I've added a widget on my Wordpress site - https://annebarwell.wordpress.com/ - so that anyone who wants to follow me can sign up for email notifications of new posts.
Thanks!
Title: Broken Bastard
Series: Broken Series, Book 1
Author: A.L. Simpson
Publisher: A.L. Simpson
Cover Artist: A.L. Simpson
Release Date: February 26, 2017
Romance Genre(s): Contemporary, M/M
Pages: 176
View on Goodreads
About the Book
Blurb
Present Day
My name is Tyler Maxwell Alexander. I'm twenty-eight years old. A few months ago, I had it all. An executive job in a prestigious investment firm owned by my father. Ha! Yeah, right - father. I'll explain about that later. I lived in a waterfront apartment overlooking the harbor and drove a Mercedes convertible.
Then, in the blink of an eye, it was gone. All of it. Everything, except the clothes on my back. I was broken. A bastard. Did I mention, I'm gay? No? Oh well, I have now.
This is the story of how my fairytale life turned to shit in the blink of an eye.....
Excerpt
Joshua Alexander barges into my office, no polite knock at the door, no excuse me, how's your day? He glares at the files strewn on my desk before training his angry gaze onto me. "Pope file, now."
I rummage through the pile, locate the Pope investment file, and thrust it in my father's direction. He snatches it from me and turns to leave.
"They won't stay. We can't offer them the return the Phillips can. He said he would leave half with me but that's it."
Dad swings around and pins me with narrowed eyes. "Thinking like that will get you fucking nowhere in this business. Half is not good enough. Samuel won't take no for an answer, he'll demand they keep it all with us." He storms from my office and I can't resist giving him the bird behind his back. Yeah, real mature I know.
Samuel is my brother, three years younger than my twenty-six years and mom and dad's golden child. Literally. While I have hair as black as coal and pale gray eyes, my brother is surfie blonde with clear ice blue eyes. The image of my father. I'm tall at six feet seven inches, he is average at five feet eleven inches. My body is hard with washboard abs I work hard to keep. Samuels is soft with a little too much fat around the middle. In looks we are poles apart. In temperament, we are planets apart.
I'm easy going, slow to anger. A loner and a little on the shy side. Samuel is a mean motherfucker like our dad and has a deadly short fuse. Fuck, his temper could blow you into outer space. Brothers we might be, friends, we are not. Hell, we don't even like each other, can't even stand to be in the same room together most of the time.
We all work downtown at Alexander's Investment Corporation. It was my grandfather's business, handed down to my father. One day, being the eldest son, it will be mine.
When I finally take control, if there is a business left to take control of, changes will be made. We miss out on, and are losing, accounts because of dad's and Samuel's greed. Our commission is one of the highest in the city. As I said - greed. The only thing keeping most accounts with us, and the business afloat, is loyalty to my father. God only knows why! We also have a high success rate in recommendations. Or should I say, I have a high success rate. Not to blow my own trumpet but, Dad and Samuel are shit when it comes to selecting successful investments. They don't study the market and make snap decisions which usually backfire. Big time.
Buy Links
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA
About A.L. Simpson
Author Bio
I’m an Australian and live in Queensland. I have always loved to write and have a vivid and overactive imagination. In my spare time, when I’m not writing, I love to walk, read and shop.
I believe no mountain is too hard to climb, no river is too wide to span and no journey is too difficult to complete. I follow my dreams and I urge and encourage others to do the same. With a positive attitude, the impossible can become possible.
Connect with A.L.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page
Giveaway
Three lucky winners will receive an e-copy of Broken Bastard, the latest contemporary m/m romance by A.L. Simpson. To be in with a chance, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below. The contest closes at midnight EST on April 15 and is open to entrants worldwide.
Good luck!
Enter here.
Tour Stops
April 2
Maari Loves Her Indies
I Love to Read
Literary Misfit
Loves Great Reads
Making It Happen
EskieMama Reads
Boy Meets Boy Reviews
April 3
Behind Closed Doors
MM Book Escape
Shh, I Am Reading
Books, Dreams, Life
Stories that Make You Smile
Books All Things Paranormal and Romance
April 4
My Fiction Nook
The Booklandia
Drops of Ink
Bonkers About Books
Booklover Sue
April 5
The Bookworm Lodge
Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Liz's Reading Life
Bayou Book Junkie
April 6
Kitty's Book Spot
Boys on the Brink
Reads and Treats
LoveBound Books
I Heart Reading
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your writing?
Hi, I’m Beth Bolden. I’ve been publishing romance since 2014, and The Rainbow Clause is my sixth book, but my first m/m romance. I like to write stories that have sports as a background – two of my books are centered around baseball, one takes place at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and The Rainbow Clause is my first about football.
