Tag: Romance

Coffee Sip and Book Break with DC Juris’ ‘137 Owens Street’ (excerpt and contest)

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137 Owens Street by DC Juris
 Release Date: December 16, 2015

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Blurb

Matthew is going insane. How else can he explain remembering things he doesn’t own or trips his wife never took? Not to mention the visions, and the phantom in the café. But when the man in the visions reaches out to him with an explanation, and the phantom from the café tracks him down, things start to make a little more sense.

Morgan is a devout Christian. He believes in God, Heaven, Hell, and the Bible. But his world spins out of control when his husband Matthew disappears and a mysterious man tells a tale outside the realm of reality. How can Morgan put his faith in something so far-fetched? And what will happen to Matthew if he doesn’t?

Previously published by Breathless Press.

 

Pages or Words: 16,400 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Religious Theme, Sweet Romance

Excerpt

A burst of white light surrounded him, and he held his hand up against the glare reflecting from his car. His red car. Not the black one he’d gotten into this morning. He’d known something was off when he’d cranked it up, but hadn’t been able to place what. Now he knew—the color wasn’t right. He took a step toward the car, and a pair of arms encircled his waist from behind.

“Come back to me!” a soft, deep voice pleaded against his ear.

Matthew turned as quickly as he could, but the light and the man had vanished. He closed his eyes and leaned back against his once-again-black car, his heart hammering, his throat thick with emotions he didn’t understand. He’d recognized that voice the moment he’d heard it, yet now he couldn’t place it. Now his mind relegated it to the hazy depths of forgotten things, like half-remembered tunes that went like da-da-da-da-da-something…la-la…and nebulous gray snatches of faces from childhood. But in that moment, he’d known, and he’d thrilled in it. The voice had evoked a response from him so intense and swift, like suddenly finding something he’d been missing for years in some random place he’d looked a million times.

He wondered what the speaker had meant. Come back to me. He looked around quickly, cleared his throat, and straightened his clothes. Thankfully, no one else had seen…whatever had just happened. He took a deep breath and headed back into the office. So he was having visions of a different color car and hearing a mysterious voice. That didn’t make him crazy. At least, not if he kept it all to himself.

He went back into the building, to his office, and stopped in the doorway. Where was his Chinese dragon? He distinctly remembered buying a print of a colorful Chinese dragon and hanging it right there on the opposite wall. Right where anyone could see it from the hallway. Or…had he? Matthew walked over to the wall. No picture hanger. No hole. Had he dreamed the piece of art too?

Buy the book:  Torquere Books

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Meet the Author

Romance author, sci-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we’re talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake making, football watching, rubber duck collecting, drag show loving, full of fabulous with a Capital F kinda gal. She’s also an Ordained Minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate NY with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair

watching “Star Trek” and “Supernatural” repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er…research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink::

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Full Moon Dreaming, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Bayou Book Junkie, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Happily Ever Chapter, Sassygirl Books, Jessie G. Books, Nephy Hart, Velvet Panic, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, The Hat Party, Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Kirsty Loves Books, MM Good Book Reviews

 

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘137 Owens Street’ by DC Juris.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

 

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In the Book Spotlight: Laurie Terson’s ‘Rockin’ Around the Ranch’ (excerpt and giveaway)

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Rockin’ Around The Ranch by Laurie Terson
 Release Date: December 11, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Melody A. Pond

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Blurb

There a storm is coming. And Christmas is on its way. Jace is supposed to be on his way to Florida. But Jace’s boyfriend Taylor isn’t coming. Taylor’s on a last minute business trip. Hunkering down and taking care of things on the ranch, Jace is trying to make the best of his sorry Christmas. But where the heck did this baby come from?

Taylor is on a business trip when a co-worker’s flu extends his trip. When he should have been heading on vacation with Jace, giving him the best Christmas present ever, he’s stuck in an airport talking to some old guy with a white beard.

 

Pages or Words: 16,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Romance, Ranch Hand/Cowboy, Holiday, and a little humor

Excerpt

Chapter One

Jacen Assante hurried past the split rail fence toward the barn. He’d told his co-workers, Shep and Carl, that he’d take care of the barn animals if they took care of the horses. They’d been out riding along the fence line all day looking for holes. Pausing at the barn door, he removed his gloves, pushed his battered Stetson back, and wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow. Even in the dead of winter, riding hard and pulling barbed fence wire could cause a body to sweat. He glanced around taking in the stark beauty of the world surrounding him. Nestled in the closed end of a wide valley and in the distance, mountains rose on three sides. This late in December, other than the pines, the trees were bare of leaves. The late afternoon sun glistened, reflecting from the few patches of snow on the ground. A few still clung to the tree branches. They had gotten their first dusting of snow just a couple of weeks ago. Jace knew they had a lot more snow to come.

They’d moved the cattle to the lower pastures a while back. Keeping them closer to the ranch buildings made sense—easier to get to and care for them. This late in the year, the only ones remaining were the few breeding stock animals his boss, Conner, wanted to keep. His boss sure had his own way of wanting to do things. Not like any other boss Jace had ever worked for.

Like the animals in the barn. Jace shook his head. No weathered wood for this barn. The barn was so darn fancy it was better than a lot of people’s houses. Got to love people with more money than brains. The critters in there had lights and heating. Hell, Conner had even put in central air conditioning. And all for a frickin’ cow, a goat, an ornery mule, and a miniature horse. The cow no longer gave any milk, just stood there chewing her cud. The goat head-butted anything that got close enough, and the mule tried to bite everything it could reach. Useless damn animals. Their horses had their own barn, not as fancy as this one but what the hell. The horses weren’t considered pets. Jace guessed he didn’t care except caring for them took up time when other things needed doing. There wasn’t enough time to get all of the work done. With just a few hands, as soon as they finished a chore they had to start all over again.

Jace watched as the other two cared for the horses they’d used. Shep had the tanned leather face of cowpokes from years ago. But Jace knew Shep was only about fifteen years older than him. That made Shep late forties. Jace always teased him about using sunscreen and moisturizers. Carl was the same age as Jace and took care of himself, much like Jace did. Neither man left the ranch house without sunscreen on. But even with care Jace knew there were a few laugh lines crinkling around the corners of his eyes.

Over the winter months it was usually just him, Shep Lambert, and Carl Drummer on the ranch. During peak season it was the three of them plus a couple of part-timers that worked a few days a week or as needed. Along with the teens that Conner sent their way. Sending at risk teens to the ranch had been a family tradition. Jacen had met Conner the summer he’d been sent there. They had struck up a friendship that lasted to this day.

Conner had spent every one of his summers working the ranch with his grandfather. Then while Conner had gone off to make his millions in real estate, Jace had stayed on to work the ranch. When Conner had inherited the ranch from his grandfather nothing had changed. Things had kept on the way they always had except now there was enough money to improve and expand the bunk house. This had upped the number of teen boys that could spend their summers learning about life and teamwork. Conner still dropped in to visit at least once a year, spending a week or so doing the things he had during his youth.

Shep’s voice bellowed, breaking into Jace’s musing. “Hey Jacen, ya going to move your ass or you going to stand there and daydream about your vacation instead of leaving on it?”

Shep and Carl were having way too much fun teasing Jace this year. It was good natured teasing because both of them knew how devastated Jace had been last year when his plans had been cancelled.

