Category: Book Giveaways

What If You Get Your Wish?: The Answer Lies in Betwixt and Between (Edge of Night #1) by Alexis Duran

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Betwixt and Between (Edge of Night #1) by Alexis Duran
Release Date: June 30, 2015

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Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: April Martinez

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Sales Links: Loose Id

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Obsessed with magical creatures since childhood, tabloid reporter Ian Evers never experiences satisfying proof that the magical realm actually exists until he falls into an entrapment spell set by a handsome but dangerous elf.  Barely escaping with his soul intact, Ian is able to undo the hex, but he can’t escape the very real infatuation he’s developed for the fierce elf.

Ezekiel Stormshadow is a svarta, a dark elf who serves the queen of the dark realm. The realm of darkness needs the power of light to survive, and while hunting the last few magical beings on earth, Ezekiel discovers Ian, a light elf who’s unaware of his true nature and ripe for the plucking.  Their brief encounter awakens a great hunger in Ezekiel, and he’s determined to feast on the light elf’s power and body before the queen intervenes and claims Ian for herself.

Driven apart by the ancient imbalance between the dark and light realms, an evil queen starved for power, and their fear of each other, Ian and Ezekiel are relentlessly drawn together even though their union might destroy them both.

Pages or Words: 38,600 words

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Urban Fantasy

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

“This is a dream,” Ian said and tried to sit up. The svarta moved forward, placed his hand on Ian’s chest, and pushed him down. His palm nearly burned an imprint into Ian’s skin.

“Go away,” Ian said as firmly as he could.

“Why? I feel a strong connection between us. Don’t you feel it?”

“Only because you hexed me.”

“I did no such thing. You sought me out. You drew me here.” The svarta slid his hot hand up to Ian’s neck and traced a finger along his jawline. “Invite me in and know ecstasy.”

Ian shuddered and tried to sit up again. The svarta leaned over him, two hands pressing now against Ian’s shoulders. He ran his hand up and down the arm cuffed to the bed. His incredible eyes held Ian’s like a snake mesmerizing a mouse. He kissed Ian on the lips, gently at first, tongue exploring, probing, before forcing Ian’s lips apart and plunging his tongue deep into Ian’s mouth. Not only did Ian not fight it, but he kissed back, sucking amazing dark energy from the svarta’s rough, wide lips.
It was, after all, only a dream.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Alexis Duran was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. At the University of Oregon, her fascination with people and relationships led her to major in Sociology, but her main love has always been creative writing. She’s worked in museums, fashion, finance and film production. Her favorite job so far was inventorying the collection in a haunted Victorian Mansion. She’s had several short stories published in the mystery, horror and literary genres and is the author of the Masters and Mages erotic fantasy series. Her fiction has won several awards including the Rupert Hughes Award from the Maui Writers Conference. She lives with one dog and four and half cats. She is currently working on the next Masters and Mages novel and several other erotic novellas.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexis.duran.18294


Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AlexisSDuran
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alexisduran1177/
Other: http://www.alexisduranblog.com
Loose ID: http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/alexis-duran.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8332457.Alexis_Duran


Tour Dates & Stops:
Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, My Fiction Nook, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, Velvet Panic, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Hat Party, MM Good Book Reviews, Jessie G. Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Amanda C. Stone, Carly’s Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Andrew Q. Gordon, Kimi-Chan, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Loose ID gift card.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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Love Vampires & M/M Romance? Check Out Alex’s Surprise & Saving Alex (Unexpected Series #1 & #2) by Chris McHart (excerpt & Giveaway)

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Alex’s Surprise & Saving Alex (Unexpected Series #1 & #2) by Chris McHart
Series should be read in order
Release Date: Alex’s Surprise – June 26

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Publisher: Alex’s Surprise – M/M Romance Group on Goodreads. Saving Alex – Chris McHart
Cover Artist: Meg Bawden of Bawd Designs

Sales Links:  Amazon DE | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon US

Saving Alex Sales  Link:  Barnes and Noble |Alex’s Surprise Sales:  Barnes and Noble  | Amazon Print (both)

 Alex’s Surprise is a free story! You can download it on Goodreads, Amazon and ARe

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Alex's-Surprise---pdf-cover---jpeg2Alex’s Surprise: Alex wanted a night of hot passion with Gerome, but he gets more than he ever bargained for. His life will be changed forever in a world where he’ll be thrown in jail— or worse— for being pregnant.

