Category: Loose id

In the Book Spotlight: Lover’s Trill by Viki Lyn (guest post, excerpt and contest)

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Lover’s Trill by Viki Lyn
Release Date: September 1, 2015

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Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

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Buy the book: Loose id LLC

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Photo credit: Smadar from morguefile.com

Viki Lyn on the Inspiration for Lover’s Trill

Lover’s Trill is a story about two musicians that had once loved each other. Andre and Leo shared their passion for music and for each other, but followed two very different musical paths. Leo had left Andre to pursue his dreams leaving Andre to pick up the pieces of his heart.

I had just returned from visiting Eastern Europe. Vienna had impressed me as a city that lived and breathed classical music. Yet, the city’s personality also had a lively underground. This had to be the setting for Andre and Leo’s second chance at love.

A story set in Vienna had to include a ball. With a vibrant ball culture, there are more than a 1,000 balls in the city, and attendance is past the 2.5 million mark! The season lasts from November 11 until Mardi Gras, and is very lively in-between. I made sure that Leo and Andre were in Vienna during the season.

The most famous ball is the “Wiener Opernball or Vienna Opera Ball. This would be the sort of ball Andre would attend. Leo, not so much! So when I had Leo the one that had tickets to a ball, I chose a “Kranzchen” or informal ball. These informal balls are often attended in costumes. I had fun imagining Leo’s costume – outrageous as his clothing when he performs onstage!

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Rocker Leo needs a break. From the band, roadies, everything related to his present life. Wandering the streets of Vienna, he chances upon a poster that just might change his life. Andre Revele, renowned violinist, and Leo’s ex-lover, is performing in the city. It’s been years since Leo slipped out of Andre’s life in the middle of the night, but he’s never forgotten their passionate love of music and each other.

Andre’s shocked when Leo shows up backstage after his performance. Hell yes, he’s angry, but he can’t walk away. Against his better judgment, he invites Leo to his hotel for a drink. Not sure what he wants from Leo, he knows what his body wants right now. A night of passionate sex leads to another, until he’s lost his heart to Leo again.

When Andre finds his trust in Leo tested, Leo must prove his loyalty by using their one common passion – music – to bind their hearts.

Pages or Words: 22,000 words
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Leo finished his cappuccino. He needed a break. From the band, roadies, everything related to his present life. He tried to ignore the constriction in his chest. He hadn’t written anything in months, and that scared the shit out of him. His bandmates were like his brothers, but as much as he loved them, it wasn’t the same as having a lover who completely got him. He had no one to turn to when in a funk.

He hoped to God he still had more words inside him. For all of his flamboyance on stage, his real love was composing.

Leo paid the check and left. Too wound up to go back to his hotel, he roamed the streets, taking in the Vienna night. Stars sparkled above St. Stephen’s gothic spire. The wide boulevards twisted into narrow lanes perfect for getting lost in.

Happy to wander aimlessly, Leo slipped his hands into his fleece-lined jacket. Living in LA, he’d forgotten how cold winter could be in other parts of the world. He turned the corner and sputtered to a halt. Staring at the poster pasted to the side of a building, he didn’t need to read the name of the virtuoso to know who it was. He could never forget that face in rapture—when playing or getting off. Music and sex had invoked the same feelings in Andre Revele. Passion was passion, and that man had always had both in spades.

Numbness swept across Leo as he stared at the picture of Andre caressing the bow in those slender-fingered hands—such artistic hands on a large man. It had been love at first sight—or at least lust—when Leo had walked into the practice room.

He could still remember a youthful Andre, not quite grown into his robust physique, as he played the last stanza of Bach’s Concerto in E. The violin’s notes had faded, but the music had remained in the air long after the performance was over. Bright green eyes peered through dark lashes, and sensual, pouty lips morphed into a shy smile. Like an idiot, Leo had been at a loss for words at Andre’s performance and enamored by that handsome face. Until Andre laughed, breaking the spell.

From that day forward, they were inseparable. They both had insatiable appetites for music. They stayed up all hours talking about philosophy and musical composition, and arguing what was better, thin-crust or thick-crust pizza. They played music together, fucked, and enjoyed the simple moments that composed their insular world.

He scanned the poster for the dates of the concerts. Tomorrow night was the last performance. Leo shuffled his feet, unable to move away. He bit his lip and traced the image of Andre. Did he dare go? It had to be fate. He’d been thinking of Andre, talking about the past with Sid, and now this.

His heartbeat quickened. What if he went backstage and Andre didn’t recognize him? Or brushed him aside? Leo had purposely avoided searching the Internet for news of Andre, too afraid that his ex had a lover, or worse, had married. Their lifestyles were miles apart, and Leo could never think of Andre as a friend.

He drank in Andre’s image. Tall and broodingly dark, Andre had the body of a jock and the sensitive heart of an artist. Leo preferred men unlike himself. He’d been a skinny kid, and had a difficult time gaining weight. If he’d been born years earlier, he would have been the perfect face for a glam rock band. At least he’d outgrown the term pretty boy or twink.

Leo chewed his lower lip as he studied Andre’s picture. Tempting as it was to see his ex again, visiting the past was a bad idea. This wasn’t the time, not when Leo was restless and bored. His heart couldn’t take a rejection from Andre. There were other men, lots of men, and he’d had his share of quite a few of them. With his schedule it had become impossible to form any long-term commitment. Or at least that was what he told himself.

A big, fat lie.

He’d never met anyone who made him feel the way he’d felt for the violinist.

Leo kissed his fingers and pressed them to Andre’s lips. “Good-bye, Princess.” Andre hated that pet name, but Leo loved using the endearment. Andre had been born into wealth and privilege, and his family had expected great things from him. “You proved them right, didn’t you?”

Before Leo changed his mind, he hurried away, dismissing the memories of a love lost to his ambition.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Meet Viki Lyn:

Multi-published and award winner, Viki Lyn is a successful writer of gay paranormal and contemporary romance. After reading and collecting whatever she could get her hands on, she wrote her first male/male romance. And that was ‘it’ for her. She never looked back. Viki travels the world in search of inspiration. She considers herself blessed to have traveled to many of the mystical sites she had dreamed about as a child. Her travel experiences have been influential in creating her paranormal worlds. When she needs to relax, she calls a friend to meet at their favorite coffee house. When the chattering in her head goes off the charts, she plays one of her favorite RPGs on her PS4 and immerses herself in the world of dragons and magic.

Where to find Viki Lyn:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vikilynromance
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/vikilynromance
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vikilynromance

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: An ebook of Lover’s Trill or a book from my backlist and a $10 Amazon GC. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Tour Dates & Stops:

1-Sep Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

1-Sep The Jena Wade

2-Sep Bayou Book Junkie

2-Sep Molly Lolly

2-Sep Inked Rainbow Reads

3-Sep MM Good Book Reviews

3-Sep BFD Book Blog

4-Sep Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My

7-Sep Divine Magazine

7-Sep Mikky’s World of Books

7-Sep Love Bytes

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A Paul B Review: Alpha Coder (Geek Pack #1) by Kathryn Sparrow

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Alpha Coder coverWhen Liam Reed meets his very male mate who is interning at Soft Corp, his place of employment, will it add to the already high tensions that exist in his pack?

Liam Reed never wanted to be alpha. His brother Jason was groomed to take over for their father. When Jason and his family die in a single car accident, Liam agrees to take over, as the alternative, Bradley, is worse. Though Bradley never really challenges Liam directly but does everything he can to make Liam’s life miserable. When he tries to add his friend Thomas to the pack council, Bradley utters a homophobic comment under his breath just loud enough for Liam to hear. Frank, the pack beta, tells Liam that he needs to do something soon or else the pack will split apart.

Cody Jones is a student at MIT. He is the newest intern at Soft Corp. When he meets his supervisor, Liam Reed, things take a turn that neither man expects. They realize that they are mates, even though neither has had any feelings for a man before. Things are complicated on three fronts. First, Liam is dating a woman named Alice whom he has recently suggested that things were leading toward a marriage. Second, pursuing a relationship with each other is strictly against company policy and the director of human resources is fanatical about the policy. Third, they have to deal with Bradley and his friends who will not accept a gay alpha, let alone a gay member of the pack council.

I thought this first book in the new Geek Pack series was a decent novel but the amount of angst throughout the book was a bit much for my tastes. Liam is concerned he does not compare to his father or brother as alpha. Liam is worried about Alice’s feelings and whether or not she will turn them in for the office romance. Liam and Cody are concerned that Tiger Johnson, the human resource guy will figure out what is going on. They both worry about Bradley and his plans for the pack when it is known that they are now the alpha pair. Add in the fact that Cody and Thomas think that Jason and his family had help in their accident and one can go on overload quickly. I think one less subplot would have sharpened this book a bit.

The cover art by Mina Carter shows Liam and Cody shirtless with the full moon above them. They are over a keyboard that has a bullet on top of it. It is a decent cover but with a title of “Alpha Coder” I would think of something different would be in order.

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

Book details
Ebook: 261 pages
ISBN: 978-1-62300-953-3
Edition: English
Published: July 2015 by Loose ID
Series: Geek Pack (first book)

What If You Get Your Wish?: The Answer Lies in Betwixt and Between (Edge of Night #1) by Alexis Duran

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Betwixt and Between (Edge of Night #1) by Alexis Duran
Release Date: June 30, 2015

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Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: April Martinez

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Sales Links: Loose Id

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Obsessed with magical creatures since childhood, tabloid reporter Ian Evers never experiences satisfying proof that the magical realm actually exists until he falls into an entrapment spell set by a handsome but dangerous elf.  Barely escaping with his soul intact, Ian is able to undo the hex, but he can’t escape the very real infatuation he’s developed for the fierce elf.

Ezekiel Stormshadow is a svarta, a dark elf who serves the queen of the dark realm. The realm of darkness needs the power of light to survive, and while hunting the last few magical beings on earth, Ezekiel discovers Ian, a light elf who’s unaware of his true nature and ripe for the plucking.  Their brief encounter awakens a great hunger in Ezekiel, and he’s determined to feast on the light elf’s power and body before the queen intervenes and claims Ian for herself.

Driven apart by the ancient imbalance between the dark and light realms, an evil queen starved for power, and their fear of each other, Ian and Ezekiel are relentlessly drawn together even though their union might destroy them both.

Pages or Words: 38,600 words

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Urban Fantasy

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

“This is a dream,” Ian said and tried to sit up. The svarta moved forward, placed his hand on Ian’s chest, and pushed him down. His palm nearly burned an imprint into Ian’s skin.

“Go away,” Ian said as firmly as he could.

“Why? I feel a strong connection between us. Don’t you feel it?”

“Only because you hexed me.”

“I did no such thing. You sought me out. You drew me here.” The svarta slid his hot hand up to Ian’s neck and traced a finger along his jawline. “Invite me in and know ecstasy.”

Ian shuddered and tried to sit up again. The svarta leaned over him, two hands pressing now against Ian’s shoulders. He ran his hand up and down the arm cuffed to the bed. His incredible eyes held Ian’s like a snake mesmerizing a mouse. He kissed Ian on the lips, gently at first, tongue exploring, probing, before forcing Ian’s lips apart and plunging his tongue deep into Ian’s mouth. Not only did Ian not fight it, but he kissed back, sucking amazing dark energy from the svarta’s rough, wide lips.
It was, after all, only a dream.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Alexis Duran was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. At the University of Oregon, her fascination with people and relationships led her to major in Sociology, but her main love has always been creative writing. She’s worked in museums, fashion, finance and film production. Her favorite job so far was inventorying the collection in a haunted Victorian Mansion. She’s had several short stories published in the mystery, horror and literary genres and is the author of the Masters and Mages erotic fantasy series. Her fiction has won several awards including the Rupert Hughes Award from the Maui Writers Conference. She lives with one dog and four and half cats. She is currently working on the next Masters and Mages novel and several other erotic novellas.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alexis.duran.18294


Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AlexisSDuran
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alexisduran1177/
Other: http://www.alexisduranblog.com
Loose ID: http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/alexis-duran.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8332457.Alexis_Duran


Tour Dates & Stops:
Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, My Fiction Nook, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, Velvet Panic, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Hat Party, MM Good Book Reviews, Jessie G. Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Amanda C. Stone, Carly’s Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Andrew Q. Gordon, Kimi-Chan, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Loose ID gift card.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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In the Book Spotlight: From the Ashes (Smoke and Mirrors #2) by Lillian T. MacGowan (excerpt and giveaway)

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From the Ashes (Smoke and Mirrors #2) by Lillian T. MacGowan
Should NOT be read as a standalone
Release Date: May 5, 2015

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Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: Kalen O’Donnell

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Sales Links:  Amazon – Loose id – All Romance (ARe)

 

STRW Author BookSynopsis

After a rough start to their relationship, Deck and Naim are living together and living well—except they’re not. The fire at the clinic and those behind it are still a specter in the background of their lives, soon to come to the forefront. Someone is stalking them, and as the acts grow increasingly violent and threatening, the boys make an unsettling discovery that turns Naim’s world inside out.

They’re sorely tried and tested, and even with the support of the neighborhood and Deck’s firefighting crew, people get hurt. Deck has to decide how much hurt he’s willing to take on for the sake of Naim, and Naim has to decide once and for all what sort of man he wants to be—all while navigating a terrifying world of crime, violence and depravity.

Pages or Words: 381 pages

Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

“What…the unholy…”

“Fuck?” Naim finished Jen’s statement for her as her voice trailed off. They stood wide-eyed and slack-jawed, staring at Jen’s husband, who leaned, sullen and glowering, against the ambulance while a young girl snapped photos and pleaded with him to try to smile. Or at least emote. He was wearing a hazmat jumpsuit, unzipped with the top half hanging down his shirtless back, and holding a gas mask, his hair a wild mess as though he’d just taken the mask off.

Hearing Jen’s voice, he looked up at them, cringed, and groaned. “Fuck. You called them, you fucktarded bag of ass?” Keller shouted up toward the ladder truck while the girl clicked away, hoping for some good, angry “passion” shots.

“Naim!” Deck called down from the cherry picker, looking anxious but glad to see him.

“Oh God,” Keller groaned, falling back against the ambulance and dropping the mask.

“Oh God.” Jen stared at her husband.

“Oh God.” Naim looked up to the cherry picker, eyes widening, where Deck was grinning awkwardly, wearing nothing but bunker trousers with one suspender over his unscarred side, and a helmet.

Naim shifted, horrified at his sudden, Pavlovian state of arousal. He reached for Jen’s hand. She squeezed.

“What…what…” Jen stammered, tearing her eyes from her husband long enough to jump, startled by the big black smiley face plastered across Peyton’s bright yellow butt as he climbed off the hose bed.

“Thank God you guys are here,” Deck called out, unlatching the cherry picker.

“No!” Naim panicked, squeezing Jen’s hand tighter and pointing at Deck. “You stay there!” This was bad. He was never coming back to the firehouse again. Ever.

Jen snorted.

“Fuck.” Fucking cherry picker. “No. Get out of there.” Naim squeezed his eyes shut. “But don’t…don’t come down here!” He turned and buried his face in Jen’s shoulder, groaning. She cuddled him and whimpered quietly.

“Why are they doing this to us?” she asked Naim.

He pulled his face out of her shoulder. “What the fuck is going on?”

“They’re making a fucking calendar. Well, more like a date book.” Freya wandered up to them, fully clothed, a shit-eating grin on her face, and her braids a messy, rumpled disaster. She was covered in green glitter, and there seemed to be some on her teeth.

“Oh, but you’ve got clothes on?” Naim growled.

“What… Why…” Jen glanced at Freya, then back at Keller, who was glowering harder at the camera. The photographer asked him to turn around, and he snarled. She snapped away. “Why are… What happened to your hair?” Jen asked Freya, a little breathless.

“Are you kidding?” Freya still had the shit-eating grin, and Spellacy popped up from where he’d been relaxing on the hose bed; he wore a pair of bright green shorts printed with pints of Guinness, and his turnout coat had green glitter all over it.

“Hey. What are you two doing here?” he asked.

“Oh God.” Jen sounded like she wanted to cry.

“Can I come down now?” Deck yelled from the ladder.

Naim refused to look at him. “No. Not until you…give…put…put something on.”

“He can’t. He’s next,” Freya explained, grinning harder.

“Next?” Naim whimpered again.

“Naim, please? I really gotta talk to you!”

“Get a turnout coat!”

“Hey, what are you two doing here?” Liebgott saw them as he strolled out of the kitchen, munching on a cupcake.

“Liebgott.” Jen managed to glare and whine at the same time. “Why is my husband half-naked, having his picture taken against an ambulance? Why is everyone half-naked?”

Liebgott rubbed his neck and glanced with a guilty expression over to the ladder truck where Deck was yelling at Spellacy to give him his turnout coat. Naim heard bells jingle somewhere.

“Well. See—”

“It wasn’t my idea. I didn’t even know about it!” Deck got a face full of green glitter as he caught Spellacy’s coat.

“We, uh, we thought it would help raise some money.” Liebgott looked to Naim sheepishly. “To help rebuild the clinic.”

“Wh…” Naim blinked. “Can I sit down? Is anyone else in the kitchen?”

“Peyton, but come on. I’ll boot him out.”

Naim tugged on Jen’s hand as he dragged her away from the sight of her husband. “Jen.”

“Shut up.” She tripped a little. “You’re in this with me.” They heard Freya cackle.

Deck was right behind them, trotting into the kitchen as Naim plunked down into a chair, still refusing to look at him. This was insane, but he really had no business being surprised.

“I swear to God, I had no idea, love. This is not my fault,” Deck exclaimed.

“That’s true, Naim. I’m not sure why he’s so bent out of shape about it, but we didn’t want to tell you until the money came in, so we kept it from Deck until the last possible minute.” Liebgott took a seat at the opposite end of the table while Deck danced nervously next to Naim, and Jen peeked from the door.

“I… What…” Naim squinted at the table, then reached for a cupcake, wondering if he was turning into a stress eater.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Lillian T. MacGowan:

You can usually find Lily MacGowan reading, knitting herself into the sofa, or writing. Lily has been a carpenter, a circus aerialist, a Sunset Strip club kid and a corporate mogul, but she gave all that up to teach middle school on the east coast and is happier than ever. Lily’s hobbies include food, household renovations and avoiding laundry. She’s a huge fan of comfy jammies and happily ever after.

Where to find the author:

Twitter: @LilyMacGowan
Tumblr – http://ltmacgowan.tumblr.com/

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Tour Dates & Stops: May 27, 2015
Parker Williams, Cate Ashwood, Havan Fellows, BFD Book Blog, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, Molly Lolly, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Kimi-Chan, Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Nephylim, Rainbow Gold Reviews, The Hat Party

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘From the Ashes’ by Lillian T. MacGowan. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and Prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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