Giveaways

For The Bite Of It by Viki Lyn & Vina Grey: Excerpt + Giveaway

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Viki & Vina: Occasionally, we get a chance for a do-over. We published this book in 2011, and Vince and John’s story caught the readers’ imagination just as it did ours. But our readers wanted a more definitive ending to their love story. We spent many hours discussing this–we tossed ideas back and forth, we argued, we rolled our eyes, made many false starts, and finally came to consensus. In this extended version of the book, you will find a last chapter that adds details on the status of Vince and John’s relationship, and sets up their journey for subsequent books. The boys are in the serious business of finding a ‘happy ever after’.

Enjoy!
 Happy Reading!
 And do tell us how you liked the book or post a review on Amazon.

For the Bite of It will be available FREE on Amazon for April 3rd & April 4th!

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An Excerpt from For The Bite Of It

by Viki Lyn & Vina Grey

Chapter One

The front half of a silver sedan decorated his bakery, its nose nudging the counter, glass shards peppering the floor like confetti. Except Vincent Kamateros wasn’t celebrating. Didn’t have much to celebrate, really.

He stepped around the vehicle, and glass crunched under his clogs despite his walking-on-hot-coals strut. The car had nose-dived into his store about an hour ago. His landlord, Mr. Sala, slumped between his seat and air bag. Dead. If it wasn’t so serious, the situation could have been a scene from a cure-for-insomnia B grade movie you watched at three in the morning.

“Sir, the crime scene is off limits.”

He took out his irritation on the unfortunate crime scene tech, pinning the man with his gaze. “The entire bakery cannot be a crime scene, surely?” Fine for them to tape off the scene, but he wasn’t leaving his shop.

“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll get my supervisor.” The young fellow scampered away.

Ah good, so he could still intimidate with a look. All was perhaps not lost. Except his life as he had known it and his powers. Madre de dios. Enough with this maudlin mood.

Vince pressed his thumbs to his eyes. These humans made him jumpy. Eight weeks without warm, flowing blood had left him as nervous as a caged bird with a cat tapping on the bars.

“Sir, you need to step back.” One of Tempe’s best in a navy uniform held out his hand to stop Vince. The place crawled with them.

He intimidated the human with a forceful glare but a voice from behind distracted him.

“Excuse me, are you the owner?”

The deep tone made him think of fire lit nights and warm sheepskin rugs and bodies twined in lust. Surely, lack of blood would not lead to such a reaction to a male voice. He turned.

Ah, yes. Fire, rug, desire­ – emotions evoked by a voice and the physical appearance of the man before him. He took in the man from his broad shoulders to his polished loafers. He couldn’t help it. Dark sleek pants hugged muscled thighs. A blue polo shirt outlined shoulders embodying the clichéd mile. That cock-sure stance, feet apart, slightly on his toes. This man would tempt a saint buried twenty-feet under.

He pursed his lips to hold back a smirk as the man stepped away from Vince’s scrutiny. Though Vince had to give him credit for not backing off the stare-down.

“Yes, this is my bakery.” Vince scrutinized the man’s body again. A tingle behind his eyes warned him to curb his lust before his eyes changed color. It had been decades since he’d had such a gut reaction to a man. He blinked and mentally willed away his innate response to such a strong emotion.

“I’m Detective Reeder, this is Detective Norman.” The detective indicated a redheaded woman beside him with a flip of his hand. “We need to ask you some questions.”

He blinked at the ID thrust under his nose – J. Reeder. What did the J stand for? Something typifying the boy next store with his clean-cut looks – Jake, John, Joe?

“Sure. Er…where do you want me?” His brain couldn’t swing a more polished response.

Say here, right now, on your knees.

He really had to do something about his abstinence. Maybe, in a less blood-deprived state, this unexpected All-American male wouldn’t tempt him.

“Let’s get out of this mess.” Detective Reeder pivoted on one heel and walked away. Not for a bag of fresh blood could Vince have stopped his eyes from darting down

again. The front view had set up the back one perfectly – a begging-to-be-held ass.

The detective glanced over his shoulder. “Unless you want to come back to the station.”

Vince shook his head. This man brought back memories of the thrill of the chase, the enticing two-step when attraction first hit.

“Outside is fine.” His more lustful thoughts came to a halt when he passed the shattered window. The damage to his shop caused a pang in his heart. Who knew when he’d been talked into buying a cupcake bakery he would become so proprietary? Life sure took the strangest twists and turns.

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About For The Bite Of It

For the Bite of ItA vampire, a cupcake, plus one sexy cop, is a recipe for trouble. 

