Honorary Blogger Post

Honorary Blogger Kenzie Cade: Looking to Chicago + Giveaway!

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Looking to Chicago

by Kenzie Cade

Hi guys! Thanks for having me. I’m Kenzie Cade, one of the newest authors to grace the pages m/m fiction.

This is my first blog tour ever. Let me tell you a secret:  it’s not that easy to come up with something to write about. And then inspiration came to me from Chicago—not the city and not GRL (although I can’t wait for GRL), the band. We have this big festival every year in Arkansas, Riverfest, and Chicago was there. They’re the reason I went. Then they sang “You’re the Inspiration”, and it came to me. Inspiration.

Baby, you’re the meaning in my life
You’re the inspiration
You bring feeling to my life
You’re the inspiration 

-Chicago, “You’re the Inspiration”

The words we write, the stories that come to us, they start with inspiration. Everyone’s inspiration comes from different places. I see it in several different places.

I’m a people watcher. I find personalities so vastly intriguing. No one person is the same. I have a collection of studies on just that subject. I’m also captivated by human interaction. The way many different personalities and temperaments interact. In my everyday life, I work in a medical clinic. You cannot imaging the array of differences I see on a daily basis. I take notes.

I also draw inspiration from television and movies. I have a weakness for cheesy, unbelievable, horribly acted Lifetime movies. I love them. There something about the outrageous paths the many men and women take to find their true love—running from serial killers and crazy ex-girlfriends, warring with the Fates, battling the overprotective mothers-in-law. And believe it or not, I’ve found so much inspiration in more than one idea for a character and/or story from those shows. They’re my guilty pleasure.

And music. Those of you who know even a little about me, know my love of music. I listen to all kinds. Music is the biggest of inspirations for me. A little known fact about me. I sing. Have been since I was a toddler. I learned a long time ago that in order to sing a gong well, I had to believe it. So that’s what I did, what I do. When I hear a song, I listen to it, truly listen, I feel it, I believe it. That’s where I draw inspiration from. The words, the feel of the song—it may be strange to say, but they move me, speak to me. More than once a story or idea for a story or character has come to me by those means. When a song draws me, I’ve been known to be obsessive. I’ll listen to it almost nonstop until what I’m looking for takes hold.

Here’s my most recent obsession:

Inspiration is the biggest part of what I do. Inspiration, muse, insight. There are many words for it. But whatever we call it, there is one truth: it’s where the magic begins.

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About Son of a Fish

Son of a Fish by Kenzie Cade eBookSam Crowe lives a quiet life. He’s a freelance journalist and sometimes fiction writer. His world is turned upside down when love lands on his doorstep—literally, while cursing up a G-rated storm. Son of a fish, indeed. Casey Sanders doesn’t know whether it’s good luck or bad when he slips and falls on the icy steps of his apartment building, but the hero who comes to his rescue is worth the discomfort.

Their attraction is instant, but Sam is certain Casey’s flirtation and kind words are a result of the pain medication. But Casey is persistent and won’t give up until he has what he wants. And what he wants is Sam.

Available at: Dreamspinner PressAmazon & All Romance eBooks

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About Kenzie Cade

Kenzie Cade was born and raised in the South where she spends her days in the sometimes stressful field of private medicine observing interesting people and committing them to memory for later use. When she isn’t reading, experimenting with recipes, or being distracted by social media, Kenzie spends time with her family, friends, and the Pomeranian/long-haired Chihuahua mix who likes to keep her company while she writes. As a young girl, Kenzie dreamed of princesses and their white knights. As an adult (or sort of adult), she dreams of princes and their proverbial white knights, which she attributes to fellow Arkansan S.E. Hinton and her novel

The Outsiders. Writing to keep the fictional voices at bay, Kenzie enjoys the journeys her characters travel to find their happy endings, and she loves the challenge of writing a great love story.

Contact Kenzie at kenziecade.author@gmail.com. You can also find her online at her blog, on Facebook and on Twitter.

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Kenzie has kindly offered up an ebook copy of Son of a Fish for this giveaway to one lucky winner!

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 Trish’s review of Son of a Fish to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Debut Authors, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT | Tags: , , , , | 14 Comments

Honorary Blogger Ava March: A Series Kind of Gal + Giveaway

Heather C:  Ava March is here at TBG today telling us all about why she loves writing series, and also giving away an ebook copy of her new release Sharp Love, the second book in her Gambling on Love series.

 

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A Series Kind of Gal 

by Ava March

I love series books. I just can’t help it. I’m a sucker for them. My favorite type of series to read is a related series, with a different h/h in each book. I love revisiting characters and meeting new ones, all in the same book. I love reading a book and wondering ‘will he get his own book??’, and then when he does get his own book? Oh, that’s like reader-Christmas. 

But as a writer, I was drawn to direct series (which feature the same h/h) for quite a while. I’d fall in love with a pair and I wanted to keep revisiting them. To keep telling their story. And romance heroes…they always have more story in them. There’s always more drama to be found on the horizon, more obstacles to overcome. Poor guys – I’d leave them happy then shake things up again for them. 

A couple years ago though, I got an idea for a related series (the Brook Street Trilogy). And it was quite fun to write. So much fun, that when I finished that series, I started a new related series. All the things I love as a reader of related series, I get to indulge in as an author. I leave a pair happy at the end of a book, and I can let them pop up in another book and they can still be happy. No need to inflict drama on the guys just so I can see them again. I can set up a world and keep returning to it for a few books. And the most fun of all? When an interesting secondary character pops up on the page, I’m not left in suspense wondering if he’ll get his own. I can write him a book and give him his own HEA. 

My newest release, Sharp Love, is #2 in the Gambling on Love series. It’s smack-dab in the middle of the series. So of course I took the opportunity to visit with Max and Tristan, the heroes of the 1st book, All In with the Duke. And the heroes of the 3rd book get a bit of page time as well. I’m having such a blast writing this series, that I do believe I am officially converted. I’ve become a related-series kind of author. 

