Blog Tour: Most Beautiful Words by Raine O'Tierney

I had the remarkable opportunity to read this book ahead of its release, and I am supremely happy I didn’t have to wait. I can’t say enough good things.

This is the type of story that melts itself right into your heart and stays there. It is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read. The characters were so vivid, and so realistic, I felt like I knew them. The way Raine draws them is so skillful.

There were so many things to love about this book, but one of the first things that struck me was how unique it is. It’s not the same formulaic novel you’re used to reading over and over again. It’s unpredictable, which can be a feat in romance novels. I honestly couldn’t put it down, wondering how the story was going to end. At the beginning, I wanted it to end one way, and then halfway through the book I found myself wishing for the opposite outcome.

The story is told in three different parts, which all connect and intermingle together to form this intricate and beautifully heartbreaking story. It is told primarily from Autumn’s point of view, and this little girl has sass. She’s innocent and opinionated and endearing. The story wouldn’t have been nearly as good without her. She drives the story forward and lets us see the world through her eyes.

I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away the story, but this is definitely not one you are going to want to miss.

Today we are lucky enough to have Raine here for an interview, an excerpt and even a giveaway!

Twelve-year-old Autumn's world is shattered when her beloved Great-Pop, Tommy Johnson, suffers a stroke that leaves him comatose. With everyone around her resigning themselves to the inevitable, Autumn is the only one not willing to give up. She and Great-Pop have more secret stories to share with each other, after all. More stories about Roy McMillan—the great love of Tommy's life whom he lost fifty years ago.

Autumn struggles to keep Great-Pop on this side of death's door. But how can she compete with the beautiful and mysterious Valley—a place of surreal magic where the sun never fully sets? Especially when there's someone familiar in the Valley who will do everything he can to keep Great-Pop from returning to her.

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5498

Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5499

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Most-Beautiful-Words-Raine-OTierney-ebook/dp/B00O6APQXG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412792790&sr=8-1&keywords=Most+Beautiful+Words

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mostbeautifulwords-1640319-149.html

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Most-Beautiful-Words?store=allproducts&keyword=Most+Beautiful+Words

About the Author:

Called "Queen of the Sweetness" (well, two or three people said it anyway!) Raine O'Tierney loves writing sweet stories about first loves, first times, fidelity, forever-endings and...friskiness?

Raine O'Tierney lives outside of Kansas City with her husband, fellow Dreamspinner Press author, Siôn O'Tierney. When she's not writing, she's either asleep, or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job. Raine believes the best thing we can do in life is be kind to one another, and she enjoys encouraging fellow writers. Writing for 20+ years (with the last 10 spent on M/M) Raine changes sub-genres to suit her mood and believes all good stories end sweetly. Contact her if you're interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!

Raineotierney.com | Dreamspinner Press Author Page | The Hat Party (LGBT Author Interviews!)

Facebook Fan Page | Twitter

Interview:

What are the two best and two worst things about being an m/m author?

Two of the best things about being an M/M author are… Being paid (in real monies that can be spent on real platters of sushi!) for doing what I absolutely love and would be doing even if I weren’t being paid real monies! And the second thing? Getting to wear kickass hats. Wait, don’t all M/M authors wear kickass hats?

Worst things? “Shoulds” and cattiness. Sometimes, well-meaning, or not, people will tell you what an M/M romance “should” look like. What plots will and will not work, how characters should be, even who should be writing in the genre. It’s difficult to tune it out sometimes. And cattiness? I don’t think this is exclusive to M/M or even to being an author, but is instead true for ANY creative pursuit. Some people want to tear others down, thinking it will make them feel better about their own work.



What are your most extreme, pie in the sky, crazy out there writing goals?

1) Sell well enough to have an audiobook made!

2) Pay off my student loans with writing money!

3) Win the Newbery Medal! (Probably not with any of my M/M romances…)

Tell us five random things about yourself we don’t know.

• I have no sense of smell, but I make up for it with a bit of synesthesia…My numbers have colors. My phone number growing up was yellow, orange, and red, my best friend’s was pink and blue.

• I married my husband right out of high school (and no, it wasn’t a shotgun wedding!) I honestly thought I’d get some wedding china if we got married… 12 years later, no china.

• When I die, I want to be made into a diamond http://www.lifegem.com/

• I can close my nostrils without touching them. Yes, it’s weird looking. Yes, I’m sort of like a strange reptile woman.

