Honorary Blogger Post

Honorary Blogger Belinda Burke: Accidentally In Love + Giveaway!

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Accidentally In Love

by Belinda Burke

Hello, and welcome to the corner of the Blogger Girls I’ve been given today!

I actually had another post entirely written for this, but then this morning – October 10th, a day that will live in infamy – I fell in love. This is not entirely unusual, but I did it having never seen the face of the man in question, while he talked to my friend who was standing in his cabin typing what he said to me. There’s a serious dose of the cold flutters in this feeling, but it’s still there while I’m writing and I wonder – what is love, anyway? Where on EARTH does it come from?

If you’re hoping for an answer, I don’t really have one, as my current state of existence might suggest.  I mean really, how did I manage to fall in love with someone who I haven’t seen! Whose voice I haven’t heard, whose words came to me only through a messenger? Typed, at that! How am I so affected by a stranger who says “pretty eyes”, when I’d barely learned his name? Well, I’m not certain, but it’s a fact! (The butterflies agree.)

So many times in romance, we read and write tropes and coincidences that seem impossible – like they could never happen in real life. “Love at first sight” is so much a cliché that it’s its own catchphrase, and yet even so it’s often called out as unbelievable.

I’m here to tell you, as a sufferer of Love at NO sight, that it is definitely, definitely a thing. It is apparently a terrible and wonderful thing, just like love is all by itself – and it influences everything. Everything! The way the world looks, how a certain name tastes…oh, you know you all just said a certain name just to test it!

Despite this experience, I still believe that love isn’t magic – that it doesn’t come from nowhere really, even if we can’t always figure out the origin point, or the moment it started. If it’s not love at first sight, is it the second? The third? Or maybe it’s love at first kiss – first smile?  Apparently it can even be the first word.

I’ve gone in deep on this one, fallen in the sense of “yes water feels like concrete from a hundred feet up” – but never fear! I’ll be reporting my experience from within the world of the Eight Kingdoms, where love in all its forms is always more than welcome.

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About The Circle Unbroken

https://www.totallybound.com/image/cache/data/Covers/C/thecircleunbroken_exlarge_PNG-210x336.pngA prince, a king, an oath to bind and an oath to break. Can something begun in darkness survive the light? Or does the shape of that oath define love…and the circle unbroken?

Three months have passed since Macsen Cadoc’s rescue of Bran Fionnan—three mortal months, three days in Macsen’s Red Kingdom. Bran has begun to seek a place for himself—as sidhe, as Summer’s Prince and as Macsen’s consort. The Red King has begun to balance the thirst of his own nature with the love that now moves him just as much. Yet when Bran is reminded of an oath that was made between them when he was just a child, that which has so far held them together may end up tearing them apart.

While the strength of their love is tested, a mortal enemy is once more in motion. Focused only on their destruction, Dealla seeks to step into the place of her dead father–to rule over the Milesians and fulfil the oaths of crown and country. To do so, she must find a way to hurt two foes…one new and openly deadly, the other ancient and its enmity long asleep. Allies appear in unlikely places, armed by their own motives to seek the same destruction Dealla desires…but the price of success may be higher than the cost of failure—higher than any plot or plan allows.

What is the price of an oath fulfilled? Is love born from nothing, or does it wear a path that can be traced?

Available at: Totally Bound

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About Belinda Burke

Picture 2I am author, storyteller, poet – property of one cat, perpetual insomniac, and resident of the New England coast of the United States! In my spare time I bemoan the state of the economy, read anything I can get my hands on, and continue my erstwhile pursuit of a double major in Philosophy and English literature.

I’m currently writing for Totally Bound publishing, fulfilling my primary dream of authoring my own books after many years of reading. Currently the bestselling book one of the Eight Kingdoms series, Dark Side of the Sun, is available everywhere. Book two will be available October 24th, and there’s plenty more on the horizon! Keep an eye out for Wolf of the West, a stand-alone novel coming in January 2015, and of course, more of the Eight Kingdoms!

Fanmail and questions are always welcome at belindaburkeauthor@gmail.com. Follow me on Facebook or on tumblr at – and keep an eye out for a new website, launching soon!

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Belinda has graciously offered up a signed print copy of book one, Dark Side of the Sun, to one lucky winner!! The giveaway starts now and ends October 24, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Don’t forget to check out Nikyta’s review of The Circle Unbroken to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , | 22 Comments

Honorary Blogger Sarah Madison: Finding Their Voices + Excerpt & Giveaway!

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Finding Their Voices

by Sarah Madison

A number of people, on finding out that I was finally releasing a sequel to Unspeakable Words, have asked me if it was difficult getting back into the heads of my characters. After all, it was almost four years since the release of the first in the Sixth Sense series, surely it was challenging find their voices again, right?

Well, the answer is yes and no. See, from the beginning, I’d intended for the story arc to span three novels. I had a good idea where I wanted to go with the series, and I was delighted at how well the first story had done. But Unspeakable Words was my first major story, and in the aftermath of its release, made a lot of newbie errors before I finished Walk a Mile.

