The Wolves from Sue Brown’s Sapphire Ranch Wolves Series are Back in The Hidden Wolf (excerpt and giveaway)

 

 

 

Title: The Hidden Wolf
Series: Sapphire Ranch Wolves – Book Two
Author: Sue Brown
Publisher: Love Lane Books
Cover Artist: Meredith Russell
Length: 32,700 words
Release Date: 22nd May, 2015

 

Blurb: Sheriff Milo Clarke has met
his mate, Eli Watkins, and now they’re conducting a long distance relationship
while Eli runs Cavalry, the security firm protecting Joe and Cal at the
Sapphire Ranch from the hunters.

The long distance loving is hard on all three of them,
Eli, Clarke and Clarke’s wolf, who is becoming more restless as Clarke refuses
to shift. When Clarke going to give into the other side of him and how will
Clarke and Eli resolve the distance between their lives?

 

Sheriff Milo Clarke leaned against the kitchen
cabinets as he watched Eli Watkins and his team, the Calvary, remove the
remains of Randy Streerson from the kitchen of Sapphire Ranch. He’d offered to
help and been told firmly to stay the hell out of their way as they committed a
felony.
Staying to one side was a damned sensible move.
What used to be Randy Streerson, the head of a group of hunters that pursued
and killed shifters, now covered the kitchen walls, floor, and dripped from the
ceiling after young shifter Callum Pope shot him with one of the hunter’s
bullets.
Cal was a distant shifter relative of Milo’s. His
father had been related to Milo’s mother. Cal’s father and two elder brothers
had been killed by a band of hunters led by the Streerson family. The pack had
splintered in an effort to survive, and Cal had turned up on Sapphire Ranch
after running hundreds of miles to get away from the hunters, only to discover
the owner of the ranch was his mate. A lot had happened in a few days. Eli’s
men took away what remained of the body and now they scrubbed the kitchen,
surprisingly efficient. Milo didn’t have to be a cop to know this wasn’t the
first time the Cavalry had cleaned away evidence that a murder had taken place.
He was stuck between duty and likely survival. On
one hand he’d witnessed the struggle between Cal and Streerson for control of
the gun before Cal had pulled the trigger. On the other…
How the hell would he explain to his deputies
what had just taken place? They would want to know where he’d been hiding for
the past few days, why he’d been lying to them, who the victim—who was no
fucking victim—was, and what the hell was a shifter?
He was a shifter. At least a half-shifter. His
mother had been a werewolf and Milo could change, he just chose not to. Instead
he lived among the humans as a sheriff and hadn’t given in to that side of him
for over five years except for one glorious moment a few days ago. Milo tried
not to think about it even as his wolf grumbled inside.
Milo watched the team—at least he watched Eli.
His whole attention was focused on the dark-haired man. Just watching him made
his mouth dry and his dick hard. From the second Milo had shifted to prove the
existence of werewolves to Eli and his assistant Ross, he’d realized that Eli
was his mate.
Unable to resist, he’d trotted up to Eli and laid
his head on his lap. Tentatively Eli had stroked his head, and Milo leaned into
the caress, wanting Eli to touch him more. Eli filled his wolf senses. He
smelled woodsy with a touch of citrus. He smelled good.
“Good doggy,” Eli had murmured.
Doggy? Milo gave a low growl at the insult,
grinning in wolfy satisfaction as Eli snatched his hand back. He wouldn’t have
hurt him—much.
And Eli had seemed equally drawn to him, finding
it hard to take his eyes off Milo, even as they’d talked strategy with Joe,
Cal’s mate and the owner of Sapphire Ranch.
But they hadn’t gone near each other, hadn’t
touched each other at all beyond that one brief contact. Milo had been relieved
because they had needed to focus their minds, not their dicks, to defeat the
hunters. Relieved—and frustrated beyond belief to have his mate so close and
not be able to touch him.
There was another issue. They hadn’t connected
telepathically.
Milo had thought that happened immediately. But
he was only a half-shifter, with limited shifter abilities in his human form,
and Eli was a human. What would happen if they didn’t connect? Could they walk
away from each other? It would make life so much simpler.
Milo caught Eli frowning at him, and he looked
away, feeling guilty. Eli didn’t need to know. They hadn’t connected. He need
never know. Milo’s wolf howled inside him at the thought of walking away from
his mate, and for once Milo didn’t try to hush him. The thought hurt his human
side just as much. But Milo had spent his whole life hiding his true nature,
and now, through no fault of his own, everything he’d worked to hide was liable
to be exposed. Among humans he hid the fact he was half-shifter. Around
shifters he tried hard to fit in, even though his human side affected his wolf
senses. And with both communities he hid the fact he was gay.
Milo had spent his whole life in hiding and with one
phone call Joe had exposed him to humans—both as shifter and as gay. He wasn’t
fucking ready for it. And didn’t that suck?
THW FBEvent Banner-1
Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two
children. When she isn’t following their orders, she can be found plotting at
her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot and has gotten expert at ignoring
the orders.
Sue discovered M/M erotica at the
time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. The
series was boring; the kissing was not. She may be late to the party, but she’s
made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture
out into the world of original fiction.
AUTHOR
LINKS
Get a chance to win a $15 Amazon/Are Gift Card!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Creative Minds Promotion.

 

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 June 12: Drops

of Ink ||
Bayou
Book Junkie

Its Danger and Love at Sea with Jane Davitt’s Closing the Loop! ( release day giveaway)

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Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt
Available from Riptide on May 25
Cover Art by L.C. Chase

Sales Link:  Riptide Publishing

A “closed loop” voyage occurs when a vessel departs from a port and returns to the same port upon completion of the voyage.

About Closing the Loop

A week on a tropical gay cruise is just what Lee needs after a bad breakup and a Canadian winter. It’s a shame his ex is on board, but Lee is sharing a cabin with Cole, a hot lawyer who—as luck would have it—is actually from Lee’s city. So when Cole unexpectedly awakens Lee’s kinky side, Lee begins to dream that they can actually take their shipboard romance home with them.
But Cole is keeping secrets involving a troubled young man on board the ship. And Lee, after his recent brush with betrayal, finds it difficult to trust Cole when he says Justin isn’t a rival.