What about you? What is your preferred type of series to read – direct or related? And if you have any recommendations for favorite series, do give them a shout-out. I’m always on the look-out for a new series to read. 

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About  Sharp Love (Gambling on Love #2)

Sharp Love 200x300William Drake has lived among thieves, bastards and beggars all his life, doing what’s necessary to survive. As a young orphan, that included looking after his best friend, Jack Morgan. But as they grew older, Jack took the honest path, leaving Will behind to fend for himself the only ways he knows how.

When an unsavory errand for his employer brings Jack back to London’s underbelly, he needs Will’s help. It’s there, among the alleys they ran through as children, that the love he’s always felt for Will returns. As their nights together grow hotter, Will discovers something new about his old friend—Jack’s need to serve extends into the bedchamber.

Will has never fully abandoned his dream of escaping London with Jack. But what could the Duke’s driver want with a dishonest cheat like him, beyond a bit of rough sex? It takes the gamble of Will’s life to find out if he can win Jack’s heart…

Available from: Carina Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | ARe

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About Ava March

Ava March is an author of sexy, emotionally intense M/M historical erotic romances. She loves writing in the Regency time period, where proper decorum is of the utmost importance, but where anything can happen behind closed doors. With over fifteen works to her credit, her books have been finalists in the Rainbow Awards and More Than Magic contest, and deemed ‘must-haves’ for Historical M/M romance by RT Book Reviews readers. Visit her website at www.AvaMarch.com to find out more about her books or to sign-up for her newsletter.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

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Ava has kindly offered up an ebook copy of Sharp Love for this giveaway to one lucky winner!

a 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 Heather C’s review of Sharp Love to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Honorary Blogger Post | Tags: , , , , | 14 Comments

GRL Blog Tour: C.R. Guiliano – Coming Out of My Shell

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Coming Out of My Shell

by C.R. Guiliano

As many know, I’m one of those introverted, shy authors. Which begs to ask, why all the conferences/retreats this year? Simple, to get my name out there. I have already been to two conferences and one workshop in 2014 and much to my surprise, at RainbowCon, I was told “everyone knows who you are”. My first thought? Then how come I’m not selling more books? Their answer? “Because you are all over social media.” Now, I wonder if that is a good thing, or a bad thing.

Yes, I’m on social media a lot, primarily Facebook and I wonder if I should be embarrassed by that. I’m a hermit at home. I don’t go anywhere, except to the store for necessities. There are no opportunities to meet new people. So, my friends are all online, many of whom I’ve now met in person. Most are on Facebook. Hence, I spend a lot of time there. So, is it a good thing to be so active? Does that get my name around? Will that help when I have new releases? I hope so, but that has yet to be proven.

And then, I wonder. Perhaps it’s not a good thing to be on social media so much. After all, my time would be better spent writing. Don’t get me wrong, I write a lot, but maybe not enough. Will I ever be as prolific as some authors I know? No, despite the fact that I write fast. My plot bunnies ensure that I have multiple manuscripts to work on, but that doesn’t mean I will be finishing them in days instead of weeks or months. I learned long ago, quality over quantity and I hold to that belief.

Thanks to a windfall, I am able to write full time now, and attend more conferences than ever. Which leads me back to my initial comment. Even introverted and shy, I know that I have to put myself out there, be seen, interact with readers, to make a name for myself. It’s good business. It’s also extremely hard when you want to hide from the spotlight. I have another workshop, and two more conferences, plus two Pride events I’m going to before the year is out. More opportunities to put myself out there, and put up the mask I must wear to be able to do that.

I confess, I tend to rely on friends at these events to help me. Is that wrong? Probably. They are there for the same reasons I am and many are as introverted as myself. It takes a lot of energy to cover the nervousness, to hide the anxiousness, to shield the sensitivity. Most of us can only handle large crowds, and that spotlight, in small doses.

But what I have discovered about myself, is that I can do it. I can hide my jitters, and interact with others…and be a better person for it. I adore my readers, am floored when they come up to me and gush how much they like something I wrote. And I’m humbled by their enthusiasm. There is nothing like the butterfly feelings you get when someone praises you on something you did, that came naturally. I love to write, secretly, I think I’m pretty good at it. To get that validation from someone else? Priceless!

So, yes, I am traveling a lot this year, RainbowCon, Dreamspinner Workshop, OutlantaCon, Colorado Workshop, DragonCon and, of course, GayRomLit. I missed going to Atlanta for GRL 2013, and am looking forward to seeing many of my friends this year, and maybe a few new readers. My name is out there now, which means my mask will have to be firmly in place. I was an unknown at GRL 2012, having only been published for two years. I suspect, this year, it will be a bit different, because “everyone knows who you are”. I’m looking forward to seeing if that is, indeed, true.

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About CR Guiliano

CR Guiliano is an avid reader which logically morphed into the love of writing. She writes in many genres, but is most happy writing the love between two men (or more!) She makes them work hard for their HEA and considers herself an expert in angst. CR finds her favorite form of writing is in serials, where she can continue to write about characters who have captured her heart and hopes have captured her readers as well.

You will usually find CR cuddled up to her laptop creating stories to entertain, inspire and bring your emotions to the surface. CR has a huge warren of plot bunnies that is growing every day and can’t wait to fill out each story idea and share them all with her readers.

CR was proudly nominated in the Goodreads Best Anthology Nominations and was thrilled to be included with the many talented writers from the same Anthology.

CR is a committed advocate for the GLBTQ community and does her best to change society’s attitudes, one mind at a time. You can learn more about CR Guiliano and her stories at the following locations and feel free to drop her line as she loves to hear from anyone interested in her or her writings:

You can find CR on her Facebook Author Page, Facebook, Blog, WIP Blog, Website, Twitter or email her at pernwish@gmail.com.

