On Tour with Iyanna Jenna’s Just A Little Unwell Book tour and contest

Book Name: Just A Little Unwell
Release Date: January 4, 2015
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Iyana Jenna

Author Bio:

Iyana writes M/M short stories and novellas. Her works have been published by Evernight Publishing, JMS Books, Books to Go Now, Torquere Press, Bitten Press, Leap of Faith Publishing, Breathless Press, and Alfie Dog Fiction.

Iyana lives in Jakarta, a city famous for its traffic jams, a lot of cars and motorcycles, and people selling stuff on the roads. You can spend two hours on the road going to a place you can reach in half an hour in a normal situation. Thanks to the traffic jams, though, Iyana can come up with a lot of stories, mostly shorties, as she prefers to spend the time during her trips writing into her cell phone rather than sleeping.

Another thing Iyana loves is kitties. Right now she has three of them. Their names are Cil, Horus, and Betsy, and one kitten. When she doesn’t write, she plays with them, or they would play with her when she writes.

Where can you find Iyana?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/books.by.iyanajenna
Twitter: @IyanaJenna
LinkedIn

Publisher: JMS Books
Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs

Sales Links: JMS Books Amazon All Romance (ARe) Bookstrand Smashwords

Blurb:

Patrick Trafford is pleased with the simple life he has, spending his time tending a tiny garden accompanied by his best friend, Chad, who just happens to be a cockroach. Nevertheless, he can’t hide the excitement bubbling in him when a man suddenly appears in the garden.

Damien Abner politely welcomes, albeit somewhat at a loss, Patrick’s warm offer to spend time with him. To have a coffee, watch some movie, and dance along with the characters in it.

They begin to date and Patrick has never been happier, though he barely knows who Damien is — not that it matters to him. For him, being clueless does mean bliss.

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

Excerpt:

Patrick floats through the following day. When Damien shows up, Patrick takes him immediately to near the TV, sets the video cassette into place, and clutches Damien’s hands as they dance. He offers coffee and cookies this time and finally brings his guitar out to the sitting room. Patrick feels a bit uneasy when Damien keeps looking at him instead of his guitar.

“Do you like it?”

“Huh?”

“My guitar.”

Confusion flashes across Damien’s good-looking face for a second.

“Oh, absolutely.” His smile cracks. He shifts on the couch to make space for Patrick. Patrick plops down next to him and begins to sing. It’s “More Than Words,” one of his favorite songs. Damien listens carefully.

Damien is silent, even after Patrick has stopped singing. His eyes turn soft.

“So, what do you say? What do you think of my voice?” Patrick asks impatiently.

Damien’s still quiet. Then he closes his eyes and reaches out a hand. He touches the side of Patrick’s face.

Patrick holds his breath and closes his eyes too. He doesn’t dare to move. Damien’s hand feels so warm and good on his skin.

He lets out a heavy sigh when the hand is gone and opens his eyes.

“That’s the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard,” Damien says.

Patrick doesn’t know what to do. He puts aside his guitar — grabs it back — lays it down on the table — takes it back again and holds it close to him. He rocks slowly on the couch.

“Thank you,” he murmurs — not sure whether he is expressing gratitude for the compliment or the touch.

Damien stands up.

“You’re leaving?” Patrick asks, disappointed.

“I have other things I need to do, Patrick.”

Patrick swallows deep. He turns away. “Okay. It’s almost dark anyway and I haven’t been to the garden.”

“Yeah.”

“Will you come again?”

“Do you want me to?”

“I’d love you to.”

“So I’ll come.”

Damien waves and walks away.

As if to remind Patrick he’s there, Chad crawls up Patrick’s shirt front. Patrick palms him up and puts him on the table.

“Do you like him, too?” Patrick asks.

Chad only chirps.

Pages or Words: 5,600 words

Tour Dates: January 23, 2015

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Nephylim, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, Lee Brazil, Inked Rainbow Reads, Andrew Q. Gordon, MM Good Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, Amanda C. Stone, Molly Lolly, Christy Loves 2 Read, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Cate Ashwood, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Fallen Angel Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Velvet Panic, My Fiction Nook, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Carly’s Book Reviews, The Hat Party

Contest: Rafflecopter Prize: 2 e-copies of ‘Just A Little Unwell’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided to enter the contest and for all further contest details.

Rafflecopter Code:
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Down Under Author: Penny Brandon

Meet Penny Brandon!

Penny Brandon is the author of the Blind Passion series, Murphy’s Law, and others listed below.

To get to know Penny Brandon a little better, the author agreed to share with us her thoughts on an Australian Christmas, and holidays in general. Penny has also included an excerpt from her book as well. Look for that below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word found somewhere within.

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Penny has been a lover of books since before she could read and a maker of stories before she knew how to talk properly, so it was only natural that she started writing when she could hold a pen. From fairytales to teenage romances to the hot, erotic stories she writes now, she’s always held the same belief; to love what she puts down on paper. Which means she doesn’t love cooking, cleaning or weeding the garden. She does, however, love to travel and has lived in England and Ireland and now resides in Australia, where she intends to stay and discover all that she can of this beautiful country.

