Check Out Mythologically Torqued, Volume 1 (anthology) (giveaway)

Mythologically Torqued, Volume 1 (anthology)
Published by Torquere Books

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Release Date: May 13, 2015

 

Author Names: Leigh Ellwood, L.J. Hamlin, Eva Lefoy, V.L. Locey, Jacey Mills, Alisha Monroe, Shiloh Sadler, Alyx Shaw, Delilah Storm, T. Strange, Carol Tierney, Angelique Voison, Max Wilde, Salome Wilde, Logan Zachary

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Love a legend, or myth or more?  Check out this latest anthology from Torquere Books.  It’s huge and has something for everyone.

Blurb(s):

Torquere’s largest anthology to date features a total of 15 authors please to bring you 15 unique tales from when gods and goddesses ruled the world. This collection features both m/m and f/f content for your reading pleasure. Dare you enter this realm of Mythologically Torqued fantasy? Be on the lookout for Volume 2 summer 2015.

Mythologies from around the globe receive a happy little twist in this first volume of Mythologically Torqued. A Scottish kelpie, Greek gods and goddesses, a Japanese princess, and demons delight and intrigue in these stories, each containing LGBT elements.

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Whether it’s Greco-Roman gods and goddesses or heroes from tales around the globe, Mythologically Torqued, volume 1 brings together not-so-classic lovers with a Torquere twist.

OR…

  • Eros finds his soul mate in the arms of a demigod friend in L.J. Hamlin’s In Love with Zeus’ Son.
  • In Shiloh Sadler’s Clipped Wings, two men on a plantation find love under the most unusual circumstances in 1842 Missouri.
  • V.L. Locey’s Back to the Garden, Pan hits up Woodstock with the sun god Apollo—sex, drugs, and rock and roll take on a whole new meaning.
  • In Brísingamen, Carol Tierney offers us the story of a magical necklace, and the payment goddess Freyja delivered to four dwarven sisters for it’s creation.
  • Delphinos, by T. Strange, is a modern-age retelling of Dionysus’ creation of dolphins.
  • In Angelique Voison’s version of the Japanese Moon Princess myth, Reiko is tasked with bringing the Emperor’s future bride, the fabled Moon Princess to court, and complications arise when Reiko falls head over heels for Kaguya.
  • Charged with ensuring Sisyphus fails, Hercules is conflicted by his feelings for the former ruler in Angelique Voison’s How Hercules Got His Bruise.
  • In Leah Ellwood’s Styx and Stone, Ferrying souls across the Styx is a lonely business, but Charon doesn’t mind—newly arrived Stone is more than willing to keep him company.
  • No one believes in the Greek gods anymore, and Apollo is in a rut, Ganymede—cupbearer to the gods— tries to get Apollo to see what’s in front of him in Jacey Mills’ Another Night at the End of the World.
  • Salome Wilde’s Eternal Grind offers a corporate take on Christian Hell, populated with horned and hoofed demons inspired by medieval monks’ fertile imaginations, which follows a pair of lesbian demon baristas, determined to find their own happily-ever-after.
  • In the distant past, Ero was the god of desire, but in present day, he looks for love with Psy—a peerlessly gorgeous mortal man—and needs to keep a secret, in Alisha Monroe’s The Myth of Ero and Psy.
  • Bound by chains and defenseless, Thor is being held captive by Garrick, a young man also forced to service until demands are met in Logan Zachary’s Bound by Desire. Together, attraction ignites between Thor and Garrick—can love grow if it is bound by desire?
  • In Delilah Storm’s The Golden Balls, true love’s kiss is powerful, and Jasper’s sexuality awakens—will Anur be able to keep Jasper in this sleepy little kingdom?
  • A spurned lover, mythical horse, and a public official walk into a pub—murder, mayhem, and everlasting love result in Alyx Shaw’s The Kelpie.

Pages or Words: 106,600 words

Categories: Alternate universe, BDSM, Bisexual, Contemporary, Erotica, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Historical, Humor, Lesbian Romance, M/M Romance, Menage/Poly, Paranormal, Romance, *Trans

*****Please remember: As an anthology, not all stories will use all categories*****

 

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

Sales Links:  Torquere Books

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Tour Dates & Stops: May 6, 2015
Parker Williams, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Inked Rainbow Reads, BFD Book Blog, The Hat Party, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Andrew Q. Gordon, MM Good Book Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, Mikky’s World of Books, Full Moon Dreaming, Carly’s Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Divine Magazine, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Velvet Panic, Michael Mandrake

Contest:

Contest:  Enter to a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Mythologically Torqued’.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by Torquere and Pride Promotions.
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In the Spotlight: Dreams of the Forgotten (Sumeria’s Sons #3) by Lexi Ander (excerpt and giveaway)

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Dreams of the Forgotten (Sumeria’s Sons #3) by Lexi Ander

To be Read as Part of a Series
Release Date: March 15, 2015

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Goodreads Link
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Cover Artist: London Burden

Sales Links:  Less Than Three Press

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STRW Author BookSynopsis

For Tristan and Ushna, nothing comes easy and with each passing day the challenges grow and the dangers multiply. The safe home they are building for their family and tribe is threatened from all sides, and the peace they seek is being torn apart by enemies and internal strife. Tristan dares not reveal his condition to any but those closest to him, all the while he’s plagued by dreams he cannot remember upon waking…

And over all of it hangs the knowledge that his time with Ushna is running out. Because Ushna already has a Flame awaiting rebirth, and though Tristan would die to protect that bond, he constantly struggles against his beast who demands they bind Ushna to their side.

Pages or Words: 63,000

Categories: Fantasy, Gay, Paranormal, Polyamory, Urban Fantasy

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Ushna’s Lupe, the third form of half-man and half-wolf that all Lycan warriors used for battle, pushed forward as his need to protect took over. Short, fine, black hair burst through his skin under my hands as his chest and arms thickened, his face elongated, and his mouth filled with jagged teeth. Even with fingers tipped with razor-sharp claws, he was careful as he delicately held me in his protective arms. He growled loud and long in warning.

The light switched on, flooding the room with blinding white light. I heard Gregori in the background yelling in anger, followed by a hollow thumping noise, and wounded yells. I scented who’d invaded our bedroom before I gazed over Ushna’s shoulder.

Several weeks ago, Elder Koller had made a call to pull childhood friends of ours, Stanley Kendall and Jory Swaine, from California. The suggestion had been made after the Magi Triad had tried to kidnap both Gregori and Ushna, and the elder knew these two were men I trusted. We had been expecting them at any time, and I would’ve laughed at their antics if I wasn’t worried Ushna would eviscerate our friends.