“Don’t be an ass.” He heard Carl chide Shep.

“I’m going, I’m going. But one, only Taylor or my momma call me Jacen. And you don’t look like either one. And two, I only have a few things left to pack. Like the toothbrush I’m using tonight.”

Shep threw his dandy brush at Carl’s head. “And who wanted to bet on the vacation going off as planned?”

Jace turned toward them. “What the hell? You guys have a bet going?” With each word out of his mouth he got pissed just a little bit more. What the hell where they thinking?

Holding up both hands, Shep looked to Carl for help. “Now, Jace, don’t go getting your mad on. We’re mostly betting on it so that it does happen. And it wasn’t just us. Jesse and Pete both have money on this too. Hell, Evan does too.”

His jaw dropping, Jace stared at the two ranch hands. “What the fuck? Carl, even your boyfriend is in on this?”

“Hell, Evan wasn’t going to pass on this bet. And yeah, we were just doing that reverse psychology thing.” Carl smiled at Jace, seemingly pleased with his logic. “You know like when you want something bad enough you make it seem like you don’t so you aren’t disappointed.”

“Yeah, right guys.” Jace shook his head, not believing any of it as he made his way over to the barn. “And next you’re going to tell me you believe Santa Claus is real too. Keep talking and digging that hole deeper.”

Today he wanted the last of his chores for the day to be done. He had to get back to the farmhouse and finish the packing so he and his boyfriend could leave on vacation in two days. They were going for seven warm, sunny, tropical days in Florida. Just him and Taylor, lying on the beach, soaking up all the sun they could handle. They would be drinking all kinds of fruity rum drinks all day. No bosses, no cattle, no cowhands, no snow, no worries. After canceling last year’s vacation, Taylor had promised this year it was going to happen. Damn, he was looking forward to it. It felt kind of strange that he wasn’t going to be on the ranch for Christmas. He was such a sentimental sap about Christmas. He loved everything about the holidays here on the ranch. The snow, then going out and cutting a tree. The cooking, decorating and the shopping for that special present, yep, he loved it all. Oh, he’d never admit any of that out loud or anything, but it was still all true.

Thinking of Taylor, Jace rolled his eyes. He hated the label of boyfriend. After three years together you’d think there would be a better word. It made them sound like they were back in high school or something. Taylor Lawless was thirty six, for Christ sakes. And a regional manager of a restaurant chain, too. Jace hated that Taylor had to travel some for his job, but there wasn’t anything Taylor could do about that.

Taylor’s job was the only bone of contention they had between them. Taylor lived on the ranch with him, mostly. He still had a place in town but never stayed there. And there was enough to do around the ranch for Taylor to be put on the payroll. Taylor could do the office paperwork and payroll. And he was such a good cook, he could do that too. It was his pride that made Taylor stay at his damn job, since he hated his boss—or at least that was what Jace thought from the things Taylor said.

Shaking his head Jace decided that he wasn’t going to think about it anymore. They were going on vacation. That was all there was to it. He couldn’t let thoughts of last year derail this year’s plans.

Sliding the door open, he went into the barn. Taylor would be home in about an hour. They’d have dinner with the guys, and then get the rest of their packing done. Then Jace had plans that involved him, Taylor, their king-sized bed, and a whole lot of lube.

Buy the book:  All Romance (ARe) 

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Meet the author:
Laurie Terson grew up in So Cal, where she lived most of her life. She met her husband of thirty plus years there. A victim of the empty nest, when her daughter and son moved out, she has replaced them with a 5 lb dog named Peanut. The three of them currently live under the bright lights of Las Vegas.

Always a daydreamer, stories of one kind or another have lived in her head. She has always been and still is avid reader. She decided to try her hand at writing when she was challenged by a friend after they discussed how she was re-writing scenes from books to make them go the way she thought they should go.

When not reading or writing she can be found watching sports, of all kinds. A tomboy while growing up, she loved fishing, camping and traveling. She also enjoys going to the movies, cooking, wine tasting and crafting.

She is a believer that love is love, no more, no less. And that gender doesn’t matter because everyone deserves a happy ever after.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bonkers About Books, Bayou Book Junkie, 3 Chicks After Dark, Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Inked Rainbow Reads, Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Alpha Book Club, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Velvet Panic, The Hat Party

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $5 Gift Card to the retailer of choice, link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

 

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Get into the Game of Love with Status Update by Annabeth Albert (excerpt and giveaway)

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Status Update by Annabeth Albert
 Release Date: December 7, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Carina Press
Cover Artist: Carina Press

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Blurb

Adrian Gottlieb is winning at life. He’s a successful video game designer with everything a man could ask for, including a warm comfy ride to Denver and a date for his sister’s wedding. But he finds himself in need of a total reboot when he’s left stranded at a snowy campground in Utah. Holiday plans? Epic fail.

That is until Noah Walters offers him shelter for the night and a reluctant cross-country ride. Nothing about the ultraconservative geoarchaeologist should attract Adrian, but once he discovers Noah’s hidden love for video games, the two connect on a new level. Soon, a quiet but undeniable chemistry sparks.

Something doesn’t add up, though. As the miles accumulate and time runs out, Noah must face the most difficult choice of his life. Meanwhile, Adrian must decide whether he’s ready to level up. Is their relationship status worth fighting for, or has this game ended before it’s even begun?

Book 1 of the #gaymers series

Pages or Words: 64,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance

Excerpt

Chapter One

Noah knew the dog was trouble as soon as he and Ulysses entered the campground’s off-leash dog area. The little guy—some sort of Chihuahua/mini-pin mix in a yellow-and-green checked coat—stood in the center of the scrubby grass, barking his fool head off. The only human in the dog area sat at the picnic table on the far side, completely absorbed in his shiny phone, oblivious to his dog strutting around like all eight pounds of him would be enough to keep potential threats out.

Ulysses gave Noah a look, like “you really expect me to ignore that?” Noah tightened his hold on the tennis ball chucker. Ulysses never did well competing with smaller dogs for his toys. He unclipped Ulysses with a stern look.

“Be good.”

Still yapping, the little dog rushed over to inspect his new enemy. Predictably, Ulysses wandered away to do his business. He was too old for these sorts of games.

Noah gave a halfhearted wave in the direction of the owner, but the guy didn’t look up from his phone. The young guy was a typical hipster tourist—thick tortoise-framed glasses, artfully messed-up dark hair, with a thick purple streak, falling over his forehead. Slim build, but his wide shoulders stretched his too-thin jacket, making the shiny fabric ripple with his motions. He wasn’t any more prepared for November in Utah than his designer dog. Still, he was a cute guy, if one was the type to notice things like that, which Noah was not.

Noah looked away, studying the sheer cliffs that surrounded the Capitol Reef National Park. Didn’t matter how much time he spent in Southern Utah, he never got tired of the view. Phone guy was missing the light shifting into one of those perfect late fall sunsets that made the early dusk worth the loss of daylight. Pink streaks mingled with gray sky to cast a rosy glow over the scrubby grass and low fence of the dog area.

Rowwwr. Ulysses flopped at Noah’s feet, a deep beseeching whine rattling out of his barrel chest. He was eighty pounds of unhappy. He’d waited patiently all afternoon while Noah worked, and now he was missing out on his ball time thanks to the teacup gatekeeper.