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Contacts/Follow at :
Twitter @PennyBrandon
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/pennybrandon3/
Goodreads Author Page
Website
Blog http://www.pennybrandon.blogspot.com.au/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/penny.brandon.3

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✍Blind Passion – published by Loose id LLC

Attraction for Adam was not a handsome face, a striking smile, or beautiful eyes, but a scent that would drive him to distraction or a voice that could make his heart beat faster. When the combination of the two walked into his life in Luke, Adam couldn’t help but want him. But how was he supposed to know if Luke felt the same attraction? He had no prior experience, no past encounters, nothing to help him. Not even his sight.

One look at Adam and Luke wanted him. Sensual, gorgeous, kind, with a strength that Luke was drawn to, Adam was everything Luke desired. Being in Adam’s arms, showing him the pleasure of a man’s body, being touched, held, and desired in return, had Luke wanting more, had him wanting what he knew he couldn’t have.

It didn’t matter to him that Adam was blind, but Adam deserved more than someone like him. Luke was a man with a broken past and falling in love with Adam was a foolish thing to do, especially because Adam would never love him back if he found out what Luke was hiding.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices, voyeurism
✍Bringing Him Home – published by Loose id LLC

Jared knew that looking for a man to love was pointless because he’d never be able to bring him home. But one chance meeting and one hot night with Kyle had Jared seriously trying to figure out if he really had to live by the rules of someone else’s intolerance.

Torn between wanting Kyle and facing the narrow-mindedness of a small country town, Jared didn’t know what to do. Could Kyle really want Jared enough to deal with the town’s hostility together? By the time Jared got himself ready to talk to Kyle, to ask him, Kyle had left.

Kyle had been looking to find someone to love, looking for a place to call home, and one blazing night spent in Jared’s arms and Kyle knew Jared was just the man he was looking for. But Kyle had a feeling Jared didn’t want to bring Kyle home with him and when he found out why he had no choice but to leave.

It didn’t matter that he wanted Jared, or even that Jared wanted him. The town where Jared lived was the one town Kyle swore he would never set foot in again.

✍Choices (Looking Glass #1) – published by Loose id LLC

Marc was straight, always had been and always thought he would be, but when shown his true love in a magic mirror he was shocked to find out his true love was a man. Not only that, it was up to him to convince his true love they were meant to be together. All bad enough, but after finding Liam, the only way he’s able to persuade Liam to go out with him is to offer him sex – even though that was something Marc was definitely not ready for.

Liam thought Marc was crazy. Marc was straight and he was talking about true love and making a life together, but Liam didn’t believe in love and he certainly wasn’t going to fall in love with a crazy straight guy regardless of how sexy he was. But he hadn’t reckoned on Marc’s pushy attitude or his offer of sex which, no matter how much he knew he should, Liam couldn’t turn down.

✍Murphy’s Law – published by Loose id LLC
✍Behind Every Cloud – published by Loose id LLC
✍First Kiss (Looking Glass #2) – published by Loose id LLC

Free Stories:

✍Wanting Jack from Goodreads Hot Summer Days
✍Jackman from Love is Always Write at Goodreads

Genre(s): LGBTQ Fiction, M/M Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Erotic Romance

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you, Penny Brandon) is an eBook copy of Murphy’s Law. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find the Hunt “word or phrase” in bold green . John’s Question: Where did Nik and Ben find Radulf?

Collect all the words from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

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Penny’s Guest Post on Christmas

and

an Excerpt from Murphy’s Law!

Hi, my name is Penny, and I now live in Australia, but I grew up in England, so Christmas is quite different, mainly because of the seasons. Though a lot of traditions are the same, I think moving from one country to another can be a bit of a culture shock. David, from Murphy’s Law certainly thought so, and while trying to emulate an English Christmas in his new home town in Outback Australia, he came across a few variations.
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“What do you think?” David stood on the ladder, precariously balanced on the second to top step as he readjusted the star.

“I think you should get down.”

Scott’s frown had David sighing. “I’m fine. I’m only three feet off the floor.”

“I know, but that’s enough to break an arm or sprain an ankle if you fell.”

If it hadn’t been such a possibility, David would have come back with some sharp retort. He hated being reminded how much of a klutz he was, even if Scott had every reason to be on guard.

Ignoring the worry on Scott’s face, David once again pointed to the star. “Well?” he asked.

“It’s beautiful, but I don’t understand all the fuss.”

“Fuss?” David twisted, glaring at Scott as the man instinctively put out his hands to stop him from toppling off the ladder.

“You know this is my first Christmas away from home.”

“I thought this was your home.” Scott’s frown deepened.

“You know what I mean. An English Christmas is so different from an Aussie one.”

“Of course it is. We’re in opposing hemispheres. It’s cold up there, and warm down here.”

“Warm?” David used his forearm to wipe the sweat off his brow. “It’s forty degrees outside.”

“Which is why we’re inside with the air conditioning on.” Scott’s pragmatic point of view frustrated David because Scott just didn’t get it.

