Rock Out with the boys of L.A Witt’s Running With Scissors (giveaway)

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Running with Scissors by L.A. Witt
Published by Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L. C. Chase

Welcome to the Riptide Publishing/L.A. Witt blog tour for Running with Scissors by L.A. Witt”

Blurb

Eighteen months ago, drummer Jude Colburn made the biggest mistake of his life when he walked away from his band just as they were on the brink of success. Now, he’s got a second chance. The band’s bassist just quit, and Jude plays bass almost as well as he plays drums. The other band members aren’t thrilled, but they are desperate.

Running with Scissors needs him, but there’s one condition: no hooking up with bandmates. That’s what ruined things eighteen months ago, after all. Jude’s on board, but no one warned him about the drummer who replaced him. A.J. Palmer is shy and unassuming . . . until he hits the stage. He gets Jude’s attention from the first beat, and suddenly that “no hookups” rule isn’t so easy to follow.

Keeping secrets on a tour bus isn’t easy either, and it’s only a matter of time before the band catches on. When everything hits the fan, Jude has to choose: a second chance at the career he’s always regretted leaving, or a shot at the man of his dreams?

Running With Scissors is available from Riptide Publishing.

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Giveaway

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice of two eBooks off my backlist (excluding Running With Scissors) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on September 5th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to leave your email so we can contact you if you win!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

About the Author

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

L.A.’s backlist is available on  her website, and updates (as well as random thoughts and the odd snarky comment) can be found on her blog or on Twitter @GallagherWitt.

 

Coffee Sip and Book Break with Joe Cosentino and his release A Shooting Star (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Shooting Star cover

A Shooting Star (In My Heart)
by Joe Cosentino
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press 

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Interview with Joe Cosentino for A SHOOTING STAR, the second In My Heart bittersweet dreams novella from Dreamspinner Press

Why write a bittersweet story?  What is the attraction there?

  • There are different types of bittersweet stories. My two novellas include moments of humor, romance, sadness, and revelation. Just like in real life. That’s what attracts me to the genre. I started as an actor then playwright. I can’t remember acting in a play, movie, or television show, or writing a play that did not include some sad or tragic moments. Those moments brought the stories to life, and were what the audience members talked about and remembered. After AN INFATUATION (the first In My Heart bittersweet dreams novella) was released by Dreamspinner Press, many readers messaged me to say how much that novella changed their lives. They said they laughed, felt romantic, and cried while falling in love with Harold and Mario. To this day I cherish every one of those messages. They also requested a second novella in the In My Heart series. Since AN INFATUATION was loosely based on my high school days through adulthood, I thought back to my days as a theatre major in college, and A SHOTING STAR was born.

Is there a certain bittersweet moment or story you remember well?

  • We all have people we miss in our lives. While not having them with us may be sad, the memoires can be joyous, life-changing, and passionate. I was a theatre major in college. Like most college theatre departments, mine was full of comedy, romance, mystery, and of course drama. The flames of love were kindled and hearts were broken while we put up play after play for delighted audiences who never knew the personal secrets behind the stage curtains. There was the star student who got the leading role in every show. Everyone, male and female, was in love with him. He was handsome, muscular, charismatic, and an incredible actor-onstage and off. He broke everyone’s heart, but we all idolized him anyway. We shared an incredible experience that binds us till this day. An experience none of us will ever forget. This novella is dedicated to that time.

Do you feel we must know what the bitter tastes like in order to understand or savor the sweetness of life when it arrives?

  • Well said! My mother always said, “You have to lose something to appreciate what you have.” She also said, “Don’t you have anything better to do than sit home and write books?” I wonder if Shakespeare’s mother said that to him? Hah. Actually, my mother loves my books!

What character or moment in this story stood out for you as your “aha” moment?  Not the revelatory moment for the plot, but the moment when you knew it was coming together as a story?

  • Jonathan has incredible spirit. He is likeable, gullible, and wears his heart on his sleeve. David is magical, an enigma, and incredibly sexy. I knew they would have powerful chemistry from the first page, and they didn’t let me down. When Barry, Jonathan’s devoted scene partner, entered the story, he was so hysterically funny and sweet. At that point I knew the story was incredibly special.

