Want a Creepy Quickie? Get 3! It’s the Bump in the Night Book Tour from Riptide! (contest)

Feel that cold creeping into the room? Getting the shivers? Let’s welcome some frighteningly awesome authors here today to clue us into the creepy quickies they have in store for us all…

Hey, everyone! We’re Heidi, Kari, Laylah, and Sam, and we’re here touring with our three Creepy Quickies releases! Laylah’s bringing you Resurrection Man, about a man who will go to any–and we do mean any–lengths to bring his lover back from the dead. Kari has Mating Season, for those of you who love amorous aquatic beasts and mad scientists. And finally, Heidi and Sam wrote Blasphemer, Sinner, Saint, about a demon deal set in 1880s Whitechapel.

Originally written for the horror anthology Bump in the Night, our three stories span the gamut of the genre, from spine-chilling scares to stolen moments of tenderness to inescapable dead ends.

To celebrate our release, we’re giving away a $10 Riptide gift card! Just comment below–or on any of our other stops, all of which can be found on our blog tour page–with an email address to reach you, and we’ll select one lucky winner at the end of the tour!

About Resurrection Man

Necromancy means never having to say good-bye.

Consumption has claimed the life of Adel St. Claire, cutting him down in his prime. But his lover, Josef Leitner, isn’t ready to let him go. To get Adel back, Josef is willing to risk the anger of Adel’s family, make unsavory deals with a corrupt mortician, and challenge the authority of death itself.

Even if he can reanimate Adel’s body, Josef’s next challenge may be more daunting still: when a man returns from the dead, what will it take to satisfy his needs?

Riptide says “Have a free read on us! Get Resurrection Man for free right now!

About Mating Season

He didn’t believe in the monster of the lake . . . but that didn’t make it any less real.

When Danny needs a getaway, his best friend goads him into a week-long hiking trip. Who cares if local superstitions and old wives tales warn the wary to avoid the lake once summer nights turn chilly? The trails are still pretty, the wildlife just as plentiful, and the fall colors beautiful for the lens of Danny’s digital camera. Nothing sinister could happen, not here.

Danny was wrong. Assaulted by lusty tentacles that push his body—and his sanity—to the brink, Danny is then held captive by his best friend, betrayed for the sake of science. Unable to escape and terrified of the changes in his body, Danny’s alternatives are few. He will be returned, over and over, to the monster.

But maybe his future isn’t as bleak as it originally seemed.

Riptide says “Get Mating Season here“.

About Blasphemer, Sinner, Saint

Tobias Sinnet has left his boyhood days of sin behind him. As the caretaker of a boys’ orphanage in Whitechapel, he teaches the children to live by the word of God, keeps his daily prayers, and goes to bed each night with a clear conscience
.
Until David, the boy who tempted him in their youth, arrives on his doorstep. Forced to prostitute himself to keep his younger brother in school, David has grown ill, and all he wants is for Tobias to agree to look after his brother when he’s gone.

But as they reconnect, Tobias finds it unexpectedly difficult to let David go—and, thanks to a mysterious stranger offering Tobias the deal of a lifetime, he may not have to.

Get Blasphemer, Sinner, Saint here.

A MelanieM Review: Hidden Gem by Lissa Kasey

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

With a past that haunts him with nightmares, Misaki “Aki” Itou became a “contracted companion”, a whore, in order to survive , leaving his starving existence on the streets behind. Aki is a psi—a person with mutated DNA granting him psychic abilities. And that makes him both a danger to himself and an object of fear and interest to the government scientists of the North and South. Only his contract and position as the “shining jewel” and top companion at the Hidden Gem,protects him while making enough money to buy the prettiest, most sparkly shoes he can find.

Det. Shane McNaughton is a cop, the Head of Missing Persons,with a completion rate so high that no one can top him. McNaughton survived the Third World War for one reason only, one he hides. Shane McNaughton is a A-M, one of many animal mutations that occurred as part of the chemical warfare between the North and the South. And while it gives him supernatural abilities it also makes him a monster when the virus isn’t dormant. His secret is known only to a few and that makes Shane McNaughton one lone wolf. Except when it comes to Aki Itou.

For two years Shane has been paying for Aki’s services, both for Aki’s sexual favors and for Aki’s psychic abilities. Always Shane has wanted more from Aki, and always he has been denied. When several children of the wealthy go missing only to be found dead, its up to Shane and Aki to combine their powers to find the children in time and expose the killer. But nothing prepares either one for the forces they unleash from the past that continues to haunt them both.

What a fantastical and inventive story Lissa Kasey has created for her release, Hidden Gem. Complete with a complex back story for her universe that includes a World War III where the weapons were chemical and their impact upon the populace diabolical and disastrous, Kasey manages to paint a portrait of a world gone dark and deadly, full of dead bodies, camps, and experimentation. That the descriptions aren’t incredibly graphic doesn’t take away any of their horror and impact. Relayed to the reader through memories of several of the characters, those past events come across as fresh and terrifying, a vision that haunts the narrative from start to finish.