“Okay, but play nice.” Noah threw the ball hard with the chucker toy, going for enough distance to outstrip the tiny dog’s ability to keep up with Ulysses. Not surprisingly, the little guy was tenacious, cutting off Ulysses’s path to the ball. Ulysses gave a warning woof, and Noah broke into a run, heading after the dogs.

“Down,” he called out. Ulysses wouldn’t attack the smaller dog, but he wasn’t above a major tantrum. And despite the smaller dog acting as instigator, people would see the huge black dog and toss out the “aggressor” label. Noah preferred to exercise him late in the day—Ulysses simply didn’t enjoy playing with other dogs, and Noah wasn’t one to force his dog into uncomfortable situations.

The little dog stood over the ball, yapping up a storm while Ulysses barked and growled, ignoring Noah’s command to sit.

Finally, the owner hefted himself off the picnic bench.

“Pixel, baby, what are you doing?” the owner called in a melodic voice that didn’t inspire Noah’s confidence in the man’s ability to control his dog. “Did the big doggie scare you?”

Hah. Typical. Noah snorted. “Can you grab the ball?” He didn’t trust those little dog breeds—too quick to snap. He’d nearly been bitten trying to retrieve a ball more than once.

“Oh sure.” The guy reached under Pixel—typical cutesy name for an annoying dog—and delicately plucked the ball free, but instead of handing it to Noah, he gave it a toss, sending both dogs running.

Oh great. Noah let out a slow breath, little puffs of vapor in the crisp evening air that did nothing to defuse his tension.

“It’ll be okay.” The way-too-handsy guy patted the sleeve of Noah’s parka. “They just need to work it out. Pixel loves to play.”

Noah took a step to the side. Who did that? Touched complete strangers? But the guy kept up his friendly grin, not unlike his dog, who kept gamely chasing Ulysses. Ulysses won the race to the ball this time and hightailed it back to Noah. Not releasing his prize, he whined softly.

“Hey, boy. You got a toy?” The guy knelt to dog level and extended a hand, but instead of sniffing, Ulysses shook his head.

“Sorry. He’s not much on new people.” Neither am I. Noah’s voice sounded rough to his own ears—too many days with only Ulysses to talk to.

“It’s okay.” The guy straightened, then extended a hand to Noah. “I’m Adrian Gottlieb. You been at Capitol Reef long?”

“Couple of weeks.” He returned Adrian’s handshake, hating it when a little buzz shot up his arm. Unlike his own gloved hand, Adrian’s hand was bare, a hint of a tattoo playing peekaboo with his cuff, his grip strong and firm. And Noah had absolutely no business noticing anything more than the guy’s relentless friendliness.

Adrian smiled expectantly as he released Noah’s hand.

“Oh, I’m Noah. And that’s Ulysses,” he added, because dog people always wanted to know all about the dog. No doubt the guy was bursting to tell Pixel’s life story.

“Add-dreeee-an,” a heavily accented voice called from the gate. A beefy guy close to Noah’s age leaned on the fence, bald head gleaming in the setting sun. “I’m lonely. When are you coming back?”

“Coming,” Adrian shouted, then gave Noah a shrug with a “what can you do?” expression on his face. He grabbed Pixel and jogged across the field.

Noah nodded like he knew anything about handling demanding friends. Adrian greeted the mammoth dude with a quick peck. Okay then. Not a friend. He should have guessed, but he was a bit slow about relationship stuff. The country was changing, even way out here, but no one would dare try even that much PDA in his tiny West Texas college town. His stomach gave a weird flip—not quite discomfort, but something else he refused to name. Time to return his attention to Ulysses. He hurled the tennis ball as hard as he could.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Googleplay

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Meet the Author

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency

Where to find the author:

 

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, 3 Chicks After Dark, Havan Fellows, Bayou Book Junkie, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, V’s Reads, Jessie G. Books, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Just Love Romance, Mikky’s World of Books, Happily Ever Chapter, Book Lovers 4Ever, The Jena Wade, Charley Descoteaux, Louise Lyons, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Michael Mandrake, It’s Raining Men

 

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $20 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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Coffee Sip and Book Break with Bitter Springs by Laura Stone (author and character interview, excerpt and contest)

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Bitter Springs by Laura Stone
 Release Date: December 3, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Interlude Press
Cover Artist: Collen M. Good

Today we’re happy to be interviewing Laura Stone,  author of BITTER SPRINGS, here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Hi Laura, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book. I see you also brought along a character to interview. Welcome, Hank!

Oh my goodness, thanks for having me! I’m a single mother of three, and with the older two off to college, I have a bit more breathing room to write. BITTER SPRINGS is both my attempt to tackle a challenge—I’d never been invested in Western literature, honestly—and to write a love-letter to my home state, Texas. I’m a desert gal at heart, and nothing makes me happier than being out in the dry lonesome prairie or desert for days on end. It’s so fantastic.

And here is Hank to answer some questions as well:

Hank, what do you find attractive in a man?
How much print space can I have? Lord, but I love men. First and foremost, give me a kind man. I’m pretty tired of giving rude, hateful, arrogant men a pass by claiming they’re “complicated”. Nope, they’re self-absorbed. Take it from me, any younguns reading along: You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats an animal or someone who works for him. Family should mean something. Creatures in your care should be treated with respect. If a man can’t do that, then I don’t think he’s much of anything, especially a man. You didn’t hear this from me, but hair you can tug on is pretty nice, too.

The first thing that went through your head when you saw Renaldo?
“Well, that doesn’t look like the runt of the litter.”

Do you think you’ll insist the author visits you again?
I don’t believe too much on insisting, but I’ll just say she’s barely scratched the surface.

Before you met Renaldo, what was your ideal man?
A family man. One who wasn’t afraid of working hard and who could appreciate the value in it. A man who could understand when it was time to be quiet, and maybe when they needed to draw me out of my head a little. I like a man with a passion for living, one who understands how you can’t take anything for granted. Life’s too precious for that.

You’re going out for dinner. What’s your favorite food?
Not too many opportunities for eating beyond Vista Verde, so I better just say anything Señora Valle Santos is cooking. That woman can work magic. Pretty fortunate that she likes cooking for me, I suppose, because Lord know I like eating it.

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In 1870s Texas, Renaldo Valle Santos, the youngest son of a large and traditional family, has been sent to train with Henry “Hank” Burnett, a freed slave and talented mesteñero—or horse- catcher—so he may continue the family horse trade. Bitter Springs is a sweeping epic that takes themes from traditional Mexican literature and Old Westerns to tell the story of a man coming into his own and realizing his destiny lies in the wild open spaces with the man who loves him, far from expectations of society.

 

Pages or Words: 302 pages
 Categories: Fiction, Gay Fiction, Historical, M/M Romance, Romance, Western/Cowboy

Excerpt

The day before the wedding, a visitor arrived at Vista Verde an entire week early. Renaldo, ready to wash up and eat dinner after a long, hard day—his side ached from roping cattle as a part of Paloma’s training, his hands were full of bits of raw hemp from the stock lassos, and one of the calves had kicked him high on the thigh—walked back from the barn using his hat to slap at the dust on his chest and thighs. He noticed a tall, striking young black man standing at the door to their home speaking with their father. They didn’t see many black men this far from civilization—with the Civil War ending so recently, many were staying close to where they’d been forced to live, were heading far out west where there were more opportunities to make a new life or were going north seeking less hostile society. Who he could be?