Then he learns the truth and is also drawn into the tragic story. His dream vacation is in danger of turning dark, but he’s determined to navigate Cole and himself to a safe harbor before their blisteringly hot romance is lost at sea.

About the Author

Jane Davitt is English, and has been living in Canada with her husband, two children, and two cats, since 1997. Writing and reading are her main occupations but if she ever had any spare time she might spend it gardening, walking, or doing cross stitch. She’s recently taken up yoga and loves discovering her ability to bend.

Jane has been writing since 2002 and wishes she’d started earlier. She is a huge fan of SF, fantasy, erotica, and mystery novels and has a tendency to get addicted to TV shows that get cancelled all too soon.

She owns over 4,000 books, rarely gives any away, but is happy to loan them, and is of the firm opinion that there is no such thing as “too many books.”

Connect with Jane:
Website: http://www.janedavitt.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/janedavitt
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1563721.Jane_Davitt

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Giveaway

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a signed print copy of Lucky Strike. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on May 30. 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 and contest provided by Riptide Publishing.

Its Memorial Weekend and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

vietnam-memorialIt’s Memorial Weekend and the roar and rumble from the Rolling Thunder bikes going by is a fresh reminder of exactly why and who we are remembering this weekend.

A lunch in town saw people passing out poppies in rememberance and thanks for those that fought in the many wars.  My dad was beyond pleased to accept the poppy and the person’s thanks for his service when she gave it to him.  That and an invitation to the VFW luncheon on Monday…well, his day was made.

As was mine.

The concert on the Mall is tomorrow but its the memorials that drew people in today in crowds.  While the weather was perfect, the grief and stillness at the memorials, especially the Black Wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was immeasurable.  And haunting.  For me, the Wall and all the artifacts and aura of loss that lingers over it, has the most lasting impact of collective grief and sacrifice that I have seen outside of Arlington Cemetery.

If you come to Washington, DC, whether to see the Cherry Blossoms or the Capital or White House, take time to head over to the Mall.  Visit the WWII Memorial, then head over to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, also known as The Wall, or The Wall That Heals.  Here is The Wall’s page link for those of you who have never seen it.  On the home page you will find these words.

VietnamMemorialwall“If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O’Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

Then proceed thru the website.  It’s moving, its painful and their sacrifice for us in war becomes fresh once more.

Take some time this weekend to thank a veteran, in person or in memory.  

 

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Irish Harp with Rainbow

Sunday, May 24 – Ireland Did It, They Really Did It!  Woohoo!

  • Its Memorial Weekend and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, May 25:

  • Jane Davitt’s “Closing the Loop” Tour and Riptide Contest
  • In the Book Spotlight: His Womanly Ways by K. Lynn (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Book Tour:  The Hidden Wolf by Sue Brown (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A BJ Review: Mountain Prey by Lyn Gala
  • A MelanieM Review:  The Hidden Wolf by Sue Brown

Tuesday, May 26:

  • Lane Hayes cover reveal for The Right Time – cover reveal and giveaway
  • Annabeth Albert’s ‘Delivered Fast‘ (Book 3 of the series) book blast and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review: Delivered Fast by Annabeth Albert
  • A Mika Review: Time Waits by C. B. Lewis

Wednesday, May 27:

  • Joy Lynn Fielding – Blowing Off Steam (Virtual tour and contest)
  • From the Ashes by Lillian T. MacGowan book blast and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review: Blood and Ghosts by Shira Anthony
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Butt Riders on the Range Anthology

Thursday, May 28:

  • In the Spotlight:  Mia Kerick’s Love Spell (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Annabelle Jacobs The Altered 2 Tour and Contest
  • A Stella Review: Cliff’s Edge by Laura Harner
  • A MelanieM Review:  The Line by Angel Martinez

Friday, May 29:

  • Tour for Lexi Alexander and Alpha Trine
  • A Stella Review: No Matter What (Sex & Mayhem #4) by K.A. Merikan
  • A BJ Review: Human Frailties, Human Strengths by Jaye McKenna
  • A MelanieM Review: Tall With Room by A.J. Llewellyn

Saturday, May 30:

YA Saturday Continues:

  • An Aurora YA Review: After I Wake by Emma Griffiths‏

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Cover Reveal Time for Model Citizen by Lissa Kasey (excerpt and giveaway)

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 Model Citizen by Lissa Kasey
Release Date: June 22, 2015

It’s murder, mystery and international supermodels!  Check out the cover for Lissa Kasey’s latest novel, Model Citizen, read the excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end of the post! Happy Reading!

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Sales Links:   Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback

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Model Citizen Blurb

Oliver “Ollie” Petroskovic’s life as an international supermodel was heading in the right direction. He worked part-time for his brother at his detective agency—Petroskovic Haven Investigations—and had just bought his dream house. But all that changed when he found his brother dead, a victim of PTSD-induced suicide.

Almost a year later, Ollie is trying to keep his brother’s business afloat, but can’t get his PI license. Then his brother’s best friend, Kade Alme, shows up, fresh from the battlefield after a close brush with death. Kade is looking for a new life, in more ways than one, and with PI license in hand, he’s exactly what Ollie needs to keep PHI running.

When one of Ollie’s childhood friends gets in trouble, Ollie feels he has to help. Kade insists on investigating if only to keep Ollie safe. Neither realizes the danger they’re in as someone tries to tear them apart before they can find solid ground together.

Pages or Words: 82,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Mystery

Model Citizen Excerpt

Kade pulled up beside a building that had probably never had better days. At least I didn’t immediately recognize it as someplace I used to play. “Call him. Tell him to come down. This doesn’t look like a great place to linger.”

I snorted. Did he miss the gas station with bars on the windows and bullet holes in the side? “You want to see the bad side of Oakland? I can give you a tour later.” I dialed Bob’s number, but the phone just rang and rang. I hung up when it went to voice mail, and tried again. It was just after five.

