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Release Day Blitz for Lying Eyes by Robert Winter (excerpt and giveaway)

Title:  Lying Eyes

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher:  Robert Winter Books (self-published)

Release Date: July 7, 2017

Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 84300

Genre: Romance, Mystery, BDSM

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Synopsis

This bartender’s art lies in more than mixing drinks …

Randy Vaughan is a six-foot-three mass of mysteries to his customers and his friends. Why does a former Secret Service agent now own Mata Hari, a successful piano bar? Where did a muscle daddy get his passion for collecting fine art? If he’s as much a loner as his friends believe, why does he crave weekly sessions at an exclusive leather club?

Randy’s carefully private life unravels when Jack Fraser, a handsome art historian from England, walks into his bar, anxious to get his hands on a painting Randy owns. The desperation Randy glimpses in whiskey-colored eyes draws him in, as does the desire to submit that he senses beneath Jack’s elegant, driven exterior.

While wrestling with his attraction to Jack, Randy has to deal with a homeless teenager, a break-in at Mata Hari, and Jack’s relentless pursuit of the painting called Sunrise. It becomes clear someone’s lying to Randy. Unless he can figure out who and why, he may miss his chance at the love he’s dreamed about in the hidden places of his heart.

Note: Lying Eyes is a standalone gay romance novel with consensual bondage and a strong happy ending. It contains potential spoilers for Robert Winter’s prior novel, Every Breath You Take.

Purchase

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

 

Excerpt

Saturday rolled around, and Randy headed to town early to make sure everything was ready for Mata Hari’s busiest evening of the week. Although the bar officially opened at five-thirty, it was rare for anyone to wander in much before seven o’clock. Randy was surprised when the front door opened at six to admit a good-looking man.

The stranger was probably about five foot nine or ten, and wore a three-piece suit that seemed tailored to accentuate a lean build. His dark hair was cut stylishly short on the sides but thick and swept back on the top, and his mustache and full beard were closely trimmed. A brightly colored necktie contrasted with the somber gray of his suit. Randy had trouble assessing the man’s age, but he would go with thirty. European, though—Randy would stake the bar on that guess.

The newcomer contemplated the walls of Mata Hari, passing almost dismissively over the art on display. He studied each piece for no more than a second before moving to the next, but Randy had a distinct impression the man sought something in particular. As he completed his survey, he kept turning and eventually met Randy’s eyes across the bar.

Immediately desire flared in the man’s face as his hungry gaze drifted over Randy’s tight white shirt and up to his face, lingering on his mouth. Shoulders tightened almost imperceptibly as he drew himself to his full height, yet Randy recognized a softening of hard edges. He lazily ran his own eyes to the stranger’s luxurious beard, and he imagined stroking the softness there. He sensed something accommodating. Something potentially submissive, yet more subtle than the wanton displays of obedience and posing he was used to on Mondays at his private club.

Something he would enjoy channeling and rewarding, in the right circumstance.

The man started toward the bar. As he moved, Randy had the odd sense that the suit he wore was ill-fitting, even though it seemed perfectly tailored. A step away from the bar, his face just—closed. That was the only word for it. One instant he was cruising Randy; the next he was stone.

Randy sighed to himself. The guy was probably a closet case on his first night at a gay bar. That usually meant an unsatisfying encounter, even if the newbie didn’t rabbit. In any case, it wasn’t Randy’s thing. He’d had plenty of virgin ass over the years, and preferred his men experienced.

Fine. Nothing for me here. He waited at the bar, vaguely disappointed.

“Sir, good evening.” The man’s accent was English, his words precise and elegant like his hair and his clothes and his beard. Probably from London. Up close, Randy could see his eyes were a deep shade of brown graced with streaks of gold around the pupils that caught the lights over the bar. “I’m looking for a Mr. Randall Vaughan.”

Despite forswearing his immediate attraction to the stranger, that honeyed voice caused Randy to smile slowly and show his teeth. He registered the slight widening of the eyes behind the stranger’s mask as he focused on Randy’s mouth.

“I’m Randy Vaughan. And you are…?”

The man blinked in surprise. “Oh. The Mr. Vaughan I was seeking is an art collector.”

Shit. Just another jerkwad, making assumptions right away. Randy was a big man so he couldn’t possibly be knowledgeable about art, could he? Well, fuck that noise. One more chance.

“I wouldn’t use the term collector, but…” Randy gestured at the walls.

“Quite so,” the man said distantly, and turned to sweep his gaze over the works on the nearest wall. “Neither would I.”

Randy’s back stiffened immediately. The stranger—no, the asshole—turned his attention back to Randy and held out a hand. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he’d just royally pissed Randy off. “My name is Jack Fraser. I’m from the Kensington Museum in London.” Fraser paused as if waiting for Randy to be impressed. “I sent you a letter recently.”

Randy willed himself not to think further about Fraser’s whiskey-colored eyes or the luxuriousness of his beard, and he didn’t take the offered hand. Instead, he wiped a small spill on the counter before him. “You did,” he agreed in a bored tone.

Fraser dropped his hand. “Ah, yes.” A pause. “My secretary didn’t hear from you to set up an appointment.”

“Which was my answer to your request,” Randy said, letting some snarl appear as he met Fraser’s eyes. They were still guarded and closed off, but Randy could see embers burning deep inside. In the right setting, and with proper motivation, he could imagine making those embers flare and ignite in the slender man before him. For the moment, though, the eyes just narrowed in calculation.

Before Fraser could say anything, Randy turned away. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

“May I buy a pint?” Fraser asked, desperation shading his smooth accent.

Randy considered calling Malcolm over to deal with it, but stopped in front of the beer taps. He was annoyed at his lingering attraction, and he decided to push back on this prick a bit. “Fine. What’s your pleasure?”

“Guinness. If you have it.”

