In the Book Spotlight: Blood of Salar (Masters and Mages #2) by Alexis Duran

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Blood of Salar (Masters and Mages #2) by Alexis Duran
Release Date: March 3, 2015

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Author Alexis Duran Bio:
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 cataloguing 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 Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/alexis.duran.18294
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AlexisSDuran
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/alexisduran1177/
Other: My blog at http://alexisduranblog.com
Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8332457.Alexis_Duran

Publisher: Loose ID

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe)   Amazon

STRW Author BookSynopsis

About Blood of Salar (Masters and Mages #2)

M’lan, headmaster of the order of Ka’alar and Jamil Jarka, king’s assassin, find their impossible love challenged to the utmost as a rebellion sweeps them apart, sending Jamil on a dangerous mission to assassinate the rebel leader, General Charvat. Unknown to anyone, Charvat is on his way to the temple to exploit the headmaster’s magical abilities.SmBloodOfSalar

When the rebel army arrives, M’lan is thrust into a struggle against political and sexual dominance as Charvat attempts to break his resistance. Violence and death mount, awakening within M’lan both the powers of destruction and the desire for revenge.

On the trail of his prey, Jamil begins to question his devotion to M’lan as his once innocent lover transforms into a mage and invades the assassin’s thoughts and dreams. The closer Jamil draws to M’lan, the more he puts his life and his very soul at risk. Jamil soon realizes that his lover might prove to be more deadly than the man he was sent to kill.

A final confrontation between assassin and monk might destroy them both, but Jamil is relentless in his determination to rescue M’lan, for he knows that only his love can master the mage.

Categories: Erotica, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt
M’lan knelt beside the assassin’s bronzed body. He placed his palm on Jamil’s chest and silently beseeched Salar to remove the deadly impulses instilled in Jamil ever since he began his training as an assassin. Jamil closed his eyes and seemed to relax, but as the warm energy of the god seeped through M’lan’s fingers, Jamil jerked suddenly to full alertness. Like a cobra striking he seized M’lan’s wrist and gave it a painful twist, eyes flashing. M’lan sat back, startled.

Jamil did not let him go. He let out a slow breath and lifted M’lan’s fingers to his mouth. He kissed the knuckles of a clenched fist. “The last thing I need is more spells to confuse this simple warrior’s mind.”

“A prayer is not a spell!” M’lan tried to pull free but couldn’t. He gritted his teeth, fighting back a rising anger. Jamil’s strength both entranced and infuriated him.

“Stop trying to weaken me.” Jamil said in a wretchedly calm voice. “You must stay here and do your duty, I must go away and do mine. Nothing has changed.”
M’lan inhaled slowly, breath catching. “Let me go.”
Pages or Words: 60,000 words

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Tour Dates: March 10, 2015

 Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, The Hat Party, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, My Fiction Nook, Molly Lolly, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Fallen Angel Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Cate Ashwood, MM Good Book Reviews, Multitasking Mommas, Divine Magazine, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

 

 

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Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: A copy of Touch of Salar, Book 1 in the Masters and Mages series and a $10 Loose Id GC, must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided by Pride Promotions. All prizes and winner notifications will come from them.

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In The Spotlight: Thirty Things by Cate Ashwood (excerpt and contest)

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 Thirty Things by Cate Ashwood
Release Date: April 3, 2015

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Cate Ashwood’s  latest release, Thirty Things, is out now!  What things would you want do to before you  hit 30?  Do you have a list in mind of things to do, places to go, songs to sing?  Then Cate Ashwood has just the story for you…in Thirty Things!

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Cate Ashwood…

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot-pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, her brand new little boy, and her two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cateashwood
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cateashwood/
Blog – http://www.cateashwood.com/cates-blog

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Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: A.J. Corza

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Finn and Nate have been best friends their whole lives. When a childhood accident left Finn broken, Nate stood by as all his other friends left. Now approaching Finn’s thirtieth birthday, there is one secret Finn still hasn’t revealed—he has been in love with Nate since they were eight years old. Hiding his feelings for twenty-one years, terrified of what might happen if Nate ever found out has been difficult, but losing his friend would be worse than living forever with a bad case of unrequited love.

There are some things that just have to be done before your thirtieth birthday. As a gift to Finn, Nate plans a road trip across America to check off a list of thirty things to experience before hitting that milestone. Starting in Crawfordsville, Indiana, they tour the country, trying new things and meeting interesting new people. Nate’s having the time of his life, but Finn is holding something back. As the days count down, navigating the back roads suddenly seems easier than figuring out where their relationship is heading.

One thing’s for certain. There will be no turning back.
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

I opened the box, and inside I found one of those road maps you can buy for ninety-nine cents at a gas station and a pile of envelopes tied together with butcher’s twine.

Nate reached across the arm of the couch and lifted the map, unfolding it so I could see. He had marked out a handful of destinations on the map that amounted to what was a grand circle tour of about half the states.

“We leave in three days,” he proclaimed, obviously proud of himself.

“We’re going on a road trip?”

“You bet. You’re always talking about how there are things you want to see and do, and we’ve never done any of them. So now we have a list of thirty things to do before you turn thirty. Each one of those envelopes has a different task inside. It’ll be fun. Besides, we haven’t gotten to hang out much lately, and I thought this would be good… just you and me road tripping across America.”

“So what you’re saying is you miss me.”

“What I’m saying is, you’re going to be thirty, so I figured we should have one last grand adventure before you’re too old and decrepit to actually enjoy the trip.”

“You’re an asshole,” I said, although by asshole I meant the best friend in the world a guy could have
.
He got my meaning.

“Love you too, Finn.” My heart jumped at those words, though I knew he didn’t mean them the way I wished he would. Still, I would take what I could get.

Pages or Words: 70,000 words

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Tour Dates: March 10, 2015

Tour Stops:

Parker Williams, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, BFD Book Blog, My Fiction Nook, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, 3 Chicks After Dark, Andrew Q. Gordon, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Kimber Vale, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, The Hat Party, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake, Velvet Panic, Love Bytes, Carly’s Book Reviews

 

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Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Thirty Things’ by Cate Ashwood. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter link and prizes provided by Pride Promotions.

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A Closer Look at Chyna Doll by Mickie B. Ashling (excerpt and contest)

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                       A Closer Look at….

 

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Chyna Doll by Mickie B. Ashling
Publisher Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Anne Cain

Thank you to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting my Chyna Doll blog tour visit. Although this is the fourth novel in the Horizons series, it can be read as a stand-alone. We’ve moved ahead several years and Grier’s son, Luca, who was seven when the series started, is now almost fifteen. I’ve brought an excerpt to share, as well as some goodies to give away, so stay tuned to see what you can win!