“Okay, maybe he fell asleep or is in the shower or something? Let me run up and check.” The building looked like it had one outside entrance and no secure door. I could pick a lock if I had to but preferred not to do so in broad daylight.
Kade frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I pulled the Taser and pepper spray out of my bag and held them up. “I spray first, and if that doesn’t stop them, I tase, then run. I’m up on self-defense 101.”

He sighed. “Anything feels even remotely hinky, you come back down immediately.”

“Sure,” I promised as I hopped out of the car. “Who even says hinky anymore?”

I made my way to the door and searched through my phone to find the apartment number. The main door opened into a stairwell dirty enough to double as Pig-Pen’s playhouse. The stench of pot drenched the building. Bob was in 310, which meant he was on the top floor all the way to the left. I followed the brass numbers. The stink of weed made me dizzy. How could people stand it? It was like sweaty socks left in the sun too long. Maybe getting high killed the stink or made you not care about the smell, but I couldn’t imagine enjoying it either way.

I tried to breathe through my mouth, which only made it worse, forcing me to stop twice to cough. Finally arriving at the end of the hall, I knocked on Bob’s door and waited. Nothing. Just an air conditioner running somewhere, or maybe a really noisy fridge.

“Bob?” I called and knocked again. “Robert Wilcoxson?” I dialed his number and could hear the phone ringing inside the apartment, but again no one answered, either the door or the phone. What the hell?

I tried the doorknob to see if it was locked. The door snicked open and swung inward. I hesitated and debated calling Kade for a minute because the whole scenario screamed bad horror movie. But I pushed the door wide, Taser aimed like a gun, finger on the trigger while I clung to the walls, pretending I was SWAT. I had taken official classes on how to operate the Taser. I’d even experienced its sting myself, so I knew I could and would pull the trigger if someone jumped out at me. At least no one was behind the door. The apartment was dark, with all the blinds drawn to keep out the bright California sun and let the shitty air conditioner do its thing.

The counters were piled with dirty dishes and packaged foods. The carpet had seen a couple dozen years and was stained too badly to recognize the original color of the hideous shag. The walls were the dingy white of most apartments with a smoker, though all I could smell was weed. The guy needed to open a window. I was starting to feel lightheaded, but at least it appeared there was no axe murderer ready to jump out at me.

“Bob?”

Still nothing. A glance at the single bedroom proved it was empty and a petri dish of brewing bacteria. Okay, I was a bit of a slob, but crap, never like this. The stench of shit made me gag. Or maybe that was the weed. I’d probably breathed enough of that crap to give myself a buzz for a week.

The bathroom door was slightly ajar. I headed for it just as my phone rang. “What?” I answered, a little annoyed. Didn’t he trust me?

“What’s taking so long? It’s been like ten minutes,” Kade said.

The stink intensified near the bathroom. I pushed the door back, and the smell wafted over me like a living thing. It took a minute to make sense of what I was seeing. Bob—well, presumably Bob—hung from the shower rod. His face was purple, eyes bulged out, and his mouth was contorted in a silent scream, teeth bared in a grimace. He was naked from the waist down, with only a leather harness on top. His dick hung lower than any dick had a right to—past his knees—dark purple and huge, filled with blood.

“Fuck! Oh fuck!” I swore, bile rising in my throat.

I raced from the apartment, barely making it to the hallway before heaving up tea and stomach acid on the puke-green carpet. The phone dug into my palm, but I clung to it like it could somehow erase the memory of the past five minutes of my life. Muffled curses trickled over the line.

Kade appeared a moment later, huffing and out of breath, his limp heavier than normal. He was without his cane, but I couldn’t recall him bringing it with us when we left the office. He wobbled like a picture out of focus. Or maybe that was just me.

“What the fuck? Talk about giving me a heart attack. I thought you said you’d tase and then run. Fuck, Ollie.”

“He’s already dead,” I grumbled at my shoes and heaved a little more. The hallway twisted and turned around me like a multicolored circus tent on a Tilt-A-Whirl.

Kade stepped around me and disappeared into the apartment. He was back seconds later, cursing and dialing his phone. He wrapped an arm around my waist and led me toward the exit. Fresh air had never tasted so sweet as when he dropped me unceremoniously next to my illegally parked VW. Whatever he said to the cops had them arriving in a hurry. Probably a first for the residents around here. I laid my head against the front headlight and shut my eyes. Maybe the swirling would stop.

 

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About Author Lissa Kasey:

Lissa Kasey lives in St. Paul, MN, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, and collects Asian Ball Joint Dolls who look like her characters. She has three cats who enjoy waking her up an hour before her alarm every morning and sitting on her lap to help her write. She can often be found at Anime Conventions masquerading as random characters when she’s not writing about boy romance.

Where to find the author:

Twitter: @parisbvamp
Website: http://www.lissakasey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lissa.kasey

Tour Dates & Stops: May 22, 2015

Multitasking Mommas, Parker Williams, Cate Ashwood, MM Good Book Reviews, Nephylim, Divine Magazine, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Love Bytes, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, BFD Book Blog, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Molly Lolly, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Velvet Panic, My Fiction Nook, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake, Happily Ever Chapter

Model Citizen Giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 2 print copies of ‘Model Citizen’

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It’s Cover Reveal Time for The Pinch of the Grape by Charley Descoteaux! (excerpt & giveaway)

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The Pinch of the Game by Charley Descoteaux
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Goodreads Link:
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

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Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press

About The Pinch of the Game…

Being a witch doesn’t mean one can beat the devil forever.

Jeffrey Overton, unemployed IT professional turned poker player, pushes his luck once too often and runs afoul of the host of an illegal card club. The man sent to escort Jeffrey to a “meeting” about his supernatural winning streak arrives at Jeffrey’s crappy North Portland apartment, lock-picking tools in hand and a charm to block Jeffrey’s magick.

Head muscle for said host, Mike Wells, is a Daisy from Daisyville. He isn’t a witch. What he lacks in magickal talent he makes up for in brawn, so he doesn’t expect the guy he’s after to overpower him. But once Mike renders Jeffrey helpless, he’d rather seduce him than bring him in.

Jeffrey and Michael ditch the “meeting” and end up hunting some of the same people they ran from, trying to get Jeffrey back into his own body. And that’s only part of the adventure. The pair travel halfway across the country on the quietest road trip in history and find missing people, empire-building witches, and maybe even the families they’d both thought lost to them.