He was about as tall as Renaldo, maybe an inch or two more, broad-shouldered and whip-thin, dressed in well-worn, simple clothes. He had a close-cropped beard, but instead of hiding the shape of his jaw, it accented its sharpness. His light eyes, almost luminescent even at this distance and glowing like amber, were ringed with thick lashes, nearly to the point of being girlish, but there was nothing feminine about the man. With his lean but strong-looking chest, muscular arms and curved backside, he managed to carry himself with a confident air while standing idly; his body was still, but in a way that made Renaldo think of a raptor sitting on an abutment, watching and waiting.

“Oh, here he is,” Estebán said, motioning for Renaldo to join them, saying, “Señor Burnett, allow me to introduce to you my son, Renaldo.”

This? This was the legendary mesteñero, Henry Burnett? He couldn’t be much older than Renaldo, who realized his jaw had dropped. He closed his mouth quickly and moved toward them as if drawn like metal shavings to a magnet.

Burnett, however, looked amused, as the edge of his mouth quirked up. “Pleased to meet you,” he said, his voice deep and husky.

Renaldo couldn’t look away, shocked that his expectations couldn’t have been more wrong. This was a vibrant young man. But… this was the man he would be alone with on the prairie for months? His stomach twisted at that thought, and at how unexpected it all was, causing his heart to race and face flush. Yes, it was unexpected. That Burnett had come so much sooner than they’d expected had to be why Renaldo couldn’t find his voice and felt so upended.

“Mijo,” his father said sharply.

Renaldo shook himself slightly, and then nodded, saying, “Señor Burnett, it’s very good to meet you, finally. Please forgive my shock, as I don’t believe we expected you so soon.”

Burnett laughed, a rolling, melodious sound, and replied, “Well, then just imagine my shock when I come here all the way from Nacogdoches expecting one Valle man, only to find him gone and you in his place.” He smiled. “Your padre seems to think you’re a better match, so that works for me.”

That smile, bright teeth framed by full lips, eyes crinkled at the corners, helped lessen some of Renaldo’s shock and, if he was being honest, some of the worry that he carried about spending a lot of time with a hard, taciturn man Renaldo knew he would be unable to please. At the realization that this was who he would be with on the plains, just the two of them with no one else for weeks on end, Renaldo became excited, finally looking forward to this task. A young man with an infectious grin wouldn’t be such a chore to be stuck with after all.

Buy the book:

Meet the author:

Laura Stone is a born and bred Texan, but don’t hold that against her. She’s a former comedian, actress and Master Gardener, and currently keeps busy as a media blogger, ghostwriter and novelist when not busy raising her three children. They’re not fully raised, but then, neither is she.

She lives in Texas as proof that it’s not completely populated by hard-line right-wingers. And because that’s where the good tamales are. Her first novel, The Bones of You, was published by Interlude Press in 2014 and was named a finalist for two Foreword Reviews IndieFab Book of the Year Award. Laura Stone at Laura-Stone.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/9LauraStone

Where to find the author:

Facebook: facebook.com/9LauraStone

Twitter: @stoneyboboney

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Tour Dates & Stops:

3-Dec: MM Good Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Velvet Panic, It’s Raining Men, Hearts on Fire

4-Dec: Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Gay Book Reviews, Divine Magazine

7-Dec: Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Unquietly Me, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Bayou Book Junkie

8-Dec: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, My Fiction Nook

9-Dec: Elin Gregory, TTC Books and More

10-Dec: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Michael Mandrake, Love Bytes

11-Dec: Inked Rainbow Reads, Jessie G. Books

14-Dec: Dawn’s Reading Nook, QUEERcentric Books, Happily Ever Chapter

15-Dec: Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Emotion in Motion

16-Dec: BFD Book Blog, Prism Book Alliance

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Grand Prize: $25 Interlude Press Gift Card, First Prize: One of five e-copies of ‘Bitter Springs’.  Must be 18 years of age or older.   Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Cover Reveal for M. Leanne Phoenix’s The Covenant ( Covenant Series #1) (excerpt and giveaway)

CoverThe Covenant E-Book Cover with logo

The Covenant ( Covenant Series #1) by M. LeAnne Phoenix
 Release Date: January 15, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: CoolDudes Publishing
Cover Artist: Kellie Dennis

Blurb

When love is forbidden, who can you trust?

Seventeen year old David has been best friends with Jonathan for as long as he can remember, but the day he sees the pastor’s daughter press a soft kiss to Jonathan’s cheek everything changes. Overcome by jealousy, his explosive reaction reveals a deeper connection that sends their relationship spiraling down into dangerous territory.

When their clandestine love is discovered, they have nowhere to turn for help. The brutal circumstances of their parting test David and Jonathan’s covenant to each other in unimaginable ways. Forced to face their fears, it is in their darkest moments that the two young men discover that the courage, hope, and strength they need to to fight for their love, has been the foundation of their covenant all along.

 

Pages or Words: 280 pages, 71,000 words
 Categories: Gay fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult, Poetry, Romance

Excerpt

David opened his locker to get out his Biology, History, and Music History books and shoved them into his backpack, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. Jonathan’s comforting hand lit on David’s side as he came to lean on the locker to the right of David’s own, holding up in one paint-besmeared hand, a small piece of black cardboard. On it, David saw symbols, ones he thought might be Greek. Remembering the foreign exchange student from Thessaloniki shared Jonathan’s sixth period art class, he smiled and turned to his boyfriend as he took the proffered gift.

“What does it say?” David couldn’t help but smile at the joy lighting Jonathan’s eyes. “This has to be something that Kallias helped you make—”

“You aren’t wrong,” Jonathan interjected. “That is Greek writing and Kallias even taught me how to say it.”

“Enlighten me, please!” David rasped, focusing wholly on Jonathan’s gift. “Say it and then tell me what it means.”

“If I say it right, it’s agape menomou—”

David furrowed his brow, repeating, “A guppy man oh moo?”

Jonathan slid down the locker in a giggle. “Noooo! I must have said it wrong because your face… oh my gosh, your face!”

Blushing and biting his lower lip, David sank down to his haunches in front of Jonathan. “Then say it again, slower, and tell me what it means!”

Jonathan looked around, and seeing no-one in their locker bank, leaned up to whisper the Greek in his ear, the sounds slower… thicker. “Agape menomou means O love of my heart.”

Buy the book:  links to come

 

RC

 

Meet the author:

M. LeAnne Phoenix would tell you that the worst time of her life was the two years that she attempted to take off from writing. If you asked her to explain exactly why she did such a thing, you would most likely get the mad attempt to arch an eyebrow like her dad and then a shake of the head as she told you it was unlucky to speak of such things. Suffice it to say, it will never happen again!
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid-1970’s, Ms. Phoenix was young and wild (and even free!) during the crazy wondrous decade known as the 1980’s and the even crazier but now grungy decade of the 1990’s. Music is second only to the muses that live and breathe to fill her mind with beautiful men, and music always helps them to tell their stories. She is never without her iPod or her computer no matter where she goes, although, she does like to hike and take pictures of the sky and the moon, and even the occasional shot of the sun through the branches of a tree.
An avid cat lover, Ms. Phoenix has been owned by many throughout her life, though her current owner is one Lily-Rose, who really would like for her to step away from the keyboard and pay her some attention! After all, hasn’t she earned it?