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Check out TBG’s GRL Blog Tour Schedule

Categories: Book Promo, Honorary Blogger Post | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Honorary Blogger Skylar M. Cates: Lessons on Writing a Series + Excerpt & Giveaway!

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Lessons on Writing a Series

by Skylar M. Cates

About a year ago, I set a goal for myself. Well, I set a few goals: clean my house more, lose some weight, save more money, write a series. I’m proud to say that while my house remains a mess and the scale has not budged, my series is one goal that I have actually achieved.

The Guy from Glamour, book one, began to take shape in my mind when I pictured a very loving, if slightly meddling family. I wanted a main character that was all about his family. From that point, I knew that the other MC must be his opposite. He must be somebody who has no family and does not think he will ever have love—-Anthony and Dean were created.

It was at the halfway point in this novel when I began to wonder if it should become a series. Readers often write to me and ask about a sequel to my other novel Exposed, and while that might happen someday, part of the reason it has not happened is that I did not plan it. Honestly, I was so excited and nervous to publish the book that the idea of doing more never occurred to me.

Lesson One: Plan Ahead

As I wrote Anthony and Dean’s love affair, I realized I could do it.  I loved these two guys and their world, and I could write a series around them. I was so excited! I wrote about a dozen pages of notes.  But I needed to figure out if their story should continue into multiple books or if their friends would each get books of their own. I’m a fan of both types of series. For The Guy Series, however, I decided to have the secondary characters find love too. Anthony and Dean, and their clan, would and do continue into the other books—that way their story also continues—but the focus would be on Aaron Weiss and Henry Clueley.  Possibly, if readers want it, I might give Mac (from The Only Guy) his story too.

One day, I might attempt the other type of series. For some reason, I feel as if the two MC’s need to be cops solving crimes, or supernatural beings, in order for an ongoing series about the two of them to continue.  For now, I was happy to write the spinoffs.

As I worked on The Only Guy, it was helpful to keep The Guy from Glamour nearby. I had to be careful with every detail, such as the spelling of minor characters names, to major details involving Aaron’s back story as a Night Stalker.

Lesson Two: Check the facts

*Important note—whatever happens in book one, must be reflected in book two

As book two nears its release, I realize the pressure on a series is far greater than on a single book. The fact that many readers liked The Guy From Glamour was awesome and I am so grateful to them for letting me know, but it would be a lie to say it didn’t make finishing The Only Guy a little worrisome. I love Aaron and Jesse’s story so much, and I’m eager to see how readers like them, but it’s kind of like comparing my children. But they are bound together, for better or worse.

Lesson Three: A Promise is a Promise

My final lesson involves Henry’s story. As I submitted The Only Guy for consideration, I began the last story, The Last Guy Breathing. The characters came to me quickly, and their enemies to lovers trope was fun to write. However, I challenged myself with this one to add a few twists. It has a mystery element to it that was new for me. But that’s what keeps life interesting, isn’t it? Continued challenges. I wrote over 74,000 words and realized that the mystery part wasn’t as strong as I wanted. But what to do? Scrap 74k? Forget Henry’s story? I had set it up in The Only Guy, and I had promised a trilogy to DSP and my readers… So no—–that was not an option.

I rolled up my sleeves, called in my beta readers, and I revised the novel. It took me twice as long to finish as The Guy from Glamour or The Only Guy, but I have to say that I’m thrilled with results! (At the time of this post, Henry’s story was accepted by Dreamspinner and will be out in December 2014/January 2015 = Hooray!)

Will I ever do another series? I hope so! For now, I’m happy to see Anthony and Dean, Aaron and Jesse, and Henry and Locke go on their way.

Thanks for hosting me!

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About The Only Guy

The Only Guy by Skylar M. Cates eBookAaron Weiss knows how to escape. Years ago, he ran from a romantic disappointment and impulsively joined the Army. Now, he’s forced to take a medical discharge and readjusting to life at home proves a challenge.

Jesse Ross knows how to hide. He realizes he’s an oddball, and that he’s an outsider within his own family. He also knows his secret love since childhood, Aaron, only wants his good-looking, favored older brother. Yet Jesse could never completely abandon his intense feelings for Aaron. Over the years, Jesse was a faithful pen pal to him. Still, he’s shocked to his core to find Aaron on his doorstep.

As long-buried secrets and past hurts take center stage, the two are overwhelmingly drawn to each other. But it’s their future that may force them to risk everything.

Available at: Dreamspinner PressAmazonBarnes and Noble

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Excerpt from The Only Guy

One of my favorite things about The Only Guy was doing the childhood scenes. Here is an excerpt from that time. At this point in the story, Aaron has a crush on Gregory, Jesse’s older brother:

Aaron glanced at Gregory’s body one more time as he walked off in the direction of the cabin, noticing how Gregory’s tight shorts clung to his ass. If only Gregory would loosen up a little, forget all the rules for his future plans and just, well, see him. Aaron would be his for life.

“Come on,” Jesse said, pulling at Aaron’s arm. “Forget him.”

They walked down a path, crunching over the dirt and twigs, following the animal’s throaty cries of pain.

“I hope it’s all right.”

“Me too.”

The sky was thick with clouds, but the heat permeated the air. His shirt stuck to his skin, his stomach rumbled, and Aaron half regretted coming along. He swiped his hand over his forehead as Jesse hurried to keep up with him. Although tall for his age, Jesse was all bony angles, and his stride was awkward. Aaron slowed his pace a little, allowing Jesse to match him.

“When we’re all grown up, do you think we’ll still be coming here?” Jesse stole a glance at him. “’Cause I think we will. We’ll spend every summer right here. We could come other times too. I bet it’s pretty in the winter with all the snow. But definitely in the summer, we’ll be here.”

Aaron’s mouth curved into a smile. “Maybe.”

Jesse nodded back seriously as if the matter had been settled.