Pages or Words:

Categories: Contemporary, Gay fictions, M/M Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance

An Excerpt from The Pinch of the Game

If Sal had sent someone after me, a short trip up to Seattle might be a good idea, maybe even BC. That called for some new clothes, so I grabbed my battered gym bag—my quick escape kit—and was almost home free when the kitchen door burst open. It would’ve been dumb to turn off the light when the goomba first went to work on the lock—I can’t see any better in the dark than your average Daisy, not when I’m blocked. Once that massive body filled the doorway, I wished I had.

Wished I’d done something.

He hesitated, barely a moment, and I bolted for the front door. He grabbed me before I made it out of the kitchen and pinned both of my arms to my sides. It wouldn’t work, I knew that, but I still tried to burn his hands. All I needed was enough time to—fuck, is he laughing?

“Give it up, pretty boy. You’re blocked.”

The big man pushed me against the wall face-first and pulled both hands behind my back.

“Hey, wait a sec, big guy. Let’s talk about this. I can—”

He pushed me flat against the wall, and the rest of that sentence disappeared in the rush of air he squeezed from my lungs. I couldn’t help being turned on, even though pain and domination usually aren’t my thing. Neither are bears, but underneath the padding he felt nice and solid, leaning full against me. He tightened a plastic zip tie around my wrists with shaking hands. And then he held me there.

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About the author:

Charley Descoteaux has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they’ve agreed to let her sleep once in a while. Charley grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during a drought, and found her true home in the soggy Pacific Northwest. She has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charley.descoteaux.3
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CharleyDescoteauxAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharleyDescote
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleydescote/
Blog: http://cdescoteauxwrites.com/blog/
Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/aqe7g7r
Email: c.descoteauxwrites@gmail.com

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Tour Dates & Stops: May 22, 2015
Parker Williams, Cate Ashwood, Emotion in Motion, Amanda C. Stone, Tara Lain, Kimi-Chan, BFD Book Blog, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Louise Lyons, Divine Magazine, Andrew Q. Gordon, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Lee Brazil, Rebecca Cohen Writes, Iyana Jenna, Mikky’s World of Books, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Love Bytes, Prism Book Alliance, Wake Up Your Wild Side, My Fiction Nook, Chris McHart, MM Good Book Reviews, Elin Gregory, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, All I Want and More Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Carly’s Book Reviews, Kimber Vale, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Hearts on Fire, Full Moon Dreaming, Velvet Panic, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, TTC Books and More, Up All Night, Read All Day, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Bike Book Reviews, Havan Fellows, The Hat Party, Nephylim, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Andrew Q. Gordon

Contest

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 gift card and backlist book of choice.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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Enter the World of Sex & Cybercrime with “Would I Lie To You?” by Brad Vance (author interview and giveaway)

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 Would I Lie To You? (The Game Players #1) by Brad Vance
Release Date: April 24, 2015

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Goodreads Link
Publisher: Brad Vance
Cover Artist: Brad Vance

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Sales Links: (Amazon exclusive)

Our Interview with Brad Vance….

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Brad Vance, author of “Would I Lie to You?” Hi Brad, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Thank you! Glad to be here.

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Well, it’s the first time I’ve come up with a pair of characters I felt could sustain a series. They’re complex and brilliant and easily bored, so they’ll be challenging each other to keep it fresh for some time to come. I’ve had other pairs about whom readers have said, “I want more!” But I’d given those guys their HEAs and I couldn’t figure out how to write more about them without undoing that HEA. And after all the angst and pain I put them through, I just couldn’t do that to them, or myself!

How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I got the book title looking at the cover model, Daniel Sobieray. That pick just popped out at me on a stock photo site, and I could hear him asking that – “Would I lie to you?” The answer, when you look at him, is yeah, you would. The series title is “The Game Players” because these are guys who aren’t interested in a relationship that’s, you know, Friday nights at the Olive Garden and the latest blockbuster movie. Marc and Jesse have that “fighting their attraction” trope, but I messed with that, and turned it into something more complex. Each knows very well that the other is just as attracted to him, but not only do circumstances stand in the way, but they’re both willing to play a game of teasing and expectations that lasts a long time. Just “giving in” would be boring, to both of them. Most of the sexual heat between them in the book is really the “foreplay” that builds them up to the big release!

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

I think they’re both special! But if I was to talk about Marc, I’d say that he’s an interesting type. He’s totally in control in life, running a multibillion dollar corporation, but he needs that release of a dom/sub relationship, somewhere he can lose that control, if only for a night. But – he’s not the kind of sub you’d see on his knees in a bar, crawling around licking any boot in sight. Marc’s not a weak person, he’s strong, and he’s looking for someone even stronger.

What do you think makes a good story?

Research, realism, believability. Dialogue that sounds like something actual men would say to each other. If you make the guy a cop, pick up a textbook on policing or a cop memoir and see what the job is really like. If you make the guy a soldier, make sure you know the job he has, the lingo, etc. We all have these fantasy men (fireman, cop, etc.) but to me, what fulfills the fantasy is that sense that this guy really is what you say he is.

What does your family think of your writing?

Well, my mom knows about it, but the only book she’s read is “Apollo’s Curse,” the one with no sex in it! She’s glad I’m making a living, but when I was just writing erotica and revealed to her that I was actually making money at it, all she said was, “Well…sure are a lot of weirdos out there.”

Young male fashion model posing outdoors against rustic background

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Software billionaire Marc Julian’s orderly life is shattered one night by a cyber-intrusion into his company’s servers. He’s always surrounded himself with the best people, but finding the culprit behind this might require a real expert…and sometimes it takes a thief to catch a thief.

Jesse Winchester and his team of “grey hat” hackers are suddenly available to Marc. Marc doesn’t know if he should trust Jesse with the keys to his company’s kingdom. After all, Jesse’s a convicted felon, sent to prison for violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. A felon sentenced to thirty-five years in prison, who mysteriously served only three years before being released…

Marc’s first company, his whole life, was shattered because he trusted the wrong person. This time there’s even more at stake, but few other options. Especially when his evil enemies, the billionaire industrialist Krom brothers, are revealed to be the source of the intrusion.