Overlaying the past like a infirm veneer, the present is a place of secrets, hidden agendas, and where a sanctuary can be the last place anyone would consider safe and desirable. That last place, of course, being the Hidden Gem, a high level brothel known for its desirable male and female contracted companions. Aki and Candy, his best friend and fellow high paid companion, are happy and safe within the confines of their profession and contracts. Kasey lets us into the intimacies of their friendship and the daily operations of the Hidden Gem. It’s a fascinating world full of equally intriguing and memorable characters, not the least of which are Aki and Candy. Aki whose dress and makeup never try to hide his eyes which give away the fact that he is psi. And delectible Candy, whose mind reflects colored clouds and happiness back to Aki, is a jewel in his own right. I only hope that Lissa Kasey has another story in mind for this universe featuring Candy, he deserves it. The darkness of the companions pasts are always present, although pressed into the background or saved for their nightmares.

At the other end of society’s spectrum is the police unit headed up by Shane McNaughton, a cop who no longer considers himself a man. He is also tormented by his past and present. Only being in the presence of Aki, is that pain alleviated for Shane. Kasey makes Shane as fully realized a being as Aki, although his darkness and past are more fully known then Aki’s for most of the story. Shane is a powerful figure and he moves through the narrative with a blunt forcefulness that can take your breath away.

There is a malignant center to this story and a mystery of the most chilling and heartbreaking kind. Children are being kidnapped and horrifically killed. Kasey weaves her mystery thread through all the other filaments pulling together to make this an outstanding tapestry of a tale. Its not enough that each character carries a truckload of pain and secrets behind them, the author also keeps in mind each character’s emotional, mental and physical needs as well. All are juggled in a high wire balancing act that ends in an astonishing conclusion that will stay with you long after the story is over.

I hope this is not the last we have seen of the Hidden Gem universe and characters. Lissa Kasey has left herself plenty of room for more stories to come. They and the readers deserve them. Consider Hidden Gem and Lissa Kasey highly recommended by Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words! Grab it up today and start reading.

Cover Artist:2014 Shobana Appavu. Love the cover.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press Paperback All Romance eBooks (ARe) Amazon Hidden Gem

Book Details:

ebook, 246 pages
Published September 26th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632161994

A Sammy Review: Ben Raphael’s All-Star Virgins by K.Z. Snow

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Pride that depends on the approval of others is a false pride, layered on from outside yourself like gold leaf. When the leaf begins to flake and chip, you see the base material beneath it. When you see the base material, the shiny deception exists no more. What are you left with?

Soul-crushing disillusionment. A sorrow that seems absolute.

There’s something about youth that is so wonderful and yet so sad. This is displayed perfectly in the story of five young boys who attend Ben Raphael Academy, a boarding school, together. They’re more than friends, they’re family, but in the midst of a chaotic world filled with typical teenage drama, they’re virtually invisible.

When one of them comes up with a plan to change that, to make them become noticed and to highlight their “mystique” as virgins who aren’t trying to chase tail, a rare breed among boys their age, the rest go along. What starts out as a simple act to try and make a quiet, forgotten group noticed and desired winds its way into a far darker journey of discovery, loss, and love.

I forced myself to look at the sky. The stars wheeled thickly overhead. This night, they seemed like a gateway to infinite possibilities, not a glittering veil over a dark, suctioning void.

I went into this thinking it was going to be a fun, cute Young Adult story. I’m not typically one for that genre, but this sounded interesting.

Well, I can say for certain that cute and light were not quite what I got out of this. It speaks volumes about the thought process of youth and how they seek to be seen, but more than that seek acceptance. It was all a very sad reality to me. And while there is an element of romance in this between Rider and Jake, I feel the heart of the story lies more in the group of boys themselves.

Reading the blurb again, I think it sounds a bit cheesy toward the end in regards to an unspeakable tragedy, and when I read what this tragedy was, it may have at first seemed over-dramatic and far-fetched, but the more I thought about it, the more realistic it actually was – and that thought made me incredibly sad.

*POTENTIAL SPOILER REGARDING POSSIBLY TRIGGERING TOPIC: I was also surprised at the heaviness of a certain topic in this. I will say that if anyone has a hard boundary line when it comes to relationships between minors and adults of the more manipulative nature, you should steer clear of this. For some reason, I didn’t expect it to happen. Granted, this isn’t a long book, but it still surprised me when the initial idea was hinted at and then fleshed out.

I do think that the tragedy aspect of it, as well as the taboo relationship part, would’ve been more impactful in a book of novel length. With this being 134 pages, everything was quick, and the brief glimpses we got of this issues being dug into were quite nice, but just not enough given the weight of them.

In general a good story, but certainly not something I’d suggest if you want a quick, light read. Quick, yes, but light, not so much.And although I’m not an expert regarding the classification of a young adult story, this does depict teenage boys going through life. While there are several references to sexual activities, and times when we see what leads up to it and the aftermath, there are no explicit sexual details. As such, I’d say it does fall pretty well into the Young Adult category.

Cover Artist: Maria Fanning provided a simple cover that at first seems quite basic in regards to the type of story. Boys in a boarding school – thus a boy with a uniform on the cover. Yet, when you get into the story, the backdrop of the cover comes to have a great meaning, and really highlight a beautiful element of the story.