Can you tell us about your new release? What inspired you to write it?
I’d been wanting to write a m/m romance for awhile because I enjoyed reading them so much. When I was editing Summer Attractions early last summer, it occurred to me that Nick and Colin, two minor characters in that book would make a great couple. And that idea is what became The Rainbow Clause. One of the subplots of Summer Attractions is that Colin, a football player, has long been in love with the heroine, Jemma, but she only sees him as a friend. That also gave me the opportunity to write a bisexual hero, which is something else I’d really been wanting to write.
Are there any characters that you write, that are based on you, or people you know?
I always try to write unique characters, but by the time I’ve finished every book I’ve written, I always find some facet of myself in my characters. Even if I didn’t realize it was there, and didn’t have a plan to write it in. I guess I’m very set in the write what you know camp, even when I try to move past it.
Do you have a favourite character and/or book you've written? Who, what and why?
I know saying this book is cliché, but it’s the truth. I think it’s easily the best book I’ve ever written, and I’m unfairly proud of it. Also, I love Colin and Nick and I feel like I could write about them forever. I set out to write this short little freebie epilogue, and it hit almost 10,000 words. I feel like there might even be more of their story to tell, if the right idea strikes me. The combination of Colin’s innate belief in everyone’s goodness is such an irresistible combination with Nick’s sarcastic cynicism. Like all great couples, I think they’re both great on their own, but they make each other better. And that’s special, I think.
Do you write often? Is it on a schedule, or whenever you feel like it?
I try to write 4-5 times a week. Sometimes every day, if I’ve got a good momentum going. I try to structure my writing schedule around two things: 1) my personal theory that writing is like a muscle, and it needs exercise. If you get out of the habit, it’s a lot harder to get started again. 2) Nora Roberts’ famous quote: “You can’t edit an empty page.” I don’t throw away as much as I used to (on my first novel, I did nanowrimo, and literally tossed nearly all that 50,000 words when I was done, and basically started over), but the principle remains. You can’t fix something that’s not there. So you’ve got to get something down. Every time I hit a block, I tell myself that.
What are your writing and personal goals for 2017 and beyond?
I have a competitive cooking m/m romance coming out in August 2017, called Taste on My Tongue. I’m in the middle of editing, and it’s such a fun, really lighthearted romance, crossed with all the pressure of a competitive cooking show. It was so much fun to create my own, Kitchen Wars, which is a combination of a lot of my favorite shows, like Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen and Masterchef. I’m also planning a Christmas novella for the end of 2017, which will take place at Five Points, the blog that Nick and Jemma both write for. I’m hoping to include some old characters and new ones.
In 2018, I’m going to attempt to tackle a trilogy, which is a lot more plotty than I usually go for. The plan is to do pirates, in space. I guess it’s better to be overambitious than not ambitious enough? I really want to try to release something, even if it’s small, every few months.
What are you working on at present? Would you like to share a snippet?
I’m right in the middle of editing Taste on My Tongue. Here’s a quick little snippet:
When Landon returns to their station, Quentin’s waiting there with an expectant expression. “Ready to chop?” he asks with a sly twist to his lips.
Landon makes a face. “I hate chopping.”
“Chop, chop, baby,” Quentin teases. And Landon is pretty sure one of the cameras has been focused almost exclusively on them since the sixty minute time started. He knows they’re cute, knows they’re flirting with each other, almost unconsciously at this point, and knows they must make really excellent television.
So it’s not like he plays up the flirting for extra effect, but well, if he bats his eyelashes a moment longer while he wipes and carefully chops the mushrooms and washes the arugula, then nobody can really blame him. The public isn’t actually voting for them, but Landon knows how this all really works. If they become crowd favorites, the producers will make sure they stick around.
Quentin cottons on as he moves to set the burgers carefully onto the stovetop grill. “What are you doing?” he asks quietly, leaning in and letting the sizzling of the cooking meat prevent the cameras from picking up on his words.
Landon leans in further. If the cameras catch any of this, it’ll just look like two boys who seem very much into each other — which is technically true. “What I can to make sure we win,” he says and rises up on his tiptoes and presses a quick, fleeting kiss to Quentin’s cheek.
Do you get emails asking why characters didn’t get together and whether you’re going to write more about them?
I wrote the first two books of a planned three book series, and over time, I’ve discovered that particular genre is a tough one to write in. Not from a writing perspective, but from a promotional perspective. I don’t have the time to devote to really trying to get my books out there, and I’ve made a decision to cut bait on it. People don’t typically email me about it, but I feel guilty sometimes. Also some advice: don’t dig your characters into a big hole unless you’re sure you know how to get them out of it.
Are you a cat person or a dog person? Can you tell us about your pets?