“Of course you’d drink Guinness.” A little scorn curled Randy’s lip. “Well, the closest beer I have is a stout from Flying Dog.” He let his sneer turn feral. “It’s called Pearl Necklace.” He dropped his eyes to Fraser’s necktie, as if he could picture that very thing replacing the colorful silk.

Fraser blinked nervously. Probably he could picture it too. Maybe he even imagined Randy’s hot jizz splattering his chest and neck as his reward. Well, he shouldn’t have been a condescending shit out of the gate then. Randy waited, one hand on the tap, the other idly scratching his ear to make his bicep flex under his white shirt. Fraser focused on his arm and swallowed audibly.

“That’ll be fine,” he said. “A, uh, Flying Dog then.” Randy drew the pint to set before Fraser on a coaster. He didn’t wait for the man to take a sip or comment, but headed to the other end of the bar to check inventory.

He stayed busy but somehow noticed that Fraser lingered at the bar for several minutes, apparently hoping Randy would come back and let him ask again about the piece Randy had purchased from the Gates Gallery. When Randy deliberately kept his distance, Fraser took his beer (which, Randy was pleased to note, was more than half gone) and wandered around the room to examine more carefully each painting displayed. Sometimes he moved on quickly to the next piece of art. Other times, he gave a slight shake of his head.

Randy’s ears burned, and he considered throwing the guy out. Since he’d opened Mata Hari no one had given him grief about his collection. To be honest, no one had studied it the way Fraser did, but still. Each piece had been acquired because Randy connected to something in it. To have this handsome English stuffed shirt look down his nose offended Randy in a way he couldn’t even articulate. He seethed inside the longer Fraser spent on his dismissive tour of the room.

When Fraser reached a landscape that was hung over a small settee, he gave a distinct snort. He set his empty beer glass on a nearby table and Randy swooped over to pick it up, ostentatiously swiping the wood as if it had left a ring. “Another Pearl Necklace?” he snarled.

“Ah, no. Thank you.” Fraser seemed surprised to find Randy standing so close, though his eyes remained closed off and stony. “But it was a quite nice stout after all. Thank you for the recommendation.”

Randy gestured at the landscape with his chin. “Is that painting offensive to you for some reason? You’re practically laughing at it.”

“What? Oh no, it’s…fine. Competent. It’s the presentation, the arrangement of the art, that I find amusing.”

Randy ran his gaze over the pieces arranged on that wall of the bar. He’d decided where to hang each and every work over a long stretch of time as he’d readied Mata Hari for opening. He revisited the collection frequently and rotated different pieces in and out of prominent positions. Most of his customers were oblivious but Randy took great satisfaction in presenting something unique in the atmosphere of his bar.

“What’s amusing about it?”

“Well, there’s no story, is there?” Fraser answered him.

“What do you mean?”

“Individually each piece is presentable. A few are even intriguing. But see here,” he gestured at the landscape, “this is a nicely executed pastoral, yet it’s positioned between a Japanese scroll and a watercolor of a monarch butterfly. The pieces say nothing about each other, and have no intrinsic relationship.

“But over there,” he indicated the wall opposite, “is a modern landscape. Change the frames to something complementary, place them side by side, and the two landscapes together suggest a conversation in, oh, quite a lot actually. Painting techniques, the subject and tonal changes in works separated by two artistic traditions. You see?”

Randy did see, but he’d be damned if he’d admit it. “Two landscapes here wouldn’t fit,” he said stubbornly.

“Ah. Art as furniture. Of course,” Fraser said with a smirk, and that did it.

“No charge for the Pearl Necklace,” Randy barked. “Since you made the trip for nothing.”

Meet the Author

Robert Winter lives and writes in Provincetown. He is a recovering lawyer who prefers writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other. When he isn’t writing, Robert likes to cook Indian food and explore new restaurants. He splits his attention between Andy, his partner of sixteen years, and Ling the Adventure Cat, who likes to fly in airplanes and explore the backyard jungle as long as the temperature and humidity are just right.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail

Giveaway

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Release Blitz for Luna David’s Saving Sebastian (excerpt and giveaway)

 

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tQhQfK

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2sO5XaK

Cover: Kellie Dennis @ Book Cover By Design

Gideon McCade—weighed down by memories of his previous life as a Navy SEAL and a CIA agent—has blood on his hands. He turns to his BDSM club, Catharsis, and Dominating submissives to get him through the daily grind of civilian life. Knowing his past is too much to inflict on a life partner, he keeps his connections brief and superficial. When his former life comes back to haunt him, his desire for revenge pulls him back into the shadows, darkening his hopes for a future in the light.


Temporarily sidelining his career as a tattoo artist, Sebastian Phillips works as a composite artist for the local police department. To alleviate the inescapable burden of a congenital medical condition, he immerses himself in his art and seeks the catharsis of submission. But with life weighing heavily on his shoulders and darkness encroaching, he yearns for a contract with a Dominant that sees past the protective barriers he’s erected to the vulnerable submissive within.


When happenstance brings Gideon and Sebastian together, their connection is undeniable. The knowledge that they are both too damaged to form permanent bonds of love causes them to rely on an impersonal contract to fulfil their physical needs. But staying emotionally detached becomes impossible, and breaking their contract seems the only option. Will Gideon’s need for vengeance and Sebastian’s declining health destroy what’s grown between them, or will they help each other find their way back into the light?


Excerpt


He continued to give the kittens attention but kept his eyes on Sebastian. “You wearing a plug, boy?”


The blush pushed even more of his buttons and he smiled as his boy nodded and said, “Yes, Sir.”


Gideon, still squatting with the kittens, rested his elbows on his knees as he gazed up at his boy, grinning. “You look good enough to eat.”


Sebastian’s blush deepened and he turned his face away, avoiding eye contact. Gideon watched as an emotional wall came up, insulating his sub from any unwanted compliments he didn’t believe were genuine. He’d have to work on that.


“Speaking of eating. Have you had dinner?”


“Yes, Sir.”


“Good. Come on into the kitchen, I’m gonna grab a beer and you can look through what I’ve got to see if you want anything.”


Sebastian followed him quietly and when Gideon pulled a beer from his fridge, he left it open for Sebastian to look through. He saw a spark of interest and then a sideways glance at Gideon before he shrugged and said, “I’ll just take water.”


“Nope.”


That brought Sebastian’s focus directly on him. His eyebrows reaching toward his hairline. “Pardon?”


Gideon grinned at his boy’s proper response and used the neck of his beer bottle to point at the fridge. “You saw something that interested you in there. Go ahead.”


A blush crept up the boy’s neck to his cheeks and Gideon smiled wider, wondering what on earth could garner that much embarrassment from his refrigerator. He frowned when Sebastian insisted that water was what he wanted. That wouldn’t do at all.


Setting his beer down he lifted Sebastian up and sat him on the countertop, and watched as the boy wiggled to get his plug-ladened ass comfortable. He smiled and wedged himself between the boy’s legs. Watching his eyes dilate when he wrapped both of his legs around his waist like he’d done the night before sent a little thrill through Gideon. He loved how Sebastian responded to him.


He leaned in and trailed soft kisses up Sebastian’s neck, smiling when he felt his whole body shiver. Kissing his way to his ear he whispered, “What’s got you blushing in my fridge? Hmm?”


Before Sebastian could respond Gideon kissed his lips and pulled back. “We’re not gonna move from this spot until you tell me. I’m a very patient man, Sebastian.”


Sebastian huffed, blushing again. “You’ll laugh.”


Gideon laughed. Guilty as charged. And reveled in the fact that Sebastian felt comfortable enough to shove him away playfully.


“See? I told you, you’d laugh!”


“You haven’t even told me what you want yet!”


“Well, I’m not gonna tell you now!”


Gideon snuck back in between the boy’s legs and tested a theory from a response he’d gotten the night before, digging his thumb lightly into Sebastian’s ribs. When the boy squeaked, and tried to shove him away again, he dug his fingers into Sebastian’s other side until he was squirming and trying desperately to get away from those tickling digits.


“CHOCOLATE MILK!”


Gideon stopped his torture in complete surprise. A laugh escaping before he could stop it. “What?”


Sebastian’s mouth dropped open at his audacity. “See?! You laughed!”


Gideon gripped the edge of the counter, leaning into Sebastian, the top of his head resting on Sebastian’s shoulder, hiding his face as he kept laughing. “I’m not! Really. I’m not.”


Sebastian gasped and tried to shove him away. “You so are!”


He shook his head and cleared his throat, finding himself completely surprised, pleasantly so, that he was having so much fun. When was the last time he’d had fun like that? His expression serious, he gazed into Sebastian’s eyes, his own twinkling with mirth. “I’m not. I promise. This is serious. Chocolate milk is serious business. Hang on.”


He went about getting out a long ice cream spoon and the largest glass he could find. He filled it with milk and got the chocolate syrup out of the door of his fridge and proceeded to brandish it high above the milk glass, squeezing a ridiculous amount of chocolate into the glass with a flourish.


Setting the syrup down, he held up the spoon to be examined by Sebastian, who was now crossing his arms over his chest, eyes narrowed, doing his level best not to laugh. When he nodded, Gideon proceeded to take said spoon and stir in the chocolate, the milk changing color gradually until it was as dark as he could probably get it.


When Sebastian moved to pick it up, Gideon held up his finger and turned to a drawer. Back a second later, he was brandishing a plastic, bright blue, loopy straw with a penis as the tip and Sebastian lost the fight and finally let loose his laughter. When Gideon handed him the huge glass of chocolate milk he took it with greedy hands and started drinking from the penis with outrageously exaggerated enjoyment, making Gideon laugh again.


When he finally stopped drinking, the glass was half empty and Sebastian smacked his lips. “Ahh! Sooo good! Thank you, Sir.”


Completely charmed, and thoroughly enjoying himself, Gideon replied, “You’re welcome. I’ll keep it stocked for you.”


Sebastian tried his best to look stern. “See that you do.”


They grinned at each other a few more seconds and Gideon remembered the box of pastries his brother had given him earlier. He snagged them from the counter and opened them, watching as Sebastian’s eyes widened comically and he reached in the box, but then yanked his hand back out, looking up at Gideon. “May I, Sir?”


He smiled gently and nodded, loving hearing Sebastian call him Sir. “Please. That’s why I opened the box. Braden made them.”


They snacked on the sugary confections quietly for several minutes and Sebastian took another long drink from his glass and then looked at him seriously. “Um, Sir?”


Gideon smirked. “Yeah?”


Sebastian looked down at his drink and then back up again, grinning. “Don’t think I’m gonna let it slide that you have an electric blue, loopy penis straw in your kitchen.”


Gideon threw his head back and laughed. “Well, see. . . There was this party. . .”


“Uh huh, sure. I’ve heard it all before!”


“You’ve heard a story about an electric blue, loopy penis straw party favor before?”


“Who hasn’t?”


“I’m gonna go out on a limb and say, probably most people.”

Author Bio

Once upon a time… deep in the shadows of the infamous BDSM club Catharsis, Luna David, future Authoress Extraordinaire, dreamed of crafting epic gay romance novels to the chorus of whips, chains, and riding crops.


Working for the man by day, and playing caped crusader by night, she fell in love with a superhero whose alter-ego was a mild-mannered financial analyst. With the combined strength of their Evasion Superpowers, they’re able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, and escape the horrifying drudgery of peopling and adulting as often as humanly possible.


Luna fiercely devotes herself to her amazing family and friends, drinks coffee like the life-giving ambrosia that it is, and reads gay romance novels voraciously. And while watching a movie and cuddling is still the perfect date night for her and her superhero hubby, her favorite moments are when he makes her laugh until she cries and can’t help but fall in love with him over and over again.


Life for the superhero duo seemed perfect until the birth of twins threw their world into delightful and exhausting chaos, proving perfection always has room for improvement. Leaving big business behind, The Adorables became her full-time job. But eventually Luna realized it was the perfect time to follow her dreams, so she hung up her cape, donned her rainbow slippers and Wonder Woman pajamas, and dove into her fictional world. When not saving her little monsters from themselves or overseeing the Dungeon, Luna slays fictitious evildoers between the pages of her manuscripts.


Her books feature strong dominant males and the men they would die protecting. With love, her hero, and their monsters in her corner, Luna spends her free time writing sweet and kinky, sensual and erotic gay romance. Love has no gender and no boundaries—and Luna loves nothing more than giving her heroes the same HEA she’s been lucky enough to enjoy every day.

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A Stella Review: Haven’s War (Safe Haven #2) by Parker Williams

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

With Haven on an extended honeymoon with Sammy, bad guys around the world are breathing a lot easier. No one is better at permanently removing these lowlifes who target children—and the brutal murder of two teenage girls makes clear it’s past time to return to work. Haven’s first assignment back results in a new family member and a renewed sense of urgency to protect and avenge the innocent.

There is nothing ‘usual’ about the business of hunting predators, but when several of Haven’s fellow agents are killed, a pattern emerges. The hunters have become the prey, tools in a bitter vendetta for a perceived wrong.

Despite years of working alone, when the target shifts to someone unexpected, Haven calls in reinforcements—a friend to stand between the family he loves and a ruthless killer. Teamwork may be the only way to win this fight—unless it’s already too little, too late.

Haven tries to approach this as he would any other assignment. Find your enemy and make sure they suffer before you eliminate them. But when a member of his team goes off-book and ends up dead, everything changes. It’s no longer a battle.

Now it’s war.

I was waiting for Haven and Sammy to be back in my life since I first read their story in Haven’s Creed in 2015. I so hoped the author would decide to give me more about them and you can imagine my joy when I finally saw Haven’s War. And in my opinion this new release is the best Parker Williams wrote so far (among what I read of his and I want to specify I am not talking of his coauthored books because I haven’t read those ones). Apart from the plot, which I loved and I will talk about in a bit, I was so engaged by the writing, perfect, clear and focused on getting every single feeling to the reader. Because the story is full of feelings and maybe it’s just what conquered me. Beautifully done.

The Safe Haven series is not what I usually want on my Kindle, I like sweet, I like cute and I don’t like thrillers, blood and abuses. I made an exception for this author and although Haven’s War is hard to read and in some parts the scenes are really detailed, I didn’t feel the fear or the tightness in the throat often stories like this give me, leading me to not enjoying the reading at all. The author with his writing was great, he showed me the love and the force of the good no matter how much blood and human parts were shed.

One more thing I loved, the characters, all of them (I’ll be back to beg for one of them own story, no worry). Yes, someone will die of course and it is necessary for the solving of the plot, but have no fear the important characters will be saved and I am not saying this to spoiler, just to reassure the interested readers. A lot will happen in Haven’s War because as the title say there is a war to fight, but some good events will warm your hearts, new weddings, new puppies, new amazing friends. The way Haven and Sammy are able to create a family with the amazing people they have in their life is so reassuring, they take care of each other and how never once one of them try to be selfish, thinking always at the strength they had in their union.

I have to say I’m pretty satisfied from this book, the author gave me exactly what I wanted, to know what was going on in Sammy and Haven life, see them together and how their love has developed. He gave me an happy ending, not just for them. Now I have just a little little request, I think Oscar deserves more words, I deserve to know Max and so pretty please if there could be more in the series I would be greatly delighted.

I feel to recommend Haven’s War but keep in mind it doesn’t work as a standalone so you have to absolutely read Haven’s Creed first.

I don’t like the cover art by Laura Harner, as I didn’t like the cover of the previous book, they are pretty similar so nothing changed.

Buy Now: Universal Link 

BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 411 pages

Published June 26th 2017 by Pride Press

ISBN13 9781941841501

Edition Language English

Safe Haven #2

A MelanieM Review: Behind the Mask by Elizabeth Coldwell

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

He keeps his true identity hidden, even from the man he loves…

Twenty years ago, superheroes were outlawed by the mayor of Mokum City. Christopher Chase has grown up knowing that he has all the strength and speed of Sprint, his superhero father, who died attempting to save the mayor’s niece from being kidnapped. But, unlike his father, he is unable to fulfill his destiny and become a masked crimefighter. Even Christopher’s boyfriend, bar owner Johnny Brennan, doesn’t know Christopher’s true identity.

A chance encounter with a purse snatcher in the city cemetery gives Christopher a taste of what it’s like to use his powers for good. And when Johnny becomes caught up in a hostage situation, Christopher can no longer stand by. Even if it means losing his own life, he must pull on the costume of Sprint to save the man he loves.

Well, honestly this story had so many holes in it and so many questionable elements that just made you roll your eyes that giving it two stars is generous.  There’s a dead dad superhero, a son with superhero powers he keeps hidden, the fact that his father was most likely murdered (something that gets brought up and then unbelievably pushed aside) and an ending that’s plain laughable and not in a good way.  The characters don’t connect in any emotional or logical way.  It’s just one flawed bit after another.  It makes 36 pages seem like forever.
To go on isn’t justified either.   I don’t recommend it, even for lovers of superheroes in fiction.  If you love Elizabeth Coldwell, skip this all together.
Cover by Posh Gosh in no way represents anything really about this story.  It is however the best thing about this story.
Sales Links:  Pride Publishing | Amazon
Book Details:
ebook, Re-released, 36 pages
Expected publication: July 18th 2017 by Pride Publishing
ISBN13 9781786515872
Edition Language English

Blog Tour: Burning Boundaries, by Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham

Burning Boundaries (Elemental Evidence #2)

by Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham

Publisher: Pride Publishing
Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

Release Dates

Preorder: 23rd May
Early Download (from Pride Publishing): 6th June
General Release: 4th July

Genre(s): Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Fantasy – Urban & Magical Beings, Mystery & Thriller, Paranormal, Paranormal – Psychic Talents

Hello, I’m Dr. Gale and I’ve been asked to think of twenty random things that people might not know about me, so here goes.

 

  1. My Doctorate is in Security Usability of AI processes in Authentication and Transmission Programs. I received it when I was just twenty years old.
  2. My middle names are Wesley Arthur. Wesley is my father’s name, though everyone calls him Troy. I think that may be a Stingray thing, but I’m not sure. Arthur is my maternal grandmother’s maiden name.
  3. I learned to write code when I was four and a half. I built my first computer when I was seven.
  4. I was the youngest person ever to enroll at my University College, I was twelve years and seven months old.
  5. From the age of 8, until I was about 14, I was actually quite chubby. I burned all the photos.
  6. My Mama calls me Ilmari, my Papi calls me Blue, short for Blue-Eyes.
  7. The first time I tried to surf a telephone line I was six and a half years old. I eavesdropped on my Great Grandmama’s neighbours but then my Papi caught me and I came back to my own body so fast that I knocked myself out. Which was kind of embarrassing.
  8. This will surprise Chivis, but I can actually ride a horse. He isn’t the only city person that’s done great outdoors stuff. I also ski pretty well.
  9. I took up running when I was 13, mainly to impress a guy I liked at my University.
  10. I have dated precisely four other people prior to meeting Jake Chivis. That’s not counting casual flings. Two guys, and two girls.
  11. I am 6’ 2” tall.
  12. Yes, I am a natural blond.
  13. Yes, I wear contacts. No, they aren’t tinted, my eyes are genuinely this color.
  14. I speak five languages, English, French, Suomi, Catalan and Malay Chinese.
  15. I’m an Aquarius.
  16. My favourite place in the world is Kotka in Finland. It’s where my Great Grandmama and Aunts lived and it’s so beautiful it takes my breath away.
  17. I was actually born in Mauritania, in a war zone, to be precise, but my birth was registered in New Haven, New York State. I have joint American/Finn nationality because my mother was born in Finland.
  18. My Great Grandfather studied in England and was one of the very first pilots for the Royal Flying Corps, the forerunner of the R.A.F. He was decorated for gallantry and outstanding service during the First World War. In spite of knowing this, I still hate flying.
  19. My shoe size is 10 and a half. Or 11 in American.
  20. I have a serious thing for tall, shy, part-Native-American Arson Investigators.  

Blurb:

Mari Gale’s life has been a whirlwind since meeting Jake Chivis. A new job prospect and his mother’s health preoccupy him, so when Jake invites him on a date he’s ready to cut loose. Their night out turns into a nightmare when a fire breaks out in the basement of the bar and they barely escape.

Soon Jake learns that the horrific accident is being investigated as a possible homicide, and it’s not the only case. Detective Inspector Cordiline of the London Met hints at spontaneous human combustion, but as far as Jake knows, SHC doesn’t exist.

When Mari looks into a group called Birthright, he finds a connection to the victims of the fires and Jake risks himself to go undercover at the shadowy organization. The race is on to determine the truth before Jake becomes the next target.

Length: 103,000 Words
Format: eBook
Pairing: MM
Heat Level: 4 out of 5
Price: $5.99

 

Elemental Evidence Series Info:

Former Detective Jake Chivis is a Fire Elemental who uses psychometry to see the past. Doctor Ilmarinen Gale is an Air Elemental, a human/cybernetic interface, able to infiltrate even the toughest information systems. Together they find out just how potent a combination Fire and Air can be when it comes to solving crimes.

Amid murder, conspiracy and a world that views them with suspicion, and sometimes contempt, Jake and Mari circumvent the conventional. While the police aren’t always appreciative of their methods they can’t deny the results.

When they aren’t busy consulting for the police, figuring one another out is their next big mystery. One that proves as frustrating as it is passionate. Between hunting killers and avoiding competing government agencies that want the two of them working on their side, they just might have enough time for love.

Excerpt:

Was that flirting? Was he flirting with the guy? Jake tried to rein those thoughts in but he couldn’t help it. Mari had a habit of flirting, but it had never bugged Jake before. Jesus, they’d managed to go to one bar for an hour and already he was devolving into Neanderthal territory. He realized something else. It had never really bothered him when he and Alex had gone out and his ex had spent all night coming on to strangers. Then again, he’d known Alex was doing it to get a rise out of him. That was not Mari’s way, at all.

“You want another drink?” Jake asked, by way of keeping himself from hauling Mari out of there and grilling him about whether he wanted to sleep with Mr. Whips and Tattoos. They had to step to one side as a sweating, agitated-looking guy pushed by them on the stairs in an obvious hurry to get down to the basement for some chastisement. Though he looked chastised enough already, in Jake’s opinion.

“If you do,” Mari said, then exhaled a huff that might have been regret and might have been relief. “Unless, of course, you just want to put me over your shoulder and carry me out, Mr. Caveman. I wasn’t giving him the come-on. So you can stop looking daggers. And don’t deny it.” He pointed a slender finger at Jake as he opened his mouth. “I could see you thinking it. Yes, he’s very cute, but he’s not really my type. I do like his toy box though.”

Jake snapped his mouth closed then pushed a hand through his hair and let out a sigh of his own. He had always pitied guys that acted like possessive jerks and here he was being as transparent as glass, all but snarling at anyone who got too close to Mari. “I’m sorry. I was aiming not to be obvious. I’ll try and refrain from clubbing you over the head and dragging you out by the hair.” He managed a sheepish grin.

“In that case, it would be my pleasure to have another drink with you, Chivis.” Mari chuckled, slipping a hand around the nape of his neck and towing him in for a brief, firm kiss.

They made their way back up into the bar and as they were weaving their way through the crowd, Jake heard someone shout, then screaming coming from the direction of the basement.

The red and gold lighting seemed to be flickering and Mari yelled, “Can you smell something burning?”

Jake noticed the smell just as Mari was saying it, and turned his head. A curl of pale smoke was winding up from the basement stairway, not thick but noticeable.

“Shit!” He grabbed Mari’s arm. “Get out of here. Hurry.”

Jake gave him a push toward the front exit then shoved through the crowd, trying to get to the stairs.

Buy Links Etc:

Publisher: https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/burning-boundaries

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Burning-Boundaries-Elemental-Evidence-Book-ebook/dp/B071ZGP541

Apple: Coming Soon

ARe: Coming Soon

Barnes & Noble:

Kobo: Coming Soon

Smashwords: Coming Soon

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34913207-burning-boundaries

Author Bio:

Bellora Quinn:

Originally hailing from Detroit Michigan, Bellora now resides on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida where a herd of Dachshunds keeps her entertained. She got her start in writing at the dawn of the internet when she discovered PbEMs (Play by email) and found a passion for collaborative writing and steamy hot erotica. Soap Opera like blogs soon followed and eventually full novels. The majority of her stories are in the M/M genre with urban fantasy or paranormal settings.

Sadie Rose Bermingham:

A storyteller since before she started school, Sadie also enjoys reading, photography, live music and long walks on the beach. Sadie has worked as a bookseller, a pedigree editor for the racing industry and a local and family history researcher. Originally from the north of England, she has been working her way across the UK ever since. She currently resides on the south east coast with her long term partner, where she hopes to buy a mobile home and establish a whippet farm.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.belloraquinn.com | https://www.sadierosebermingham.com | 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElementalEvidence/

Twitter: 

https://www.twitter.com/BelloraQ

https://www.twitter.com/SadieBermingham

Cover Reveal for Losing My Religion by AS Tucker (excerpt and giveaway)


Title: Losing My Religion
Author: A.S. Tucker
Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: July 27, 2017

 

Jaden Barker is a good boy.

For as long as he can remember, he’s been preparing for the day he’ll be called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He’s ready. He’s more than willing. And he can’t wait to spend the next two years serving the Lord and his church. But when a new proclamation from the church is announced, it leaves him questioning everything.

Quinn Owens is trouble with a capital T.

An aspiring actor living in the bowels of Los Angeles, he’s fought long and hard to get where he is, and he’s not willing to give it up for anything. Working for a homophobic boss presents quite a challenge when you’re a gay man, but Quinn knows losing this job means losing his dream. 

Jaden is lost and confused.

Quinn won’t let anything stand in his way.

But when Jaden finds himself living downstairs from the enticing Quinn, neither are prepared for what happens next.

Will Jaden be able to resist Quinn’s charms and remain a devoted Mormon missionary? Or will he fall, finding himself face to face with losing his religion?
Prologue
Our living room smells like a high school locker room. You know the smell I’m talking about. That oniony stink teen boys get when it’s been too long since they’ve showered, and they still haven’t quite discovered the magic of deodorant. 

It’s a smell I’m all-too familiar with, my high school career having only come to an end this past year. It’s going to take a lot longer than ten months to wipe the horrors I saw and smelled in the boys’ locker room out of my brain. 

Even as I sit on the barstool in the center of the room, visions of Roosevelt High come flashing to my mind, and I half-expect to see Jeff come strolling through the door, twisted wet towel in hand, just waiting for the perfect moment to snap it against an unsuspecting victim’s bare ass.

Butt. I mean, butt. 

Cussing was never allowed when I was growing up. But, now that this has arrived, I need to be more diligent about watching my language. 

Because cussing will not be tolerated where I’m going. 

I look down at the white envelope in my hands, my fingers trembling ever-so slightly, as I read over my name and address printed on the front.

Elder Jaden Barker.

Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Perfect missionary name. Exactly like my parents envisioned.

Flipping the envelope over, I gently finger the flap, watching the pristine paper slide against my skin. How ironic would it be if the one thing that’s supposed to be the biggest blessing in my life thus far sliced through my flesh, red drops of blood seeping through my pores and marring the lily-white paper beneath?

Wouldn’t be the first time the church cut you, a familiar voice in the back of my mind utters.

Yes, but they’ve always been there to stitch you back up. You just need to have faith, his ever-present counterpart retorts. 

I know what you’re thinking. This dude is crazy. I’m not. I don’t actually hear voices. They’re only little versions of my subconscious—punks who like to rear up and cause problems in my life at the most inopportune times. Ever since I turned in my mission papers, they seem to have taken permanent residence in my head—like those old cartoons I used to watch, the ones with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other. The church would refer to them as the Holy Ghost and Satan.

Or, as I like to call them, Jiminy and Jafar. Growing up, I had a thing for Disney.

Shrugging off their unwelcome intrusion, I turn my attention back to the task at hand, the all-too-familiar pang of nervousness welling deep within my gut. My stomach has been in knots all afternoon. 

My family has been expecting this any day now. As soon as I pulled it out of the mailbox and saw the distinct logo in the top-left corner, I was tempted to rip into it right there, near the gutter, needing the torment of where I’d be spending the next two years of my life to end. 

My mother, of course, had different plans. The moment she realized I’d received it, she plucked it from my fingers, whisking it away into the kitchen and telling me we had to wait for my father to get home from work. Then, like the good little housewife she is, she set about making a scrumptious chicken noodle soup. My grandmother’s recipe and her mother’s before that. Also, my favorite meal on the planet. 

That brings us to the reason I’m now sitting on a kitchen stool in the middle of the living room with three smiling faces shining back at me from the sofa, the normally delicious smell of the soup now making me nauseous and forcing me to think of sweaty teenagers. 

I’ve been preparing for this day for as long as I can remember. Since I was just a kid, I knew my life was leading to this very moment. And, after years of singing songs in primary and learning lesson after lesson in priesthood meetings, it’s finally here. 

I’m going to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I’m ready for this. 

I’ve been groomed for this. 

I’m going to share the truth with the people of wherever this letter sends me. 

My fingers tremble as I tear into the envelope, my family sitting across from me on the edge of the couch. My mother’s hand flies to her mouth as she watches the stark white paper slide from its temporary shelter. I know, within a week, it will be framed and hanging proudly in the hallway, right next to my brother, Taylor’s, mission call. 

“Dear Brother Barker,” I read aloud, my voice shaky as my heart hammers against my chest. 

My dad leans forward, wringing his hands in anticipation, while my mother leans her face into his shoulder as she stifles a sob. To an outsider, it might appear my parents are nervous, as if the thought of sending their nineteen-year-old son out into the world with minimal contact for two years were a terrifying idea they weren’t entirely on board with. 

Unfortunately, that isn’t the case at all. My parents are waiting with bated breath, their anticipation for me to leave eclipsed only by the joy they feel about me going in the first place. Not because they don’t love me, but because doing the Lord’s work is far more important. 

“You are hereby called to serve as a missionary at…” My words trail off, my eyes scanning the page until the bold words leap out at me. “California Los Angeles Mission.”

I must have said the words aloud because, within seconds I’m enveloped in my mother’s arms. My dad moves to join her, his broad arms circling the two of us as he whispers how happy he is for me. My little sister, Jenny, clears her throat behind me, and my mother swings her arm wide to pull her into the hug with us. 

“I’m so, so proud of you, Jaden. You’re going to receive so many blessings because of this. And you’ll bless so many people in return,” my mother says as she squeezes me tight. 

Her arms drop suddenly, and she pulls away from me, her eyes shining, as she says, “I need to go call Taylor. He was so sad he couldn’t be here today. Poor little Maddy has another ear infection, and they didn’t want to ruin your special day with a crying infant. But he made me promise to call as soon as we knew where you were going. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few phone calls to make.”

She practically dances out of the room, my dad close on her heels as he reminds her of a few other people who need to hear the good news. 

Left alone with only my little sister, I glance down at Jenny, her ten-year-old face beaming up at me. 

“I can’t wait until I’m old enough to go on a mission! Are you excited?” Her squeaky voice breaks on the last word. 

I smile at her, nodding my head in the most self-assured way I can manage. 

This should be the most exciting day of my life. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, and every detail of this day has gone exactly according to plan. My mom’s happy tears, my dad’s joyous words. Heck, I don’t even have to learn another language at the training center. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

So, why does it feel like I’m living a lie?

A military brat growing up, A.S. Tucker now resides in Utah with her loving husband. When not writing, you’ll find her reading, binge watching Netflix, or drinking wine. Her three favorite things are animals, coffee, and Harry Potter, not necessarily in that order. She is the author of three other novels, published under a different pen name. She loves hearing from her readers, so please drop her a line!

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Blitz Tour: Haven’s War by Parker Williams (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: Haven’s War
Series: Safe Haven #2
Author: Parker Williams
Genre: M/M Dark Romantic Elements
Release Date: June 26, 2017
Buy Now: Universal Link 

Hello Scattered Thoughts people!

This is a really interesting question. Haven, in both books, is totally different from anyone I’ve ever written. He’s dark, not afraid to hurt people if it gets him what he wants, and death is just a part of his job.

In Haven’s War, there is a part that affected me enough to make me stop writing for two months, because it was that painful to me. (Admittedly, I am not sure it will bother others, though one person who beta read the story said it really hurt her, too.)

Haven is a culmination of my dark thoughts. When I envisioned him, I was dealing with a coworker who was, to me, the epitome of evil (at least on the job). She threatened coworkers, acted like everyone owed her because she was lowering herself to do a job she considered menial. No one liked her. The thing of it was? She was good with the guests. Which, apparently, was enough to keep her employed, despite the fact she once said she wanted to take a manager out in the alley and beat the shit out of him.

So she was the focal point for Haven. She became Valerie (and her name just happened to be Valerie. Weird coincidence, huh?)

But book two? Haven’s opponent this time is someone who isn’t necessarily evil. But he’s still a monster. It took a while for me to bring the two halves together and write what I hope is a convincing bad guy who Haven needs to take off the board, but still makes you wonder if maybe things could have been different.

No matter what, I do love Haven. He’s dark, but he himself is damaged. He needs someone who provides him with something he’s lost, and to me that’s what Sammy does.


With Haven on an extended honeymoon with Sammy, bad guys around the world are breathing a lot easier. No one is better at permanently removing these lowlifes who target children—and the brutal murder of two teenage girls makes clear it’s past time to return to work. Haven’s first assignment back results in a new family member and a renewed sense of urgency to protect and avenge the innocent.

There is nothing ‘usual’ about the business of hunting predators, but when several of Haven’s fellow agents are killed, a pattern emerges. The hunters have become the prey, tools in a bitter vendetta for a perceived wrong.

Despite years of working alone, when the target shifts to someone unexpected, Haven calls in reinforcements—a friend to stand between the family he loves and a ruthless killer. Teamwork may be the only way to win this fight—unless it’s already too little, too late.

Haven tries to approach this as he would any other assignment. Find your enemy and make sure they suffer before you eliminate them. But when a member of his team goes off-book and ends up dead, everything changes. It’s no longer a battle.

Now it’s war.



PROLOGUE

He glanced up at the evening sky. A haze enveloped the quarter moon, giving everything an ethereal glow. Though the night would be considered sultry, it lent itself to romance, walking hand in hand with someone you cared for, sharing whispered words, promises that might last an evening or be the foundation for a lifetime commitment. These people had no idea how quickly something like love could be ripped away, how those things said to one another would be worth less than the air you spent on saying them.

He shook his head. Now he needed to focus, not lose himself in memories of what might have been if things had been different. God, how he wished things could have been different.

The street could only be described as quaint. Small houses, each nearly identical to the next, but with a few tweaks that marked them as individual. The place he focused on had a small flowerbed, bursting with a variety of a flower he knew, but couldn’t recall the name. Tulips, maybe?

The slate gray siding, the maroon shutters on the windows, and the solar-powered pathway to the door that lit up in beautiful colors at night. The overall effect could only be described as charming. A lot of love went into making the house something special. It reminded him of what he’d lost.

He’d taken refuge in a house across from the home for six days, getting the lay of the land, taking note of the occupants’ arrival and departure schedule. Then every night, he drifted off, thinking about the place. It had been a dream of theirs, to own a little farm of their own, where no one would send them off to the corners of the world to handle problems. And for one very brief instant, they’d achieved it. But that dream had died in more ways than one. One day it was there, the next it was gone, as ephemeral as if it had never existed.

He tugged the collar of his black jacket and wished for a cool breeze. The earlier rain had sent the humidity soaring, and sweat was building up under his bulletproof vest, matting the sparse hairs. What he wouldn’t give for a tall glass of iced tea about now. He tried again, lifting the bottom of the vest up, hoping to let a little air in to cool him down, but nothing helped. He glanced at his watch. He’d need to make his move tonight. No way could he stand to be in this place any longer. The memories and wistful dreams alone threatened to drown him, but this heat had him sweating to the point where even he could smell himself. When he grabbed a coffee at the convenience store down the street while his target was out, the man behind the counter had a hand on the phone. Probably thought he was a vagrant. He sure as hell looked like one. He hadn’t showered in days, and his dark blond hair felt greasy to the touch. The beard he’d grown over the last year hadn’t seen a razor either. He looked like shit.

When he heard the hum of an engine on the quiet street, he crouched down. Though his patience had long ago come to an end, he needed to see this through. He would wait as he’d been trained, even if every fiber of his being rebelled against the idea. Still, he was an assassin, and he had a job to do.

The woman—Sarah, according facts he’d assembled—slid from the driver’s seat, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail. She laughed at something the other occupant shouted, then opened the rear door of the van. It took several minutes for her to get set, then she stepped away as a ramp slid down to allow the man in the back to wheel out and be lowered to the ground. She bent over and kissed him, then walked to the passenger side where she took a baby from the car seat. She held the child up, and then blew a raspberry on his belly, which caused the kid to laugh and wiggle. Regret tore through him. He wished there could be another way, but two months ago he’d approached the man—Daniel Tollifson—there had been angry words exchanged, as well as the threat of police involvement. He couldn’t allow that, because there would be no one else to take down his ultimate target.

He forced himself to focus on the here and now. He needed to remain detached. Better to not let facts like these intrude on his mission—a few weeks ago, he’d gone to Daniel, begging for information. He’d been rebuffed. That wouldn’t be the case today.

If the man wouldn’t help him when he asked, then he’d have to find another way to get his message across. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo of a man whose smile had never wavered. Terry had been his whole world, and then had been ripped away from him in a matter of moments. All he wanted had been the name of the person responsible. Why couldn’t Daniel see he wasn’t asking for much? How would he feel if it had been his wife? Or his child?

Daniel disengaged himself from the ramp, and Sarah started to come around to the other side. It had to be now.

He’d run out of tears a lifetime ago, but again he wished he had another alternative. He didn’t. He raised the rifle and peered through the sights. The woman and baby had gotten too near the man, and he refused to hurt the innocent. Not like Terry had been. He lowered his weapon.

He waited while the two were engaged in conversation. She touched her husband’s face, then bent down to blow a raspberry on his cheek, which had them both laughing. She held out the baby to him and gestured to the chair. He frowned, shook his head, and waved her off. She laughed and stuck out her tongue, dodging the swat he attempted to lay on her ass, then strode to the house, singing something loud and only slightly off-key. Her husband yelled something about the neighbors, and she merely laughed. He could see the obvious love the two of them shared, and that made what he had to do even more difficult.

Regret tore through him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, no longer sure who the sympathy was for.

She opened the front door, and her husband began to roll toward the house. Now would be his chance. Despite his misgivings, he had to take it. He again raised the rifle, closed one eye, and locked in on his target. The wheelchair stopped at the curb, and the man tried unsuccessfully to move it. He called out to Sarah, an edge of frustration in his voice. She laughed and took eight steps toward him when the trigger of the M24 he held in slightly trembling hands depressed, and a loud bang split the quiet suburban street. Less than a second passed before Daniel’s head exploded, blood and other materials spattering his wife and child. For a moment, she stood there, eyes wide. She gripped the baby close to her chest, and then screamed.

Before the echo died away, he had already scurried off into the night.

It wasn’t a perfect shot. He could hear Terry cursing at him, making him do it again and again until he got it right. But Terry had died, and though two years had passed, he would finally be avenged.

Daniel Tollifson had been the first, but there was no doubt he wouldn’t be the last. Though he didn’t want to kill anyone, there had to be a penalty for those who refused to help him get justice for Terry. He needed to track down and eliminate the person who’d been responsible.

No matter who had to die in the process.

 


(Warning: This may be considered a trigger for some people. The images used in the video are stock photos and not real pictures of violence against children.)

 


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.

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Storm Related Computer Issues

Sooooo….. a storm blew in and blew out my practically new Apple CPU!  Of course I was too tired and freaked to notice that was the Problem!  I was checking everything else but the silent box ! Sigh.

When I faced up to the real issue at hand and called Apple…. it was halfway through the morning. You know what’s coming if you’ve dealt with similar computer issues. No replacement or repairs until tomorrow.

So my deepest apologies to all the tours, authors, presses who’s posts were missing today. They are coming but most likely a day late.

My backup hamster is refusing to work in solidarity.  So fingers crossed… ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords will be back up and running after a brief trip to the Apple doctors tomorrow.

Computers are a wonderful thing until they aren’t . 
Sigh.