Alex’s best friend, Sam, has been acting strange ever since he met Alex’s one-night stand, but now Alex needs help in order to hide, and Sam is his only hope.

Saving Alex: Not only is Alex pregnant, something punishable by jail time, but Gerome, the father of the baby, is a vampire Saving Alex2aaprince. When strangers invade Alex’s home and kidnap him, he doesn’t know who is responsible, if he’ll ever see the man he loves again, or even get to see the child growing inside him.

Considering himself the father of his lover’s child, Sam has a hard time standing around and letting others plan Alex’s rescue. But when the Prince and his trackers find an important clue, the race to save his beloved is on. Now all he can do is cross his fingers that the scheme they’ve devised will work.

When Prince Gerome receives ransom demands, the instructions are clear: mate a complete stranger or he’ll never see Alex or the child he carries again. Will he be able to convince his newly intended to help, or will those seeking to dethrone his family win this evil game of blackmail?

Caution: Contains a kidnapping, unwanted matings, a scheming king, way too many people that follow their own plans and a highly pregnant Alex (mpreg)

 

  • Goodreads Link
  • Pages or Words: Alex’s Surprise – 27,000 words, Saving Alex – 33,000 words
  • Categories: Alternate universe, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, MPREG

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Alex zapped, annoyed, through the channels. He lounged on the couch, bored out of his mind. Sam, his best friend and roommate, had taken up the recliner, reading something. Maybe Alex should do that as well? Watching TV wasn’t going to keep him entertained, since nothing caught his interest, no movie, no documentary, nothing. He zapped on, but stopped at a news report showing a pregnant man. He sat up a bit straighter. What was up with that?

The man’s stomach was swollen, showing he was at least five or six months along. His hands were cuffed in front of his baby bump and tears were streaming down his face. The camera showed a courtroom full of people, slowly sweeping over the interested men and women watching the process.

Alex turned up the volume. What had the man done? And why was he pregnant? He’d heard it was possible, but he’d never encountered someone who’d actually experienced that.

The reporter’s voice came up. “Robert B. was tried for violation of the racial laws. Today’s sentencing was long awaited. No one had heard of pregnant men for years, and there had been uncertainty about the actual jurisdiction in such cases. B., who is, according to doctors, six months along, was sentenced to five years in jail. His child will be put in an orphanage until he is released. The fathering sire has no legal claim over the child. He will be able to visit his child, but he can’t get guardianship over him or her. The child and the carrier will be outcasts of society after that.

“B. broke down after hearing the judge’s decision. Even though it’s forbidden, he clearly hoped the old laws would be overturned. Instead, the judge confirmed that male breeding between the races is still forbidden and punishable. With that, back to the studio.”

The picture changed, now showing a woman in a suit, smiling at the camera. “Thanks to our reporter in Berlin for a summary of today’s events in court. Now to the weather…”

Alex turned down the volume, muting the forecast. He turned to Sam, who had apparently put down his book to watch the news as well. “Did you hear that? How can they judge someone because he got pregnant?”

“I have no idea? Maybe because it’s wrong? Are these children dangerous? I’ve never met one, or heard of one, for that matter, but I guess there’s a reason it’s forbidden. The whole pregnant man thing is so strange, no wonder it’s against the laws. Who knows what’ll come out of such breedings.”

Alex frowned. A new life was precious, not wrong. He couldn’t imagine a child being dangerous, even if it was mixed. Children born from interracial relationships were allowed, as long as one of the parents was female and the other male. Why this didn’t apply to children born from a same-sex relationship was beyond Alex. Even if it was unusual for a man to be pregnant, he shouldn’t be put in jail for something like that.

This was the first case in a long time, according to the reporter, but he’d not given a reason why the laws were upheld. “It’s still wrong to judge someone for getting pregnant.”

“I don’t know. Like I said, there must be a reason why it’s forbidden.” Sam picked up his book again, ending the conversation.

Alex took a moment to study his friend’s features as he buried himself in yet another sci-fi book. He was quite handsome with his blond, unruly hair and his strong jaw. The gaze of the piercing blue eyes that never seemed to miss anything flew over the page, pulling Sam into yet another outlandish adventure.

Maybe Sam was right. There had to be a reason it was against the law. Alex was kind of sorry for the man who now faced five years in prison, but then, the man knew what he risked with getting pregnant in the first place.