• I’ve lived through a tornado. As in: tornado hit the apartment complex while I was cowering the closet, whoosh, all the heavy play equipment and trees are now gone, there goes the car! type living through a tornado. Totally petrified of tornadoes.



What do you want to be when you grow up?

CONTENTED!

You are famous for being everyone’s biggest cheerleader (a most deserved title). Your positivity and optimism oozes through the internet and infects everyone it comes in contact with. How do you do it?

*BLUSH* I… Okay, seriously, I’m blushing.

I guess it’s really stupid corny to say, but I was taught that everyone has a story to tell and everyone has something special about them (even the most contrary and difficult people). I really, really enjoy encouraging people and helping them see how awesome they are because we ALL need to be reminded of this sometimes..

I’ve also been through (and continue to go through) some really dark depressive times, so when I find things to help me through the storm, I like to share that lifejacket with others!

Bonus Question: what kinds of dachshunds are the BEST kind of dachshunds?

The best kinds of dachshunds are the ones that roam around in a pack at Christmastime! This pack is composed of doxies from all the different families that get together and you can expect to see miniature shorthaired reds, and great big fat black and tans, little dapple longhairs, a wirehair or two, and a Heinz 57 that probably has dachshund in it, but definitely isn’t all the way… These dogs will run from room to room, hardly stopping to lick faces, before heading to the kitchen to see what’s for breakfast. There will, of course, also be a playpen of puppies, too small to run with the pack.

Excerpt:

But Rook had no interest in waiting for permission. He’d come forward, snaking his arms around Toren’s sheet-covered waist and pulling him hard against his body. “It’s just a kiss,” Rook breathed before he put his lips against Toren’s. Should he protest? Had he protested? Toren couldn’t remember. In that moment there was nothing but Rook’s firm lips, gently teasing his own apart. Toren kissed back, tasting the other man, sucking at his bottom lip. Rook’s mouth was intoxicating, and quite suddenly, Toren forgot why he’d ever resisted. He liked kissing Rook. But after only an appetizer’s worth of his mouth, Rook pulled away. The sensation of their mouths pressed together lingered, and Toren was dumb with the moment. Lost on it. Uncertain what they’d even been talking about.
“Do you remember me now?” Rook asked.
“Mmn,” Toren agreed, warmth lingering on his lips. “Rook.”
Silence was his reply. The arms around his waist fell away, leaving him feeling cold.
Toren slowly opened his eyes to find he was standing alone, clutching his sheet, as Rook walked away from him toward the staircase.


Tour Dates/Stops:

October 10: Angel Martinez, My Fiction Nook, Up All Night, Read All Day

October 13: Amanda C. Stone, Decadent Delights

October 14: Jade Crystal, Nephylim

October 15: LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Velvet Panic

October 16: Full Moon Dreaming, Dawn’s Reading Nook

October 17: Wake Up Your Wild Side, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

October 20: Parker Williams

October 21: Cate Ashwood, Love Bytes, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

October 22: Regular Guys, Hot Romance, Emotion in Motion

October 23: EE Montgomery, MM Good Book Reviews

October 24: Iyana Jenna, Prism Book Alliance

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Blog Tour: Puncture Wounds by A. Morell

James is at the end of a long crusade for vengeance against the vampire clan that destroyed everything he held dear. He has Ren, the final and most dangerous of them all, cornered at last in London. But victory remains just out of reach when Ren sets a feral vampire on James and makes his escape. With no other leads, James is forced to take in the feral until he can use its connection to its sire to track down Ren. But in caring for the vampire, James sees they might not all be the monsters he thought them to be. Faced with an ugly truth, his quest for revenge becomes a war for retribution, and the discovery of what it truly means to be human.
Puncture Wounds
by A. Morell
AVAILABLE NOW!
Happy release day! It's been a fun ride getting the story to this point, and at long last it's available to all. Join James on his journey, and help him see it through to the bitter end. Congrats to all my winners, enjoy your free copies! Read on for an excerpt and links to some exclusive sneak peeks into the story:

James fumbled to regain control, and it took a second to realize that it wasn’t teeth he felt now—it was a soft and damp tongue. The almost constant rumbling from deep in the creature’s chest had morphed at some point, from warning growls to what sounded suspiciously like a purr. James felt his skin crawl and tore himself away, stumbling a bit when he stood too fast.
He was reeling. Everything from the past twenty-four hours suddenly came crashing down around him at once. In so short a time, he’d had the last of his sworn enemies in the palm of his hand, let him escape, and brought a feral monster into his own house. And he’d fed it.
James fumbled his way into the kitchen, eying the sink as he felt his stomach threaten to heave. He pushed himself to the fridge, grabbing a nutrition drink and forcing its contents down his throat along with the bile. He reminded himself that he needed it to help his blood recover, and this was all according to plan—take in the feral and get it sane enough to track the one who’d made it.
He braced himself against the counter with both arms, repeating the plan in his head until the moment passed.
He was too busy to notice at first, but something was wrong—nothing hurt. He looked back down at his arm.
It had completely healed.