The path narrowed, and they fell quiet as they maneuvered the trial. Soon they saw drops of fresh blood. Finally, near a patch of browned grass, Jesse halted and moved to point at something that lay eerily still. Aaron edged closer. The animal was all curled up into a ball, making it impossible to see it, but Aaron thought it might be an injured raccoon. There was a puddle of blood by its left hind leg.

“You could tie your bandana onto its leg?” Jesse suggested. “It isn’t moaning now. Maybe it’s passed out and would let you?”

“I don’t know….”

Jesse gave him a resolute stare. “You could try.”

Sometimes Jesse sounded just like an adult but with a kid’s scrawny body. It was unnerving.

After approaching it slowly, Aaron nudged it with his sneaker and it didn’t move. Now that he could see it up close—

“Holy crap! That’s a skunk! Let’s get the hell out of here. Now!”

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About Skylar M. Cates

Skylar M. Cates loves a good romance. She is quite happy to drink some coffee, curl up with a good book, and not move all day. Most days, however, Skylar is chasing after her husband, her kids, and her giant dog, Wasabi. Skylar dreams about spending her days writing her novels, walking along the beach, and making more time for her good friends. On a shoestring budget, Skylar has traveled all over in her early years. Although, lately, the laundry room is the farthest place she has visited, Skylar still loves to chat with people from all around the globe.

You can reach Skylar by Email, Website, Facebook or Twitter

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The Blogger Girls are trying something a little different this time. Instead of strictly commenting, we’re going to try using Rafflecopter as our giveaway source. This means, you can get more entries if you do all the options!

Anyway, the prize in this giveaway is reader’s choice on either The Guy from Glamour or The Only Guy in ebook! 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 The Only GuyThe Guy from Glamour to see what she thought of them!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT | Tags: , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Honorary Blogger Hunter Frost: What Can A Writing Group Do For You?

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What Can A Writing Group Do For You?

by Hunter Frost

It’s been nearly a week since the release of my first short story, “What Can Brown Do For You?” featured in the Men In Uniform anthology from Torquere Press, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with its reception. This story was the product of my participation in a writing workshop, and while that played a huge part in helping me create, polish, and complete my manuscript, it was the group of writers I worked with that gave me the final push to publication.

In order to make it through those tough times all writers must face, and usually face alone, I had the benefit of relying upon other writers who had gone or were going through the same struggles. We commiserated with each other, ranted to each other, and motivated each other to move past the road blocks that have the potential to paralyze even the most seasoned writers. 

What can a writing group do for you?

Empathize – they listen to your woes and understand completely, because they have been there before or are going through the same thing!

Brainstorm – they help you figure out that plot hole or character backstory 

Motivate – they help encourage you past your most crippling self-doubt

Teach – they give you tips and tricks to improve all aspects of your writing life 

Critique – they beta, proofread, and offer important feedback

Network – they find calls, introduce you to publishers and agents, and promote your work

Become your friends – now you’ll have friends to find at conferences, meet at retreats, and talk you down off that ledge on bad writing days!

I never realized how important a writing group would be in my journey toward becoming a published author, but now I can’t imagine not having their support as I continue to create and publish. 

Writing is a lonely pursuit. But you’re not alone. Give a writing group, workshop, or class a try. It may be the best thing to happen to your writing.

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About the Book

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What Can Brown Do For You?

IT geek Sean Barlow lusts after the dreamy UPS guy who charms the ladies in his office with his roguish smile and sinful brown shorts. He couldn’t be more out of Sean’s league, even if by some miracle he was gay. But when a freak power outage finds Sean trapped in the elevator with his uniformed hunk, he learns first-hand that you can’t judge a UPS guy by the size of his package. 

Purchase Links: Torquere Press & Amazon

Check out JustJen’s review of The Gig to see what she thought!

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About the Author

Hunter lost a bet at a blackjack table and begrudgingly traded temperate Southern California for the sweltering heat of Las Vegas. There she resides with an extremely tolerant boyfriend and a fat little cat named after her favorite espresso, Latte. When she’s not dreaming of returning to coastal living, Hunter works on her MA thesis in British history and at her government day job. In order to appease her muse, she writes the kind of fiction that keeps her sane. She adores romance in all forms, but prefers her stories with two heroes that find their happily-ever-after with each other.

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Honorary Blogger Kim Fielding: The Blogger Girls Welcome Kim Fielding!

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Hi, I’m Kim Fielding. Thanks so much to the Blogger Girls for letting me visit!

My tenth novel came out this month. Let me repeat that in case you missed it. My TENTH novel came out this month!

I’ve been writing since I was a little kid—short stories for my own amusement and, eventually, academic stuff for the day job. But for some reason I was convinced I didn’t have it in me to write a novel. It seemed so intimidating. All those words! I thought I wouldn’t have the patience and the stamina for it.

But then I heard of National Novel Writing Month. I love progress charts and deadlines (no, seriously! I do!) and I decided to give it a try. Thirty days and over 60,000 words later, I had the first draft of my very first novel, Stasis.

And you know what? If you can write one book, you can write two. And if you can write two… you can end up with your tenth novel a few years later. I continue to enjoy writing shorter pieces too, so I’ve also published quite a few novellas and short stories.

And here’s a secret for you. I fall in love with every single one of my characters. I adore Ennek and Miner from Stasis. I’m equally infatuated with Tag and Jack, the guys in Motel. Pool. And my hope is that my readers fall in love too.

Now that I’m in double digits, I’m not slowing down. I have a lot of new stuff on the way. In June, my short story “The Border” will release as part of Dreamspinner Press’s Mended anthology. You can get the entire package or buy the stories individually. In August, I’ll have a novella called The Pillar. It’s set in 15th century Bosnia. Also sometime this summer, I’ll have a free novella called Guarded. And this fall, the third book in my Bones series—my eleventh novel!—will be out. It’s called Bone Dry. After that? Oh, I’ve got vodou, werewolves, and oracles planned. Because if I can write ten novels, why not twenty or thirty, right?

