
Steam and Sunshine
A mission they can’t resist lures Sonny and MJ out of retirement when they get word of a man creating dangerous weapons for the government. They head to California to take him down.
What they find is Paddy, a physicist who doesn’t understand the scope of his own discovery, and Neil, his bodyguard. During a wild and unpredictable cross-country ride, an uneasy partnership develops between kidnappers and targets when the four men discover they have a common enemy.
First Edition of Racing the Moon published by Torquere Press, 2006.
Second Edition of Racing the Moon published by Torquere Press, 2007.
First Edition of Steam and Sunshine published by Torquere Press, 2007.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2017
About the author
B.A. Tortuga
390 books645 followersTexan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her hounds and her beloved wife, texting her grandbabies, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting, and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. Following their own personal joys, BA and Julia heard the call of the high desert and they now live in the New Mexico mountains. BA's personal saviors include her wife, her best friends, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to cowboy daddies to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which is committed to giving everyone their happily ever after. With books ranging from hard-hitting BDSM, to fiery passions, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 21, 2017
3.5 Stars rounded up because the good parts are really good.
I enjoyed book one, Racing the Moon, when I first read it a few years ago and was happy to reread it and the followup book, Steam and Sunshine. Racing the Moon was the fun, slightly outrageous, MJ and Sonny I remembered. MJ is an ecoterrorist, but not the tree-hugging, pour-sugar-in-the-bulldozer-tank type. He is the sneak-in-and-blow-up-the-headquarters type. He runs afoul of Sonny, having cut off the bootlegger’s delivery route and costing him a paycheck. After ending up running from the law together, the two drive away, on a fist-fighting, sex-laden road to romance and revenge.
Steam and Sunshine shows us the history that created the semi-psychotic MJ and Sonny becomes his lover, his sometime sidekick, oftentimes keeper. Offered more money than they can turn down, MJ and Sonny take a job that goes sideways, meeting, and kidnapping, an old acquaintance, Paddy/Rick, and Neil, his protector and lover. It’s an unpleasant road trip from hell, with MJ and Sonny trying to find out from Neil and Paddy, who is behind everyone’s problems.
While I very much enjoyed the action filled plots and the building suspense of the story arc, it was hard to read at times. There were so very, very many sex scenes that broke up the flow of the plot for me. BUT, I have to weigh it against the time the original story was published, in 2006-07. It does fit with the styles of other stories I’ve read, written at a time when reader expectations and demand was somewhat different, I think. I’m going to go back and read the rest of the series at some point, just to find out what happens in the story arc, as book 2 ends without a complete resolution. Still quite fun and nostalgic, escapist reading.
*An ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Jessie G Books Reviews for the purpose of an honest review*
I enjoyed book one, Racing the Moon, when I first read it a few years ago and was happy to reread it and the followup book, Steam and Sunshine. Racing the Moon was the fun, slightly outrageous, MJ and Sonny I remembered. MJ is an ecoterrorist, but not the tree-hugging, pour-sugar-in-the-bulldozer-tank type. He is the sneak-in-and-blow-up-the-headquarters type. He runs afoul of Sonny, having cut off the bootlegger’s delivery route and costing him a paycheck. After ending up running from the law together, the two drive away, on a fist-fighting, sex-laden road to romance and revenge.
Steam and Sunshine shows us the history that created the semi-psychotic MJ and Sonny becomes his lover, his sometime sidekick, oftentimes keeper. Offered more money than they can turn down, MJ and Sonny take a job that goes sideways, meeting, and kidnapping, an old acquaintance, Paddy/Rick, and Neil, his protector and lover. It’s an unpleasant road trip from hell, with MJ and Sonny trying to find out from Neil and Paddy, who is behind everyone’s problems.
While I very much enjoyed the action filled plots and the building suspense of the story arc, it was hard to read at times. There were so very, very many sex scenes that broke up the flow of the plot for me. BUT, I have to weigh it against the time the original story was published, in 2006-07. It does fit with the styles of other stories I’ve read, written at a time when reader expectations and demand was somewhat different, I think. I’m going to go back and read the rest of the series at some point, just to find out what happens in the story arc, as book 2 ends without a complete resolution. Still quite fun and nostalgic, escapist reading.
*An ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Jessie G Books Reviews for the purpose of an honest review*
July 16, 2017
If you are heading out on a road trip, you might want to consider packing this book. It’s perfect for zoning out, tuning out, and can easily be interrupted without losing one’s place in the plot.