Alex settled back and focused on the TV again. Sam was not in the mood to discuss the matter anymore, his mind clearly on the story he was reading. As if they’d need sci-fi to experience something unusual. Ever since paranormals had come out of hiding back in the 1980s, going to certain clubs could be more adventurous than anything an author could come up with.

Maybe he should go out today? Blowing off some steam wouldn’t hurt. He’d not gotten laid in quite a while, and a night in one of the mixed clubs sounded too good to resist. It was better than staring at a rerun of a movie.

Alex switched off the TV and stood. “I’m going out, do you want to come with me?”

“What do you have in mind?” Sam looked up from his book. “Dancing? I thought of going to the Downtown.”

“Na, go without me. I’m not in the mood for that crowd.”

“You sure? It’s been months since you’ve been out.” Alex wasn’t surprised, Sam wasn’t one to go out much, and he despised big crowds. The Downtown is a huge mixed club, catering to all kinds of paranormals and humans. Not that paranormals were forbidden anywhere, but they, as well as humans, preferred to stick with their own kind. One of the exceptions was a club like the one Alex was going to visit. A night of dancing, and maybe getting laid, sounded better with every second.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Chris McHart is from Germany and, while an accountant, writing is Chris’s real passion.
Chris likes to spend time with family and has way too many animals that demand constant attention. Chris also enjoys landscaping and cooking.
Whenever Chris has a free minute, it’s spent writing on a laptop, a cup of coffee in hand, deeply lost in the worlds Chris’s muses have created.
When coming up for some air, you’ll find Chris on a lot of social networks. Check out Chris’s website to see where you can find out more. Chris looks forward to hearing from you!

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008256641886
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-McHart/326380184192029?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chris_mchart
Blog: https://www.chrismchart.com

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Tour Dates & Stops: July 6, 2015
Parker Williams, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Bayou Book Junkie, Velvet Panic, Bike Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Hat Party, MM Good Book Reviews, Jessie G. Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, Amanda C. Stone, Rainbow Gold Reviews

 

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 3 print copies of Alex’s Surprise/Saving Alex.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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A STRW Exclusive: Author Eli Easton Interviews Matthew Shaw, Narrator of Easton’s How To Howl At the Moon (giveaway and interview)

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As more and more audiobooks are released, we thought it would be interesting to see how an author looks at their books when narrated and get the perspective from the narrator as well. Two sides of the same story!

Here is Eli Easton and the narrator of her novel, How To Howl At the Moon, Matthew Shaw!  And don’t forget to enter the contest for a audiobook of your own, How To Howl At the Moon by Eli Easton.

Interview with Matthew Shaw, narrator of “How To Howl At the Moon” Audiobook!
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“How to Howl at the Moon” is the first audio book I’ve self-published. To narrate the book, I turned to an amazingly talented actor I’ve worked with before on other projects, Matthew Shaw.

You can listen to a sample of his narration here.

I loved hearing Matthew read my story. Such an amazing treat. I decided to interview Matthew to see what his side of the experience was like.

Eli: Is this your first time narrating and audio book?  What other types of voce-over work have you done?

Matthew: Yes!  It’s my first one.  I’ve done some commercials and intros for family projects.

Eli: Who are some of your heroes when it comes to audio book narrators?

Matthew: Jim Dale is amazing!  He narrated the entire Harry Potter series, keeping each character consistent and his performance was spot on.  He felt the characters he was reading, so it helped create the world and make it real.  Even characters that had two lines in the entire 7 book series were consistent.  He received two Grammy awards for his performance.

That’s really the challenge:  taking a book you’re just reading aloud and turning it into a performance.

Eli: Was “How to Howl at the Moon” your first time reading a m/m romance? What would you tell other newbies who asked what it’s like?

Matthew:  ​Yes, it was!  In fact, it was my first romance novel I read ever.  I didn’t know what to expect, and Eli helped talk me through what are some of the common story arcs in romance novels to help build the context.  It’s actually quite a fun genre.  I really felt for the characters, either wanting them to succeed, or the bad guys to get their comeuppance.  It’s a great book and I really would recommend it to anyone interested in the romance genre.

​​When people asked what it was like, I would tell them , that the characters were very three dimensional, and the story takes you on a journey of understanding and getting to know them better as the main characters get to know themselves, as well.  ​
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The fact that this story was a dog shape-shifter tale (or tail?) Made the story super fun to read, too.

Eli: What was your favorite part of the story?