  1. I got wound up in the hype of marketing, promoting, and branding to the point of forgetting what my real product was—not me, but the stories that I write. Still, so much emphasis and advice was put on having a presence on Facebook, on Twitter, on my website, that I spent a disproportionate amount of my precious little writing time on marketing. I hated it at first. I wrote blog posts about how all of us needed to ‘shut up and write’ but gradually, I developed a kind of addiction to the social media interaction. Lord knows it was easier to come home and mess around on Tumblr or Facebook than it was to open the WIP and iron out a thorny plot problem. The beauty of it all was that I could convince myself I was building my platform, and not just wasting time.
  2. I got seduced by other stories. Instead of continuing the series then and there, I got caught up in the adventures of other characters, promising myself there would be sequels to their stories as well. Yeah, we know how that goes…
  3. I let a few lukewarm reviews impact my decision to move forward with the story arc I had in mind. A lot of people really enjoyed Unspeakable Words. A few people didn’t, and said so.  I was new to the game then and my skin wasn’t as thick as it is now. I lost confidence in the planned arc, doubting whether I should continue with the paranormal element when the paranormal element was at the heart of the story!

One day I realized that these stories were mine to do with what I will—and that I could only write what was in my heart and release it. If people loved it, yay! If not, well, it wasn’t exactly a tragedy, now was it? Once I decided that I was allowed to write my story my way, I picked up the threads of my old concepts, only to find out the characters were no longer speaking to me.

Uh-oh.

So I re-read their story. A lot. I recalled Parker’s stiff resistance to the introduction of the maverick John Flynn in to his neatly ordered world. Of how Flynn in many ways is more closed off and unapproachable than Parker, for while everyone feels the lash of Jerry’s tongue when he is displeased, Flynn hides his emotions behind a charming smile. I reacquainted myself with their lives: the Grimm Fairy Tale Killer, the cats, the night at the museum that changed everything.

At the time of the release of Unspeakable Words, a good friend made a playlist for me that served as a soundtrack for the story. I listened to that playlist over and over as I drove to work, the familiar songs evoking scenes from the story while at the same time letting my mind wander freely over the possibilities within the next tale.

Gradually, the characters began talking to me again. It was a struggle at first, but the more time I spent with them, the more willing they were to share more about themselves with me. Because it was a struggle, however, I vowed this time I wouldn’t wait before starting the next story in the series, and I am happy to say I am working on the sequel to Walk a Mile now.

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About Walk A Mile

1Six months after starting their hunt for a serial killer who is still at large, FBI agents Jerry Lee Parker and John Flynn are partners in every sense. But Jerry has serious doubts about their relationship and whether they would even be together if not for the way Flynn changed after touching a mysterious artifact in a museum.

Flynn hates the extraordinary power bestowed on him by the artifact and wants nothing more than to have a normal life again. Jerry fears that without the unusual connection they forged, Flynn will no longer want or need him. Chasing after a similar artifact takes them back to Flynn’s old stomping grounds in Washington D.C., where his newfound abilities uncover long-buried secrets, the kind people would kill to protect. But they aren’t the only ones looking for these powerful relics, and what they discover will threaten their relationship—and their lives

 Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

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An Excerpt from Walk A Mile

Jerry returned his attention to the tableau unfolding in the aisle. Flynn was making his way casually toward Jerry; he yawned, taking his time. 15-A hesitated; Jerry could see that he had stepped into the aisle, but was thinking of sitting back down again. Just then, the door to the toilet opened and the toddler came out into the aisle. Picking up on the air of tension, the child immediately started to wail.

15-A snapped like a wire stretched beyond its tensile strength. Whipping off his sunglasses, he reached into the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out a glass vial. Holding it up high over his head for everyone to see, he shouted, “Everybody stay where you are!”

People glanced up and turned around in their seats, startled and immediately alarmed. 15-A looked around sharply, making sure that no one was trying to rush him. Several people had started halfway up out of their seats to see what was going on; Jerry knew they were remembering United Flight 93.

15-a moved his hand in a broad semi-circle so that everyone could see the vial tucked in his palm. “I have Sarin!” he announced. “If anyone moves, I break the vial. Someone make that child shut up!”

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About Sarah Madison

Sarah Madison is a veterinarian with a big dog, an even bigger horse, too many cats, and a very patient boyfriend. She is a terrible cook, and concedes that her life would be easier if Purina made People Chow. She writes because it is cheaper than therapy.

You can find Sarah on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook or Tumblr.

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As part of this blog tour, Sarah is giving away an eBook copy of Unspeakable Words to one lucky winner!! To enter, just click the link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway unless otherwise stated but are still welcome anyway.

Don’t forget to check out Nikyta’s review of Walk A Mile to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , | 15 Comments

Honorary Blogger Varian Krylov: A Dangerous Man – Excerpt + Giveaway!

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A Dangerous Man

by Varian Krylov

In his blood and his bones, Xavier is carnal and hungry: his drives are fierce, and he has no interest in suppressing his appetite. When he wants something or someone, he goes for it.

But like all of us, Xavier has been forged by his experiences. When he was a kid, he learned what powerlessness felt like, and he’s been making himself as strong as possible, inside and out, ever since. It’s also that experience of having  someone judge him and hurt him for not living by their rules that’s made Xavier lawless, a man who lives by his own moral code. He loves fiercely and deeply, and would never let something cold and abstract like the law dictate how to protect those he cares about, or even a victimized stranger. So, he’s dangerous to anyone who preys on people. There’s nothing he’s not capable of doing, when he gets his hands on someone he’s judged guilty. But that also means he’s dangerous to everyone—especially himself—because even though he has a talent for reading people, he’s not the infallible.