I know some readers run from stories without HEA let alone, HFN, what would you say to them?

  • AN INFATUATION and A SHOOTING STAR celebrate and cherish first love, infatuation, and lasting memories. Reading them will be an experience you will remember. Besides, I hear it’s good for us to have a good laugh and a good cry once in a while. If you don’t like the idea of reading a bittersweet dreams novella, read DRAMA QUEEN (the first Nicky and Noah comedy mystery from Lethe Press). In book one, college theatre professors, Nicky and Noah, use their theatre skills (including impersonating others) to find out why their colleagues are dropping like stage curtains. It’s available as an ebook, paperbook, or audiobook (performed by the hysterically funny Michael Gilboe). BTW, there are only HEAs in my future books! I am currently editing for release: A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (a winter holiday short story taking place in Capri, Italy) releasing in December from Dreamsprinner Press. Following that will be THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TAKES FROM FAIRYLAND (gay fairy tales novella) releasing from Dreamspinner Press in February, DRAMA MUSCLE (the second Nicky and Noah comedy mystery set in the college’s Physical Education department) and DRAMA CRUISE (the third Nicky and Noah mystery set on a murder mystery dinner theatre cruise to Alaska) from Lethe Press. I also just finished a new gay romance novel set in the Jersey Shore, COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK. There is also my (straight leading characters with gay supporting characters) mystery novel, PAPER DOLL, from Whiskey Creek Press, about an ex-child star making a comeback as she finds a murderer from her past and present. Coming in 2016 are other Jana Lane mysteries: PORCELAIN DOLL and SATIN DOLL from The Wild Rose Press. Looks like I’ll be really busy!

Shooting Star cover

STRW Author BookSynopsis

On the eve of the best night of his life, winning an Academy Award, Jonathan Bello thinks back to his one great love, David Star. Flipping back the pages of time, Jonathan recalls his handsome, muscular, and charismatic college roommate. Since Jonathan was a freshman and David a senior in the Theatre Department, David took Jonathan under his wing and molded him, not only as an actor but as a lover. With every wonderful new adventure, David left his joyful mark on anyone with whom they came in contact, but Jonathan soon uncovered David’s dark past, leading to a shocking event. Undaunted, Jonathan celebrates the captivating man who will always hold a special place in his heart.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It’s an unfortunate truth: love doesn’t always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

A SHOOTING STAR BY JOE COSENTINO FROM DREAMSPINNER PRESS

As an Italian-American, I subscribed to my mother’s theory that if someone doesn’t want you to see something, he will hide it in a locked vault covered with cement. So I inadvertently took a quick look at my roommate’s things on the other side of the room. He was incredibly neat. Numerous theater textbooks and play scripts lined his bookshelf in alphabetical order. The bulletin board above his desk displayed artistically arranged programs from various comedy, drama, and musical college productions listing the same male lead in each show: “David Star”.
“Do you always look at other people’s things?”
I nearly got whiplash as he entered the room.
Stammering like a kid caught masturbating by his parents, I said, “I… w-was… ad-m-miring y-your… r-room.”
Though it was a fall September day, he took off his scarf (violet) and rested it on a tall coat-rack, which held scarves in various colors like a department store window display. He was taller than me, with a chiseled, handsome face, and straight, shiny black hair, which fell down his thick neck. I admired his perfectly sculpted muscles, housed in a turquoise designer dress shirt. But what captivated me the most were his piercing crystal-blue eyes—and the enormous bulge in his skin-tight, designer beige pants.
“What’s your name?”
“Johnny Falabella.”
He looked at me like a surgeon examining a tumor. “No, it’s not.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s Jonathan Bello.” He opened a bureau drawer, pulled out a bottle of hair gel, and tossed it to me. “You should gel your hair.” He opened his closet, revealing a multitude of color-coordinated shirts and slacks, and lay some on my bed. “And you can wear these.”
I looked at his perfectly pressed designer clothes. “Where did you get all these things?”
“They were gifts, mostly.”
“You must have some generous friends…. Sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“I’m David Star.” He took a bow.
Looking back at his play programs, I said, “You must have starred in every play at the college over the last three years.”
“Guilty as charged.”
“What happened to your last roommate?”
“He went to LA over the summer break and started auditioning. He got cast in a new TV sitcom. I hope it takes off. It’s called Cosby.”
“At the orientation session, they said freshmen are housed with other freshmen. How did I get a senior for a roommate?”
His eyes twinkled. “Just lucky I guess.”
“Do you think it was some kind of an administrative error or something?”
“Or something.” He added matter-of-factly, “I asked for a freshman roommate.”