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About Motel. Pool.

MotelPool_postcard_front_DSPIn the mid-1950s, Jack Dayton flees his working-class prospects in Omaha and heads to Hollywood, convinced he’ll be the next James Dean. But sleazy casting couches don’t earn him stardom, and despair leads to a series of poor decisions that ultimately find him at a cheap motel off Route 66, lifeless at the bottom of the pool.

Sixty years later, Tag Manning, feeling hopeless and empty, flees his most recent relationship mistake and takes to the open road. On a roundabout route to Las Vegas, he pulls over to rest at an isolated spot on Route 66. There’s no longer a motel or pool, but when Tag resumes his journey to Vegas, he finds he’s transporting a hitchhiking ghost. Jack and Tag come to find much-needed friends in each other, but one man is a phantom and the other is strangely cursed. Time is running out for each of them, and they must face the fact that a future together may not only be a gamble… it may not be in the cards.

Available at: Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble

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About Kim Fielding

venicebigKim Fielding is very pleased every time someone calls her eclectic. She has migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States and currently lives in California, where she long ago ran out of bookshelf space. She’s a university professor who dreams of being able to travel and write full time. She also dreams of having two perfectly behaved children, a husband who isn’t obsessed with football, and a house that cleans itself. Some dreams are more easily obtained than others.

Kim can be found on her blog, Facebook or Twitter.

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Honorary Blogger Langley Hyde: Summer Reads + Highfell Grimoires Giveaway

Heather C:  The lovely Langley Hyde is here today at TBG talking her new steampunk book Highfell Grimoires (its amazing!) and a crazy summer reading incident.  Oh, and there is a giveaway!

 

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Summer Reads

by Langley Hyde

Recently, my book Highfell Grimoires has had the honor of being named in the Publisher’s Weekly Best Summertime Books list (you can find it under the fantasy/sci-fi section) and that got me thinking. What’s a summertime book, exactly? 

Summertime books are supposed to be fluffy. But, asking an average college student what summertime read they’re going to pursue would evoke a variety of answers. One guy might give you a dogged look and say, “Anna Karenina,” while the girl next to him would say, brightly, “I’m going to reread everything by Horror McGoreson.” 

When I think of summertime reading, I think of Costa Rica and lying on my stomach on a sandy beach. I think of the feeling of a lightweight paperback in hand, a secondhand book whose scent is washed out by that of the sea, and an iguana beside me. The iguana, startled by two Japanese tourists, bolted—and sheltered in the dead center of my back. As the foot-and-a-half-long wild lizard “hid” on the sun-baked surface of my shoulders, as its inch-long claws rested on my flesh, I considered wresting it off. I decided that would be a terrible idea. So I turned another page, ignored the tourist, and waited for that lizard to skedaddle.

Summer books are good. No, more than good. They’re so gripping, so funny, so what-happens-next that when a reader is lying on a beach with a large wild lizard on her back, that hunkering down to turn the page seems like a great idea.

So I’m flattered and honored to have been selected for this summertime list, and I hope those picking up Highfell Grimoires will find it fun and riveting. 

Probably one of the coolest compliments to get, as a writers, is the “I had to stay up late to finish it!” because I know, as a reader, there’s nothing so great as a book in your hand that you can’t put down. That you refuse to put down against all reason. That you’d maybe ignore a gigantic lizard to finish getting through just that one last chapter…

So, now I’ve got a question for you: What’s the weirdest situation you’ve found yourself in while reading a book? 

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About Highfell Grimoires

18617680Born to privilege, gifted in languages and spells, Neil Franklin has planned his brilliant future—from academic accolades to a proper marriage—and is intent upon upholding his family name and honor. The sudden death of his parents shatters all of that, leaving Neil and his younger sister beggared and orphaned.

When Neil’s estranged uncle offers him a bargain that will save him and his sister from debtor’s prison or exile, Neil eagerly agrees. Handing over the family grimoire as collateral for their debt, Neil devotes himself to working as a teacher for wayward youths at a charity school high in the clouds.

But Highfell Hall is not the charity Neil imagines it to be and the young men there aren’t training for the dull lives of city clerks. Amidst the roaring engines and within the icy stone halls, machinations and curious devices are at work. And one man, the rough and enigmatic Leofa, holds the key to the desire that Neil has fled from all his life and a magic as dangerous as treason.

Highfell Grimoires recently made the list for Best Summer Books 2014 at Publisher’s Weekly.

Available at Blind Eye Books and Weightless Books

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About Langley Hyde

color with spirals web resLangley Hyde first fell in love with steampunk while studying abroad at Oxford University. There she spent most of her time reading about alchemy and heresy in Duke Humfrey’s Library or caressing manuscripts. Langley then lived in London, close enough to the Science Museum that she could regularly gawk at Babbage’s Difference Engine No. 2. Her favorite neighborhoods in London were Soho and Camden Town. She has also lived in New York, where she lurked in the Cloisters on the weekends, and Germany, near the old center of zeppelin manufacturing.

Her hobbies include making wire sculptures, talking to cats, and wearing tiny hats.

Email | Facebook | Blog

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The author has kindly offered up an ebook copy of Highfell Grimoires to one lucky winner.

The giveaway starts now and will end next Wednesday, May 28th, 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!  Or you can make it more fun by telling us: What’s the weirdest situation you’ve found yourself in while reading a book? 

Make sure to follow the blog for the winners’ announcement post or check back next Thursday, May 29th, 2014, to see if you’ve won!

Good luck!

Categories: Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post | Tags: , | 24 Comments

Honorary Blogger Draven St. James: See What’s Smoking at Firehouse Six! + Giveaway

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See What’s Smoking at Firehouse Six!

by Draven St. James

1

I woke up early one more to my characters lounging in bed while having coffee in my mind and regaling me with their story. Let me tell you, it was quite a tale. They were not shy about giving me the details of their carnal adventures. Some were quite literally steamy! They recounted every minute of discovery and even expounded upon the dangerous suspense that had lurked in the shadows.

