Marie Sexton Talks Images and Inspiration And ‘Trailer Trash’‏ (author guest post and giveaway)

Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton
Riptide Publishing

Cover Art by Jay Aheer

Read an Excerpt/Buy It Here

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Hello, everyone! I’m Marie Sexton, and I’m here today to talk about my New Adult novel, Trailer Trash. Trailer Trash is about two high school seniors in small-town Wyoming in the mid-1980s. I thought I’d share a few pictures that helped inspire book, and a few that might help illustrate the setting.

Trailer Trash was born from this image:

I’ve since learned that this picture is of actor Nicholas Hoult, but this picture has always been Cody in my mind.

This is the picture I have for Nate, although it isn’t perfect.

Trailer Trash is set in the fictional town of Warren, Wyoming, along the I-80 corridor. If you look at a map of Southern Wyoming, and find the spot about midway between Rawlins and Rock Springs, then go ten or fifteen miles north into nowhere, you’ll have the approximate location of Warren. This area of Wyoming is so windy that there aren’t many trees, but many of the ones that grow in that area look like this:

(credit: http://www.wildwestcycle.com/f_snowy.html)

Now, I’ve driven I-80 across southern Wyoming many, many times, and it’s hell. It’s windy and barren and goes on forever, mostly flat and straight as a ruler. On a good day, that section of I-80 looks like this:

(credit: http://www.sn-reisewelt.de/cms/tag-14-yellowstone-national-park2.html)

On a bad day, it looks like this:

(credit: https://weather.com/news/news/snow-blinds-drivers-along-i-80-in-wyoming)

The wind along this stretch of interstate is so bad, it’s been known to blow semis over:

https://youtu.be/vA16ivK6iDI

https://youtu.be/HKD-YXMAW4A

I originally started this story back in 2011. I put it on hold for years, but I always knew I’d finish it someday. But this is the collage I used both times around (I’m pretty sure Heidi Cullinan made this for me back in 2011).

The setting for Trailer Trash may look depressing, and to a large extent, it is. But I love Cody and Nate so much, I just had to tell their story, and I promise, these boys do earn their happy ending.

About Trailer Trash

It’s 1986, and what should have been the greatest summer of Nate Bradford’s life goes sour when his parents suddenly divorce. Now, instead of spending his senior year in his hometown of Austin, Texas, he’s living with his father in Warren, Wyoming, population 2,833 (and Nate thinks that might be a generous estimate). There’s no swimming pool, no tennis team, no mall—not even any MTV. The entire school’s smaller than his graduating class back home, and in a town where the top teen pastimes are sex and drugs, Nate just doesn’t fit in.

Then Nate meets Cody Lawrence. Cody’s dirt-poor, from a broken family, and definitely lives on the wrong side of the tracks. Nate’s dad says Cody’s bad news. The other kids say he’s trash. But Nate knows Cody’s a good kid who’s been dealt a lousy hand. In fact, he’s beginning to think his feelings for Cody go beyond friendship.

Admitting he might be gay is hard enough, but between small-town prejudices and the growing AIDS epidemic dominating the headlines, a town like Warren, Wyoming, is no place for two young men to fall in love.

About Marie Sexton

Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along.

Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

Connect with Marie:

Website: MarieSexton.net
Twitter: @MarieSexton
Facebook: facebook.com/MarieSexton.author
Goodreads: goodreads.com/MarieSexton

Giveaway

To celebrate, Marie is giving away a $50 gift card to either Amazon or All Romance Ebooks, winner’s choice. Leave a comment to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 26, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

A Release Day Review: MelanieM Review of Dirty Heart by Rhys Ford

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Final book in the Dirty Series arc.

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

What a magnificent story! Even with all the intricacies, cultural layering and mysteries that have flowed through all the stories of the Cole McGinnis series, really none can prepare you for this book. Its just that powerful and emotionally wrenching.