Matthew: I liked the humor so much because it was unexpected!  There was so much more fun than I anticipated.  ​Any time lance and his mom were talking together, I was grinning from ear to ear, and there is a chapter involving a shape shifting undercover sheriff getting an unwanted bath that made me chuckle a few times and had to redo the recording.
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​Without giving too much of the story away, there was some real action and romance that were equally entertaining.  A shootout in particular had me on the edge of my seat.  I recorded more than was on my schedule that night, simply because I wanted to know what was going to happen next!

Eli: What was the biggest challenge in doing the narration?

Matthew: ​I think the hardest challenge was a technical one:  if I got tongue tied on a particular line, I would just keep making the same mistake!  I sometimes had to record past it and come back just to get the wrong way out of my head.
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​Also, some of the characters with smaller parts were a challenge to voice.  You try to give them a unique character voice so it doesn’t just sound like you’re talking to yourself.  If they don’t have a lot of lines, it’s tough to keep it consistent.  Again… Makes you appreciate Jim Dale!
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Eli: Was it difficult to read the sex scenes?

Matthew: ​Surprisingly, no!  Before reading the book, I thought that would be the hardest part.  I guess I, as a reader want these scenes to happen because it’s what the story is building toward, so maybe it was just a type of relief.  Plus, it helped me the way he story was written to get to get into the heads of the characters before these scenes.  When you know where they are coming from, it’s easier to put yourself in their shoes in the context of the story.  Eli gives you a lot to work with!

Eli: Will you be doing more m/m romance audio books?  Other types of books?

Matthew: ​I’d love to, especially books in this series and other books by Eli Easton.  I’m open to others in the m/m genre, as well.  It’s rewarding to find the voice of each character and help paint a picture with tone and performance.

Thanks to Matthew for being so gracious to interview. I hope you’ll enjoy the “How to Howl At The Moon” audio as much as I did!            –  Eli Easton

 

About How To Howl At The Moon by Eli Easton

5 hrs 52 mins – narrated by Matthew Shaw (a ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords 5 star audio book)

Sheriff Lance Beaufort is not going to let trouble into his town, no sir. Tucked away in the California mountains, Mad Creek has secrets to keep, like the fact that half the town consists of “quickened”—dogs who have gained the ability to become human. Descended on both sides from Border Collies, Lance is as alert a guardian as they come.How To Howl At the Moon Audio Cover

Tim Weston is looking for a safe haven. After learning that his boss patented all of Tim’s work on vegetable hybrids in his own name, Tim quit his old job. A client offers him use of her cabin in Mad Creek, and Tim sees a chance for a new start. But the shy gardener has a way of fumbling and sounding like a liar around strangers, particularly gorgeous alpha men like Sheriff Beaufort.

Lance’s hackles are definitely raised by the lanky young stranger. He’s concerned about marijuana growers moving into Mad Creek, and he’s not satisfied with the boy’s story. Lance decides a bit of undercover work is called for. When Tim hits a beautiful black collie with his car and adopts the dog, its love at first sight for both Tim and Lance’s inner dog. Pretending to be a pet is about to get Sheriff Beaufort in very hot water.

Giveaway

Eli Easton is giving away one audiobook of “How To Howl At The Moon”.  Must be 18 years  of age or older to enter.  Leave a comment with your email address  where you can be reached if chosen.

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About the Author

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a game designer, an organic farmer, an avid hiker, and a profound sleeper, Eli is happily embarking on yet another incarnation as a m/m romance author.

As an addicted reader of such, she is tinkled pink when an author manages to combine literary merit, vast stores of humor, melting hotness and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, three bulldogs, three cows and six chickens. All of them (except for the husband) are female, hence explaining the naked men that have taken up residence in her latest fiction writing.

Her website in www.elieaston.com
Twitter:  EliEaston
Goodreads Author Page
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

Southern College Boys in Love: University of Southern Georgia: Davy & Tony by Heath Greenfield (excerpt and contest)

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University of Southern Georgia: Davy & Tony by Heath Greenfield
Series: University of Southern Georgia
Release Date: July 1, 2015

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Goodreads Link:
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BS Clay

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Sales Links:   Torquere Books

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Love is a funny thing…it happens when and where you least expect it.

Tony has been having a rough couple of days. His dad caught him with a dirty magazine, which would have been embarrassing enough. But when his dad realized it was a gay magazine, he chased Tony down the street. Luckily, Uncle Alfonso and Aunt Luciana have taken him in. Now, he’s out to the world, going to school during the day, and working in the family restaurant at night.