Blurb

Lil Lampert’s forty-fifth birthday turns the effervescent architect into a brooding mess, and his partner, Grier Dilorio, takes him to Italy to help him regain his zest for life. The timing is bad—almost-fifteen-year-old Luca has just started high school, and his mother and stepfather are also traveling. Luca is left in the care of Chicago Bear, Clark Stevens, and his partner, Dr. Jody Williams.

Growing up with two dads and two gay uncles has given Luca a unique perspective on gender roles, but not all the answers. He’s had a secret crush on his straight best friend, Chip, for years. Suddenly, Luca finds himself attracted to Chyna, Chip’s twin sister. Now he’s wondering if this means he’s bisexual.

Born with a sexual development disorder, Chyna should have been raised as a male, but due to an epic parenting fail, is being raised as female. Hiding the truth becomes more difficult when Chyna hits puberty, and crushing over Luca adds another element to Chyna’s struggle to fit in.

Is Luca’s moral compass strong enough to guide him successfully through this period of discovery or will he succumb to peer pressure and shatter Chyna’s dreams for happiness?

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Excerpt

LIL GROANED when he opened his eyes and shut them instantly. Lancing pain behind his right eyeball was an unwelcome reminder of last night’s overindulgence. He could practically see his arteries clogging up and exploding thanks to the appetizing array of decadent finger food he’d popped into his mouth at regular intervals without a second thought. He’d washed down the high-calorie goodies with one champagne flute after another, and he moaned in dismay when it dawned on him that he might have overdone it.

“Are you all right?” Grier asked sleepily.

Lil sat up and clutched at his head like it was about to fall off. “Please tell me I didn’t make a fool of myself,” he lamented, envisioning wild scenes in a swimming pool with a handful of nubile young studs.

Grier snorted. “I saved you from that fate.”

“Thank God,” Lil said, sinking back down on his pillow. “There’s no fool like an old fool.”

“Don’t start….”

“Can I get a blanket dispensation for anything stupid I did last night?” Lil asked. “I don’t remember much after that fifth round of champagne.”

“I’m starting to wonder if they slipped you a roofie.”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“You were insatiable,” Grier explained.

“Truly?”

“We fucked three ways from Sunday and then did it all over again. I can’t recall the last time I had so much fun.”

“Are you being sarcastic?” Lil asked defensively.

Grier got up on an elbow, scrubbed his thick morning growth, and smiled down at Lil indulgently. “You wore me out.”

Lil grinned. “I hope I was fabulous.”

“Don’t you remember any of it?”

Lil’s eyes widened. “Do you think I’m getting Alzheimer’s?”

“Now I’m sure you were drugged by those assholes up the hill.”

“Could be,” Lil said, “or I was just shitfaced.” He wiggled his butt around and moaned. “I’m sore, lovey. What unspeakable thing did you shove up my ass?”

Grier laughed. “Other than my dick?”

“It feels like half the town was down there paying me a visit.”

“You may have asked for a toy or two before we got down to business.”

“Oh? Did you fist me?”

“You seem to have that on your mind lately, but no, I didn’t.”

“It’s been a while—” Lil broke off.

“Is that a request?”

Lil smiled shyly. “You know I’d never turn that down.”

“It’s not something we’ve done on the spur of the moment.”

“It won’t take me long to get ready.”

“Why don’t we plan to revisit in a few days.” Lil nodded. “In the meantime, I’ll pave the way, so to speak.”

“How can anyone so amazingly abandoned in the sack be so uptight about everything else?”

“Good question,” Lil said. “Perhaps my sensible side keeps warring with my inner child on principle.”

“I’m the Gemini, not you.”

“And yet you’re far less mercurial.”

“I like it when your Mercury shows up.”

“He is rather fun, isn’t he?”

“A blast from the past,” Grier said, nuzzling Lil’s neck. “What say you junk cautious-Lil for the rest of the trip and let the boy back in?”

“Are we negotiating here?” “You were intrigued by the offer of an orgy last night. Was that the booze talking, or are you in the mood for some group sex?”

“Would you be shocked if I said yes?”

 

More About Mickie B. Ashling…

Mickie B. Ashling is the alter-ego of a multifaceted woman raised by a single mother who preferred reading over other forms of entertainment. She found a kindred spirit in her oldest child and encouraged her with a steady supply of dog-eared paperbacks. Romance was the preferred genre, and historical romances topped her favorites list.

By the time Mickie discovered her own talent for writing, real life had intruded, and the business of earning a living and raising four sons took priority. With the advent of e-publishing and the inevitable emptying nest, dreams were resurrected, and the storyteller was reborn.

She stumbled into the world of men who love men in 2002 and continues to draw inspiration from their ongoing struggle to find equality and happiness in this oftentimes skewed and intolerant world. Her award-winning novels have been called “gut wrenching, daring, and thought provoking.” She admits to being an angst queen and making her men work damn hard for their happy endings.

Mickie loves to travel and has lived in the Philippines, Spain, and the Middle East but currently resides in a suburb outside Chicago.

Connect with Mickie

Email | Facebook | Website | Blog | Goodreads and Ask the Author

Purchase Links

Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

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Using Rafflecopter below, enter to win one of these prizes (contest open internationally): a $20 Dreamspinner gift certificate, one of five ecopies of Chyna Doll, any two ebooks from Mickie’s backlist, or a signed paperback of Chyna Doll. Must be 18 or older to enter.

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Tour Schedule

March 2 – The Novel Approach

March 3 – Cup o’ Porn

March 4 – Hearts On Fire

March 5 – WoW…from The Scarf Princess

March 6 – MM Good Book Reviews

March 7 – Book Reviews & More by Kathy

March 9 – Prism Book Alliance

March 10 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

March 11 – On Top Down Under Book Reviews

March 12 – Sinfully…Addicted to All Male Romance

Tour and materials organized by PAS Promotions

In the Book Spotlight: Black and Blue Love: A Lesbian Novel by Judy Folger (author interview and contest)

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Black and Blue Love: A Lesbian Novel by Judy Folger
Goodreads Link

Cover of Black and Blue Love

 Today we have author Judy Folger in our Interview chair!  Check out the interview below and all the book details and contest about Black and Blue Love: A Lesbian Novel.

Q and A with Author Judy Folger

Question: What inspired you to write this story?