The big mystery and heartache at the center of this series has been why Cole McGinnis’s cop partner on the force and close friend/brother shot Cole and killed his lover. It was an act of betrayal that Cole never quite recovered from, even with his strong and passionate love for Jae-Min Kim. Like that saying that all roads eventually lead home, Rhys Ford has been leading Cole and the readers back to the beginning where Cole will find out the answers to the violent action that shattered his life. This is that book.

Little by little, more things from Cole’s past find him again. Some are indescribably wonderful and moving, some heartbreaking, and raw. You never know from page to page which element Rhys Ford is going to serve up, what you can be certain is that it will piece your heart, make you weep with either joy or pain with the believable anguish that Cole is going through, along with his family and loved ones. There are some devastating events here, sometimes one after another. After a while I thought I had become inured.

I was so wrong.

Its because Rhys Ford writes so beautifully that her characters resonate so with the reader, as does the pain and emotional turmoil they are going through. Here emotions, thoughts, even rage that Cole had imagined he had buried rise up, overwhelming him, and the reader in the process. At parts, the story is so moving, I had to stop reading, because I couldn’t see the Kindle any more through the tears. I don’t think anything can prepare you for parts of this book.

The relationships here are deepened, even more realistic than ever as certain elements are revealed about peoples lives, the comedy that is a hallmark of this author ‘s writing and this series is ever present, a necessary levity when the angst threatens to swamp us and the lives involved. Clowns and llamas are a perfect pairing and I can only imagine how Rhys Ford saw that.

Rhys Ford is not one to give up the mystery easily. Its been years in the making so its a heart-racing, white knuckle, fast paced scary race at towards the end. What a shocker! I did not see that coming, even after all those books, so well done, Rhys Ford. That was really a great twist. Then you went on and delivered further. How worthwhile an ending. Its superb. Ford really pulls it all together. First a shocker, then a summation, and then a epilogue that will leaving you giddy with joy.

Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford is one spectacular book. Never has her characters been more nuanced, more moving and real. The story includes stunning narrative explosions, a conclusion to a convoluted mystery spun over 6 stories and characters that will never leave me. This jumps to into Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Word’s Top Ten Rec list. Its February so for you readers still new to the series, you have plenty of time to read through the series before the book comes out in March. Pay no attention to anyone trying to spoil this book for you. No no NO! Its too good a tale for that. Make sure you pick it up fresh! But pick it up you must! Highly Recommended as is the series.

Cover artist Reese Notley does a wonderful job with the cover and branding the series.

Sales Links coming in March

Book Details:

Expected publication: March 2016 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
Original TitleDIrty Heart
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesCole McGinnis #6

Cole McGinnis Series:

Dirty Kiss (Cole McGinnis, #1)
Dirty Secret (Cole McGinnis, #2)
Dirty Laundry (Cole McGinnis, #3)
Dirty Sweets (Cole McGinnis, #3.5) free story
Dirty Day (Cole McGinnis, #3.6) free story
Dirty Deeds (Cole McGinnis, #4)
Down and Dirty (Cole McGinnis, #5)
Dirty Minds free story
Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis, #6)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Two Pet Dicks by John Inman

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

If you don’t like slapstick, beware! The MCs in this story put Lucy and Ethel, Abbott & Costello, and Laurel & Hardy to shame.

Maitland Carter and Lenny Fritz have been best friends since they were kids. Then they discovered sex together in their teens and never looked back. They were each other’s “firsts,” and after a period of exclusivity, they moved on to other conquests, occasionally coming back to each other’s bed once again. But now, things are beginning to look serious. They’ve started having sex pretty much exclusively, and both are having feelings neither wants to discuss. The icing on the cake is that these two underachievers are now in business together, running their own pet detective agency: Two Pet Dicks.

As the story opens, they’ve just rented a “real” office space and are hanging their shingle. They can’t afford a full sign, so they settle for Two Dicks, and that, dear readers, sets the pace for this romp as we journey through the ups and downs of life as a pet dick—finding dogs, cats, gerbils, and reptiles. There’s also a monkey added into the mix when Lenny’s brother takes off and leaves his (illegal) pet monkey behind in Lenny’s care. On a fun note, the missing gerbil was reported by none other than Arthur the drag queen from Serenading Stanley. It was great to have a quick revisit and see that Arthur is just as campy now as he ever was.

