Fighting Addiction by BA Tortuga - Blog Tour & Giveaway

Fighting Addiction

BA Tortuga

Genre: contemporary, m/m

Publisher: Torquere Press

ISBN: 978-1-61040-377-1

Number of pages: 250

Word Count: 64000

Cover Artist: BSClay

Book Description

Longchamps almost lost their careers to the fact that they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

Sebastian is a country-fried Cajun rocker, and he’s been missing Markus ever since they broke up all those years ago. His label thinks he and Markus are a match made in ticket-sales heaven, but Seb knows better. He knows that it won’t take even the tiniest effort for Markus to break his heart all over again, and this time around he has way more to lose.

Time has changed both men, though, and while Markus and Seb try to fight their addictions, the big music industry machine has plans for them that don’t include the quiet life. Can Markus convince Sebastian that there are things more important in life than adrenaline and control? And can Sebastian make Markus understand that all he really wants is his music and his man?

My Review:

Fighting Addiction by B.A. Tortuga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First I have to say is B.A. Tortuga is one fantastic author, this m/m romance story is written so well you can’t stop reading, the character feel so real that you only want them to be together. This is one of the better romance novels I have read in a long time. There are times when you feel so strongly for Sebastian and Marcus it breaks your heart and tears were shed.

This is a story of two men Sebastian and Marcus both musicians in the Country Music Industry, they know they have to keep their feelings and friendship a secret and because who has ever heard of gay country music artists. They make fantastic music together and getting caught in a situation they are basically forced apart. They know they have to choose their music above love or a relationship with each other.

Of course this is not easy for them, both end up struggling and fighting their own demons. Years later when Marcus cleans up his act he calls Sebastian who has buried himself so deep in his work, ends up taking pills and becomes OCD, they discuss working together again.
With the chance of being reunited and making music together again and seeing the only man either has only loved Sebastian and Marcus jump at the chance.

This story is full of music, love, struggles, heartache and secrets, it is a must read.
I have to say that I have given Fighting Addiction by B.A. Tortuga a 5 star rating, because the story is fantastic, the writing is superb it makes you feel so much for Seb and Marcus and you want a happy ever after ending.

Guest Post

Howdy!

One of the biggest challenges of writing a musician is getting inside their heads and discovering what their favorite songs are.

Sebastian Longchamps is a little bit of an enigma, much more than his compatriot, Markus. Sebastian loves R&B, Zydeco, Southern Fried Rock, and the periodic 1980 power ballad. 

Have you ever tried to sleep with a character in your head belting out “More than Words”?

No?

Lucky. ;-)

Here are Sebastian’s all-time favorites. I’d love to know y’all’s.

:D

BA Tortuga

Sebastian’s Top Ten Favorite Songs

Jambalaya by Hank Williams

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

More than Words by Extreme

Adalida by George Strait

While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles

Low by Flo Rida

She’s So Mean by Matchbox Twenty

Three Steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Silent Love by Markus Kane

About the Author:

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing porn sites in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her partner, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but is feeling the Colorado mountains calling. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

BA Tortuga Website

BA Tortuga Blog

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Little Stalker (College Fun and Gays #4) by Erica Pike

 

Little Stalker (College Fun and Gays #4) by Erica Pike

 

This is a m/m romance novella (Rated NC-17)

 

♥♥♥♥ 

(Four Lovable Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

College student Coby is being stalked by a young guy and has no idea why, until someone suggests that the stalker may have a crush on him. The idea both excites and terrifies Coby, who is so deep in the closet he can barely manage to think the word “gay” without freaking out.

 

 

My Review ~ Terri @mybookboyfriend

 

This installment takes us to a well rounded boy with no real issues in his past other than the struggle to come to terms with who he is.

What’s great he has a strong support system in a friend who has his back all the way. Don’t we wish this was true for all in this similar situation?

Coby is hot. Thus, he has all the ladies.  Too bad, he can’t seem to grasp that’s not what he’s looking for.  But the cute part, he has a stalker. 

I have to say my only real complaint is that it ended. I would have liked more of a HEA to see where things went. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Another success nibble by Erica Pike. 

My book boyfriend is probably Coby. But I really liked Grayson too. So here is Grayson.

 

 
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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Acceleration (Impulse #2) by Amelia C. Gormley

 

Acceleration (Impulse #2) by Amelia C. Gormley

 

This is a romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 

 

♥♥♥♥♥

(Five Lovely Stars)

 

Book Summary

 

GAINING MOMENTUM

Gavin Hayes is everything Derrick could ask for in a lover. Gorgeous. Passionate. Great in bed. Derrick finds it very easy to just let himself go, to let Gavin guide him and teach him all the things he missed during a decade of celibacy. In the course of a single weekend, Derrick’s routine is transformed, his mornings and evenings filled with sex. Sweet, seductive, wild or raunchy, Gavin offers to him all the pleasure he’s denied himself for so long.