Sales Links: Harmony Ink eBook All Romance (ARe) Amazon Ben Raphael’s All Star Virgins

Book Details:

ebook, 134 pages
Published September 25th 2014 by Harmony Ink Press
ISBN139781632162571
other editions
None found

Book Blast: Skylar Wood and her release “Jade” (tour and contest)

Check out Skylar Wood’s latest story, Jade. Read the excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest below:

Book Name: Jade
Author Name: Skylar Wood

Author Bio:

Skylar Wood lives in the very beautiful, lively and fun filled City of Edmonton, Alberta Canada, where there is always something going on, summer or winter. She feels it’s a great place to be.

Skylar is a reading fanatic and only wishes she had more time to do it. Jade is her first venture into the writing arena. She says that writing is hard work but it’s a refreshing change from her nine to five job. It provides fantasy and escape. She truly enjoyed writing Jade, a lesbian romance novel, stating it was a neat sexual fantasy to explore through the pages of a book and that writing Jade and seeing it publication has been one of the best experiences of her life.

Author Contacts:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/@SkylarWood623
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skylar.wood.921?fref=ts

Title: Jade by Skylar Wood
Publisher: Dark Hollow Press
Cover Artist: 3 Rusted Spoons Cover Design

Sales Links: www.darkhollowspress.com

Jade Blurb:

Jade Tanner appears to have it all. To the world she is a self-made billionaire and business woman extraordinaire. However, it’s lonely sitting atop the corporate world, and more and more Jade can’t help but feel empty inside.

A secret sexual fantasy life begins as she starts chatting online with a beautiful young escort named Twylla Star. Becoming deeply immersed in this fantasy world, her desire to meet this woman soon becomes so overwhelming that Jade finds herself booking a date with her.

Meeting the delectable Twylla in Las Vegas, Jade is unprepared for the impact Twylla has on her the moment she holds the other woman in her arms. What started out as an unfettered sexual weekend with someone she’d never seen again, suddenly turns into something more.

When lust turns to love, are they strong enough to let go of the past to build a future together? And what will happen when the real world comes crashing back in?

Categories: Contemporary, Lesbian Romance

Jade Excerpt:

Twylla reached over in the bed for Jade only to find she was gone. She got out of bed and stumbled into the washroom to splash water on her face and then went in search of Jade. She found her in the kitchen. She was surprised at the surge of tenderness she felt when she looked at this woman, busy on her laptop. She had never felt anything like this for a date before.

“Morning,” she said, reaching her arms around Jade and kissing her neck.

“Morning, beautiful,” she replied, then kissed Twylla on the lips.

Pulling apart, she glanced at the computer screen. The name on the email was Jade Tanner. Twylla’s heart almost stopped in her chest.

Could this be the Jade Tanner, the founder of Jade Cosmetics and Tanner Enterprises? If so the woman she had spent the night with was a multi-billionaire. She kept a very low profile, so Twylla didn’t know what she looked like and hadn’t connected the name with the cosmetics tycoon. She knew Jade was very publicly against porn, and the sex industry in general. It didn’t make sense that the Jade Tanner would hire her for sex. Maybe the name was a coincidence.

She thought of all the times she had dated older gross men hoping they would take her as their mistress or possibly even see her as a wife. All of them saw her simply as a whore they had purchased. With Jade it had felt different. They had connected immediately. Their lovemaking had been erotic, sensual and blissful. She had enjoyed Jade’s body just as much as Jade had seemed to enjoy hers.

Jade closed her computer. “I’ve made coffee if you want it.”

She most definitely did. Walking away from her, she was aware of Jade watching her. She knew the power of her beauty and sexuality. Leaning against the counter, she turned so her robe fell partially open giving a teasing glimpse of her breasts.

Tour Dates: October 7, 2014

Tour Stops:

Parker Williams, My Fiction Nook, Inked Rainbow Reads, Jade Crystal, Rainbow Gold Reviews, The Hat Party, Andrew Q. Gordon, Cate Ashwood, Prism Book Alliance, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, All I Want and More Books, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Amanda C. Stone, Iyana Jenna, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Velvet Panic, Fallen Angel Reviews, Queer Town Abbey, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

Contest: Rafflecopter Prize: Copy of ‘Jade’ e-book. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Contest entry form and additional contest details to be found at the Rafflecopter link provided below.

Rafflecopter Code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A MelanieM Review: Midsummer Baker (Midsummer #4) by Megan Derr

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

A sweet baker with spicy taste…

Marcell is Midsummer’s baker. While he works for his aunt in the family bakery, he’s the one with the magic baker’s touch. A good and quiet lad, Marcel is hiding secrets of the past and of the heart. Those of the past are known only to himself and two others reviled by the citizens of Midsummer. Marcell’s life has not been without pain wether it was the loss of his parents or the bullying he encountered at school but the truth is about to come out and no one is prepared for the consequences.

The Withers Boys, Boyd and Tye Withers, are faerie half-brothers, Their faerie mother died, leaving them when they were in their late teens but really she had abandoned them much earlier drowning herself in booze. Known for their green thumbs and ability to always be in trouble, the Withers Boys have their own secrets to hide.

A stolen hideaway, a dark night, and evil on the prowl. What happens when all the hidden secrets are exposed? Will Marcell find a happiness he never thought would be his?