A friend and I were talking about my romance books and in particular about women in our society today. She happened to mention that she once had volunteered at a domestic violence hotline center. She said she’d received a call from a woman in a violent lesbian relationship seeking help. That conversation led to my doing some research on the subject. My friend and I neither one remembered ever seeing or hearing anything about lesbian domestic violence. Thus was born my NEED to write a book about a lesbian relationship involving domestic violence.

Question: What books or authors inspired you as a writer?

I find this a difficult question to answer. I have always been a voracious reader. I read fiction and nonfiction on just about any subject. To choose one or a few books or authors who inspired me to write, well that’s difficult to say. Just reading books has been an inspiration…I wanted to write them, too.

Question: What romance novels did you read growing up?

Actually, I didn’t read romance novels while I was growing up. There weren’t any books for lesbian teens back then, and I found heterosexual romances boring. I was more interested in non-fiction.

Question: Did the lack of LGBTQ fiction, romance in particular, prompt you to write your own?

Actually what prompted me to write my own lesbian romance books was the fact that my longtime partner and I had separated. I turned to my writing, which I had suppressed for many years. Since then, writing lesbian romance books has simply been a natural thing for me. My first book, The Unfinished Letter was wonderful for me to write as I included many personal experiences and emotions. The Unfinished Letter was my best seller each month until I wrote and published Black and Blue Love. Now Black and Blue Love is my best seller each month with The Unfinished Letter coming in second.

Question: What qualities do you look for in a story?

I ask that the stories I read be real and believable. All my books are about strong, independent women who find themselves in difficult situations and who also find their way out. My characters and the plots are all realistic. I believe any woman can relate to my books.

Question: Characters or Plot? Which comes first?

I start with an idea for a story. I do not work with an outline. I sit down to write, and the characters start to come to life…they show me the way. It is great fun to write every day and to see how the story grows and develops and then finally ends…I don’t like the end…I hate to say goodbye to my characters.

Question: What are the most important elements for you to include in a story? Is humor one of them?

To me the most important element to include in my stories is believability and relatability. That’s what makes a good book a good book. As for humor, I always have humor in my stories. I personally have quite a good sense of humor. If we don’t have humor in our lives, then what’s left? Humor, I believe, helps us all to survive.

Question: What’s next for Judy Folger?

What’s next for me? To write and write and write. I love writing and creating. That’s who I am. Thanks for asking.
By the way, readers might be interested in knowing that the sequel to Black and Blue Love, entitled Meara’s Moms, is due out next month.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Author Judy Folger

A proud member of the lesbian community, Judy wrote her first book after she retired and hasn’t looked back since. Her books tell the stories of women in love who fight to overcome real-life problems. Judy was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Wichita but now lives in Merriam, Kansas. She has a son who also writes and a daughter-in-law who does paranormal investigations.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judy.folger.7?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Judy_Folger

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Publisher: Judy Folger
Cover Artist: Judy Folger

Sales Links:   Amazon

STRW Author BookSynopsis

 

After Kallie Moran’s husband, Aaron, is killed in Iraq, Kallie asks her law firm to transfer her back to her home town so she can be close to her mother.

When her request is granted, she realizes that closeness to her mother also means closeness to her mother’s dreadful sister, Bessie Benson.

Bessie is loud and crass, and her sons make a lifestyle of rotating in and out of the county jail. The only Benson that Kallie has ever been able to tolerate is her cousin, Andi. Andi, too, once dreamed of getting out of Brookville, but unlike Kallie, she never quite made it.

Now an out lesbian, Andi drags her intimidated partner, Della, to local bars and out-of-control family affairs. Della seems so miserable that Kallie finds herself reaching out to this beautiful, fragile-looking woman who just doesn’t seem to belong among the Bensons.

As Kallie and Della become friends, Kallie witnesses the verbal and emotional abuse Andi heaps on Della. Then comes the terrible night when Andi is no longer able to confine herself to words and slams Della to the ground, permanently scarring her face.

Della flees to Kallie for protection. In relative safety, she struggles to face the fact that she is a victim of lesbian domestic violence. She is also falling hard for Kallie, her rescuer.

Kallie, meanwhile, is keeping some secrets of her own. She wants to be with Della as much as Della wants to be with her, but she is afraid to embark on her first lesbian relationship.

Their love blossoms when Kallie risks her life to save Della from another of Andi’s vicious attacks. But it doesn’t take Andi long to realize she’s been betrayed. Furious, drunk, and carrying her father’s hand gun, she vows that this time she will REALLY make Della and Kallie pay.

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Lesbian Romance, Lesbian Domestic Violence, Lesbian Abuse

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt:

Della leaned into Kallie so that their bodies were pressed close together. Kallie finally did what she had been wanting to do since the day she met Della. She reached up and tangled her fingers in that glorious, unruly hair. She had expected Della’s hair to be coarse, but it was soft and warm in her hands.

Then Della’s hands found her breases, and Kallie remembered where they were and what they were doing. It took every ounce of willpower that she’d ever possessed, but she withdrew from Della, backing into the wall at the end of the step. “We shouldn’t do this,” she said in a voice so hoarse with passion she scarcely recognized it.

Della’s green eyes reflected hurt and confusion. “Why not?”

“Because you’re my cousin’s partner.”

Della nodded sadly. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll go.”

Kallie tried to think of something to say that would ease things between the two of them, but no words came to her mind. All she could do was watch as Della walked out the door.
Pages or Words: 40,000

 

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Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of Black and Blue Love. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter link and prizes provided by Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Tour Dates & Stops:

9-Mar

Amanda C. Stone

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

10-Mar

Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

Cathy Brockman Romances

11-Mar

Hearts on Fire

Love Bytes

12-Mar

Kimi-Chan

Elin Gregory

13-Mar

Prism Book Alliance

Inked Rainbow Reads

16-Mar

Molly Lolly

17-Mar

Book Reviews and More by Kathy

18-Mar

Velvet Panic

Divine Magazine

19-Mar

Nephylim

Emotion in Motion

Bayou Book Junkie

20-Mar

My Fiction Nook

Cate Ashwood

 

Our Spotlight is On: Karen Stivali and Moment of Truth (book interview and contest)

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Moment of Truth (Moments in Time #2) by Karen Stivali
Release Date: March 4, 2015
Goodreads Link

About author Karen Stivali:

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She’s also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. She writes novels about love…like real life, only hotter.

Karen’s lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen’s novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life.

When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don’t hesitate to contact/follow/like her at the links below.