But learning how to be a lover in bed is one thing. Learning to be one out of bed is another. For Derrick, being alone has become habit. Sharing his confidences doesn’t come nearly as readily as sharing his bed. And after so many losses, the last thing Derrick wants is to become dependent upon another person who might not always be there.

And Gavin always being there is far from certain. With an ex-lover lurking in the background, and the question of Gavin’s future health still outstanding, neither Gavin nor Derrick feel capable of asking for anything more than right now. But neither will Gavin be kept on the fringes of Derrick’s life. Can Derrick let someone in, before the opportunity passes him by?

 

 

My Review (Terri @mybookboyfriend)

 

First can I mention the stunning illustrations on the covers of this series done by Kerry Chin.

 

This is probably one of my favourite m/m series.  There is just something special in the writing and how the characters come alive to the point I feel as much as they do.  It always says a lot about an author when they can draw out emotions while you read the story.  And not just lust or anger, but passion and a love beyond just caring.

What I did while reading was feel and wonder how the world could be so cruel as to not accept the love that any two people share. With so much ugliness in the world, how can it be wrong to love.   Anyway, I digress as the tears stain my cheeks.  I was just so moved by this story only finishing it short while ago.

If you love romance, read this series.  Yes, there is sex but there is so much more than that.  Not that I didn’t enjoy those parts, lol.  But this series is about a budding and struggling relationship to survive while the individuals battle their own demons.  Beware, you will not be the same after reading. And I mean that in a good way.

Great Job and I can’t wait to get my hands on book 3.

My book boyfriends are Gavin and Derrick.

 

  

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Cover Reveal - Dark Waltz by A.M. Hargrove

Dark Waltz--A sizzling legend of loss, lust and love.

It’s the year 2030 and the human population has been annihilated by a virulent form of small pox.  Liasare Davidson is desperately searching for her brother, who has been missing for three months.  It’s been eighteen years since she was evacuated from Earth and she is horrified to see it’s become a cesspool of unimaginable things.

In her quest to find her brother, she meets Jurek, a powerful and enigmatic being that frightens her, yet she is unable to resist.  When things begin to unfold between them, they both discover a paralyzing truth that puts Liasare at grave risk.  She must make a choice to join Jurek and find her brother or fulfill a role she believes she is ill equipped to undertake.  

Now, please enjoy an excerpt from A.M. Hargrove’s latest book, Dark Waltz, a Praestani Novel, to be released November 2012.

Dark Waltz, A Praestani Novel

by A.M. Hargrove

“Going somewhere?” that husky voice asked.

Crapitty crap!

She sucked in her breath and dropped her annihilator, as his voice startled her. Before her brain could comprehend what was happening, she felt her body swirling through a vortex. She finally came to rest in another place.

Disoriented and dizzy, she tried to focus on her surroundings, but everything seemed to tilt sideways.  She reached out her hand to stop herself from falling, but only succeeded in grabbing a fistful of air.  Not knowing which way was up or down, she tried, unsuccessfully, to break her fall. Instead, she felt her breath leave her body in a whoosh as she slammed into the ground. 

Fighting for oxygen, her diaphragm wouldn’t cooperate with her brain’s commands.  Worse yet, she felt a pair of hands latch onto her waist, drag her to her feet and ram her back into a wall.  Her head hung down as she fought to draw in precious oxygen, yet found she was still unable to do so.  Then the asshole had the nerve to jam his arm straight into her diaphragm and start demanding things of her.

“Who do you work for?”

Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly, like a poor fish that had been hauled out of the water, desperate to be thrown back in.

“I’ll ask again, who do you work for?” he bit out each word with precision.

Things began to turn grey and hazy as the lack of air finally took its toll on her brain.  She knew she was going to pass out.

Double crapitty crap!

Her head lolled to the side and...blink, lights out.

Jurek looked at her and cursed, “What the fuck?”

He hadn’t realized she was so close to losing it.  He laid her out on the floor and looked at her for a moment.  She wasn’t beautiful in that traditional, cookie-cutter sense, but there was something about her that enticed him.  Her chestnut mane for one, and Jurek had always been a sucker for women with beautiful hair, but those hazel eyes of hers were something else.  Her full lips were kissably soft, he thought, as he ran his thumb along her mouth.  He finally placed his hand on her forehead and in seconds, she came to, moaning. 

Her eyes fluttered open and when the recognition in them flickered, those hazel eyes shot sparks of gold.  Hovering before her was the dark haired man from the bar.  She wouldn’t have had to open her eyes to know it was him since every cell in her body was on fire with his power. 

Soft black hair hung close to his shoulders and he wore it brushed back off his face.  Liasare briefly wondered if it would feel as soft as it looked.  He had a bit of scruff on his face; he obviously hadn’t bothered to shave in the last couple of days.  His lips were full and sensuous and definitely made for kissing.  In fact, Liasare could imagine running her tongue along that lower lip of his, tugging on it and gently sucking it.  What made her nearly lose it were his eyes.  They were extraordinary.  Lavender, rimmed in indigo with flecks of silver swirling within their depths, Liasare had never seen anything so stunning in her life. 