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of slapstick, but I did enjoy the humor in this story. At times, the situations the guys found themselves in were so bizarre, they were funny—even those moments that should have been scary. But the story worked. And underlying the crazy, madcap experience of being pet detectives was the cementing of a foundation of love between the two men that started many years before but culminates during this story as they finally work up the courage to express how they feel.

I enjoy this author’s versatility. I’ve been scared witless by spooks; swooned over romance in the Belladonna Arms; and now, chuckled through a very entertaining adventure with two loveable dicks.

All in all, it’s a great book if you’re in the mood for some campy humor, or if you enjoy your romances with sweet MCs, a few off-the-wall family pets, or even some scary reptiles. This one has them all.

~~~~~

Cover art by Paul Richmond is a colorful illustration of both MCs staring at each other, mouths hanging open in shock or fear, while a cobra sits on the title of the book. Very clever, colorful, and fitting for this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published March 16th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634767910
Edition LanguageEnglish

In the Spotlight: Dianne Hartsock’s ‘Stuck on Rewind’ (Character interview, sexy excerpt and giveaway)

Stuck on Rewind by Dianne Hartsock
Release Date: March 15, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lance from Dianne Hartsock’s book STUCK ON REWIND. Hi Lance, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself.

What are you most proud of about your life?

You’ll probably think I’m vain, but I believe I’m one of the best dancers in this city. But isn’t it okay for an artist to be proud of their work? And I do work hard at this, practicing every spare chance I get. Oh, you meant on a personal level? I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve been able to keep Ashton as my best friend. He’s amazing. So much smarter than I am. It makes me proud that he still wants to be with me.

What are you most ashamed of in your life?

Not a very nice question to ask someone. But if you want a confession out of me, I guess I’m most ashamed of the men I’ve used in my life. I mean, mostly the guys I’m with are just out to have a good time, like I am. But sometimes I’ll be with someone simply because I’m lonely, or because they’re hot. Shallow of me, I know. And now I see the hurt in Ashton’s eyes and wish I hadn’t dated any of them.

What are you most afraid of?

I’ve tried to show Ashton that I’ve changed. That I don’t want to date anyone but him. But with my history… I’m afraid I can’t convince him and that I’ll lose him, even though I love him more than anything.

Tell me about your best friend. What do you like about this person? What do they like about you?

Ashton is the best friend anyone can hope for. He stood by me all through high school when I was just finding myself. Even when my parents were confused and ashamed of me, Ashton picked me up and kept me going with his support and kindness to a messed up kid. What does Ashton like about me? He says it’s my kind heart, but I’ve seen his face when he watches me dance. I think it’s more than that.

What’s your idea of a good marriage? Do you think that’ll happen in your life?

*A pretty blush colors Lance’s face* Marriage? I’ve never really thought about it. I guess it’s a good idea to be friends, and to trust each other. Have fun and great sex together. But do I think I’ll ever marry? *His blush deepens* Maybe. If Ashton ever asks me. I could be his husband. Definitely.

Thanks, Lance, for stopping by. Want to know more about Lance and Ashton? Keep reading…

Blurb

Ashton has been in love with his best friend for years, watching him grow from a pretty high school boy to the gorgeous erotic dancer at the club where they both work. The problem is that Lance enjoys the attention of a variety of men while Ashton wants him for his very own.

After a day spent denying his attraction for Lance, standing by while their friend Trey openly flirts with him, Ashton decides it’s time to make his move or risk losing his man forever. Once Lance knows how he feels, he’ll realize they should be together. Or is it already too late?

Pages or Words: 10,308 words
Categories: Contemporary, Erotic, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

“Fuck!” Ashton shouted in a mixture of anger and ecstasy as Lance swallowed again, then let Ashton’s softening cock slip from between his perfect lips. Ashton leaned on his elbows, his chest heaving while he caught his breath. With a last kiss on his thigh, Lance climbed off the bed, sleek-limbed and graceful, and walked to the dresser with a sassy sway of his hips.

Ashton stared after him and groaned, not sure if he wanted to pull his friend’s ass back into his arms or punch him in the face. It would be incredible to wake up with Lance every morning and make love to him. But he sternly reminded himself that they were only friends and Lance needed to stop climbing into his bed at night uninvited.

“You do remember you have a bed of your own?” he asked, more sharply than he’d intended.

Lance gave him a smirk over his shoulder, making a show of licking the last of Ashton’s spunk off his swollen lips. “You told me to wake you at seven.”

“I didn’t mean… Oh hell.” Ashton fell back on the pillows and threw an arm over his eyes. He swore in exasperation when the mattress dipped and Lance’s familiar scent surrounded him. “Damn it—”

Soft fingers touched his mouth. “Don’t be mad, baby. I didn’t mean anything.”