Midsummer Baker is probably my third favorite of the Midsummer stories to date. More a series of vinaigrettes than a cohesive tale, it still brings plenty of surprising layers and heart to this tale of love in the most unlikely of places. Each chapter represents a slice from Marcell’s life. From these, we are able to build a picture of a sweet child who was the target not only of bullies at school, but someone worse. Now grown, Marcell has harbored not only the secrets from his past but a hidden love that he feels will never be returned. Marcell is such a sweet character it is easy to connect with him and his dreams.

The Withers Boys now have names. Before Midsummer Baker, they only appeared as references to mischief makers often in trouble with the law and various members of the community. Now we get their painful back story, and they become not pests to be avoided but teenagers and young adults with a poignant sad story of their own. Unexpectedly, there is a hidden connection to Marcell and the drama and romance takes off. I wish we had more of Tye and Boyd. They are great characters that deserve a longer and deeper in scope story than this one.

There is publisher note included at the bottom that contains spoilers to the story. It references the type and variety of love story found here. I didn’t find it offensive but others might. If anything other than a strict M/M squicks your bonnet, then you just might want to check out the note below. Otherwise, I liked the story, love the series and want to see Megan Derr what happens next when Derr returns to Midsummer once more.

Categories: Free Read Gay Paranormal Poly Urban Fantasy

Cover art by Megan Derr. Love the cover.

Sales Links: Less Than Three Press Amazon Midsummer Baker ($0.99)

Book Details:

Editors note: Contains stepbrother incest and threesomes

free ebook, 18 pages at Less Than Three Press
Published July 19th 2011 by Less Than Three Press (first published August 29th 2010)
original titleMidsummer Baker
ISBN139781936202843
edition languageEnglish
seriesMidsummer #4

Midsummer Series in order they were written and should be read (available in print, ebook and audio):

Midsummer Moon
Midsummer Curse
Midsummer Law
Midsummer Baker
Midsummer Days (Print collection of all stories)

A Paul B Review: A Heart for Robbie by J.P. Barnaby

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

Celebrated gay author Julian Holmes writes young adult books where his heroes face demons, spirits and other things that go bump in the night. Those are nothing compared to the problems he faces when his newborn son Robbie is diagnosed with a serious heart defect. Julian must now navigate the health system for a possible cure for his son. When he meets Simon Phelps, the hospital insurance coordinator, Julian might find someone who will help complete his new family. But this new relationship could possible hurt as much as help Robbie in his fight for life.

During the delivery of his son by surrogate and best friend Erin, Julian Holmes is worried when his son does not immediately cry after his birth. The doctors rush the child to the NCIU and arrange for transport to St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in downtown Chicago for more exams. Once there, the doctors diagnose Robbie with a serious heart defect that will only be corrected with a heart transplant. Without it, Julian would lose his son around his first birthday.

At St. Mary’s, Julian meets the hospital transplant team, which includes doctors, social workers, psychologist and Simon Phelps, the insurance coordinator. Whereas Julian is out and proud, Simon is deep in the closet. He is afraid of the reaction from his deeply religious mother and the youth center where he volunteers. He agrees to have dinner with his parents and potential dates that his mother has set up for him from her church.

After taking Robbie back to the hospital, Julian runs into Simon in the cafeteria. As they talk about what has happened in the last couple of months, Simon asks Julian what if it was scary to be out. Julian answer sometimes but Robbie’s health problems are actually scarier. After lunch, Simon receives and email from Julian what it is like to be deep in the closet.

Later, Julian takes Robbie in for a test. When Robbie codes, Julian is a wreck. Once Robbie is stabilized, Simon offers to take Julian to get something to eat and then drive him home. At the restaurant, Julian has a bit to drink to help drown his sorrows. Simon offers Julian a place to crash for the night. While there, their passion for each other takes over and they enjoy a night of love making. In the morning, they decide to try to pursue a relationship but keep it quiet as it would be against hospital regulations for Simon to be involved with a patient’s father.

As Simon grows closer to Julian and Robbie, he finds himself spending more and more time with them. A couple of months after the start of their relationship, Robbie is having trouble breathing and is rushed by ambulance to the hospital. The next day, as Simon is comforting Julian in a conference room, the head of the transplant team catches them, resulting in Simon’s dismissal and threatening to take Robbie off the transplant list. The two manage to convince the doctor to leave Robbie on the list while the state auditor conducts an investigation to see if anything illegal had occurred.

After that incident, a gay newspaper finds out about the relationship. The youth center asks Simon not to come back. As the information is about to get out to the mainstream press soon, Simon decides to tell his parents about himself. As expected, his mother does not take it well but his father is tired of losing his children due to her actions and tells Simon that he will work on his mother. Julian provides support for Simon during this time. Simon decides that he has his family, whether or not his parents are part of it or not.

Just shy of Robbie turning five months, Julian gets the call that a heart is available. As he informs his family, Julian is glad that Simon no longer has to hide his support for him. While the operation runs longer than expected, all appears to be fine. When some post operational complications show up, Julian wonders if it was all worth the effort. With a change in medicine, the doctors inform Julian that the prognosis is good for Robbie.