David was used to days curled up in front of an open fire, with a mug of hot chocolate while wrapped up in a soft blanket. Granted, being wrapped in Scott’s arms while sitting on the front porch and having a cold beer wasn’t bad either, but it just didn’t feel like Christmas. Here he was greeted with Galahs and Wattles, not Robin Red Breasts and Holly Bushes. In England there would be snow on the ground, and the air would have a crisp sharpness to it that took your breath away. Whereas the heat in outback Australia was hot and dry, and everywhere was covered in red dirt.

Knowing he couldn’t change the climate, David at least wanted to re-create the cosy atmosphere he’d experienced while growing up in England, and that included a decorated Christmas tree. He glanced at the tinsel and baubles, the twinkling lights and the star on top, and thought it was perfect. Now all he needed were the gifts to put underneath.

“Um, did you pick up the turkey and ham?” he asked, hoping Scott had forgotten so there was a chance to grab the hidden presents from the bedroom closet.

“Yes, and the prawns.”

“The what?”

“Prawns. You know, for dinner.”

“Christmas dinner?” David stared at Scott, aghast. Surely he couldn’t be serious.

Scott grinned at him, his pale blue eyes lit with amusement. “Yes. It’s a tradition of ours.”

David was all for traditions, but prawns, on Christmas day? “Why?” he asked.

“My grandmother started it. She didn’t want to be cooking on a hot summer’s day, so she got my granddad to go and buy something that could be eaten without her having to cook it. He came back with prawns.” Scott tilted his head to the side. “We’re not the only ones to do it. A lot of Aussie’s have prawns on Christmas day.”

“Do you still have pudding and mince pies?”

“Of course, but we have cream or ice-cream instead of hot custard.”

“Oh.” David liked custard. His mom used to make it from scratch. Not that he’d be able to do that himself, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to go without it completely.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I got you some.”

“You did?”

Scott wrapped his fingers around David’s ankle, absently rubbing a scar he’d got while learning to ride his bike as a child. “Of course I did. I also bought all the ingredients to make a trifle, just in case.”

So maybe Scott did get it. David smiled then leaned down to capture Scott’s firm lips. They were warm, and tasted of…well, Scott.

“Do you think we can start some traditions of our own?” David asked while sliding his arms around Scott’s neck.

“Yes,” Scott murmured. “And that’s letting me put up the star every year so you don’t have to climb a ladder ever again.”

“Okay.” David was quick to agree, but he was thinking of a different kind of tradition. Maybe one involved skinny dipping in the pool.
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Down Under Day 23- Welcome, Penny Brandon, NZ/AUS Facts of the Day

Welcome, Penny Brandon!

It’s Day 23 of our Down Under Author Showcase and we’re heading towards the end. Our featured author today is Penny Brandon. It’s through a scene about an Australian Christmas that I got my first taste of the holiday viewed through an Australian colored lens, so its wonderful that Penny Brandon gives us another perspective on this holiday. Don’t forget to check out all Penny Brandon’s stories, her bio, and enter her giveaway of the day!

I hope you all are having as much fun as I am with the Australian and New Zealand facts of the day. If you think about it, drop me a line and let me know which were your favorites.

Thanks to Wayward Ink Publishing, we are adding another contest to the already full pot, check out your chances to win more gift cards on the Down Under Author Showcase page. Look for Wayward Ink Publishing and enter via the Rafflecopter link provided.

Now onto our facts of the day for Australia and New Zealand…

Australia Fact(s) of the Day!

In land area, Australia is estimated to be 7,692,024 square Kilometers and the sixth largest nation after Russia, Canada, China, the United States of America and Brazil. It has, however, a relatively small population.

Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the smallest, flattest continent on Earth. It lies between 10° and 39° South latitude. The highest point on the mainland, Mount Kosciuszko, is only 2,228 metres.

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth. Its interior has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world and about three-quarters of the land is arid or semi-arid. Its fertile areas are well-watered, however, and these are used very effectively to help feed the world. Sheep and cattle graze in dry country, but care must be taken with the soil. Some grazing land became desert when the long cycles that influence rainfall in Australia turned to drought.

New Zealand Fact(s) of the Day!

New Zealand is home to the world’s smallest dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin, the rarest sea lion, the Hookers Sea Lion, the largest flightless parrot, the kakapo, the oldest reptile, the tuatara, the heaviest insect, a weta, the biggest earth-worms, the smallest bats, some of the oldest trees, and many of the rarest birds, insects, and plants in the world.

A Mika Review: We Found Love by Kade Boehme & Allison Cassatta

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

It’s no surprise Riley Connors is dealing with issues. He was kidnapped as a young boy, and his parents abandoned him after his newsworthy return. He bounced from foster home to facility and back. Now an adult, ghosts from his past continue to haunt him. After a suicide attempt, he is locked away in Hartfield so that people can make him tune in to emotions he has tried to bury.   Hunter Morgan had the kind of love that spans ages. But the stress of college and adulthood became too much to handle, and the love of Hunter’s life turned to drugs. After he overdoses, Hunter finds himself soaring out of control on the same miserable path. His brother finds him and calls an ambulance, and the sister Hunter would rather not have calls it a suicide attempt, landing Hunter in Hartfield.   Finding love isn’t easy, but it can happen under the most dire circumstances. Together Hunter and Riley may be able to grow from their pain. But they will need to learn to live for themselves, letting love come second.