An Author Q & A with questions from our reviewer Stella:

I think I understood in the Moments In Time series there are three books. Is there a chance to know more about the characters we met in the second book? Maybe with a their own series?

Yes. The third book, Moment Of Clarity, will release in early May and it’s the conclusion of the Collin/Tanner trilogy but I am in the process of writing a few spin-off novels featuring the other characters from the Moments In Time series in lead roles. I’m hoping Jason, Quinn and Bryan will all wind up with their own books.

Why did you decide to switch to writing mm romance?

I don’t really think of it as having switched to writing mm romance. In almost all of my mf romances there were LGBT secondary characters who played significant roles. And they’re often quite scene-stealing characters. I’ve always thought it was just a matter of time until one of the LGBT characters in my head was a main character instead of a secondary character. As soon as Collin started yammering in my brain I knew it was time—he needed to tell his own story. I plan to continue writing mf and mm books and having straight and LGBT characters in both, just like real life! All I’m focused on when I’m writing is telling the story of whoever is falling in love. I’m fascinated by the act of falling in love. That’s why I write romance. It’s not about m/f or m/m, it’s about love.

Do you remember the first mm book you read?

The first book I read with a gay couple in it was actually a YA book I read when I was around 12 or 13. It was Trying Hard To Hear You, and it was a tragic story, but it really stuck with me because I thought it was so unfair and yet realistic. It made me very sad. I don’t know what the first true m/m romance I read was. There were several other books where there were m/m pairings as part of a larger cast of characters. I’ve been beta reading for Tiffany Reisz for years and she’s had several m/m couples in her books. The first full-length strictly m/m romance I read may have been Damon Suede’s HOT HEAD (which I loved).

Have you ever thought about co-writing? With whom?

I’ve not only thought about it, I’ve done it. My long time critique partner Karen Booth and I cowrote a mf romance novel years ago. We recently got the rights back and will be re-issuing it this spring with a brand new epilogue (and a beautiful cover). It’s about a British musician who comes to the US for a 3-month gig, but when he gets to the states the gig falls through. He can’t go home because he’s done an apartment swap for the 3 months and he winds up unexpectedly falling in love. This is one of the books I mentioned above because Tim, the hero, has had a gay best friend since childhood. Gavin, his best friend, is definitely a scene stealing secondary character. He’s known Tim forever and is one of those friends who’s good at cutting through the bullshit and pointing out when you’re being an ass. Gavin has his own storyline as well as he and his husband are in the process of adopting a baby. This books was originally written back in 2011 so that’s why when people ask me why I’m suddenly writing m/m couples it makes me smile. It’s not sudden. They’ve been in my stories all along.

What is the moment of the day you prefer writing or you are more inspired to write?

I’m a night owl. I don’t think clearly until later in the day and I’m at my best in the middle of the night. I probably get more creative writing done from 1am to 4am than any other time of day. I use daytime more for things like email, promo and socializing. There’s a lot more to writing than just writing and it all takes time.

I’d like to know why you chose to write about a religious theme.

That’s not an easy question to answer. I grew up in a half Catholic, half Jewish household. Both of my parents came from very strict traditional upbringings, so their marriage was….not what either family had expected. Growing up learning the beliefs and traditions of both religions but being raised as neither gave me a unique perspective. It also allowed me to see the good and bad of both religions very clearly. Of course I married someone Protestant just to add to the mix. I’ve seen religion do great and horrible things to people—in my own family, among my friends—and I’m particularly familiar with the guilt that can come along with it. Not all of my books have religious themes or characters—most don’t—but for this series it fit the characters. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner in my stories. I always write about sex and religion and sex make for interesting bed partners. In the case of Moment Of Impact, Collin would be a different person if he hadn’t been raised in a strict Catholic household. He’d have different views and different problems. I think a large part of the reason he needed his story told was because of the struggles he was facing which were directly related to his upbringing and his family’s beliefs. It’s part of who he is.

Where to find the author:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenstivali
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karenstivali/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali
Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/KarenStivali
Blog: http://karenstivali.com

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anna SikorskaMomentofTruth large cover (1) (1)

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press   Amazon  AmazonUK  AmazonCA
Barnes & Noble    All Romance E-books

About Moment of Truth…

Collin expected to spend another summer fixing cars and working at the college pizzeria. Instead, he’s living in a beach house on Fire Island, waiting tables at a hip seaside restaurant and, for the first time since he and Tanner got together, they can publicly be known as boyfriends. Being “out” takes some getting used to, but with the help of new and old friends, Collin is happier than he ever imagined. And more in love. But newfound freedom brings unexpected challenges, and when friends get flirty, old insecurities arise. Moments of doubt and jealousy threaten their happiness, and Collin and Tanner must confront the truth or risk losing it all.

Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance

Excerpt:

His smile twitched as he started up the next staircase. The last one. The one that led to our room and nowhere else. My hearth hammered hard and fast, and not from stair climbing. I needed to touch Tanner, soon, or every part of my body from my brain to my balls was going to simultaneously combust.

Tanner pushed our door open with exaggerated care and stepped inside. Jesus, is he trying to make me crazy?
All I want is to….

My back slammed against the wall, and before I could complete my thought, Tanner’s mouth was on mine. The kiss was savage, tongue hot and heavy against mine, cock hot and heavy against mine. Even through our shorts, I could feel how ready he was. My head swam.

Desperate for more, I grabbed on to him, rolling us toward the door and kicking it shut. Tanner let out a grunt as I pressed him against the hard wood. Could anyone hear us? I didn’t care. I just needed this. Tanner. Now.

As soon as I shoved his T-shirt up his ribs, he yanked it off and tossed it aside. Warm smooth skin greeted my fingertips, filling my nose with his scent. God, I missed this. My mouth returned to his, tongues dueling as my hands fumbled with his fly. I couldn’t stop rubbing against him enough to get the zipper down. Tanner grabbed my ass, crushing his cock alongside mine, humping against me with enough intensity I had to force myself not to come.

I didn’t want that. Not yet. Not standing against the door when that crazy big bed was only feet away. As if he read my mind, Tanner shoved me backward, taking advantage of the moment our bodies parted to strip off his shorts. I tugged off my shirt, and before I could launch it across the room, Tanner had my shorts undone and down. Kicking them away put me off-balance, and Tanner steadied me with one hand clutching the back of my neck and the other wrapped around my cock.

Whimpers echoed through the room. My whimpers. His thumb slicked over my swollen head, round and round in circles that left me dizzy and panting.