Davy has become what he always dreamed of being: an Army Ranger. He loves everything about it. He’s assigned to Fort Benning and works as an analyst. He also happens to be gay, but even with the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, he’s careful not to let his personal life get in the way of his professional goals. His friends know, but he’s never introduced them to anyone he has dated…until he meets Tony, who changes everything.

Between their sexual chemistry and their deepening friendship, their love seems fated, but when Davy is about to be deployed, he finds out something that rocks him to his core and makes him doubt both Tony and himself. He’s left wondering if he’s strong enough to win this battle.

Pages or Words: 31,200

Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Monday morning dawned with red in the sky.
Rolling himself out of bed, Davy dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and went for a run. The park, woken by the sun, stretched out in early morning beauty. The birds called revelry, and the squirrels their chattering. The park was large enough to encompass several trails, and it was made up of gentle, rolling hills. The trails were smooth and kept mulched to encourage walkers and joggers to use them. The trails intertwined liberally with the sidewalks and, with them, little stands where food carts met the needs of the morning rush. He thought it was an odd but comfortable intersection of those enjoying time away and those rushing to get somewhere.
Davy’s muscles uncoiled as he ran. His strides lengthened, and joy filled him as endorphins rushed throughout his body. He was master of his fate.
He passed a few early morning joggers, then saw a runner whose path was merging with his just ahead. Not jogging, but flat out running as though hellhounds were loosed upon him.
As their paths met, Davy realized that it was Tony…the elusive librarian/waiter. His face was plagued with sorrow, and his pace ate away at the ground. Tony pistoned around each curve chopping away at the distance. It looked like his body was an automaton separate from his mind.
“Hey,” Davy called out. “Tony, wait.”
At first, nothing happened, but then, as though the words had needed time to sink in, Tony turned his head toward him. Davy was shocked to see a black eye and jagged scrapes across Tony’s cheek.
Tony slowed and stopped. He looked so lost.
Davy’s heart ached at the pain in Tony’s face but he stayed quiet for the moment and nodded toward a coffee stand off to the side of the path where it joined up with the sidewalk. Tony hadn’t said a word…he just sort of floated to the sidewalk beside him.
He ordered two coffees and when Tony indicated, doctored up one with milk and sugar. Walking over to a grassy rise off to the side of the walkway, he waited for Tony to sit. Tony stretched out his long legs.
“Here.” He handed him the coffee, then sat down next to him.
“Thanks.”
They sat there silently for about ten minutes before he had the ability to speak.
“What happened?”
Tony laughed, a slightly high pitched noise that held no humor.
“My dad…he doesn’t approve of my…life choices.”
“Mm.” Davy grunted, but he kept still.
“He doesn’t want a faggot for a son.” Tony slid his gaze sideways as if to assess Davy’s reaction.
“That’s rough,” Davy said, but he bit back more.
“Sorry if I shocked you,” Tony said.
“Of all the things I am, I’m not shocked.”
“No? Then what are you?”
Davy gave him his own assessing glace. He smiled a little. “Glad.”

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Sharing adventures, love, passion, and even sadness informs us as humans. That’s what motivates Heath Greenfield’s writing. Heath sits at the computer in Daytona Beach and wishes thoughts could just flow straight onto paper. Assisted by two cats, a schnauzer, a boxer, and the best mutt ever, the author gets to write novels…and considers it the best job ever!

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008744179016
Twitter: https://twitter.com/heathgreenfield
Blog: http://heathgreenfield.blogspot.com/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/117892188593521718157/posts

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Tour Dates & Stops:
Parker Williams, Full Moon Dreaming, Andrew Q. Gordon, Happily Ever Chapter, Michael Mandrake, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, Bike Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Jessie G. Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘University of Southern Georgia: Davy & Tony’.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and   Pride Promotions.

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Back to the Past with Lessons for Idle Tongues from Charlie Cochrane -A Special Interview with Orlando & Jonty (giveaway)

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Lessons for Idle Tongues (Cambridge Fellows #11)
by Charlie Cochrane
Riptide Publishing

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Cover art by Lou Harper

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Charlie Cochrane and her Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, featuring Jonty and Orlando.  It is one of my highly recommended series, and the terrific story, Lessons for Idle Tongues is being published by Riptide Publishing.  And to celebrate, author Charlie Cochrane is here and interviewing those incorrigible and loving duo, Jonty and Orlando.