J.P. Barnaby has crafted a great novel with A Heart for Robbie. It starts with a prologue which is a passage from one of Julian’s books. This serves as an introduction to Liam and Clay, the heroes of the “Black Heart” series. These characters appear throughout A Heart for Robbie as manifestations of Julian’s hopes and fears. As Julian’s relationship with Simon grows, his need to consult with his characters lessens.

While I was a little disappointed that Julian and Simon’s first night together was brought about by a night out drinking, it was totally understandable. Julian needed to let go of his worries for a night and thus his night of drinking. The way the relationship was built was well done. I could feel Simon, who never thought about children of his own, fall in love with Robbie and his father. The fact that they had to keep the relationship quiet due to Simon’s work and being in the closet was understandable. The actions the two took during this time made sense.

The cover art by AngstyG might seem strange for a gay romance novel but was well done in the context of the story. The big teddy bear (Julian) holding the injured teddy bear (Robbie) just tugs at your heartstrings. The injured teddy bear in fact makes an appearance in the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press ebook Paperback All Romance ebooks (ARe) Amazon A Heart for Robbie

Book Details:

Ebook, 216 pages
Published July 10, 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 978-1-63216-067-6
Edition language English

Get Fired Up with Morticia Knight’s Sin City Uniforms Book !, All Fired Up (tour and contest)

Book Name: All Fired Up (Sin City Uniforms #1)
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Morticia Knight

Author Bio:

M/M and M/M/F Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys a good saucy tale – after all, who doesn’t? Since she loves several genres, you may find your heroes in a contemporary, historical, paranormal or sci-fi setting. One of her passions is bringing people’s fantasies to life on the page, because life is too short for even one boring moment. Her stories are volcanic in heat, deep in emotion, and sprinkled with doses of humor.

When not indulging in her obsession for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. The Pacific Northwest is the ideal spot to enjoy both hiking and beachcombing. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She now resides on the northern coast of Oregon, where the constant rain and fog remind her of visits to family in England and Scotland when she was a child.

She is currently working on the Sin City Uniforms Series and a BDSM spin-off to the Gin & Jazz series entitled The Hampton Road Club. A follow-up to Bryan and Aubrey’s story in Rockin’ the Alternative will be available in 2015.

Author Contact:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/morticia.knight
https://twitter.com/MorticiaKnight

Publisher: Totally Bound
Cover Artist: Posh Gosh
Sales Links: https://www.totallybound.com/all-fired-up

All Fired Up Blurb:

Officer Shawn Everly patrols the Strip and one night, fireman Trent Marshall saves him when danger strikes. But it’s still uncertain whether Trent can save himself from getting his heart broken by Shawn.

The party never ends on the Las Vegas strip but neither does the danger. Officer Everly is new to the beat, having recently relocated to Vegas from Los Angeles. Foot patrol on the Strip is a demanding assignment because he’s up close and personal with the public. But what he’d really like to do is get up close and personal with Station 32’s hunky fireman, Trent Marshall.
Trent has been a fireman for over ten years and is dedicated to his job. He’s built tough and is a no-nonsense man of few words. At a local blood drive, Trent meets the handsome new officer on foot patrol but won’t let himself get too close. He’s lost love before when his policeman lover was killed in the line of fire.

During an emergency, Trent’s over-protective instincts kick in when he believes Shawn is in harm’s way. He ends up embarrassing and angering Shawn in front of their fellow officers, which seems as though it will end any hope of Trent having a chance with the young man he can’t push from his mind. Shawn can’t decide whether he wants to punch or kiss Trent. Kissing wins. Once they spend some time together away from the stresses of their jobs, they find that they’re not just compatible—they’re combustible.
But Trent can’t seem to accept that there are hazards that come with working in law enforcement. Right as they’re discovering how much they mean to one another, the danger escalates on the Strip. The underground vigilante group, The Citizens Against Immorality, have raised the stakes. Will Shawn and Trent be their next targets?

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

All Fired Up Excerpt:

“Oh shit! He hasn’t come back up yet!”

One of the onlookers pointed in the direction of where the swimmer had been only seconds before. All that remained were small ripples on the surface of the water.

Goddammit.

Moving quickly, Shawn tore off his duty belt, frantically toeing off his shoes as he did. Before Vicki had the opportunity to register what was happening, Shawn thrust the equipment at her. To her credit, she wordlessly grabbed it. He boosted himself over the banister and dropped into the water—it wasn’t deep enough at the banks for him to dive safely, only about four feet. But it was fucking cold, much more so than he’d expected. Shawn gritted his teeth and swam desperately toward the dark shape floating just below the surface of the lake. He was soaking wet but his mouth was dry. His heart beat wildly as he propelled himself forward.

By the time he reached the victim, he was no longer able to touch the bottom at all. He turned the man over, wrapping his arm around his chest, keeping his head above water. Shawn’s muscles burned with the stress of hauling the limp weight of the unconscious drunk to safety through the frigid waters, and from swimming using only one arm to pull them both along.
Taking in big gulps of air, he noted that several emergency vehicles had arrived. He could barely make out the yellow engine that he was certain would be from nearby Station 32. There were additional police units, the red truck of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, as well as at least one ambulance.