Definitely a cat person. I have one cat, otherwise known as my child, Shilo. I’ve had her about ten years. She’s Siamese, so she talks all the time. We have that in common :)
If you were able to quit your day job and write full time, would you, and why/why not?
It would be a LOT easier if I quit my day job, that much I’ll tell you. But somehow, I lucked into a day job that I really enjoy, working for people I respect, with co-workers I actually like. I’ve been in the workforce long enough to know that these are not common scenarios, so I’m loathe to leave. It just means I have to be more disciplined during my writing time, which is not always easy for me. People are always surprised when I tell them that I’m an accountant in real life.
Title: The Rainbow Clause
Author: Beth Bolden
Release Date: April 3rd 2017
Genre: MM Contemporary Romance, Sports
BLURB
Heisman winner. Member of the National Championship team. NFL Rookie of the Year. Quarterback Colin O’Connor knows he’s become the ultimate romance novel cliché: all the success he’s ever dreamed of but nobody to share it with. Too bad it’s not as simple as asking out the next girl who intrigues him – because the next girl to intrigue him probably won’t be a girl at all.
Unexpectedly, the solution comes in one neat package: Nick Wheeler, lead journalist for a leading sports and pop culture blog. Hired by Colin’s team, Nick comes to Miami to shine a spotlight on the NFL’s most private quarterback.
The heat in Miami rises when Nick discovers that Colin is nothing like the hollow personality he pretends to be in interviews and he’s even hotter in person than on his Sports Illustrated cover. Nick knows this is the story of his career, and after spending his teenage years as a bullied, closeted teen, it hits very close to home. What he needs is to help Colin share his story while keeping their growing relationship from boiling over in the press, but what he wants is to tell the world.
Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK
EXCERPT
Nick went through the cupboards one at a time, finding an obscene amount of protein shakes and powder, and a lot of basic staples that proved Colin probably did know how to cook. That hadn’t been an act, though he was beginning to wonder how much of the Colin O’Connor he’d seen wasn’t. Probably almost none of it, and that was terrifying.
He had just poured milk into his Cheerios when Colin jogged up to the patio and into the house, wearing a pair of loose-fitting athletic shorts, a thin layer of sweat, and nothing else.
Nick choked on air. So much for his peaceful breakfast.
“Good morning,” Colin said with that annoying smile. All innocence with just the tiniest edge of something more. Like he knew exactly what he was doing and how effective it was.
“Morning,” Nick mumbled into his cereal.
“I was going to wake you up for my jog, well our jog, but you seemed to be sleeping pretty soundly.”
Nick tried not to think about what that sort of picture that made. Or that Colin had looked into his room and had seen him sleeping.
“Do you jog every morning?” Nick asked, even though he already knew the answer. Anything to abort that line of thinking.
“Usually about ten miles or so. Went fourteen this morning, felt really good.” Colin reached for his forgotten t-shirt hanging over a barstool and shrugged it on. It stuck to his skin in sweaty patches, which shouldn’t have been attractive but apparently, Colin O’Connor defied logic.
“Bullshit,” Nick mumbled.
“Tomorrow you want to join?” Colin asked like he hadn’t heard as he grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge.
“Not for a fourteen mile jog,” Nick said.
“Not even for ten?” Colin wheedled.
“Not even for ten. You could probably convince me to do about half that.”
GIVEAWAY: WIN $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author
Beth Bolden lives in Portland, Oregon with her supportive husband and their beloved cat. She wholly believes in Keeping Portland Weird, but wishes she didn't have to make the yearly pilgrimage up to Seattle to watch her Boston Red Sox play baseball. She's a fan of fandoms, and spends too much of her free time on tumblr.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn't a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She's published two novels, The Lucky Charm and Getting Lucky, and a short story, Eye of the Storm. Her next novel, Summer Attractions, will be released in August 2016.
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads | Amazon
Touches is a collection of four contemporary gay romance short stories following the same cast of characters. They can be read in any order, but to better immerse yourself in the characters’ lives, reading them in order is advised.
Synopsis
Sometimes a single touch is enough to change everything. Physical or emotional, a touch can tilt the world on its axis and shift your entire life. It can lead to hell, or it can lead to paradise, but things will never be the same…
A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR
Tudor has big plans for New York City.
Ditch his homophobic colleague. See a musical. Definitely check out the go-go boys.
Meeting one Phantom on Grindr wasn’t in the script.
Tudor gets caught up in a whirlwind when his favorite musical character steps off the stage and into his life.
A TOUCH OF PARADISE
Hauled to work in Hawaii, Tudor has little time to enjoy the island paradise.
His obnoxious friend Radu has it much easier, using his free time to set Tudor up, dangling a willing Hawaiian beauty in front of him.