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Interview with Jonty and Orlando

While reading her favourite mystery, Death at the President’s Lodging, Charlie Cochrane was struck by some particularly “slashy” scenes and wondered why there were no Classic Era mysteries featuring a pair of gay detectives. There were gay men at the time, so couldn’t they have taken up their magnifying glasses and got sleuthing? Frustrated at finding no answer to her conundrum, she set out to write her own stories. Here she interviews her two sleuths.

CC:  Can you tell the readers where you live?

Orlando Coppersmith: Cambridge.
Jonty Stewart: Cambridge in England. There’s another one in America, you know, Orlando.
Orlando: Really? How astonishing.
Jonty: We live here because we’re both based at St. Bride’s College, trying to knock some sense into our students. I teach them about Tudor Literature.
Orlando: And I lecture in Mathematics.
Jonty: Orlando’s worryingly bright.

CC: Did the events of your early life influence you in solving mysteries?

Orlando: Yes. Well. Hm.
Jonty: What Orlando means is that neither of us had that easy a start in life. His family were…not exactly loving. Would that be fair?
Orlando: It would. I’m not as lucky as Jonty, who has an extraordinary family with whom I get on very well.
Jonty: He means I have a very loud mother who’s madly in love with him and a terrifyingly clever father who likes to solves cryptograms with him. He wins all round.
Orlando: Meeting Jonty showed me that all sorts of things in life were possible. Love, friendship, going out and using my brains for something other than mathematics. He changed my life.
Jonty: Daft beggar. Meeting Orlando gave me hope at a time when I was a bit low. I had a rough time of things at school and it came back to haunt me at times. He changed my life, too.

CC:  Do you see yourselves as policemen?

Jonty: Oh I say, Orlando. Steady there. (He whacks his back.) I’m afraid that the police wouldn’t exactly approve of our relationship. Up before the beak and two years hard labour if they knew what we got up to in private.
Orlando: We’re amateur detectives, although we do work alongside the police when need be. That’s how we got started, acting as the eyes and ears for Inspector Wilson of the local force when there was a series of murders in St. Bride’s. (Lessons in Love)
Jonty: We get commissions, too. People ask us to solve crimes, particularly old ones.
Orlando: Sometimes hundreds of years old.
Jonty: Nearly as ancient as you, Orlando.
Orlando: Very funny.

CC: Do people contact you like they contacted Sherlock Holmes?

Jonty: You said the ‘S’ word. Orlando won’t approve. I like Holmes – and Watson, he’s a marvellous bloke – but old grumpy guts here thinks Sherlock’s a bit of a smarty pants.
Orlando: I refuse to comment. And don’t call me “grumpy guts” in public.

CC: What’s been the most outrageous thing you’ve done in the cause of investigation?

Jonty: What about the time you had to pose as a gigolo?
Orlando: I was not a gigolo. I was a professional dancing partner. Next question, please, before my “friend” finds anything else to make fun of me about.

CC: In the course of your investigations, have you encountered important historical figures?

Jonty: Figures from the past, yes. When we solved the Woodville Ward mystery we ran across Richard III, Henry VII and Elizabeth Woodville. Orlando’s almost old enough to remember being dandled at their knees.
Orlando: Don’t forget, I’ve worked out at least three foolproof ways of murdering you without the risk of being caught. Actually, he’s hiding his light under a bushel, again. He’s the one who got dandled at royalty’s knee. The Stewarts are all very pally with the royal family.
Jonty: That’s what got us involved in the gigolo – sorry, dancing partner – case. The king’s old mistress died under mysterious circumstances and they needed someone of discretion and good sense to put into the hotel where it happened. Nobody like that was available, so they asked Orlando.
Orlando: Excuse me while I resort to method number one.

CC:  Presumably you are somewhat familiar with our early 21st century, after conversations with your author. What would you most like to take back to Edwardian times?

Jonty: The freedom to hold Orlando’s hand in public – at least in Brighton. Not that he’d let me, probably, being a shy old stick, but the opportunity would be nice.
Orlando: I’d welcome the chance of entering into a Civil Partnership with Jonty. An official declaration of how much we mean to each other.
Jonty: I’d like to fly in one of your modern aeroplanes. How wonderful to cover the length of the British isles in little more than an hour. And going to Jersey without resorting to a ship would be good, wouldn’t it, Orlando? He gets sick as a dog when we sail.
Orlando: Hm. In his case it might be an Uncivil Partnership.