“Let’s try out the bed.” Tanner’s voice was low and thick. I’d have said yes to anything he asked with that voice.

I couldn’t actually say a word, so I nodded and pulled us down onto the mattress. Holy Jesus. Soft cool sheets, warm hard body, wet velvety tongue. Heaven. Fire Island was heaven.

Pages or Words: 150 pages

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Contest:  Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $20 gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Rafflecopter link and prize provided by Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
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Tour Dates & Stops:

4-Mar

My Fiction Nook

The Hat Party

Boys on the Brink Reviews

Inked Rainbow Reads

5-Mar

Lee Brazil

The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat

Cate Ashwood

Amanda C. Stone

6-Mar

It’s Raining Men

Michael Mandrake

MM Good Book Reviews

Joyfully Jay

9-Mar

Kimi-Chan

Carly’s Book Reviews

Velvet Panic

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

10-Mar

Prism Book Alliance

Molly Lolly

BFD Book Blog

Love Bytes

Bayou Book Junkie

Henry And Mac Are Back in Action in Tempest (Playing the Fool #3) by Lisa Henry & J. A. Rock (Excerpt and Contest)

Tempest cover

 

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Lisa Henry and J. A. Rock’s series Playing the Fool is a Must Read, highly recommended series of stories here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.   Happily, we now have another book to add to this series.  It’s Tempest (Playing the Fool #3) !  The authors are here today with a special excerpt and a contest for all to enter.  Check it all out below and don’t forget to leave your email address in the body of your comment when entering the contest!  Let’s get started!

Welcome, Lisa Henry and J. A. Rock!

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Hi! We’re Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock, the authors of TEMPEST. We’re touring the web taking about our influences, our processes, anything we can think about actually, and even giving you guys a sneak peak or two! And what would a blog tour be without a contest? Check out the details at the bottom of the post to see what you can win!

Today we’re sharing an excerpt from TEMPEST.  Here, Henry and Mac are on their way back to the city to get to the bottom of who’s framing Mac. Henry is as distracted, and distracting as always. Contains a bonus Skittles reference.

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

***

The next morning, Mac looked Henry up and down as he approached the truck. Refrained from shaking his head as Henry settled into the passenger seat. “I thought you’d be wearing a disguise.”

“Seriously?” Henry smoothed down his tie. “I am wearing a disguise. Look at me. I could be selling magazine subscriptions. Or Jesus. Or subscriptions to magazines that are exclusively about Jesus. White Jesus. Or maybe I’m on my way to a job interview at an accounting firm.” He flashed Mac a smile. “Yeah, I’ll bet that’s what I’m doing.”

Mac frowned at the pants. There was something both weirdly familiar and aesthetically disturbing about the houndstooth pattern.

“Are those my dad’s pants?”

“Circa 1974. Your dad wore ’em tight. This is his tie too.” “You’re really wearing a tie?”

“You like boys in ties.” Henry ran his fingers down the silk, in a gesture that would have been a hell of a lot sexier if Mac didn’t remember buying that tie for his dad one Father’s Day. “Look at you. Even in jeans something about you just screams cop.”

“I’m not a cop.”

“I know. But ‘something about you just screams authority figure who can deprive me of my freedom’ just doesn’t roll off the tongue in the same way, does it?”

“I guess not.” He stared at his parents’ house a little longer, then turned the ignition. The truck rumbled into life. “You ready for this?”

Henry pulled a packet of Skittles out of his pocket. “I’m always ready for a road trip.”

Of course he was.

They headed for Indianapolis.

Mac let Henry fiddle with the radio and spill candy and talk bullshit at a million miles an hour, because that was Henry. It was how he dealt with stress. If he talked fast enough, if he teased, if he didn’t stop, then he didn’t have to deal. Even a week ago Mac would have been irritated by that. Would have wanted to slap him around the back of the head for being so damn irritating. Like Energizer Bunny irritating. But not today.

Henry glanced out the window at the darkening sky. “Looks like rain.”

“Storm’s not supposed to hit until this evening.”

“Great. Let me get out my umbrella and tap shoes.” Henry changed the radio station again. Then suddenly slapped the radio knob, turning it off. “Can we stop for donuts, Mac?”

“Says the guy who just put away two omelets for breakfast.”

“Which is my protein requirement for the day. Now I need my sugar and frosting requirement for the day. Oh, and my milkshake requirement. Strawberry.” He jiggled his leg. “Definitely strawberry.”

“If we see somewhere, we’ll stop.”

Henry’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you serious? I don’t need to argue about this?”

“Nope.”

Henry slumped back down in his seat. “Well, now I know you think we’re gonna die.”

Mac glanced sideways at him. “Maybe I’m just tired of arguing with you.”

“Or maybe you want me to finish these Skittles and put something else in my mouth. Want me to taste your rainbow ?” “Not while I’m driving, I don’t.” Flirty Henry was incorrigible. He was also deflecting again. One day, Mac decided, he would surprise the fuck out of both of them and say yes to whatever crazy suggestion fell out of those candy-stained lips.

“You’re so boring, Mac.”

“Shut up, Cheese.”

STRW Author BookSynopsis

About TEMPEST:

Something wicked this way comes.

FBI Agent Ryan “Mac” McGuinness and con man Henry Page are on the run again. This time they’re headed back to where it all began: Altona, Indiana. Population: some goats. Henry’s not happy about lying low at the McGuinness family farm, but they’ve got nowhere else to go.

While Mac fights to clear his name and Henry struggles with whose side he’s really on, a ghost from the past threatens to destroy everything. And those aren’t the only storms on the radar. Cut off from both sides of the law, Mac and Henry must rely on their tenuous partnership to survive.

If Henry can convince himself to let Mac see the man behind the disguises, they’ll stand a chance of beating the forces that conspire against them. The course of true love never did run smooth, but for the two of them, it might be their only hope.
You can check out TEMPEST at Riptide.

Books in the Playing the Fool Series are -linked to Barb’s 5-star reviews:

 

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

The Giveaway: Thanks for following our tour! To celebrate our release, we’re giving away an awesome prize – an ebook copy of a novel of your choice from either of our back catalogs. We’re also giving away a $20 Riptide gift voucher, and some comfy items picked especially for you by Henry: a pillow shaped like a donut, and a pair of donut-themed socks.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with a way for us to contact you, be it your email, your twitter, or a link to your facebook or goodreads account. Please put your email in the body of the comment, not just in email section of the comment form, because we won’t be able to see it otherwise! On March 20, 2015, we’ll draw a winner from all eligible comments! Be sure to follow the whole tour, because the more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win the prize!