Contemporary Romance
ISBN-13:978-1-63476-526-8
Pages:98

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Joe Cosentino is the author of An Infatuation and A Shooting Star (Dreamspinner Press), Paper Doll the first Jana Lane mystery (Whiskey Creek Press), Drama Queen the first Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press), and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (Eldridge Plays and Musicals). He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, and Jason Robards. His one-act plays, Infatuation and Neighbor, were performed in New York City. He wrote The Perils of Pauline educational film (Prentice Hall Publishers). Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. His upcoming novels are A Home for the Holidays (Dreamspinner Press holiday novella), The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press short stories novella), Porcelain Doll the second Jana Lane mystery (Wild Rose Press), and Drama Muscle the second Nicky and Noah mystery (Lethe Press).France picture

Contact Joe at:

Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: ttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00KRPXJP6

 

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

 

Joe Cosentino is offering a giveaway of AN INFATUATION, the first In My Heart bittersweet dreams M/M novella from Dreamspinner Press. Post a comment about his interview. We will select the winner and Joe will email you the ebook!”  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Make sure you leave an email address where you can be reached if chosen. Happy reading.

In Out Spotlight: Like a Lover (Housemates #2) by Jay Northcote

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Like a Lover (Housemates #2) by Jay Northcote
Release Date: September 4, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Jaybird Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

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Blurb

Josh has a plan: get through uni with a good degree and no debts. Focused on his goals, he’s working as an escort to pay his way. He enjoys the no-strings sex and doesn’t have the time or inclination for a relationship. Falling in love definitely isn’t part of the deal—especially not with a client.

When Rupert meets Josh in a bar, he’s smitten on sight. He’s never paid for sex before, but when Josh propositions him, he can’t resist. He should have known one night would never be enough. Luckily for him, he has an inheritance to support his addiction to Josh, because his job in IT wouldn’t cover the cost.

With each appointment the lines get increasingly blurred. Something is developing between them that feels more like a relationship than a business transaction, but they come from different worlds and to go from client-and-escort to lovers seems impossible. If they want a future together, Josh and Rupert have a lot to overcome.

Pages or Words: 48,450 words
Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt:

“I like your lip ring,” Rupert said. His gaze dropped lower to Josh’s collarbones. “What are your tattoos of?”

“Swallows.” Rupert would just be able to see the wing tips that showed in this low-necked T-shirt. “Two of them.”

“Have you got any other tattoos?”

Josh gave a slow, teasing smile. “Maybe. Do you want me to show you?”

Rupert met his eyes again. There was a flicker of uncertainty before he answered. “Yes. I’d like that.”

Josh turned over the possibilities in his mind. It had been a long time since he’d had sex for anything other than for money. He usually saw clients at least three nights a week. They scratched the itch for him, and he didn’t have the time or inclination to hook up with other guys. He hadn’t dated since he’d started working as an escort. Josh didn’t like lying about his job, but most guys didn’t want to date escorts.

It would be easy to pick Rupert up tonight, though, and have no-strings sex with him for fun rather than cash. But Josh’s rent was due.

“Me too. But it’ll cost you,” he finally said.

Rupert frowned, obvious confusion crossing his features as he tried to make sense of Josh’s words. “What? I don’t—”

“You’re hot, and I wish I could do this without asking you for money. But a client let me down this evening. I have a hotel room booked and paid for next door, and I need someone to cover the cost for me.” The lie came smoothly. “I can’t afford to have sex for free tonight.”

Rupert’s mouth dropped open. Shock was evident on his face, but there was something else that was harder to read. His cheeks flooded pink again and his eyes went dark. “You’re….” His voice came out husky, and he cleared his throat. “You’re a….”