I found my fingers flying over the keyboard trying to keep up with their amusing dialogue, the deep penetrating moments *wiggle eyebrows*, and the fire that was not only in their interaction with each other but what they experienced in their profession as firefighters. Oh and let me tell you what, I am so thankful to Simon and Michael for giving me an excuse to research the life of a fireman. Nothing is better than hanging out with the real life hunky heroes!

Even with the research *wink* accomplished the telling of their tale was not a simple task as individuals from other books strove to climb into bed with them to have their stories told. Attempting to control the orgy of testosterone clamoring to be the dominant voice was no easy feat!

That is what writing is for me. I am simply the ringleader in a room full of words that fly at me to be put in order on the page. I think it’s that way for many writers. We dance on the edge of what someone outside of the writing community might consider insanity. We breathe life into imaginary people.

So please step forth and immerse yourself in the Firehouse Six world. Below is the blurb and an excerpt from book three of the series, Fused by Fire, which will be released May 20th through Loose ID.

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Excerpt

Mica walked into the dark room that contained two bunk beds. Grey’s huddled form made a silhouette against the darkness on one of the lower bunks, and Mica stretched out on the other. Grey’s shifting sent the sounds of a creaky mattress across the small space.

“Are you gay?” Grey’s words shattered the silence with their quiet intensity.

Mica felt like all the air had been sucked from the room. No one had ever out-and-out asked him if he was gay. He was fairly certain it was because he didn’t look like the stereotypical gay man. He also didn’t act like what his coworkers had always described as a gay man. He wasn’t effeminate. They were never cruel, but there was a level of mocking when they spoke about the topic. The reaction to the answer to this one question could screw his whole world up, but he didn’t feel like he could lie to Grey.

“Yes,” he responded in a low voice. He held his breath and waited for some kind of verbal or physical explosive response. There was nothing, just the soft sound of Grey’s breath.

“Was I any good?” Grey asked.

Mica sat up and stared into the darkness, his mouth hanging open. “What?” he asked in a loud whisper.

“In your fantasy, I must have been pretty good, right?” There was humor in the other man’s voice. Humor, but not ridicule.

“Yeah, you were pretty good,” Mica conceded. He lay back on his bed and laughed softly. “You were really good.”

“Is that what you are? Dominant?”

“What do you mean?”

“I…” Grey hesitated. “Are you a top?”

Mica snickered and smiled broadly at Grey for having the courage to ask that kind of question. “Yes and no.”

Grey chuckled. “How does that work?”

“I wouldn’t mind bottoming for the right guy,” Mica confessed. He had never said that to anyone. He had actually never bottomed, but if given a chance with Grey…he’d be tempted.

“Oh…” Grey murmured.

Mica glared hard into the darkness. He wished he could look into Grey’s eyes, see what was in Grey’s mind. It was damn difficult to judge what a man was thinking simply by the tone of his voice. Grey didn’t seem to have much of a problem with Mica’s being gay. If anything, he sounded intrigued.

“I take it you’re straight?” Mica asked.

The weight of the silence was heavy. Had Grey gone to sleep that quickly? Mica wanted to get up and turn on the light, but he didn’t think Grey would appreciate it. It would feel too much like a spotlight during an interrogation.

“Yes,” Grey admitted. Although the brief moment of hesitation was curious.

“Thank you, then, for not freaking out about earlier,” Mica said into the void. His face heated at the words. He wanted to add to that, but he didn’t know what to say. Apologizing for using someone to get off was a new thing to him. In his early days of coming out he’d had his one-night stands with no apology. Somehow this entire situation held a higher level of intimacy. Maybe it was the sharing of secret thoughts in the dark.

Grey shuffled. “Mica?”

“Yeah?”

“What was I doing?”

Mica’s eyes widened. He couldn’t have heard that right, or he’d processed it incorrectly. “Huh?”

“I mean, what was your… What was the whole fantasy?”

Mica had to sit up to hear the whispered words. “In the shower?”

“Yeah.” Grey sighed. “I mean, I know I was…I mean…in the end…sucking…”

Mica could practically feel the heat of the other man blushing across the room.

“Are you seriously asking for the setting of my jack-off session?” Mica chuckled.

“Well, when you say it like that…” Grey’s voice filled with discomfort. “I guess it was an odd question. Never mind.”

Grey sounded mortified. Mica didn’t know what drove Grey to ask the question, but Mica wanted to share the fantasy with him. After all, Grey had asked. No one could fault him for handing over information that had been requested.

Mica lay back and closed his eyes. “You came into the locker room as I was taking off my T-shirt. You wanted to know if I needed any help cleaning up, or if I had any pain from the fire.”

He paused to see if Grey would stop him. If Grey had changed his mind about wanting to know Mica’s hot fantasy. A fantasy where Grey was the star. He heard nothing but Grey’s breathing. “Are you with me?”

“Yes.”

If Mica hadn’t been listening so closely, he wouldn’t have heard the response.

“Okay, so I told you my shoulder was really hurting from when I pushed against the door frame to make it outside. You came up behind me and ran your fingers over my shoulders, massaging. I could detect the faintest touch on my neck, where it felt like you’d kissed me. My cock twitched, and I barely managed to keep from groaning. You felt my body tense, so you pulled away and turned me around. You asked if I was okay, if I needed any other help.” His voice became hoarse with arousal.

“That’s when you looked down and saw my cock, rock hard against my briefs. You reached down to lightly stroke it through the fabric and asked if I required help taking care of any other special needs.”

Grey chuckled softly and said, “Sounds like a line from a porn video.”