Having been burned by long-distance relationships before, Tudor stubbornly resists Kahoni’s advances.
But can Tudor be worn down enough to enjoy a touch of paradise?
A TOUCH OF KINK
A moody and angry Tudor follows his friend, Radu, to the airport to pick up a client.
Despite Radu’s efforts, he’s still sulking over his boyfriend, Kahoni, not being able to fly over for his birthday.
But the airport only opens up the door to a stream of steamy surprises for Tudor. Will his mood improve?
A TOUCH OF GAY
Radu has always joked with Tudor about his friend’s gay rubbing off on him. Neither of them has taken that joke seriously until Radu’s meltdown and crazy confession: Radu thinks he might be gay.
Despite Radu’s insistence that Tudor’s gayness has helped him figure out his own, there’s more to that story of discovery. Charismatic, sexy, and all around amazing Marius, the man Radu has been crushing on for months, pushed the loud-mouth, offensive Radu into exploring who he truly is.
Figuring out he wasn’t all that straight is the easy part. Getting enough courage to talk to Marius, that’s a whole different challenge, as Radu seems to turn into a stuttering idiot around Marius. Will Radu learn to be confident enough to pursue Marius? Or will Marius act faster and challenge the confused Radu too soon?
Buy Links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Giveaway
Prizes: $5 Amazon Gift Card; 3 ebook copies of backlist titles (winner’s choice)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author
Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.
Social Links
Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+: https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu
7th June!
Here's the blurb:
Kiwi Nathaniel Dunn is in a fighting mood, but how does a man fight Wellington’s famous fog? In the last year, Nate’s lost his longtime lover to boredom and his ten-year job to the economy. Now he’s found a golden opportunity for employment where he can even use his artistic talent, but to get the job, he has to get to Christchurch today. Heavy fog means no flight, and the ticket agent is ignoring him to fawn over a beautiful but annoying, overly polite American man.
Rusty Beaumont can deal with a canceled flight, but the pushy Kiwi at the ticket counter is making it difficult for him to stay cool. The guy rubs him all the wrong ways despite his sexy working-man look, which Rusty notices even though he’s not looking for a man to replace the fiancé who died two years ago. Yet when they’re forced to share a table at the crowded airport café, Nate reveals the kind heart behind his grumpy façade. An earthquake, sex in the bush, and visits from Nate’s belligerent ex turn a day of sightseeing into a slippery slope that just might land them in love.
Title: The Necromancer’s Dance
Author: S J Himes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #1
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Length: 8 Hours 8 minutes
Release Date: 21st March 2017
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, MM Romance
BLURB
In a world where magic is real and evil walks amongst humanity, a young sorcerer is beset upon by enemies, both old and new. Angelus Salvatore is the only necromancer in all of Boston, and his name is whispered warily by the undead and fellow sorcerers alike. He and his brother Isaac are the lone survivors of an attack by an army of the undead, in which Angel used a spell so powerful it forever marked his place in history. Now, years later, Angel struggles to balance his career as a teacher of the higher magical arts, his role as big brother, and a tenuous relationship with an Elder vampire from the local clan. When his brother’s boyfriend is used as a pawn in a mysterious plot to draw Angel out, Angel is once again pulled back into the old hostilities that fueled the Blood Wars and led to his family’s death.
Leaning on others for help is something Angel cannot do, and while he searches for clues into who may be targeting him and his brother, Angel finds his heart steadily growing occupied with Simeon, Elder and vampire. Dealing with death magic and vampires on a daily basis may leave Angel jaded when it comes to life and staying that way, but the more time he spends fending off the ancient vampire’s attention and affections, the more he realizes he wants to give in.
Can Angel find out who wants him dead, and keep his heart safe in the process? How can he fall for a vampire, when his whole family was torn apart by an army of the undead?
Death stalks the streets of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill….and there is no one more suited to battle against death than a necromancer.
MATURE CONTENT Contains graphic violence, male/male sexual contact, a cranky necromancer, a sexy Irish vampire, and a pesky demon.
Purchase: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK
EXCERPT
Detective Grant Collins was Irish to the core, dark haired, late thirties, looked fantastic in a dove gray designer suit that clung to every slim, lean line of his toned body, and he hated Angel with every ounce of his considerable intellect.
“Let me get this straight,” Detective Collins drawled, waving a slim hand in the direction of what was once an intersection in one of the busiest parts of Beacon Hill and was now a crater that exposed parts of the sewer system and the power lines, “A demon crashed into your place, tries to kill you, and then you run out here and blow up the street and banish it back to Hell?”