Ashton peered at him through the dark curls that had flopped into his eyes. The guy looked positively forlorn, and Ashton sat up, giving him a one-armed hug. “I’m not mad. But you don’t need to keep doing that, either. You’re my friend!” He kissed Lance’s cheek, the velvet skin warm with a blush. “You make a terrific roommate, and I like the company.”

“And I like you.” Lance walked his fingers up Ashton’s leg.

Ashton laughed and shooed the hand away, but couldn’t help staring at the enticing evidence of his friend’s arousal between his legs.

“Can I take care of that for you?”

“Not at all.” Lance stood up, waving off Ashton’s offer. “I’ll deal with it in the shower. You have to save your attentions for Mister Man.”

“Who are you talking about…? Wait!” Ashton rolled off the bed and trotted after Lance as he crossed the apartment.

Lance giggled, slipping behind the bathroom door but holding it cracked open an inch. He smiled at Ashton with his pouty, kissable lips. “You know, the boss. Mister Kent.”

“I’m not saving myself for—”

Ashton blinked at the closed door. Why in the world would Lance think he was interested in his boss? Sure, the man was handsome as sin, but he was also an egomaniac and tyrant. Why only yesterday, he’d…

Hot blood scorched Ashton’s neck and face, his arm tingling where Morgan Kent had gripped it, towering over him. The man had bent to his ear, swamping Ashton’s senses with subtle cologne and a hint of sweat as he’d whispered, “If you can’t type a simple letter without mistakes, I’ll find a secretary who can.” He’d tightened his hand almost painfully on Ashton’s arm. “Or maybe I should just bend you over this desk and smack your ass for each mistake?”

Ashton’s dick jumped at the memory. He told it sternly to behave. “We’re not falling for that bastard. We’ll stick with the sweet boys at the club and call it good.”

Buy the book

Pride Publishing | Amazon | AmazonUK | Barnes & Noble

Meet the Author

Dianne grew up in one of the older homes in the middle of Los Angeles, a place of hardwood floors and secret closets and back staircases. A house where ghosts lurk in the basement and the faces in the paintings watch you walk up the front stairs. Rooms where you keep the closet doors closed tight at night. It’s where her love of the mysterious and wonderful came from.

Dianne now lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play. She says Oregon’s raindrops are the perfect setting in which to write. There’s something about being cooped up in the house with a fire crackling on the hearth and a cup of hot coffee warming her hands, which kindles her imagination.

Currently, Dianne works as a floral designer in a locally-owned gift shop. Which is the perfect job for her. When not writing, she can express herself through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage.

Where to find the author:

Blog: http://diannehartsock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/diannehartsock
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/diannehartsock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4707011-dianne-hartsock
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/Dianne-Hartsock-Author-107985445959828/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/diannehartsock/

Tour Dates & Stops:

15-Mar: BFD Book Blog, Man2ManTastic, 3 Chicks After Dark, Full Moon Dreaming

16-Mar:A.M. Leibowitz, Velvet Panic, Louise Lyons, Mikky’s World of Books, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

17-Mar: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Nephy Hart,

Oh My Shelves

18-Mar: Alpha Book Club, Havan Fellows, The Dark Arts, Making It Happen, Bayou Book Junkie

19-Mar: Outrageous Heroes, Inked Rainbow Reads, Love Bytes

21-Mar: Elin Gregory, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, MM Book Escape

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 ARe gift card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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A Ali Review: Eagle’s Blood (Mountain Spirit Mysteries #1) by A.J. Marcus

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Brock Summers is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer with a heart of gold. When he discovers a video of golden eagles being shot and learns of a nest in trouble, not even a blizzard can stop him from trekking up the mountain in an attempt to rescue them.

When Brock returns with the one eaglet he manages to save, Landon Weir, the local wildlife rehabilitator, patches up the bird and the injury Brock suffered during the rescue. Though they have been friends and colleagues for years, their shared passion for protecting wildlife and the feeling of Brock’s body under his hands makes Landon see Brock differently. For the first time, Landon wonders if they can be more than friends.

To Landon’s surprise, Brock asks him out to dinner to thank him for his aid, but before they manage their first date, another video of eagles being killed surfaces. Neither man will let inclement weather, a dangerous mountain, or armed poachers stop them from rescuing the eagles—or each other.

This is a story about a wildlife rehabber and a Parks/Wildlife officer. The story is mostly about poacher who are killing eagle’s for illegal sales. I found this all really interesting and the author seems to have a good knowledge of all things related to wildlife, care and laws. (Some I know from a rehabber friend and some I Googled). If you find this kind of stuff interesting you will probably enjoy this book. If not…I don’t know.

There is romance in this but it’s not the main focus and it’s not as well done as the mystery part of the plot. There is a lot of telling about the guy’s feelings and very little showing. I didn’t really feel their connection at all. I will keep reading these though cuz I loved all the animal stuff.

Cover art.I liked the cover a lot. It’s artfully done and is a good representation of the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published April 14th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published April 13th 2014)
ISBN 1627986286 (ISBN13: 9781627986281)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URL
SeriesMountain Spirit Mysteries #1

A Jeri Review: Him (Him #1) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend…and a big one to learn about himself.

I love to watch love and romance grow and bloom. Especially when they start as friends as kids. Developing that bond that can seemingly get them through anything- as long as they are together.

Him is such a story but with a slight twist. Jamie and Wes were friends, but only saw each other during hockey camp in the summer. In between camp they lived on different coasts and communicated with a box that they would fill with something related to them and mail and it back and forth.

As they grew, Wes not only realizes that he is gay, but goads Jamie into experimenting with him on the last night of cap. That was the beginning of the end of their friendship. Wes thinks he ruined it all and Jamie is just completely confused. When their college hockey teams are playing in the same tournament 5 years later, they both blame themselves and begin a tenuous relationship again.

I found this story to be emotionally gripping, tender and heartfelt. The heart break Wes feels because Jamie is “straight”. The confusion Jamie feels because he doesn’t understand his feelings for Wes and wants his best friend back. Coming to grips with themselves and their maturing relationship.

Deeper than the confusion and muddling through a potential romantic relationship was the true friendship of men who were best friends and so desperately wanted that again.

Being together means a lot of different things to both of them. They have to reevaluate and look at their lives. Trying to decide if being together is worth the potential consequences.

Sweet, hot, tender and romantic. With humor and lots of hockey on the side. A must read.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 276 pages
Published July 28th 2015 by Rennie Road Books
Original TitleHim
ISBN139781942444077
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHim #1
CharactersJamie Canning, Ryan Wesley
Literary AwardsGoodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romance (2015)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Lay It down by Mary Calmes

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Hudson Barber loves his twin brother, Dalvon, but as the story opens, he’d like to kill him too. Dalvon, a high-paid model, has left his billionaire boyfriend’s estate on the island of Ibiza, and all the responsibilities related to running it, and headed to the US using Hudson’s passport. He didn’t even have the balls to tell his boyfriend, Miguel Garcia Arquero, that he was going, nor did he take care of the businesses he was supposed to be running. In short, he left Hudson holding the bag for managing the businesses, straightening out the estate, and telling Miguel that his boyfriend has taken off. Add to that the fact that Dal has settled in with Will, Hudson’s ex-boyfriend, and Hudson is not a happy man.

Dal has always been the pretty one—beautiful, lighthearted, and empty-headed—unlike his fraternal twin who takes responsibility seriously and is pursuing his MBA diligently. Left with no choice, Hudson uses the time while Miguel is away to streamline functions in the household, turn part of the villa into a luxury getaway for the wealthy, revamp the nightclub and make the restaurant more efficient. Within three months, he’s taken the businesses Dal was supposed to manage and made them profitable. He’s also gotten permission from his academic advisor to use this experience as independent study for this semester so he has until the end of the semester, around the time that Miguel is due home, to make everything perfect.

And he’s hit with a few surprises. The first is that Miguel comes home early, and Hudson loses all hold on his emotions and his intellect. He’s gob smacked by Miguel, and the feeling is reciprocated. Never having been in love, and as the product of the foster care system and protector of his brother, Hudson has never been number one in anyone’s life, so when Miguel treats him as if he is precious and necessary to Miguel’s life, he flounders helplessly in a sea of confusion. And then there’s the gun running. One little detail Dal forgot to tell Hudson—Dal took possession of a million dollar shipment of arms from a gunrunner and now it’s time to pay up. Oh, oh.

This story follows the pattern of many of Mary Calmes’s stories in that one MC is beloved by friends or family or both and the other is tall, dark, alpha, and powerful and becomes the love of the other’s life and vice versa. Personally, I love the formula, and in this case, I loved these characters. Hudson had personality, wit and intelligence. He also had a need to be needed and to be loved, and when Miguel came along and swept him up in both need and love, it was a match made in heaven.

There’s a whole host of secondary characters, many of whom are strong women. (Thank you, Mary Calmes!) The setting, the story, the characters, and especially Hudson and his soulmate Miguel make this one of my favorites. The only thing I’d change is to make the story longer. It gave me a pick-me-up just when I needed it most. I recommend this story to those who enjoy MM romance with a strong, masculine and wealthy hero and a sweet, intelligent and needy nerd. It’s fairly short so would make the perfect treat when you are heading to the beach, an airplane ride, or just want to devour something fantastic real quick.

~~~~~

Cover Art by Reese Dante depicts a young man lying on his back with his arm raised above his head as if he’s sleeping. The white background and bright red title letters make the cover unassuming but smart— just like Hudson.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 126 pages
Expected publication: March 16th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634771313
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Review: Balls Up (Blowing It #2) by Kate Aaron

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Handsome man holding a briefcase in a vintage interior

Owen Barnes’s life is finally going the way he wants. He’s making a living as an author, and his relationship with building surveyor Magnus Cassidy is going from strength to strength.

When Owen finds a lump, he buries his head in the sand. He’s too busy for doctor appointments and besides, it’s probably nothing. He pushes concern away and is soon swept up in a whirlwind of distractions. His best friend’s husband is falling apart and Owen needs to be strong for them, not burdening them with his fears.

He says he’ll deal with it when the new book is released, when Ryan and Sameer are more stable, when he’s done writing. Owen has a hundred excuses to hide one simple fact: he’s scared.

Eventually, Magnus drags him to the doctor, and the news isn’t good. Can Owen cope with the unexpected turn events have taken, or is his perfect life about to go balls up?

Balls Up is more than a romance, it’s the diary of a cancer patient and his caretaker. Yes, they are a couple, but as the disease progresses, we get to understand the challenges their love faced and how they managed to make it flourish during their darkest time together.

I read this story as a stand-alone but in reality, it is book #2 in the Bring It series. This is not the type of story I usually read, but I’m glad I did. Unless you want to know how Owen and Magnus got together and read more about the secondary characters, there’s no need to read the previous book to enjoy this installment.