Gregori, his red hair wild, clad only in blue sleep pants, had a fistful of Stan’s dark hair and a foot planted in the middle of his back, bowing Stan over backward. Gregori wielded a shoe like it was a Sumerian sword and beat Jory with it. Jory tried to defend himself against the onslaught of the shoe and fight off the two guards who were attempting to subdue him.

“You stupid idiots!” Gregori yelled at the top of his lungs. “You could’ve hurt him, you oversized oafs! What’s wrong with knocking?!”

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

“Ushna is going to eat you and I should let him! It would remind you to respect your alpha!”

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

“Senseless overgrown children!”

Half a dozen guards filed into the room, taking charge of Stan and Jory, relieving a bedraggled Gregori. Scowling furiously at our friends, Gregori gradually crawled onto the bed, talking soothingly to Ushna, who hadn’t stopped growling. I ran my hands down his fur-covered back to soothe him.

“Everything is okay, Ushna,” Gregori cooed.

I cupped my hands around his face, gazing into his ruby red eyes. “I’m okay,” I whispered to him. “Come back to me.”

He released the Lupe, and Ushna the man emerged, the harsh and horrific features melting away. His body shuddered, muscles clenched and convulsed as his control returned.

It’d been years since I’d seen our two friends. Where Stan was dark, Jory was light. Stanley Kendall had wavy dark brown hair that roughly covered his brow, but didn’t quite touch his collar. His eyes were so brown they were virtually black. He sported a couple days of growth on his chin and cheeks. The stubble looked good against his bronzed skin.

Jory Swaine, on the other hand, had short blond hair, was clean shaven with bright turquoise eyes and golden skin. Stan was broader through the chest with his athletic build while Jory was leaner. Both wore leathers; Jory’s pants where loose, hanging low on his hips and revealing the waistband of his boxers, while Stan looked like he was poured into his.

Ushna turned a furious gaze on Stan and Jory, who were standing in the farthest corner, appearing chastised and contrite. “What in the hell were you thinking!” He roared at them. Gregori and I made shushing noises, but Ushna continued to rumble.

“Ah… surprise?” Stan offered weakly, slightly confused.

“Ushna, it’s okay; they didn’t know,” I said.

Ushna snapped his human teeth at our friends. I swear if we’d been alone, I would’ve jumped and taken him right there.

“Xenres, are you injured?” Corey Bahar was the first to swear a blood oath to me. He’d been Captain until this unexpected growth of the tribe and now he was the newly appointed Arms Master of the Royal Guard. In private, he was most adamant in the use of my title, Xenres, which meant prince in our language. Corey didn’t take his sable gaze off Stan and Jory as he approached me. The man looked like he’d been up for hours with his braided blond hair gleaming, clothes pressed and tucked. Did he ever sleep?

Jory chortled at Corey’s words, which caused Gregori to throw a shoe and bean Jory in the head.

A string of curse words exploded from Jory. “Dammit, Gregori! What the hell was that for?” He rubbed the sore spot.

Gregori didn’t answer. Corey’s question was all it took to make Ushna start snarling again as he ran his hands over me, checking for obvious injury. Gregori rubbed small circles on Ushna’s back. I grabbed his hands and craned my head around to get him to look me in the eye, to see me.

“Hey, hey! I’m okay. I’m not hurt.” I kissed his hands.

“I want Nathan to look at you.” Ushna’s worried gaze continued to study me. Nathan Janick, my brother and the resident doctor, had meticulously cared for me during my pregnancy so far.

“All right.” I knew nothing less would appease him.

Stan watched our exchange. The longer he listened, the more confused he appeared. “What’s the big deal?” He crossed his arms, scowling hard. He and Jory had acted as they normally would around us, with carefree roughhousing.

I grabbed Ushna’s attention before he could bark back a reply. We’d purposely kept my pregnancy within my inner circle. I hadn’t left the Clearwater area, which was my territory. When I needed to go to town, I wore a ring Gregori had made for me, a ring of illusion that had hid my swollen stomach. I didn’t meet with outsiders without it.

We hadn’t told Stan and Jory. All communication had gone through Elder Janus Koller, who’d recruited them to work for the Elder Council in the Enforcement Division. Neither Ushna nor I had spoken to these two before now. Needless to say, we hadn’t anticipated their surprise.

“Master Corey,” I calmly said, “we’re all right. I’m sorry we woke you.” I needed privacy for the talk we were going to have with our old friends.

Corey gave a slight bow. The expression on his face let me know we would be revisiting the issue of posting guards outside the bedroom. I had been successful at convincing Corey that the small group of warriors staying in the house was enough security. We didn’t need someone standing on sentry duty in the hallway. To appease Corey, I had even agreed to allow an armed detail to shadow me around the ranch when I left the house. This stunt of Stan’s and Jory’s would make Cory feel vindicated in his original assessment. I would have to talk quick at the next security meeting to keep the arrangements the way they were now.

“It was no bother, Xenres.” Corey shot Jory a hard look when my friend snorted a laugh. He appeared to be gauging whether Jory was being disrespectful to me or making fun of him. “I won’t be far if you need me,” he said before closing the door behind him.

Jory tried to hide his smirk by rubbing a hand over his face. I knew what was coming before he opened his mouth. “Damn, Tristan. You’ve got people bowing and scraping to you. What’ve you been doing?”

STRW Author Bio and Contacts
Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.

Lexi Ander Bio

Where to find the author:

Web site: http://www.lexiander.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexi.ander.9
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LexiAnder1
Blog: http://lexiander.blogspot.com/
E-mail: lexi.ander.author@gmail.com

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Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and Prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a RAFFLECOPTER PRIZES:
• $20 Amazon Gift card, $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Dreams of the Forgotten, swag (pens, bookmarks, and such)
• $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Dreams of the Forgotten, swag (pens, bookmarks, and such)
• hard copy of Dreams of the Forgotten, swag (pens, bookmarks)
• e-book copy of Dreams of the Forgotten
• e-book copy of Dreams of the Forgotten

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Tour Dates & Stops:

27-Apr

Joyfully Jay

Emotion in Motion

28-Apr

Prism Book Alliance

Hearts on Fire

29-Apr

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

Love Bytes

Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My

30-Apr

The Novel Approach

Decadent Delights

1-May

BFD Book Blog

Divine Magazine

4-May

Molly Lolly

MM Good Book Reviews

5-May

My Fiction Nook

Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

6-May

Inked Rainbow Reads

Chris McHart

7-May

Amanda C. Stone

Cate Ashwood

8-May

Boy Meets Boy Reviews

Rainbow Gold Reviews

Want Some Zombie Love? Spotlight on My Zombie Boyfriend by T. Strange (excerpt and contest)

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My Zombie Boyfriend by T. Strange

Goodreads Link
Release Date: April 15, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

New author T. Strange is here with her first book, My Zombie Boyfriend.  Check out the blurb and excerpt below and don’t forget to enter the contest at the end!