More on Puncture Wounds:
Start the first chapter | Behind-the-scenes glimpse | Have a taste | A look at the characters
About A. Morell:
A. Morell spent ten years writing silly things for herself, going through work, school, and a failed career path in the culinary arts before deciding it was time to submit to a publisher. She still writes silly things for herself, but now some of them get pretty-looking covers. She has never looked back.

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, she greatly enjoys food, baseball, shopping, tattoos, karaoke, and old bookstores. She is averse to spiders, zombies, over-used words, tardiness, inclement weather, and the misquotation of movie lines and lyrics. Her dream is to retire to Hawaii immediately. She has one cat.

For more A. Morell, stop by the blog or twitter, or contact directly at sans.morale@gmail.com.

Cover Reveal: Damian’s Discipline (Collars & Cuffs #5) by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams

The man who pimped Jeff may be in prison, but Jeff is still living the nightmare, selling himself to men and relying on pills to manage. Then he meets Scott, a young American man who could easily have been where Jeff is now. Scott’s friends extend a helping hand to Jeff, and he grabs it.

Leo and Thomas bring Jeff to stay with Dom Damian Barnett until they can find him someplace more long-term. Still grieving from losing his sub to cancer two years before, Damian agrees to help. But when he glimpses the extent of the damage, Damian wants to do more than offer his guestroom. Jeff is not a submissive, but Damian can see he desperately needs structure in his life. It’s up to Damian to find an answer.

He never expects that what he discovers will change both their lives.

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5548

Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5605

Author Bios:

K.C. Wells:

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C.Wells always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way.

K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, where the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings – writing about men in love was even hotter...

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career.

The laptop still has no idea of what hit it... it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.



Parker Williams:

Parker Williams began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family.

Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and Happily Ever After always has a price tag.



Author Contact:

K.C. Wells:

K.C. can be reached via email (k.c.wells@btinternet.com), on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld), on Twitter (@IslandTalesPres or through comments at the K.C.Wells website (www.kcwellsworld.com ) K.C. loves to hear from readers.

Parker Williams:

Website: http://www.parkerwilliamsauthor.com 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkerWAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parker.williams.75641
E-mail: parker@parkerwilliamsauthor.com

Excerpt:

Damian

I LOVED it when it was evening and all was quiet and peaceful. No traffic noise intruded into the house, and in the lounge, the only sound was the slow ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece. Give me a mechanical clock any day. Not that I had anything against more modern timepieces, but there was something soothing about the sound. The clock had been my grandmother’s, and I took loving care of it, making sure it was oiled and wound. Right then my evening was perfect: the tick of the clock, a glass of Cabernet on the table next to me, and a worn, hardcover Sherlock Holmes novel in my hands. I’d lost count of how many times I’d read The Hound of the Baskervilles, but re-reading a favorite book was a warm, comforting experience. The wine created a warm glow inside me. I took another sip.

And then my phone rang.

The temptation to ignore its clamoring call was huge. I was happy, comfortable, and anyone ringing me at home during the evening had to want something. All my friends knew my routines, especially since Oliver....

I closed my eyes. I could almost hear that edge of amusement in his voice. “You going to answer that, Sir?” And yes, I could see the gleam in his eye as he awaited my reaction, tense in nervous anticipation. Brat loved pushing my buttons. With a sigh, I picked up the call.

“Damian? It’s Leo. We need your help.”

I placed the wine on the table. “What can I do for you?” My interest was piqued immediately. It had been quite a while since the co-owner of my BDSM club had called me at home.

“Sorry to disturb you, but you were the first person I could think of. We have a boy. He’s nineteen, and he needs help.”