But with those he desires and those he loves, Xavier is driven by a longing to please that matches his own insatiable want. He’s loyal, he’s vigilant, and he’ll feed on your pleasure as much as his own. And that’s dangerous, too, because he won’t flinch from pushing you to find pleasure in things you didn’t know could excite you, even things that frighten you.

So, if you happen to bump into Xavier, run away.

Or surrender, if you really think you’re ready for him.

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About Bad Things

Bad ThingsXavier makes a lot of people nervous. The rest, he flat-out scares. More than his hulking, tattooed body, it’s his predator’s gaze that makes people feel vulnerable, as if he had the power to read their thoughts and see their soul. For his lovers, it’s Xavier’s ravenous appetite for all things carnal—for the taste of flesh under his tongue and the feel of a trembling body under his control, for whispered pleas and muffled cries—that makes him dangerous.

But recently, driven by a festering rage against the men who attacked his sister a decade ago, Xavier has developed a taste for a different kind of hunt and conquest: stalking men who do truly bad things and punishing the predators he sniffs out. The problem with vigilante justice, though, is sometimes the man in your trap is innocent.

Carson suspects he’s playing a risky game with dangerous men. But the lies are convincing, especially when they’re slipped to him among hundred dollar bills. He never guessed how big and dark the secret hidden under all the lies and money could be. And he has no idea he’s not the predator, but the prey, until it’s too late.

And you can’t beg for mercy when there’s a gag in your mouth.

But when Carson escapes from Xavier’s trap, he’s forced to accept that Xavier is far from his most dangerous enemy. Xavier may even hold the key to overcoming the painful past that has kept Carson prisoner for almost two decades.

Available at: Smashwords & Amazon

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An Excerpt from Bad Things

When Xavier moved in, Carson struggled against the restraints. “Fucking . . . Come on. This shit’s not funny anymore.” Pleading gaze upturned from under his dark lashes.

Xavier laughed. “What’s that look?”

“Come on, Xavier. I know I fucked up. Of course you’re mad. But . . . come on. We’re . . . ”

“What are we, Carson?”

“I thought we were . . . ”

“Did you think we were friends?” Xavier laughed. “Did you think that you sleeping on my couch and cooking me a couple meals makes us friends?”

He breathed in the smell of him. Nervous sweat rising over the scent of soap. He caressed his cheek.

Carson went dead still, then tried to mold his frightened expression into sternness. “You could go to jail for this.”

Carson’s whining was getting on his nerves. Xavier lifted the lid on the chest of dark brown leather and took out the ball gag. Too funny, that perplexed expression on Carson’s face, then horrified incredulity as he figured it out. Sitting on his thighs, gazing into those shimmering blue pools of terror, Xavier got it on him before he could complain much more.

Xavier grinned. “You’re not the first guy I’ve had cuffed to this post. And that gag in your mouth isn’t the only toy in my box of treasures. But it is one of my favorites, because it means I don’t have to listen to a bunch of whining and begging. I mean, I love whining and begging. I get hard for whining and begging. But only for the first few minutes. Then it gets incredibly fucking tedious.

“But the thing I really love about the gag is, it’s so much easier to get to know someone when they’re being quiet. Just watching their face. Looking into their eyes. Without a bunch of blah, blah, lies, blah, blah rationalization to muddy the truth.”

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About Varian Krylov

Growing up near Los Angeles, I spent much of my time frolicking in the Pacific Ocean and penning angst-twisted poetry. Now I’m living in sunny Spain writing pathos-riddled fiction.
I’ve always loved the music and substance of words, always loved writing in well-worn notebooks by hand, tapping at the keys of the computer, and, of course, conjuring up stories.

And from my earliest memories, I’ve always been fascinated—maybe obsessed?—with sex and sexuality.
In my writing, sex is the medium, the expression, and the tool of discovery for my characters’ insecurities, the needs that drive them, the comfort they can’t live without, the joy and relish of life that makes each of them intense, strange, and alluring.

Find Varian on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter or email her at variansfiction@yahoo.com.

Blog_Tour_Giveaway

In this blog tour, Varian is giving away an eBook copy of Bad Things to one lucky winner! To enter, just click the link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway unless otherwise stated but are still welcome anyway.

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

Honorary Blogger Lynley Wayne: About the Characters + Giveaway!

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About the Characters

by Lynley Wayne

The first time Cameron Reyes appeared in my head I was in high school. Back then he was still a teenager with anger issues and a need to protect others. Over the years, I’ve watched him grow up. More than once I attempted to write his story, but it was all to no avail. I tried mystery. I tried fantasy. I even tried comedy. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon the gay romance genre that I found a place for him.

The moment Seth Dempsey stepped on the page in, Rocky’s Road, I knew he was who I had been waiting for. Seth was strong and stubborn, but most importantly, he had a huge heart and I had no doubt that he could love Cam, rough edges and all. Seth wouldn’t judge him because of his past or blame him for things beyond his control.

When I realized I was actually finished with this book, I had conflicting emotions. I was relieved to have it done, since it had taken me twice as long as I’d hoped. At the same time, I was extremely sad to be saying goodbye to Cam. I felt almost as if I were losing my best friend. Knowing he will be happy and safe with Seth goes a long way.

With this book, more than any other, I feel as if I’m sending my only child out in to the world for the first time. So I hope you guys fall in love with these two guys as much as I have.

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About Facing Demons

Cover art done by: Cooley Design StudioAt the age of fifteen, Seth Dempsey gave his heart to Cameron Reyes. Three years later, Cam shattered it when he walked away. When Cam blows back into Seth’s life years later, Seth knows he will do whatever it takes to ensure Cam doesn’t slip away again. Even if it means going up against a corrupt DEA agent and a drug cartel.