Kade Boehme & Allison Cassatta are one of my new favorite writing duos, oh man, the potential that comes out of their stories are so exciting. Best description for this story is Rihanna’s song “We found Love”. How could two people survive love in this situation? They survived and came out on top. My emotions were all over the place with this one. For the life of me I couldn’t see an outcome for these two with the situation that was presented. Riley and Hunter were such sweet guys who met at their worst but made it until the best of them was okay. I loved how the authors presented each guy with different reasons of being institutionalized. I really enjoyed the concept, damaged guys are my weakness. These two hit all the marks for me.

Riley had such an angry disposition about himself but it’s totally understandable seeing as what he went through. I hated that he basically had given up on life because of his past until Hunter came along. I’m glad he did who knows what would Riley have done if not. I wanted Riley to get better for himself instead of his love for Hunter, but he did what he needed to do. I do think it was harder for him because of the letdown his life has been up to this point. One of the most emotional parts of the book was when Hunter told the story of Cory which started his self destruction. I cried super hard through it, it was so sad to see a young person go through that. That event shaped his life into something he wasn’t happy with. I was extremely happy to see the outcome of these two, and wanted more from them as far as their future plans. I know they both had to work on themselves but I would have appreciated a longer ending.

Cover Artist Allison Cassatta’s cover was amazing! Both guys definitely portrayed the guys to a T. I love this description of these two it made them more human on cover, the scars, tattoos and gruffness was accurately portrayed.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press All Romance (ARe) Amazon buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages
Published January 5th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632166777
edition languageEnglish
url

A MelanieM Review: The Red Heart by Isabelle Rowan

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Daniel Evans is a man in search of himself, a better, drug free self and heads into the outback to see if he can find him. Pierced, and goth, complete with black eyeliner and nail polish, Daniel also has a trunk-load of demons to vanquish or at least come to grips with. He’s on the road to Uluru with his twin brother’s car and no real plans. Until he runs into Sam Collins, ex-Army vet still dealing with the repercussions of the wars he has fought.

Sam needs the isolation and quiet that the red dirt of the Northern Territory affords him and he lives by the odd jobs he hires out for from station to station. When ex soldier meets goth on the run, the expected explosion never happens. Instead two damaged men find the other half of their heart in the red desert and rocks of Uluru.

The Red Heart is perfect Isabelle Rowan. A quiet story full of magic, strength and endurance, it surrounds itself in the elemental power of the Northern Territory desert and the ancient stones of Uluru, previously known as Ayer’s Rock. With this setting as a foundation, Rowan brings into emotional clarity two damaged men in search of peace and an end to their anguish. One, Sam suffers from PTSD and the memories or flashbacks that haunt both his days and nights. Daniel is a drug addict just out of rehab and looking at the mess he’s made of his life. He also happens to have a mirror image that underlines the poor choices he has made. Daniel has a twin brother whose live took a happier, drug free path and the pain of that knowledge only adds on to Daniel’s guilt and confusion.

Rowan’s characterizations come across as completely believable poignant human beings, as does all the people in this short story. Whether it’s the tourists Sam and Daniel find at Uluru or the workers at the Station that accept Daniel, although not without a good amount of kidding that never falls into bullying or spite. The station felt alive, busy and dusty from the red dirt all around them. But it’s the desert and the ancient formations that Daniel and Sam hike through that give this story its magical power and elemental sense of timelessness. Through Rowan’s vivid descriptions you can feel the pull of the rocks, the vibrations that flutter through the soul that forever changes Sam and Daniel.

What final part of this story grabbed at me? The fact that nothing was magically solved or that each man’s problems were eradicated. No, Daniel and Sam still had issues to deal with, including once an addict always an addict for Daniel. But they would be dealing with their realities together. That made this story and this couple real, and wonderful, and meaningful.

I love this story and highly recommend both the author and The Red Heart!

Cover Artist Anne Cain does a great job with the landscape. I just wish that the model was a little leaner, someone who looks as though they had hit the end of the road.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy it Here

Book Details:

ebook, 114 pages
Published March 13th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press (first published March 12th 2013)
ISBN139781623805500
edition languageEnglish
seriesUnder the Southern Cross

Down Under Author: Isabelle Rowan

Meet Isabelle Rowan!

Isabelle Rowan is the author of A Note in the Margin, Twelve Days, and many other books listed below.

To get to know Isabelle Rowan a little better, the author agreed to an interview. Look for the interview below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word found somewhere within.

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By day I teach English and Media in a suburban High School, but whenever I manage to find I spare minute I fill it with writing.

Although I wrote a lot as a teenager academia ate my brain and stifled my urge to write fiction. The odd poem here or a very short story there until a midlife crisis made me pick up my pencil again. Several years of blogging encouraged me to try my hand at longer fiction and my vampire short was picked up by Dreamspinner Press for their Desire Beyond Death anthology.