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Romance the Night, My Fiction Nook, Inked Rainbow Reads, 3 Chicks After Dark, Cathy Brockman Romances, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Twinsie Talk, Emotion in Motion, Prism Book Alliance, MM Good Book Reviews, Love Bytes, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Sinfully Sexy, Havan Fellows, Multitasking Mommas, Cate Ashwood, Fallen Angel Reviews, Nephylim, Iyana Jenna, Smoocher’s Voice

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Blog Tour: Learning to Love: Final Exam by K.C. Wells

One house, three couples, and one year left until their final exams….
Evan and Daniel want to take their D/s relationship to the next level. When Daniel suggests conducting a little research at a BDSM club, Evan is more than up for it. Trouble is, one of their housemates isn’t happy about this.
Finances tighten for new couple Josh and Chris. Wanting to ease some of the pressure on Chris, Josh starts as an agency nurse. But tackling a heavy workload at medical school and working late-shifts leaves little time for the couple. Something’s gotta give.
In Spain, Sean was diagnosed as suffering from migraines. But after the medications have no effect and he starts suffering from other complaints, he decides to get a second opinion without telling Michael. When Michael finds out, Sean's usually laid-back husband's reaction shocks everyone. But Michael needs to get his head sorted fast, because Sean needs his strength.
As their school career comes to a close and the one person who holds them all together starts to fall apart, the final exam is a true test of friendship.

Cover Artist: Paul Richmond

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

E-Book: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5346
Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5347

About the Author:

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C.Wells always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way.
K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, where the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings – writing about men in love was even hotter...
K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career.
The laptop still has no idea of what hit it... it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.
To see more of K.C.’s titles, click here

K.C. can be reached via email (k.c.wells@btinternet.com), on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld) or through comments at the K.C.Wells website (www.kcwellsworld.com ) K.C. loves to hear from readers.

Excerpt:

SEAN WAS getting really fed up with his housemates.

Ever since he and Michael had got back from Spain, the four men had turned into mother hens. Sean was constantly aware of them watching him. At least, it felt like they were. When he’d brought it up, Michael had said he was imagining things, but then again, Michael was guilty of the same thing in Sean’s book. He knew Michael was keeping a close eye on him. Sean hadn’t said a word. These days, he didn’t trust himself to do so without biting Michael’s head off, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Okay, so I’ve had a few migraines. Why the scrutiny all the time?

He loved his housemates to bits, but recently he’d found himself snapping at them on occasion, and that just wasn’t like him. He could see the same thought in Michael’s eyes and that hurt. He hated it when Michael worried, especially if he was the cause.

He wanted to scream at them all.

Look, I’m fine! It’s just a few fucking HEADACHES, that’s all!

He wouldn’t, of course, tempting though the idea was. And besides, there was that tiny voice in his head that wouldn’t go away.

What if it’s more than just headaches? What if there’s something else wrong?

At first he’d pushed the thought aside. He’d been to the doctors in Spain, hadn’t he? The doc had been perfectly happy with his diagnosis of migraines

Only now the headaches were occurring more regularly, which was worrisome. The fact that his bloody pills were useless wasn’t helping either.

Then DO something. Get another opinion.

Now that made sense.

Sean picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts to the clinic where he and Michael got tested every few months.

The sooner he got this sorted, the happier he’d be. And maybe then his housemates would stop mothering him.

He listened for a moment. Michael was downstairs in the kitchen with Chris, Evan, and Daniel. Josh was at the hospital. If Michael knew he was making an appointment, he’d only worry even more.

So that meant only one course of action—Sean wasn’t going to tell him. He’d go see another doctor, see if there were any tests they could run, and maybe get some medication that actually worked. He glanced at the notice board where his and Michael’s timetables were pinned. Being on the same course had its drawbacks, especially if he wanted to book an appointment when Michael wouldn’t be around. The only time available was when Michael saw his personal tutor. At least the clinic was on campus, but he might have to book it a week or two in advance to be sure of getting the slot he wanted.

And if he were completely honest, Sean was starting to get concerned. He rarely got sick, he ate healthily—Michael made sure of that—he didn’t smoke, and his alcohol intake amounted to a couple of glasses of wine per week. So putting up with headaches was pissing him off.

Make the call, Sean. While Michael’s not in earshot.

Sighing, he pressed Connect.