Is Jesse there to help Marc, or does he have his own history with the Kroms, his own score to settle? As Jesse and Marc spend more time together, their growing intimacy is at war with their need to win their respective battles. Soon the game they start to play with each other, against each other, becomes more exciting, more exquisitely frustrating…and more dangerous.

Pages or Words: 289 pages

Categories: BDSM, Crime Fiction, M/M Romance, Thriller, Cybercrime

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

He’d made a mistake with Marc. He’d thought they could play a game together, to pass the time, let off steam, release stress.

Marc was smart enough to know that that’s all it was.

Right?

But the look on his face, when Jesse said goodbye… The shock. The disappointment. The…

Say it. The hurt. That was when Jesse knew that for Marc, it had been more.

That was when Jesse knew that it had been more for him, too.

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About the author:
Brad Vance writes gay romance, erotica and paranormal stories and novels, including the breakout hits “A Little Too Broken” and “Have a Little Faith in Me.”

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.vance.10
Facebook Author Page: https://www.bradvanceerotica.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BradVanceAuthor
Google: https://plus.google.com/u/1/+BradVance/about

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Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: One of three E-book copies of ‘Would I Lie To You?’ by Brad Vance
Rafflecopter Code:
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Tour Dates & Stops: May 11 – May 29, 2015
11-May
Parker Williams

12-May
Prism Book Alliance

13-May
Decadent Delights

14-May
Kimi-Chan

15-May
Bayou Book Junkie

18-May
Velvet Panic
3 Chicks After Dark
Inked Rainbow Reads

19-May
Divine Magazine
Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My

20-May
Love Bytes

21-May
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

22-May
Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance

25-May
BFD Book Blog

26-May
Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

27-May
Iyana Jenna

28-May
Molly Lolly
MM Good Book Reviews

29-May
My Fiction Nook
Butterfly-O-Meter
Because Two Men Are Better Than One

Love Paranormal Romance? Check Out “Hush” by Jude Sierra (excerpt and giveaway)

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Hush by Jude Sierra
Release Date: May 19, 2015

Goodreads Link 
Publisher: Consent, an imprint of Interlude Press
Cover Artist: Artist: Victoria A. with Cover Design by BuckeyeGrrl Designs

Sales Link:  Amazon

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More About “Hush”:

Wren is one of “the gifted”—a college sophomore with the power to compel others’ feelings and desires. He uses his power as a game of sexual consent until Cameron, a naïve freshman, enters his life. As Cameron begins to understand his sexuality and gain confidence under Wren’s tutelage, Wren grows to recognize new and unexpected things about himself. Can their game become a relationship as the power shifts from teacher to student?

Pages or Words: 278 pages

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

 Hush Excerpt:

Wren looks… different. His eyes are wide in what seems almost like surprise. His lips, darker than Cam’s ever seen them, tremble. Cam doesn’t need any of Wren’s abilities to catch that Wren is overwhelmed. The only thing Cam knows how to offer is what he himself would want.

“Kiss me?” he asks.

Beautifully, Wren doesn’t resist. His clothes are rough against Cam’s skin all those zippers are so cold where Cam radiates heat. When Wren drapes himself on top of Cam, his body is heavier than Cam had imagined. Wren kisses Cam softly, seeking something, and Cam wants to believe it’s from a feeling of closeness, something sweet like the gratitude he feels right now. He cannot believe he just did that—that he let Wren do that. Hulled and shaking, Cam lets his hands wander because even after that perfect storm of pleasure, there is an itch under his skin for more.

About the author:

Jude Sierra first began writing poetry as a child in her home country of Brazil. Still a student of the form, she has expanded her repertoire with her first novel, Hush.

She began writing long-form fiction by tackling her first National Novel Writing Month project in 2007, and in 2011 began writing in online fan communities, where her stories have thousands of readers.

Where to find the author:

Website: http://www.Judesierra.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/JudeMSierra
Twitter: @judesierra

Contest

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Interlude Press Gift Card.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Dates & Stops:

19-May

Wake Up Your Wild Side

Hearts on Fire

Multitasking Mommas

3 Chicks After Dark

The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat

20-May

The Novel Approach

Because Two Men Are Better Than One

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

MM Good Book Reviews

21-May

Velvet Panic

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

Bayou Book Junkie

22-May

Emotion In Motion

My Fiction Nook

Divine Magazine

25-May

Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My

Love Bytes

26-May

Prism Book Alliance

BFD Book Blog

27-May

Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance

Amanda C. Stone

Cate Ashwood

28-May

Molly Lolly

29-May

The Blogger Girls

1-Jun

Rainbow Gold Reviews

Inked Rainbow Reads

 

Cover Reveal Time for Mia Kerick’s Love Spell (cover reveal and giveaway)

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Its Cover Reveal Time for Love Spell by Mia Kerick
Release Date: June 1, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Cool Dudes Publishing
Cover Artist: Louis C. Harris

Sales Link:  Amazon

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Blurb:

Strutting his stuff on the catwalk in black patent leather pumps and a snug orange tuxedo as this year’s Miss (ter) Harvest Moon feels so very right to Chance César, and yet he knows it should feel so very wrong.

As far back as he can remember, Chance has been “caught between genders.” (It’s quite a touchy subject; so don’t ask him about it.)  However, he does not question his sexual orientation. Chance has no doubt about his gayness—he is very much out of the closet at his rural New Hampshire high school, where the other students avoid the kid they refer to as “girl-boy.”

But at the local Harvest Moon Festival, when Chance, the Pumpkin Pageant Queen, meets Jasper Donahue, the Pumpkin Carving King, sparks fly. So Chance sets out, with the help of his BFF, Emily, to make “Jazz” Donahue his man.

An article in an online women’s magazine, Ten Scientifically Proven Ways to Make a Man Fall in Love with You (with a bonus love spell thrown in for good measure), becomes the basis of their strategy to capture Jazz’s heart.

Quirky, comical, definitely flamboyant, and with an inner core of poignancy, Love Spell celebrates the diversity of a gender-fluid teen.