Regaining her senses, Liasare flew to her feet and threw a right uppercut that connected beneath Jurek’s jaw.  Had he been a lesser man, it would have laid him out.  Then she spun on her heel and began the motion for an intended groin kick, but his quick reflexes caught her leg before it connected and he flicked it off with his hand.

“You flaming asshole.  Who do you think you are?  You fucking knock the wind out of me and then you do it again for shits and giggles?  Who the hell do you think you are?” 

“Watch your language and I’m asking the questions here.”

“Not anymore,” Liasare hissed as she turned to head out of the building. 

Before she could take another step, an arm snaked out and grabbed her around the waist.  He pulled her tightly against his chest and whispered huskily into her ear, “I asked you a question.  I want to know who you’re working for and I don’t intend to let you go until I get an answer.”

His voice washed over her with that electrifying intense heat.  She felt her skin erupt in a million goose bumps as every hair on her body stood at attention.

Damn him, she thought.  How can he have this kind of power over me? Fuck!

“You have no idea Brownie.”

“Brownie? 

“Mmm.  Brownie.  For that glorious mane of hair you have.”  His hand spanned across her stomach and she felt a million butterflies suddenly erupt as he hugged her tightly against him.

“I’ll bet you taste better than one too.”  If she could have turned around she would have seen the corners of his mouth turn up as he baited her.

End of preview

You can find A.M. Hargrove and more information about Dark Waltz and her other books at her website

www.amhargrove.com

or

www.amhargrove.blogspot.com

Angel: a Novel by Laura Lee - Blog Tour

Since the loss of his lively, charming wife to cancer six years ago, minister Paul Tobit has been operating on autopilot, performing his religious duties by rote. Everything changes the day he enters the church lobby and encounters a radiant, luminous being lit from behind, breathtakingly beautiful and glowing with life. An angel. For a moment Paul is so moved by his vision that he is tempted to fall on his knees and pray.

Even after he regains his focus and realizes he simply met a flesh-and-blood young man, Paul cannot shake his sense of awe and wonder. He feels an instant and overwhelming attraction for the young man, which puzzles him even as it fills his thoughts and fires his feelings. Paul has no doubt that God has spoken to him through this vision, and Paul must determine what God is calling him to do.

Thus begins a journey that will inspire Paul’s ministry but put him at odds with his church as he is forced to examine his deeply held beliefs and assumptions about himself, his community, and the nature of love.

My Review:

Angel by Laura Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this novel, Laura’s writing flows extremely well, the character descriptions and plot are easy to read and her words make you sit back and think. This is a male/male romance novel but I will say not a typical romance novel and the ending is not what I expected.

This is a story about a man who has lost his wife 6 years ago and suddenly finds himself attracted to another male. Oh before I forget to mention he is a Minister of his church and believes that his Church and religion is his calling. This story isn’t just about two men in a relationship this is a story of Christianity and one’s beliefs and dives into acceptance of yourself even when your church or people tell you something is wrong. It touches you and makes you think about acceptance.

Ian and Paul start off with a friendship and they help each other out with their own individual problems and how when you fall in love with a person it’s not always about sex or orientation sometimes is just about falling in love with that individual person.

This is a well written novel, I found myself very caught up in this story waiting to see what was going to happen and how Paul was going to reconcile his religion and his love of another man.

This is must read book, and I recommend anyone and everyone to sit down and pick up a copy of Angel. Don’t get me wrong though this is a male/male romance novel (which by the way is still one of my favorite genres) and there is some sexual content, but everyone should take a chance and read it.

I have rated it a 4 star rating for the story and for Laura Lee’s writing.

Author Bio:

I am the author of more than a dozen books, the novel Angel, and numerous non-fiction titles including The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation (Black Dog and Leventhal), now in its third printing and published in France under the title Le Dictionaire des Contrairites; Arlo, Alice and Anglicans (Berkshire House/W.W. Norton), which tells the story of the church made famous in Arlo Guthrie’s song and movie Alice’s Restaurant; The Name’s Familiar: Mr. Leotard, Barbie and Chef Boyardee (Pelican Publishing), a Book-of-the-Month Club alternate selection and its sequel The Name’s Familiar II; the 100 Most Dangerous Things in Life (Broadway Books/Random House), which was featured on Good Morning America and CNN’s American Morning; Blame it on the Rain (HarperCollins), The Elvis Impersonation Kit and A Child’s Introduction to Ballet (both Black Dog and Leventhal), Schadenfreude, Baby! (Lyons Press), and Broke is Beautiful (Running Press).

The San Francisco Chronicle has said of my work, "Lee's dry, humorous tone makes her a charming companion… She has a penchant for wordplay that is irresistible.