Racing the Moon
Premise of the book is Sonny is running a moonshine operation when MJ stumbles upon Sonny’s backwoods cabin. Sonny quickly figures out MJ blew up the road – and their only way out – and now they are on the run. What starts as antagonism, quickly slides over into mutual interest as they bomb down the road to safety.
I ADORE these two guys! I really enjoy the witty dialog, the snark, the intentional antagonism and pretty much the whole package that makes up Sonny and MJ.
That being said, my one quirk with this brain candy book is the sex became excessive and I honestly started skipping entire sex scenes. The story fell into a pattern: new chapter, plot moves infinitesimally forward, guys get handsy and segue into long sex scene, repeat next chapter. Don’t get me wrong, I really like MJ and Sonny, but that much sex was just…boring.
Racing the Moon was a great introduction to the main characters and set up the next book quite nicely.
Steam and Sunshine
MJ receives and email offering him an incredibly large amount of money to blow up a weapons designer in California – too much to pass up and seemingly simple job.
Padraic loves his job designing things for Bethy and the company. He has a lab, he has an apartment, he doesn’t have a boyfriend – two out of three ain’t bad. Then Neil shows up at the lab under the pretense he’s there to “observe” Paddy. Neil has a secret of his own – he can read minds and he finds in Paddy’s mind delightful swirl of thoughts, emotions, and surprisingly, respite.
When MJ bursts into Paddy’s apartment, he’s stunned to find Rick, a former college lover and lab-mate “Rick”. Now things have gotten complicated as MJ and Sonny kidnap Paddy/Rick and Neil after blowing up the lab. It only gets worse when everyone realizes they’ve all been set-up.
My comments from above stand – fun characters, witty dialog, quirky humor (ding dongs, Twinkies and pop tarts…) but too much sex. Repeat formula from above: progress plot, guys get handsy/kissy/lusty, long sex scene, happiness all around… repeat next chapter.
That much sex became wearisome. Though I will add, the author became quite creative in several scenes as the story progressed, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent me from (yawn!) skipping.
At the end of the day, this is pure sugar candy sticks brain candy bliss and I would read more in the series because they are perfect for simply escaping everything for a while. Book best served with a big bowl of popcorn.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Racing the Moon
Premise of the book is Sonny is running a moonshine operation when MJ stumbles upon Sonny’s backwoods cabin. Sonny quickly figures out MJ blew up the road – and their only way out – and now they are on the run. What starts as antagonism, quickly slides over into mutual interest as they bomb down the road to safety.
I ADORE these two guys! I really enjoy the witty dialog, the snark, the intentional antagonism and pretty much the whole package that makes up Sonny and MJ.
That being said, my one quirk with this brain candy book is the sex became excessive and I honestly started skipping entire sex scenes. The story fell into a pattern: new chapter, plot moves infinitesimally forward, guys get handsy and segue into long sex scene, repeat next chapter. Don’t get me wrong, I really like MJ and Sonny, but that much sex was just…boring.
Racing the Moon was a great introduction to the main characters and set up the next book quite nicely.
Steam and Sunshine
MJ receives and email offering him an incredibly large amount of money to blow up a weapons designer in California – too much to pass up and seemingly simple job.
Padraic loves his job designing things for Bethy and the company. He has a lab, he has an apartment, he doesn’t have a boyfriend – two out of three ain’t bad. Then Neil shows up at the lab under the pretense he’s there to “observe” Paddy. Neil has a secret of his own – he can read minds and he finds in Paddy’s mind delightful swirl of thoughts, emotions, and surprisingly, respite.
When MJ bursts into Paddy’s apartment, he’s stunned to find Rick, a former college lover and lab-mate “Rick”. Now things have gotten complicated as MJ and Sonny kidnap Paddy/Rick and Neil after blowing up the lab. It only gets worse when everyone realizes they’ve all been set-up.
My comments from above stand – fun characters, witty dialog, quirky humor (ding dongs, Twinkies and pop tarts…) but too much sex. Repeat formula from above: progress plot, guys get handsy/kissy/lusty, long sex scene, happiness all around… repeat next chapter.
That much sex became wearisome. Though I will add, the author became quite creative in several scenes as the story progressed, but it still wasn’t enough to prevent me from (yawn!) skipping.
At the end of the day, this is pure sugar candy sticks brain candy bliss and I would read more in the series because they are perfect for simply escaping everything for a while. Book best served with a big bowl of popcorn.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
July 24, 2017
RACING THE MOON
MJ, explosives expert, is calmly trying to get to his car after he’s blown up a facility. He’s more than panicked when someone beats him up and puts a gun to his head, and he has no choice but to go with the perpetrator to a cabin.