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, BFD Book Blog, Gay Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Hat Party, Happily Ever Chapter, Divine Magazine, Love Bytes, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Nephy Hart, MM Good Book Reviews, KathyMac Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, A.M. Leibowitz, Velvet Panic, Alpha Book Club, Moonbeams Over Atlanta, Mikky’s World of Books, Book Lovers 4Ever, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: A signed print copy of ‘The Covenant’.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

 

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In the New Adult Fiction Spotlight: Mia Kerick’s ‘Clean’ (excerpt and giveaway)

CLEAN FRONT COVER WITH SEALS-fin3

Clean by Mia Kerick
 Release Date: December 1, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Cool Dudes Publishing
Cover Artist: Louis C. Harris

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Today I’m very happy to be interviewing Mia Kerick, author of Clean.

Hi, Mia,  thank you for stopping by and agreeing to answering a few questions for us here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

  • Tell us something no one else knows about your characters.

Lanny and Trevor are based, physically, on Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson of One Direction. I imagined the two of them throughout the creation of Clean. And it was great!

  • Have you ever written something that made you cry?

Inclination made me cry. When Anthony left the Catholic Church, he became so desperate because he thought he lost his connection with God, which was all he had ever wanted in life. His utter devastation and loneliness and forlorn feelings led me to cry buckets!

  • Have you ever co-written with someone before?

Michael Bowler and I co-wrote a short story for The Kickass Anthology. It was a story that indirectly protested the practice that the Boy Scouts had about refusing to let gay people participate. It was a great experience, but co-writing really isn’t my thing.

  • What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

NO DOUBT it is the technological aspect of being an author. I have no training on computers and social media and Facebook takeovers and stuff like that. All of this is necessary to creating and promoting books. I am lost!!

  • Name your four most important food groups.

Coffee

Chocolate

Cookies

Candy Corn

Interesting… all begin with letter C.

Thanks for the mini introduction to Mia Kerick, now lets take a closer look at Clean.

Blurb

High school senior Lanny Keating has it all. A three-sport athlete at Lauserville High School looking at a college football scholarship, with a supportive family, stellar grades, boy band good looks… until the fateful day when it all falls apart.

Seventeen-year-old Trevor Ladd has always been a publicly declared zero and the high school bad-boy. Abandoned by his mother and sexually abused by his legal guardian, Trevor sets his sights on mere survival.

Lanny seeks out Trevor’s companionship to avoid his shattered home life. Unwilling to share their personal experiences of pain, the boys explore ways to escape, leading them into sexual experimentation, and the abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol. Their mutual suffering creates a lasting bond of friendship and love.

When the time finally comes to get clean and sober, or flunk out of high school, only one of the boys will graduate, while the other spirals downward into addiction.

Will Lanny and Trevor find the strength to battle their demons of mind-altering substances as well as emotional vulnerability?

Clean takes the reader on a gritty trip into the real and raw world of teenage substance abuse.

 

Pages or Words: 289 pages
 Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult, Romance

 

ExcerptCLEAN FRONT COVER WITH SEALS-fin3

PROLOGUE

Lanny

Trevor wouldn’t even look at me when I walked over to the gas station this morning to say hi. And Jimmy’s Fuel Stop is like three miles from my house so it took a major effort to walk there, especially since I’ve been feeling like total crap lately. Another one of my shaky human bonds bites the dust. I need to go out and get myself a cat.

“Can’t you see I’m working, Keating?” That was all he said. But I’ve always been good at reading between the lines. I could tell what he was thinking as he stood beside the gas pumps, totally caught up in not looking at me. “Take a hike before you get me fired, loser. Some of us got goals in life….” So I took off before he had a chance to make me feel like I shouldn’t have ever made an appearance on the planet earth. But I still know it would have been better had I never been born…maybe Joelle would still be okay.

It’s Saturday afternoon and nobody’s home. Mom and Dad are probably off at the park with Joelle, sloshing through the wet snow together so she gets her daily exercise. Or maybe they took her to the make- your-own-sundae-place to improve her fine motor skills by sprinkling sweet toppings on big scoops of ice cream. I’m in Mom and Dad’s bathroom, bent in half with my head stuck in the closet, searching the cluttered shelves for anything that will get me high enough to escape. And I mean anything.

That’s when I see the cough syrup. The bottle in front is almost new, and there’s an older bottle of a different brand right behind it, little more than halfway full. Seeing these medicine bottles reminds me of something Chad suggested about a week or two ago— that we should try robo-tripping. He told me that if we drink enough cough syrup, the DXM in it would get us high in a “super blissful, tingling-body-parts way,” which sounded pretty decent to me then and still does now. Not completely surprised I remembered Chad’s exact description of a DXM high, I thank God for this dextromethorphan stuff that suppresses nasty coughs, because it looks like I’m going to find my much-needed buzz after all.

Pleased that I don’t have to resort to sniffing glue from the tube on my father’s basement workbench or huffing my mother’s hairspray—and believe me I came close—I snatch the bottles with a shaky hand. They’re both sticky with the syrup that dripped down the side last time one of the Keating’s had a major head cold accompanied by a hacking cough. Licking my fingers provides me with a hint of the cherry flavor I’m probably going to be barfing up later tonight. But I don’t care. I can’t get through a single day without some help, and by that I don’t mean help from my human friends, seeing as I have none left.

The walk to the shed seems longer than ever. It’s an effort to so much as put one foot in front of the other. I haven’t eaten anything for a full day; I’m sure that’s why I feel like such crap. And it’s not like I want to think about this stuff, but I can’t stop myself. The “stuff” I don’t want to think about is really people. The people I have hurt so much lately because of my bad habits.

This list starts with my little sister Joelle, who I told to “stuff a sock in it” when she asked me to read that goddamned book about a kid going to school—for the zillionth time! “School’s not all it’s cracked up to be, Jo. Stop being so damned excited about it! Those kids are gonna tear you to pieces and won’t even wait until you turn your back to do it!” It hurts too much to remember the expression on her face right after I told her that, so instead I stare beyond the leafless trees into the gray sky and think about my parents.

I’ve hurt Mom and Dad a lot too, because they know I’m sick, they just don’t know exactly what’s wrong with me. And I’m not sure how much they care. Their plates are too full already with Joelle’s problems, I guess.

I glance down at the two bottles of cough medicine dangling from between my fingers and remember Chrissy and Robyn, who I use like toilet paper. They can do way better than me in the study-buddy department.

I trip over a root that crosses my path and fall to my knees, but just as quickly drag myself back to my feet. A stray root isn’t enough to stop me from getting to where I’m going.

I’m almost at the shed now, and I can’t avoid thinking about him any longer. Trevor hates me. He never calls anymore, never asks me to go to the shed to drink some beer and fool around. He just looks at me in the hallway at school with angry disgusted eyes, and tells me every chance he gets “you’re fucking up your life and I’m not gonna let you fuck up mine.”

Trevor Ladd…the ultimate untouchable. If I could’ve made somebody like him want to be with me, I would’ve surely been able to win my parents back. Well, no such luck. I’m more of a zero to Trevor than I ever was…and Mom and Dad still don’t care.

Blew my entire life sky high. Which is where I’ll be soon, if all goes according to plan. I lift each bottle of sticky sweet cough medicine to my lips and kiss them, one by one.

Just the sight of the tiny, beat-up brown shed fills me with an indescribable sense of relief, probably like the feeling of coming home after years at sea. As soon as I push open the door, I see that Trevor isn’t here and I’m illogically disappointed. But Trevor can’t save me from myself. He did his duty; he tried to get me clean, and he got clean in the process.

Way to go, Trevor.

Alone in a frigid shed in the middle of the woods, I’m more than eager to suck down a couple bottles of cough medicine so I can be somewhere else…someone else. A vision of Landon Keating forms in my mind—not Lanny, the student, or Lanny, the athlete, or Lanny, the son and brother—but the near-future version of me when I’m “simultaneously mellow and stimulated,” if the online experiences I’ve read about taking DXM are accurate. Sad truth is, I’ll take just plain disoriented. Any effect will be fine if it whisks me away.

I drop down to the cold floor and without ceremony open one of the small bottles. The cough medicine goes down more easily than I thought.

Cherry-berry-sweet-thick-burning-soothing- pleasure-pain. It doesn’t take too long.

Itchy as hell…belly’s on fire….


“Read to me, Lanny…read it again!

”Can’t feel my legs at all….


“Wishes don’t wash dishes, son.”


Can’t stop barfing…. So sick….


“Take a hike, Keating—you filthy, no-good, loser boozer-druggie!”


Blew it with Trevor…blew it with everybody.

Can’t breathe…need a breath….

Gonna die here alone.

Buy the book:

Meet the author:

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to CoolDudes Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

30-Nov: The Hat Party, Mikky’s World of Books, Hearts on Fire, Bayou Book Junkie

1-Dec: Gay Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Multitasking Mommas, Books A to Z

2-Dec: Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, The Jena Wade, Love Bytes

3-Dec: Lee Brazil, Gay Media Reviews, Divine Magazine

4-Dec: V’s Reads, Posy Roberts, Nephy Hart

5-Dec: Dawn’s Reading Nook, Bonkers About Books

6-Dec: Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

7-Dec: The Day Before You Came, QUEERcentric Books, MM Good Book Reviews

8-Dec: Happily Ever Chapter, BFD Book Blog

9-Dec: Kimi-Chan, Inked Rainbow Reads

10-Dec: Emotion in Motion, Jessie G. Books

11-Dec: Havan Fellows, TTC Books and More, My Fiction Nook

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10.00 Amazon gift card.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  
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Early Bird Tour with Chris Owen/Tory Temple’s Never Too Early: Full Circle (Never Too Early #3) (excerpt and contest)

fullcircle1400

Never Too Early: Full Circle (Never Too Early #3) by Chris Owen and Tory Temple
Release Date: November 25, 2015

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

 

Blurb

In the final book of the Never Too Early series, cowboys Jake and Tor and firefighters Chance and Tucker have more on their plates than they bargained for. What started out as friendship has developed into strong feelings, and the couples continue to grow and learn about each other. However, adding two and two is more than a simple math problem. Words and emotions can be a dangerous mix, as the four men discover, and jealousy and miscommunication threaten what they’ve built together.

When two of the four unexpectedly connect, it sends all of them reeling. Pride is bruised and feelings are wounded, although they try desperately to hold themselves together in order to navigate this new territory. The physical distance between them all is both a blessing and a curse. When one of them reveals something that can’t be taken back, it threatens the relationships of all four men. How do two separate couples blend themselves to become one unit? The doubts and fears threaten to overwhelm them all, and no one will emerge unscathed.

 

Pages or Words: 78,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Ménage/Poly, Romance, Western/Cowboy

Excerpt

Chance was quiet for several minutes. A woodpecker in the front yard tree gave its high-pitched tweeting call before busily getting back to work.

“I definitely was not prepared,” he finally said. “And I know Tuck wasn’t. I’ll have to really sit and talk with him to see what he thinks. I can’t decide if us leaving today is a good idea or a shitty one.”

“I’ll miss you either way,” Jake said. “I don’t know Tucker well enough to know how long it takes him to think things through, and he might be uncomfortable being here. Which would suck. But you guys leaving and not being here to sort it all out sucks, too.”

“There isn’t much of a choice,” Chance sighed. “Our flight is at two. If I didn’t have to attend a meeting at headquarters tomorrow, I’d try and change it. But we — well, at least I — need to get home.”

“I know.” The distance sucked, and the fact that everyone had responsibilities they couldn’t shake off was both a good thing and a bad thing. It made for good people, but it made it difficult to handle issues as they came up. “Maybe the four of us can make this morning a good one, and everyone will feel better by the time you leave. Even if things aren’t completely settled, maybe they’ll be better.”

“It’ll be better right now if you kiss me like you mean it.”

Jake smiled and set his coffee mug aside. “Like I mean it?” He touched Chance’s cheek and kissed his mouth softly. “More?”

“More.” Chance smiled against Jake’s lips and kept his eyes closed.

Jake gave him more, the smiles fading as the kisses deepened and Chance’s mug was put down as well. They turned to each other, and Jake would have happily let his coffee go cold if he could stay right where he was for an hour or so.

Chance didn’t seem inclined to go anywhere, either. He put both hands on Jake’s face and held him gently as he pressed light kisses to Jake’s forehead, cheeks, and bridge of his nose before returning to Jake’s mouth with a sweep of his tongue and a slight nip. “I’ll miss you,” he murmured into Jake’s ear, then sucked Jake’s earlobe into his mouth for a split second.

“One of these days I’ll ask you not to go,” Jake whispered back. “Someday we’ll stay together.” Jake had no idea how that would work, but he knew that he wanted it.

Chance pulled back and looked at him, eyes soft. “Maybe someday we’ll work it out.”

Jake nodded and kissed him again. He was about to say something even more honest and probably embarrassing when the door opened and Tor said, “So, you two don’t need more coffee, then?”

Buy the book:  Torquere Books

 

Meet the authors:

Tory Temple:

I live in southern California, the land of no seasons. (Is wind a season?) I live with three dogs, two cats, and some tortoises. I’m married to a firefighter, which is great in the sense that some nights I get the TV all to myself, but not so great in the sense that some nights I have to figure out what to do when the washer starts leaking. (Or when there’s a bat in the house, which is a thing that happened when he was working.)

Most of my books are centered around the firehouse. When you spend a lot of time around firemen, you write what you know! And what’s hotter than a fireman?

Two firemen.

Chris Owen:

I am a writer of gay romances, a lover of dramatic TV and a fan of many things which are bad for me. I don’t cook, I do read, I pretend to garden, and I take care of my pets. One of my favorite things is a clean desk; another is a messy desk.

Where to find the authors:

Chris Owen:

Tory Temple:

Goodreads Links:


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Havan Fellows, BFD Book Blog, Gay Media Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, I Read Selfies, Bayou Book Junkie, Dawn’s Reading Nook, MM Good Book Reviews, Alpha Book Club, Jessie G. Books, 3 Chicks After Dark, Open Skye Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Three Books Over The Rainbow

Final for Never Too Early

Giveaway

Enter to win a E-copy of ’Never Too Early: Full Circle’ by Tory Temple and Chris Owen.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize provided by the authors and Pride Promotions.
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Coffee Sip and Book Break with ‘Black Lace’ by LJ Hamlin (excerpt and giveaway)

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 Black Lace by L.J. Hamlin
 Release Date: November 18, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

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Blurb

Jed Chance is the lead singer of Black Lace, a very successful rock band. It’s gone through a few lineup changes: first, Jed was outed by a former bandmate, and now they’re looking for another new member. That’s when Donnie comes to audition.

Donnie is ten years younger than Jed, and he’s beautiful, with a complicated past. He instantly gets a crush on Jed, but is afraid to act on it. Still, Jed and Donnie can’t keep away from each other. But getting together isn’t their only problem: Jed has attracted a dangerous stalker, who means to do Jed serious harm.

 

Pages or Words: 36,000 words
 Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Mystery, Romance

Excerpt

Reading about yourself on the Internet might be a bad idea — masochistic even — but during the audition break, Jed has the urge to see the latest gossip. He’s found an article that starts with a recap of Black Lace’s history; his history.

Lead singer of Black Lace, Jed Chance, shocked the world when he confirmed that he is, in fact, gay. Rumors started when ex-Black Lace member Bert Goode sold his story about his affair with the married man.

Jed winces, because it hadn’t been that simple, and because Bert’s betrayal still hurts, even though it’s been nine years. Jed skips over the speculation of why he’d played it straight, marrying Jamie Pierce, his now ex-wife and manager.

At the time, it seemed like the scandal would be the end of Black Lace, but two years after they went on “hiatus” the band was back with a new guitarist, and a new attitude. Mrs. Cherry Lee was a welcome addition to the band, and a breath of fresh air. The once great rock band was back again, delivering some memorable music.

But now Cherry Lee has retired from the band to spend more time with her family, having given birth to three children during her seven years in the band. Cherry Lee and the rest of her bandmates all claim to be parting on good terms. But what this reporter wants to know is what will happen to Black Lace now that Cherry Lee is gone.

The band’s record company claims this isn’t the end of Black Lace; there will be another tour soon and even a new album. Who will step into Cherry Lee’s shoes? And will it be the same? Better? Worse? Watch this space.

Buy the book: Torquere Books

RC

Meet the Author

L.J. Hamlin is a twenty-something (getting older every day) author, who has been writing all her life, mainly in notebooks no one else ever saw. Then she discovered M/M groups online and was encouraged by friends to share her stories. After a while (and with a lot of pushing) she grew brave enough to attempt getting published. Now she shares her stories with others and hopes never to stop. L.J. loves cats and pretty much all animals, is a collector of many things, often weird, but most of all books.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Havan Fellows, The Hat Party, A.M. Leibowitz, BFD Book Blog, Divine Magazine, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Bayou Book Junkie, Jessie G. Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Chris McHart, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, 3 Chicks After Dark, Book Lovers 4Ever, Velvet Panic, V’s Reads, MM Good Book Reviews

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Black Lace’ by L.J. Hamlin.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Zombies are Here in DC Juris’s ‘Bad Moon Rising’ (excerpt and contest)

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Bad Moon Rising by DC Juris
 Release Date: November 11, 2015

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Banner300x250

Blurb

Bryce never expected to find himself smack in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, and he certainly never expected to meet the man of his dreams along the way. But there’s more than zombies in the way of his happily ever after. Richard comes with baggage, in the form of his on again, off again bipolar lover Cole, who is off his meds and descending into his own mental hell at an alarming rate. Will the three men be able to work out their romantic feelings? Oh yeah…and then there’s that little issue of the zombies…

Previously published by Breathless Press.

Excerpt

“Stay down!”

“What’s going on?” I whispered.

“Looters,” Cole revealed. “They’re going up and down the street, searching cars.”

Well, at least they wouldn’t steal it, since we had the keys, and the chances of them sticking around to do any real damage to it seemed pretty slim, too. All we had to do was wait it out, and they’d go away.

Dolly stood and paced to the door, walking back and forth in front of it like she was on guard duty.

On the street, yelling broke out, and gunshots echoed in the night.

Richard cursed.

Our visitors had apparently been discovered. Shouts of run and look out descended into just inarticulate screaming and then the unthinkable: Dolly started barking.

Cole lunged for her, but the damage had already been done. The people outside started banging on our door, pleading to be let in.

“What do we do?” I looked to Richard, who was shaking his head.

“Nothing.”

“But if we don’t let them in, they’ll be infected,” I argued. Those were people outside — we had to help them. What if the roles were reversed? What if that had been me outside?

“And if we do let them in, we’ll be infected.” He reached for one of our backpacks and started shoving things inside. “We can’t stay here. Cole, shut that damned mutt up!”

“I’m trying!” Cole struggled with Dolly, trying to get her calmed down and quiet.

Richard threw a bag at me, hitting me square in the chest and bringing me back to reality. “Pack light. We’ll be walking.”

“The car–“

“Is compromised. We’ll never get near it. Hurry up. Cole!”

Cole scrambled back to us, dragging Dolly behind him.

Outside the shouting and banging intensified. Someone must’ve gotten smart, because a brick came careening through an exposed part of the door glass near the top. It sailed through the air, barely missing Richard’s head.

“Time to go!” Richard shoved Cole toward the back door. “Bryce, help me with the boards!”

I grabbed up a discarded hammer and handed it over to him while I fished in my bag for the crowbar I’d brought. We struggled with the boards, hacking and pulling. Richard’s face turned red with his exertion, and the warmth of my own efforts spread out from my arm muscles, making my chest tight and painful.

“Hurry up, guys!” Cole shouted.

I glanced back at the front door. The newcomers — two beefy men and a scraggly haired woman — had managed to get several of the boards free and were shouting at us. Behind them, I could see the horde moving closer. The woman let out a scream and disappeared from sight. The men didn’t even look back for her — they just kept on coming.

“Bryce!” Richard had gotten enough of the boards cleared for us to get through. I jumped out after him as he pulled Cole through. We ran along the back alley, Cole carrying a still-barking Dolly.

“Shut her up! She’s going to give us away!” Richard smacked at Dolly’s muzzle as he ran.

That seemed to stifle her for a few minutes, and we made it down the alley and through two more without chase. At last Richard stopped, heaving for air, and leaned against the wall of a building. I didn’t want to stop. My nerves on fire with adrenaline and fear, I ran past him.

“Bryce!”

I ignored him. Fight or flight had kicked in. I wasn’t much to look at size-wise — I had no hope of fighting off a crowd of hungry zombies, so flight it was. I had to get away from there. Like a rat in a maze, I kept running through alleys and streets I didn’t know and couldn’t really see, until I stepped square into a hole and stumbled. I put my arms out and tried to catch myself, but only succeeded in falling on my wrist, wrenching it back against my arm. I couldn’t keep from crying out, but even the momentary pain didn’t stop me.

I surged to my feet again, but I must’ve injured my left ankle in the fall as well, because it wouldn’t support my weight and I fell back down. Undaunted, I crawled for my life. Footsteps grew nearer and nearer. They’d catch me, but I’d be damned if they’d catch me easily.

“Bryce! Stop!”

I rolled over under the power of someone else. At any other time, I probably would’ve registered that the person was Richard. But right then, I didn’t recognize him. He knew my name, kept yelling it over and over — that much I realized — but it made no difference to me. I fought him as hard as I could, and at last, he simply pinned my wrists and collapsed on top of me.

He stopped yelling, instead resorted to just whispering my name in my ear again and again in a monotonous tone that finally managed to bore into my brain and made me stop struggling.

Richard pulled back and looked down at me. “I’m getting up, okay?”

I nodded. Still feeling skittish though, I tried experimentally to wrest one of my wrists out of his grip.

“Easy,” he cooed. “You’re not in danger.”

“Not yet,” Cole chimed in from behind him.

“You’re not helping,” Richard snapped at him.

Pages or Words: 31,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Horror, M/M Romance, Romance, Thriller

Buy the book: Torquere Books

 

RC

Meet the author:

Romance author, sic-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we’re talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake making, football watching, rubber duck collecting, drag show loving, full of fabulous with a Capital F kinda gal. She’s also an Ordained Minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate NY with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she’s not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair watching “Star Trek” and “Supernatural” repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er… research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink::

 

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bayou Book Junkie, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Inked Rainbow Reads, Happily Ever Chapter, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog, MM Good Book Reviews, Ogitchida Book Blog, Bonkers About Books, The Hat Party, V’s Reads, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Kimi-Chan, Jessie G. Books, Open Skye Book Reviews

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by DC Juris.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Dive Back Into the Supernatural with Melissa Grave’s Tainted Heart (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

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Tainted Heart (Mi Corazón Sangrante #2) by Melissa Graves
Release Date: November 5, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Interlude Press
Cover Artist: RJ Shepherd, Buckeyegrrl Designs

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Melissa Graves author of Tainted Heart.  Hi Melissa, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Tainted Heart is an urban paranormal story with themes of political intrigue and a heavy dose of erotica. The two main characters—a gay couple comprised of a human doctor who treats vampires and ends up falling for one, and the vampire he loves, a young, socially outcast man who was put through hell in high school—bring a variety of human and vampire experiences to the page. Brian, the doctor, comes from privilege and wants to make the world a better place, for vampires and humans alike. Kyle, the vampire, struggles to move on from his past and find a way to grow and give back on his own terms—unlike Brian, his love for the world he lives in is still somewhat conditional.
• How difficult was it to get into the main character’s head?

It’s actually surprisingly easy. I have a little of both Brian and Kyle in me. I love Brian’s optimism and determination to affect positive change. His energy and the faith that it creates is inspiring. But sadly, most of the time, I’m Kyle—trying to shake off the chains of persistent, youthful pessimism, far too wrapped up in memories and doubt to see the world as a work in progress instead of a system of oppressive stumbling blocks. One does much to balance out the other. In the first book, we get more of the shiny, new relationship trappings, so the differences between them aren’t highlighted. In Tainted Heart, we get to see them struggle as a couple for the first time—so readers will get some realism to contrast the first time romance theme in Bleeding Heart.
• Is this book a standalone or do you plan on visiting it again?

Tainted Heart is the second book in the Mi Corazon Sangrante trilogy. Bleeding Heart, the first book, was an introduction. Tainted Heart is the meat of the story of Brian and Kyle, how they struggle and settle with themselves, their responsibilities, and others. The third and final book will hopefully leave readers with a solid sense of completion and a good idea of how the rest of the characters’ lives will play out. I definitely want to provide satisfactory closure—I hate when book series go on and on with little to no clear purpose and leave the reader wondering why this thing is still happening.
• Why did you choose to write M/M stories?

It wasn’t so much a choice as a quest. I grew up obsessed with romance novels with neat plots and heart-pounding tension that led to explicit erotica. There was little chance of finding that in combination with sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal themes, but I looked! Through Anne Rice and Buffy, I sweated and swooned, but never found quite what I was looking for—a story about two imperfect men falling for each other and trying to figure themselves out while balancing the pressures of responsibility and settling down. A story not centered entirely around coming out or homophobia—those stories are vital, but not what I wanted to find when I went looking for fictional escape—but rather the struggle that results when two people from very different backgrounds try to create a life together.
• Where do you find your inspiration?

Anne Rice’s work has always been hugely influential for me. Her prose, humor, and the way she embraces every facet of human (and vampire!) nature is incredibly satisfying for me. There is a brutal honesty as well as an almost melancholy acceptance of life in her work that I find very truthful. Shows like Buffy and Angel played a role in the development of my style, as well as the Sookie Stackhouse books, which have a deliciously out there humor and a camp that’s refreshingly modern. L.J. Smith churned out some excellent young adult paranormal series that combine the supernatural with growing up experiences (romantic and otherwise) that I found very enjoyable. Anything that combines sarcasm, sex, and a hint of gloom is right up my alley.

For the Mi Corazon Sangrante series, I aimed for a variety of these elements. I wanted the characters to be relatable but not necessarily stereotypical. I wanted there to be humor even in darker moments. I wanted people to root for them, but not because they were perfect. I wanted them to be the kind of guys you might imagine having for neighbors. I wanted their story—and especially their love life—to turn people on. I hope everyone comes to love them the way I have!

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Blurb

A year after meeting and falling for the young, mysterious vampire, Dr. Brian Preston is now living and working side-by-side with Kyle Hayes for the agency guiding vampire-human relations at a secret underground facility. As the couple adapts to the demands of Brian’s career tending to vampires, Kyle’s return to school and the needs of their evolving relationship, a dangerous conspiracy puts everyone they know and everything they have been working for in danger. The sequel to 2014’s Bleeding Heart, Tainted Heart is Book Two in the Mi Corazón Sangrante series.

 

Excerpt

When it gets dark, he texts Brian that he’s going to be out late, and avails himself of not one but three vampire-human nightclubs set along a dense strip of Chicago nightlife. Going alone to places like this always attracts immediate attention, and he isn’t surprised when he has to pry both humans and vampires off of himself. But he doesn’t mind—the blood from the center is humming in his veins, and that buzz takes on a new dimension every time that he swallows a thimbleful of blood from a donor, which he does at least a dozen times over the course of the evening. When he’s more relaxed, he allows bodies against his own, dancing with strangers until strobe lights become normal and everything outside is too dim and still.

The blood changes the world around him. Every color, every sound and every source of light takes on a life of its own.

He loses track of how many donors he pays. All he knows is he’s spent all of the pocket money that Brian gave him for the weekend.

He feels like a bloated tick. He’s been away too long. Brian. He has to get back to Brian.

Pages or Words: 294 pages
 Categories: Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Thriller, Urban Fantasy

Buy the book:

store.interludepress.com;

Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=InterludePress;

Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978-1-941530-52-8?aff=InterludePress

RC

Meet the author:

A veteran writer of fan fiction with thousands of followers, Melissa Graves wrote her first story at age thirteen, and by age sixteen had met her future husband in an online vampire fiction chat room. A fan of science fiction and fantasy, she has a degree in anthropology and a passion for good chocolate, amateur erotica and fan worlds that celebrate diversity. She is mother to two cats.

Bleeding Heart, book one of the Mi Corazón Sangrante series, was her debut novel for Interlude Press.

Where to find the author:

Connect with Melissa at msmelissagraves.com, on Twitter at twitter.com/msmelissagraves, on Goodreads at goodreads.com/melissagraves and on Facebook at facebook.com/msmelissagraves.

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Tour Dates & Stops:

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $25 Grand Prize plus five multi-format eBook editions of Tainted Heart. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.  Must be 18 or older to enter. 

 

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