The drunk woke with a start, choking and gasping, fighting Shawn’s attempts to save his life. Shawn was pulled under – he’d barely had a chance to take a breath. His feet hit the bottom and Shawn propelled both of them back up out of the water. It was only a few seconds before he was dragged under again. Weakening, Shawn tried once more, but he barely broke the surface. Right as he sucked in a breath, he was yanked down and he took in more water than air.

Oh shit. Might be drowning.

Tour Dates/Tour Stops:
October 6: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
October 7: Rainbow Gold Reviews, The Novel Approach
October 8: Sinfully Sexy, The Hat Party
October 9: Cathy Brockman Romances
October 10: All I Want and More Books, Guilty Indulgence Book Club
October 13: Andrew Q. Gordon
October 14: Fallen Angel Reviews, Hearts on Fire
October 15: Jade Crystal
October 16: Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One
October 17: Regular Guys, Hot Romance, Butterfly-O-Meter
October 20: Prism Book Alliance
October 21: Multitasking Mommas, Dawn’s Reading Nook
October 22: Inked Rainbow Reads
October 23: Tara Lain
October 24: Carly’s Book Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Up All Night, Read All Day
October 27: Wake Up Your Wild Side, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Amanda C. Stone
October 28: Queer Town Abbey, Kimi-Chan
October 29: My Fiction Nook
October 30: Cate Ashwood
October 31: Foxylutely Book Reviews, Love Bytes

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card + Signed copy of All Fired Up. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link provided to enter and for additional contest details.

Contest Scavenger Hunt Secret fact from Fired Up:
1. Firefighter Trent Marshall has a thing for cops, but he’s afraid of losing another lover in the line of fire.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal for Unicorns and Rainbow Poop by Sam Kadence (contest)

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Need a little wonder in your life? Check out the new cover for Sam Kadence’s Unicorns and Rainbow Poop! There is an excerpt to read and a contest to enter! Now on to our cover reveal…

Book Name: Unicorns and Rainbow Poop
Author Name: Sam Kadence

Author Bio:

Sam Kadence has always dreamed about being someone else, somewhere else. With very little musical talent, Sam decided the only way to make those dreams come true was to try everything from cosplay at the local anime conventions to writing novels about pretending to run away to become a musician.  Sam has a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, sells textbooks for a living, enjoys taking photographs of Asian Ball Joint Dolls to tell more stories, and has eclectic taste in music from J-pop to rock and country. All of which finds its way into the books eventually.

Author Contact:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008292783586&fref=ts&ref=br_tf
https://www.facebook.com/SamKadence
@parisbvamp

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Sales Links for Dreamspinner Press: eBook Paperback

Unicorns and Rainbow Poop Blurb:

Ex-boyband member Dane Karlson is struggling to overcome an eating disorder and a body dismorphic disorder. His fall through a glass table puts him in rehab and on the road to recovery. Then a friend dies. When depression causes him to lose ground, he calls for the only person he trusts–former bandmate Tommy. But Tommy doesn’t know how to help. He begs his friend Sebastian “Bas” Axelrod to aid them through the emotional struggle.

Bas, an openly gay high school student who’s recently lost his grandmother, is trying to survive his last few months of school before escaping to Stanford. Having just lost the only person in his family to care for him, he is victim to the cruelty of the others. His younger brother bullies him, and his parents are suing him for his gran’s inheritance. When Tommy calls, Bas can’t help but run to his side.

Together Dane and Bas find a middle ground, supporting each other through the lows, dancing together during the highs. They build friendships and plan for the prom and graduation, thinking positively as long as they are together.

Categories: YA, Contemporary, m/m

Unicorns and Rainbow Poop Excerpt:

“So I was thinking since you and I both care about Tommy, we have something in common. See, Tommy is stressed, and I thought we could do something nice for him.”

Dane sat but glared at the man suspiciously. “What sort of nice thing?”

Bas motioned to the bags. “We’re going to make him cookies.”

Dane gulped. “I don’t like food.”

“You won’t be eating it. Tommy will. He canceled a class to come here. Did he tell you? He was taking a theater class at the community college back in Minnesota. Had to withdraw to be here. And with college, you know that means giving up any money paid. Not that money matters much to you guys. Though as young as you all are, I hope you’re well invested.”

Bas shrugged at him and began taking things out of the bags. Flour, eggs, sugar—both white and brown—food coloring, butter, vanilla, and lemons.

“I didn’t know,” Dane said quietly. He’d thought Tommy would be the least affected by his problems. Of course he’d been wrong about that too. Couldn’t he do anything right? “I don’t know anything about cooking.”

“That’s okay. I got this recipe online. It’s pretty easy. We’re making unicorn poop cookies.”

“What?”

“They are sugar cookies with food coloring in them to make them all rainbow-like. Unicorns are good luck and all that. Supposed to be the embodiment of goodness and purity.” Bas picked up his tablet, tapped the screen, and flipped it so Dane could see. The cookies really did look like a big pile of rainbow poop.

“Looks tasty,” Dane grumbled.

“We shall see, right? Think you can measure for me?” He pulled out a couple of cookie sheets and turned on one of the many ovens. “I got permission to use the kitchen here, but we can’t get too rowdy or they’ll kick me out.” He winked at Dane. “I’m pretty sure the orderlies outside are to make sure I’m not burning the place down.”