“Well, it is a fantasy. Give me a break.” Mica laughed. “Anyway, of course I was shocked by your offer, but so fucking hard because your hand was stroking my dick that I nodded. You pushed my briefs down and wrapped your fingers around my cock. Your hand felt amazing. It was so warm and rough. I rocked my hips into it.” His cock leaked. The arousal was ten times what it had been in the shower. Describing the fantasy for Grey was hotter than he could have imagined.

“And?” Grey asked, his voice ragged.

Mica propped himself up on his elbow. Was it his imagination, or did Grey sound turned on?

“Then you swiped your finger over the head of my dick, getting a drop of precum. You brought it to your lips and sucked it off. You told me it tasted sweet and salty and that you wanted more.”

Grey’s breath came faster from across the room. Holy shit. Just the thought of Grey getting hot from the fantasy was enough to make Mica’s cock throb.

“Then what?” Grey whispered.

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About Fused by Fire

Michael prides himself on being the man that everyone can depend on until one of his firefighters is severely wounded on the job. Will he be allowed to process the situation alone? Not when a loud and persistent Simon Winters shows up on his doorstep. The man hasn’t met a boundary he didn’t skip across.

Simon has had the biggest crush on Lieutenant Firefighter, Michael Donovan since the first day he saw him. Which just happened to be at an interview for a job to work as a firefighter. Before his desire to lick the gruff older man from head to toe affects his work, Simon transfers over to being a paramedic. Just when he’s begun to build a life that doesn’t include hot shower fantasies of Michael, the object of his angst is thrust into his path.

All too quickly, Simon begins to barrel through Michael’s defenses and dig up the desires Michael has fought so hard to hide. As passions flare out of control, tragedies collide from every side. Michael’s struggle to keep Simon at a distance starts to crumble beneath the weight of the secrets that Simon is hiding.  Will Michael be able to protect Simon when he needs it the most or will he lose Simon forever?

Available at: Loose Id

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Author Bio

I’m a born and raised Oregonian. I’ve traveled extensively in search of mischief and mayhem to fill my books.  My ventures have been quite successful in inspiring a wealth of stories both sexy and humorous.  It gives me a great excuse to do some crazy stuff in the name of research. Of course at the end of the day, coffee within reach, laptop at the ready is where I find my peace.

You can find Draven online on Facebook, Blog, Twitter, Pinterest or email Draven at Dravenstjames@gmail.com.

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For this giveaway, ONE lucky winner will be able to pick anything from Draven’s backlist!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Sunday, May 25th, 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, May 26th, 2014, to see if you’ve won!

Good luck!

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

Honorary Blogger Taylor V. Donovan: It’s A Serial Problem + Giveaway!

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It’s A Serial Problem

by Taylor V. Donovan

Hey, all!

As you may or may not know, I’ve been on tour all over the gay romance blogiverse promoting my upcoming release. Hearsay  is Book 1 in a trilogy featuring Derrick Swain and Roman Bradford, and pretty much the beginning of their journey towards happiness. 

Yes, I’m writing another series, even though I’ve only released two titles in my other series, By Degrees

The thing is, I have a weakness for well developed characters. I want to know who they really are, what makes them happy and what makes them tick. I want to develop a relationship with them as individuals before they become someone’s better half. Long-lasting relationships, in my opinion, take a lot of work, bending, and compromising. In order for me to believe a couple will live happily ever after, I have to see them hit rock bottom first. I have to see them face stuff together, and I have to believe they’re truly willing to fight for the person they love.

People in love need time to become a real couple. They have to show their bad side, their quirks, their annoying habits, and the other person needs time to decide if that’s something they can deal with. This is the reason Bylaws was born. Derrick and Roman have serious issues to deal with, and doing so will take time. In Hearsay we’ll see one of our guys doing everything he can to get the man he wants, while our other protagonist resists the pull with everything he has. Why? Because some people think love isn’t enough… because they believe that, when you really love someone, you need to let them go. And why does our guy think that? You’ll have to read Hearsay to find out. 🙂

And speaking of finding things out…

If you’ve read Six Degrees of Lust there’s a very good chance you called me some unrepeatable names for leaving a certain scene out. I’m a few years late, but I’m about to make it up to you. 🙂  Coming soon—next week—look for Slingin’ Ink… but only if you’re already read Six Degrees of Lust. Otherwise you’ll get spoiled.

And, speaking of getting spoiled… How about you all spoil me by sharing your thoughts on insta-love versus slow build-up? I brought a copy of Hearsay with me to give away, plus a paperback, plus this cute little bag with the Bylaws logo, because, yes, I like branding my stuff, too. So go ahead. Leave a comment for a chance to win.

Good luck, everyone, and many thanks to The Blogger Girls for hosting me today.

Ta for now!

Taylor

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About Hearsay

Hearsay_600x900Senior associate attorney Derrick Swain wants it all: a loving husband, a fulfilling career, and a couple of kids. After years of hard work he’s on the fast track to a promotion. He’s also met the man of his dreams. A week of daily lunch meetings in Central Park provides the perfect setting to get to know him better, and Derrick thinks it won’t be long before they take the next step and go on a date. But instead of asking him out, the object of his affection stops showing up without explanation, leaving him to wonder what went wrong.

As part owner of one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City, Roman Bradford knows that professional success isn’t the be all end all. Although he’s been lucky in life, true love has eluded him for the most part. One too many failed relationships have caused him to be leery of trying again, until he meets a man that can only be described as temptation personified. A few conversations is all it takes for Roman to start believing things will be different this time around. It doesn’t matter that they are boss and employee, or that he’s feeling too much, too fast. Not when he can see the same emotions in Derrick’s eyes. Then life turns on a dime, and Roman has no option but to let his chance at happiness go.

A battle of wills ensues when a life-altering case brings them together a year later. Roman wants to do the right thing by not letting anything happen between them, and Derrick is determined to prove they’re meant to be together. Evidence will be presented and final arguments will be made. Will they be able to come to an agreement, or will they opt to have their potential relationship dismissed?

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Check out the cover of Slingin’ Ink!