Cameron Reyes was born on the wrong side of the tracks. He fell in love with Seth, but knew the only way to keep him safe was to leave, no matter how much it hurt. Eleven years later, when his life implodes, he knows the only person he can trust is the boy whose heart he broke all those years ago.

While they fight to stay one step ahead of everyone and clear Cam’s name, can they learn to work together in order to face down the demons of the past and find the happily ever after they have dreamed of?

Available at: MLR Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

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Follow the rest of the Facing Demons Blog Tour:

Facing Demons Blog Tour (1)

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About Lynley Wayne

ATL_Lynley Wayne_BWLynley Wayne is the pen name of a thirty-something female living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. When not writing, she can usually be found reading and thinking up creative ways to avoid housework. She is married to a very understanding man who doesn’t complain when she spends hours in front of the computer, or talks for hours about whatever story she’s working on, or asks random off the wall questions. He also keeps her fed on those occasions when her muse has taken over and she loses days at a time. Yeah, basically he’s vying for sainthood.

Lynley strongly believes everyone is entitled to their own version of happiness, no matter how it may differ from the norm. She writes characters she wants to read and hopes others like reading about them as much as she enjoyed writing them.

It is her hope that one day society will be able to look past the labels and see the person behind them. That they will realize we are all the same. Until that time comes, she will continue telling stories of a love others may believe is wrong, but she thinks is nothing short of beautiful.

You can find Lynley on her Website, Facebook, Facebook Author Page or Twitter.

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In this blog tour, Lynley is giving away an eBook copy of winner’s choice from her backlist to one lucky person! The giveaway starts now and ends October 18, 2014 at 11:59 pm. To enter, just click the link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Don’t forget to check out JustJen’s review of Facing Demons to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , | 13 Comments

Honorary Blogger Bey Deckard: Let’s Talk Threesomes! + Giveaway!

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The Power of Three

by Bey Deckard

While not typical, Caged and Sacrificed contain a ménage relationship. Was this something you planned on from the onset?

I did. The plan was to have an established relationship between Tom and Baltsaros—something comfortable and familiar that worked great, yet was missing the vital element needed to transform it into something both fierce and profound. That keystone was a lonely, inexperienced young man whose hope was running on empty.

Throwing Jon into the mix was nothing short of cruel. Yes, it was a little like dropping him overboard and hoping he could swim, but the one who bore the brunt of the cruelty was not Jon. Hey, sometimes you have to take something apart to fix it… and hope all the pain was worth it.

When you have a relationship between three, the easy settling that happens with a couple takes longer. Sometimes it never happens at all; the relationship just continues shifting like a restless sea. Especially when you’re dealing with intense bravado, major insecurities, and—let’s face it—some pretty serious personality flaws and disturbing hobbies.

Though their nascent relationship is shaky, Jon, Tom and Baltsaros fill the gaps in each other’s armour and, in the end, that will make them stronger.

I hope.

You also manage to give pretty equal face time to each character, with each having their own insecurities, etc. Is this something you have to really concentrate on making happen as you write? Does any one character try to steal more time than the others *cough*Tom*cough*? Do you have ways of keeping the other(s) quiet until it’s their turn?

Funny you mention Tom. He’s the one who crowds me the most while I write. It’s like he’s sitting behind me, reading over my shoulder as I write. Then he stops cleaning his fingernails with his knife… or puts down the mug of beer… or pulls the cheroot out of his mouth and leans over to jab a finger at my screen, saying stuff like “Why the fuck wouldn’t I kill him right there, mate? Bloody hells, I ain’t a fuckin’ yellow belly!” or suggesting completely inane things like punching sharks, or learning to breathe underwater, or finding hidden treasure buried by Romas that contains a clue to Baltsa— Wait, that one was a good suggestion. Forget I said anything.

Anyway… when Tom finally annoys me enough, I just get Baltsaros to tie him up in a really uncomfortable position for an hour or two, and I get some peace and quiet.

Jon does actually get more face time/POV because he’s not as jaded as the other two, and he’s more observant. As much as Tom is able to spot a tail, or Baltsaros can quickly calculate how much someone is worth to him, it’s Jon who sees everything with open eyes and a quick mind honed by years of neglect.
It’s often through Jon that I’m able to show the softer sides of the captain and his first mate, so he’s not only important to them… he’s important to me as a writer.

And… he’s very polite and never drinks milk straight from the container… or stares at me with eyes like chips of black glass, just waiting to put me in my place should I embarrass him.

Threesomes. Gorgeous in their complexities, perilous in their fragility… and extremely satisfying to write.

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About Sacrificed: Heart Beyond the Spires

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Reunited once more, the crew of Baal’s Heart must make the long and treacherous journey south to the towering spires of the Devil’s Isles. The path through the mountain range is fraught with peril; mayhem and tragedy plague the pirate ship, but what the men find beyond the spires is the most shocking of all.

In this sequel to the acclaimed Caged, the pirates are dragged into a dangerous new world by Captain Baltsaros’s all-consuming obsession. In the midst of terror and chaos, Jon learns that the captain and first mate have been keeping secrets from him. But will the truth tear them apart?