About the Author
I'm a self-employed writer who stresses out about the silliest things, like whether or not I got my dog the best kind of snack and the fact my kindle battery tends to die when I'm at the best part in a book. I write mainly gay romance, erotica, and urban fantasy, with ocasional forays into contemporary and paranormal. I love a book heavy on plot and character evolution, and throw in some magic, and that's perfection. My current series are: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, Bred For Love (as Revella Hawthorne), and The Wolfkin Saga. My last two novels in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer won 3rd Place in the Gay Fantasy category for the 2016 Rainbow Awards.
I live in New Orleans, where the personalities are big and loud and so are the bugs! New Orleans is rich in cultural history, and the flavor and music of the City is impossible to hide. Before that, I lived all over the United States: Tampa, Western Massachusetts, Indianapolis, and on and on.... I'm a nomad, and I've yet to find a place that calls to me strongly enough to become home. My faithful travel companions are my dog Micah, the numerous voices in my head who insist they all get put on paper, and the wind at my back.
Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Facebook Fan Group | Twitter | Amazon
Synopsis - She Belongs to Them Both by Sedonia Guillone
Two werewolves are her chosen mates for life!
Since he was bitten three years ago on the plains of Tibet, Jie Sing has fought back the ravening beast inside him. His attempts are unsuccessful until the stars lead him to the woman destined to be his mate, half a world away in Boston’s Chinatown. Fighting a deadly rival to keep her, Jie finds that in Megan’s arms, their passion keeps the beast at bay. Then Jie receives an urgent call summoning him back to China. Jie’s ex-wife in Beijing has accused Jie of attacking her in the street and had him arrested. But that’s impossible, seeing as he’s in America with Meg! Who is this “twin”—and why does Meg need to make love to both of them?
Publisher’s note: This book was previously published at Ellora’s Cave Publishing under the title, Kiss of the Werewolves.
Buy Links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XJRDYYG
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XJRDYYG
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06XJRDYYG
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06XJRDYYG
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Sedonia_Guillone_She_Belongs_To_Them_Both?id=KzpqDgAAQBAJ
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/she-belongs-to-them-both
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she-belongs-to-them-both-sedonia-guillone/1126007901?ean=2940157564865"
Excerpt
Only then did she become aware again of their surroundings. The motors hummed and vibrated through the small space, reminding her they were in the plane lavatory. She couldn’t help smiling to herself. Before Jie, something this wonderful, this erotic would never have happened to her.
Finally, when they were rested, they maneuvered in the tiny space, worked around each other to do up their clothing. Once dressed, Jie took her in his arms again and nuzzled her hair. “Now,” he said softly, “we should both try to get some sleep.” His hand slipped into her hair, cradling her head. “As soon as we get to the hotel and settle in, I have to contact Su Lin.”
Meg sighed. “I know.” She wished she could just enjoy the languorous aftermath of their lovemaking without the specter of meeting Jie’s ex-wife hovering. She was tempted to ask Jie to just let it go, not to bother defending himself. But she knew how guilty he felt and how important it was that he was cleared of Su Lin’s accusation.
She let her thoughts wander to the stranger whom Su Lin thought was Jie. A strange tingle shimmered down her spine. Who was this man who looked so much like Jie that Su Lin thought he was her ex-husband? As a woman, she felt she would know Jie anywhere, even if he’d changed physically and she hadn’t seen him in a long time. She had taken Jie into her body and heart. He was imprinted on her very soul, as no doubt, he was on Su Lin’s. That thought made jealousy simmer deep in her gut, relieved only by Jie’s tender adoration.
Jealousy aside, the truth remained. There was something strange going on—though it couldn’t possibly be more bizarre than the fact that the man she loved changed from a man into a wolf-like beast at every full moon. They would obviously have to see this mysterious stranger and Jie would need to identify him while they were in Beijing in order to prove to Su Lin and to the authorities that he had been in the United States at the time of the stranger’s arrest.
“What are you thinking, Meg?” Jie’s gentle tenor cut through her musings.
She looked at him. Guilt snaked through her for all her private thoughts. She searched her heart for the words she really wanted to say. Now was no time to express fear and jealousy. “I was thinking how much I want everything to work out.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders and nodded. “Me too,” he murmured.
Jie left the lavatory first and she followed him after washing her face and smoothing and repinning her mussed hair. Then she went out and took her seat next to Jie, trying to get some rest with her hand laced in his.
Giveaway
Prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card
About the Author
Award-winning, multi-published author of erotic romance, SEDONIA GUILLONE spends her days writing deliciously naughty romances—when she’s not cuddling with the man she loves or watching kung fu and samurai films and eating chocolate.
Sedonia welcomes comments from readers.