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About Taylor V. Donovan

TVDlogoTaylor V. Donovan is a compulsive reader and author of gay romance and suspense. She is optimistically cynical about the world; lover of history, museums and all things 80s. She is crazy about fashion, passionate about civil rights and equality for all, and shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television.

When she’s not making a living in the busiest city in the world or telling the stories of gorgeous men hot for one another, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in the mountains she calls home.

For more information, check out Taylor’s website.

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As Taylor said, she’s giving away a few awesome prizes to three lucky winners!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Thursday, May 21st, 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 Friday, May 22nd, 2014, to see if you’ve won!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , | 16 Comments

GRL Blog Tour: M.J. O’Shea – MJ’s Rules for GRL + Giveaway!

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HC: M.J. O’Shea is here at TBG today on the GRL Blog Tour sharing her tips on how to survive GRL (trust her…she’s a pro by now), and giving away an eBook copy of one of her books!

MJ’s Rules for GRL

by M.J. O’Shea

Hi, this is MJ O’Shea 🙂 I wanted to talk about my ‘rules’ for experiencing GRL. So I’m guessing someone else will write a similar post from their perspective, but that’s okay. At least I think it is, haha. Everyone is very different, has fun a different way and has different goals in mind when they leave for a big conference like GRL where (nearly) anything can happen. So this is MY top five GRL experience rules.

1. The lobby is the center of the world. Spend a lot of free time there — really, I swear. Never in my LIFE have I spent so much time in the lobby of any hotel that I’ve stayed in. But the lobby at GRL, at least so far, has been a great an informal place to meet people, talk, hang out, maybe have a drink or two… relax in your bathrobe?? (just to be clear, that wasn’t me). If you want to talk to people, head to the lobby! There will usually be someone down there to meet.

2. Find Starbucks ASAP (or some decent coffee) — I don’t know about everyone, but it seems like a lot of people don’t exactly sleep much at GRL. There’s too many people to talk to, too much to see and do. Sleep isn’t high on the agenda. Coffee can only help. I think we walked the mile or so to Starbucks in Atlanta every day. It was SO worth it.

3. Bring Comfortable shoes — sounds like a no brainer, but really. Do it. Half the time I’m wearing a pair of converse or chunky flip flops under my dresses. As far as I know, nobody cares lol. Typically there’s a lot of walking a lot of standing and then there’s dancing too. Nothing’s as big of a buzzkill as getting somewhere only to have your feet hurt. I didn’t realize before the first year just how much I’d be on my feet. That was the last time I even brought dress shoes. (yes, I even had chunky flip flops under my dress last year for the formal night. I’m pretty sure nobody saw them. I got sparkly ones. They were super fancy 🙂 )

4. Branch Out — A lot of people have their crews, either from online or previous years, but there are new people too! This is a great time to be as much of a social butterfly as you’re comfortable being. You’ll make new friends who you can meet up with another year, and the experience will be completely different than it would’ve been if you didn’t meet them. Of course, have fun with your current friends, but I always try to make the point of finding new ones. I know I’ve met new people every year that I can’t imagine not knowing now.

5. Be nice! — I’m not going to lie. Our genre, and by extension GRL can get a bit like high school sometimes. Rumors can fly, people can get upset with each other, and whether the info is true or false, everyone hears pretty much everything in the small GRL environment (even if you don’t think they heard it, you can probably assume they have). The best policy is to be nice and friendly with whoever you speak to and vent in private if you absolutely need to. Everyone just wants to have a good time 🙂

I think that’s it from me, other than that, have fun:) If it’s a new experience or you just want it to be a little different this year, there are lots of opportunities to have a great time at GRL if you make the most of it. I hope to see you there!

Xoxo

MJ O’Shea

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About Rising Sun

Castor Kovalenko, socialite and high ranking member of the Dragon Triad, is worried about his cousin, Lynx. He’s been missing for weeks and there have been rumors circling the city, rumors that he’s been taken hostage by the hacker thief Yoru Katana. Castor needs to find his cousin before it’s too late. He’s willing to do nearly anything to bring Lynx to safety.

Jaffa Sharp is trying to stay alive. It’s not easy when the only thing you’ve ever learned to do is steal. Even harder when he keeps running into one annoying Dragon prince who keeps trying to get him arrested.

When Castor uses Jaffa to get to his cousin and the thief Katana, they both learn that nothing is as it seemed, including Lynx and Katana himself. Castor and Jaffa soon become involved in a plot to take the city back from the villainous triads. They find themselves fighting the people they thought were their leaders — and fighting an attraction stronger than either of them have felt before. Nothing is certain in their precarious new world: Life, death, friend, enemy, and the most uncertain thing of all…love.

Available at: Loose Id, Amazon, All Romance eBooks & Barnes and Noble

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About M.J. O’Shea

MJ O'SheaI’m Mj O’Shea:) I grew up, and still live, in sunny Washington state in a little old house. While I love to visit other places, I can’t imagine calling anywhere else home.

I spent my childhood writing stories. Sometime in my early teens, the stories turned to romance. Most of those were about me, my friends, and our favorite movie and pop stars. Hopefully, I’ve come a long way since then!!

When I’m not writing, I love to go to concerts, hang out with my friends, play the piano (and my other instruments), dance, cook, paint pictures, and of course read! I really, really like coffee and tea, nail polish and glittery sparkly things, headbands, hats, scarves and sunglasses!

I have two little dogs who sit with me when I write. Sometimes they come up with ideas for me too…when they’re not busy napping of course.

You can find MJ on her Website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!

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As part of this GRL Blog Tour, MJ has offered to give away an ebook copy of any of her books that are available at Loose Id or Dreamspinner Press to one lucky winner!

The giveaway starts now and will end next Thursday, May 15th, 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, May 16th, 2014, to see if you’ve won!

Good luck!

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Check out TBG’s GRL Blog Tour Schedule

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