VINCENT KAMATEROS is an exiled vampire making a routine living as the owner of a cupcake bakery in Arizona. Until a car with a dead driver crashes through the wall of his shop, bringing after it, All-American, closeted cop, JOHN REEDER. Smitten the instant he sees John, but bound to silence by the Vampire High Council, he can never reveal his true self to John.

John Reeder can’t control his attraction to the sexy Italian baker. But as addictive as the sex is, John can’t overcome his fear of rejection for being gay, and open his heart to a man with so many secrets.

Available at: Amazon

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About Viki Lyn

What inspires me – the reality that romance between lovers is a hope more than a guarantee. My stories are an eclectic mix of contemporary and paranormal, but it is always romance that drives the story to its final happily-ever-after. There’s nothing better than reading a good book over an espresso, watching a movie or trying out a new restaurant. I’m the author of several gay romances, including Last Chance, Rainbow Award winner for the Best Gay Paranormal/Horror. Check out Viki’s website is http://www.vikilyn.com/

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About Vina Grey

Vina Grey loves writing about romance. Two people finding each other, the two-step before they get together and the happily ever after, have to be the best story ever. Throw in some paranormal elements and she’s in heaven. Vampires and cops, anyone? She loves to jabber away with anyone about books, so drop her a line at vinagrey@gmail.com. Vina’s cyber home is here: http://vinagrey.wordpress.com/

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Giveaway!

Viki Lyn and Vina Grey have offered up a chance to win a black T-shirt with the fabulous For The Bite Of It cover on the front!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Thursday, April 10th, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST. After which the lucky winner will be randomly picked.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address and you’re in!

Make sure to follow the blog for the winner’s announcement post or check back next Friday, April 11th, 2014, to see if you’ve won.

Don’t forget, today is the last day to grab For the Bite of It for free on Amazon!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, LGBT | Tags: , , , , , | 13 Comments

Honorary Blogger Katey Hawthorne: Nerdlove + Giveaway

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Nerdlove

by Katey Hawthorne

When people refer to nerds and geeks, they’re generally thinking of smart kids with a certain amount of technical prowess in their field, or people who are really into fandom, or something like that. But there’s also that underlying suggestion that nerds hate sports—but more pervasively, that they’re socially inept as a general rule. For this reason, a lot of people who’ve felt the barbs of the word ‘nerd’ don’t want to take the word back and make it theirs. Another large chunk of them tend to go condescending, looking down on anyone who doesn’t fit their idea of nerdery for reasons based on everything from gender (see also the Fake Geek Girl) to area of specialty (see also engineers looking down on humanities).

I never heard anything of either in high school, to be honest, but once I went to an engineering school full of total nerdboys for my undergrad, oh, I got both regularly, lemme tell you. And I was baffled.

But I remain undaunted, and therefore so do my characters. Eddie Kim is my latest hero (Missed Connections: In Distress), and oh man, he might be my most undaunted nerd yet. All the sleeping around & partying and weekly Dungeons & Dragons games are hardly mutually exclusive, and it seems like his life goal to prove it, sometimes, I swear. And then he goes for a guy with a JRR Tolkien-themed tattoo who wrote his Masters thesis on Mary Queen of Scots.

Eddie Kim

Nerdlove. Could it be because I, too, have a Tolkien-themed tattoo—and have made some fantastic connections with others who do because, hey, this is how we know our own? Because I’ve done enough RPGing that I and my nerdfriends had D&D characters readymade for Eddie and his nerdfriends to use? Could it be because my husband saw me reading the latest Harry Potter at work and used it as an excuse to ask me out on our first date some eight years ago?

I don’t know, man, but in my experience, while some people might foolishly try and use their nerdery to feel superior, there’s nothing socially inept about nerdlove. Nerdery can and should be a great connector of people, not a divider. So I’m all about the nerdlove, and so are my books. And Eddie, at least, is glad for it.

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About In Distress

In DistressHopeless romantic Eddie Kim acts out his favorite ‘rescued by the white knight’ fantasies through weekly D&D campaigns, but had almost given up hope of ever getting a real one. Then Callum, a mysterious red-head with freezing superpowers and a memorable kiss, saves him from a burning house but disappears without a trace. Taking pity on him, Eddie’s friends look to craiglist to relocate his hero.

Unfortunately, the publicity brings down the kind of attention Callum Race been trying to avoid; he’s in town to try and clear his family name, and now the dangerous superpowered organization he needs to thwart know he’s come home again. Still, he can’t help following up with Eddie.