Pages or Words: 44,300 words

Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Romance, Young Adult

Excerpt:

“Do you really wanna go there?”

Unlike the fake lunch block that I spend every day with Jazz, my real lunch block with Emily has been a total bitch lately. I can’t say who the major target of the bullshit is—Emmy or me—as neither of us has a sizeable fan club at Fiske High School. But I will say that the front table by the salad bar can be a cold place, and that’s not just because of the draft that comes in from the hallway.

“Nice makeup, girl-boy.” It seems Edwin Darling hasn’t forgotten my nickname from grade school, which sucks for me.

But this diva never backs down. “Thanks. Haven’t you heard—I was the head makeup artist on Evita?”

“Eh-what-uh?” Eddie the Appalling wrinkles his greasy forehead and runs his hand over his buzz-cut hair. Clearly, he is unfamiliar with Tony Award winning Broadway musicals. Not that I’m shocked. He quickly shifts his attention to Emily. “How do you put up with him, fat-ass?”

My BFF isn’t as good as I am at deflecting evil taunts. She looks up at him with wide eyes and seems to lose her appetite, pushing her salad toward the middle of the table.

“Oh, that’s cold, my darling Eddie.” (See what I did with his name, there? Clever, I know.) I stand up. “I wouldn’t go there if I were you.” I then “rawr” at him like a ticked-off tigress, throwing in a clawing gesture to get my point across. “Do you really wanna go there?”

I can tell by the look on his face that he’s remembering how long it took for the scratches on his face to heal after our last entanglement.

“I personally could live without going there, but you know me—I’m impulsive as hell.” I fold my arms across my chest and thrust out my right hip. “Piss me off and I’m likely to do abso-fucking-lutely anything.”

The bulk of my attention is focused on my adversary, but it’s impossible to miss that we’ve gathered an audience. An audience of indifferent “watchers”—the multitudes of apathetic teens who will later text each other, “did you see the homo and the bully go head-to-head at lunch today?” They don’t matter one smidgeon in the scheme of things, but my Emily does.

At this point, Eddie and I are eye-to-eye and chest-to-chest. Lucky for him, one of his thugs bails him out. “Get too close to that fag and you’ll get AIDS—am I wrong?” The big oaf grabs Eddie by the arm and pulls him away.

But he doesn’t remove his gaze from mine. “You better watch out when we’re off school grounds, pansy.”

If I said I didn’t shudder, I’d be lying.

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About the author:

Photo_2Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty-two years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships, and she believes that physical intimacy has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, CoolDudes Publishing, and CreateSpace for providing her with alternate places to stash her stories.

Mia is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights, especially marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Stop by Mia’s Blog with questions or comments, or simply share what’s on your mind. Find Mia on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Where to find the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mia.kerick?fref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MiaKerick
Pinterest: http://www,pinterest.com/miakerick/

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Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Inked Rainbow Reads, Love Bytes, Bike Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Carly’s Book Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Chris McHart, EE Montgomery, Divine Magazine, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Boys on the Brink Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Velvet Panic, Up All Night, Read All Day, Cate Ashwood, Nephylim, Mikky’s World of Books, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Prism Book Alliance, Bayou Book Junkie, Amanda C. Stone, Molly Lolly, The Novel Approach, Jessie G. Books, Hearts on Fire, Cathy Brockman Romances

Contest

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25Amazon Gift Certificate.

Rafflecopter Code:
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In the Book Spotlight: Book Name: Buzz and Blow – Shave and Shimmer – Fade and Fluff by Alex Carreras

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Buzz and Blow – Shave and Shimmer – Fade and Fluff by Alex Carreras
Release Date: May 20, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Publisher: Wilde City Press
Cover Artist: Adrian Nichols

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Sales Links: Wilde City Press

STRW Author BookSynopsis

In the city of Sangre, Florida, vampires and humans coexist happily until one ancient and powerful vampire decides to mess up the entire thing. The hairdressers at Everlasting Salon who service vampires and humans alike decide to face the threat that lands on their doorstep enlisting the barbers across the street for a fight to the finish. Chaos ensues when fists fly, but it’s not all bad when old flames reunite and new relationships take root and grow. Between the clandestine meetings and vigilante justice, the vampires find love in unexpected companions, hoping to get some TLC along the way.

Pages or Words: 63,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Gay fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Asher Riots unlocked the door to Everlasting, the salon he had worked at since arriving in the Sunshine State.

Normally the blazing sun wasn’t a vampire’s best friend, but after spending a hundred plus years in the northern United States, it was time for balmy breezes to warm his chilled skin, and soft, sandy beaches to tread on when the moon was full and high in the night sky, no matter what the season.

Stepping through the threshold, he inhaled the distinctive scents of the salon that made his senses tingle with excitement. The familiar smells of the hairsprays, gels, and lotions made him thankful that he had chosen this profession before he became what he was today, a member of the undead. His parents had coiffed the elite of Paris society, and their talents and attention to detail had been passed on to their son who possessed the same talents it took to excel in the beauty industry.

But times and styles had changed, leaving Asher longing for the days of platinum powdered wigs worn by courtesans, instead of bold, garish colors embraced by America’s youth. Releasing a sigh, he flipped on the neon Open sign that hung in the window. Looking out onto the street, he noticed that the barbershop across the way was still closed. Although attractive, the barbers were bad news, and they attracted similar clientele that made Asher’s skin crawl, but excited his lust for rough trade. He never admitted this to his boss, Jerrod, but Tory, his co-worker, suspected as much, judging by the smirk on his glossed lips whenever he caught Asher gazing at the comings and goings of the barbershop during the slow periods at the salon. Tory liked to play dumb, but he was anything but. Asher suspected that Tory preferred it that way because less would be expected of him. He was only fooling himself. Jerrod would never have hired the twink with a penchant for all things shiny, if he believed that was true. Jerrod only took on vampires who showed potential. And if that potential wasn’t realized, they’d be asked to leave. Many had passed through the doors of Everlasting, but only Asher had withstood the test of time.

“They’re in there.” Jerrod strutted through the door on a gust of wind, his deep baritone reverberating in Asher’s chest. “Can’t you smell them?”