Where To Buy

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Cutaway (Ben's Life #2) by by Liz Borino

Cutaway (Ben's Life #2) by by Liz Borino

 

This is a m/m romance/erotica novel

 

♥♥♥♥

(Four sticky sweet hearts)

 

Book Summary

 

Two years after Steve Michaels called, “Action!” on a new phase in his career as co-producer on the television show Ben’s Life, the lights go up again on his Dom/sub relationship with actor Zack Greene, but Hollywood cameras don’t always capture the truth.

A mention of Steve’s past in the BDSM scene has Zack craving new ways for them to connect. All of the couple’s concerns fall away when Steve and his ex, Peter, are in a car accident. The last ones to know, Zack and Josh, Peter’s slave, rush to the hospital. The injuries from the accident force the dominant man to set aside his pride and accept help from Zack. Will the couple get to explore new boundaries in their relationship or will the dependency Cutaway the structure holding their relationship in place?

Warning: Spanking, D/s relationship, light bondage, two men who can’t get enough of each other.

 

My Review ~ Terri @mybookboyfriend

  

What we have here is a loving relationship with a curiosity to delve more into a lifestyle that so far had been pretty vanilla.

Steve’s mysterious hardcore Dom background is a mystery to me because I hadn’t read book one. And a little birdie told me that there is a short story included in the print versions of this series that would answer questions I have. Must look into that.

Anyway, Zach, his partner in every, is curious about a club Steve used to frequent. That were things really get interesting. Anyway, this story is about the give and take between two loving people. It’s about trust and knowing when to accept help. There are a lot of lessons in this story that make it so good and interesting.

I got my hands on book one. Now maybe I’ll have an answer or two about a thing or two mentioned that came before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was well written and had an interesting story line. The ending tickled me pink and I look forward to book 3.

My book boyfriends are Zach & Steve.

 
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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Release Blitz for Ditched by Lucy Felthouse

Ditched by Lucy Felthouse

Private Damien Stone is living in a nightmare. He’s out on exercise on Salisbury Plain with Lance Corporal Michael Scott—who also happens to be a huge pain in the arse. He’s a teacher’s pet who seems to delight in bossing Stone around. But that’s not the real reason Stone appears to dislike him so much. It’s because Stone—who’s bisexual—is seriously attracted to his superior, but he can’t do anything about it, because Scott is straight. Or is he?

Buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/ditched/

Excerpt:

“This can’t be fucking right!” said Lance Corporal Michael Scott, checking his map for the umpteenth time.

“I can assure you, Scott, that it fucking is,” responded his colleague, Private Damien Stone. He nudged the other man, pointed to a place on his own map, then raised his arm and indicated a rise in the ground in the near distance.

“See, that’s that long barrow, so we are in the right place.”

Looking at the barrow—one of the many on Salisbury Plain—then down at the map, and finally at his compass, Scott had to agree.

“So where the fuck are they, then?”

Stone had no answer for that one. He looked up into the lightening sky, which in the distance was being slowly tinged with pink, but saw no sign of their pick-up helicopter. Straining to hear even the faintest sound of rotor blades, Stone remained silent. Hearing nothing, he shrugged.

“Dunno. Perhaps we got the time wrong, or something?”

“I hope not, otherwise they’ve gone without us!”

“Nah. We’re early, if anything. The sun’s only just coming up.”

Sighing, Scott stuffed his map and compass into a pocket, and said, “Well, I guess we’d better find somewhere to shelter. I don’t like the look of that.”

The that he was talking about was an ominous-looking black cloud being buffeted in their direction by the wind, which was picking up rapidly.

“With you on that one.”

On an unspoken command, the two of them immediately split up and started to look around for somewhere they could keep out of the wind and imminent rain. It wasn’t long before Scott shouted out, and Stone immediately turned and headed in the direction of his colleague’s voice.

When Stone arrived, Scott had already removed his backpack and dropped it into the ditch he’d found and was striding down the slope to join it. Luckily, there’d been no rain over the past few days so the ground was dry. If the coming rainstorm ended up being heavy, it was entirely possible they’d get wet arses, but for now at least they’d be reasonably comfortable.

Following his colleague’s example, Stone shrugged off his pack. Turning, he saw that Scott was standing with his arms out, ready to catch it. Tossing it, he gave a curt nod of thanks before heading down into the ditch.

Once there, he saw that some scrub covered a couple of sizeable rocks, meaning that they would at least be able to sit down. It would have to rain pretty damn hard for the water level in the ditch to get as high as the top of the rocks, so they’d be all right until the chopper arrived.

He hoped.

Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Constable and Robinson, Decadent Publishing, Ellora's Cave, Evernight Publishing, House of Erotica, Ravenous Romance, Resplendence Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour, Seducing the Myth, Smut by the Sea and Smut in the City. 

Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. 

Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

Hainted by Jordan L. Hawk Blog Tour

The Good Guy: Haint-working runs in Dan Miller’s blood. Not everyone can help the restless dead cross over, especially when the haunting threatens the Living. But the death of his parents six years ago forced Dan to give it up in exchange for raising his brother and sister, all the while struggling to keep their rural NC farm afloat.