CC:  I’m sure you’d never murder anyone, but is there someone, whom you’d like to murder if you could?

Orlando: Owens, from “the college next door”.
Jonty: He’s St. Bride’s arch-enemy and any decent college man would strangle him with his own bicycle clips.
Orlando: I’ve devised two other foolproof and undetectable methods of murder, just for Owens.
Jonty: I said he was frighteningly clever, didn’t I? If he ever took to a life of crime, we’d all be doomed.

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About Lessons for Idle Tongues (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #11)
Cambridge, 1910

Amateur detectives Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith seem to have nothing more taxing on their plate than locating a missing wooden cat and solving the dilemma of seating thirteen for dinner. But one of the guests brings a conundrum: a young woman has been found dead, and her boyfriend is convinced she was murdered. The trouble is, nobody else agrees.

Investigation reveals that several young people in the local area have died in strange circumstances, and rumours abound of poisonings at the hands of Lord Toothill, a local mysterious recluse. Toothill’s angry, gun-toting gamekeeper isn’t doing anything to quell suspicions, either.

But even with a gun to his head, Jonty can tell there’s more going on in this surprisingly treacherous village than meets the eye. And even Orlando’s vaunted logic is stymied by the baffling inconsistencies they uncover. Together, the Cambridge Fellows must pick their way through gossip and misdirection to discover the truth.

About Author Charlie Cochrane:

As Charlie Cochrane couldn’t be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes, with titles published by Carina, Samhain, Bold Strokes, MLR and Cheyenne.

Charlie’s Cambridge Fellows Series of Edwardian romantic mysteries was instrumental in her being named Author of the Year 2009 by the review site Speak Its Name. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, International Thriller Writers Inc and is on the organising team for UK Meet for readers/writers of GLBT fiction. She regularly appears with The Deadly Dames.

Connect with Charlie:

Website:http://www.charliecochrane.co.uk/
Blog: charliecochrane.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @charliecochrane
Facebook profile page: facebook.com/charlie.cochrane.18
Goodreads: goodreads.com/goodreadscomcharlie_cochrane
Riptide Publishing’s Author Page

 

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Lessons for Idle Tongues Giveaway:

Cambridge Mysteries bundle

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a title from Charlie Cochrane’s backlist (excluding Lessons for Idle Tongues.) Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 4. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to add your email so we can contact you if you win!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Prizes provided by the author and Riptide Publishing.

Cambridge Fellows Mysteries Bundle Sale!

Get 30% off books 1-8 of the Cambridge Fellows Mysteries, exclusively in a bundle from Samhain!

Cambridge Fellows Mysteries

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If the men of St. Bride’s College knew what Jonty Stewart and Orlando Coppersmith got up to behind closed doors, the scandal would rock early-20th-century Cambridge to its core. But the truth is, when they’re not busy teaching literature and mathematics, the most daring thing about them isn’t their love for each other—it’s their hobby of amateur sleuthing.

Because wherever Jonty and Orlando go, trouble seems to find them. Sunny, genial Jonty and prickly, taciturn Orlando may seem like opposites. But their balance serves them well as they sift through clues to crimes, and sort through their own emotions to grow closer. But at the end of the day, they always find the truth . . . and their way home together.

,[STRW Note: I highly recommend reading them in the order they were written in order to understand the relationship as it builds, the men, and the times.  This is especially true for books starting with Lessons in Trust, All Lessons Learned and Lessons for Survivors which hold huge spoilers and surprises for the previous books]

Publisher Note:Cambridge Fellows mysteries may be read in any order but for those who wish to read in release order, they are:

Lessons in Love (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #1)
Lessons in Desire (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #2)
Lessons in Discovery (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #3)
Lessons in Power (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #4)
Lessons in Temptation (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #5)
Lessons in Seduction (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #6)
Lessons in Trust (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #7)
All Lessons Learned (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #8)
Lessons for Survivors (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #9)
Lessons for Suspicious Minds (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #10)
Lessons for Idle Tongues (Cambridge Fellows Mysteries #11)
Lessons for Sleeping Dogs
The first eight books in the series are with Samhain Publishing. You can purchase them wherever ebooks are sold.

– See more at Riptide Publishing’s Cambridge Fellows Mysteries page.