Owen’s cancer is the central plot of the story, everything else is secondary. It is a hard book to read. It feels real, and it takes the reader, step by step, through the complete process– from diagnosis to resolution. We live the ups and downs with Owen and take part of his fears, hopes, and treatment.

There are happy moments mixed within the story. Great secondary characters, and perfect scenarios for the events to take place. The pacing flows well, getting us through the hard moments with a little hope to look forward. Owen’s and Magnus’s relationship is the perfect example of a caring love.

The author not only wrote a beautiful story about a real couple with believable problems, but she also gave us a story that everyone can relate to. Like the characters in the story, we all know someone with cancer or had experienced it. Writing about a topic many men are not comfortable to talk about, open the door for their partners to reach to them. It gives us an opening to get more information about a serious issue. And we get to see how the complete medical process works.

Another thing I enjoyed was the characterization. We get outstanding characters, settings, and events from a British perspective. What I liked the most it’s that the author didn’t feel the need to Americanized the story as other do even when they take place outside the United States. The terms, the experiences, and everything surrounding the characters and their stories was believable and perfectly crafted.

The title and the cover go hand in hand with the topics and several scenes in the story. Plus, it matches the cover of the previous book in the series.

Sale Links: Croft House | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 310 pages
Published: June 6, 2016, by Croft House
ISBN: 9781310202261
Edition Language: English

Series: Blowing It
Book #1: Blowing It
Book #2: Balls Up
Book #3: Dom on the Side

Its Love and War with ‘Between Ghosts’ by Garrett Leigh (Giveaway)

Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by Garrett Leigh

Read an excerpt/buy it here

About Between Ghosts

In 2003, journalist Connor Regan marched through London to add his voice to a million others, decrying the imminent invasion of Iraq. Eight months later, his brother, James, was killed in action in Mosul.

Three years on, Connor finds himself bound for Iraq to embed with an elite SAS team. He sets his boots on the ground looking for closure and solace—anything to ease the pain of his brother’s death. Instead he finds Sergeant Nathan Thompson.

Nat Thompson is a veteran commander, hardened by years of combat and haunted by the loss of his best friend. Being lumbered with a civilian is a hassle Nat doesn’t need, and he vows to do nothing more than keep the hapless hack from harm’s way.

But Connor proves far from hapless, and too compelling to ignore for long. He walks straight through the steel wall Nat’s built around his heart, and when their mission puts him in mortal danger, Nat must lay old ghosts to rest and fight to the death for the only man he’s ever truly loved.

About Garret Leigh

Garrett Leigh is a British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Black Jazz Press. Her protagonists will always always be tortured, crippled, broken, and deeply flawed. Throw in a tale of enduring true love, some stubbly facial hair, and a bunch of tattoos, and you’ve got yourself a Garrett special.

When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible. That, and dreaming up new ways to torture her characters. Garrett believes in happy endings; she just likes to make her boys work for it.

Garrett also works as a freelance cover artist for various publishing houses and independent authors under the pseudonym G.D. Leigh. For cover art info, please visit blackjazzpress.com.

Social media:

http://garrettleigh.com
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighbooks
Cover art enquiries: blackjazzdesign@gmail.com – See more at: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/authors/garrett-leigh#sthash.t8NCJ3A0.dpuf

Giveaway

Leave a comment for a chance to win $20 in Riptide credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 19, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Its Release Day for the Riverdance Anthology (excerpts and giveaway)

Riverdance Anthology
Authors: L. J. Hamlin, Asta Idonea, Dale Cameron Lowry, Morwen Navarre, Lynn Townsend.
Cover Artist: Kris Norris
Publisher: Torquere Press
Release Date: March 15, 2016

Book/Buy Links: Torquere

Synopsis

Riverdance is a compilation of all things Irish. From fae flitting hither and thither trying to trick their quarry, to a modern-day Highland games, complete with caber tossing and traditional dance, our romantic compilation of Celtic tales and lore are sure to remind readers that love is the pot-o-gold at the end of the rainbow.