Sedonia Guillone can be found at:
Website: www.sedoniaguillone.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sedonia.guillone
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SedoniaGuillone
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sedoniag
Touches is a collection of four contemporary gay romance short stories following the same cast of characters. They can be read in any order, but to better immerse yourself in the characters’ lives, reading them in order is advised.
Synopsis
Sometimes a single touch is enough to change everything. Physical or emotional, a touch can tilt the world on its axis and shift your entire life. It can lead to hell, or it can lead to paradise, but things will never be the same…
A TOUCH GLAMOUR
Tudor has big plans for New York City.
Ditch his homophobic colleague. See a musical. Definitely check out the go-go boys.
Meeting one Phantom on Grindr wasn’t in the script.
Tudor gets caught up in a whirlwind when his favorite musical character steps off the stage and into his life.
A TOUCH OF PARADISE
Hauled to work in Hawaii, Tudor has little time to enjoy the island paradise.
His obnoxious friend Radu has it much easier, using his free time to set Tudor up, dangling a willing Hawaiian beauty in front of him.
Having been burned by long-distance relationships before, Tudor stubbornly resists Kahoni’s advances.
But can Tudor be worn down enough to enjoy a touch of paradise?
A TOUCH OF KINK
A moody and angry Tudor follows his friend, Radu, to the airport to pick up a client.
Despite Radu’s efforts, he’s still sulking over his boyfriend, Kahoni, not being able to fly over for his birthday.
But the airport only opens up the door to a stream of steamy surprises for Tudor. Will his mood improve?
A TOUCH OF GAY
Radu has always joked with Tudor about his friend’s gay rubbing off on him. Neither of them has taken that joke seriously until Radu’s meltdown and crazy confession: Radu thinks he might be gay.
Despite Radu’s insistence that Tudor’s gayness has helped him figure out his own, there’s more to that story of discovery. Charismatic, sexy, and all around amazing Marius, the man Radu has been crushing on for months, pushed the loud-mouth, offensive Radu into exploring who he truly is.
Figuring out he wasn’t all that straight is the easy part. Getting enough courage to talk to Marius, that’s a whole different challenge, as Radu seems to turn into a stuttering idiot around Marius. Will Radu learn to be confident enough to pursue Marius? Or will Marius act faster and challenge the confused Radu too soon?
Pre-order links
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Excerpt
With a noncommittal grunt, Tudor turned around and walked toward the door. Radu could follow or not, he didn’t much care. He went straight to the reception area and asked if there was a place to eat nearby. They were exactly five minutes from Times Square, so he expected fancy, expensive, and not necessarily the best food ever. The guy at reception was their first guardian angel in this city and told them about a nice little diner down the street from the hotel. Tudor moaned his approval and saw the teen swoon a little. He thanked him with an unnecessarily wide grin, just to make him feel good about himself and headed through the door.
“So we’re eating greasy diner food?”
“Radu, most of your lunches at work are either KFC or McDonalds. Don’t tell me you’re suddenly worried about your health and what goes into your mouth.”
“Well, no, but I’d expected you to be… you know?”
“Be what?” Tudor said, stopping in his tracks and shoving his hands into his jeans’ pockets.
“You know!” Radu insisted, a sleazy grin twisting his face. “All about health and your looks.”
Tudor chuckled and shrugged, then continued toward the diner he could now see. He licked his lips in anticipation—diner food was one of his many, many very guilty pleasures—feeling a tingle of delight in his gut. On his last trip to the US, he’d eaten every meal of every day in a diner, until he was so sick of the stuff that he needed a break. A short one, half a day, to be exact, and then he’d started it all over again until he went back home.
“No, seriously. I did not expect you to eat anything that was not healthy and tasteless,” Radu whined as they were shown to a booth in the rather large diner.
“That’s because you have misconceptions about a lot of things,” Tudor hissed through his teeth. “Healthy food does not mean tasteless. It just means healthy. And while I do work out a lot and generally take care of myself, I pretty much eat anything. I just don’t indulge often in all the crap you gulp down every day.”
“Is that because the boys wouldn’t want you anymore?” Radu asked, grinning wolfishly, as if he’d finally gotten an official come-out speech. For a second, Tudor worried if they had some sort of betting game at work, something like how many days it would take for him to either come out or kill Radu. Then he realized they surely did, most likely on both counts.
“Well, I do enjoy being attractive, it makes it easier to get whoever I want into my bed. That’s not the only reason why I prefer healthy food though. I’d been on the school’s volleyball team throughout high school and have been taking karate lessons since secondary school. I just got used to eating like that.”
“So you’re a black belt and can kill me with your fork or something?”
“I don’t need any weapon to kill you, Radu,” Tudor said, lowering his voice and smiling sweetly at him. He was delighted to see Radu’s eyes pop out and his breath hitching. Yeah, fucker, you should be afraid.