So when the flamboyantly goth Leif Helsvin shows up on Dan’s doorstep looking for help with an evil necromancer named Runar, Dan’s first instinct is to turn him down. With two teenagers to look after, he’s already got all the trouble he can handle. Besides, the sexy Leif is too much of a temptation, and Dan is firmly in the closet.

The Bad Boy: Pierced, tattooed Leif never has sex with the same guy twice. It keeps things simple, especially since his oath to stop Runar has him constantly drifting from one town to the next.

But this time, it looks like Leif is going to need help, in the form of the very down-to-earth Dan. Since Nice Guys are off the menu, Leif just has to keep his hands to himself for as long as it will take to stop Runar’s latest scheme. But as Leif finds himself drawn deeper into Dan’s life, he quickly realizes he’s not just in danger of breaking the rules, but breaking his heart as well.

My Review:

Hainted by Jordan L. Hawk

Hainted is what I would say is an excellent, well written novel by Jordan L. Hawk.  This story is full or suspense and of course a romance and paranormal elements.   But this is not just a paranormal romance novel, there is a lot more to this story, it was refreshing to read and learn about being a Hainted something new in the paranormal genre.

We meet Dan who has come home from college to take care of his brother and sister when his mother passes away,  Dan’s family has being doing Haint work for many years but now his goal is to take care of his brother and sister.  Keeping his feelings repressed Dan knows he will never be able to be an openly gay man.  Leif who is out trying to stop an evil that has been unleashed, is openly gay and when his and Dan’s life’s cross paths there is an instant attraction between both men.  Dan knows he will never allow himself to have a relationship with Leif ….he has so many secrets hidden within himself….and is very worried about the people in the community and the fear of losing his siblings.

There is sadness and heartbreak while you read this story as you want Dan to overcome his issues and find happiness with Leif.  I have to say there are times when you may need a Kleenex.  I love knowing there is going to be a happy ending and at times I was worried I wasn’t going to see these two men together in the end.  But you will have to read it to find out what happens.

This is a fantastic paranormal m/m romance novel, I have given it 4 stars and I definitely will be reading anything Jordan L. Hawk writes as this story was really good.  I enjoyed her writing style very much and recommend anyone who enjoys the m/m novels this is a must read.

Interview with Jordan L. Hawk:

1. How would you describe Hainted? 

A pair of sexy ghost hunters must stop an evil necromancer from unleashing hell on earth. Along the way, there is angst, drama, zombie-slaying, and lots of hot sex.

2. Which character you had most fun writing?

Dan’s friend Taryn, because she has no filter and says whatever pops into her head, usually laced with profanity. 
As for the main characters, it’s a toss up, but I’ll go with Leif because even though he’s this very pretty (and angsty) goth, he’s a serious badass when it comes to fighting the undead.

3. What was your main source of inspiration for the story?

I was mainly inspired by the area where I grew up, which may seem odd for a paranormal. Things are changing, but even today people still paint hex signs on the their barns to ward off bad luck. I grew up hearing ghost stories passed down through generations, some of them dating back to the earliest white settlers if not before. 
Hainted is something of a love letter to that experience, if a love letter can be about the flaws as well as the positive experiences. Ransom Gap and Dan’s way of life are very much based on an amalgam of places and people I knew growing up (minus the laying of ghosts, of course).

4.   How did you come up with the title of your book?

In the southern Appalachian dialect, “haint” is essentially a way of pronouncing “haunt.” It can be used as both a noun and a verb: a haint is a ghost, a hainting is a haunting. The two main characters in the book not only lay haints to rest, but are themselves “hainted” by their pasts.

5.   What books have most influenced your life most?

I grew up primarily reading science fiction and fantasy, although the ones I liked best always had some kind of romantic element to them, even if deeply buried. Louise Cooper’s Time Master Trilogy profoundly changed my perspective when I read it as a teen, but I was also influenced by The Silent Tower and The Silicon Mage by Barbara Hambly, the first two Vampire books by Anne Rice, Michael Moorcock’s Elric Saga, Tolkien, and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. 
But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. Truthfully, I believe I take some lesson, no matter how small, from every book I read.

6.   What are your current projects?

My next novel, Widdershins, is currently in the editing stage. It’s a Lovecraft-inspired paranormal set in 1897, and tells the story of an uptight scholar hired by an ex-Pinkterton detective to translate an arcane book. Lots of monsters, magic, and of course fun in the bedroom.

Right now I’m working on a contemporary paranormal novella tentatively titled “Eater of Demons,” about a man possessed by a vampiric spirit and an exorcist who works for a government agency tasked with solving paranormal crimes.

7.   Do you see writing as a career?

Absolutely! It’s my full-time job, and I hope it continues to be for as long as I can put words together.

8.   As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 

I secretly hoped I’d grow up to be a dragon or a werewolf, but unfortunately neither of those things have happened yet. Archaeology was my back-up plan, and I actually did that for little while.