Sonny’s running moonshine and his buyers have come after him. He can’t bring the product out of its hiding place—thanks to MJ, the road has been blocked. Now, the two men have to go on the run together before they both wind up dead.
An insane bond is formed between MJ and Sonny. When MJ disappears after a job, and doesn’t come back to Sonny, Sonny does his own investigation and goes after his missing man. From friends to foes, they’re always in danger, and they have to be careful of the green-eyed-monster, jealousy.
STEAM AND SUNSHINE
MJ’s been reminiscing about how he got into explosives at the age of sixteen. A boat and retirement seem to suit MJ and Sonny, no more worries.
Or, not so much,
MJ has been contacting his handler for contracts. Sonny’s not too crazy about it, but when a job in California comes up, Sonny gives in. Sonny can’t let MJ go it alone, and joins him in hopes this is the last job.
Neil Caseman reads minds. He’s been sent to protect Padraic “Rick” Bair, who works for a thermodynamics lab, inventing weapons of destruction. When MJ realizes Rick is the person he’s contracted to kill, the past rears its ugly head and he can’t do it. He and Sonny decide to do the right thing, and kidnap Neil and Rick. Rick is nerdy and timid, to a degree, and Nick, with his mind reading, is driving MJ over the edge.
Who’s after Rick? Who’s after MJ? Who’s betraying all of them, and for what reason?
Road Trip is an explosion of humor, danger, and just a whole lot of action, fighting and steamy scenes with MJ and Sonny. Since I hate to fly, I absolutely roared with laughter and empathized with the airplane sequence. I liked both these characters: Sonny is a little more on the serious, logical and adult side, and takes settling down with MJ as no problem. MJ still has boyish fearlessness, loves the adrenaline rush, but he has fears also, and Sonny helps to keep him grounded.
Steam and Sunshine is intriguing in the way the plot starts to take a big change with Neil and Rick. The combination of the mind reading and Rick’s naivete, and the connection to MJ, add to the suspense of the plot.
BA Tortuga tells her stories, once again, in her own unique and erratic style of writing. The chaotic narrative and plotline may not be easy for some readers to follow. There’s lots of cussing, fighting, sexy scenes, danger, humor and junk food. Along with all the action and crazy goings on, there are well-developed characters. As for me, the ending really piqued my interest, so I’m hoping there will be a Volume Two coming soon.
Reviewed by Maryann for
MJ, explosives expert, is calmly trying to get to his car after he’s blown up a facility. He’s more than panicked when someone beats him up and puts a gun to his head, and he has no choice but to go with the perpetrator to a cabin.
Sonny’s running moonshine and his buyers have come after him. He can’t bring the product out of its hiding place—thanks to MJ, the road has been blocked. Now, the two men have to go on the run together before they both wind up dead.
An insane bond is formed between MJ and Sonny. When MJ disappears after a job, and doesn’t come back to Sonny, Sonny does his own investigation and goes after his missing man. From friends to foes, they’re always in danger, and they have to be careful of the green-eyed-monster, jealousy.
STEAM AND SUNSHINE
MJ’s been reminiscing about how he got into explosives at the age of sixteen. A boat and retirement seem to suit MJ and Sonny, no more worries.
Or, not so much,
MJ has been contacting his handler for contracts. Sonny’s not too crazy about it, but when a job in California comes up, Sonny gives in. Sonny can’t let MJ go it alone, and joins him in hopes this is the last job.
Neil Caseman reads minds. He’s been sent to protect Padraic “Rick” Bair, who works for a thermodynamics lab, inventing weapons of destruction. When MJ realizes Rick is the person he’s contracted to kill, the past rears its ugly head and he can’t do it. He and Sonny decide to do the right thing, and kidnap Neil and Rick. Rick is nerdy and timid, to a degree, and Nick, with his mind reading, is driving MJ over the edge.
Who’s after Rick? Who’s after MJ? Who’s betraying all of them, and for what reason?
Road Trip is an explosion of humor, danger, and just a whole lot of action, fighting and steamy scenes with MJ and Sonny. Since I hate to fly, I absolutely roared with laughter and empathized with the airplane sequence. I liked both these characters: Sonny is a little more on the serious, logical and adult side, and takes settling down with MJ as no problem. MJ still has boyish fearlessness, loves the adrenaline rush, but he has fears also, and Sonny helps to keep him grounded.
Steam and Sunshine is intriguing in the way the plot starts to take a big change with Neil and Rick. The combination of the mind reading and Rick’s naivete, and the connection to MJ, add to the suspense of the plot.
BA Tortuga tells her stories, once again, in her own unique and erratic style of writing. The chaotic narrative and plotline may not be easy for some readers to follow. There’s lots of cussing, fighting, sexy scenes, danger, humor and junk food. Along with all the action and crazy goings on, there are well-developed characters. As for me, the ending really piqued my interest, so I’m hoping there will be a Volume Two coming soon.
Reviewed by Maryann for
December 17, 2017
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is a two book set, Racing The Moon, and Steam And Sunshine, and I read them back to back, so my review will be for both books, as a single listing.
I enjoyed reading about Sonny and MJ, in Racing The Moon. They come together in an unusual way, Sonny running his Moonshine and MJ blowing up Sonny's escape route! There is immediate chemistry between these guys, I mean, they are trying to kill each other but it quickly turns into sexual chemistry. And THAT is way off the charts! Once these guys get with the programme, they are at it like bunnies and I LIKED that ....in the first book.
But in Steam and Sunshine?? not so much. Every little thing sets them off, like EVERYTHING!!! And its on every bloody page, almost. Oh, I'm not against high levels of sexual activity, not at all, but it has to be in keeping with the book, and it took me an inordinate amount of time to read the 330 pages its billed on Goodreads as. I had to keep putting it down, and coming back to it, just to give myself a break from it all!
In the first book, its pretty much just Sonny and MJ, with side characters, but in book 2, Neil and Paddy are introduced, hog tied and kidnapped! And these guys are great, weird, as are Sonny and MJ, but great. I liked them.
It's very well written, from Sonny, MJ, Neil and Paddy's point of view. All four of them are very different, and it does take a little time to get into each character's way of thinking. Quite hard, at first, but I found it quicker to get with Neil and Paddy, than Sonny and MJ, possibly because I read them back to back. And these guys are BADASS! All of them are, but Sonny and MJ more so. They make no apologies for who and what they are, and I did love that, even badass as they are, Sonny and MJ managed to find those three little words. Kinda cute, but don't tell them that!
There is a bigger picture across the stories, and I'm not seeing it yet. I have inklings, but I can't see that picture, and BECAUSE I can't see it, I would love to be able to read books 3 and 4 in this series.
Had I just read book one, I would have rated that 5 stars, but this is for volume one, and is for two books and I had some issues with book two, so....
4 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This is a two book set, Racing The Moon, and Steam And Sunshine, and I read them back to back, so my review will be for both books, as a single listing.
I enjoyed reading about Sonny and MJ, in Racing The Moon. They come together in an unusual way, Sonny running his Moonshine and MJ blowing up Sonny's escape route! There is immediate chemistry between these guys, I mean, they are trying to kill each other but it quickly turns into sexual chemistry. And THAT is way off the charts! Once these guys get with the programme, they are at it like bunnies and I LIKED that ....in the first book.
But in Steam and Sunshine?? not so much. Every little thing sets them off, like EVERYTHING!!! And its on every bloody page, almost. Oh, I'm not against high levels of sexual activity, not at all, but it has to be in keeping with the book, and it took me an inordinate amount of time to read the 330 pages its billed on Goodreads as. I had to keep putting it down, and coming back to it, just to give myself a break from it all!
In the first book, its pretty much just Sonny and MJ, with side characters, but in book 2, Neil and Paddy are introduced, hog tied and kidnapped! And these guys are great, weird, as are Sonny and MJ, but great. I liked them.
It's very well written, from Sonny, MJ, Neil and Paddy's point of view. All four of them are very different, and it does take a little time to get into each character's way of thinking. Quite hard, at first, but I found it quicker to get with Neil and Paddy, than Sonny and MJ, possibly because I read them back to back. And these guys are BADASS! All of them are, but Sonny and MJ more so. They make no apologies for who and what they are, and I did love that, even badass as they are, Sonny and MJ managed to find those three little words. Kinda cute, but don't tell them that!
There is a bigger picture across the stories, and I'm not seeing it yet. I have inklings, but I can't see that picture, and BECAUSE I can't see it, I would love to be able to read books 3 and 4 in this series.
Had I just read book one, I would have rated that 5 stars, but this is for volume one, and is for two books and I had some issues with book two, so....
4 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews