Blog Tour for When Heaven Strikes by F.E Feeley Jr (excerpt, book trailer and giveaway)

Book Title: When Heaven Strikes

Author: F. E. Feeley Jr.

Cover Artist: Goonwrite.com

Genre/s: Contemporary Romance, gay literature

Length: Words: 60,400/No. of Pages: 298

Goodreads

Blurb  

Can love survive heaven’s wrath?

Artist Ted Armstrong lives a solitary and eccentric life. The survivor of child abuse disguised as religion, Ted has cut himself off from the world.

Then Ted meets Anderson Taylor, and it’s like being struck by lightning.

Anderson is a cardiac surgeon whose passion for his work has consumed him. He fears he’ll never find a partner—until he sets eyes on Ted. It’s happening fast, but both men know what they feel is right.

Confronted with an angry preacher, a scandal, and an act of God that threatens to destroy everything, their relationship will face its first true test.

Excerpt:

 
“He was scared.
“Grandma, what’s wrong?”
“Thunderstorm, baby. Hang on,” she said to him, and then to his mother, whom he just spotted to their left, “Where’s the car?”
“At the front of the lot. We were one of the first ones here this morning,” Ann said as she worked to keep up in her flip-flops.
On the water, he saw his yellow bucket floating bottom down. It was spinning hypnotically, but it was when Anderson looked skyward he found himself becoming terrified. Above the lake, the sky had turned a sickly green. The clouds directly above it and moving in closer were swirling in a tight formation with what looked like a big black eye staring down at them.
“Grandma! What’s that?” Anderson exclaimed pointing skyward. She stopped and turned to look.”
“Oh, my God,” she breathed, mostly to herself. Anderson felt panic begin to set it.
Someone shouted close to them, “Jesus Christ! It’s a tornado!”

Book Trailer

Buy Links:

Amazon US  |   Amazon UK

Paperback

Meet the Author

F.E.Feeley Jr is a poet and the author of six published works – four full length novels, two short stories featured in anthologies, and a good deal of poetry.

Married to the love of his life, John, he came to the writing world about four years ago where he fell in love, again, with the written word.

Visit F.E. Feeley Jr.’s Blog

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN EBOOK FROM

F.E. FEELEY JR.’S BACKLIST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When Heaven Strikes Tour Schedule 3

July 23rd: Foxylutely Books, Millsy Loves Books

July 24th: My Fiction Nook, Lily G. Blunt, Gay Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

July 27th: Drops of Ink

August 2nd: Stories That Make You Smile, Because Two Men Are Better Than One

August 4th: Hoards Jumble, Hearts on Fire, Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

August 7th: The Way She Reads, Louise Lyons, Bayou Book Junkie

August 9th: Gay Media Reviews, Lily’s Reviews, Diverse Reader

August 12th: The Novel Approach Reviews

August 14th: Love Bytes Reviews

Hosted by

Gay Book Promotions

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Sean Michael on Playgrounds, Childhood, and The Teddy Bear Club (author guest blog)

The Teddy Bear Club (The Teddy Bear Club #1) by Sean Michael
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Sales Links

Dreamspinner PressAmazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo  

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Sean Michael back with us today to talk about playgrounds, childhood, and his latest release The Teddy Bear Club. Welcome, Sean!

✒︎

Thank you to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for having me here today.

In The Teddy Bear Club, the guys take the kids to the park where they play on the swings and go down the slide. I have to say, though, that parks today look very different from the parks that I went to when I was a kid. Some of my favorite park items have disappeared altogether.

Remember the merry-go-round? And eight foot diameter circle with metal arms that you spun as fast as you could and then held on for dear life as the centrical force tried to pull you off. If you were lucky, you could stand in the middle and hold on while someone else made it go. I remember falling off this thing. I remember getting my foot caught between the ground and the base of the merry-go-round as I pushed it. And I can remember crouching on the edge of the merry-go-round, hanging onto the outside edge of the handles, my head flung back as we spun and  spun. Not the safest thing in the world, but totally a blast.

Do I miss the crazy-assed merry-go-rounds of my youth? Yeah, I do. I’m glad I got to spin on it.

Sean Michael

Smut fixes everything

Blurb:

Two lonely men. One perfect family.

Aiden Lake adopted his institutionalized sister’s two daughters, and he’s a good dad. He works nights on websites and gets in his adult time twice a week at the Roasty Bean, where he meets with other single gay parents.

Devon Smithson wants to be a good dad now that his sixteen-year-old sister asked him to babysit her newborn… three months ago. But he’s overwhelmed with the colicky baby. An invitation to the daddy-and-kid gatherings at the café is a godsend. The pot is sweetened when his friendship with Aiden develops into more—maybe even something that can last.

But the mother who kicked Dev out for being gay wants to get her claws into the baby, and she doesn’t care if she tears Dev, Aiden, and everything they’re building apart in the process.

About the Author

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

BOOK TOUR and Giveaway for Crimson Storm  (The Crimson Nights Saga #3) by V.L Moon & J.T Cheyanne (excerpt)

 

 

 

Title: Crimson Storm  (Book Three in The Crimson Nights Saga)

Authors: V.L. Moon and J.T. Cheyanne

Cover Art by:   http://www.soxsationalcoverart.com/

Genre/s: Gay, Romance, Paranormal

Length: 155K/658 Kindle pages

ISBN:  978-0-9899725-6-7

Add on Goodreads

 

Blurb       

As their allies grow and their circle of friends discovers true love, their enemies advance.

Shadows watch, waiting in the distance as an age old power threatens to reveal the secrets of a past steeped in sorrow.

War is upon them and with its advance comes a force of unity bound by love and sealed by blood.

Together, Malachi and Laziel fight to protect those they hold close.

When Rome trembles and the bowels of Hell spew forth its spawn, the wolves and the rogue Nephilim join forces with Malachi Denali and his vampires to fight against evil and tip the scales in favor of the just.

Fractions divide, lives lay in ruin. Is the call of the wild their only hope of survival?

Or will Rome finally fall under the weight of an angel’s untold grief?

Read on to assuage your thirst as the Crimson Nights Saga continues.

EXCERPT SEVEN

He reached out to take his father’s hand and was immediately drawn into the familiar

warmth of his parents’ embrace. He’d missed it. Missed them. Everything was happening so

fast. Their lives and the world they lived in hurtled toward war. For the briefest of time, Tobias allowed himself the pleasure of his family and what the reality of being with them meant to him. If only Roman was there to experience it.

“Son.” His father’s grip tightened around his fingers, pulling Tobias closer. The power of

the Summus swam around him in a torrent, engulfing him. He drank in the gift. Energy filled

him with life and power. Linked as they were, the outside world ceased to exist. Images of their homelands flickered through his mind to marry with the thoughts plaguing his parents.

Tobias stilled as the beautiful image of his cousin Sage danced through his mind. Her pain

speared his heart. A ravaged growl ripped from his lips. Sage was more like a sister than a

cousin to him. Their families were bound tighter than most. Tobias’s father and Sage’s father were brothers and their mothers were sisters.

“She’s missing. The last link I managed to receive was of her somewhere in Ontario.

She’s putting all of her energy into blocking out her whereabouts, but I was able to collect

enough to know she’s terrified and badly hurt. It’s why I’ve kept the news to myself and

away from the rest of the pack. If what I suspect is true, then she’s shielding to keep herself

safe from Khurn. I can’t risk going after her myself. Not with the Nephilim being here and

the Fae somewhere out there. There’s too much hanging in the balance.”

The pain in Jorn’s words spoke volumes. Sage was more than pack; she was blood kin and

a powerful omega. Hadn’t they suffered enough after losing Khad? Were they going to lose

Sage, too? Tobias refused to let it happen. Not again.

 

Buy Links:

Available on KU

Amazon UK   |   Amazon.com

 

Book 1

 

Book 2

 

The Crimson Nights Saga Book and Review Tour Schedule

Check out the reviews, guest posts, interviews, and exclusive excerpts from Crimson Storm

July 31st

Gay Book Promotions

Hearts On Fire Reviews 

August 1st

Lily G Blunt

Tangents and Tissues

August 2nd

Stories That Make You Smile

August 4th

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

August 5th/6th

Diverse Reader

The Way She Reads 

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

My Fiction Nook

Millsy Loves Books

Hoards Jumble

August 7th

Immortal Crimson Reviews

Slashsessed 

August 12th/13th

Alpha Book Club 

Lily’s Reviews 

Bayou Book Junkie

Drops of Ink  

Love Bytes Reviews 

 

 

Meet the Authors

Multi-genre romance and fiction writing duo V.L Moon and J.T Cheyanne span a continental divide to bring together their love, support, and admiration for the LGBT communities they belong to. With their ever growing families’ support, they make the most of what little time they have to write the love, angst, and turmoil that hopefully reflects the struggle that is, modern day life.

 

 

Social Media Links:

Facebook   |   Website    |   VL Moon Twitter   |  JT Cheyenne Twitter

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Win an ebook from the authors’ backlist

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Hosted by

Gay Book Promotions


SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

A MelanieM Review: Knight Errant (Legends of Osaire Book 2) by T.A. Creech

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Sequel to Witch King

When an Archmage needs a guard to see him through the enchanted Alahanai Forest, dwarf Einith Redstone jumps on the opportunity. The amount of coin offered for the contract is enormous, and he wants to help a fellow dwarf find his Heartstone. And then Einith is stunned when the enticing elf Tae’liamath joins them as their guide.

Their journey through Alahanai is more dangerous than expected, physically and personally. Between the search for a missing knight out of legend and a bond unexpectedly formed, Einith and Tae find themselves growing close, and their emotions are sent reeling. With a Heartstone at stake, magickal encounters, and falling for each other, Einith and Tae have much to overcome before their journey ends.

Knight Errant (Legends of Osaire Book 2) by T.A. Creech reads like a much longer story.  In  that I mean, the author, T.A. Creech has managed to make 107 pages feel like double that in a marvelous way.  Creech (a new author for me) managed some lovely universe building, great characters that made me committed to the tale and their relationships (I laughed, cringed, and white-knuckled in all the right places).  Not only that but did it in a way that I felt I didn’t lose much by coming in at the second story.

Yes, once again I dropped into a series at book two. Honestly I had no idea because when you are looking at the title there was no indication there was a previous story or even a series. However, I enjoyed this so much that I intend to go back and pick that one up asap.  Unfortunately I already know how it ends (those characters appear here), and my favorite ones from this story, the dwarf and the elf will probably be nowhere at all.  Sigh.  How I came to love them both!

Yes, I think this will turn out to be one of those series that needs to be read in sequence as when the characters from the first story popped up here I really had no idea who they were or their importance in this universe (huge).  What I enjoyed was the author’s myth building, ability to create an atmosphere (in one case dark, full of black magic) and make me feel it creep from the page as well as play with the characters emotions.

The romance between dwarf Einith and elf Tae is slow, and a wonderful thing to behold.  I loved Einith and his recognition that his Heartstone might be at hand was a joy to read. I really could have used a second book with these two and I hope this is not the last of them that we see in this series.  There’s another couple here too that you will need just as much of.  The four of them are just plain addictive narratively speaking. More, T.A. Creech, I definitely need more!

So back to book one I go.  If you are as unfamiliar with this series as I was, you will want to go there to.  There head here for a wonderful fantasy adventure.

Cover art is dramatic and perfect for the story.

Sales Links:  JMS Books LLC | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 107 pages
Published July 8th 2017 by JMS Books LLC
ASIN B073MFBBDS

An Ali Audiobook Review: The Necromancer’s Dilemma (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2) by S.J. Himes and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Even love can die without trust.

Angel’s brother, Isaac, has returned home, and the pair begin to make slow and awkward attempts back to each other. Learning how to be a brother to a grown man instead of a parental figure has Angel adjusting his behaviors and habits, and Isaac still remains a mystery. Was it merely entering adulthood that turned Isaac away from an overprotective Angel, or does Isaac carry a secret that will keep them from finally being a real family?
Daniel Macavoy, Angel’s new apprentice, is torn between his bond with Angel and the grasping machinations of his father. Dealing with a traumatized apprentice with dangerous holes in his magical education, saving Daniel may be harder than Angel first thought—especially since the biggest problem is not revenge, but guilt.
The one shining beacon in his life is Simeon, Elder vampire of Boston’s only Bloodclan. Four hundred years old and sexy as sin, Simeon is warrior and sage, patient and cunning. The strength Angel draws from Simeon’s devotion and the newborn mate-bond between them is steadfast and true…and the fount of death magic that animates the undead lord places Angel in the midst of a power struggle for control over himself, his lover, and his family. 
Through it all, Angel is beleaguered by the unwanted attention of a troll-hybrid, the adventures of a dragon in the city, and a serial killer has decided to hunt the back alleys and midnight streets of Boston.
This is the second book in this series and I found that I enjoyed this one even more than the first.  Angel and Simeon have an established relationship and we see it continue to grow during this story.  That was good for me because I found it to be a bit insta-love in book one.  I enjoyed watching them as they grow as a couple.
This book had an intricate plot that revolved around a series of murders Angel is looking in to.  It was fast paced and full of action.  I loved the world building and the setting the author created and I was entertained by all the different paranormal creatures in this.  (A favorite being the little dragon.)  Both Daniel and Isaac were in this and it appears we will be getting books on each of them down the road.
This audiobook was narrated by Joel Leslie and he also did book one.  I was glad to see the author used the same narrator so that the voices used were consistent. The narrator did a nice job on this and his voices for both Angel and Simeon are very distinct, as were the large cast of side characters.
The end of this left me really looking forward to the next book in the series.  If you enjoy paranormal/urban fantasy this is a series you should check out, although I do recommend you read the books in order.
Cover:  I like this cover a lot.  It fits well with the first book in the series and it does a great job of setting the vibe for the story.

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published July 21st 2017 by SJ Himes (first published July 1st 2016)
ASINB0742K4BSH
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2

Review Tour: The Necromancer’s Dilemma by S J Himes and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

TND Tour banner

Title: The Necromancer’s Dilemma
Author: SJ Himes
Narrated By: Joel Leslie
Length: 7 hours 47 minutes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2
Release Date: July 21st 2017
Genre: MM Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

19702127_10210297772303828_9009986503738629932_n

BLURB

Even love can die without trust.

Angel’s brother, Isaac, has returned home, and the pair begins to make slow and awkward attempts back to each other. Learning how to be a brother to a grown man instead of a parental figure has Angel adjusting his behaviors and habits, and Isaac still remains a mystery. Was it merely entering adulthood that turned Isaac away from an overprotective Angel, or does Isaac carry a secret that will keep them from finally being a real family?

Daniel Macavoy, Angel’s new apprentice, is torn between his bond with Angel and the grasping machinations of his father. Dealing with a traumatized apprentice with dangerous holes in his magical education, saving Daniel may be harder than Angel first thought – especially since the biggest problem is not revenge, but guilt.

The one shining beacon in his life is Simeon, Elder vampire of Boston’s only Bloodclan. Four hundred years old and sexy as sin, Simeon is warrior and sage, patient and cunning. The strength Angel draws from Simeon’s devotion and the newborn mate-bond between them is steadfast and true – and the fount of death magic that animates the undead lord places Angel in the midst of a power struggle for control over himself, his lover, and his family.

Through it all, Angel is beleaguered by the unwanted attention of a troll-hybrid, the adventures of a dragon in the city, and a serial killer has decided to hunt the back alleys and midnight streets of Boston.

Contains male/male sexual content. Violence, gore, sex, vampires. A cute dragon and some snark. Okay, lots of snark.

Purchase: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes

Find The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series on

Here is a Soundcloud clip from the audiobook

 https://soundcloud.com/jojofro-1/necro-sample-5

Goodreads

EXCERPT

“You’re doing it again,” Angel accused with a glare and teasing pout, crossing his arms, his now empty coffee cup crushed in one of his hands.

“And that would be?” Simeon asked with a grin, turning to face Angel, leaning down to sniff at his neck and short brown hair. The blond highlights were growing out, and Simeon wanted to run his hands through the strands.

“Staring at me with that lovey-dovey expression on your face,” Angel grumbled, and Simeon chuckled. He may complain, but Simeon could smell just how happy Simeon’s loving regard made the necromancer.

“As I love you, and as the planes of your face are intriguing as that of an old Italian master’s painting, gazing upon your visage with adoration is just something you’ll need to grow accustomed to,” Simeon whispered, kissing under Angel’s ear. Angel sighed, his scent happy and warm with the spice of his arousal. Simeon licked the warm skin he found there, the taste of salt and the thrum of blood pulsing just under the surface making his body hum in returned desire. Though the scent of death magic his mate gave off just by existing was enough to calm his desire to bite. Angel would welcome his bite, he was sure of it, but their bond wasn’t strong enough yet to grant Simeon immunity from magic poisoning.

“Only the two of you would get frisky at a crime scene,” a rough whiskey-laced voice complained behind them. Simeon sighed with reluctance and pulled away from his mate, turning to nod a greeting to the gruff detective.

“Hey, O’Malley,” Angel smirked, moving the bottom hem of his sweater over his groin. Angel was aroused, and Simeon growled quietly, satisfied at the reaction he got from his mate.

1 Necromancer's Dance Audio Cover
Book One

Title: The Necromancer’s Dance
Author: S J Himes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #1
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Length: 8 Hours 8 minutes
Release Date: 21st March 2017
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, MM Romance

BLURB

In a world where magic is real and evil walks amongst humanity, a young sorcerer is beset by enemies, both old and new.

Angelus Salvatore is the only necromancer in all of Boston, and his name is whispered warily by the undead and fellow sorcerers alike. He and his brother Isaac are the lone survivors of an attack by an army of the undead, in which Angel used a spell so powerful it forever marked his place in history. Now, years later, Angel struggles to balance his career as a teacher of the higher magical arts, his role as big brother, and a tenuous relationship with an Elder vampire from the local clan. When his brother’s boyfriend is used as a pawn in a mysterious plot to draw Angel out, Angel is once again drawn back into the old hostilities that fueled the Blood Wars and led to his family’s death.

Leaning on others for help is something Angel cannot do, and while he searches for clues as to who may be targeting him and his brother, Angel finds his heart steadily growing occupied with Simeon, Elder and vampire. Dealing with death magic and vampires on a daily basis may leave Angel jaded when it comes to life and staying that way, but the more time he spends fending off the ancient vampire’s attention and affections, the more he realizes he wants to give in.

Can Angel find out who wants him dead, and keep his heart safe in the process? How can he fall for a vampire, when his whole family was torn apart by an army of the undead? Death stalks the streets of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill…and there is no one more suited to battle against death than a necromancer.

Purchase: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK I iTunes

Listen to an audio teaser from The Necromancer’s Dance at Soundcloud.

GIVEAWAY: Win $10 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

I’m a self-employed writer who stresses out about the silliest things, like whether or not I got my dog the best kind of snack and the fact my kindle battery tends to die when I’m at the best part in a book. I write mainly gay romance, erotica, and urban fantasy, with occasional forays into contemporary and paranormal. I love a book heavy on plot and character evolution, and throw in some magic, and that’s perfection. My current series are: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, Bred For Love (as Revella Hawthorne), and The Wolfkin Saga. My last two novels in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer won 3rd Place in the Gay Fantasy category for the 2016 Rainbow Awards.

I live in New Orleans, where the personalities are big and loud and so are the bugs! New Orleans is rich in cultural history, and the flavor and music of the City is impossible to hide. Before that, I lived all over the United States: Tampa, Western Massachusetts, Indianapolis, and on and on…. I’m a nomad, and I’ve yet to find a place that calls to me strongly enough to become home. My faithful travel companions are my dog Micah, the numerous voices in my head who insist they all get put on paper, and the wind at my back.

Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Facebook Fan Group | Twitter | Amazon
About the Narrator

web version joel arm

Joel Leslie is a UK transplant, growing up with American parents in a British commonwealth. A classically trained actor with an MFA in theatre from USC, he is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of American and British sounds. His great range and ability to bring characters to life with honesty, wit and versatility delights producers and listeners alike.

He is proud to have a strong following with m/m listeners and an ongoing relationship with some of the finest writers in the genre. He loves that every day he gets to share these beautiful, inspirational and empowering GLBT characters with the world. When not in the booth he spends his time chasing after two loquacious wiener dogs.

Find a list of Joel’s books on Audible

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

embrace-button small

Susan Mac Nicol “Revival” Tour and Giveaway (excerpt and giveaway)

Revival Tour

Title: Worth Keeping
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Release Date: December 23rd 2013
Published by: Boroughs Publishing
Genre: MM Contemporary Romance

WorthKeeping_Cover Final

BLURB

Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows he’ll always be alone.

On those days his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other.

Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man … worth keeping.

Worth Keeping on Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs | B&N | Smashwords | iBooks

Karen Jones

EXCERPT

“Jesus, Nick, for God’s sake, man, wake up. You’re having a nightmare.” The panicked voice of Owen Butler stirred Nick into wakefulness. He sat up in panic, his chest heaving, his throat raw and sore. He reached out an arm, grabbing Owen’s shoulder tightly. Owen winced and brushed hair from Nick’s sweat-drenched face. Nick stared at him blindly. Socks jumped up and down in agitation on the bed, his paws waving frantically as he chittered in panic.

“Nick, you were screaming. You had a nightmare. It’s all right.” Owen’s soothing voice cut through Nick’s fear and he started to breathe deeper, more evenly.

Owen encouraged him. “That’s right, take deep breaths. You’re awake. You’re fine.”

Nick’s tears rolled down his cheeks as he sobbed quietly. Owen leaned forward, wiping them off with tender fingers. “God, you’re a bloody mess, aren’t you? And I thought I was a basket case. Come here.”

Nick was pulled into a pair of warm arms and a hard chest that promised comfort and safety. It had been a long time since he’d been touched this way. When he was in the town with his regular fuck buddy, Daniel, it was pure sex. At Nick’s insistence, there was no kissing, no real tenderness, just lust and animalism that ended in both of them getting their relief and then Nick going home. He’d never stayed over, as that would have been too intimate. But this stranger holding him close, softly stroking his hair and his back, lulling him back to sleep. This was intimate and it felt good, just for a while. He closed his eyes, enjoying Owen’s closeness and scent.

GIVEAWAY: Win a SIGNED copy of Saving Alexander by Susan Mac Nicol

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Susan bio pic

Susan Mac Nicol is a self-confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long-suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…

In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK. She’s also Editorial Manager at http://www.divinemagazine.biz, an online LGBTQ e-zine, and she’s a Charity Board trustee at http://wwwbeingmecampaign.com in London.

She’s passionate about research for her books and has stayed in a circus, taken lessons from a blind person on how it feels to be non-sighted, and travelled to a lighthouse with maintenance crew to see first-hand what it’s like inside. She’s also writing a screen play with a Hollywood actor named Nicholas Downs, with a view to taking her latest release, Sight Unseen, to the big screen.

All in all, she’s happy with her lot and loves that you love to read her books.

You do, right?

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

embrace-button small

A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Valentine’s Day Resolution by Ava Hayden

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Huxley carries invisible scars from a near-fatal car accident. He sleepwalks through a job at his father’s company, marking time until he can quit and pursue his own dreams.

Everything changes the moment he makes eye contact with a stranger while riding to work. It’s as if he’s been shaken out of his stupor, and Huxley vows to find the man.

Thanks to a thieving ex-lover, Paul’s florist shop is on the brink of closing down. He needs to milk Valentine’s Day for all it’s worth—and the irony that a day dedicated to love might help undo the damage of a failed relationship is not lost on him.

When Huxley finds Paul at his shop, both men feel an instant attraction. Before long, they’re falling hard, but Huxley holds back. If Paul knew all the baggage he’s carrying, he might run.

Paul’s gut tells him Huxley is hiding something. Huxley looks like a keeper, but Paul can’t go through another disastrous romance.

When Valentine’s Day arrives, will they have anything to celebrate?

The Valentine’s Day Resolution by Ava Hayden was such a delight to read.  Not only did I fall in love with the characters but the way in which the author brought Huxley slowly back to life, small step by step in every part of his life made this story a real joy to read.  You can understand Huxley, a man bound by his past and his fears.  Several changes slowly start to pull Huxley out of his boxed in life and into something marvelous.    And these are small steps,  but ones to be cherished (not that he realizes the steps that he’s taking at the time).  But while Huxley’s still unaware that he’s moving forward, the reader and the people around him are and we/they are cheering him on.

Paul, the florist, is another gem of a character in a book full of them. Paul is trying to save his shop, yet when Huxley appears at the counter, something about the man makes Paul  want to trust again.  So the author gives us two men with fear ruling their lives in different ways.  How it is resolves and loves triumphs, quietly, movingly, is why I was sighing so happily as I finished the story.   So happy that I wanted to read it again.  So will you.  Consider this happily recommended!

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza. The artist does a lovely job of bringing both characters to life.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 140 pages
Expected publication: August 2nd 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635337013

Parker Williams on Characters, Writing and his new release ‘Runner’ from Dreamspinner Press (guest blog and excerpt)

Runner by Parker Williams
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Runner sales links:

Dreamspinner Press Amazon | iTunes | Kobo

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Parker Williams here today.  We asked Parker to talk about his writing and the character in his latest story, Runner. Welcome, Parker

✒︎

Q Would the author act the same as his main character in the story? Did that help write the story?

The simple answer to this question is no, I wouldn’t act the same as the main character. Of course, I’ve never dealt with the level of trauma that Matt does, and everything he goes through is a product of my imagination. There are some similarities between us, though.

His favorite book is My Side of the Mountain. When I was a kid, I devoured that book so many times that I had a dog-eared copy of it, too. Matt lives alone in the woods, a good distance from people. I’d love to do that, as long as it allowed me to continue writing. And Matt isn’t good with people. Neither am I. I prefer to stay insulated, especially from groups. I tried twice to go to GRL, and even though a lot of the people that were there I consider friends, I just couldn’t bring myself to go out in public. Fortunately, a few of them stopped in to see me. And I got to visit with K.C. Wells, so that was a huge bonus.

For me, the story was easy to write. Matt walked me through the entire process, telling me how he’d behave, what triggers he had for his PTSD and OCD, and guided me from the point where he was fearful of everyone, to grudgingly learning to accept the presence of the Runner on his property. From there, it was a cakewalk…. Well, for me. Matt? Not so much. He’s got a lot of issues to deal with, and he’s got to confront things that have been holding him back.

I hope that people who read the book will find Matt and Charlie to be an interesting couple, because they both (especially Charlie) hold a special place in my heart.

“SO THEN the detective says, ‘I knew you were guilty the day you walked into my office. The stench dripped from you like so much rotting garbage.’ And the killer says, ‘Then why did you take the case?’ And Tremaine answers, ‘Because I needed to find evidence that you were guilty, so I could have you arrested for murdering your brother. Basically you paid to have me get you put on death row.’”

I was hooked on his words. I had never heard of his books, but now I wanted to know more. I glanced down at my watch and realized I had been sitting with him on my porch for nearly three hours. I’d never spent that much time with any other person after the incident. And I didn’t feel freaked out by his presence. After seeing him every day, he’d somehow become a fixture, and that desperate need to keep order in my life had somehow come to include him. I wasn’t ready to let him into my home, but I found I didn’t mind talking to him so much.

“Wow,” I said, knowing that it wasn’t nearly what I meant.

“You’ve seriously never read one of my books?” He seemed amused.

“No. I… I don’t get out much.”

He chuckled. “I’m teasing you. My niche is pretty small, but if you like mysteries….”

“I do love to read,” I admitted.

“If you give me your email, I’ll send you copies. I mean, if you think they’re worth reading.”

RUNNER by Parker Williams

Blurb:

Matt Bowers’s life ended at sixteen, when a vicious betrayal by someone who he should have been able to trust left him a shell of himself, fighting OCD and PTSD, living in constant fear and always running. When he buys a remote tract of land, he thinks he’s found the perfect place to hide from the world and attempt to establish some peace. For ten years he believes he’s found a measure of comfort, until the day a stranger begins to run on Matt’s road.

He returns every day, an unwelcome intrusion into Matt’s carefully structured life. Matt appeals to the local sheriff, who cannot help him since the jogger is doing nothing wrong. Gradually, after tentatively breaking the ice, Matt begins to accept the man’s presence—

But when the runner doesn’t show up one day, it throws Matt’s world into chaos and he must make the hardest decision of his life.

****

Excerpt:

I COULDN’T find it within myself to talk to him for the first four days. I kept hoping he’d stop running by and my life would go back to normal. I should have known better. Ever since the incident, nothing went the way I expected it to. I continued to watch him, and I had to admit, the apprehension that coursed through me had eased. He didn’t really frighten me anymore, but the thought of talking to him filled me with dread. What made it worse for me? He’d continued to glance toward the house, and if he saw me, he’d give a smile or a little wave.

No, I wasn’t being honest. After a few weeks of him waving, I had actually started to weave that into my daily routine. I stood in front of the window, looking out at the road every day at ten thirty. One day it rained, and he was thirteen minutes late. I went into panic mode, hyperventilating and pacing around the house, chastising myself. How had he become a part of my world? Why did I now depend on him to be where I expected him to be? I grew angry with myself for that. Despite the pleading I’d done with Clay, I no longer wanted the man to stop running by my house now that I’d grown used to seeing him.

And worse, when he waved, I had started waving back.”

****

Categories: Romance, Gay Romance, Contemporary

—-

About the Author

Parker Williams believes that true love exists, but it always comes with a price. No happily ever after can ever be had without work, sweat, and tears that come with melding lives together.

Living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his husband of a quarter century, Parker continues to believe and writes stories where there is (almost) always a happy ending.