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Prizes provided by Riptide Publishing and the authors.

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STRW Author Bio and Contacts

 

About the Authors

Lisa Henry

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house a log-suffering partner, too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

Connect with Lisa:

Blog:  http://www.lisahenryonline.blogspot.com/”
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaHenryOnline
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LisaHenry

J.A. Rock

J.A. Rock has worked as a dog groomer, knife seller, haunted house zombie, standardized patient, cashier, census taker, state fair quilt hanger, and, for one less-than-magical evening, a server—and would much rather be writing about those jobs than doing them. A lover of m/m BDSM romance, J.A. lives mostly in West Virginia, and always with a beloved dog, Professor Anne.

Website:  http://www.jarockauthor.com/
Blog:  http://jarockauthor.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jarockauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ja.rock.39

Up Close & Personal with Author Trina Lane and Turkish Delights (contest)

Turkish Delight cover

Trina Lane is here today with her book, Turkish Delights!  Not only does she have a contest for all to enter but a NSFW, totally hot excerpt to read (cue the fans).  Check it all out below starting with Trina Lane’s guest blog Mirror Mirror on the Wall.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall by Trina Lane

Who is the hottest of them all? One of the great things about all the different publishers, genres, and authors available today in the erotic romance world is that there is generally a favorite type of character for every person. So I’m going to use today’s blog post to do a little reader feedback research. I pose a question to all of you reading this today. What type of character really rings your bells and why? Are you the type of person who goes for the stoically quiet and intense alpha? Do you gravitate toward the geeky scientist? Are you a lover of men who are literally out of this world? Or are you just looking for an everyday man?

Of those general stereotypes what characteristics are you looking for? Are looks all that matter? Do your heroes require unlimited riches to makes your ultimate fantasies come true? How can we as authors write better characters? Do you like a lot of backstory or is it better to get right down to business? Do you find characters who know how to handle themselves in and out of the bedroom sexy, or do you enjoy reading about someone is simply trying to figure things out day by day?

When it comes to writing the perfect pair. Do opposites really attract? What about two strong men that can’t seem to resist the attraction pulling them together, but on paper make the worst possible sense? Does there always need to be some kind of give and take in a relationship, even if BDSM is your preferred genre, or is there a real place for my way or the highway?

Finally I ask you to weigh in on the angst/conflict vs true romance debate. I realize that sometimes we all want a little sweetness in our lives, but I’ve read reviews of some author’s hard work where a critic lambasts the book because there is no conflict. They call it unrealistic and insulting to readers because it is so unbelievable. But here’s a side question related to that. Don’t we sometimes read romantic fiction to escape reality? I know I do. As you can see this post is really more about you as readers than about my thoughts. So as a reward for participating I’m going to giveaway two copies of Turkish Delights. Please include in your posts some means of me contacting you otherwise you’ll lose out!

Thanks for Playing,
Trina

 

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Blurb for Turkish Delights:

This is the newest addition to Totally Bound’s, Totally Five Star imprint.

Three very different men from three different countries look to build a love greater than any Wonder of the World.

Project manager Garrett Sloan builds majestic hotels for the rich and famous around the world, but when it comes to love, all his relationships seem to crumble. His latest project lands him in Istanbul, where the desire he’s held for a certain French architect heats up under the Middle Eastern sun, and his resolve never to mix business with pleasure melts beneath the added hot stare and skilled hands of a Turkish mason.

The three men discover they want to build a relationship to stand the test of time—much like Kyle LaFleure’s buildings and Emir Şahin’s stonework. As the bonds between Garrett and his partners grow stronger and more complex, they work to lay the perfect foundation on which to build a lasting relationship. Can the three men construct a relationship that will endure? Or will their love reach its zenith when their shared task of finishing the ultimate Ottoman luxury hotel reaches its completion?  Reader advisory: This book contains a scene of double penetration.

Like the sound of Turkish Delights? Buy it here.

Excerpt from Turkish Delights (NSFW) Link only for those 18 years of age or older. Click to proceed.

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About Trina Lane:

If you look up the word conundrum in the dictionary, there should be a photo of Trina Lane. Her personality is so multifaceted that her friends have spent countless hours scratching their heads in wonder. A scientist with a passion for history, music and photography she loves to travel and experience new places but is terminally shy around people she doesn’t know.

Trina has been devouring romance novels since her tender teenage years, although only began writing in 2007. When her debut novel was met with resounding success, she said “Hey I can do that again”. The rest as they say is history.

Her choices in reading and writing material are as diverse as her iTunes library, which contains music from Mozart to Metallica. Her one concession is all stories must have a happily ever after ending-did we mention she’s incurably romantic?

She lives in Missouri with her loving and indulgent husband, and orange tabby cat—affectionately referred to as ‘Houdini’ for his stealthy escape attempts.

Contest

Enter Totally Bound’s competition for the chance to win a copy of Turkish Delights and three books from Trina Lane’s backlist!

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Contest link and prizes provided by Totally Bound Books.

Direct link: https://www.totallybound.com/turkish-delights-giveaway/?af=53be8f313b20b

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It’s March, It’s Still Snowing and This Week’s Schedule At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

March Cold Weather Pattern

It’s March, It’s Snowing and I’m Done!

Snow March 6 2015

My backyard where the steep stairs up the hill are completely covered to the point the yard looks flat.  Sigh. And yes, still whining about the weather.

So March is here.  Daylight Saving Time is here…where the heck is spring?  Right now there is a small herd of deer stripping the needles from a pine tree next door, up to their hocks in snow.  I’ve had to put cardboard as a platform out filled with bird seed for all the birds looking for food because my ground feeder is buried.  And while its pretty to look at, I could do that with pictures and be more than content.Snow Pic March 6 2015 2

Yes, not even close to Boston’s snowfall, who is?  But it’s a lot for this area and we are so done.  I want  flowers,damnitohell, and pollen, and bees and bluebirds…..and I’m not getting any of those anytime soon.  Wonder what’s going to happen to the cherry blossoms?

A few announcements:

Winner of Joe Cosentino’s giveaway – LisaG.  Congratulations.  She has been notified.

STRW is looking for a reviewer who likes to read science fiction, BDSM and erotica!  If that is you, contact me with a sample review at melaniem54@msn.com.  We are also looking reviewers to handle our increasing requests for reviews of f/f stories.