Tour Dates/Stops:

8/25: Reviews and Ramblings
8/26: Wake Up Your Wild Side
8/27: Prism Book Alliance
8/28: Hearts on Fire
8/29: Parker Williams
9/1: Jade Crystal
9/2: Angel Martinez
9/3: Amanda C. Stone
9/4: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
9/5: Love Bytes
9/8: Regular Guys, Hot Romance
9/9: MM Good Book Reviews
9/10: LeAnn’s Book Reviews
9/11: Cate Ashwood
9/12: Velvet Panic
9/15: My Fiction Nook
9/16: 3 Chicks After Dark
9/17: Fallen Angel Reviews
9/18: SA McAuley
9/19: Iyana Jenna

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Cover Reveal: Most Beautiful Words by Raine O'Tierney

My good friend Raine is here today to share her GORGEOUS new cover for her brand new novel Most Beautiful Words. I cannot wait for this one!

Twelve-year-old Autumn's world is shattered when her beloved Great-Pop, Tommy Johnson, suffers a stroke that leaves him comatose. With everyone around her resigning themselves to the inevitable, Autumn is the only one not willing to give up. She and Great-Pop have more secret stories to share with each other, after all. More stories about Roy McMillan—the great love of Tommy's life whom he lost fifty years ago.
Autumn struggles to keep Great-Pop on this side of death's door. But how can she compete with the beautiful and mysterious Valley—a place of surreal magic where the sun never fully sets? Especially when there's someone familiar in the Valley who will do everything he can to keep Great-Pop from returning to her.

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press






Excerpt:

“So what’s my prize?”

“I’m gonna let you kiss me,” Roy said with a big, devious smile.

“Yeah?” Tommy asked, thinking he was being put on. “All right, I guess I’ll take the consolation prize then.”

“That leaves me with the grand prize by default.”

And he leaned in, and as sweet as anything Tommy had experienced in his whole life, Roy kissed his slightly parted lips. Even when Tommy stiffened, Roy did not pull back. Instead, slowly and deliberately, he gathered Tommy to him with a hold that was loose enough for him to escape from, but tight enough to be a real, romantic embrace. He kissed Tommy until he had to draw breath, and even then he did not let him go all the way.

“You… really wanted to?” Tommy asked, his head spinning. In that moment he had a single, solitary regret. It wasn’t coming out here to shoot arrows, and it wasn’t that he hadn’t pulled out of Roy’s embrace or even that he’d been kissed. It was that he hadn’t kissed Roy first. Because Tommy liked the kissing. A lot. And he wanted to do it more.

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Prism Book Alliance, Cate Ashwood, Velvet Panic, Fallen Angel Reviews, Regular Guys, Hot Romance, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Iyana Jenna, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Love Bytes, MM Good Book Reviews, Amanda C. Stone, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Up All Night, Read All Day, A_TiffyFit's Reading Corner, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Nephylim, EE Montgomery, Inked Rainbow Reads, Andrew Q. Gordon, Emotion in Motion













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Blog Tour: Meet-cute by C.C. Dado

Today, I have C.C. Dado visiting me for an interview and to talk about Meet-cute, which sounds like such an adorable story. I can't wait to read it. It was released August 13th, so if you haven't picked up your copy, make sure you head over to the DSP website to do that now! And comment for a chance to win a copy! A winner will be chosen randomly from the comments on C.C.'s tour.




Elliot Beck may not have been blessed with mad art skills, a crooner's voice, or a godlike physique, but he makes up for it with an abundance of quick-witted sarcasm, massive insecurities, and a love of bad boys.

After his best friend Trevor finds him naked and tied to his bed—abandoned by his latest troublemaker—Trevor convinces him to take a chance on a nice guy. When he has an awkward encounter in the men's restroom with a fitness instructor named Chase, he never suspects the Adonis might be his perfect bad boy.


http://www.amazon.com/Meet-cute-C-C-Dado-ebook/dp/B00MOP3I9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408933829&sr=8-1&keywords=Meet-cute

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Meet-cute&osCsid=9b57lj5v84eije7aj595ln7gh6&x=-868&y=-332




And now for the interview!

Hi Cate, thank you for letting me visit your blog.

Tell me a little about yourself and what inspired you to write Meet-cute?
I am a native of the Pacific Northwest, and will probably never leave. I'm kind of a hypochondriac sundae, with claustrophobic sprinkles, and a big cherry of anxiety on top, so I don't travel much. I read to relax my mind, but had never really thought about writing, until about a year ago when I read T.J. Klunes "Tell me it's real". I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face, multiple times. The comedy was woven so well into the love story, that when I got done reading it, I had a life epiphany. I thought to myself 'that's what I want to do, I want to make people laugh like that'. Life is just so heavy sometimes and to be able to give someone a break from that and make them laugh would be truly amazing. So I started writing "Meet-cute".