Although I write mainly mm romance I am also a member of the Australian Writers of Horror Association.

I’m also co-director (with Matthew Lang) of the Queermance Festival. Please have a look at our website and maybe join us! http://www.queermance.com.au

Contacts/Follow at :

Twitter: @Aussie_Izzy
Goodreads: Isabelle Rowan
Website & blog: http://www.isabellerowan.com
Facebook: Isabelle Rowan
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Isabelle Rowan Books:

A Note in the Margin: Rainbow Awards (Elisa Rolle) – Runner up, Best Contemporary Romance (2009) – Best debut novel (2009)

Blurb:

John McCann, a man who judges life by the tally of an accounts ledger, has a supreme goal in life: To achieve, live, and enjoy the rarified executive lifestyle. But he’s encountered one problem: The migraines are going to continue to get worse unless you make some major changes in your lifestyle. What you need is a ‘sea change’… Perhaps buy a nice little business in the country, settle down, something easier to occupy your time…

While John knows the doctor is right, he just can’t resign from the job he’s fought so hard for. He decides the sacrifice of taking a year’s leave of absence won’t interfere too much with his plans, and so he finds himself running Margins, a cozy little bookstore, with the help of the former owner’s son, Jamie. John expects to put in his year, get his stress under control, and then get back to business.

What John doesn’t expect is how Margins and its denizens draw him in, particularly the quiet, disheveled man who takes refuge in the old leather chair in the second-hand book section. John’s plans for an unattached year of simple business crumble when he meets David and is forced to reevaluate life, love and what he really wants from both. John and David are forced to come to terms with their pasts as they struggle to determine what possible future they might build together.

Book Details:

ebook, 276 pages
Published March 2009 by Dreamspinner Press
original titleA Note in the Margin
ISBN139781935192664
edition languageEnglish
seriesA Note in the Margin #1
charactersJohn McCann, David Robinson
settingAustralia

Ink : Rainbow Awards (Elisa Rolle) – Honorable Mention, Paranormal Romance. (2012)
Snowman – released mid year (2015)
Novellas:
Twelve Days (A Note in the Margins Story)
The Road to Byron
The Red Heart – our review follows today.
Anthologies:
Under the Southern Cross

Genre(s): Contemporary, paranormal

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you, Isabelle Rowan) is an ebook of A Note in the Margin. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find the Hunt “word or phrase” in bold green . Collect all the words from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

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A Chat with Isabelle Rowan

What books as a child has the most impact on you?

Stories have always been part of my life. My parents either read to me at night or made up stories. The Wind in the Willows was always my favourite and I honestly believe it still resonates with me in so many ways – I think I was a mole personality (shy and not very brave) wanting to be Toad (adventurous and fearless). By primary school it was The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings. Similar themes that I’ve carried over into my own writing – step up, take the risk to be brave and it might just work out. Ha ha, see, I’m still saying might instead of will, but I’m getting there.

Actually The Wind in the Willows plays a role in Twelve Days (Book 2 in the A Note in the Margins series) and this continues into the book I’m writing now – WIP title – Jamie’s Notes.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Wow, there is no one answer to this question, unless it’s everywhere – sights, sounds and smells! Ink came from my favourite tattoo parlor on Chapel Street. While I was being inked it struck me that the small purple room would be exquisite torture for a vampire. The heady smells of blood and adrenaline. Whereas, A Note in the Margin came from an indulgent night spent in a posh hotel in Melbourne and seeing a homeless man bed down on cardboard in a doorway. I didn’t sleep that night. The Red Heart’s genesis was a conversation with my high school students about the concept of home and country. Many of them are refugees and come from backgrounds I can’t even begin to imagine, so it was amazing to hear them talk country and belonging. Hopefully I captured a little of that essence in the central Australian landscape.

Favorite book/story you have read as an adult?

Poppy Z Brite wrote a vampire novel called ‘Lost Souls’ that I’ve reread so many times that I’ve had to buy at least four copies of the paperback (I still have them all). Her character Ghost stays with me. He is an ethereal character who, although human, seems to exist between worlds. He is a true innocent and for some reason that struck a chord for me.

Do you have a certain regimen that you follow as a writer?

Write whenever I can steal some time. I teach high school so that can be hard. Those who know me or my tweets will know that I usually escape to cafes to write – not with wifi. I have the attention span of an insect so don’t need distractions! Somehow, the steady hum of voices, music and coffee machines soothes me to write. I have a release in June, Snowman, that involves cafes and baristas as well as mountains, dogs and horses!

How do you think books written from authors in Australia or New Zealand differ in style, language, and culture?

Hmm, ask some of my poor frustrated editors! I didn’t realise that there were that many differences until I was told I have very Australian sentence structure. Seriously, I didn’t know there was such a thing! But I do know that we have what a good friend from the US calls Aussie-isms. Other than that I think you’d have to ask a non-Aussie because I can’t necessarily spot the difference – too close to it I guess.

If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?

I was toying with the beautiful Dandenong Ranges (1 & 2), or my local beaches, but I think the sights and sounds of Melbourne would have to win out. Tourists often head to Sydney and Uluru leaving Melbourne for ‘next time’, but it is an amazing city. So, I would base my tour around Art and coffee culture! We have galleries galore as well as wonderful street art. We could take a tram ride around the city or perhaps up to Lygon Street(3) or down to St Kilda(4). Many café stops would be needed as well as sampling delicious cakes and chocolate. So kick back with an espresso and try to decide how to fit in all the theatre, music, and history Melbourne has to offer.

What are your current projects?

Snowman is just about to start its editing cycle and that should be released in June.
I’m almost half-way through Jamie’s Note (working title only).
I have a zombie YA novel in the works.
I’ve also started musing on a steampunk novel.

Down Under Day 21: Welcome, Isabelle Rowan, and our AUS/NZ Facts of the Day

Welcome, Isabelle Rowan!

Isabelle Rowan’s book, A Note in the Margin, was my first introduction to Australia by way of a M/M author. This novel is Australian with every bit of its heart and mind. From the Australian Christmas to the venues in and around Melbourne, I learned as I read, wept and cried tears of joy. It’s still one of my all time favorite stories to rec. So please stop by Isabelle Rowan’s page, learn about all her stories, and about the author herself! And guess what Isabelle Rowan is giving away for her contest! Yep, A Note in the Margin.

And because she is from Melbourne, that’s where our Australia fact of the day looks in on:

Australia Fact of the Day – City of Melbourne!

Interesting & Fun Facts About Melbourne:

Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, Australia.
Melbourne is located in south-east Australia.
A person from Melbourne is called a Melburnian.
‘The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang’, made in Melbourne in 1906, recognized as the first feature film of the world, running to five reels.
About 90 tons of dog poo is left on the streets of Melbourne every day.
According to the RSPCA, Melbourne is the “Fox Capital” of the western world, with 6-23 foxes every square kilometer in the metropolitan area.
Before Melbourne came to be known as the ‘City of Melbourn’e, it was called Batmania, Bearbrass, Bearport, Bareheap and Bearbury. (I personally love Bearbrass or Bareheap!)
Melbourne’s famous beer, Foster’s Lager, was actually produced by two Americans. – See more at:
Luna Park, in Melbourne’s bayside suburb of St Kilda, is the oldest amusement park in the world under private management.
Melbourne had the first gay and lesbian radio station in the world.
The expression ‘call girl’ that is used for a prostitute, was invented in Melbourne. – See more at Melbourne Lifestyles

New Zealand Fact of the Day

New Zealand is made up of two primary isles, North Isle and South Isle, with further outlying isles known as the Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Isle, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands. The largest city in New Zealand is Auckland.

Original Maori name for New Zealand: Aotearoa
Original Maori name for Auckland: Tamaki Makaurau

New Zealand has over 4.5 million inhabitants, of which 1/3 lives in Auckland. Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world and is also known as “the city of sails”. It has more boats per capita than anywhere else in the world.

A Sammy Review: Unfortunate Son (Sons #1) by Shae Connor

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

After being dishonorably discharged from the military and disowned by his family, Evan Day turns to the world of porn. For Trevor Hardball, Evan’s porn persona, everything comes easily. He can focus himself, knows the way around a good scene… things as Evan aren’t so easy. He’s still dealing with the scars war left internally, not to mention to pain of losing his family, lover, and job all at once.

One night, Riley literally falls into his lap. He’s not Evan’s typical type, but somehow he just intrigues Evan, and after a night of steamy sex, Evan can’t seem to get him off his mind. But life is full of surprises, including his mom reaching back out to him, and Riley’s cold exterior after a hot night…

Their paths may have been different, but they’d ended up much in the same place: isolated, so alone in so many ways, and yet here, together, sharing desire and intimacy.

When I read the blurb for this, I was pretty excited. With porn stars, military, and a loss that’s sure to be gut wrenching, what’s not to love? It should’ve hit all the right buttons, but I’m afraid it was pretty much a complete miss for me.

There was quite a bit of “honey” and other little phrases that just became overused very quickly. It even had me rolling my eyes when a third character started to use them too. It was just… too much. That takes me to another point, which is that I don’t think the characters had enough of their own personality. They all seemed to come from the same template with some slight changes, but I didn’t feel like they were different. For me, it was at times like reading different versions of the same person.

On top of that, the book tries to tackle a lot of issues. Evan had nightmares, sometimes has some conflict between himself as Trevor and Evan, lost his lover and his brother, was disowned by his family (who are now trying to win him back), then you have his best friends in a large part of the story, and then we take Riley who also has family issues and who knows what else – we don’t really get to know, as we hear very little about Riley as a person. I understand that people in general have a lot of stuff happen in their life (to put it mildly), but this was just too much for the author to try to tackle.

I was also very uncomfortable toward the end when there was a BDSM scene that went very wrong, and we knew it would from the very start… but Evan still went into it. We never do find out what happens with that – or Riley’s family.