Now on to our schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

We are loaded down this week with outstanding new stories and 5 star reviews.  Among those are the first story in a new series by Lou Sylvre, A Shot of J & B (in the  Vasquez & James universe), another in Alex Beecroft’s Trowchester series (Blue Eyed Stranger), a Barb the Zany Old Lady review of the third story in the Playing the Fool series by Lisa Henry and J. A. Rock (Tempest), The Bridge of Silver Wings by John Wiltshire (reviewed by Mika) and if you love to laugh, don’t forget to check out my review of Shawn’s Law by Renae Kaye.  And there’s more, it’s a surfeit of riches this week.   Happy Reading.

Sunday, March 8:

  • Announcements and Upcoming Schedule

Monday, March 9:

  • Book Spotlight: Black and Blue Love: A Lesbian Novel by Judy Folger (contest)
  • New Release:   Turkish Delight by Trina Lane (guest blog)
  • Spotlight on Tempest (Playing the Fool #3) by Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Tempest (Playing the Fool #3) by Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock
  • A MelanieM Review: Shawn’s Law by Renae Kaye

Tuesday, March 10:

  • Cate Ashwood’s Thirty Things Cover Reveal and Contest
  • Blood of Salar by Alexis Duran Book Blast and Contest
  • Mickie Ashling’s Chyna Doll Tour – guest post and giveaway
  • A Stella Review: How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton
  • A Mika Review: Released by A.J. Ridges

Wednesday, March 11:

  • In the Spotlight:  IM by Rick R. Reed (excerpt and contest)
  • THE HIDDEN WOLF: The Sapphire Ranch Wolves Series -Series Details
  • A Mika Review: A Shot of J & B by Lou Sylvre (brand new series – Vasquez & James spinoff)
  • A MelanieM Review: Blue Eyed Stranger (Trowchester Blues #2) by Alex Beecroft
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Book Review: Wood, Screws and Nails by Piper Vaughn
    and Kade Boehme ~ Audiobook narrated by Paul Morey

Thursday, March 12:

  • A MelanieM Review: Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States#2) by Laura Harner and T.A. Webb
  • A Mika Review: The Bridge of Silver Wings (More Heat Than the Sun #3) by John Wiltshire
  • A Stella Review: To Every Thing There Is a Season by Fil Preis
  • A MelanieM Review: In Darkest Peru by Louise Lyons

Friday, March 13 (no, 13 is a lucky number, repeat as needed!):

  • Release Day for Louise Lyons” One Snowy Night (excerpt and contest)
  • In the Spotlight: NR Walker’s new supernatural story,  “Cronin’s Key” (excerpt and contest)
  • A Sammy Review: Falling (Fall or Break #1) by Barbara Elsborg
  • A MelanieM Review: What’s in a Name? by Pat Henshaw

Saturday, March 14:

  • A MelanieM Review: Blind Stud (King of Hearts #1) (PF 2015) by Havan Fellows
  • A Stella Review: Soufflés at Sunrise (Just Desserts, #2) by M.J. O’Shea and Anna Martin

I’ll leave you with a few covers of this week’s reviews in no particular order…

 

Blind Stud, King of Hearts cover PF2015Shawn's Law coverTempest coverThe Bridge of Silver Wings cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal for J.K. Hogan’s Shadows Fall (contest)

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It’s Time to Reveal the Cover

for

 Shadows Fall by J.K. Hogan
Release Date: June, 2015
Goodreads Link

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Publisher: Wilde City Press

Cover Artist: J.K. Hogan

Sales Links:

Shadows Fall Blurb

A gift—or curse—gives Titus McGinty the unwanted ability to talk to ghosts. When he starts seeing the same few apparitions repeatedly, appearing with similar gruesome injuries, he begins to wonder what they want from him.

Detective Charlie Hale has a serial killer on his hands. On the loose for weeks, the Queen City Slayer has left the police nothing to go on, no forensic evidence other than what he wants found. The city is running out of time.

The crisis brings Titus and Charlie together—Titus stumbles upon a body and finds himself a suspect. Their budding romance is tested as they are sucked into a web of underground laboratories, restive spirits, and religious fanaticism. They’ll have to work together to find the identity of the killer before he takes his next victim…Titus.

Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Romance, Thriller
Pages or Words: 100,000 words (pre-edits)

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Author Name: J.K. Hogan

Author Bio:
J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them. J.K. is hoping to one day have a little something for everyone, so she’s branched out from m/f paranormal romance and added m/m contemporary romance. Who knows what’s next?

J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives in the country with her husband and young son, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn’t on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert. In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! For more information, please visitwww.jkhogan.com.

Where to find the author:
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJKHogan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JK_Hogan
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jkhoganbooks/
Tumblr: http://officialjkhogan.tumblr.com/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+JKHogan/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jkhoganbooks

 


Tour Dates: March 7, 2015

Tour Dates: March 7, 2015

Tour Stops: 

Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, Love Bytes, Charley Descoteaux, Bike Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Cate Ashwood, Romance the Night, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Divine Magazine, Havan Fellows, Kimi-Chan, Hearts on Fire, Carly’s Book Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Fallen Angel Reviews, Amanda C. Stone, Andrew Q. Gordon, The Hat Party, Elin Gregory, Nephylim, Velvet Panic

 

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: A signed paperback of either I Survived Seattle or Love and the Real Boy. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter links and prizes provided by Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Need a New Addiction? Pulp Friction 2015 is Back and Supernaturally Great!

 

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Are you a lover of serial fiction?  Especially M/M serial fiction?  Are hot men and supernatural beings things that heat you  up and make you grab for a fan or three?  Does the name New Orleans make you shiver with anticipation and a little bit of trepidation? How about a combination of all those elements?  Did I hear a squee of joy?  Well, this year’s Pulp Friction – Altered States  2015 edition  of interconnected series is up and running and it contains all those things and more!

Unfamiliar with Pulp Friction? It’s four author, four series connected together by characters and events.  It’s full of drama, mystery, murder and high suspense mixed with hot men and lots of  romance!  It started in 2013 in Atlanta, moved to Flagstaff in 2014 and now in New Orleans.  And with every year it gets better and more surprising.  And this year a supernatural element is added, along with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, succubus and much, much more.

Contest:All authors have contributed towards a special giveaway – a eBook copy of each of the first stories in Round One!  To enter leave a comment with your email address, tell us about your favorite supernatural being and click on the Rafflecopter link below (I am so over letting Kirby pick out names, he takes forever and gets distracted by squirrels!):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Now on to our interview…

Stopping by today to  give all my readers a little bit of insight are the wonderful authors that make up this year’s Pulp Friction gang – Laura Harner, Havan Fellows, Lee Brazil and Parker Williams!