“A sex worker. An escort, to be precise. Hooker, rent boy, you get the gist. I’m an expensive one too. But my clients think I’m worth the money.” Josh waited, tension making a muscle tick in his jaw as he forced himself to stay still and hold Rupert’s gaze. On the occasions he’d tried picking up clients face-to-face, their reactions had varied. Interest, anger, excitement, disgust… he’d seen them all. He steeled himself, ready for rejection.

Rupert licked his lips. “How much?” he finally asked.

Buy the book:  Amazon | Amazon UK |  All Romance (ARe) | Smashwords

About the Author

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.

She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

Where to find the author:

RC


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Bookaholic Confessions, My Fiction Nook, BFD Book Blog, Reviews by Jessewave, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Happily Ever Chapter, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Carly’s Book Reviews, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Louise Lyons, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Multitasking Mommas, Boys on the Brink Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Nephylim, Iyana Jenna, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, Mikky’s World of Books, 3 Chicks After Dark, V’s Reads, Velvet Panic

Final Jay Northcote Revised

Giveaway

Enter to  win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Amazon gift card.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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A Mika Review: Trust by Sarah Masters

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars ★★★

Trust coverSometimes, trusting your instincts leads to happiness and love.

After coming out, life took a turn for the worst. I knew people would view me differently, of course I did, but… See, here’s the thing. How does a person cope when a few of their work colleagues play such a cruel trick that it leaves them wondering if they’ll ever trust anyone again? It happened to me, and trusting isn’t something I do easily now.

Until James comes along. He’s a work colleague too, but my issue is, I keep thinking he’s playing another trick. You know, reeling me in, making me think he’s a good bloke.

He’s asked me to go out with him and although I should maybe get to know him a bit better first, I’ve said I’ll go. I need to get back out there, live a little. And if I get hurt? Well, I’ll just have to deal with it. Again.

But maybe he won’t hurt me. Break my heart and all that. Please God.

Definitely a short, sweet and cute read. Trevor is basically humiliated at work by his co-workers after them finding out about his sexuality. I thought it was cute of Trevor talking to himself and trying to reassure himself in the most sensible way that things were going to get better. Enter admin guy, who Trevor doesn’t know if anything coming out his mouth is genuine, and he takes a chance on him. These guys seem like they are in their awkward teenage phase of life, but they are adults dealing with being out in two different ways. We learn that sweet admin guy is just boring James as he describes his name, like Trevor, I see nothing boring about him. I think it took a lot of confidence to come up and talk to someone who’s basically being shamed at work. James gives off the aura of confidence when he has his own insecurities as well. I really liked how they came together, and were better with each other.

Cover Art by Posh Gosh. I liked the display of Trevor at the Art center where he and James can be themselves. No one is judging them, and they are happy being their own bent selves!

Sales Links:  Pride Publishing |  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published August 11th 2015 by Pride Publishing
ISBN139781784307103
edition languageEnglish

A BJ Review: Give An Inch by K.D. Sarge

Rating:  5 stars out of 5  ★★★★★

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice, and all the stories are edited by the group and given away FREE. This particular story was written for the prompt I submitted! Woot!

Give An Inch coverPrompt:

Dear Author,
The court settlement left me with enough money to buy a house as isolated from other people as I could get. I vowed I’d never let anyone close again and spent my days fixing the place up and trying to forget. Then a feral cat dropped her litter in the shed out back and disappeared. I couldn’t leave newborn kittens to die, but a city boy like me had no clue how to care for them. Thank goodness for Google. Supply list in hand, hair tucked under a hat that shadowed my face, and eyes covered by glasses, I dared to venture into town. I met him (picture) at the local feed store. I guess he’s not into watching the news, since he didn’t seem to know who I am. He helped me save the kittens. He’s dyslexic, which he thinks makes him stupid. He’s far from that. He’s kind and gentle, and he’s starting to slip under my barriers. Starting to make me crave his touch. But how can I bare my body to him after what they did to me? What they made me?