About the author
Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.
Social Links
Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+: https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu
Title: Two Weeks to Life
Series: Fated Soulmates
Author: John Charles
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: March 15, 2017
After thirty years on the force, Detective Carl Bellwin thought he’d seen it all. He had developed a protective shield around himself, keeping the rape, murder, drugs, and other crimes compartmentalized and away from his emotions. He didn’t have time to date, didn’t have time to socialize, and didn’t have time for hobbies. The force was his life, but his protective shield was crumbling.
An innocent girl was missing. Her single mother grieved, wondering if she would be planning a funeral. The seedy part of Clarkesburgh had become the hunting ground for a gang that kidnapped teens off the street, forced retailers to launder money and sell their drugs, and victimized anyone who stood in their way. Carl, at whits end, had no leads.
Elijah Quinta traded one high stress job for another. Purchasing a bankrupt Inn and developing it into a five star resort became more than his full time job: The Bliss Inn became his life. Though he tried, anyone he dated accused him of having a mistress. They were right; he was married to the inn.
Carl never thought attending his nephew’s wedding would change his life. For the first time, he realized what he was missing. Everything he thought was important faded into the background. When he met Elijah, Carl’s life took on a new meaning.
Could he turn Two Weeks To Life? Could he let go of the only world he had ever known?
"Another missing girl? What is that, four in as many months?" Detective Carlin Bellwin, Carl to everyone except his mother, asked Fran, his partner. "How do these kids disappear without a trace?" His frustration clearly evident in his voice and the sour look on his face. "Meet you at the car in five. Just need to get rid of that cup of coffee."
Carl was a career detective who knew his way around Clarkesburgh and the criminal population that infested his city. He had a hard-on for anyone who hurt a kid, sold drugs, or took advantage of the elderly. Snatching a girl off the streets was one of the worst things for him. Prostitution rings were notorious for the cavalier manner in which they corrupted young boys and girls, but snatching and selling them into prostitution was one thing he could not tolerate.
Fran was in her usual spot, behind the wheel of their unmarked Ford reading over the missing person report. She looked almost as young as the girl in the file did. As the passenger door opened, she could feel the strength of the man who trained her and chose her as his partner, fold his tall frame into the seat next to her.
Clarkesburgh was a city with over half million people living within its borders. When the influx of working commuters was counted, that number increased to over three quarters of a million people. Though not as big as some neighboring cities, Clarkesburgh attracted its share of criminals, thugs, prostitutes, and drug dealers.
Carl made sure Fran understood why she was a detective. "There are people out there who think nothing of hurting others to better their own lives. It's our job to make sure that doesn't happen and whenever it does, to put these guys away so they can't do it again. Stay alert, ask lots of questions, and never turn your back on anyone. That may be the last time you do."
"What do we know?" asked Carl as he looked over the file Fran handed him.
"Only what's in the file. White, 16 years old, good student, works part time to help support the family, never in trouble before, no drugs, no record of any kind." She pulled away from the station, heading to the girl's home. She knew the drill, question the parents, find a reason for the girl to go missing. Then trace her steps for the past few days. Talk to teachers, friends, her boss at the dry cleaning store where she worked. She also knew they would come up empty handed. Everyone will say they had no idea what could have happened to her. Then the real work would begin.
"You never told me who was getting married," said Fran as she drove.
"My nephew Trent. He and his partner decided to go all the way and tie the knot." Carl leaned his head back for a rare minute of personal thought. Trent had moved to a suburb of L.A. to take a residency in emergency medicine at Lake Community Hospital. When a position at Amity General had become vacant, he applied and was hired. He moved back for the job almost two years ago.
"Isn't he the one who was shot by that lunatic?" Asked Fran looking at her partner. "If I remember what you told me, he was having dinner with his boy friend and his kids when a man shot him."
Trent was openly gay. He had the self-confidence rarely found in a young gay man and the body to support that confidence. When the homophobic father of the paramedic he was dating tried to shoot the man's two kids, Trent's quick actions saved their lives. Unfortunately, he was shot in the process.
"Yeah, that's the one. The bullet did a ton of damage but everything seems fine now."
"You've been looking forward to this ever since you got the invitation. Why are you only staying the weekend? God knows, you have the accrued time. Why don't you take a week or two and have some fun with the family?"
Carl gave Fran his 'are you kidding me' look. "What would I do for a week with my family? We talk all the time, so all the catching up will be done in an hour. What would I do for the rest of the week?"
"Relax, go out to dinner with friends, find a hot guy and get laid. You know, all the stuff normal people do on vacation," laughed Fran as she pulled the car up to the curb. The house was typical for this area of Clarkesburgh. It might have been a hundred years old, but looked well kept. Painted white with black shutters adjacent to the windows, the house looked as if the owners cared. The small lawn was recently cut and the gardens were free of weeds.