Morwen Navarre brings us The Sidhe’s Apprentice, a tale of a young man desperately wanting to be a wizard, like his grandfather, who never banked on falling in love with his mentor. In Finding Balance, Lynn Townsend sets readers in the middle of the Highland games, as well as between two former lovers who need to forgive and forget. L. J. Hamline’s tale, Luck of the Irish, tells of some lucky days that turn into lucky nights. Born of Fire, Dale Cameron Lowry’s offering, brings readers the abduction of a human by fairies, and the greatest lesson of all: love is more than superficial. Finally, Asta Idonea’s The First Swallow of Spring chronicles an annual pilgrimage to the land of the fae, and how the wiley lord tries to keep a human for his own.

Heat Level: 5
Pairing: M/M, F/F
Length: 32,900 words
Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Erotica, Fantasy, Humor, M/M Romance, Paranormal

Excerpt

From Morwen Navarre’s The Sidhe’s Apprentice:

There was nothing for it but to follow the path which Master Lorc·n had indicated. Master Lorc·n’s parting words had not been comforting, and Alistair had a feeling this Master Cian·n would be no warmer.

Alistair took the opportunity to look around as he walked, wondering how much magic was required to maintain this place. The transition was completely seamless, as though the door to the embassy had been a gate to another realm. None of the whispers had even hinted at the existence of such a portal, though, and Alistair was not too sure he would want to ask. The illusion was flawless, the sky a pearly glow above the tall treetops. The light was softer than sunlight, but far brighter than moonlight, and he wondered if it was designed to duplicate the sun of the Sidhe realm. He could hear faint birdsong, and there was a gentle breeze that brought the scent of honeysuckle with it. If this was Sidhe magic, he wanted to learn all he could.

The stream was not very wide, where Alistair approached it. A single stride would take him over it, but he had been told to wait, and not to cross it. Obedience was mandatory for a student of the Sidhe. That much was common knowledge. There was no place to sit, so Alistair stood and waited. He let his thoughts drift, trying to imagine what it would be like to live in this tranquil place for a year and a day.

“Are you contemplating running away? I wouldn’t recommend it.”

The speaker was Sidhe, and there was a definite lilt to his English. Alistair felt his cheeks grow warm, and he bowed hastily as he straightened up. He swallowed as he got a good look at the speaker on the other side of the stream.

Author Bio
Publisher of GLBT fiction books: http://www.torquerepress.com to offer the finest in erotic LGBT romance available.
Author Links:
Torquere Facebook Page | Torquere on Twitter |Torquere Blog
Torquere on Pinterest | Torquere Website

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: eBook copy of the Riverdance Anthology. Must be 18 years or older to enter.

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Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton Riptide Publishing

Cover Art by Jay Aheer

About Trailer Trash

About Marie Sexton

Giveaway

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Stuck on Rewind by Dianne Hartsock Release Date: March 15, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Pride Publishing Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

Pride Publishing | Amazon | AmazonUK | Barnes & Noble

Giveaway

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Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh Riptide Publishing Cover art by Garrett Leigh

About Between Ghosts

About Garret Leigh

Giveaway

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Riverdance Anthology Authors: L. J. Hamlin, Asta Idonea, Dale Cameron Lowry, Morwen Navarre, Lynn Townsend. Cover Artist: Kris Norris Publisher: Torquere Press Release Date: March 15, 2016

Book/Buy Links: Torquere

Synopsis

Excerpt

Giveaway

Share this:

Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton
Riptide Publishing

Stuck on Rewind by Dianne Hartsock
Release Date: March 15, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by Garrett Leigh

Riverdance Anthology
Authors: L. J. Hamlin, Asta Idonea, Dale Cameron Lowry, Morwen Navarre, Lynn Townsend.
Cover Artist: Kris Norris
Publisher: Torquere Press
Release Date: March 15, 2016