Tully

Photo Description:
A young man in a beanie lies on a couch, a gray-and-white kitten asleep on his chest and a black-and-white kitten exploring. He smiles at them.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

I was extremely excited when K.D. Sarge chose my prompt as I knew I could expect to get something special. I’m going to try not to give away too much of the plot in this review because I think its something best experienced in the slow bits of insight given. For that reason, I won’t say much about Marlow’s background, but as the story opens he’s purchased a secluded home in a rural area and has found a litter of NINE kittens abandoned by their mother. NINE! How can he possibly care for that many little critters on his own, right? Thankfully, young Pax who works part-time at the feed store rides into the picture on his trusty bike. Marlow had forgotten one of his bags of purchases at the store and Pax came to deliver it in person. Like Marlow, Pax is sucked in by the little furballs and is soon on board with the fight to save them… and maybe Marlow, too.

Wonderfully written story that gave me all the sweet adorableness I’d hoped for offset by some lovely touches of dark. I enjoyed reading this and am thankful to the author for bringing my prompt to life so eloquently!

Both Pax and Marlow are interesting characters. The story did end a bit abruptly for me, and left me longing for a sequel or expanded version to show more. I must know if the guy’s initial hook up continued and what ended up happening to the kittens. Did they keep one? Basically, it was completely intriguing and I was totally not ready for it to end. MORE please.

The cover was created by the DRitC team as part of the event and doesn’t relate specifically to this story.

Free Story to be Found Here

Book Details:

ebook, 52 pages
Published August 30th 2015 by MMRomanceGroup.com
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=278481

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Throwback Thursday Review: The Summer House (English Hearts #1) by R.J. Scott

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

English 1 the summer house jpgThe last thing veterinarian Connor Lawson needs in his life is a sexy, rich playboy like Ashby Sterling-Haynes. Connor once had a relationship with a wealthy playboy, and once was enough. In fact, not even his best friend knows the dark secret and emotional pain Connor carries from that encounter, but it is still affecting his life, and if he has any hope for a future with a man, he has to find a way to deal with it.

Ashby Sterling-Haynes is the youngest son in a wealthy, titled family. Currently the chief of the accounting department at the corporation’s headquarters in London, he’s staying at the country estate while his brother Ben, who manages the estate, is on his honeymoon. A mild flirtation with the vet leads to so much more, and a summer in which Ash thought he’d be bored, turns into a journey of self-discovery when he apprentices with a local carpenter to indulge his creative side and his itch to work with wood. Once only a dream, he discovers that his “hobby” may indeed turn out to be his career, at the same time he discovers that his flirtation with Connor is leading to a rich and fulfilling friendship and a deep and abiding love.

There are both struggles and poignant moments as Connor and Ash interact in the community. And there’s both humor and heartache as Connor works through his past fears, and Ash discovers what love is all about and realizes that he’s not only willing to fight for Connor, he’s eagerly looking forward to it.

I loved this couple. I haven’t loved another couple so much since I first met Jack Campbell and Riley Hayes in The Heart of Texas. Their chemistry was spot-on, and both their individual personalities and their behavior as a couple were genuine and exciting. The secondary characters, especially Landon and Rachel and Mick were all vital to the story and complemented the whole.