Carl took the file and his notebook as he and Fran walked to the door of the small house. It was refreshing to be in one of the nicer parts of town. Most of their work had them in the seedy, drug infested, gang hoods. But Carl didn't like this situation at all. A girl was missing and most likely, the parents were frantic with worry and fear.
Two officers, already on scene, acknowledged them as they approached the front door. "The parents inside?" asked Carl. One officer nodded and stepped aside to let Carl and Fran enter the home.
A little more than an hour later Carl and Fran walked back to their car. The girl's mother didn't stop crying long enough for any intelligent discussion. She was a single mother raising two kids on her own. The father vacated the scene years ago, provided no support either financially or in person. Not unusual for the city they worked in.
A neighbor was more help telling the detectives about the girl's schedule, hobbies, and other tidbits of information. Fran took copious notes as Carl asked questions.
At one point, when the mother stopped crying, Fran asked, "Does your daughter date anyone?" Both women in the room shook their heads. Fran didn't let them know her thoughts about how squeaky clean this girl seemed. 'She's just too clean.'
"We'll be in contact with you if we need any further information," said Carl as he and Fran left the home. The two uniformed officers had already returned to their normal duties. While it might seem cruel, there was too much to do and too few officers to do it, so the ladies were left to their grief.
"Something's not right," said Fran as she started the car. "They know something and are afraid to tell us." They drove in silence, each digesting the information they had just received. "Who will I be partnered with?"
The question brought Carl from his thoughts. He didn't want to leave Fran alone, especially on a case like this, so he asked Captain Syverson to assign another detective to her while he was at Trent's wedding. "Syverson will let you know tomorrow. Today you're stuck with me, at least until I leave."
They pulled up to the drycleaners and parked. Fran looked around as if trying to spot the criminal. Carl sat in silence, letting the vibe of the area sink into his bones. "I don't like this. There are too few people on the street, so stay sharp." He extricated his large frame from the car, keeping his free hand on the revolver holstered under his jacket.
The store was located in a less then friendly part of town. Years prior, this store probably had an upscale clientele, but the neighborhood declined as the more affluent moved away. Now the store probably provided the owner with a meager living at best. Fran rounded the car joining him as they entered the store.
An older, frail man stood behind the counter. His eyes grew wide as Fran showed her badge. "What is this about? I run a clean business here."
As with the others, he had no real information. The girl, Nadia, was nice to his customers, did her job well, and never caused any trouble. He seemed genuinely upset that she was missing. His frown said more than his words.
Fran had always been impressed with Carl's manner of questioning witnesses and suspects. He seemed not only compassionate, but genuinely concerned. Even suspects felt at ease around him. For a big man, he had an inner teddy bear that came out at the most perfect of times. "It seems that you know more than you are sharing with us, sir. Might that be because you, too, are afraid?"
The man seemed to wither deeper into his already withered skin. Shaking his head, he said, "I'm an old man and just want to live long enough to see my grandchildren. Please you must leave now." Carl nodded and left with Fran in tow.
"He is scared out of his whits," said Carl as Fran drove away. "You need to make sure nothing happens to him. Let's get back to the station. I hate to leave you on this one, but I have to get a move on."
"How long is the drive to Amity from here?"
"I'm staying in Monroe at the place Trent and Matthew reserved for out of towners. If I leave as soon as we get back, I should be there by 10 or so. Not looking forward to the drive, but I can't wait to see Trent walk down the aisle."
"You deserve as much. Are you just a bit jealous?"
Carl thought through that question. He had met two people in his life that could have become his lifelong partner, but neither could tolerate his hours. Both complained that he was always being called away, that they didn't have any together life, and they couldn't live like that. After the last episode ended over ten years prior, he decided to go it alone - at least until he retired. Then he could find that someone special and settle down.
"Sometimes it does bother me, but I made my decision and I'm not budging. After I retire, and only then, will I allow a man to get under my skin again."
Larry Thomas aka John Charles spent his youth struggling with reading. Not until his late teens did he discover the cause - dyslexia. Only then, with guidance and professional help, did he learn to read. From that point forward, he discovered his love for the printed word.
Ironically, as a father reading to his children his desire to write was born. Reading to his children was a nightly ritual. "I wanted them to fall in love with books."
Writing was always part of his professional career, but not until he retired did he move from creating marketing and technical materials to writing novels. Now, as a full-time author, Larry writes Romance / Mystery / Thrillers using the pseudonym John Charles.
His books can be found on Amazon and wherever e-books are sold.
HOSTED BY:
