A Sammy Review: Nothing Ventured by Jay Northcote

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

There’s usually less mud in a rom com.

NothingVenturedOne night and too much tequila lands Aiden in a peculiar situation. He’s promised his best friend that he’ll run a twelve-mile long course, aptly named Mad Mucker.

But it’s not enough that he’s going to run it, but he also has to train. The course is strenuous, but then again, trudging through mud and ice water sounds like it’d be a bit rough going for anyone less than fit.

Aiden finds a bit of… extra inspiration in the form of his friend’s cousin, Matt. At first they clash, an awkward not-so-keen kind of personality mesh, but as they begin to train together and open up, they find they have more in common than either bargained for.

The real question is, though, how long can no strings attached exist without said strings? After all, this is a messy race.

 

Two people who had feelings for each other, but both fighting against them for different reasons.

This story had one of my favorite themes, and one that’s hard to find done right. One night stand/fuck buddies/no strings attached to more. And this, it was done right. There was no illusion to feelings at any point in the beginning of the relationship. It was a true emotional evolution for them, and for that I was super excited.

I also thought that the idea of the story was pretty fun and different. I have a friend who does a lot of physical training, and we’ve talked about him doing Tough Mudder, so I was familiar with this type of race and how intense it actually is. The cover, created by Anna Sikorska fits the story well, as much of Matt and Aiden’s time is spent training, particularly running, and the atmosphere of the cover fits the book.

Furthermore, it’s easy for books to fall into a repetitive rhythm of doing what’s already been done, but Nothing Ventured takes on a new idea, one that I’ve personally never read before in M/M books, so I appreciated that, and the training was an interesting gateway here into their relationship.

One particular aspect I enjoyed for the majority of the book was the subtle growth into something more for Matt and Aiden. Unfortunately, the end lost that when it rushed to make a resolution and suddenly everything was magically okay. It was a big change and I didn’t think it was given the attention it needed, and with it didn’t do the rest of the story justice.

I would certainly like to see more of them, as I still think they have a lot of room to grow as a couple. Overall, this was book was a quick, easy read that just could’ve done for a little more TLC.

Sales Links:   Dreamspinner Press eBook     All Romance (ARe)    amazon     Nothing Ventured

Book Details:

ISBN-13 978-1-63216-423-0
Dreamspinner Press, Pages 142
Cover Artist Anna Sikorska
Categories  Novellas Contemporary Jay Northcote

Its Time for AF Henley’s The Chase and The Catch Blog Tour‏ (contest)

AF Henley_TCTC Blog Tour Image

AF Henley is here with The Chase and The Catch!  Check out the blurb and red hot excerpt below!  And don’t forget to enter the contest.  Welcome, AF Henley!

The Chase and The Catch by AF Henley

Blurb

AF Henley_The Chase and The Catch CoverAfter one of his fans committed suicide, John lost everything: lover, confidence, drive. When he is given a chance to get back on his feet, he is happy to take it—even if it’s just writing an actor’s biography. It might not be romance, or even fiction, but it’s something, and there are worse people to work for than the charming, successful Parker Chase.

That doesn’t mean working for Parker is easy, however. A staunch supporter of living for the moment, Parker goes against everything John believes in. He feels out of place in every moment of Parker’s Hollywood life, stuck in a game of wits that at times seems almost contrived…

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

So, we’ve finally come to our last stop on the tour, and I have to begin this post by offering my appreciation to those who have followed along from the very first blog, a warm welcome to those stepping in for the first time, and a heartfelt and sincere thank you to Melanie and the crew for welcoming me to the site. Don’t forget to check out the giveaway at the bottom of the post as these will be the final hours to get your shot at the prize!

*~*~*AF Henley_Avatar cropped

Copyright © 2014 by A.F. Henley
Published by Less Than Three Press
51,000 words
Gay Contemporary Romance

Purchasing Links:  Less Than Three     Amazon

Please note: Novel contains some explicit content.

Now for the giveaway!

On behalf of the tour, I’d like to invite you to join my giveaway by taking part in the Rafflecopter below. The prize consists of a Swarovski crystal spider clip, a $20 gift certificate to the Less Than Three Press book market, and a signed, print copy of The Chase and The Catch (when available). Click through for terms and conditions, further details, and your chance to win!

** Please note that this giveaway is being offered tour-wide and there will be one awarded winner for the entire event.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Again, my thanks to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for having me today. It’s a pleasure and an honour to be a guest on your site. 😀

~*~*~

AF Henley ❤

Author Bio: Henley was born with a full-blown passion for run-on sentences, a zealous indulgence in all words descriptive, and the endearing tendency to overuse punctuation. Since the early years Henley has been an enthusiastic writer, from the first few I-love-my-dog stories to the current leap into erotica.

A self-professed Google genius, Henley lives for the hours spent digging through the Internet for ‘research purposes’ which, more often than not, lead seven thousand miles away from first intentions but bring Henley to new discoveries and ideas that, once seeded, tend to flourish.

Henley has been proudly working with LT3 since 2012, and has been writing like mad ever since—an indentured servant to the belief that romance and true love can mend the most broken soul. Even when presented in prose.

Excerpt is definitely NSFW,   Now… let’s end this tour with some fireworks, shall we?

(Please note: excerpt contains some sexual content.Must be 18 yrs of age to continue)

The Chase and The Catch by AF Henley

Excerpt

Parker’s smile faded, and Parker swallowed hard enough that John could watch the process travel through Parker’s throat. He envied Parker the ability. His own throat was dry, tight, and all but useless as Parker peeled wet nylon off wet skin with the concentration of a surgeon.

Okay, John told himself. Yes, he’d been telling Parker to back the hell off. Yes, he’d been insistent that he wasn’t into sex for sex’s sake. No, it probably wasn’t going to be emotionally fulfilling, or help him find the next step on the journey towards romantic involvement. But if the way that Parker was looking at his cock was any indication, it was going to be damn good. Maybe that was okay. Maybe it didn’t have to be anything more than that. Maybe Parker was right.

He reached for Parker’s face, touched Parker’s mouth, and teased Parker’s lower lip with a touch that would be way too light to do anything but tickle.

“Like that?” Parker asked, and John could only assume Parker was asking if John liked his mouth. Which would be a ridiculous question. Who wouldn’t? Perfect fucking shape and design. Perfectly fucking supple and smooth. John nodded, doing his best not to appear as slow and captivated as he felt.

Continue reading “Its Time for AF Henley’s The Chase and The Catch Blog Tour‏ (contest)”

A MelanieM Review: Cranberry Pi (Linwood Academy #1) by Lee Brazil

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

Cranberry Pi coverSaving for a down payment on a house of his own has caused artist Cecil Trace to make a few hard decisions.  He has moved back into his parents house and taken a temporary job as the Art Director job at the exclusive Linwood Academy.  And while Cecil is trying to figure out his students, assistants and life at Linwood, he is also trying to work on a scheduled art show of his own.  To top it all off, Cecil finds out that he is to put on a series of holiday pageants…with the first one celebrating Thanksgiving just three short weeks away.  Cecil needs all the help he can get, whether its from students, parents, and even other teachers.  Except for that cute mathematician.  Everything Cecil does seems to rub that teacher the wrong way, which is a shame because if Cecil was looking for a boyfriend, Reese is cute and different, perfect in many ways except he seems to dislike Cecil.  Good thing Cecil isn’t looking for a boyfriend or relationship of any type.

Brilliant, introspective and socially inept math instructor Reese Cavelli’s world has been turned upside down the moment he saw the gorgeous, long-haired, Art Director Cecil Trace.  Reese is a man who has always colored within the lines and Cecil? Well, lines and rules clearly have little meaning for this man.  He is a source of endless frustration, of many types, for Reese.  To hide his growing fascination, Reese has been abrupt even rude, he just can’t seem to help it.  Reese is quiet about being gay and has little in the way of relationships in his past.  But he just can’t ignore the impact Cecil is having on him.  Good thing Cecil’s position is only temporary.  Or is it?

Conflicts over the Thanksgiving pageant and an all important Math Contest bring the two men together and the sparks are about to fly.  Will their Thanksgiving wishes be answered?

This was such a sweet, heartwarming story, a perfect read for the holidays.  Lee Brazil has captured the stress and strain of the approaching holidays at a influential private school, the Linwood Academy.  Some mysterious goings on have forced the resignation of a popular Art Director right at pageant time and the resentment and confusion is apparent everywhere in the halls and classrooms.

Into this tumultuous mess, Brazil dumps free wheeling artist, Cecil Trace.  I loved Cecil, with his long flowing hair which matches his faded, painted on jeans and artsy shirts.  He’s thoughtful, exuberant, and overwhelmed by the needs of his students and new situation as Art Director.  Cecil also has a limited time frame to get everything accomplished, including setting up his art show.  Brazil completes Cecil’s character by giving him a family anyone would want to be a part of.  They are as warm and welcoming as you could hope for without being saccharine sweet or fake.  But the character who will break your heart a little is Reese.  The more his history and upbringing is revealed, the more his actions become understandable as does his vulnerability.  Reese’s mother is quite the creation, all the more upsetting because the author made her believable although never likable.  We get the impact her actions and behavior has had and continues to have upon her son, even if she will never be able to understand it herself.

Brazil manages to combine the holidays, school pageants and math contests, families of all sorts from the dysfunctional to the loving, and a romance that you will root for between two men you will adore.  I look forward to more stories from the Linwood Academy, so will you. A perfectly heartwarming story for the holidays, one you will want to put on your TBR list or one to give to someone you love.  Cranberry Pi is a Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Warmhearted Recommended Read!  Pick it up today.

 

Cover Art by Laura Harner.  I’m not sure who that model is supposed to be?  Student or either Reese? Eye catching but sort of confusing because that’s just not my mental image of the math instructor.

Sales Links:    All Romance (ARe)            amazon                         Buy it here

Book Details:

ebook
Published November 21st 2014 by Lime Time Press
edition languageEnglish
series Linwood Academy #1

A MelanieM Review: Work in Progress (Belladonna Arms #2) by John Inman

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

Work in Progress coverWriter Harlie Rose is dumped by his lover, it precipitates a cross country journey to mend his broken heart. Now four months later, Harlie is ready to settle down and start writing again.  When Harlie finds himself on the doorstep of the Belladonna Arms, a quirky, perhaps even seedy apartment building on the only hill in San Diego, he knows he’s found home.  What he doesn’t know is that the Belladonna Arms has a reputation for romance—and Harlie is about to become its next victim.

Needing a job to pay the rent, Harlie finds a job as a baker’s apprentice at the bakery just up the street.  The grumpy but gorgeous baker is the owner’s son, Milan, and Harlie finds himself attracted to the man despite  Milan’s attempts to push him away. Why?  Milan too is nursing a broken heart.  Soon the men find themselves hopelessly attracted to each other, despite their histories and internal walls.

The Belladonna Arms cupid has its work cut out for it, but luckily there’s plenty of help from the other residents, from  Sylvia, on the verge of her final surgery to become a woman, Charley and PJ- the kleptos in 3C, to Arthur, the aging drag queen who is about to discover a romance of his own, and Stanley and Roger, the handsome young couple in 5C who lead by example, Harlie soon learns that at the Belladonna Arms, love is always just around the corner waiting to pounce. Whether you want it to or not.

I loved Work in Progress by John Inman.  It is a heartwarming, wonderful sequel to another favorite of mine, Serenading Stanley (Belladonna Arms #1) by John Inman.  That story was our first introduction to this shabby, delightfully quirky apartment building on a hilltop in San Diego and its eccentric, almost bizarre inhabitants.  After obseving the Belladonna Arms’ owner, Arthur, in full drag taking out the trash, these are the thoughts running through Harlie’s head:

Yep. It was time to finally settle down and pull those notes together. And time to somehow squeeze The Great American Novel out of them. I was home now to do exactly that, or I would be home as soon as I found a home to settle in.

That’s why I was standing in the rain in front of the Belladonna Arms. The old sign had caught my attention while I was tooling aimlessly down Broadway looking for a place to light. Broadway, by the by, is San Diego’s main thoroughfare. It bisects the city from east to west, and at the moment I could see it a bit down the hill from where I stood.

But back to the sign. When I first spotted it, I had immediately liked the cheesy orange lettering on the rattletrap neon contraption. I even liked the way it stood slightly askew atop the boxy, less than elegant 1940s-era apartment building the old drag queen had ducked into. The whole misaligned package of tattered neon and weathered construction, perched one upon the other on this out-of-place hill on the southernmost tip of the California coast, somehow shrieked home to me. Go figure.

Even Arthur realizes immediately that Harlie belongs there and hauls him in to live in Apartment 2A.  By then a love affair has started between the reader and these characters, including the Belladonna Arms, a romance that gets better, deeper and more memorable as the story progresses.

Truthfully, all I would have to do to get you to pick up this story is quote Chapter 1 over and over again.  It’s hilarious, and touching, and downright addicting. John Inman’s descriptions are so wildly funny that you will find yourself laughing until the tears flow. Yet those same colorful descriptions, while perhaps being blunt and containing truthful observations of everyone involved, are never cruel or stoop to cheap shots at the characters expense.  No, John Inman loves and understands these unconventional people who have all the same hopes and dreams for themselves as everyone else, despite their outlook, outward appearances and even their kleptomania.  And he makes you love and understand them as well.

The title appears to be about Harlie’s ongoing attempts to “butch” up drag queen Arthur so Arthur can finally find true love. So initially it appears that Arthur is Harlie’s work in progress.  But nothing is ever that simple at the Belladonna Arms, for everyone there is in transition of one sort or another, including all the people we met in Serenading Stanley as well as the new characters too.  There’s the fragile, beautiful Sylvia completing her transition to female with her devoted fiance Pete at her side, Stanley and Roger (the main romance in Serenading Stanley) more deeply in love and looking towards the future, kleptomaniacs Charley and P.J. now happily together whether stealing or on their meds, Chi Chi and Ramon who provide the fire as well as the pathos, even the Belladonna Arms cat whose name changes depending upon whose apartment he’s visiting at the time.  This tight family of people are all so important to the story that no one really feels like a secondary character. That’s because the Belladonna Arms is a sum of all its parts and we need them all in order for this story to work its magic.  And believe me it does.  Magic, tacky, glittery, over the top, sort of dusty, magic, is scattered throughout this story like the feathers from a boa tossed in the wind.

John Inman’s comedic narratives always make me smile if not outright guffaw.  Believably, those laughs come attached to some of life’s hallmark moments.  Some scenes are realistically painful. They will bring up memories of  being dumped, sometimes for no discernible reason at all. Or make you remember feeling that you will never find someone to love you for your true self.  The sadness and  the feeling of loneliness that is part of living…its here as it needs to be.  And just as  quickly as the poignancy sets in, up pops scenes out of everyday ordinary moments that are rendered touching, affectionate, and somehow very precious.  Trust me, I have never looked at Toll House cookies in the same way after Sylvia.  Now just a mention brings a smile to my face.

Inman’s new characters are as strongly crafted and layered as the ones we were already fond of.  Milan, his father Mr. Berger, each new person fills a void for someone within the Belladonna Arms.  And yes, with all the love and laughter that bubbles off these pages, the author balances it with life’s loss and pain.  This element is real, raw, and very necessary in order to appreciate the glow and radiance achieved at the end.

Could you read Work in Progress as a stand alone?  Sure, but please don’t.  Part of the satisfaction and joy contained within this story is finding out how all the relationships of the people we met in Serenading Stanley have progressed.  Meet them in that story and then join up with them again here.  It will feel like a homecoming, an especially happy one, complete with Toll House Cookies and a disco ball.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that I love and recommend this book (ok, yes, I just did that), it should be obvious.  So instead I will leave you with another short excerpt, still from Chapter 1.  Harley has just settled in and is heading out for a grocery run.

Lives don’t write themselves any more than WIPs do. Nosirree. Might as well get started living mine right now. And to live it, I needed food.

I locked the apartment door behind me, taking a moment to brush my fingertips fondly over the 2A screwed onto the front of the door in something that resembled copper but probably wasn’t. I trotted my way down the one flight of stairs to the front door, wondering if I’d see Arthur along the way, which I didn’t.

I had a feeling I was going to like the Belladonna Arms. I wasn’t sure why. The place was actually kind of a dump. But hey, I thought, popping open the umbrella and ducking underneath it as I strolled out the door and into the rain, it’s kind of a happy dump. And happy is exactly what I need right now. Christ knows I’ve been morose long enough.

By the time I sloshed my way to the car, I was surprised to hear myself whistling. And wasn’t that a stunning revelation.

You will find yourself whistling along with him.  Perhaps even doing a little dance step or two.  These characters and this story will have that effect on you.  Make your acquaintance with John Inman today and pick up both stories!   Happy Reading.

Cover artist: Aaron Anderson.  I feel this cover is a bit of a miss.  There were so many elements to choose from for this cover and yet this is the content?  

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press  eBook & Paperback      All Romance (ARe)      amazon                buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 226 pages
Published October 6th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1632161966 (ISBN13: 9781632161963)
edition languageEnglish
seriesBelladonna Arms #2

Belladonna Arms series:

Serenading Stanley

Work In Progress

Looking for A New Book? Join Us for A Spartan Love by Kayla Jameth Excerpt Tour and Contest

CGSpartanBanner300x250

Book Name: A Spartan Love
Author Name: Kayla Jameth

Author Bio:

Kayla Jameth grew up on the family farm in Ohio, baling hay, raising cattle, and making maple syrup. An unrepentant tomboy, her father taught her to weld before she graduated from high school.

She attended Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University and later, Texas A&M University in her pursuit of veterinary medicine, taking her farther away from her rural roots. You can transplant the county girl, but you can’t make her a city slicker. Besides, it was only going to be for a little while, right?

But it wasn’t all hard work for Kayla, her sojourn as the princess of the Celestial Kingdom left her with the title sir and a costume closet the envy of many knights, lords, and ladies. See? She does have some ladylike qualities complete with the title of Lady to back it up.

After declaring for years that she was just a veterinarian who wrote not an author, Kayla now finds herself living in Spring, Texas (practically Houston) and writing m/m erotic romance. The location is probably a bigger surprise than the genre. Never the kind of girl to discuss makeup and clothing designers, she would rather be outside getting dirty with the boys.

Kayla shares her home with a cat, two guinea pigs, a gerbil, three guppies, a husband and a son and daughter.

Author Contact:
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Kayla.Jameth
https://www.facebook.com/KaylaJameth
https://twitter.com/KaylaJameth

A Spartan Love-finalPublisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Catt Grant

Sales Links:   Dreamspinner ebook   and paperback

A Spartan Love Blurb:

Alone, Andreas toils on a remote farmstead for a Spartan overlord. When a kryptes enters his world, Andreas fears for his life. The dread warriors stalk and kill helots—like Andreas’ father—as part of their training.

Andreas sees only one way to save himself: he must tame the fearsome warrior.

But what began as self-preservation develops into attraction. Yearning for the company of someone other than his ferret Ictis, Andreas decides to trust the Spartan warrior and risk the fate that claimed his father.

Born to rule by the sword, Theron sees the world as his and acts accordingly, taking everything Andreas offers and reaching for more. However, love between men in Sparta is considered shameful and requires either exile or suicide to redeem Sparta’s honor. Now, only the gods can save them from the terrible price Sparta extracts from men who desire other men.

Categories:Erotica, Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance. MAY be considered to have paranormal elements.

An Exclusive Excerpt

Outside, the sun had fallen below the horizon and dusk was now well advanced. Andreas contemplated using some of his dwindling store of oil for the lamp to light his dwelling. He glanced out the window, but later tonight the moon would be nearly full and carving the bowl had been his final task of the day. No sense in wasting the oil.

What was that? There it was again, a flicker of motion in the darkness beneath the trees separating his parcel of land from his neighbor’s.

Andreas stood frozen to one side of his unshuttered window. Thank the gods, the moon hadn’t yet risen. Hopefully, the interior of his hut was too dim for anyone to see within. At times like this, he wished he had a dog, someone to stand with him against whatever was out there.

The furtive shadow drew closer in fits and starts, disappearing when not in motion. Andreas exhaled sharply. That couldn’t be Petros. The neighboring helot would never risk death by being out after nightfall.

Once the man cleared the final shelter of the goat enclosure, he flowed over the unbroken ground like a shadow, seemingly undeterred by the lack of cover between the hut and the outlying building.

Swallowing several times, Andreas rubbed his arms. Please let that be the same youth. He didn’t want to catch the attention of yet another warrior intent on proving himself.

The silent silhouette of a young man slipped close to the outer wall of his home. Even wrapped tightly in his cloak, the warrior’s lithe athletic build and fluid movements mesmerized Andreas. The youth carried himself with such confidence, like a predator that all lesser creatures must fear.[A1]

Words: 77,000

CGSpartanBadgeTour Dates/Stops:

1-Dec

Hearts on Fire

Prism Book Alliance

2-Dec

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

The Hat Party

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

3 Chicks After Dark

3-Dec

Love Bytes

BFD Book Blog

MM Good Book Reviews

Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings

5-Dec

Regular Guys, Hot Romance

Fallen Angel Reviews

6-Dec

My Fiction Nook

7-Dec

Amanda C. Stone

8-Dec

My Fiction Nook

9-Dec

Wake Up Your Wild Side

Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

10-Dec

Crystal’s Many Reviewers

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

11-Dec

the Twins: Talon ps & Princess so

Inked Rainbow Reads

12-Dec

Cate Ashwood

Molly Lolly 

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: An e-copy plus a Free short story. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter, use the link provided for all contest details and entry form.

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On Tour with Ian James Krender and Murder in Torbaydoes (book tour and contest)

MiTBanner300x250

Book Name: Murder in Torbaydos
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Ian James Krender

Author Bio:

I am a gay man in my early forties. I escaped the London rat race by buying a small hotel in the beautiful coastal town of Torquay, England with my civil partner. My career has been in business but I have written articles on a freelance basis for a gay website that is part of the Gaydar group. I am passionate about reading and writing and try to squeeze both into my busy week. My hobbies include watching films, travelling and I am a keep-fit fanatic. The hotel provides me with a constant source of writing material, given my interactions with the weird and wonderful British public. I served briefly as a police officer in London and considered writing a story about this, but I do not think anyone would believe me. I am an alumnus from the great seat of learning known as Portsmouth University.

See the hotel Ian owns!

Author Contact:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Marstan/133658398878?ref=hl
https://www.facebook.com/ian.krender

Publisher: Torquere Press Publishersmurderintorbaydos1400 (2)-1Cover Artist: Ali Futcher

Sales Links:   amazon

Blurb:

Old houses hide secrets, sometimes dark ones.

In the 1970’s, London based family, Marjorie, Stanley and their theatrically bent son fall in love with a dilapidated Victorian seaside villa. Dreaming of a better life by the sea, they transform the property into a luxury guesthouse, ignorant of the tragic events that occurred there at the beginning of the century. They discover that their guests are not the only other occupants in the building.

The souls trapped within the house offer the temptation of wealth and power, but all come with a deadly price. Stanley, supported by his ambitious wife, enters political office. Marjorie will stop at nothing to achieve her goals for her husband, no matter who gets in the way.

Thirty years later, an affluent gay couple, Jez and Graham, purchase the hotel, which now unoccupied has once again fallen into disrepair. They are blissfully unaware of the building’s grisly past. Jez falls under the influence of the spirits within the house, rapidly achieving fame, fortune, and a life beyond his wildest imagination, but the price is ultimately the corruption of his very soul.

Bound by a common destiny, both Marjorie and Jez’s fates lie inextricably intertwined across time and connected to the house. Their gruesome realisation is that death is not necessarily a release.
Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, Historical, Horror, M/M Romance, New Adult, Paranormal

Excerpt:

I write this book in my twilight years. Though considerable time has passed since these tragic events occurred, there is no doubt in my mind that it will be controversial. Some people will suspect me of profiteering. However, if I am privileged enough to see this work published, then I will donate any proceeds to the affected surviving family members. The money would be of little use to me now, as I am elderly, and I have no heirs.

Perhaps writing this is a form of therapy, a way to assuage my own guilt. Goodness knows, I have spent much time reflecting on the ‘what ifs.’ Over the years, I have learned to forgive myself the errors of my past. However, I will never forget the pain that I have caused others through my poor decisions.

Words: 97,600 Pages: 298

MiTBadgeTour Dates: December 2, 2014

Tour Stops: 

Parker Williams, Inked Rainbow Reads, Molly Lolly, Havan Fellows, BFD Book Blog, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Cate Ashwood, MM Good Book Reviews, Queer Town Abbey, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Andrew Q. Gordon, Fallen Angel Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Elin Gregory

3-Dec

Multitasking Mommas

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-book copy of ‘Murder in Torbaydos’, Use the RAfflecopter link provided and must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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He’s Hot, He’s Sexy, He’s The Alpha King by Vicktor Alexander (book tour and contest)

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Book Name: The Alpha King
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Vicktor Alexander

I am thrilled to have Vicktor Alexander here in the author’s chair to talk about this intriquing new series from the inspiration to main story  elements.

Q.  The Alpha King  has a rather unique premise behind it, a sort of gay wolf shifters in space element.  Where did you get the inspiration for the concept?

Viktor: It’s really weird, honestly. With my books I live in a constant state of “What if?” And I found myself going, “What if the Earth was sentient and turned on humans because we were killing each other? Because of our hatred for each other? Our racism? Our inability to take care of her? What if there actually was life out there on other planets and they tried to warn us and we didn’t listen? And then, what if by they time they finally did, most of the human race had been killed off by Earth herself?” By that point my brain had already created this entire world, this entire series, and then I realized that humans wouldn’t be able to live on these other planets because of our lungs so we would have to breed with them and create new species, the humanoids, but then, because I’m a “what if” person, I wondered, what if there was one particular family whose genetic makeup gave them the ability to bring back the pure human race again? What would happen? Who would try to prevent that? And how would that happen? And The Alpha King was born. A book filled with shifters of all kinds, humanoids, scifi, monarchy, intrigue, angst, and lots of hot man sex.

Q.  The Alpha King rests on a plot narrative that meant your world building had to incorporate a wealth of information and back history.  From a dying world to prophesies to a planet of wolf shifters…that’s a lot of elements and back history to create and then fold into your story?  What or where did you draw from to create this foundation for your story?

Viktor: I think some of it came from Star Trek, LOL. I’m a HUGE Trekkie, fan. Some of it came from the dogma that my biological family used to spout at me, but I sort of flipped it on its head. Some of it came from just reality. The whole global warming thing. And I was extremely distressed when I heard a story about a transwoman being attacked in a McDonald’s bathroom and it was recorded. When I talked to a coworker about it, she said she understood and agreed with it! I was so brokenhearted about it and wondered if I was the only person. Then I wondered if the Earth were alive if it got tired of all the bullshit that we humans did to each other. So it was pretty much a number of different places that I drew from to get the world building. After that it was just a matter of sitting down and taking it planet by planet and creating languages, laws, history, etc. I’m so much of a history and sci-fi nerd that I wanted to make sure that it all worked together before I started writing.

Q.  Why science fiction?

Viktor: Because I’m a nerd? LOL. I like blending different genres together. And I didn’t want to just have the shifters on Earth. The entire premise of the series lay on humans being rescued by shifters from other planets, that was a science fiction element. Blame it on my Trekkieness. “To seek out new worlds and new civilizations…”

Q.  …and then why take wolf shifters, which I automatically think of as an “earth” oriented supernatural being, into space?

Viktor: Because I was always the kid who colored outside of the lines. I don’t like it when someone tells me that something has to be this way. I create the parameters, I create the lines and the boundaries. I am the Dom. My whole thing with writing has always been a “who said?” when people tell me I have to write something a particular way. “But vampires can’t walk in the daylight!” Who said? “But shifters have to be on Earth!” Who said? I write what my characters tell me to write and then when I cross some proverbial line that people say is there or I’m not in the box that people expect me to be in, I shrug and point at myself. I’m a multi-ethnic, transgender, gay male who is Messianic Jewish, a veteran of the United States Army, and a lot of other things. Nothing about me says “in the box.” Nothing about screams that I stay inside the lines. I spend my life pushing people’s boundaries because they want me to, I’m going to do it in my writing as well. LOL.

Q.  This book contains bdsm or elements of bdsm.  From the note included, it explains, rather succinctly, a little about the bdsm lifestyle plus a warning for those not in the lifestyle not to try this out without a trained professional.  Why do you feel that is so important?  Do you feel that your representation of aspects of the bdsm lifestyle come across as accurate?

Viktor: Well, seeing as how I was trained as a Dom for over a year and I have been in the BDSM Lifestyle for over 13 years now, I would say, pretty confidently that my representation of the Lifestyle is accurate. LOL. And yes, I do think that the warning at the beginning of the book is needed. Too often there are books that are published with aspects of the BDSM Lifestyle contained within them that do not contain a note of caution, and while most readers are not reading the book for anything other than entertainment, there may be some that decide to try out the actions or the scene within the story with someone who is not trained and may get hurt. Not only because they are not trained, but sometimes because the book that is published is written by someone who has not done any research into the Lifestyle, or it is written by someone who is not in the Lifestyle themselves. This worries me as a Dom, as an author, and as a caring individual. Not only does this put a mark on the BDSM/Kink community, but on the writing community as well. We put warnings at the front of books for anal sex, double penetration, and even humorous ones about virgins, or too stupid to live characters, but when a book contains BDSM, which prides itself on Safe, Sane, and Consensual, we have numerous books out there that do not hold any warning whatsoever. This, to me, is unacceptable, and I’ve had a number of readers and even other authors, who have emailed and private messaged me and asked me what I thought about different books, authors, and the lack of warnings in books, and because of that, I knew that I had to make sure that this warning was stated plainly in the front of this book. Thankfully, the other owners of Rooster & Pig Publishing, Inc. agreed with me.

Q.  With such an elaborate world building, do you plan more stories in this universe or a sequel to The Alpha King?

Viktor: Oh, absolutely! There are 5 other books planned for the Passion’s Hero series: The Beta Prince, The Epsilon Elder, The Gamma Guard, The Vermithian Consort, The Strawxigian Spy. And then there are 15 books planned for a spin-off series which follows the children born of the Passion’s Hero series in a series entitled: Love’s Savior.

Q.  Were you a prolific reader as a child? Was there one book or author who impacted you as a child whose influence has continued today?

Viktor: LOL. Yes I was. I was reading by the time I was 4 and by the time I was 10 I was reading William Shakespeare with comprehension. I would have to say that Langston Hughes and the book Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein were probably the biggest impacts on my childhood, after William Shakespeare, of course (I know, I know. I cheated.)
.
Q.  What’s next for Vicktor Alexander?

Viktor:  I’m finishing up The Servant Duchess Of Whitcomb which is the sequel to Groom Of Convenience which released from Dreamspinner Press on October 17th. Then I’ll be working on a short story for MLR Press. Then finishing up Daddy’s Boy for Rooster & Pig Publishing, Inc. Then there’s the next book in the Mistake’s series for Totally Bound Publishing Wonderful Mistake, and then there’s the Truth or Dare Anthology which will be self-published. But of course, I’m saying all of this and my muse may decide to change his mind and rearrange all of it as soon as I finish the short story for MLR. LOL.
Thanks so much for having me! –  -Vicktor Alexander

Part of a series?: Yes. This is book one in the Passion’s Hero series and subsequent books should be read in order.

Author Bio:

Vicktor “Vic” Alexander wrote his first story at the age of ten and hasn’t stopped writing since. He loves reading about anything and everything and is a proud member of the little known U.N. group (Undercover Nerds) because while he lives, eats, breathes, and sleeps sports, he also breathes history and science fiction and grew up a Trekkie. But don’t ask him about Dungeons & Dragons, because he has no idea how to play that game.

When it comes to writing he loves everything from paranormal to contemporary to fantasy to historical and is known not only for being the Epilogue King but also for writing stories that cross lines and boundaries that he doesn’t know are there.

Vic is a proud father of two daughters one of whom watches over him from Heaven with his deceased partner Christopher. Vic is a proud trans* and gay man, and when he is not writing, he is hanging out with his friends, or being distracted by videos of John Barrowman, Scott Hoying, and Shemar Moore. Vicktor has published numerous bestselling novels and has a WIP list that makes him exhausted just thinking about. He knows that he will be still be writing about hot men falling in love with each other, long after he is living in an assisted living facility, flirting with the hot, male nurses.

Author Contact: http://www.twitter.com/VVeeB

Publisher: Rooster & Pig PublishingThe Alpha King Cover Photo
Cover Artist: Vicktor Alexander

Sales Links:  Amazon UK  Amazon   ARe    Rooster & Pig Publishing

The Alpha King Blurb:

Centuries after the destruction of Earth, destiny is being fulfilled and plans are in motion to restore not only the Earth, but mankind, to its former glory. One family is fated to bring about this amazing destiny. One man puts it all in motion, the day he crashes on to the wolf-planet of Tumaro and met his mate. 

Talon Versuthion always knew that some kind of way, life was going to screw him over. His parents died when he was just a boy and he can’t remember a thing about them. He was adopted by a great family only to have them tell him that he is a Vermithian, one of the most despised humanoid species. Even worse than that? He has no idea that a prophecy was made about his family, one that mentions that someone from the Versuthion family will bring back a pure human race. And there are people out there who will stop at nothing to make sure that never happens. No matter what.

While on a delivery for the GPA with his adopted sister Josie, however, Tal’s space shuttle crashes onto Tumaro, the notorious wolf-shifter planet. Tal is lucky to be alive, though Josie can’t be found. He is desperate to find her, but destiny steps in and history is changed forever. Because the Alpha King of the planet, Blazell Roughshire, is Talon’s mate. And before the two men can even settle into their new relationship they must deal with conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and a centuries old plot to completely eradicate the human race. Will Blaze be able to keep his mate safe from those who would see him dead? Is Tal truly the only one left from his family who can fulfill this centuries old prophecy? And can Tal, who has made it a point to never fall in love with anyone, open his heart and let Blaze be Passion’s hero?

Warning: This book contains references to abuse, rape, torture, and violence. It also 
contains hot sex between a young man with an affinity for celebrities that may sound familiar to 
you and his hot possessive Alpha mate. This is a R&P Whips & Chains novel which means the 
story contains BDSM elements. BDSM is a Lifestyle and while certain elements of it are not 
dangerous, please do not engage in any part of the BDSM Lifestyle without a trained 
professional on-hand.(This is a re-edited, re-published novel. The publisher has been changed. 
Over 22,500 words have been added to the original)

Categories: Alternate Universe, BDSM, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

The Alpha King Excerpt:

“Where the hell are my clothes? More than that. Where the hell is my sister?” Talon yelled, pulling the bedcovers up to his chin.

Blazell laughed heartily, not at all deterred by his mate’s little freak-out. “Your clothes 
were destroyed in your accident, my love. I took the liberty of removing the hospital gown you 
wore when I brought you here to our bedroom,” he stated with amusement.

“Our bedroom?” Talon questioned in a small, hesitant voice, quivering with fear and shock.

“Yes, love, our bedroom. Where we will sleep and make love, more so the latter than the 
former.” He didn’t know how to respond about the man’s sister. He hadn’t heard anything about there being anyone else found at the crash. He would fully admit he was being rather selfish at the moment and only wanted to focus on his mate’s well-being and Talon’s sudden appearance in his life. Once they were fully bonded, Blazell would look into Talon’s missing sister. Blazell knew that made him an asshole, but, at the moment, he couldn’t bring himself and his wolf to feel ashamed.

Talon shook his head in bewilderment. “But you don’t even know me, and I certainly don’t know you!”

“My soul knows yours, my heart embraces yours, and my life and I were made for you as 
yours was made for me. I know you in the deepest parts of me, even though my mind may not,”Blazell declared. “You were made for me,” he said as he placed his hands on either side of his 
mate’s face, his thumbs delicately caressing Talon’s cheeks. “As I was made for you.”

Words/Pages: 92,505 words, 258 pages

Tour Dates/Tour Stops:

TAKBadgeTour Dates/Tour Stops:

1-Dec

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

Tara Lain

2-Dec

MM Good Book Reviews

Carly’s Book Reviews

Amanda C. Stone

3-Dec

Queer Town Abbey

EE Montgomery

Cate Ashwood

My Fiction Nook

Love Bytes
Queer Town Abbey

4-Dec

Multitasking Mommas

Fallen Angel Reviews

Inked Rainbow Reads

5-Dec

Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons

Molly Lolly

Parker Williams 

Contest:  Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Use the link provided for all additional contest details and for the entry form.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

‘Shifting Weight’ by Tina Blenke (Book tour and contest)

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Book Name: Shifting Weight
Book one of a series
Author Name: Tina Blenke

Author Bio:

Tina is a retired Air Force brat and has lived in several states as well as a handful of countries. She has always had a soft spot for literature and is a voracious reader. When she isn’t writing, she can be found cuddled up with a good book. Though Tina adores a thrilling novel with sappy lovesick heroes, she is terrified of things that go bump in the night. This makes for quite a complicated relationship with zombies, something that she just can’t get enough of.

Author Contact:

Publisher: eXtasy Booksshiftingweight72
Cover Artist: Latisha Waters
Sales Links;  eXtasy Books  amazon

 Shifting Weight Blurb:

Jason is a West Coast wolf Shifter who leaves his native Pack Lands to search for his destined mate. When he finds the large muscled man working out a local gym, Jason is ecstatic and apprehensive. Eric is a Changeless human and there are tense sides to the politically heated debate around the integration of Shifters and Changeless. Jason is at risk of losing control of his wolf without bonding with his destined mate. But, will Eric accept that Jason is a Shifter? And can Eric trust Jason after his heart has been left shattered from a previously failed relationship.

Categories: Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Shifting Weight Excerpt:

Jason allowed himself to run that night. Elation filled him making it easier to relax and allow his wolf to flow into his mind and body. The shift was seamless, years of transitioning helped his wolf to take control in under a few painless minutes. Jason knew of wolves who could never shift because the pain was so intense. It was unknown what the cause was but some insisted that it was because the Shifter’s true mate had never been found and the man could not control the beast inside of him.

The old wives’ tale had haunted Jason especially as years passed without locating his mate. Now that he knew Eric existed, it was one less thing to worry about. Now he could focus on worrying about Eric finding out he was a Shifter. Eric’s acceptance. If the two would find love and happiness despite fate playing a factor, then, and only then, could Jason think about starting a family with Eric. Maybe he was jumping the gun, but he had always wanted a man to love and a family to care for. Was it too much to want? Shouldn’t he be satisfied with finding a mate? All of this thinking and stress was weighing him down. Yes, he had found his mate, but would Eric want Jason?

His legs pumped harder as he made his way across hills and through forests with large trees reaching up towards the skies. It was not the familiar woods of his home on the Pack Lands but it felt good to stretch his limbs, pull deep pulls of fresh air into his lungs, and feel the wind tickling through his fur all over his body. With a grin, he imagined his large bear of a mate with sexual wants that matched his own.
Pages: 60 pages

SWBadgeTour Dates:

Tour Stops: 

Tour Stops: 

17-Nov

Decadent Delights

24-Nov

Parker Williams

1-Dec

MM Good Book Reviews

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

8-Dec

Carly’s Book Reviews

Queer Town Abbey

Molly Lolly

15-Dec

Prism Book Alliance

Amanda C. Stone

22-Dec

Multitasking Mommas

Kimi-Chan

Hearts on Fire

 29-Dec

Cate Ashwood

5-Jan

Dawn’s Reading Nook

BFD Book Blog

12-Jan

Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

Love Bytes

19-Jan

Inked Rainbow Reads

My Fiction Nook

26-Jan

Crystal’s Many Reviewers

2-Feb

Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings

 

Contest:  Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of Shifting Weight and a gift certificate.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Use the Rafflecopter link provided to enter and for all additional contest details.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enter the Holiday Spirit with Share the Love and Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft (book tour and charity contest)

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Its Share the Love…the third time’s the charm with Sydney Croft and her story, Three the Hard Way!  The holidays are a time of joy and giving. Riptide Publishing and authors Jane Davitt, Kelly Jamieson, and Sydney Croft have combined their efforts in the Share The Love 2014 Collection for Charity.

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Check out Sydney Croft’s story, Three the Hard Way and then read the details how YOU can help choose the LGBTQ Charity to receive the 2015 collection proceeds! This year’s Share the Love collection Charity is It Gets Better organization. Pick up a copy of Share the Love 2014 and get a head start on the holiday giving,, and then help out your favorite local LGBTQ charity as well!

Three the Hard Way Blurb:

This title is part of the ACRO universe.

Three the Hard Way coverLovers Taggart Brody and Justice McKinney possess special abilities that make them valuable to agencies who employ—or enslave—people with extraordinary talents. When tragedy tears them apart, Justice finds purpose working for the good guys: ACRO, the super-secret Agency for Covert Rare Operatives. But he never forgets Taggart or the past they once shared.

Heartbroken, Taggart runs from who he is . . . right into the arms of Ian Bridges. But Ian, battling his own demons, betrays Tag to the terrorist organization Itor. After months of torture, Tag manages to escape, but kills an ACRO agent in the process.

With nowhere left to turn, Tag disappears into the Alaskan wilderness, but it’s only a matter of time before his enemies track him down. He reaches out to Justice, and somehow Ian finds him too, hoping to right his wrongs. With ACRO and Itor both bearing down, the three men must figure out how to forgive, how to work together, and how to love each other—or the coming battle will destroy them all.

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Each year, Riptide Publishing releases a holiday collection in support of an LGBTQ charity. Twenty percent of all proceeds from the Share the Love collection will be donated to the It Gets Better Project.Share the Love Bundle

This collection would not be possible without the talent and generosity of its authors, who have brought us the following holiday stories:

• Three of Hearts by Kelly Jamieson (releasing November 17)
• Lucky Strike by Jane Davitt (releasing November 24)
• Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft (releasing December 1)

About Sydney Croft:

Sydney Croft is the alter-ego of two published authors who came together to blend their very different writing interests into adventurous tales of erotic paranormal fiction. Together, they developed a world where people with extraordinary abilities, like the power to control storms, could live and work with others like them. The series has been described as “Erotica meets the X-Men,” and is unique in its own “erotic super hero romance” niche.

The authors behind Sydney Croft live in different states and communicate almost entirely through email, though they often get together for conferences and book signings.
Stephanie Tyler
Larissa Ione

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Contest and Giveaway:
Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a $25 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 7. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.

Every year, Riptide Publishing releases a Holiday charity bundle with themed stories by bestselling authors. Twenty percent of the net proceeds of each bundle goes to a charity that serves the LGBTQ population.

Royalties from Riptide’s 2013 Home for the Holidays charity collection have raised over $14,000 in nine months for the Ali Forney Center, and continue to yield several hundred dollars per month in royalties donations. Our 2014 Share the Love charity collection will be raising money for the It Gets Better Project, and we hope to report even better results than in 2013.

For 2015, the theme will be Holiday Surprises, and we’ll have stories by HelenKay Dimon, Christine d’Abo, and Marie Sexton. But we don’t have a charity yet.

We need YOUR help to choose the 2015 charity.

Nominate your favorite LGBTQ charity below and Riptide might choose it as the 2015 Holiday bundle charity!

The chosen charity for 2015 will immediately receive a $5,000 advance against royalties (paid in 2015 on announcement of the award recipient). The charity will continue to receive 20% of all lifetime net sales income from the 2015 holiday charity collection, in the form of a monthly royalty check.

Three honorable mention charities will each receive a $250 donation.

Click here to nominate a charity. Both supporters and representatives of a charity can submit a nomination.

And now for December and the Week Ahead At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

It’s December!

Snowflakes, Snow Angels, and Icicles…Oh My!

The end of the year is coming and December is full of holidays, family, love, and ok…tons of stuff to do!  Riptide’s Share the Love Charity Contest continues.  Look for the link on the Share the Love cover and click to vote for your LGBTQ charity of choice!

There is so much going on that I had to slide our November Summary of Reviews and Best of Lists into the middle of the week!  Its been that crazy!

Here is a sneak peak at some of those covers sure to be on our November and, well probably, Best of 2014 lists.  In no particular order:

Then the Stars Fall coverThe Eskimo Slugger coverSand and Gold and RuinSemper Fi cover

 

 

 

 

 

TheCircusoftheDamned_500x750Cutting Out coverSpaghetti Western coverWholehearted cover

What were some of your favorite covers last month?

Winner Announcements:

Winner of Haley Walsh’s contest is Peaches

Winner of Keira Andrews “Semper Fi” contest is Jeffrey Owens

 

Congratulations!  Happy Reading

 

Now for the Week Ahead:

Monday, December 1:

  • Excerpt Tour: A Spartan Love by Kayla Jameth (contest)
  • Tina Klemke’s Shifting Weight Book tour and Contest
  • Groom of Convenience by Vicktor Alexander Book Tour and Contest
  • Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft – Share the Love Tour and Contest

Tuesday, December 2:

  • Book Blast: Murder in Torbaydos by Ian James Krender‏ (tour and contest)
  • Kayla Jameth ‘A Spartan Love‘ Book Tour and Contest
  • A MelanieM Review: Work in Progress by John Inman
  • A MelanieM Review: Craberry Pi by Lee Brazil

Wednesday, December 3:

  • The Chase and The Catch Blog Tour‏ by AF Henley
  • A Sammy Review: Nothing Ventured by Jay Northcote
  • A MelanieM Review: Fever Pitch (Love Lessons #2) by Heidi Cullinan
  • November Summary of Reviews and Best of Lists

Thursday, December 4:

  • Derrick Knight – Miracle on Mistletoe Lane Virtual Book Tour and contest
  • Out of CTRL by SA Welsh – Exclusive excerpt tour and contest
  • A Mika Review:  Teaching Professor Grayson by Kade Boehme & Allison Cassatta
  • A PaulB Review: Desert Foxe by Haley Walsh

Friday, December 5:

  • Finding Matt by JD Ruskin Book Blast and contest
  • Love Lane Book Tours: Jack Frost by  Meredith Russell(contest)
  • ZA Maxfield’s Hell On Wheels Book Tour and contest
  • A MelanieM Review:  Darach’s Cariad by RJ Scott

Saturday, December 6:

A MelanieM Review: The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate by Kay Berresford