“I can smell something, all right,” Asher mumbled under his breath before turning to see the man who had saved him from his own self-loathing when he arrived in Sangre, Florida, years ago. “And it smells like someone is wearing too much cologne.” Asher eyed his friend’s black-from-head-to-toe outfit. It was very hairdresser. And very vampire.

“Funny,” Jerrod grumbled, shooting a look at Asher. “I can sense something’s up but I can’t figure out what, exactly. Have you heard any tongues wagging in the street?”

“Nope,” Asher returned. “But I don’t usually listen to gossip. Ask Tory. He’d know if there is anything to know.”

Jerrod chuckled. “He’s late,” he said without looking at the clock on the wall. “What are we going to do about that guy?”

Just then, the man in question swished through the door, his strut better than any super model’s. “Are you two talking about me again?” Tory made it to the middle of the salon and twirled. “What do you think? It was a gift from an admirer.”

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Writer of M/M erotic romance, Alex Carreras believes there is nothing sexier than a hot, naked man with a cocky attitude and a sultry smile. Always on the hunt for inspiration, you will find Alex wherever there are attractive men hopefully in a state of undress. And since he lives in South Florida where the average yearly temperature is a balmy 82 Fahrenheit, there is certainly no shortage of inspiration.

Where to find the author:

Facebook Author Page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexCWrites

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Tour Dates & Stops:

May 20, 2015
Havan Fellows, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Molly Lolly, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Emotion in Motion, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cate Ashwood, BFD Book Blog, The Hat Party, Lee Brazil, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Multitasking Mommas, Christy Loves 2 Read, Full Moon Dreaming,
Hearts on Fire, Charley Descoteaux

May 21, 2015
Inked Rainbow Reads, Parker Williams

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Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Buzz and Blow – Shave and Shimmer – Fade and Fluff’
Rafflecopter Code:
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Queue Up The Fiction Fun with Mischief Corner Books, The MCB Quarterly Vol. I(excerpts and giveaway)

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LGBTQ Press: Mischief Corner Books
Book Name: The MCB Quarterly, Volume 1

Release Date: April 30, 2015

Publisher: Mischief Corner Books
Cover Artist: Freddy MacKay

A Character Interview by J. Scott Coatsworth…

My name’s Tony, and I got this questionaire in the mail from The Center – I guess they want me to “move on” Like it’s just that easy to let someone go – the man who was a part of you, heart and soul.

But what the hell. Here it goes…

1. Now that you’ve gotten together, what comes next?

Well, I wouldn’t exactly say together. OK, so after Jake died, I did have this sort of weird thing happen. You know that thing where some guy tells you he met your soulmate in the afterlife, and … what, no? Well anyhow, it was one of those sort of things.

So next? I guess I pack up his things and figure out what to do now that Jake’s no longer here for me to take care of. He’d want me to move on. But still… it’s hard.

2. What was the hardest thing for you to overcome that you didn’t expect to be an issue?

Letting go. For a few unexpected days it was summer again. We were young together. Alive. But then it was snatched away. It’s hard to let it go.

3. Who or what makes you laugh out loud?

Jake. He had a wicked sense of humor… sometimes he’d wait until I took a drink, and then say something so funny I’d snort coke out of my nose. And oh my god, his Michelle Bachmann impression. Those eyes…

4. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Daiquiri Ice. It’s one of the lesser-known of the 31 flavors. I don’t even drink. But I’m addicted to the stuff. Jake… well, Jake liked chocolate chip. But he used the Italian name – stracciatella.

5. What movie will you watch over and over again?

Strictly Ballroom. Hands-down the best movie ever made, and the only other thing that makes me snort. Of course, Jake disagreed with me about that one too.

He swore up and down that Romy and Michelle was better. Turns out I’m the Mary, after all.

I hope I get to see him again in Avalon so he can fight me on that one.

Blurb:

The Quarterly is an eMagazine of LGBTQ fiction – of all kinds. This volume features four short stories: Facsimile by Mina MacLeod, Leash on Love by Beany Sparks, Man of the House by Brigid Collins, and Avalon by J. Scott Coatsworth. It also includes an Author Interview with Lexi Ander, talking about writing gay science fiction, and a Featured Artist section about the multitalented Catherine Dair. And our very own Angel Martinez offers an Op-Ed on “When is an Author not an Author?”

Pages or Words: 33,200 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Gay fiction, Horror, Lesbian romance, M/M romance, Romance, Transexual

(Please remember that not all stories will contain all elements listed.)

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Excerpts:

Avalon by J. Scott Coatsworth

Tony wheeled the chair down the long ramp to the beach, hoping it wasn’t too hot or too cold for Jake’s skin.

The day itself was wonderful, the clearest in weeks, and the Pacific Ocean waves pounded the beach in a steady, soothing rhythm that he hoped even Jake could hear.

Soon they were on level ground, negotiating the boardwalk that ran up and down this part of the beach. Jake had a sloppy smile on his face.

Tony smiled to himself. There were so few pleasures he could give Jake anymore. The man deserved so much more than this.

He reached forward to wipe the drool from the side of Jake’s cheek. “It’s a lovely day out, isn’t it, Jake?”

His lover didn’t respond, but only stared ahead, smiling.

There were still periods of lucidity, to be sure, but they were farther and farther apart. Sometimes Tony wished that Jake would finally succumb to the growth in his head and be at peace. But only sometimes.

More often, he treasured the time they still had together and remembered the strong, vital man Jake had been when they’d first met.

For just a moment, the rest of the world faded away, and they were alone together on a quiet, windswept beach. Tony breathed in deeply, savoring the pure sweetness of the salty ocean air, the wash of clean colors that assaulted his vision.

He glanced up at the road above, only to find it was gone. There were no other people on the bluff, no buildings, nothing. They were alone, really alone, in this little corner of the world.

Tony shook his head to dispel the vision. It was the late nights, he thought, the lack of sleep that led to these strange imaginations.

A hand came down on his shoulder. Hard. And suddenly they were back among the bustle of a thousand other people.

Leash on Love by Beany Sparks

There he is again.