I highly recommend this one to those who love their M/M romance with a nice mixture of humor, angst, hurt/comfort, and sexy times all rolled into one very enjoyable package.

~~~~
Cover design by Meredith Russell depicts two young men with an English estate in the background. The men look exactly the way I would picture Connor and Ashby after having read the story, so IMHO, it’s perfect.

Sales Links:  RJ Scott  –  All Romance (ARe) –  Amazon    Buy It Here

Book Details:

A standalone, English Hearts story

ebook
Published May 29th 2015 by Love Lane Books Limited (first published May 27th 2015)
urlhttp://www.rjscott.co.uk
seriesEnglish Hearts #1

Love’s Path Takes a Curve with Bent Arrow by Posy Roberts (excerpt and giveaway)

Bent Arrow cover

Bent Arrow by Posy Roberts
Release Date: September 3, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link 
Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Books
Cover Artist: DJ Mack

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Buy Links:  Amazon | All Romance (ARe) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Sometimes curves in the road take you right where you belong.

Luther Almond’s life working the Bakken oil field is perfect—short-lived jobs, temporary housing, and easy hookups. That’s one reason he won’t move home when he inherits the lake house. When Erik Heat bends over to fix Luther’s pipes, his tattoos hint he might be up for more than working on the drain. The last thing Luther expects is to want more from this guy than one night.

Every time they’re together, Luther is more grounded and Erik more confident. When the lake house demands attention, Luther asks for Erik’s help. There he imagines a more permanent life, one where he stops running. But he wants Erik by his side. Can he find the courage—and the words—to ask?

Pages or Words: 20,000 words/65 pages
Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Erik had the quintessential plumber’s crack, but holy… it was not at all repulsive. And on his left ass cheek was a tattoo. From where Luther sat, it looked like an elaborate arrow, or at least the tip of an arrow pointing toward his ass. The rest disappeared under his clothes. Luther assumed it wrapped around his side, and he wondered what sort of fletching was at the other end. Did it end right above his cock, obscured by a dark thatch of pubic hair, or nestle in his V, just skirting his hipbone?
Luther stood up, grabbed a can of pop from the fridge, and stepped closer to study the tattoo. He spied a dark smudge right above the beautiful arrow tip and barely kept himself from bursting into laughter when he realized what it said.
Insert here was inked in faded letters, nothing at all like the professional thin lines of the quality arrow. This looked like the shit tattoos his high school friends gave themselves with a sewing needle and India ink before they were old enough to get a professional one. Or a prison tattoo.
Yet it was like an invitation just waiting to be noticed.
“Is that true?” Luther asked.
“Is what true?” Erik’s voice was muffled.
“‘Insert here.’”
Erik immediately sat back and tugged both his underwear and his jeans up to cover his left hip as he cursed under his breath. “Shit. Stupid tool belt.” He flushed bright red and then muttered words that were hard to understand, but Luther thought he made out undershirt and aerator. Erik scrambled to toss his tools in his bucket, taking no time to organize them in the same way they’d been when he’d arrived, and he tripped over an area rug as he bolted toward the door.
“Hey! Stop,” Luther said. “Just—stop!”
Erik did, but he faced the door, refusing to turn around.
“I’m gay, so you’re safe here, if that’s what that tattoo’s truly about.”
Erik turned his head slightly, only enough that Luther could see his dark eyelashes as he blinked in double time.
“It’s not an easy place to be out. I know. But then… why have that tattooed on your ass?”
“Long story,” Erik said.
“You were going out to your truck to get more tools?” Luther offered, to help the guy save face.
“No.” He hiked his pants up and tightened his tool belt a notch or two. “I’m gonna keep working.”
“All right.” Luther sat down on his couch again, tugging his iPad back into his lap and pretending to no longer care about those smudged words that obviously meant a hell of a lot to Erik. At least keeping them hidden did.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Real life. Genuine men. True love.
Posy Roberts writes about the realistic struggles of men looking for love. Whether her characters are family men, drag queens, or lonely men searching for connections, they all find a home in her stories.
Posy is married to a man who makes sure she doesn’t forget to eat or sleep. Her daughter, a budding author and dedicated Whovian, helps her come up with character names. When Posy’s not writing, she enjoys crafting, hiking, and singing spontaneously about the mundane, just to make normal seem more interesting.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Newsletter

Where to find the author:
Pinterest: Pinterest
Other: Tumblr (NSFW)

RC

Tour Dates & Stops: September 3, 2015
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A Paul B Review: Craig (Gillham Pack #3) by Catherine Lievens

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars  ★★★★

Craig coverCraig used to work for Glass Research Company as a security guard.  However, was also working for the local lion pride to rescue shifters being held by Glass.  Can he make a new life after his final rescue attempt while staying with the local wolf pack?