The heat between Callum and Eddie flares instantly, and Eddie insists on helping to undo the damage his romantic notions have done. The problem: that will mean becoming embroiled in a nefarious plot, not to mention a superpowered world Eddie didn’t even know existed a week ago. The ‘bad guys’ will try to trick and use him, and in the meantime he has to convince Cal to trust him enough to be the white knight for once–and for real–instead of the perpetual damsel in distress.

Available at: Loose IdAmazonBarnes & Noble, and All Romance eBooks

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About Katey Hawthorne

Katey Hawthorne

Katey Hawthorne is an avid reader and writer of superpowered romance, even though the only degree she holds is in the history of art. (Or, possibly, because the only degree she holds is in the history of art.) Originally from the Appalachian foothills of West Virginia, she currently lives in Ohio. In her spare time she enjoys comic books, B-movies, loud music, Epiphones, and Bushmills.

You can find Katey at her website or email her at at kate[at]kateyhawthorne[dot]com.

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In honor of Katey’s newest release, she’s kindly offered up an ebook copy of In Distress to one lucky winner!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Wednesday, April 9th, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST. After which the lucky winner will be randomly picked.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address and you’re in!

Make sure to follow the blog for the winner’s announcement post or check back next Thursday, April 10th, 2014, to see if you’ve won.

Don’t forget, you can still purchase In Distress or any of the other books in the Superpowered Love series at Loose Id!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT | Tags: , , , , | 21 Comments

Grand Adventures Blog Tour: Author Q&A + Giveaway

Welcome everyone!  Today, its TBG’s turn to host the Grand Adventures Blog Tour.  Mia Kerick, Garrett Leigh and Sue Brown are here to answer a few questions about the awesome anthology.  Plus, a great giveaway!

A Little About Grand Adventures

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Stories Within

Foreword by S.A. McAuley
An Unexpected Thing by John Amory
The Twinkie Ignition by J.E. Birk
When Friendship Becomes More by Sophie Bonaste
Isle of Waiting by Sue Brown
The Jogger by KC Burn
Holding Court by Cardeno C.
For Dear Life by Mary Calmes
Under the Full Moon by Ellis Carrington
Stripped by Shae Connor (2nd Edition)
That Place Across the Hall by C.C. Dado
Mistaken MD by Phoenix Emrys
Cops and Comix by Rhys Ford
Last First Kiss by LE Franks
Tomorrow by John Goode
From Fantasy to Friends by CR Guiliano
Witness Protected by Dawn Kimberly Johnson
Water Under the Bridge by Mia Kerick
A Gentle Shove of Human Kindness by Amy Lane
Air (Roads #1.75 million) by Garrett Leigh
An Atheist and a Yoga Instructor Walk into a Bar by Rowan McAllister
Stalking 101 by Moria McCain
Simple Desires by Tempeste O’Riley
Object of Care by Zahra Owens
Kid Confusion by Madison Parker
Fall Train by Jaime Samms
The Exhibition by Andrea Speed
What You Will by Tinnean
Prologue by Brandon Witt

You can support TJ and Eric by purchasing your own copy of Grand Adventures at Dreamspinner Press and Amazon.

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Mia Kerick

1. Tell us about your contribution to the anthology.

Not Broken, Just Bent was a popular YA Harmony Ink novel I wrote about the long and difficult road two teenage boys took to arrive at their happily ever after together. But, hey, it was a YA read—so the sexual content was limited. Readers never had an opportunity to see the full physical side of Timmy and Ben’s love. (And believe me, many readers let me know that they weren’t completely satisfied with this situation.) So…so, I fixed that little oversight by writing this short sequel to Timmy and Ben’s love story.

In Water Under the Bridge you will learn of the recent challenges in the couple’s relationship, and you will see the culmination of their love. It is beautiful and it is romantic and I think the readers will be satisfied…finally.

2. What is your favorite TJ and Eric memory?

Although I feel as if I have met TJ and Eric in person, as I’ve seen so much video footage of them and read so many words from and about them, the truth of the matter is, if I was to pass by them on the street they would not have an idea as to my identity. But still, I feel I know them, as many of us do, and I feel for them. And so I will admit, there is not one specific memory that holds reign over all of the others. It is much more a simple look that I see in their eyes when they gaze upon each other that moves me.

That gentle-knowing-flirting-laughing-wanting-hopeful-thankful expression in each man’s eyes when he looks upon his partner—the one for whom he has waited so long to find. That is my favorite memory of TJ and Eric.

3. Why did you choose to participate?

When I was growing up and I saw a person who was experiencing a more difficult challenge in life than I, my mother would always say to me, “But for the Grace of God, go I.” I took this wise statement—and the meaning behind it— into my heart. We will all have challenges in life. By chance or fate or luck or grace or—well, I really don’t know the reason for the events, both wonderful and challenging, that transpire in our lives—this challenging set of circumstances fell upon the shoulders of TJ and Eric. But it very well could have been my road to walk. Or my sister’s… or my child’s. We must all realize that difficulties occur in many of our lives—a seemingly unsurpassable challenge may pop up in my life tomorrow, or in your life, even—and we will need each other to get through it.

4. Do you have anything you want to say to TJ and Eric?

I think that I expressed my feelings in their fullness in the anthology where I had a chance to dedicate my story. However, I will reiterate, it is time for TJ and Eric to create a new normal. Their new normal—with their own unique brand of love and laughter, and their personal manner of responding to life’s challenges, which, in its entirety, is what we call building a life together.

About Mia Kerick

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigree 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 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 Dreamspinner 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.

Contact Mia via email. Come visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration!

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Garrett Leigh

1. Tell Us about your contribution to the anthology.

My contribution to the anthology is a spur of the moment piece taken from my Roads series (Slide and Rare).

Joe is a secondary character, but one most readers seemed to love and crave more from. When John Goode and Dreamspinner sent up their call to arms it felt like fate.

Joe spends a whole summer caring for one of my MC’s, Ash, and this glimpse into his mind was fascinating to write. I’d always known his motivations for helping Ash, but this felt like I really got to show his heart.

2. What is your favorite TJ & Eric Memory (either in person or not)?

I don’t actually know TJ at all, but I’d been friends with Eric on FB a while before he got sick. I remember the videos of TJ proposing to him, and the photos of him with his beloved crack crew. And more than that, I remember his smile. You can’t fake a smile like that.

3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?

It was a compulsion. Like everyone else, I felt helpless for weeks and then John Goode threw us a bone.

You don’t have to know someone to help them. You just gotta help them.

4. Do you have anything you want to say to TJ & Eric?

Nope. I imagine they’ve heard it all. They know the score: Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go 🙂

About Garrett Leigh

Garrett Leigh is a British writer and indie cover artist with a special interest in using the arts as catharsis in mental illness. Currently writing and designing for Dreamspinner PressLoose ID and Extasy Books, she has a passion for darkly troubled heroes, tattoos and tales of true love that triumphs against the odds…not necessarily in that order. Expect angst, passion and red hot attraction that won’t be denied.

Garrett lives in a small commuter town just north of London with her husband, two kids, a dog with half a brain, and a cat with a chip on her shoulder. She’s twenty-nine, and now she’s reached that milestone, she intends to stay there for the foreseeable future. Garrett has been writing just about her whole life, but it’s been about three years since she decided to take it seriously. According to Mr. Garrett, it was either give the men in her head a voice or have herself committed.

Angst. She can’t write a word without it. She’s tried, she really has, but her protagonists will always always be tortured, crippled, broken, and deeply flawed. Throw in a tale of enduring true love, some stubbly facial hair, and a bunch of tattoos, and you’ve got yourself a Garrett special.

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

Garrett also works as a freelance cover artist for various publishing houses and independent authors under the pseudonym G.D. Leigh.

Social media: WebsiteTwitterFacebook or Cover art enquiries

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Sue Brown

1. Tell Us about your contribution to the anthology.

My story is a snapshot in the Isle series, during the Isle of Waves period which will be out later in the year, Isle of Waiting doesn’t give too much away, but it’s a moment with the Owens’ brothers and between Paul and Olaf.

2. What is your favorite TJ & Eric Memory (either in person or not)?

I’ve only met TJ once, at GRL in 2012, and Eric at the same event, so I don’t really have much in the way of memories except TJ gives good hugs.

3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?

I took part in the anthology because John Goode is my friend and he asked me to, and because TJ and Eric are one of our own.

4. Do you have anything you want to say to TJ & Eric?

You are never far from my thoughts, guys. Sending you huge hugs from over the pond.

About Sue Brown

Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn’t following their orders, she can be found plotting at her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot, and has gotten expert at ignoring the orders.

Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. The series was boring; the kissing was not. She may be late to the party, but she’s made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.

Sue can be found at her website, her blogTwitter, and her Facebook.

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Grand Prize:  (Sponsored by the tour bloggers)

Large Cover Art Print Signed by the Artist

&

Paperback copy of Grand Adventures

2nd Prize: (sponsored by Dreamspinner Press)

$30 Dreamspinner Press Gift Card

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A Rafflecopter Giveaway

Click the above link to enter giveaway.

 

Rules:

* By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.

* Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of  winning.

* If you win, you must respond to the email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen.

* Winners may be announced on participating blogs following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be  posted and promoted as the contest winner.

* In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for  additional entries.

* Void where prohibited by law.

Be sure to stop by all the blogs on the tour for more inside information about the Grand Adventures anthology!

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*A special thanks to Will at Pride Promotions for providing the Rafflecopter and graphics used during this tour.*

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , | 24 Comments

$20 Gift Card Winner!

Last week, Rhys Ford stopped by as an Honorary Blogger and rambled away about a few topics. She also graciously offered up a $20 gift card to Amazon (or other e-tailer) to, OF COURSE, purchase her newest title, Dirty Deeds, with 😛 Now, it’s time to pick that winner!

Without further ado, the winner of a $20 gift card is…

Continue reading

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Nothing Special Winners!

The winners of Nothing Special by A.E. Via are… Continue reading

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Honorary Blogger Heidi Cullinan – Writing the Rio Grande Valley + Giveaway

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Writing the Rio Grande Valley

by Heidi Cullinan

Ever since the first time I visited the RGV, I knew I wanted to write about it. I’d casually named Mitch as being from the area when I first drafted Special Delivery, since my sister was living there at the time, but when I visited her a year later, I knew I had to put the place in a book.

The Rio Grande Valley is home to over one million people, roughly 90% of those residents identifying as Latino. Two of its cities take the number one and number two spots as the poorest metropolitan areas in the United States. It’s the size of the entire state of Connecticut in land mass. It is hot, all the time—my sister would come home for Christmas telling us how it had been 80 and humid when she left. It is desolate desert, except where it is city desert. It once housed a large portion of the US citrus industry, but several freezes combined with industrial growth have changed that landscape.

What I loved about the RGV (called “The Valley” by locals) was how it felt like another country and yet was like no country I’d ever seen. It wasn’t simply that as a Caucasian I was a minority. It was that the very makeup of the area was radically different than anything I’d known. I couldn’t get enough of the flea markets and shopping areas and even just drives around town. When we stayed at a hotel, the staff was beyond charming and helpful, and everywhere I went I felt at home. I’m overall not a fan of Texas, but the RGV I would visit again anytime.

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Rio Grande Valley

My greatest handicap, however, is that I don’t know any Spanish at all. I knew Chenco was Mitch’s brother, which meant he was at least half Caucasian, but I had to scrap his deep Valley identity because I couldn’t accurately replicate it without taking up a residence there and doing some serious cultural immersion.

Because the Valley truly is an amazing, unique world, one which deserves so much more than I was able to give it. Without my sister there, I don’t know why I’d go back to south Texas, but I find myself hoping something someday gives me an excuse. I hope you enjoy taking a small vacation there in Tough Love. And if you ever do get to McAllen, be sure to go to Taco Palenque or its sister restaurant, the Palenque Grill. Sadly while Club 33 did exist, it’s since been renamed Aria. But I bet it’s still fabulous.

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About Heidi:

Heidi Cullinan head shotHeidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because there just aren’t enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her husband and ten-year-old daughter. Heidi is a vocal advocate for LGBT rights and is proud to be from the first Midwestern state with full marriage equality. Find out more about Heidi, including her social networks, at www.heidicullinan.com.

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Tough LoveTOUGH LOVE

It takes a strong man to be this fabulous.

Crescencio “Chenco” Ortiz pulled himself up by his garter straps after his father’s will yanked the financial rug from under his spank-me pumps. He doesn’t need anyone, yet when Steve Vance steps into his life, the prospect of having a sexy leather daddy on tap begins to take on a certain appeal.

There’s a hitch when he learns Steve is friends with Mitch Tedsoe—the half-brother Chenco never knew except through his father’s twisted lies. Despite his reservations, soon Chenco is living his dreams, including a performing gig in Vegas. Now if only he could get Steve to see him as more than just a boy in need of saving.

Steve’s attraction to Chenco is overshadowed by too many demons, ones he knows his would-be lover is too young to slay. Yet as he gets to know the bright, determined young man whose drag act redefines fierce, Steve’s inner sadist trembles with need. He begins to realize Chenco’s relentless tough love might be the only thing that will finally set him free.

Tough Love releases April 8th, 2014. Pre-order your copy now at Samhain Publishing, Amazon & Barnes and Noble.

Excerpt on Heidi’s website

 

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In honor of Heidi’s release, she’s graciously offered to give away one eBook copy of Tough Love! The giveaway starts now and will end next Sunday, April 6th, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST. After which the lucky winner will be randomly picked.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address and you’re in!

Make sure to follow the blog for the winner’s announcement post or check back next Monday, April 7th, 2014, to see if you’ve won!

Check out JustJen’s review of Tough Love to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways | Tags: , , , , | 19 Comments

When All the World Sleeps Virtual Blog Tour: Promo + Giveaway

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Hi! We’re Lisa Henry and J.A. Rock, authors of When All the World Sleeps. We’re touring the web talking about our influences, our crazy ideas, this new book, and even giving you a sneak peek or two! And of course there’s a giveaway involved! Leave a comment to win!

Thanks so much to The Blogger Girls for having us, and to everyone following the tour. Here’s today’s look at When All the World Sleeps:

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Thanks for following our tour! To celebrate our release, we’re giving away a great pair of prizes! Up for grabs is an ebook of our last co-release, Mark Cooper versus America, and a $20 gift voucher from Riptide.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post with a way for us to contact you, be it your email, your twitter, or a link to your Facebook or Goodreads account. Please put your email in the body of the comment, not just in email section of the comment form, because we won’t be able to see it otherwise! On APRIL 2, we’ll draw a winner from all eligible comments! Be sure to follow the whole tour, because the more comments you leave the more chances you have to win this awesome prize!

blogger_bee_transAbout When All the World Sleeps:

When All the World Sleeps by Lisa Henry and J.A. RockDaniel Whitlock is terrified of going to sleep. And rightly so: he sleepwalks, with no awareness or memory of his actions. Including burning down Kenny Cooper’s house—with Kenny inside it—after Kenny brutally beat him for being gay. Back in the tiny town of Logan after serving his prison sentence, Daniel isolates himself in a cabin in the woods and chains himself to his bed at night.

Like the rest of Logan, local cop Joe Belman doesn’t believe Daniel’s absurd defense. But when Bel saves Daniel from a retaliatory fire, he discovers that Daniel might not be what everyone thinks: killer, liar, tweaker, freak. Bel agrees to control Daniel at night—for the sake of the other townsfolk. Daniel’s fascinating, but Bel’s not going there.

Yet as he’s drawn further into Daniel’s dark world, Bel finds that he likes being in charge. And submitting to Bel gives Daniel the only peace he’s ever known. But Daniel’s demons won’t leave him alone, and he’ll need Bel’s help to slay them once and for all—assuming Bel is willing to risk everything to stand by him.

You can read an excerpt and purchase When All the World Sleeps here.

blogger_bee_transAbout the Authors

Lisa Henry lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

You can visit Lisa herwebsite, at Goodreads, or onFacebook or Twitter.

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J.A. Rock has worked as a dog groomer, knife seller, haunted house zombie, standardized patient, cashier, census taker, state fair quilt hanger, and, for one less-than-magical evening, a server—and would much rather be writing about those jobs than doing them. J.A. lives mostly in West Virginia, and always with a beloved dog, Professor Anne.

You can visit J.A. at her website, her blog, or on Twitter or Facebook.

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Make sure to check out JustJen’s review of When All the World Sleeps to see what she thought of it!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways | Tags: , , , , | 9 Comments

Tournament of Shadows Winner!

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The winner of Tournament of Shadows by S.A. Meade is… Continue reading

Categories: Giveaways | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

Honorary Blogger: Rhys’ Ramblings + Giveaway

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TBG: Rhys Ford is here today talking about…well, a variety of things.  Plus, she has a new book releasing this week from Dreamspinner Press, Dirty Deeds, which is book 4 of her very popular Cole McGinnis Series.  Anyone remember the crazy ending of Dirty Laundry??!!  She’s also here to give away a $20 Amazon gift card (or other e-tailer).  Thank you, Rhys, for all that you do!

 

Rhys’ Ramblings

I’ve always told stories.

Even as a little kid… a very grubby little kid… I told them to my friends. Friends who were more often than not, stuffed animals and dolls. I would read things and pretty much act them out with my fuzzy companions. Sometimes, on the rare occasion when there was a live flesh friend to play with, we were superheroes or pirates or samurai. Ninja sometimes. Secret Ninja Circus was on television… KIKU was the Japanese station and it’s the only clear one we got. Most of the television I watched had subtitles and well, reading was a good skill to have if you wanted to keep straight who the hell was whom in a black mask.

I watched Kikaida, Kamen Raida and Princess Knight. Most of my role models were male or in the case of PK, a female who went around pretending to be male as a disguise.

None of that made me feel like being female was to be weak. I never connected the two. Life just was what it was and if I wanted to be Kikaida that day, I was just male in my head.

Some people have said this is a gender fluidity. I’m all… nah, it’s just that I don’t cleave to stereotypes. Boxes marked boy and girl were never comfortable so I never wore them. I began to feel uncomfortable later when people started saying things like; oh she’s very butch so she’s a lesbian. Which was confusing because I’m about as attracted to another female as a gay guy. For me, the feminine bits were never exotic and beautiful. They were kinda odd looking and for God’s sake, couldn’t we have gotten the pee standing up thing? What was with this squatting shit?

My brain often took a left turn at logic. Because, you see, there were other things to be interested in than what box I could fit in.
Stories unfolded. Emotions were felt. Things explored and re-explored if it made me feel good inside. As the world outside of me crumbled and turned to pain, I hid in the words in my head, cloaking myself in other bits and pieces I knitted myself. Because I could live in my own head if need be.

And I did for quite a long time.

But time passed. And I passed different points in my life where I no longer needed to shut down and realized, I was okay with who I was. Who I’d made as this person. There were things to work on. God so many things but the word… the world building… the stories…the personalities shouldn’t be shoved aside like a child’s box of broken crayons.

This was something I’d done all my life. I’d watched people and made up stories about what they did or who they loved. I’d read what people did with one another; in a store while they walked about with tight body language or even sometimes a brief glance of affection when having dinner. Most often I watched as people lived around one another instead of with each other. And while that made me sad inside, it made me realize that sometimes, people just existed.

You see, I never wanted to just exist. I kind of wanted to wade into life and remain…that little grubby kid.

I write like how I want to live. I want to be armpit deep in the filth and beauty of the human being. I want to hear the arguments and wear the laughter. And that’s what I hope to bring the reader. Sometimes not the prettiest of stories but definitely the most… grubby.

I think the best stories are the grubby ones. Really. When the reader isn’t too certain that things are going to be okay. Where there has to be faith in the writer. Where sometimes a little blood might be spilled in order for the story to go forward.

But most of all, they should be fun.

In Dirty Deeds, I’m definitely going to get the reader a bit grubby. I get Cole very grubby. This is a book where he’s had to take a step back and look at where he is. He’s… happy. Really. But there are things out there that are a bit… unsettled and Cole being Cole, he’s got to go out there and see why. And to uncover the things he’s got buried in his own back yard.

But oh, best part about getting a character grubby? He can take a hell of a long time getting clean again.

It’s also a hell of a lot of fun showing how he gets clean. And isn’t that a big part of why we write or read about two men in love? The showers? Okay and other things—but the showers. *grins*

So I imagine I’ll continue to tell stories. For a while still. For as long as I can imagine worlds and personalities and well, for as long as anyone continues to read them. Maybe even beyond.

blogger_bee_trans Dirty Deeds by Rhys Ford

(Book 4 in the Cole McGinnis Series)

Dirty Deeds by Rhys FordBlurb: Sheila Pinelli needed to be taken out.

Former cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis never considered committing murder. But six months ago, when Jae-Min’s blood filled his hands and death came knocking at his lover’s door, killing Sheila Pinelli became a definite possibility.

While Sheila lurks in some hidden corner of Los Angeles, Jae and Cole share a bed, a home, and most of all, happiness. They’d survived Jae’s traditional Korean family disowning him and plan on building a new life—preferably one without the threat of Sheila’s return hanging over them.

Thanks to the Santa Monica police mistakenly releasing Sheila following a loitering arrest, Cole finally gets a lead on Sheila’s whereabouts. That is, until the trail goes crazy and he’s thrown into a tangle of drugs, exotic women, and more death. Regardless of the case going sideways, Cole is determined to find the woman he once loved as a sister and get her out of their lives once and for all.

Rhys Ford’s Dirty Deeds releases March 28th and can be pre-ordered at Dreamspinner Press!

blogger_bee_transAbout Rhys Ford

Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur, a black Pomeranian puffball and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and a purple Bella coffee maker.

You can find me on my Blog, Facebook, & Twitter

And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.

My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press.

Blogger_Giveaway

In honor of Rhys’ upcoming release, Dirty Deeds, she’s offering up a $20 gift card to Amazon (or other e-tailer)! Yay!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Monday, March 31st, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST. After which the lucky winner will be randomly picked.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address and you’re in!

Make sure to follow the blog for the winners’ announcement post or check back next Tuesday, April 1st, 2014, to see if you’ve won.

Don’t forget, Dirty Deeds is available for pre-order and will be releasing from Dreamspinner Press on March 28th, 2014! Check out Nikyta’s review to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT | Tags: , , , | 40 Comments

Nothing Special by A.E. Via: Excerpt + Giveaway

An Excerpt from Nothing Special

by A.E. Via

“I’m going to get some coffee.” Day walked off, leaving God to answer the unnecessary questions.

As soon as Day turned into the kitchen he skidded to a halt. Fuck, not right now.

“Well hello, Day. I was hoping to see you today,” Detective Johnson continued stirring his coffee.

“How’s it going?” Day said dryly and went about setting up his coffee machine.

“It’s going better now that I’m seeing you.” Detective Johnson came over to Day and stood over him. Day had to practically reach around the tall man to start the machine. “Dude, want to give me a little room here.”

“No. I like being close to you.” Detective Johnson took one long finger and slowly dragged it down the front of Day’s chest.

“Well fuckin’ unlike it.” They both jumped at the sound of God’s gruff voice.

God walked up to Day and grabbed him by the back of his neck. He spun Day around so hard that he dropped the small packs of sugar to the floor. All he could do was hold on to God’s massive biceps as he ravaged his mouth. Day let God completely control him until he was done proving his point. God released him and Day practically fell back into the counter.

“Fuck, Cash,” Day whispered, completely out of breath. After Day got his wits about him he noticed that God and Johnson were in a serious stare off over his head.

Johnson broke first and looked down at Day.

“You’re fucking God now?” Johnson asked disbelievingly.

“Okay, that just sounds wrong saying it like that, so I’m not going to comment.” Day inched away from the two giants and propped himself up on one of the break-room tables. “I think I’ll watch this one from the sidelines.”

“You’re goddamn right he’s with me. So you have to find someone else to harass every day, Johnson.” God huffed. “Or are you going to run tell daddy?”

Johnson stepped closer to God and Day watched God’s nonchalant reaction to the detective’s scowl.

“I didn’t know you batted for my team, God.”

“Johnson, even if you were on the all-star team I wouldn’t bat for your team. I’m with Day and that’s just it.” God crossed his arms.

“Well a man like Day requires commitment, effort, someone to put in full-time work. You are more of a detached from society kind of guy aren’t you, God? I mean are you up for that type of job to keep him yours?” Johnson smirked and took a sip of his coffee.

“Yeah, I know all about that job, Johnson, because I worked the hell out of it last night.” God stepped in even closer and mock whispered. “But you know what the difference is between me and you and our jobs? I usually quit mine, you end up getting fired. But seriously. You can stop applying with Day, because the position’s been fuckin’ filled.” God caught the muffin Day threw at him and walked out the door.

Day did very little to hide his grin as he drank his coffee.

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About Nothing Special

Blurb: Detective Cashel ‘Cash’ Godfrey is big, tattooed and angry so people typically keep their distance. He’s fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six foot four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn’t expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis ‘Leo’ Day.

Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He’s proud, out and one bad-ass detective.​

Together Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta’s ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.

When Cash saves Leo’s life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does…something special. But Leo fears he’ll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash’s heart.

Nothing Special takes the reader through various emotions throughout the richly fulfilling plot that’s full of erotic gay romance, heartache, passion, trials and tribulations, police action scenes, and an intriguing twist that comes to an amazing ending that’s impossible to see coming.

Title and Synopsis created by the LaSalle Sister of Man2Mantastic.

Nothing Special is now available at Amira Press Publishing, Amazon & All Romance eBooks!

blogger_bee_transAbout A.E. Via

A.E. ViaA.E. Via is the new best-selling author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, A.E. runs a very successful paralegal-for-hire business, and in her spare time, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children, her two pets, a Maltese dog and her white Siamese cat, ELynn, named after the late, great gay romance author E. Lynn Harris.

While this is only her third novel, she has plenty more to come. So sit back and grab a cool drink, because the male on male action is just heating up!

Go to A.E. Via’s official website for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, and where she’ll appear next. Or you can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads & Amazon.

Blogger_Giveaway

A.E. has generously offered up THREE copies of her recent release Nothing Special for this giveaway!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Sunday, March 30th, 2014, at 11:59 pm EST. After which the lucky winners will be randomly picked.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below with your email address and you’re in!

Make sure to follow the blog for the winners’ announcement post or check back next Monday, March 31st, 2014, to see if you’ve won.

Don’t forget, Nothing Special is now available at Amira Press Publishing and be sure to check out JustJen’s review to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , | 12 Comments