Matty noticed the man exit the gym as he’d done numerous times over the past few months. The gym was only a few doors down from the veterinary practice where Matty came to help out his cousin Robert when he wasn’t at uni.

Every day after his classes finished, he’d pop down to the practice and walk the dogs that were in doggy day care. Some days he’d finish earlier than others, so he didn’t always walk the dogs at the same time, but on the days that he walked the dogs later, he’d leave around the same time as the guy left the gym.

He’d noticed gym-guy after the first few visits to his cousin’s vet practice. There was nothing outrageous about the man. He had light brown hair and muscles that were obviously from his time spent at the gym, but not that of a hard-core body builder. Something about him had caught Matty’s eye, but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. He looked forward to seeing him, but he hadn’t gotten up the courage to say anything to him, let alone get caught watching him. Even now he was practically hiding behind his car, pretending to be looking for his keys.

“Hey, Matty!”

Matty turned to see Ronnie, or Veronica as her name badge indicated, coming towards him. Ronnie had been his best friend for years, which worked out well when she married his cousin. While Robert was a vet, Ronnie was a dentist who conveniently worked in the building opposite the vet practice. The only thing separating the buildings was the numerous parking spaces in between.

“Hey, Ronnie. What’s been happening?” Matty asked as he walked up to her and gave her a hug, which she happily returned.

“Oh you know, same old, same old.” She moved back a step and leaned against his car. “How are things with you?”

Man of the House by Brigid Collins

Some inconsiderate ass-dick had hit a skunk on the road out front of our house.

The God-awful stench woke me before my alarm, which I suppose I could have chosen to see as a blessing. For some reason, all I could focus on was the way skunk scent stuck in the back of my throat. Lucky I wasn’t much of a breakfaster.

God, it was bad. I hadn’t opened my eyes yet, but the darkness of pre-six o-fuckin’-clock in the morning pressed against my lids. That and the soft warmth of my bed whispered to me, urging me to roll over, press my face into the pillow, and pretend the dead critter out there was a squirrel. Those little bastard thieves deserved to get hit, and they didn’t stink up the neighborhood when they died.

But rolling over and pretending wasn’t what the man of the fucking house would do. I didn’t even have to go through my usual cycle of “what would Dad do” to know that. A man did what needed to be done, and that was that. No use bitching about it now, either. Dad was gone, and there was no getting him back. Someone still had to do the stuff that needed done, and I figured out months back that it wasn’t going to be Derrik.

I flopped my arm out from the blankets and around my nightstand until I managed to get my finger on the alarm switch. That taken care of, I sat up and cracked my eyes open. A red 5:23 burned out of the shadows of my room, and I groaned.

Look on the bright side, this gives you time to deal with the skunk without making you late for school.

Facsimile by Mina MacLeod

The night President Carnot is assassinated, Monique Chambly is nestled in a chair in her sitting room with a blanket wrapped around her legs. The fire is crackling, and her tea is hot. It smells of cinnamon and spice; the scent brings familiarity and comfort, but Monique cannot remember why. She remembers very little these days.

She’s staring at the amber softgel capsules, debating whether the pain is bad enough to warrant them. The phonograph is warbling Mozart. She has always adored Mozart. At least, she’s fairly certain she has.

Outside their Montmartre estate, the rain comes down upon the city, heavy and unforgiving. Thunder rolls across the sky and lightning rips through the clouds, illuminating the streets. It is a cold, terrible night to be outside.

Her joints ache. Monique winces and reaches for the capsules. Her muscles feel like they are being pulled from her bones. She manages to swallow the medication, wincing as it slides down her dry throat. Monique grabs the tea and takes a generous gulp, though her tongue protests the sting of heat. She lolls her head until her chin sits upon her chest. Dark ringlets of hair shift to hide her face. Her head feels heavy, so heavy—as though her neck isn’t strong enough to hold it up.

The next clap of thunder startles her; it cracks the sky in twain with its severity. The arc lamps in their home flicker. Monique is huddled there, curled in on herself, when Elvire finds her.

“Monique, my darling,” she says, kneeling before the chair. “Whatever are you doing awake?” She reaches out, brushing aside the curtain of Monique’s hair.

Dr. Elvire Mazet is a tall, wiry creature. Yet here she is, folded up neatly at Monique’s feet. Her dark eyes are wide with concern behind her wire-rimmed spectacles. She is still wearing her lab coat. Its immaculate whiteness has long since been stained with evidence of various experiments. A pair of safety goggles is holding her short red hair out of her face. Monique wonders idly what Elvire has been up to down in her lab. Normally, Elvire leaves all of her clothing and equipment downstairs.

Thunder rumbles through the sky yet again, and Monique shudders. “Am I—am I afraid of storms? I don’t…remember.”

Sales   Mischief Corner Books  All Romance (ARe)  – Bookstrand – Amazon – Barnes & Noble

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About the Press:

Mischief Corner Books is an organization of superheroes… no, it’s a platinum-album techno-fusion group…no, hold on a sec here…

Ah, yes. Mischief Corner is a diverse group of authors who met on a mountain in Tennessee and decided since we probably were too easily distracted to rule the world that we’d settle for causing a bit of mayhem instead.

In addition to making mayhem, we publish books with a diverse range of genres and topics… we live to break molds.

MCB. Giving voice to LGBTQ fiction.

Where to find MCB:

Giveaway

Contest:  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by MCB and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a
Rafflecopter Prize: 1 $15.00 Amazon gift certificate and copy of the Quarterly (winners choice of format), 2 $10.00 All Romance gift certificates, and 3 copies of the Quarterly (winners choice of format).

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Tour Dates & Stops:

  • 11-May Angel Martinez
  • 12-May Bayou Book Junkie
  • 13-May Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance
  • 14-May Cate Ashwood
  • 15-May Cathy Brockman Romances, Full Moon Dreaming
  • 18-May  Divine Magazine, Molly Lolly
  • 19-May MM Good Book Reviews, Carly’s Book Reviews
  • 20-May  Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
  • 21-May  Inked Rainbow Reads
  • 22-May  BFD Book Blog
  • 28-May  Prism Book Alliance