A Most Desired Pulp Friction Chat…..

Q. How do you see Pulp Friction?

(Havan) I love the series American Horror Story. I don’t just love it because of the scare factor (or gross-out factor or WTF factor or cheap thrills factor or Holy Shit they went THERE factor…I could go on and on, and this is only covering the horror genre of it so far lol) but it’s the writing and format of the series that works for me, also. I love that each season is all its own…sure they “tie” together in their own sort of way and doesn’t that have all the theorists going ga-ga lol – but each season is self-contained. The show reinvents itself every single season…using the same actors is irrelevant up to a point. The formula is the same.

That is how I see Pulp Friction. Sure the formula is the same:
• bad ass men who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to get what they want
• a localized place for the men to run to whenever they need back-up
• the bonds of love and family

But each year (season) we introduce new characters for you to enjoy, love, hate, lust after. So not only are our readers falling hard for the men we are giving them now – they are also wondering what could we possibly bring to the table to top this next year…it keeps all of us totally vested in Pulp Friction and makes it more than a mere read…it makes it an addiction…

(Lee) Pulp Friction, in my mind is a complex, tangle of men, emotion, and action. It’s romance with a side of mayhem, which may or may not consist of homicide.

(Will) I see it as a shift (no pun) on the theme. Everything you’ve loved about Pulp Friction is still there. The friendship, the sense of family, the falling in love. It’s just amped up and included the supernatural elements that make Altered States such a thrilling read.

(Laura) What I’ve always loved about the original idea for the Pulp Friction group was the ability to serialize stories, to have the old fashioned “tune-in-next-week” atmosphere without the intensive work it would require from one person. By sharing the experience with multiple authors, we get to provide a more complex set of stories, and create a community with our characters as well as with our readers.

And like Havan, I absolutely love that each season is self-contained—we pack up our bag of tricks and move to a new world.
What do you have planned for 2015?

(Havan) Pure and absolute chaos.

(Lee) That mayhem I mentioned above? It might just contain a touch of homicide this year. But I couldn’t really say for sure. I can promise romance… Ah love…

(Havan) Seriously – you’ve unleashed us into the paranormal realm where rules no longer apply…sit down, buckle up and get ready. You may want to hang that garlic around your neck and invest in some sterling silver…perhaps cross your legs too (Laurant says hello *winks*) – you never know who might be up for a midnight snack in our world.

(Will) As the new kid at the table, I’m bringing a psychic who gets mixed up in abduction cases being handled by a detective who may, or may not, be more than he seems. I hope that Ben and Artie can step into the world alongside these amazing authors I’m privileged to work with and stand with the others as well as on their own.

(Laura) My part of the 2015 year picks up where Free Falling Crimson left off, and although I don’t want to spoil anything, if you’ve read the first two books this season, you already know my character Jet is in mourning. Jet will be meeting up with an ancient vampire, Nico who has worked as an enforcer for the vampire council in Europe for hundreds of years. Nico is now in New Orleans to assist Homeland Security’s new Odd Squad. The two men might be hard as diamonds, but with a year to explore their pasts, we might find out that not everything is as it seems…

Q.Best moment of writing with the PF group?

(Havan) Besides the fact that I’m learning so much from my fellow authors…or that they are real good for my self-esteem…or that we are so much more than a “group,” just like the men we write about we are truly a family… Yeah, all of the above. On a side note: how cool is it to get the reader to root for the anti-hero? Season one we got you to approve of the bad guys, season two was all about encouraging a rag-tag collection of misfits and season three be prepared to cheer on the monsters. 🙂

(Lee) There’s a sheer thrill in seeing it all come together- in seeing everyone’s individual characters and storylines meld into a single, cohesive universe. Also… it’s really cool to know what happens as it unfolds. Each subsequent story inspires me in the creation of my next episode. It’s amazing.

(Will) I’ve been proofing for the group for the last two years, and I’m utterly astounded at the focus they have for their own characters as well as the ability to write the guys from each other’s stories. My best moment was when they said, “Hey, Will… we have an idea. What do you think about writing with us this year?”  *THUD*

(Havan) Will is totally and completely THUD worthy himself!

(Laura) Triple thud? LOL. There are so many “BEST” moments, I’m hard pressed to pick one. Lee already mentioned how watching it all comes together as the year progress is amazing. Creating a “Pulp Friction” season is a lot like making sausage—no one wants to know what goes into it, but we can tell you that it’s a lot of fun, along with the hard work. We work on very tight deadlines, and must be constantly aware of what’s happening in the other writer’s series.

I consider myself very fortunate because I get to spend time every day with my Pulp Friction family. Just like a family, we care for each other in ways others don’t necessarily see. We share far more than just our PF story ideas. Havan, Lee, Will, Tom, and I have a chat box open whenever we’re on our computers—which is pretty much all the time. They are usually the first people I talk to every day, and we end many evenings doing writing sprints together. Yes, our family dynamics have changed over the years. Tom Webb might not be writing with us in 2015, but he is still involved, still joins us to sprint and beta reads. And adding Will was a no-brainer because he’s been a behind-the-scenes part of our family since the beginning.

Uh oh…we’re all in trouble now. Laura gave out our deepest darkest secret–she spoke about the nakey chat box!

Okay…so it’s only a nakey chat box in our minds (ie my mind) but it is the glue that holds us together I swear. There is almost always someone available when one of us needs inspiration for our present WIP, sprints to ramp up our word count, or if we have edits we don’t quite get…but the chat box is not limited to our writing. Oh heck to the no… our relationship is not limited to our writing careers. We are family. Period. When anyone needs anything all they have to do is log on and BOOM, instant gratification…whether there is nakey-ness or not. *winks*

It’s that connection we have that keeps all avenues of communication open between us…it allows us to write in depth serials brilliantly…among so many other things.

We’re the best type of family…we don’t just love each other, we like each other too.

So what if I happen to be the only nakey one in the chat box…it’s not like I’ve turned my webcam on…yet *smirks*

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About Pulp Friction 2015
Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.
Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.

Round One (STRW reviews start next week):
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

Not familiar with the Altered States series?  Check them all out here:

Books in the Altered States Series in the order they should be read:
• Altered States (Altered States, #0.5)
• Deep Blues Goodbye (Altered States, #1)
• Deadly Shades of Gold (Altered States, #2)
• Free Falling Crimson (Altered States, #3)

 

Drawing Dead PF 2015 coverBlind Stud, King of Hearts cover PF2015