Having so many issues in one book made it easy to forget to resolve things, or to resolve them too quickly. Besides just the two things I mentioned above, the issue with Evan’s family is fixed super nice and neatly, but then the issue of his nightmares and all the other issues in his life are not paid much attention to.

All of these things got to me, but I think that even if those were all resolved, I would still have a problem in that I did not connect with the characters, and I certainly did not connect with their relationship. I honestly felt more connection in Evan’s porn scene with Adam than I did between Riley and Evan, which made me quite dissatisfied.

That being said, I think the author has potential. The writing wasn’t terrible, and she certainly doesn’t lack for ideas. It’s just a matter of knowing when and how to use them, and making sure that everything is actually treated with the time and respect it needs. If that can’t happen, it probably shouldn’t be in the story at all.

The cover art by Paul Richmond unfortunately did nothing to add flare to the book. I’ve seen Paul do a lot of really great work and praised it, but this isn’t necessarily one of those. Sure, it’s fine, but it’s pretty bland. There’s nothing particularly special about it, and as someone pointed out, it appears that the flag, if considering the height of the model and the way the flag is positioned, is likely touching the ground, something seen as taboo in normal society – so having a model who is meant to depict an ex-marine hold a flag that could be touching the ground is a bit unsettling. To put it simply, I’ve seen Paul do far better.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: January 12th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
original titleUnfortunate Son
ISBN139781632165312
edition languageEnglish
seriesSons #1

Down Under Author: L. J. Harris

Meet L.J. Harris

L.J. Harris is the author of Heart of Glass and other story listed below.

To get to know L. J. Harris a little better, the author agreed to an interview. Look for the interview below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt word found somewhere within.

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L. J. HARRIS is a mother of teenage twin boys who she loves with all her heart. Her family is her life, her soul, and the very reason she gets out of bed every day. Coming a close second to her family is her writing.

She only just discovered a passion for writing in the past five or so years. She’d always written little poems in birthday cards for family members, but that was as far as her writing aspirations went…until she decided to write poems and give them to family members as homemade gifts.

It was then a spark was lit, and ever since, she hasn’t been unable to switch off the urge to write.

After a close family member fell ill, she began questioning what she wanted and searching for answers. Unable to sleep one night, she sat up and typed out her feelings on the laptop. Her husband read what she’d written and encouraged her to write more. It was then she knew she wanted to share her thoughts with others. She began with writing what she knew–her life story, but couldn’t get into it. Instead, she decided to write about something not based on fact, but fiction, and wrote a dream sequence which she showed to her family. They encouraged her to expand on it, and she hasn’t stopped since.

L.J. Harris discovered that as much as enduring pain, loss, betrayal, or any other negative thing in our lives can be devastating, if she hadn’t experienced them for herself, she not only wouldn’t have found some lifelong friends, she doubts she would have been able to write the feelings of anguish and loss that some of her characters have had to endure.

L.J. has been previously published and has shared several online stories and looks forward to continuing to share her work.

Contacts/Follow at :
Twitter: @LJHarrisAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/heartofdark0858/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6506545.L_J_Harris
Blog: https://theworldofljharris.blogspot.com.au
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/heartofdarkess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LJHarrisAuthor?ref=hl author page

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Out now:

Heart of Glass (Bottom Drawer Publications)

This story was originally included in the SECOND CHANCES Anthology released in August 2012 and has been individually released to celebrate BDP’s anniversary.

Days after arriving in Australia for a working holiday, Zack Doherty is blindsided by the connection he instantly feels to Heath Connors, but circumstances don’t work in their favour. Zack is uncharacteristically forward in pushing Heath to accept a date when fate gives him a second opportunity.

Heath has only recently had the courage to admit his true self, walking away from his marriage and a good job when he could no longer lie to himself. The attraction he feels for a stranger that fleetingly crossed his path confirms he made the right choice.

Will Zack be the one to mend Heath’s heart of glass?

Kindle Edition, 203 pages
Published August 31st 2012 by Bottom Drawer Publications
ASINB0094AEQK2
edition languageEnglish

Just Like Pulling Teeth (Bollocks Anthology from Wayward Ink Press)

A trip to the dentist has never been so… interesting…
Kindle Edition, 54 pages
Published November 7th 2014 by Wayward Ink Press
ASINB00OJ31N2I
edition languageEnglish

Genre(s):

m/m romance/erotica

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Contests and Giveaways:

1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you, L.J. Harris) is an eBook copy the reader’s choice of either my e-book Just Like Pulling Teeth or Heart of Glass via amazon. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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When did you start writing?

Five years ago.

Were you a reader as a child?

Yes.

What books as a child has the most impact on you?

My favourite was a pop up Wizard of Oz book. Also loved Disney stories such as Pinocchio and Cinderella.
Did that impression carry over into adulthood when you started writing?

I worked in a library for 11 years so that fed my addiction.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

People watching. Situations I find myself in can also often trigger an idea. And when I get writers block the shower is my place from which to draw inspiration.

Favorite genres to write in and why?