STRW Author BookSynopsis

 

About My Zombie Boyfriend

Edward Grey is a medical student by day, necromancer by night. He lives alone with the first zombie he ever raised, his childhood cat, Boo. Edward’s life is simple: studying medicine, training his necromantic powers with his mentor, Mariel, and having weekly dinners with his parents. When he finds a very attractive corpse in a park and brings it home to reanimate, he accidentally creates a sassy, free-willed zombie who believes Edward is the one who murdered him.

With no memory of his former life, Edward names the zombie Kit and tries to win his trust. Kit slowly adjusts to his new un-life with Edward’s help, though he’s still suspicious of Edward’s role in his death and is convinced that Edward is hiding his former identity. Edward is very attracted to Kit, but understands why Kit doesn’t trust him. As they become closer to one another, Kit turns to Edward for comfort and love. The fragile trust they’ve built together will be tested when Kit unexpectedly regains his memory and seeks revenge on his murderers.

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Pages or Words: 64,000 words

Categories: Humor, Romance, Horror, Contemporary, M/M Romance, Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Paranormal

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Kit took one look at the concoction and raised his eyebrows in disbelief and disgust. “What is that supposed to be?”

“It’s your food. Mmm! Delicious, brains! Zombies love brains!” I could see right away that I had gone too far.

“I am not a dog or a child, Edward. And I don’t appreciate your stereotyping.”

Oh, great. I had offended a zombie. What a schmuck. “I’m sorry, Kit. Won’t you at least try it?”

“Is that a slice of brain?”

“…yes. Technically. It’s not human!”

“Oh, it’s a brain, but it’s not human. That makes it all better. What’s in the rest of it?”

“The rest of the cow?” No, this was not going at all well. I pleaded. I cajoled. I begged.

He poured it down the sink.

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: B. S. Clay

Sales Links:  Torquere Press

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Author T. Strange

My Zombie Boyfriend is T. Strange’s first full-length novel, though she has published several shorter works with Torquere Press. When not writing, T. enjoys gardening, spending time with her horse, and, of course, reading. T. lives in Canada with her wife, surrounded by pets.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tq.strange
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTStrange
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TqStrange
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tqstrange/
Goodreads Author Page
Tumblr: http://tqstrange.tumblr.com/
Torquere Author Page

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Tour Dates & Stops: April 10, 2015

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, Tara Lain, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Molly Lolly,

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Love Bytes, Charley Descoteaux, Decadent Delights, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Cate Ashwood, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, TTC Books and More, Andrew Q. Gordon, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, 3 Chicks After Dark

 

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘My Zombie Boyfriend’ by T. Strange. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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It’s Here! Shira Anthony’s Sexy Vampires are Back in Blood and Ghosts (Blood #2)! (contest)

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 Blood and Ghosts (Blood #2) by Shira Anthony
Goodreads Link
Release Date: April 20, 2015

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Shira Anthony’s sexy, star crossed vampires are back in Blood and Ghosts, her sequel to Blood and Rain.  Check out the synopsis and excerpt below and don’t forget to enter the contest as well!

 

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About Blood and Ghosts, Sequel to Blood and Rain

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With vampire Nicolas Lambert’s marriage to a rival clanswoman only weeks away, Adrien Gilbert struggles to come to terms with his defeat at the hands of Verel Pelletier, a vampire hunter and an immortal like himself. Adrien and his former teacher, Roland Günter, begin to explore his newly acquired abilities. But without his soul’s sword, Adrien flounders.

On Nicolas’s wedding day, a two-hundred-year old secret is revealed, sending the wedding party into a blazing battle between hunters and vampires. Once again Adrien finds himself facing Pelletier’s superior strength. Just as Adrien believes all hope of a future with Nicolas is lost, he finally learns his true gift—he can turn back time. But time travel comes with a high cost. To save Nicolas, Adrien must become strong enough to use his power without descending into madness.

Pages or Words: Approximately 70,000 words/250 pages

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Sales Links:   Dreamspinner eBook and Paperback

 

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Excerpt:

Adrien walked back onto the main street and over to the curb, where someone caught his eye. A man with short black hair walked toward him. Dressed in dark jeans, with a white shirt and dark wool jacket, he wore a single diamond stud in his left ear. A woman hurrying down the sidewalk dodged Adrien as he stopped, but the man behind him knocked him to his knees.

“Are you all right?” someone said with a hint of a French accent.

Adrien looked up into familiar brown eyes. Adrien inhaled slowly, hoping to head off the bloodlust that buzzed at the back of his brain. Heat tingled at the back of his neck, raising the hairs there. His palms felt suddenly sweaty. He felt sick. Not nausea—shock at seeing Nicolas here, realizing it really was Nicolas.

“Yes, I….” Adrien took the hand Nicolas offered and struggled back to his feet. The world spun and he grabbed Nicolas’s arm to steady himself.

“You’re not all right. You look ill. I should call an ambulance—”

“No ambulance.” Adrien righted himself. “I just need to eat something. It’s hotter than I realized.”

Nicolas glanced around, frowned, then said, “There’s a coffee shop at the corner.” He didn’t appear convinced by Adrien’s words. “Why don’t I help you over there?”

As if Adrien would object. “Thank you.”

Five minutes later they sat at a booth by the window, Adrien drinking coffee with a trembling hand. Adrien had watched Nicolas as they’d walked the short distance to the restaurant, his swordsman’s muscles straining against the fabric of his shirt. He looked only slightly older than he’d been when they met. “I’m sorry,” he said, coming back to himself and wondering why Nicolas was sitting with him when he could have left. “I must be keeping you from something.”

“No,” Nicolas answered. “In fact, I just came from a meeting. I’ve got the rest of the afternoon free.”

“I’m Adrien.” He forced a smile and set the empty mug down.

“Nicolas.”

“It’s good to meet you, Nicolas,” Adrien said in French. He drew another long breath and his heart slowed its gallop.

“Please call me Nico,” Nicolas said, also in French.

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Author Shira Anthony

Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, i Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle. You can hear Shira singing Puccini’s “Tosca” by clicking here:

Where to find the author:

Facebook
Facebook Author Page
Twitter: @WriterShira
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/anthony0564/

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Tour Stops:

Parker Williams, MM Good Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Molly Lolly, Amanda C. Stone, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Bayou Book Junkie, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, My Fiction Nook, Andrew Q. Gordon, Emotion in Motion, BFD Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Charley Descoteaux, Love Bytes, Divine Magazine, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Carly’s Book Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One

 

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Contest: Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 2 prizes: 1 Wibbly wobbly timey wimey pendant or 1 e-copy of Blood and Ghosts.