But I’m still hoping for the dragon thing.

9.   Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

The first thing I ask myself before committing to any novel is “does this project scare me?” That is, do I fear that I don’t have enough talent, that I can’t pull it off, that I must be crazy for even trying? If the answer is yes, I get to work. The only way to improve is to keep challenging myself. I want to continue to grow as a writer, to keep pushing my boundaries.

10.   What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Figuring out how to portray Leif’s relationship with Runar, the evil necromancer who also saved Leif’s life as a teen and made Leif his apprentice. Leif owes him everything, but at the same time the guy is pretty evil. It was hard to make myself push their relationship as far as it needed to go, but I had to for the sake of the story.

Any last thoughts or words of wisdom you would like to share with the readers?

Thank you for having me on the blog! And thanks to everyone who has taken time to read this interview. Never forget: love has the power to change the world.

Authors Bio

Jordan L. Hawk grew up in the wilds of North Carolina, where she was raised on stories of haints and mountain magic by her bootlegging granny and single mother. After using a silver knife in the light of a full moon to summon her true love, she turned her talents to spinning tales. She weaves together couples who need to fall in love, then throws in some evil sorcerers and undead just to make sure they want it bad enough. In Jordan’s world, love might conquer all, but it just as easily could end up in the grave.

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Blue Notes (Blue Notes #1) by Shira Anthony

 

Blue Notes (Blue Notes #1) by Shira Anthony

 

A m/m contemporary romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 

3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Book Summary

 

Blame it on jet lag. Jason Greene thought he had everything: a dream job as a partner in a large Philadelphia law firm, a beautiful fiancée, and more money than he could ever hope to spend. Then he finds his future wife in bed with another man, and he’s forced to rethink his life and his choices. On a moment’s notice, he runs away to Paris, hoping to make peace with his life.

But Jason’s leave of absence becomes a true journey of the heart when he meets Jules, a struggling jazz violinist with his own cross to bear. In the City of Love, it doesn’t take them long to fall into bed, but as they’re both about to learn, they can’t run from the past. Sooner or later, they’ll have to face the music.

About the series: Each Blue Notes Series story is standalone and can be read in any order. All of the stories are set in the same classical music universe.

 

My Review Terri @mybookboyfriend

 



Jason was burned by his fiancé. Knowing he was part of the problem spurred him to take some time off from his demanding job. Thinking he would find solace in a causal fling, he never thought that he’d meet a guy that would draw out that part of him that was always attracted to men.

Jules is a carefree guy. The kind of guy that life kicked in the butt so many times, he just rolls with the punches. He never thought he would meet a guy that would complete care about him in a way no one not even his own mother has.

This is a match made in heaven. And I did like the dynamics between the two. My only problem is the set up. I just don’t see the causal way Jason took it. As a lawyer, I would think he would be more cautious. But getting over that, it was a really cute story.

My only other wish would have been that the author had not continued refer to them as the older and younger man. I got it that there was about a 10 year age difference. I was annoyed to be reminded time and time again.

My book boyfriend, Jason.

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) ~ Abigail Roux

 

This is an adult m/m romance crime mystery novel (Rated NC-17)

 

4 out of 5 stars

 

Book Summary

 

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case. Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic clich: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer. Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

 

My Review (Terri @mybookboyfriend)

 

I’m a big crime/thriller/police procedural genre reader. I’d hoped that his book would mesh that love with my growing love for romance novels. And what I got was an interesting romance novel and a lack luster mystery.

So, I knew the killer at Hello, but that is just me. I’ve read these types of novels from the best. In the end, I don’t think that was the real point of this novel or series. The point seems to be how these two clicked and came together.

Characters – We’ve got two guys. I think they are both bi, but Zane didn’t seem so much bi as Ty did. Zane claimed to sleep with women, but I didn’t feel it. Anyway, for the most part I enjoyed the two. And let me confess, I didn’t enjoy Ty bottoming. It again, just didn’t feel right. However, I do think it added to his character development to let loose and give up control.

Overall, it was a fun, cute, and predictable read. I will continue the series if nothing more to see where the author could possibly take it. It feels like we’ve had our HEA and I won’t be reading for the crime side of things. So my curiosity will have me reading at least the next one.

My book boyfriend is TY.

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Inertia (Impulse, #1) by Amelia C. Gormley

Inertia (Impulse #1) ~ Amelia C. Gormley

This is a contemporary m/m romance (Rated NC-17)

4.5 out of 5

Book Summay

By the age of 21, down-to-earth Detroit handyman Derrick Chance had lost everyone he’d ever loved. Too worn-out and wounded to play the dating game, he wrote off the possibility of romance or even just sex. Living alone in the old house his grandparents had left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he refused to consider himself lonely, or let himself wonder what he might be missing. He knew who he was and where he was headed. His life was comfortable, organized, predictable, and best of all, risk-free. He was content.