Love a good love story! I’ve always been a fan of reading the story of how two people meet.
Title or characters or plot? Which comes first?

Characters 90 percent of the time.

Do you have a favorite character that you have written?

That’s like choosing one child over another. All my characters have different aspects I love about them.

Favorite quote (doesn’t matter the source):

“Friends are the family you wish you had.”

Favorite book/story you have read as an adult:

Too many to name.

Do you have a certain regimen that you follow as a writer?

Not at all. I’m a ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ kinda girl.

What inspired you to write your first book?

As stated in my bio, a close member of my family fell ill. My father was my inspiration, my rock, and as a talented musician himself, the one person who understood me. He passed 2 years ago, and I miss him every day. He and my husband were the ones who inspired me to write my first sentence, and I haven’t looked back since.

Do you have a specific writing style?

See above (fly by the seat of my pants). I find that until I start to write a character, and peel back the layers little by little, only then will plot points make themselves known.

What’s the hardest part of writing your books? Writers block! They need to make a pill…

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your first book?

Oh God yes! Mostly tweaking bits and pieces, nothing major.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor or has the biggest influence on you?

It’s impossible to choose one, but a group of people including M B Feeney, R E Hargrave, Kaye P Hallows and my co-author in a story that is close to my heart P Austin are among the endless number of people who have encouraged, inspired and made me feel as though I belong in the world of the author.

What book are you reading now?

Kaye P Hallows ‘Take my Chances’.

How do you think books written from authors in Australia or New Zealand differ in style, language, and culture?

Well the spelling and slang is often something readers from countries outside Aus/NZ have to contend with. The unique settings these countries provide also make for a nice change in backdrop, language, characters and scenes, the whole shebang.

My first impression of AUS/NZ was from stories and novels like Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds or Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice as well as from movies like The Man from Snowy River, The Dish, Rabbit Proof Fence, Strictly Ballroom, and yes, Crocodile Dundee! There are so many out there. What is your favorite AUS/NZ stories and favorite Australian/New Zealand movies?

Anything by N R Walker (Red Dirt Heart series is my fave) or Renae Kaye (Safe in His Arms and The Shearing Gun are fab!).. I have read everything he’s written and it’s all fantastic. Movies: The Lord of the Rings series (and Hobbit) for NZ, and Strictly Ballroom is my fave Aussie film.

If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?

I haven’t travelled so long I couldn’t say, but I guess the Great Barrier Reef would be a great start, followed by going to Crystal Creek rainforest retreat on the mid-north coast of NSW. Hubs and I went on our honeymoon there.

What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

I haven’t travelled much, but do go between home and the coast to see family on a regular basis.

What are your current projects?
His Personal Assistant, my new m/m novel.

What’s next up for you?
Finishing up HPA early 2015 and publishing, then working on whichever of my partially done documents inspires me.

Q: Is there any genre you love to read but wouldn’t tackle yourself?

Most definitely. Anything kinky – yes I am naughty and I love to read it (but it has to have a good plotline too) but would be terrified to write it.

Down Under Day 20: Meet L.J. Harris and our AUS/NZ Facts of the Day

Welcome, L. J. Harris!

Our featured author today is L. J. Harris, who resides in Australia. Please stop by her author page that follows for her interview, books, bio and giveaway! And don’t forget to search out today’s Down Under Scavenger Hunt word. As we are winding down our Down Under Author Showcase, what new authors and books have you discovered? What new facts have you learned about Australia and New Zealand? Drop us a line and let us know!

Here are our Down Under Facts of the Day for Australia and New Zealand

Australia Fact of the Day

The Big Dry
Australia has the lowest precipitation of any of the world’s inhabited continents. (Antarctica gets less.) 70 percent of Australia gets less than 500 mm (20 inches) of rainfall per year.

Australia’s Desert Country

One third of Australia’s land is desert. Australia has 10 deserts of which the largest is the Great Victoria Desert, covering just under 5 percent of the country. Ironically, the Great Victoria Desert is not located in Victoria but is in Western Australia and South Australia. The Great Victoria Desert covers 348,750 square kilometres which makes it around one and a half times bigger than the UK or slightly smaller than Montana.

New Zealand Fact of the Day

New Zealand is part of the Pacific Rim of Fire. Mount Ruapehu, situated in the middle of North Island, is the most active volcano on mainland.

The highest rainfall in a year in New Zealand was a drenching 18.4 meters (60 feet) in 1997-1998 at Cropp River on the west of the South Island.

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Meet Penny Brandon!

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Penny’s Guest Post on Christmas

and

an Excerpt from Murphy’s Law!

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Welcome, Penny Brandon!

Australia Fact(s) of the Day!

New Zealand Fact(s) of the Day!

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Meet Isabelle Rowan!

Contests and Giveaways:

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Welcome, Isabelle Rowan!

Australia Fact of the Day – City of Melbourne!

New Zealand Fact of the Day

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Meet L.J. Harris

Contests and Giveaways:

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Welcome, L. J. Harris!

Australia Fact of the Day

New Zealand Fact of the Day

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