Dane got up and moved around the counter to stare at the list of ingredients. Bas plugged in a big mixer and took the mixing bowl out of it, bringing it to the counter for them to fill.

“This is really for Tommy?”

“Sure. We can send some to Ru and Adam too if you’d like. I heard they are only an hour or so away.”

“I don’t want Ru to know I’m here,” Dane said immediately. He didn’t need to mess up anyone else’s life.

“No worries. We need tell them nothing other than that they are from you.”

Tour Dates: October 6, 2014

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Andrew Q. Gordon, Amanda C. Stone, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, BFD Book Blog, My Fiction Nook, The Hat Party, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Foxylutely Book Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Cathy Brockman Romances, Fallen Angel Reviews, Rebecca Cohen Writes, The Blogger Girls, Cate Ashwood, A_TiffyFit’s Reading Corner, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Smoocher’s Voice, Will Parkinson, Love Bytes, Multitasking Mommas, Twinsie Talk, Iyana Jenna

Contest: Rafflecopter Prize: $20 Amazon Gift Card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link provided to enter and for all additional contest details.

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Glorious October and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

This year our fall has been glorious! The weather is perfect, holding off those cold temperatures while still giving us a taste of the clear, crisp air and blue skies that I think of when fall arrives in Maryland. The Farmers markets and stores are full of Crisps, Cortlands, Stayman’s and Winesaps! Am I thinking of homemade apple pies? You betcha!

The leaves are just starting to turn here so I hope there will be plenty of color around when I return from Chicago and GRL. As we approach the dates for GRL, we are starting to lighten our schedule in anticipation. It’s just temporary and we will be back up and reading away upon our return. So many things to prepare for, think to pack, and get excited about. So many great authors will be there and I can’t wait to hear about all the new books, events, and author readings that will be taking place.

This week, our young YA reviewer, Aurora, has her first review on Saturday. I can’t wait for more of her reviews and fresh perspective from someone with much younger eyes and mind than mine! lol PaulB, Barb, the Zany, Old, Lady and Sammy are well accounted for too. How much fun is this? But if you want to review for Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words, we have plenty of room for more reviewers. Drop me a note and let’s talk!

Quick Cool Announcement: Riptide Publishing has a new Josh of the Damned story, Merry Christmas, Josh from Andrea Speed, free at Riptide right now. Go here to download! If you love the Josh of the Damned warped universe as much as I do, this is a great gift to get for yourelf! Do it now!

Now onto to our schedule for this upcoming week.

The Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts And Rogue Words

Monday, October 6:

Cover Reveal for Unicorns and Rainbow Poop by Sam Kadence
Morticia Knight’s All Fired Up Tour (contest)
A PaulB Review: A Heart for Robbie by J.P. Barnaby
A MelanieM Review: Midsummer Baker by Megan Derr

Tuesday, October 7:

Skylar Wood’s Jade Book Tour and Contest
A MelanieM Review: Hidden Gem by Lissa Kasey
A SammyL Review: All Star Virgin by Ben Raphael

Wednesday, October 8:

Riptide’s Bump in the Night Book tour and contest
A MelanieM Review: Red Dirt Heart 2 by N. R. Walker

Thursday, October 9:

RJ Scott’s GRL Guest Blog and Contest
A MelanieM Review: A Foundation of Trust by A.M. Arthur

Friday, October 10:

Andrew Q. Gordon’s A Closed Door Book Tour and Contest
Garrett Leigh’s “Slide” Book Tour and Contest
A MelanieM Review: Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations by Neil Plakcy

Saturday, October 11:

An Aurora YA Review: “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman

A MelanieM Review: Red Dirt Heart (Red Dirt #1) by N.R. Walker

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Welcome to Sutton Station: One of the world’s largest working farms in the middle of Australia – where if the animals and heat don’t kill you first, your heart just might.

Charlie Sutton runs one of the largest working ranches in middle Australia, Sutton Station. It is something he was born to do and Charlie can’t picture himself anywhere else even if he feels his sexuality would make him an outcast not only among the people he works among but the other stations and store owners he does business with as well. The recent death of his powerful, overbearing father has done nothing to still his father’s voice inside his head that threatens his self worth and instills Charlie with a fear about being gay and out. Then a new arrival at the station upends the status quo, including Charlie’s perceptions of himself and the Sutton Station family.

American agronomy student Travis Craig arrives for a work study internship at Sutton Station. Travis feels that his background as a Texas rancher and college area of study will help him fit in while hoping his studies will be beneficial to both countries. While Travis expects to research how the Australian farmers make a living from one of the harshest environments on earth, he doesn’t expect to find that he learns to love not only the harsh beauty and red dirt of Sutton Station but Charlie Sutton himself.

Under the intense desert sun of the red dirt of Sutton Station, can two men find love and the ability to have a future together?

Readers, meet my latest obsession and its author, the Red Dirt Heart series by N. R Walker. All it took was the first paragraph to pull me totally into the life of Charlie Sutton and the Sutton Station set in the Northern Territory (which is about the same size as Lebanon and based on a real working farm). This author is amazing. Walker manages to make the people and places in Red Dirt Heart so believable, so vivid, that you will feel the dust and heat enough to feel the need to brush the red dirt off the pages (or Kindle cover) as you read.