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In the Spotlight: Tricia Owens and her Master of No One (author interview and contest)

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Book Name: Master of No One by Tricia Owens
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Goodreads Link

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Tricia Owens is here with the first book in a new series, Master of No One.  We have a author interview for all of you, excerpt and a contest to enter as well.  Check it all out below:

And Now a Q and A with Tricia Owens…

Q. Why categorize such an interesting story as urban fantasy? Why not science fiction?

Well, I wouldn’t categorize this story as sci-fi because in my opinion it doesn’t contain what I consider to be science fiction elements. The ‘otherworldly’ element is inspired by fantasy mythology: the shape shifting chimera. The setting is modern day Portugal. Hence urban fantasy seems appropriate to describe it.

Q. Where did you get your inspiration for the plot and characters?

Originally, way back when, I had envisioned Aleksander as a vampire. But vampires are a bit played out, and I’ve never been fond of the blood aspect. So I switched gears and found another creature he could be, one that I didn’t feel was too corny or was an excuse to make him appear sexy in a sneaky way. He needed to be a genuine threat. The appeal for me was a brooding character who was powerful yet broken. That morphed into the idea of a modern gothic romance. Sort of a beauty and the beast thing. To put a spin on it, I created two characters who would be trapped in his lair with him, afraid of the monster yet intrigued by him.

Q. Why add the element of menage, specifically a menage with a female third?

Only recently have I written menages (A Pirates Life for Me) and I enjoyed the experience a lot. I thought it was time to try it again. Of course to challenge myself, I told myself this one needed to be different. I’ve never written a straight m/f romance, at least not for public consumption, and I’m not sure I’ll ever write one for publication. But I was drawn to a dynamic in which a male is allowed to dominate a woman yet be put in his place, so to speak, by another male. This would bring out two sides of him that I think are extremely sexy: his power as both the conqueror and the conquered. The third, bottom character needed to be a woman because in order for Aleksander to change, he needed to be forced out of his comfort zone. He can’t be rough with a woman. Especially not while he possesses superhuman strength. Constance being female adds another shackle to Aleksander. He’s handcuffed by her vulnerability just as surely as he’s physically bound by Kirk. So in some ways, even though he’s in the middle, he’s the one submitting most to outside forces. That submission is highly appealing to me.

Q. Which of your major elements came first? The menage? The bdsm aspect? The fantasy? Or did it all come together at once?

The D/s elements always come first. I begin by thinking of what dynamic turns me on at the time and then create the characters that will fulfill that scenario. Everything follows after that. I believe if the characters aren’t interesting enough, it won’t matter what the plot is. The reader simply won’t be invested.

Q. Readers will want to know…how much het sex can they expect?

My heart will always be with m/m. I think that bias is evident in Master of No One. Yes, there is some het. Constance isn’t in there as window dressing. She serves a purpose. She brings out Aleksander’s vulnerable side, which provides Kirk with the opportunity to move in. Without her, Kirk and Aleksander would never come together. And I tried to make her the kind of sub I prefer reading about, which is one who finds pleasure in serving, not one who demands to be pleasured by her master. This places the focus back on the male in this instance, which I think m/m readers will appreciate.

Q What audience do you hope your book finds? The fantasy lovers? The lovers of erotic fiction? Lovers of M/M Romance? Or all of the above?

This book will probably skew more towards m/m readers, but I think regular romance or erotica readers will enjoy it very much as well. I do my best to write books that are not driven by sex, but serve them as a reward. Sex scenes featuring characters you don’t care about feel empty. Sex scenes which aren’t built up through anticipation and good plotting feel cheap. I’ve written Master of No One to be an enjoyable story, first and foremost, with scenes to titillate readers in search of something spicy.

Q. What genres do you enjoy reading? And do you read what you love to write?

I may write romance, but I most enjoy reading horror! Supernatural horror, not so much slasher stories. I also am addicted to technothrillers and spy thrillers. I would write thrillers but they require too much research. I’m lazy. I am, however, in the middle of writing my first horror novel, called It Haunts Us, set in the mountains of Bhutan.

Q. What’s next for Tricia Owens?

There are several projects in the works for me. I tend to work on multiple books at once and bounce between them, a carryover from my website days where I would update a new series every week for my subscribers. Currently I’m working on the horror novel I mentioned, editing the fourth book of an m/m series called Juxtapose City about sexy psypaths and cops in the future, and I’ll begin plotting the sequel to Master of No One, which will feature an m/m couple in addition to Kirk, Aleksander and Constance. And who knows what other books may jump in there as well. I never do!

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Author Tricia Owens…

Tricia has been writing m/m fiction since 2002 when she opened her fiction website JuxtaposeFantasy to great success. She later partnered to create Joyboy Island. After a decade of writing for the sites, Tricia decided business demands were distracting her from producing novels, so she closed the sites and now writes at her leisure. An avid traveler, Tricia has visited over 60 countries and tries to include aspects of her global experience in her books.

Where to find the author:
Facebook Author Page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuxtaposeFantsy
Website: http://www.triciaowensbooks.com

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Publisher: Loose ID
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs

Sales Links:  Loose id  Amazon

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Aleksander is short-tempered, antisocial and though he’s unaware of it, wildly sexy. He’s also a naturally dominant shape-shifting monster who’s sliding into madness. He needs a human ‘grounder’ to submit to him and draw forth his protective human side. Instead he is given two humans: Constance, a fledgling sub with a reckless streak whose intense desire to serve has brought her nothing but heartache, and Kirk, a former NYPD cop who’s trying to subdue his own alpha instincts and play submissive in order to fulfill a family debt.

But once these grounders meet their new master, they quickly discover that in order to save Aleksander from himself, they must alter their assigned roles and form a unique triad of domination and submission that goes against Aleksander’s very nature. Constance needs to convince Aleksander he can be gentle and protective, while Kirk wants to show him there is freedom in surrendering to another dominant. The task isn’t easy, though: Aleksander fights them every step of the way, and a conspiracy surfaces which not even a creature as powerful as Aleksander may be able to overcome.

Categories: BDSM, Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Menage/Poly, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Thriller, Urban Fantasy

TORC

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Aleksander huffed. “That’s right. You told Michel you’re my grounder. Interesting strategy putting yourself in an immediate position of inferiority against him.”

“Is it inferior? I got the impression a grounder is the only thing that’s going to keep you from falling apart.” Kirk smiled as the other male clenched his jaw. “Seems like a pretty important role, if you ask me.”

“And how do you expect to fulfill your role?”

Kirk idly adjusted the fit of his jeans, hoping Aleksander hadn’t noticed that they’d begun to grow tight in the crotch. Something about Aleksander got him going. Maybe it was the attitude, which seemed to be a prerequisite amongst chimera. It made Kirk want to take him down a peg and stand over him after he’d fallen.

Nothing like some homoerotic imagery there, he chided himself.

“I’m here to help,” he said.

Aleksander traced his tongue across his bottom lip. “As Constance ‘helps’?”

Kirk resisted the impulse to laugh and play it off. It would be a nervous tell and he wasn’t about to give Aleksander the satisfaction. “I was thinking more along the lines of being a friend who helps you let off steam. Physically.” When the chimera’s lips twitched, he quickly added, “I mean like boxing. Or sports. Whatever it is you do to keep in shape.” He motioned vaguely at the other male’s body. “Do you run, or workout or—”

“You couldn’t last with or against me, little human. You’re no use to me in that way.”

Aleksander panned down Kirk’s body. “Though you’re fit and…large for your kind.” A crease appeared in his forehead and he resumed staring into his glass.

Fit and large? If you only knew, buddy.
Pages or Words: 74,000 words

 STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Contest:  Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Master of No One’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter link and prizes provided by Pride Promotions.

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Tour Dates & Stops:

9-Mar

Bayou Book Junkie

10-Mar

Nephylim

11-Mar

Love Bytes

Carly’s Book Reviews

12-Mar

MM Good Book Reviews

13-Mar

Parker Williams

16-Mar

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

17-Mar

BFD Book Blog

18-Mar

My Fiction Nook

19-Mar

Inked Rainbow Reads

20-Mar

Molly Lolly

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

Need a Spark of Magic? A Closer Look at Lissa Kasey’s Inheritance (excerpt and contest)

amazon-Inheritance

Inheritance (Dominion #1) by Lissa Kasey
Release Date: March 3, 2015

About Author Lissa Kasey

Lissa Kasey lives in St. Paul, MN, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, and collects Asian Ball Joint Dolls who look like her characters. She has three cats who enjoy waking her up an hour before her alarm every morning and sitting on her lap to help her write. She can often be found at Anime Conventions masquerading as random characters when she’s not writing about boy romance.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lissa.kasey
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLissaKasey
Twitter: parisbvamp
Other: google.com/+LissaKasey

Publisher: Lissa Kasey
Cover Artist: Simone Hendricks

Sales Links:   Amazon

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STRW Author BookSynopsis

Seiran Rou’s life is complicated—he’s the only male in the world allowed to take magic classes in a female-dominant society, his vampire boyfriend, Gabe, is hinting that he wants more, and his mother is demanding a grandchild. But when a co-worker turns up dead on his doorstep, Seiran realizes his problems are only beginning.

With the police dogging his steps, a stalker-like bartender watching his every move, and a magic groupie following him around, Seiran is finding it hard to hide his power—a power that if revealed could get him killed. The Dominion, the ruling body of elemental magic, seems to have started a deadly game to control the rare magic he possesses.

Someone is pulling strings, murdering witches, and gathering power. When Seiran finds himself next on the hit list, he doesn’t know whether to run and hide or prove himself to be the powerful witch he is. If he stands up and fights, he’ll have to decide what is more important—hiding his power or protecting the ones he loves.
Categories: Alternate Universe, Contemporary, Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Professor Wrig gestured to the stump. “Seiran, if you will demonstrate, please?”

Rose looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. “I can show them how it’s done, Professor,” she said.

“I’m sure you can, Miss Pewette. However, I already asked Mr. Rou.”

I took a deep breath and stepped up to the stump, wondering if I was allowed to actually focus with the earth this time. “Can I kneel?” I asked Wrig quietly.

“Whatever you feel is necessary.”

I knelt and waited for instructions.

Professor Wrig explained, “As Mr. Rou is showing you, he is putting himself in close contact with his element. He will be pulling power from the earth. Should he accidentally pull too much, he can give it back without causing damage to us or the surrounding area. He will take the time he needs to focus his power, and then he will place his hands to the stump. All witches with a measurable level will make something grow. A level one will produce moss or ivy. A level two will create flowers or even a small bud of a new tree. His level is set by what grows. Whenever you’re ready, Seiran.”

“Try not to kill any of us,” Rose sneered from behind me.

I sighed, closed my eyes, and left all their scattered whispering behind. It didn’t matter that Rose didn’t shut up or that Blond Hair looked at me like he was imagining what sex with me would be like. The earth and I knew each other well. I let it flow through me, like I was nothing more than a pebble in a lake to be shaped and guided by it. Each breath brought renewed life. I set my hands to the stump, remembering the last time, when I’d made wildflowers burst forth from the dead tree. This time I didn’t even look. The earth would grow what it wanted to with me as its conduit.

The power flowed through me in natural peaks and waves. The crowd gasped. The wood shifted and moved beneath my hands. I let the earth move as it wanted until the final wave subsided. Letting go, I opened my eyes and stared at a giant oak tree, leaves growing to a rich, vibrant green. No wildflowers this time. I smiled at the tree and patted its strong, new trunk, which split the old stump in half.

“Very good, Mr. Rou,” Professor Wrig told me. She offered me a hand up. I stood, dusted off my pants, and went to the back of the line. “Next,” she said.

And so began the testing.

Pages or Words: 65,000 words

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Tour Dates: March 5, 2015

Tour Stops:

Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Molly Lolly, Inked Rainbow Reads, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Fallen Angel Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Rainbow Gold Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Havan Fellows, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Kimi-Chan, Velvet Panic

 

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Rafflecopter link and prizes provided by Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
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It’s Cover Reveal Time for Lissa Kasey’s “Inheritance”! (contest)

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Its time to peel back the curtain and check out the gorgeous cover for Lissa Kasey’s “Inheritance”!

Cover Reveal for Inheritance (Dominion #1) by Lissa Kasey
Release Date: March 3, 2015

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Author Lissa Kasey Bio:

Lissa Kasey lives in St. Paul, MN, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, and collects Asian Ball Joint Dolls who look like her characters. She has three cats who enjoy waking her up an hour before her alarm every morning and sitting on her lap to help her write. She can often be found at Anime Conventions masquerading as random characters when she’s not writing about boy romance.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lissa.kasey
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLissaKasey
Twitter: parisbvamp
Other: google.com/+LissaKasey

Publisher: Lissa Kasey
Cover Artist: Simone Hendricks

Sales Links:  Amazon

About Inheritance…amazon-Inheritance

Seiran Rou’s life is complicated—he’s the only male in the world allowed to take magic classes in a female-dominant society, his vampire boyfriend, Gabe, is hinting that he wants more, and his mother is demanding a grandchild. But when a co-worker turns up dead on his doorstep, Seiran realizes his problems are only beginning.

With the police dogging his steps, a stalker-like bartender watching his every move, and a magic groupie following him around, Seiran is finding it hard to hide his power—a power that if revealed could get him killed. The Dominion, the ruling body of elemental magic, seems to have started a deadly game to control the rare magic he possesses.

Someone is pulling strings, murdering witches, and gathering power. When Seiran finds himself next on the hit list, he doesn’t know whether to run and hide or prove himself to be the powerful witch he is. If he stands up and fights, he’ll have to decide what is more important—hiding his power or protecting the ones he loves.
Categories: Alternate Universe, Contemporary, Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Inheritance Excerpt:

Professor Wrig gestured to the stump. “Seiran, if you will demonstrate, please?”

Rose looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. “I can show them how it’s done, Professor,” she said.

“I’m sure you can, Miss Pewette. However, I already asked Mr. Rou.”

I took a deep breath and stepped up to the stump, wondering if I was allowed to actually focus with the earth this time. “Can I kneel?” I asked Wrig quietly.

“Whatever you feel is necessary.”

I knelt and waited for instructions.

Professor Wrig explained, “As Mr. Rou is showing you, he is putting himself in close contact with his element. He will be pulling power from the earth. Should he accidentally pull too much, he can give it back without causing damage to us or the surrounding area. He will take the time he needs to focus his power, and then he will place his hands to the stump. All witches with a measurable level will make something grow. A level one will produce moss or ivy. A level two will create flowers or even a small bud of a new tree. His level is set by what grows. Whenever you’re ready, Seiran.”

“Try not to kill any of us,” Rose sneered from behind me.

I sighed, closed my eyes, and left all their scattered whispering behind. It didn’t matter that Rose didn’t shut up or that Blond Hair looked at me like he was imagining what sex with me would be like. The earth and I knew each other well. I let it flow through me, like I was nothing more than a pebble in a lake to be shaped and guided by it. Each breath brought renewed life. I set my hands to the stump, remembering the last time, when I’d made wildflowers burst forth from the dead tree. This time I didn’t even look. The earth would grow what it wanted to with me as its conduit.

The power flowed through me in natural peaks and waves. The crowd gasped. The wood shifted and moved beneath my hands. I let the earth move as it wanted until the final wave subsided. Letting go, I opened my eyes and stared at a giant oak tree, leaves growing to a rich, vibrant green. No wildflowers this time. I smiled at the tree and patted its strong, new trunk, which split the old stump in half.

“Very good, Mr. Rou,” Professor Wrig told me. She offered me a hand up. I stood, dusted off my pants, and went to the back of the line. “Next,” she said.

And so began the testing.


Pages or Words: 65,000 words
EMBadgeTour Dates: February 13, 2015

Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews Inked Rainbow Reads, My Fiction Nook, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Molly Lolly, MM Good Book Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, The Hat Party, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Lee Brazil, Divine Magazine, Christy Loves 2 Read, 

Bending The Bookshelf, Multitasking Mommas, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Velvet Panic

 

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: One of three print copies. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Into the Danger Zone with Jackie Nacht’s Strike of the Diamondback! (contest)

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Strike of the Diamondback (#4 Venomous Mate) by Jackie Nacht
Release Date: February 1, 2015

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Author Bio:

Short, sexy and sweet— where a little love goes a long way.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s stories. She was introduced to M/M Romance through her sister, Stephani, and read it for years. Then, she thought it was time to put her own stories on paper. Jackie began writing short and sweet stories that ended with a happily ever after.

Thinking back to her own book addiction, where there were many nights Jackie stayed up way too late so she could read just one more chapter— yeah, right— Jackie decided to write short romances for young adults as well as adults. Hopefully, they will give high school and college students, or working men and women something they can read during their lunch hour, in between classes or just when they want to briefly get away from the daily stresses of everyday life.

Where to find the author:

You can find Jackie at:
Website: http://www.jackienacht.com
Blog: http://www.jackienacht.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.nacht?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackieNacht

Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Latrisha Waters

Sales Links: eXtasy Booksthestrikeofthediamondback72

Blurb:

Two years ago, TL came across his fire ant mate, Rio. Duty kept them apart, and they were only able to love each other from afar.

When Striker escapes the tortures of the anti-venom pack, running into the wild, he didn’t expect to encounter his mate. However, he is a shell of his former self, broken from the abuse done to him.

Rio saved TL once, and when his TL comes to ask for help, Rio finds himself shocked that the venom he’s always loved is holding their mate, a mate they’ll have to heal together.

Authors Note: The first half of this book overlaps in timeline to Pursued by the Wandering Spider. For better reading enjoyment, it is best the series be read in order. Thank you.
Categories: Alternate universe, M/M Romance, Menage/Poly (MMM), New Adult, Post-Apocalypse, Romance, Science Fiction, Paranormal

Excerpt:

Chapter One
Two years ago
TL was in a fucking load of trouble. This nasty bitch of a viper was giving him one hell of a fight. He swung his arm and landed a punch to her horned nose. She hissed and came back at him with a wicked-looking blade. The viper was completely bald, her entire body covered in snakeskin. She was lean and sleek, but TL knew firsthand, she was very fucking lethal. He jumped back as she swung, and he went for his hunting knife.

The snake had already gotten a piece of one of his wings, making it completely impossible for him to fly his way out of this situation.

The viper female She was strong, and he was in her territory. Why the hell hadn’t he waited for Boone? TL sliced the knife through the air, causing a deep gash to her chest but not enough to bring her down. She charged him, crazed, fangs leaking the venom TL wanted nothing to do with. He kicked out and missed. She tackled him to the ground, sinking her blade deep in his side.

“Ahhh!” TL screamed out in utter agony. The white-hot pain caused him to fall back, completely defenseless as his enemy straddled him.

With the last of his strength, he pushed up, slicing the viper under the arm. She screamed, hissed, wriggling around, more snake than human, much like the venom she presented right on top of him. TL attempted to get out from underneath, still bleeding like crazy. He managed to break free, and try to gain as much distance as he could while unable to get off his damn hands and knees.

She came back, maddened and enraged, and TL held up his arms, waiting for his end. She slithered toward him at a speed only venom of superior strength could match.

A boot shot out in front of him, connecting with her face, just a mere feet from his own body. He glanced up to see a man standing above him with a ball mace in his hand and enough other weapons on his body for a small army. The muscular man pulled a machete and went after the female. TL’s head fell back. He didn’t even have enough strength in him to see who won. Closing his eyes, he let the darkness take him.

Pages or Words: 17,250

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Tour Dates: February 1, 2015

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Decadent Delights, Amanda C. Stone, Molly Lolly, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Tara Lain, Love Bytes, Andrew Q. Gordon, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, The Blogger Girls, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Queer Town Abbey, MM Good Book Reviews, Hearts on Fire, The Hat Party, Velvet Panic, Carly’s Book Reviews, Charley Descoteaux, Fallen Angel Reviews, My Fiction Nook

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Love Bleeds Blood Red with Shira Anthony’s Blood and Rain (Blood #1) Book Tour and Contest

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Book Name: Blood and Rain (Blood #1)
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Shira Anthony

Author Interviews

Q  You’ve gone from musicians to mermen to vampires.  That’s quite the changeup.  What prompted such a wide swing in genres and main characters?

I love just about every sub-genre of gay romance: contemporary, historical, BDSM, supernatural, sci fi, you name it! And really, my first love of reading came from fantasy and sci fi, so the switch from contemporary musicians to vampires isn’t as surprising as you might think. I grew up on Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series of sword & sorcery books, and I was a total Star Trek and later, Star Wars geek.

Writing in different genres is a great way for me to keep my writing fresh. In fact, I wrote the first book in the Mermen of Ea Series when I felt I needed a break from writing angsty musicians. I had promised my publisher another Blue Notes Series book, and instead I wrote Elizabeth North an email and said I’d like to swap out mermen for musicians. She’s so incredibly cool, she didn’t bat an eye!
Q.  What drew you to each romance and couple you wrote about?

In the Blood Series, there are three MM couples, two of whom you meet rather quickly, the third which you discover a bit later in the story. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that I liked the different dynamics of the couples. Romance needs tension and resolution, and these three couples each represent a different sort of tension.

Up front, and the main focus of the story is the pairing of Nicolas Lambert, an ancient vampire, and Adrien Gilbert, a vampire hunter. The appeal here was Adrien’s hatred for vampires and his black and white outlook on things. When he starts to have feelings for Nicolas, it shakes the foundation of his world. He’s forced to rethink his opinions and assumptions.

The other two pairings also have dynamics that lead to some great romantic tension. Charles Duvalier, a vampire, and François Gilbert, Adrien’s brother are like sunshine and gloom. Charles feels guilty for turning François into a vampire, and he can’t forgive himself for what he’s done in the past. François is bright and curious—Charles’s opposite in so many ways. I love writing that kind of couple.

Without giving the plot away, I can say that the last pairing (I won’t name names here) is all about misunderstandings and the past getting in the way of love. Love lost, and the promise of rekindling that love. Another great way to write tension into a story. The happy ending comes when both men can forgive each other and learn to trust each other again.
Q.  What was the inspiration behind Blood and Rain?

There are a few things that inspired me to write the series, including my longtime love of Anne Rice’s vampires, in particular. Add to that mix a few haunting songs that have stuck with me, The Indigo Girls’ “Ghost,” and Evanescence’s “My Immortal,” and my muse took off at a run!

Q How long have you been thinking of writing a vampire couple?

I’ve had this series simmering on the back burner for a few years, and after finishing another Blue Notes Series book, I needed a change of pace, so I trotted out what I’d already written and finally finished the first book in the series. The second book is finished, by the way, and will be released in the spring.

Q.  Your favorite vampire in literature?

Louis de Pointe du Lac from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles! Lestat, the main focus of the books, is fun, but Louis has all the angst and the doubts I love in a fictional character. He’s gentle and conflicted, and he didn’t want to become what he is. I love angst, and Louis has it in spades! Louis, for those who may not know, is the narrator of Interview with the Vampire.

Q.  Your favorite vampire in the movies?

Brad Pitt as Louis de Pointe du Lac in Interview with the Vampire. Although Alexander Skarsgård as Eric Northman in True Blood also rocks my world!

Q.  Do you know how many books you have planned for this series?

Three books in all. Blood and Rain, Blood and Ghosts (Spring, 2015), and Blood and Eternity, which will probably release in late 2015.

Q.  You love the water and sailing.  Any chance of seeing more sailors or captains in future stories?

I’m just about finished writing the last of the Mermen of Ea series, Running with the Wind, so that’s your next chance to get into the water with me! But you know there will be more sailing and captains at some point after that, as well. We’ll just have to see what genre they decide they want to be!

Q. What’s next for Shira Anthony?

Next up is Blood and Ghosts (Blood #2), which is currently in edits and due out this spring. After that, look for Running with the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3). After that, I’m working on a contemporary romance set in eastern North Carolina with my good friend and fellow Dreamspinner Press author, Cody Kennedy (writing under his adult pseudo, Aisling Mancy). Beyond that, look for the last Blood Series book, and maybe another Blue Notes novel. We’ll see!

Thanks for hosting me today, Melanie and crew! It’s been a pleasure, as always. -Shira

Author Bio:

Shira Anthony was a professional opera singer in her last incarnation, performing roles in such operas as Tosca, Pagliacci, and La Traviata, among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.

 Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing, she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 35’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.

Author Contact:

Shira can be found on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthony

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641776.Shira_Anthony
Twitter: @WriterShira
Website: http://www.shiraanthony.com
E-mail: shiraanthony@hotmail.com

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese DanteBlood and Rain 400x600

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press eBook    All Romance (ARe)

Blood and Rain Blurb:

Blood: Book One 

Adrien Gilbert has spent several lifetimes searching for the love he lost. Born in the 1800s into a clan of fabled vampire hunters, Adrien once wanted nothing more than to tend his family’s vineyard in southern France or read a good book. But Adrien’s peaceful existence ends abruptly when his older brother, François, is murdered. Bound by his hunter’s oath, Adrien sets out on a path that will forever change his life when he agrees to execute his brother’s killer, the vampire Charles Duvalier. 

After months chasing the elusive Charles, Adrien reluctantly makes a bargain with Nicolas Lambert, an ancient vampire. Adrien will escort Nicolas to Paris for his marriage to a rival clanswoman, and Nicolas will help Adrien find Charles. Nicolas’s quiet strength and gentle heart soon convince Adrien that Nicolas is nothing like the vampires he has sworn to destroy. As the wedding date draws nearer, a force intent on destroying the fragile peace between the vampire clans threatens to tear apart both the vampire realm and the world of the hunters. To secure both past and future for those he loves, Adrien must find a way to stop the looming war between hunters and vampires. But first he’ll have to let Nicolas go.

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Vampires, Historical, M/M Romance, Romance, Paranormal

Blood and Rain Excerpt:

Adrien licked the skin of Cole’s neck, feeling the blood pulse there, hearing it call to him. Cole tilted his head in anticipation, opening himself to Adrien.

Adrien buried his teeth in Cole’s skin. Blood flooded his mouth and danced on his tongue, sweet and salty.

Too long. His body was far more vampire-like in its craving for blood than when he’d first been given the gift of an ancient vampire’s soul. He wondered if it was the same for other immortals.

Adrien tried to ignore the images that flashed through his mind—the sound of silvery laughter, a mother’s loving caress. Cole’s memories. Adrien despised this forced intimacy, but he’d come to see it as the price of blood. Something to be tolerated.

It hadn’t always been that way. When he’d shared Nicolas’s blood, Adrien had experienced great joy. He’d seen himself through Nicolas’s eyes and felt the depth of Nicolas’s love. Each drop of that precious liquid had opened new doors. Each taste offered insight into Nicolas’s heart and soul. A beloved memory. A mystery—the mystery of Nicolas—unfolding with every swallow.

Adrien drank his fill, then claimed Cole’s mouth. This kind of contact he could stomach. He didn’t need sex to survive, but he enjoyed the release. Cole unbuttoned Adrien’s black silk shirt and his cock swelled against Adrien’s thigh. Adrien moaned as Cole skated his fingertips over his chest.

“I have never known a hunter to crave blood,” Cole whispered in his ear. “I thought only we experienced the bloodlust.”

“You were wrong,” Adrien said as he pulled Cole’s shirt over his head and mouthed a pretty pink nipple. Sex was always better after he fed, and Adrien’s cock was already hard at the thought of fucking such a lovely ass. He drew Cole’s body against his, walked backward into the living room, and pulled Cole with him onto the rug. Soon they were naked and he was no longer a hunter or an immortal, he was simply a man, seeking release, seeking pleasure.

For at least an hour after, Adrien lay on the floor and allowed the night air to caress his bare skin. He closed his eyes and dozed.

“Adrien.”

The voice awakened him. Nicolas’s voice again. Why sleep if it only served to reawaken the pain he sought to suppress?

He stood and pulled on his jeans. He walked onto the balcony in his bare feet, then climbed to the roof of the penthouse.

Pathetic.

Having reached the edge, he spread his arms. He leaned forward and fell unimpeded, riding the wind like a sigh. The glass of the building sailed by him, the breeze buffeting his face. He hit the water and sank into the cold blackness. He wished he could die.

Pages: 280

BlackBaRBadgeTour Dates:/Tour Stops:

15-Dec

Joyfully Jay

16-Dec

Prism Book Alliance

17-Dec

Rebecca Cohen Writes

Rainbow Gold Reviews

18-Dec

Love Bytes

19-Dec

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

22-Dec

Amanda C. Stone

23-Dec

Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

24-Dec

Emotion in Motion

25-Dec

Molly Lolly

26-Dec

Book Suburbia

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Handmade “Blood and Rain” unisex pendant from artist Martin Brodour.Shira Anthony Blood And Rain Necklace Giveaway

$10 Dreamspinner Press Gift Certificate. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Use the link provided for the entry form and for all additional contest details.

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Time to Go Nuts with Jackie Nacht’s A Paranormal Chipmunk Christmas! (book tour and contest)

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Book Name: A Paranormal Chipmunk Christmas
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Jackie Nacht

Author Bio:

Short, sexy and sweet— where a little love goes a long way.

That’s the best way to describe Jackie Nacht’s stories. She was introduced to M/M Romance through her sister, Stephani, and read it for years. Then, she thought it was time to put her own stories on paper. Jackie began writing short and sweet stories that ended with a happily ever after.

Thinking back to her own book addiction, where there were many nights Jackie stayed up way too late so she could read just one more chapter— yeah, right— Jackie decided to write short romances for young adults as well as adults. Hopefully, they will give high school and college students, or working men and women something they can read during their lunch hour, in between classes or just when they want to briefly get away from the daily stresses of everyday life.

Where to find the author:

Website: http://www.jackienacht.com
Blog: htttp://www.jackienacht.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.nacht?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackieNacht

Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Zathyn PriestA Paranormal Chipmunk Christmas

Sales Links:    MLR Press LLC

 A Paranormal Chipmunk Christmas Blurb:

It’s time for the chipmunk brothers to take their bear and wolf home to meet the family for the holidays.

A vicious horde of chipmunks? Dallas and Gunner knew that meeting their mate’s family wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. How could it be when they had eighteen brothers and sisters? This bear and wolf are about to be put to the test, surviving this family holiday. Will they be able to escape just the four of them or will they be taking some of the siblings back to White Pine…involuntarily?
Categories: Holiday, Paranormal, Contemporary

Excerpt: Chapter One

Gunner gripped the armrest, stale air brushing over his face from the tiny fan above. He fucking hated to fly, he really did, but the destination was well worth it in the end. His mate, Phillip, sat next to him, smiling out the window as they flew toward Atlanta. Phillip and Nikko had grown up there and their mother had invited him and Dallas to spend the holidays with them. Gunner was all too excited to meet the family of his mate. Phillip talked about them often and Skyped with them frequently. Gunner had talked to a few of them, but he had a feeling that he was ill prepared for meeting eighteen of Phillip’s brothers and sisters.

The plane tilted, and Gunner blew out a breath, feeling his stomach churn, his eyes frantically searching for the tiny bag in the pouch in front of him but coming up empty. The seats had seen better days, and he focused on the tear in the corner of the seat in front of him until the plane leveled off, praying he didn’t throw up in his mate’s lap.

A hand touched Gunner’s sweaty one, and he glanced over at Phillip, who eyed him with concern. “Didn’t you take the Dramamine?”

Gunner swallowed thickly. “I took three.”

“Three!” Phillip shouted in alarm, turning toward him. “You’re supposed to take one, no more than two.”

“I thought…” I was going to crash and die. “Being a bigger guy, it wouldn’t work, and it hasn’t.”

“When did you take it?” Phillip placed his soft hands to his forehead. Silly chipmunk, Gunner wasn’t running a fever, just feeling the effects of motion sickness and fear take hold of him. He might be a bit clammy, but hot he was not.

“Right before we took off, and I’m a big guy. It goes by weight.” Gunner blew out a quivering breath.

Phillip was staring at him, shaking his head as if he’d lost his damn mind. “You’re a doctor…”

“Dentist,” Gunner interrupted.

“You know better. This is going to knock you on your ass,” Phillip hissed at him. Gunner wasn’t sure what Phillip was worried about. His mate should be reading the damn emergency brochure because they were starting to have turbulence.

Oh shit! We’re gonna die!

Nikko stared at them from across the aisle. “What the hell is your problem? It’s not that bad.”

Not that bad.

He was going launch himself out of the seat and choke his brother-in-law. That is if he could unglue his hands from the armrest. Like the pieces of plastic would save him if they plummeted to their death, but the grips were a damn security blanket for him right now, so screw it.

Dallas shook his head from next to Nikko. “He hates to fly.”

“Well, it’s all fun and games until we’re dragging his ass all over Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. You know how big that airport is. Did you hear how much motion sickness medicine he took?” Nikko tattled on him to Dallas.

“They have a train,” Phillip defended him.

Nikko gave his brother an incredulous stare. “Then you carry him to the train yourself. By the time you’re through, you’ll look like fucking road kill.”

CCBadgeTour Dates: December 19th, 2014

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Gaylist Book Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book  Junkie, Tara Lain, My Fiction Nook, Christy Loves To Read, MM Good Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Velvet Panic, The Hat Party,  Rainbow Gold Reviews, Love Bytes, Queer Town Abbey, Fallen Angel Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Havan Fellows, Nephylim, Up All Night, Read All Day, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

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