What was the most challenging thing about writing this story?
I had never really had a problem getting a laugh in a crowd but literacy has always been my personal kryptonite, the rules of grammar slowly steal my life force. Hopefully my marginally, witty story telling, along with a group of amazing editors have created something folks will enjoy. This has all been a learning experience for me.

What have you learned from the whole publishing process?
It takes a long time. Also I have learned that there is a partnership in publishing a book that goes far beyond signing a contract. The team of people that I have worked with at Dreamspinner Press, from the editors, to the cover artist have been unbelievable, partnering with me throughout the whole process.

What’s a typical writing day like for you?
I have a full time career and a full time family, so my “writing days” are more like stolen moments captured on my iPhone.

Are your characters completely fictional or do you base them on people you know?
My characters are fictional, but once I have a solid outline for their personality, then I will usually associate them to someone I know that has similar characteristics. It's easier for me to imagine what that person would say or how they would act in certain situations.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an artist.

What are you most excited about being a writer?
At some point someone is going to pick up a book that I wrote and it is going to make them laugh. For just a little while I will give them an escape from their responsibilities and worries, and that is exciting to me. My humor tends to be a bit uncomfortable and self deprecating, but it is meant to be lighthearted. We all have insecurities, I just tend to laugh at mine instead of hide them.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Put yourself out there... The worse they can say is no. Well okay, that's not the worst thing they can say but you take the feedback that can make you a better writer and you move forward. No one will ever know how amazing you are if you don't give them a chance to see it.

Could you share a snippet of Meet-cute with us?
'Four minutes into jogging, I could feel the sweat running down my face, and I was trying to figure out if there was a way to make asthmatic breathing sexy. I was pretty sure I was about to die, and he was still standing there being all motivational-coach on me. I was partially distracted from jogging by him running his fingers through the top of his hair.
“So, E, uh, I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner tonight?”
That’s the last thing I heard before my toe caught the edge of the treadmill and I felt my body being ejected off the back of the machine like it had decided only pretty people should be allowed to ride it.
“Oh shit, E, are you okay?” I heard Chase say, but it sounded like it was from far away. I’m not sure what hurt worse, my pride or my face from hitting the treadmill on my way down. “Holy shit, I’ve never actually seen that happen in real life,” he said, and I could hear the concern and overwhelming awe in his voice.
“I think I’m done for today,” I said as I tried to get up.'


What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the sequel to “That place across the hall” which was a short story in the “grand adventures anthology” for Eric Arvin and T.J. Klune. It is a continuation of Josh and Brandon's story but they are not the main love interest, another couple will be introduced in this book.

If you want to check out "Meet-cute" or "That place across the hall" I have attached the links below.

Meet-cute:
http://www.amazon.com/Meet-cute-C-C-Dado-ebook/dp/B00MOP3I9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408933829&sr=8-1&keywords=Meet-cute

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=Meet-cute&osCsid=9b57lj5v84eije7aj595ln7gh6&x=-868&y=-332


Grand adventures anthology:
http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Adventures-S-A-McAuley-ebook/dp/B00JD4IS4Y

Cover Reveal: Hidden Gem by Lissa Kasey

Misaki “Aki” Itou is a psi—a person with mutated DNA granting him psychic abilities. He’s also a contracted companion—a whore. It may not be the perfect profession, but having a roof over his head, food to eat, and not being subjected to torture is a dream come true. He is the top companion at the Hidden Gem, and it makes him enough money to buy the prettiest, most sparkly shoes he can find.
Shane McNaughton is an Irishman who survived the Third World War and works as a cop. Head of Missing Persons, he’s good at finding people, but after the plague of the Third mutated his DNA, he has a hard time letting anyone see the monster inside. He’s been paying for Aki’s services for two years, both the psi and the sexual kind, but he wants more from the companion.
Shane needs Aki’s ability to see into another person’s past to track down a serial killer murdering the children of rich and powerful men, but the more they work together, the clearer it becomes that they are linked through a darker past than either of them realizes.

Cover Artist: Siobhan

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5376

Paperback : http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5377

About the Author:

Lissa Kasey lives in St. Paul, MN, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, and collects Asian Ball Joint Dolls who look like her characters. She has three cats who enjoy waking her up an hour before her alarm every morning and sitting on her lap to help her write. She can often be found at Anime Conventions masquerading as random characters when she's not writing about boy romance.

Twitter: @parisbvamp
Website: www.lissakasey.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lissa.kasey

Excerpt:

Jack pulled out a file. He took a bag with a thin piece of cloth and glared at it. “This one may still be alive. Ransom isn’t set to be paid until tomorrow evening.” He glanced down to the money. “If money motivates you, we can get more, but know this is a sixteen-year-old girl missing. We just want to know if she has a chance.”
Aki closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath, for a moment remembering the one other time he’d done this. The pain had been immediate, a beating gone wrong, a strike to the head not hard enough to kill, but enough to do a lot of damage. He’d lingered, well the man had, but Aki had felt it, suffered for hours while the man slowly bled to death and finally drowned in his own vomit.
One touch would show him it all. The more Aki fought, the more detailed the memories would become. He’d much rather go back downstairs and find a nice old man to jack off for the cash instead of this. Though he’d have to entertain a couple dozen clients to make even half of what was on the table. Then there was the girl. What if she was still alive and he could save her? He hadn’t been much older himself when Bart and Paris found him half-starved and begging for a chance to live or a fast death. Bart had had a brother who’d been psi and taken from them when they were young, never seen again. Sometimes he still looked at Aki with that sorrow in his eyes. But Aki wasn’t his kid brother. He was no one’s kid brother, just an abandoned psi who played the role of whore really well. But where would he be if no one had given him a chance?
He held his hand out for the bag.
“If she’s dead, it will be bad,” Jack pointed out.
“Yeah, well, hand it over before I change my mind.” Aki grabbed the bag from him and carefully opened it. “I’m not contaminating anything by touching this, am I?” Objects didn’t always give him anything, not like people did. He could get everything from touching the shirt or nothing. Aki found that most objects didn’t hold enough life to pass on memories. Good for him, not always good for McNaughton.
“No.” McNaughton left his seat and eased down on the bed beside Aki.
“If you come from watching this, I’m totally charging you twice my normal rate,” Aki told him.
McNaughton laughed. “Deal.”

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Redz World, Amanda C. Stone, Hearts on Fire, My Fiction Nook, Love Bytes, Velvet Panic, Kimber Vale, Havan Fellows, MM Good Book Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Reviews and Ramblings, Prism Book Alliance, Cate Ashwood, 3 Chicks After Dark, Iyana Jenna, Fallen Angel Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews

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Blog Tour: Americana Fairytale by Lex Chase

Americana Fairy Tale by Lex Chase

Genre: M/M Fairy Tale Urban Fantasy Length: Novel, 340 Pages Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Blurb

Modern fairy-tale princess Taylor Hatfield has problems. One: He’s a guy. Two: His perfect brother Atticus is the reincarnation of Snow White. Three: Taylor has no idea which princess he is supposed to be. Four: Taylor just left his prince (a girl) at the altar. Despite his enchanted lineage, Taylor is desperate to find his Happily Ever After away from magic, witches, and stuffy traditions. Regrettably, destiny has other plans for him. Dammit. When word reaches Taylor that Idi the Witchking has captured Atticus, Taylor is determined to save his brother. He enlists the help of rakish and insufferable Corentin Devereaux, likewise of enchanted lineage. A malicious spell sends Taylor and Corentin on a road trip through the kitschy nostalgia of roadside Americana. To save Atticus, they must solve the puzzles put forth by Idi the Witchking. As they struggle, Taylor and Corentin’s volatile partnership sparks a flash of something more. But princesses have many enemies, and Taylor must keep his wits about him because there’s nothing worse than losing your heart… or your head.

 

Pre-order from Dreamspinner Press in eBook and Paperback

Available September 12th, 2014

Paperbacks ordered through Dreamspinner Press qualifies for Free Shipping to GRL for pick-up!