The story is told from Charlie Sutton’s point of view. That perspective enables Walker to bring all the Aussie terminology, colloquialisms, culture and frame of mind to life. It also lets us into the heart and soul of this vulnerable, and marvelously complicated young man. There is so much to Charlie. From the insidious voice inside his head left by his father that tells him he will never be good enough or “man” enough to run Sutton Station because he is gay to the considerate, smart, and appealing person others find him to be. What a great character!

Travis Craig, is his equal in every manner. A Texas agronomy student who is openly gay, Travis starts to upend Charlie’s life and life at the Sutton Station from the moment he arrives. Travis not only works himself into Charlie’s heart but the readers as well. Their dialog together is serious, humorous, and telling in its many meanings and impact.

Every aspect of life at Sutton Station comes across as authentic and real as the red dirt itself. From Ma in the kitchen to the drovers that work for Charlie, the reader is immersed into the every day experiences of life lived seasonally and the hard work it takes to exist and succeed under some of the harshest conditions known. It’s not just the romance but all the layers found here in this story and series that makes it work and resonate deeply with the readers, myself included. I did say it was my newest obsession, didn’t I?

Red Dirt Heart is that amazing self published story that you want to go telling everyone about. I couldn’t put it down and then was lucky enough to already have in my possession the sequel to dive into once the first was finished. And then I wanted more. I wanted to move to Australia, experience the red dirt and vastness of the Northern Territory and wander until I found a Charlie and Travis of my own. Trust me, you are going to feel the same. The third story in the series is almost here. Pick up the first two and get ready to fall in love with Charlie, Travis, and the Sutton Station itself.

Cover Artist: Sara York. I like it. It works for the story and series branding.

Author’s Note: Please note: This book is set in Australia, using Australian English and lingo

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks (ARe) Amazon Red Dirt Heart 1 $1.50 at Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 162 pages
Published February 20th 2014
edition languageEnglish
seriesRed Dirt #1

Books in the series to date in the order they were written and should be read to understand the relationships, events and characters:

Red Dirt Heart 1
Red Dirt Heart 2
Red Dirt Heart 3 to be released early October 2014

Feel that cold creeping into the room? Getting the shivers? Let’s welcome some frighteningly awesome authors here today to clue us into the creepy quickies they have in store for us all…

About Resurrection Man

About Mating Season

About Blasphemer, Sinner, Saint

Read more about Heidi, Kari, Laylah, and Sam by visiting their author pages at Riptide Publishing. Go now and get your holiday Spook On early!!

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Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press Paperback All Romance eBooks (ARe) Amazon Hidden Gem

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Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Sales Links: Harmony Ink eBook All Romance (ARe) Amazon Ben Raphael’s All Star Virgins

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Check out Skylar Wood’s latest story, Jade. Read the excerpt and don’t forget to enter the contest below:

Book Name: Jade Author Name: Skylar Wood

Author Bio:

Author Contacts:

Title: Jade by Skylar Wood Publisher: Dark Hollow Press Cover Artist: 3 Rusted Spoons Cover Design

Jade Blurb:

Jade Excerpt:

Tour Dates: October 7, 2014

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Sales Links: Less Than Three Press Amazon Midsummer Baker ($0.99)

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Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press ebook Paperback All Romance ebooks (ARe) Amazon A Heart for Robbie

Book Details:

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Book Name: All Fired Up (Sin City Uniforms #1) Goodreads Link Author Name: Morticia Knight

Author Bio:

Author Contact: https://www.facebook.com/#!/morticia.knight https://twitter.com/MorticiaKnight

All Fired Up Blurb:

All Fired Up Excerpt:

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Need a little wonder in your life? Check out the new cover for Sam Kadence’s Unicorns and Rainbow Poop! There is an excerpt to read and a contest to enter! Now on to our cover reveal…

Book Name: Unicorns and Rainbow Poop Author Name: Sam Kadence

Author Bio:

Author Contact:

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson Sales Links for Dreamspinner Press: eBook Paperback

Unicorns and Rainbow Poop Blurb:

Unicorns and Rainbow Poop Excerpt:

Tour Dates: October 6, 2014

Contest: Rafflecopter Prize: $20 Amazon Gift Card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the Rafflecopter link provided to enter and for all additional contest details.

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts And Rogue Words

Monday, October 6:

Tuesday, October 7:

Wednesday, October 8:

Thursday, October 9:

Friday, October 10:

Saturday, October 11:

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Sales Links: All Romance eBooks (ARe) Amazon Red Dirt Heart 1 $1.50 at Amazon

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Book Name: Jade
Author Name: Skylar Wood

Title: Jade by Skylar Wood
Publisher: Dark Hollow Press
Cover Artist: 3 Rusted Spoons Cover Design

Book Name: All Fired Up (Sin City Uniforms #1)
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Morticia Knight

Author Contact:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/morticia.knight
https://twitter.com/MorticiaKnight

Book Name: Unicorns and Rainbow Poop
Author Name: Sam Kadence

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Sales Links for Dreamspinner Press: eBook Paperback

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