After his last rescue effort that brought Gillham pack alpha mate Zach home, Craig has decided to stick around the wolf pack in order to disappear from his former employers.  He has developed a special friendship with Jago, the elephant shrew shifter that was among the last of his rescues.  During a pack gathering in which the nearby lion pride is also invited, both men notice a man walking from the woods.  Craig could see himself in bed with the man if it weren’t for the cheesy moustache the man has.

Thomas is a member of the inner circle of the Gillham pack.  His pack alpha Kameron has noticed that Thomas has not been behaving normally the last few months.  To get his mind off his troubles, Kameron assigns Thomas to befriend the human Craig in order to convince the man to make the pack a permanent home.  It would not be so bad except that he gets jealous whenever Jago is hanging around Craig.  After meeting the man, Thomas realizes that Craig is his fated mate.  There are only two complications.  Craig seems to already have a boyfriend in Jago and Thomas has a wife and family.  Thomas must decide whether he wants to fight for his mate and possibly break several hearts in the process or walk away and have his broken instead.  When Thomas sees what appears to be kiss between Craig and Jago in the pack house, Thomas takes an action that answers his question.  But what will be the ramifications of it?

This is the third book in Catherine Lievens’ Gillham Pack series.  She does a nice job in bringing a minor character in the previous book and gives him the main story in the next.  Thomas must deal with his marriage that has been falling apart for a while before Craig ever shows on the scene.  He must also deal with his brother who does not understand how after years of marriage Thomas decides to mate with a man.  The scenes with Thomas’s son Eli talking to both his father and Craig are heart warming.   I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes the story.

The cover art by Latrisha Waters shows the shirtless torso of a well build man who is wearing blue jeans along with a wolf howling.  It fits the motif of other books in the series.

Sales Links:  eXtasy Books | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Ebook, 137 pages
Edition:  English
ISBN:  978-1-4874-0404-8
Published:  August 15, 2015 by Extasy Books

Series:  Gillham Pack

  • Xavier (Gillham Pack #1)
  • Zach (Gillham Pack #2)
  • Craig (Gillham Pack #3)

A Stella Review: Red Hot – Coffin Nails MC California by KA Merikan

RATING 3,25 stars out of 5

— Live fast. Die young. Fuck hard.—

Red Hot Coffin Nails CoverRed Jack. Rude. Crude. Horny ginger mess. In love with… himself.
Loki. Deadbeat. Volatile. Stalker. Terminally ill. Fatally in love.

When it comes to men, Red Jack has three rules. The guy has to be hot, out of town, and not up for repeats. It’s a good way to keep the gay flings far away from the eyes of his brothers in the Coffin Nails Motorcycle Club, and he will make damn sure it stays that way. When a hookup takes an ominous turn, and the sexy stranger turns up at his house, the heat is on. Loki invades his life and just won’t leave, wreaking havoc wherever he follows Jack, but getting rid of him becomes harder with every kiss. 

The world crumbles around Loki when he finds out he has cancer. As if his life wasn’t shit enough already. With only a few months left, he decides to live to the fullest and get every last wish on his bucket list fulfilled. One of those is fucking the hot bearded biker he meets the same night he got the bad news. Big, confident, and dangerous, Red Jack is all Loki ever wanted in a man. After all, he deserves one last shot at love. Who cares if Red Jack is a stubborn, closeted asshole? Loki knows what he wants, and he won’t settle for anything less. Even if it kills him. 

 

I’m a huge fan of KA Merikan work. I said too many times, I’m amazed how these two girls can write so beautifully together. This new installment in the Sex & Mayhem series disappointed me a little. There were too many little details that bothered me. First of all I can’t stand to read het sex in my m/m books and here we got a very explicit one. Moreover I don’t like hitting, and I’m not talking in general, because this series is so violent. I knew I should expect some really heavy scenes and there were some. I didn’t like the hitting between MCs, it was harder to take than those other scenes. It’s something I really can’t accept.

The style is the same, hard and harsh language, too much too many times even for me and I’m used to it, so it’s important you read the warnings. I found Red Hot crazier that the other books in the series. It’s one of the authors traits, but here the  MCs are really out of their freaking mind, not sure which one more.

The writing was really good, the characters well defined, even  the secondary ones, but in the end, I so missed a true connection between Red Jack and Loki and this little disconnection made it hard to me to love them. I pretty much didn’t care at all about them, or about Loki’s illness. Of course Loki isn’t going to die, and it’s not a spoiler I’m saying, you can’t expect otherwise. Point was to see how KA decided to resolve it. And again I didn’t like it at all, it was really messed up, unbelievable and I’d have totally appreciated something different.

I’m giving this book 3,25 stars because it wasn’t a bad book at all, I can’t skip a well written book with a well developed story. I can’t give it lesser rating . Still, it wasn’t what was I was waiting for. It left me with a bitter taste in my mouth