Until the day he installed some shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. A contradictory combination of confidence and uncertainty, Gavin’s shameless flirtations drew him in with an intensity Derrick had never known he longed for.

As undeniable as the force of gravity, he abandoned ten years of self-imposed solitude and found himself falling rapidly for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways.

But Gavin carried wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a potentially dangerous betrayal, his future was far from certain. Derrick would have to decide if his rediscovered passion was worth taking the chance of another loss.

My Review (Terri @mybookboyfriend)

I’ve read so much “insta love” lately that this book was a welcome change. Thank goodness.

This love story is slow brewed but not in a frustrating way. And I don’t mean that they didn’t get down and dirty. I mean that even though in the heat of the moment you may feel like it’s love. Love doesn’t happen that quickly. In order to claim true love it has to weather a storm or stand the test of time. That doesn’t mean you can’t have strong feelings for someone or be “falling in love”. But there is no way in a week or two you can claim love. Unless of course, you too have been to hell and back literally. Okay, that’s my opinion. Let me get back on topic.

And again, a sigh of relief, that the conflict wasn’t based on misunderstanding. This is a personally preference for me. I just hate misunderstanding as the total and only reason a couple cannot be together. At least that is when the reader (me) is in on the misunderstanding and the characters aren’t.

So it’s no wonder I found myself enthralled with this one. This story takes it’s time in the telling giving us a chance to know the main character. There is also a touchy topic discussed and I think the author did a wonderful job in handling it with care and dignity. Great job.

My only complaint would be, I wish that we had a better understanding of how LeeAnn found him out. What did he do that gave her a clue? Which would also give us a clue when he understood his status. If you haven’t read, don’t make assumptions based on what I said. Those too lines are in no way spoilers.

I think you will like this one. Check it out.

My book boyfriend, Derrick.

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*This blog in no way claims ownership of any of the photos used for fun causally found on the web.  If you are a copyright owner of any picture and would like a picture removed.  We will do so.

Boxer Falls is a weekly homoerotic soap opera being posted at the M/M Romance Group at Goodreads. Penned by a group of fan favorites and new voices, a roster of unparalleled talent brings this "gaytime drama" to life with high camp, low blows, and intense sexiness.
Our writers produce episodes as interconnected short stories about the ongoing adventures of the residents of a tightknit Berkshires resort town with a queer reputation as it gains a reputation as a homo hot spot for the discerning traveler. You should expect sex, scandal, secrets, and happy endings that come at a high price.
Every week a new guest star will take up the pen. Join Ellis Carrington, Poppy Dennison, and Damon Suede along with a host of your favorite gay romance scribes as they cut loose with suds and studs in abundance. And since Brita Addams has joined the team, Boxer Falls has been churning like never before. 

What goes up always comes down.

Peek behind the fly of Boxer Falls, and see what mischief lurks in its quiet streets and secluded spots of a small New England town with a queer reputation. Around here, the family closets hold more than skeletons and the fights are strictly gloves-off. With folks this gorgeous, the feuds are bound to get ugly.

When the wealthy Cotten family decides to turn their country estate into a luxurious resort, the residents of Boxer Falls face an influx of affluent tourists who rub their sleepy little town in the worst ways. Lust, greed, betrayal, and ambition might just yank the town to its knees.

Tune in each week to get the latest on scorching affairs, family dysfunction, and secret desire.

Excerpt: 

Grady ran his fingers through his shower-damp hair as he headed for the kitchen. He’d left Phil snoring in the bed, still passed out from their wild bout of sex the night before. With a grin, Grady tightened his robe and gave himself a pat on the back for a job well done.

Zach stood in the kitchen, hips swinging to music blaring from the headset of his iPod. A loaf of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly were spread out on the counter in front of him. 

Grady gave his son’s back a quick rub as he went by and headed straight for the coffee pot. 

Zach jumped a bit and spun around. “Morning,” he said as he pulled the ear buds from his ears. 

“Hey. What are you up to?”

Zach’s cheeks turned a bit pink as he turned back to the sandwich fixings. “Taking Adam on a picnic. We both have the day off.”

Young love. Grady remembered those days well. Phil used to do romantic things like that for him, and now that they’d pieced their nearly broken relationship back together, that side of his husband was slowly emerging again. 

Grady selected his coffee and popped the choice in the machine. While he waited for it to brew, he went to the pantry and stretched to the highest shelf. He’d stuck the small cooler Phil had used for years as a lunch box up there a while back. 

“Will this help?”

Zach grinned at the beat up red and white container. “You kept that old thing?”

Grady shrugged and sat it in the sink. “It wasn’t broken or anything.”

“Uh huh. Sure. Kind of like how I still have my G.I. Joe one up in the attic, huh?”

Grady bumped his shoulder into Zach’s. “Don’t pick on me. I’m sentimental.”

Now, enjoy the interview with Poppy Dennison!


1. What inspired you to write Boxer Falls?

After meeting Damon Suede and Ellis Carrington at the 2011 GayRomLit Retreat in New Orleans, Damon approached me about an idea he’d come up with for an online serial fiction. We wanted a dynamic world, populated by characters authors and readers alike would want to know more about.

Boxer Falls, A Gaytime Drama developed out of that initial idea. The soap format provided us lots of juicy friction with a no holds barred approach to the storylines. Our writers could have fun and play in our sandbox, leaving fun messes for the next author to clean up.

We premiered in January 2012 on the M/M Romance Group at Goodreads. This week, we’re posting our thirtieth episode and have had many of the bestselling authors in the M/M genre pen episodes for us!

2. How would you describe Boxer Falls?

Boxer Falls is a web serial, updated weekly. It’s fun and campy, just like the daytime soap operas that inspired us. I think our blurb says it best:

What goes up always comes down.

Peek behind the fly of Boxer Falls, and see what mischief lurks in the quiet streets and secluded spots of a small New England town with a queer reputation. Around here, the family closets hold more than skeletons and the fights are strictly gloves-off. With folks this gorgeous, the feuds are bound to get ugly.

When the wealthy Cotten family decides to turn their country estate into a luxurious resort, the residents of Boxer Falls face an influx of affluent tourists who rub their sleepy little town in the worst ways. Lust, greed, betrayal, and ambition might just yank the town to its knees.

Tune in each week to get the latest on scorching affairs, family dysfunction, and secret desire.
Boxer Falls: The bigger they are…

3. Which character have you had most fun writing?

Oh, that’s a hard question! Boxer Falls has a cast of twelve core characters. I think the most fun for me is taking any one of those characters and pushing him into an unexpected direction.

One of our older characters is Grady Boxer. Grady’s in quite the fix. His husband Phil is a philanderer and his ex-love Conrad Cotten has returned to town ready to pick up where they left off. The Grady/Phil/Conrad love triangle is fun for me to write because they’re older, more mature characters who have a lot of life experience under their belt—yet they’re still affected by love as much as their younger counter parts.

Grady has a tough decision to make. Does he stick with his husband of twenty odd years, for better or for worse, or does he give in to the allure of his first love, the one that got away?

4.   How did you come up with the title of your book?

 Boxer Falls developed from a brainstorming session between Damon, Ellis, and myself. We wanted a title that gave an idea of the setting—waterfalls was an element of the northeast we liked. Romantic, with a hint of danger. Then we wanted a hint of the soapiness the show would inspire. We came up with a list of sexy words that would suit a town, and Boxer won our votes by a landslide. It captures the sexy elements of conservative underwear, while also showing the ongoing dramatic side of the town. Who better than a professional fist fighter to give a hint of the give and take between the characters?

5.  Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

 Our readers contact us through the discussion thread over at the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads as well as through our website (http://www.boxerfalls.com/). There’s always a debate each week as our episodes are posted with readers wondering what will happen next!

We quote some of our reader’s responses in our weekly newsletter, The Boxer Brief. (You can subscribe here: http://boxerfalls.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5ed8de295112ae1bb33fd7e5e&id=c9331e09f8)
Some of our favourite quotes are:

Pixie-It’s a soap opera. There are no endings, only new beginnings!!
G-I hope that it will still go on and on and on…
Eden-Now that was satisfying!

6.  What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing this serial?

Boxer Falls is a surprise every week. The fun of being a serial project, with a different author every week, is that you never know where the story is going to go. Each author brings their unique voice, and passion for their favorite characters. One week, our dynamic duo of Oz, the sexy silver fox, and his bartender lover Quinn will be at the forefront. The next week, star-crossed lovers Zach and Adam may come together. And there’s always our sheriff, the sexy sub Vic who is looking for a man who can meet his every need!

Any last thoughts or words of wisdom you would like to share with the readers?

One of our favorite aspects of Boxer Falls is our plans for the future. Season one will be anthologized into a paperback at the end of the year. All proceeds from the sale of volume one will go to support GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation http://www.glaad.org/) We’re excited to support this wonderful cause and to give our writers a chance to give back to the community that does so much for us.

Links:

Boxer Falls: http://www.boxerfalls.com/

Goodreads M/M Romance Group (must be a member): http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/20149-m-m-romance

Bio:

A sassy southern lady, Poppy Dennison developed an obsession with things that go bump in the night in her early years after a barn door flew off its hinges and nearly squashed her. Convinced it was a ghost trying to get her attention, she started looking for other strange and mysterious happenings around her. Not satisfied with what she found, Poppy has traveled to Greece, Malaysia and England to find inspiration for the burly bears and silver foxes that melt her butter. Her love of paranormal continues to flourish nearly thirty years later, and she writes steamy love stories about the very things that used to keep her up all night. If her childhood ghost is lucky, maybe one day she’ll give him his own happily ever after.

Visit her on her web site: http://www.poppydennison.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/poppydennison

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PoppyDennison

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5108648.Poppy_Dennison