Connect with Parker on:

Twitter: @ParkerWAuthor

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641

Or you can visit his website: http://www.ParkerWilliamsAuthor.com

Release Blitz and Giveaway – RJ Scott’s Gabriel (Legacy #2)

 

 
Length: 55,000 approx
 
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
 
Legacy Series
 
Kyle (The First Legacy) – Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Blurb

 

Trapped in darkness, can an escort find a man to help him into the light?


Gabriel Reyes never gave in. He fought and was hurt, was abused but escaped with his life. He made his way in the world using the one thing he was good at: sex. He earned a place with a man who controls everything but Gabriel is safe; he’s made it.


Cameron Stafford hires Gabriel for a night, needing nothing more than a pretend boyfriend to get his dysfunctional family off his back. With the money he has in the bank and his own hotel, why won’t they just leave him alone? It doesn’t matter that a degenerative disease has stolen his vision, or that his last boyfriend was a bastard who tried to steal from him; for now he has purpose.


When Gabriel and Cam fall for each other, can they find real happiness and, maybe, a forever that will save them both?


A new story set in the world of Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes and the Double D Ranch, Texas.


Please be aware: emotional and physical abuse are depicted on the page in this book


Excerpt

“You got another letter,” Stefan snapped, and threw it at Gabriel, where it bounced against his naked belly and fell to the floor. He didn’t make a move to pick it up, not until Stefan had left. Fucking letters and the ache they caused. Stefan had opened it, the tear jagged, and Gabriel could imagine the temper that Stefan must have felt when he ripped it open. He didn’t blame Stefan; who wanted Gabriel’s past to intrude into what they had now?

He finally picked up the envelope and slipped quietly into his room, closing the door. He didn’t lock it—last time he’d done that, Stefan had broken the door, told him a story about a time when he hadn’t been able to get into a room and that it scared him. That he was thinking about Gabriel.

The letter wasn’t long. They never were.

Legacy Ranch appeared at the top of the paper, in strong, determined capitals. Whoever this Kyle guy was, he had neat, considered handwriting. Gabriel scanned the letter and closed his eyes, waiting for the door to open.

And just like clockwork, Stefan pushed into the room, salve in one hand and a sandwich on a plate in the other, coffee perched precariously on the side.

“I made you some food,” Stefan said, and sat on the bed, causing Gabriel to shift toward him. Gabriel didn’t move away—he didn’t want to upset Stefan.

“Thank you,” Gabriel murmured.

“What did the letter say?”

That was normal. As if it was a test, even though Stefan had already read it. The first time Gabriel had said something wrong, Stefan had looked so damn disappointed. All he’d said was that he loved Gabriel but he didn’t like a liar. He hadn’t needed to say anything else, but the bruises had taken a long time to heal when he’d finished being disappointed with Gabriel.

“They have this horse, Mistry. Apparently it’s still not been claimed.”

“Anything else, Angel?”

Stefan’s use of that nickname was a switch inside Gabriel that made him tense.

“The usual things—that they want to help me and when I’m ready they’ll be there.”

Stefan reached out, and Gabriel schooled his features so he didn’t wince. Stefan cradled Gabriel’s face, and his grip was firm.

“You know what will happen if you go back to that kind of life, my sweet, innocent Angel. You know they’ll hurt you. You don’t need help. You have me. I look after you.”

“I know.” Gabriel knew the right answers to give now. He’d once hoped that the world this Kyle guy wrote about would have a place for him, but that wasn’t an option for someone like Gabriel.

“I look after you, Angel,” Stefan said, and pressed the softest of kisses to Gabriel’s lips. “Now get some sleep. I canceled your two appointments for tomorrow. You need to eat your food, get your chocolate and sleep.”

“Okay.”

Stefan helped Gabriel get settled in the soft nest of pillows, and brushed Gabriel’s short hair.

“This will grow back,” he said.

Gabriel placed a hand on Stefan’s arm. “They held my head, Stefan.” He wanted to say more about what they’d done, but he didn’t have to—Stefan wouldn’t want to hear the details.

“It will grow back,” Stefan repeated, then patted Gabriel’s head. “’Night.”

Author Bio

RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

mailto:rj@rjscott.co.uk
www.rjscott.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/author.rjscott?ref=ts&fref=ts
www.goodreads.com/author/show/3432558.R_J_Scott
twitter.com/Rjscott_author
www.librarything.com/author/scottrj

Giveaway