Release Date: October 15, 2014
Available for Preorder at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

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About Caged: Love and Treachery on the High Seas

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Sheltered and lonely, Jon’s life changes drastically when a strange ship sails into the harbour of his small port town one day. Trapped between the possessive pirate captain and his murderous first mate, he must learn to adapt or he will lose himself completely. An epic tale of love, treachery and revelation, this first installment of the Baal’s Heart trilogy brings you into the lives of three men so bound together by jealousy and lies that they must sail to the very ends of the earth to find forgiveness.

Deckard’s first novel is a masterful portrayal of sorrow, hope, and passion, with a narrative that twists the reader through a world set in the Golden Age of Piracy. A thrilling look into the darker side of human nature, Caged effortlessly melds serious historical fantasy with five star erotica.

Release Date: April 16, 2014
Available at: Amazon & Barnes and Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

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About Bey Deckard

Born and raised in a small coastal town in northern Québec, Bey spent his early summers on his uncle’s boat and running wild on the beaches of the surrounding islands, lighting fires, and building huts out of driftwood and fishermen’s nets. As an adult, he eventually made his way to university and earned a degree in Art History with a strong focus on Anthropology. Primarily a portrait painter and graphic artist, Bey sat down one day and decided to write about the two things that he felt most passionate about: sex and the sea.

Bey currently lives in the wilds of Montréal with his best buddy, a spotty pit bull named Murphy.

You can find out more about Bey on his Website, Facebook or Goodreads.

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Bey has graciously offered up an eBook copy of Sacrificed: Heart Beyond the Spires to one lucky winner!! The giveaway starts now and ends October 17, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Don’t forget to check out JustJen’s reviews of Caged and Sacrificed to see what she thought of them!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

GRL Blog Tour: Bru Baker – Ten Random Things About Bru Baker + Giveaway!

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Ten Random Things About Bru Baker

by Bru Baker

I’ll be attending GayRomLit as a supporting author this year, and I’m equal parts terrified and excited as  the date draws nearer. I haven’t attended GRL before, but I’ve heard a lot of authors and readers rave about how awesome it is. I can’t wait to find out for myself!

I know these lists are usually more of  the “Top Ten” or “Ten things you didn’t know…” variety, but that puts a lot of pressure on me to be interesting. Frankly, all of my interesting experiences have already made their way into my books. So we’ll just go with calling this random personal trivia, okay? That lowers expectations, and I get to keep a few quirks under my hat for future book inspiration.

This month marks the two-year anniversary of my first contract with Dreamspinner Press. Seems hard to believe, since I currently have nine titles published (including two shorts in anthologies) and three coming out later this year, but it’s true.

I met the love of my life on the first day of college,  and we’ve been together ever since.  My characters tend to be sarcastic but perfect for each other because for the most part, my whole understanding of romance is based on my own experience with the geeky computer genius I met when I was seventeen. I’ve been with him for half my life, and our relationship is built on humor, compassion, and a shared intellectual curiosity about everything. He gets me in a way no one else does, and I want my characters to love each other that way as well. Flowers and candlelit dinners are nice, but for me, sarcastic bantering and small gestures are the best kind of foreplay. (Which should be pretty obvious, since it’s the one common thread through all my books!)

I am absolutely terrible at remembering names. I called my neighbor the wrong name for five years. Five years. And worst of all, the poor guy responded to it every time. I’ve tried mnemonic devices. I’ve tried repeating names back in conversation, even though that often comes across as creepy. (“Hi, Hal. It’s nice to meet you, Hal. I can’t let you do that, Hal.”) Please don’t be offended if I get yours wrong–or eye up your name tag repeatedly–at GRL.

I’m 6′ of attitude packed into a 5’2” frame. Okay, not really. I like to think that I’m  pretty BAMF, but most people who have met me describe me as sweet and cheerful. But my internal monologue is scathing, I promise. I’m also rounding generously to get to 5’2”.  My second grader steals my socks because our feet are the same size.

I can’t function without Post-Its. I use them for everything, from plotting out novels to writing to-do lists to tucking cartoon sketches into my kids’ lunches. The wall above my desk is littered in Post-Its. There are so many that I have to color code them by topic. It’s pretty shameful, especially since I also set up Wikis (that are then never referred to again, see previous sentence about Wall ‘o Post-Its) to keep track of characters and plot arcs.

I have a guard cat. He plays fetch, too. His name is Pete, and he’s a rescue cat who must be part ninja, since he can open closed doors and child-locked cabinets. He also beats everyone to the door when we have visitors and tries his hardest to physically keep himself between the kids and any strangers who come over. When they were babies, he’d bring them stuffed animals when they cried. We’re pretty sure he thinks he’s actually a dog.

My house is always cleanest when I’m on deadline with a book. I am a world-class procrastinator. But I feel guilty doing something fun when I’m putting off work, so I make myself take care of tasks that fall to the bottom of my to-do list instead. The day before the manuscript for Playing House was due I steam cleaned all the carpets and put together a bookshelf that had been sitting in a box in my study for two months.

I was born in Hawaii but grew up in the Midwest. There’s a picture of me taken a few days after we moved, sitting in the snow just absolutely bawling. Our poor dog is standing next to me, up to his chest in a drift, looking just as upset as I am. And our reaction to snow and freezing temperatures never improved. We were meant for warmer climates, Bo and I.

I have been trying to finish the book Point Counter Point for eighteen years. I dig it out every year or two and start it with fresh eyes, but I’ve never been able to make it through more than a few chapters of the Aldous Huxley book. It annoys me, because it’s literally the only book I’ve ever started and not finished. Maybe this is finally the year.

Today is my birthday.  I was at a Guster concert on my birthday four years ago, and the band sang an ode to 10/10/10 that was absolutely the best birthday serenade ever. Today I turn 35, which seems a bit unreal since I’m still waiting for some magical maturity to kick in so I actually feel like an adult. Maybe that’s at 36?

So to sum up, if you see me at GRL, don’t be offended if I blank on your name. If it’s below 70F I’ll probably be wearing at least one sweater and grumbling about not being fit to live at this latitude. I’ll have a polite smile on my face, but if we talk long enough I’ll eventually lose my filter and start sharing my internal snark monologue. And most importantly, I’ll still be in birthday celebration mode, so come have a drink with me!

Hit me up at GRL for some great swag. I’ll be carrying around book lights to give away!

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About Bru Baker

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Bru BakerBru Baker is a freelance journalist who writes for newspapers and magazines. Fiction makes her happiest, whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s. She and her husband live in the Midwest with their two young children, whose antics make finding time to write difficult but never let life get boring.

Visit Bru online at http://www.bru-baker.com or follow her on Twitter.

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As part of her GRL stop, Bru has offered up an eBook of winner’s choice from her backlist (excluding anthologies) to one lucky person! The giveaway starts now and ends October 16, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Good luck!

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Check out TBG’s GRL Blog Tour Schedule

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post | Tags: , , | 11 Comments

Honorary Blogger Cardeno C.: Family Series Inspiration Songs + Giveaway!

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Family Series Inspiration Songs

by Cardeno C.

The titles in my Family series are inspired by song lyrics I feel fit the characters and their journeys. I think each song is pretty different and that it fits its book. I’ll share them with you to see if you agree.

 

The Half of Us by Cardeno C. eBookThe Half of UsSomeone to Fall Back on by Jason Robert Brown

I heard a groom sing this song at his wedding as part of his vows to his new husband and immediately thought of Jason Garcia, the arrogant, temperamental heart surgeon in The Half of Us. Jason has made his fair share of mistakes in life and he’ll probably make more. He’s the first person to tell you he’s nobody’s wildest dream. But, remarkably, the things Jason can offer are exactly what optimistic, earnest Abe Green needs.

When Jason meets Abe, he thinks about a hot night with a guy who’s probably out of his league. But one night turns into two and then more, and Jason realizes that with Abe, he can have a future he’d long since given up on. And by becoming the half of “us” with Abe, Jason becomes someone to fall back on for Abe and for a family that needs Jason as much as he needs them.

 

More Than Everything by Cardeno C. eBookMore Than Everything – Pictures Of You by The Cure

I absolutely love this song, have since it was released, and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect song to keep me company as Charlie/Chase Rhodes put together a scrapbook of his life.

Charlie sits at his table and tells the story behind pictures of his great loves – Scott Boone and Adan Navarro. He remembers the kisses, the tears, the love that felt too big to keep, and the pain of losing it. Charlie remembers his past step by step and through the pictures he puts into his scrapbook, he shares his heart, his world, his wants, and ultimately, his happy ending.

 

Something in the Way He Needs by Cardeno C. eBookSomething in the Way He Needs – Something by the Beatles

Asher Penaz is rough and unemotional. He has no interest in relationships and frequents leather bars to find men to control sexually. Asher’s intensity and harshness make him a hard man to like. But good-at-everything, dynamic Daniel Tover is the ying to Asher’s yang and he has no trouble falling for Asher.

Asher is irresistibly drawn to Daniel, which throws him for an emotional loop (not an easy thing to endure for a man unused to emotions). But there’s just something in the way Daniel needs to be held tightly that attracts Asher. To most people, what Asher offers would be frightening and controlling. To Daniel, who has spent his life running from place to place, Asher’s intensity and passion represents security and home. So for the first time in their lives, Asher wants somebody to stay and Daniel doesn’t want to go.

Strong Enough by Cardeno C. eBookStrong Enough – Strong Enough To Be Your Man by Travis Tritt

University math professor, Spencer Derdinger is a kind, intelligent man tormented by events in his past that have made it difficult to maintain a relationship. Spencer’s ego has taken a beating by the people that fade away from him.

And then vibrant, confident, kind Emilio Sanchez struts into Spencer’s life insisting he is strong enough to hold Spencer through the storm. Looking at Emilio’s close-knit family and the future he can have with a man he feels is too good to be true, Spencer finds the strength to vanquish his ghosts.

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About Cardeno C.

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

You can find Cardeno at these sites: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Facebook Page & Blog.

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Cardeno is giving away an eBook copy of winner’s choice from his backlist to one lucky person! The giveaway starts now and ends October 15, 2014 at 11:59 pm. To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Don’t forget to check out Gyn’s review of The Half of Us to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

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

Honorary Blogger Sophie Bonaste: Why Write About the Grim Reaper? + Giveaway!

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Why Write About the Grim Reaper?

by Sophie Bonaste

Hello! My name is Sophie Bonaste and I will be taking over this corner of The Blogger Girls today. So before I go any farther I want to send a big thank you out to the amazing people at The Blogger Girls for letting me come by today.

So today I am here to talk about my latest novella release Death Gets a Boyfriend, which is now available from Dreamspinner Press. And, yes, the title is accurate. It is the story of how the embodiment of Death (aka the Grim Reaper) gets a boyfriend. So, of course, this leads to the natural question.

Why would anyone want to write about Death?

Well, it’s actually not as much of a stretch for me. You see, at my day job, I have a bit of a strange nickname. They call me the Grim Reaper. I am feared at my work. But there are times when I don’t understand why. After all, while I am smart, I only weigh 135 pounds and am only five foot six tall. I am super nice and not scary at all. So why the fear? Why the terrifying nickname?

It got me thinking. If I and my lovable personality are deemed so scary, then why is the Grim Reaper always seen in such a scary way? I understand that death is a scary thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. And because of little is known about it, who’s to say that the person doing the killing has to be bad. Maybe he is just stuck with a brutal job like so many of us.

And so my muse was born. Death was no longer a shadowy being in a long black robe carrying a large sickle, but rather a nerd wearing Star Wars T-shirts and blue jeans. He is not some man who hangs in the shadows waiting to cause mayhem and destruction, but rather a small man with a love for human culture and a desire to end the pain that the end can sometimes bring.

In short, Death is portrayed as a human. He has his strengths and he has his weaknesses. Not to mention his many quirks. I am pretty sure that the traditional Grim Reaper doesn’t have a problem rambling every time he opens his mouth. But I can tell you that my Death definitely has that problem.

I think one of the best qualities in my book is the fact that my Death is completely different from any other portrayal of the Grim Reaper. He challenges the idea that Death has to be a scary being. He is just a normal being with an extraordinary power. Which is what makes him special.

I admit that my version of Death may be slightly controversial, but I think he is one of the best characters I have ever written. I want to thank the Blogger Girls once again for letting me show everyone my version of Death. To read more about Death, check out the information on Death Gets a Boyfriend which you can find below. Thanks for reading!!

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About Death Gets a Boyfriend

Death Gets a Boyfriend by Sophie Bonaste eBookDeath is in a lonely business. Since the beginning of time he’s been reaping souls then returning home to his little condo in the sky. It’s not a bad job. There are perks. But Death would kill to meet his soul mate, no pun intended.

Tommy Neilson is the next human slated for death. But when he can see Death, Tommy turns his whole world upside down. Curious, Death seeks Tommy out. The chemistry between the two is immediate and soon an unlikely romance starts to form. While Death may not be lonely anymore, he isn’t allowed to interact with humans. Consequently, he must make a choice: billions of souls or the one that makes being immortal worth it.

Available at: Dreamspinner Press

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About Sophie Bonaste

Sophie loves to hear from readers! You can reach her by e-mail at sophiebonaste@gmail.com, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SophieBonaste or on Facebook as Sophie Bonaste. You can also check out updates on Sophie’s writing and other musings on her website at sophiebonaste.blogspot.com.

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As part of this blog tour, Sophie is giving away TWO copies of Death Gets a Boyfriend! To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway unless otherwise stated but are still welcome anyway.

Don’t forget to check out Nikyta’s review of Death Gets a Boyfriend to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

GRL Blog Tour: Charlie Cochet – Forthcoming Fabulous Fun + Giveaway!

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Forthcoming Fabulous Fun

by Charlie Cochet

Hello all! A big thank you to the Blogger Girls for having me! Well, the time grows nearer. In exactly one week, I’ll be boarding a plane to Chicago. I am so excited! I have a host of THIRDS themed swag goodies for my table, including exclusive signed character cards, THIRDS Nerds lanyards, magnets, stickers, bookmarks, wristbands/hairties, postcards, stationary, pens, bracelets, and lots more! There’s also a special GRL giveaway taking place during the retreat!

At GRL I’ll have a limited number of signed THIRDS character card sets. They’ll be in little leopard print paper bags with my website sticker on them just like the one below. Only FIVE of these sets will have ONE random card with a Destructive Delta logo sticker on the back. Anyone who gets one of these cards with the special sticker on it gets a prize from my magic bag o’goodies!

GRL Giveaway

So what will I be up to at GRL? Well aside some mischievous shenanigans, here’s my official schedule:

Friday, October 18th: From 12:30 pm until 1:10 pm. Let’s chat! Join me in the Trillium III room for the Author Lounge Event where you can stop by for a one-on-one chat. Whether you have questions about my books you’re burning to ask or just want to stop by an say hello, I’d love to meet you! If we’ve chatted before online, just remind me where. Sometimes with all the excitement and craziness going on, my mind percolates a little slowly on these things, much like Dex’s favorite coffee machine.

Saturday, October 19th: From 9:00 am to 9:55 am. Unspeakable Gay Love: Gay Romance of the Past. I’m super excited to be doing a Storyteller Spotlight in Cyprus I & II with a couple of fabulous ladies: Kate McMurray and Jordan L. Hawk. Historical lovers and skeptics alike are invited to join us as we chat about love throughout history, where love is love no matter the era.

Saturday, October 19th: From 2:00 pm to 5 pm. I’ll be in either the Trillium II, III, or IV for the Featured Author Book Signing. Get your favorite books signed. For those who don’t have books to get signed, I’ll also have bookmarks and swanky postcards I can sign for you. Who knows what else I might have at my signing table. 😉

And can I just say how ridiculously excited I am about the GRL Photo Booth on Sunday? If you want to grab me for a picture, just come find me! I’ll be around until Monday, so plenty of time to hang around! I’m very approachable, so feel free to stop me at any point and say hello, or have a chat. If I’m around fellow author, don’t be shy! None of them will bite.Well, they might take a nibble. I’m kidding. Maybe. ❤

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The THIRDS series is available from Dreamspinner Press| Amazon | All Romance eBooks | B&N

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About Charlie Cochet

CCochet100Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website | THIRDS HQ | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Tumblr | Newsletter

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As part of her GRL stop, Charlie has graciously offered up a chance to win an eBook from her backlist! To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway unless otherwise stated but are still welcome anyway.

Good luck!

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Check out TBG’s GRL Blog Tour Schedule

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT | Tags: , , | 18 Comments

Honorary Blogger Heidi Cullinan: Sometimes Beauty Is A Curse: Why Aaron Seavers Would Rather Be a Wallflower + Giveaway!

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Sometimes Beauty Is A Curse: Why Aaron Seavers Would Rather Be a Wallflower

by Heidi Cullinan

On September 17th at The Novel Approach, I celebrated Giles Mulder as a non-hunky romantic lead. Now it’s time for Aaron Seavers to tell you why honestly, he’s a little jealous of his boyfriend’s quirky looks.

I never set out to write about looks in Fever Pitch—it somehow just happened, and it began when I found their stock photographs. I looked at Giles and knew all about how he was irritated at being judged a geek when he knew damn well he was sexy, and I looked at pretty-boy Aaron and knew he really didn’t understand what the fuss was about. In fact, the more I sat with Aaron, the more he had anxiety about how people perceived him.

Yes, he fit the profile of handsome guy, but the baggage that came with that freaked him out. He doesn’t have a ton of self-esteem, and he’s decidedly not suave about anything. Plus, like me, Aaron suffers from Chronic Resting Bitch Face, so people think he’s being aloof or arrogant when he’s mostly trying not to throw up or look stupid.

I decidedly don’t have the too pretty for you thing going on, and never have, but Aaron made a compelling argument for the trials that can come from everyone authoring your life for you just because they believe they can read it in your face. Giles got short-shifted, but Aaron was given the wrong script too. I think part of the reason they fit together so well is they each have what the other envied. Aaron wanted a good family and anonymity, no more pressure to be perfect, and Giles wanted a spotlight. They don’t exactly pull a Freaky Friday on each other, but I like to think they give each other backup to claim the space they truly want.

Writing this pair really made me examine what we decide, as society, people should have based on how they look. Even when picking stock photos for collages or book covers, pretty gets first pick. Our magazines and movies are populated exclusively by pretty people. Yet if we look around our everyday lives, there are very few of these perfectly sculpted people around. Even those poster-people are often horribly photo-shopped, sometimes even in their casual Instagram pictures.

How pretty you are shouldn’t be a prerequisite for getting a happily ever after. And Aaron Seavers would like to add, it doesn’t mean you’re put together and interested in being plastered on the cover of anything, either.

Giles says he’s more than willing to do that in Aaron’s stead.

Follow the rest of the blog tour for more guest posts, excerpts, and chances to win a copy of the novel.

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About Fever Pitch

Fever Pitch (Love Lessons, #2)Sometimes you have to play love by ear.

Aaron Seavers is a pathetic mess, and he knows it. He lives in terror of incurring his father’s wrath and disappointing his mother, and he can’t stop dithering about where to go to college—with fall term only weeks away. Ditched by a friend at a miserable summer farewell party, all he can do is get drunk in the laundry room and regret he was ever born. Until a geeky-cute classmate lifts his spirits, leaving him confident of two things: his sexual orientation, and where he’s headed to school.

Giles Mulder can’t wait to get the hell out of Oak Grove, Minnesota, and off to college, where he plans to play his violin and figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. But when Aaron appears on campus, memories of hometown hazing threaten what he’d hoped would be his haven. As the semester wears on, their attraction crescendos from double-cautious to a rich, swelling chord. But if more than one set of controlling parents have their way, the music of their love could come to a shattering end.

Warning: Contains showmances, bad parenting, Walter Lucas, and a cappella.

Buy links: Samhain, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, KoboGoogle Play, iTunes

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About Heidi Cullinan

Heidi 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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There’s TWO chances to win on this tour spot! First, Heidi is giving away an eBook copy of Fever Pitch to one luck winner! The giveaway starts now and ends October 12, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Secondly, Heidi is giving away a GRAND PRIZE. What prizes are available for the Grand Prize Raffle? THREE, for three different winners.

First winner will get:

  • An electronic copy of Fever Pitch for you, or for a friend
  • Receive by mail a signed paperback of book one in the series, Love Lessons
  • Choose between a $10 iTunes gift card or one month of premium Spotify membership to enjoy the a cappella music you read about in Fever Pitch
  • Select an item of your choice from the Heidi Cullinan Saint Timothy Swag Store (Items still building, especially quote mugs)

Second winner will get:

  • Win an electronic copy of Love Lessons and Fever Pitch for you or for a friend
  • Pick or design a Love Lessons series quote mug from the Saint Timothy store (if the quote you love isn’t there, tell Heidi and she’ll design a mug just for you!)
  • Pick another established item from the Saint Timothy store, anything goes! (More products added all the time.)

And, third winner will get:

  • Win an electron copy of Fever Pitch (for you or for a friend
  • Tell Heidi who your favorite character from the Love Lessons series is, and they’ll write a public blog post personalized to you!

To enter, just click the link below!

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This contest starts Monday, September 15 at midnight CST and ends October 13 at 10AM CST.

Don’t forget to check out Nikyta’s review of Fever Pitch to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , | 8 Comments