COVER ART by Natasha Snow. The cover is simply amazing and hot like pretty much everything Natasha does. Loved it!

Sales Links:  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Published July 16th 2015 by Acerbi & Villani ltd.
Kindle Edition, 312 pages
ASIN B011T3WKFY
Edition Language English

Themes: Outlaw motorcycle club, criminal activity, hurt/comfort, abuse, sexual orientation issues, stalking, revenge, bucket list, coping with illness, first love

Genre: M/M erotic dark romance, suspense, drama
Length: ~105,000 words standalone novel (HEA

Series Sex & Mayhem

  1. Road of No return
  2. The Devil’s Ride
  3. Stripped Raw. Coffin Nails MC California (mf)
  4. No Matter What
  5. Red Hot . Coffin Nails MC California

ISO Gay Rockers Looking for Love? Check Out Sexual Frankenstein by TC Blue (excerpt and giveaway)

sexualfrankenstein1400

Sexual Frankenstein by TC Blue
Release Date: September 2, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

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Buy the book:   Torquere Books

Blurb

Tony & Darian have been friends and playing together in their band, Sexual Frankenstein, for a few years, and while they really are friends, they’ve never crossed that line — no matter how much they may want to — because of their band and friendship, as well as not thinking the other is interested.

The apparent interest in one of them, from their hot and very glam new singer, brings things to a head as long-buried jealousies push to the fore, leading both Tony and Darian to reevaluate what they already have and what they so desperately want.

This story previously appeared in the Po’boys Anthology, published by Torquere Press.

Pages or Words: 13,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance

Excerpt

Yeah, the voice was bad enough because it was so good, but even worse was the fact that Andy was too fucking good-looking and not at all shy. Andy would never sit around for two years, yearning for someone who had never once seemed to be interested, just because he was too scared to make a move. No, Tony was pretty sure that Andy, with his make-up and highlights, his dramatic wardrobe and even more dramatic nature, would just stroll up to whoever caught his eye and say something to make that person laugh. Something to make their blue eyes shine and crinkle at the corners. Something to have that person’s slightly wavy, collar-length dark-blond hair moving wildly while that same person’s soft-looking, pink-lipped mouth opened in a grin to reveal almost perfect teeth, aside from the one lateral incisor on the left that was crooked and overlapped that left front tooth just enough to be cute and quirky rather than snaggly.

Add in the stage moves that Andy somehow kept managing to pull off without stumbling or tripping over his own feet — or any of the numerous cables covering the stage — and Tony definitely hated the bastard. More than hated him when the jerk took each and every opportunity to maneuver over to Darian’s side and rub up against him, singing into his eyes, looking wicked and delicious. Eight times so far, because Tony was keeping count, and Darian didn’t seem to mind even a little, damn it.

My own fault. Should have manned up and taken my shot before, and now it’s too late. I’m a fucking idiot. And how appropriate was it that the next song on their playlist was the old Cinderella ballad “Don’t Know What You Got”? Not that Tony had ever broken anyone’s heart, but he totally understood the emotion behind the chorus.

RC

About The Author

Meet TC Blue

Contrary to popular opinion, TC Blue was not raised by wolves. Nor did she spring, fully formed, from the forehead of a god, instead entering the world in the usual manner.

A true jack-of-all-trades and master of none (otherwise known as flighty and unable to make a decision and stick with it), she currently resides near the east coast where she does her best to avoid politics and religions as a general rule.

TC can usually be found sitting in front of her computer, trying to wrangle rabid and numerous plot bunnies, though her muses insist that she not be too hard on the poor little fluffy things. (Poor little fluffy things with sharp teeth and claws, but whatever. Muses don’t seem to care much about the possible bloodshed if the bunnies think TC’s not writing quickly enough.)

One thing sure to calm the bunnies is hearing from readers, so please feel free to contact TC at tcblue@live.com or stalk her: on Twitter — @tc_blue, on Facebook — T.c. Blue.

Where to find TC Blue:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000896020443
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tc_blue
Website: https://tcblue.wordpress.com

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Tour Dates & Stops:
Parker Williams, Havan Fellows, The Jena Wade, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, 3 Chicks After Dark, Bayou Book Junkie, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Louise Lyons, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Happily Ever Chapter, Wake Up Your Wild Side, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Inked Rainbow Reads, Chris McHart

 

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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Sexual Frankenstein’ by TC Blue.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize(s) provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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