Use code: GRL2014

Excerpt

 
Still flustered and confused, with no time to contemplate what had just come over him, Corentin tossed out his hand and gestured to the open road. “Do you see signs for I-85 North anywhere, genius?”
“Man, you’re really bitchy,” Ringo said, crossing his arms. “Have enough water today? Hydration is important.”
“Why should I trust you anyway? You could be getting us lost on purpose,” Taylor said. There was a sneer in his tone, and he glared in the rearview. “I’m not counting out we nearly died three seconds ago.”
“I was avoiding a tire in the road,” Corentin lied. “And I am not getting us lost.” His irritation grew as he tried to puzzle through everything that had just transpired. “I’m keeping my promise. You’re useless to me, so we’re going to go save your brother and kill Idi instead.”
“Woooooah,” Ringo said, holding up his hands in surrender. “You didn’t tell me this was Idi we were up against.”
“Someone fill me in,” Taylor said in a demanding tone.
Corentin gritted his teeth. Just like all princesses, Taylor was a pretty spoiled brat. “Idi is the Witchking,” Corentin said simply. He braced himself for the oncoming flurry of questions. Which he wouldn’t know how to answer in the simplest of terms.
“Idi’s bad juju,” Ringo said. “The worst of all witches.”
“And we’re going to kill him?” Taylor asked.
Corentin caught him arching a brow and making a doubtful expression in the rearview. “That’s the plan.”
“And save Atticus,” Taylor said.
“That’s the plan,” Corentin repeated tersely.
“What’s in it for you?” Taylor asked. Something in his tone suggested his mistrust had hit its limit.
Before Corentin could come up with an expert lie, he was unfortunately saved by the GPS popping with sizzles and showering sparks over the cabin of the truck. Ringo zipped behind the passenger seat, and Taylor yelped in a half squeal. The truck fishtailed over two lanes and came dangerously close to clipping a car. Corentin acted fast, ripping the melting device from its dash mount and chucking it out the window. Taylor turned to look out the back window, and Corentin caught the bright orange flame as the thing exploded like a grenade.
When the spots cleared from Corentin’s eyes, he muttered a curse under his breath as the truck passed from a clear division of daylight into the dead of night. He clicked the headlights on and waited for his eyes to adjust.
“What the hell is going on?” Taylor asked, leaning up to the back window.
“Idi’s fucking with us,” Corentin said. “It seems like he’s trying to delay us as much as possible.”
“He knows we’re onto him,” Taylor said. “Way to go for discussing the super-secret squirrel plan out loud.”
“You know…,” Corentin said, glaring in the rearview. “You are a lot more pleasant when you’re passed out, snoring.”
Taylor huffed. “I don’t snore.”
“You bleat like a dying hyena,” Ringo said, then spit a giggle.
Taylor’s attention snapped to the pixie. “What is this? Asshole day?”
Corentin caught his eerie pink glare in the rearview.
“Dude, just get off at the nearest exit. We should be near Birmingham by now.”
“All right, all right,” Corentin said, and it was a pleasant reprieve that Taylor kept his mouth shut for more than five minutes. It didn’t last.
“Hey, hey!” Taylor said and pointed at a green-and-white interstate exit sign in the distance. “Talladega! Turn here. I can get us to Atlanta from here. We’re not that far off.”
Corentin guided the truck up the exit ramp and frowned. Something was wrong—flat-topped mesas came into view.
“What the…?” Taylor whispered and watched the rolling dunes of the Painted Desert.
“Uuuh…,” Ringo added and pressed himself to the windshield. The occasional cactus whisked by. “Wow, Talladega’s having a hard time with the drought this season,” Ringo said through their awestruck silence.
“That’s not a drought,” Corentin said softly.
Taylor squinted into the distance. “Does ‘Welcome to Arizona, the Grand Canyon State’ answer your question?”
Ringo pasted his face to the windshield. “How do you even see—” Ringo squeaked when the state sign of Arizona blurred by. “Oh my Storyteller!”
Corentin remained tense, trying to get his thoughts together.
Taylor, however, seemed to not be able to resist blurting out his opinion. “It seems this Eddie guy is doing more than just fucking with us.”
“Idi,” Corentin said and realized how terse he sounded. “I think he wants to do more than just delay us.”
Ringo peeled himself from the windshield. He slapped his hands to his cheeks in horror. “He wants us to die out here?” he croaked.
“Panicking is not going to help,” Corentin said firmly.
“Easy for you to say,” Taylor snapped. “We just need to stop somewhere and ask for directions. We’ll get back on the right road in no time.”
Corentin sighed. Taylor’s hope was admirable, but Ringo was only half right. They would die out here, but only one of them. This was Corentin’s first trial. Now he was here, in the middle of nowhere, with Taylor to do with what he will. As soon as that was over, Idi would release him and he’d be on his way, but only until the next time Idi summoned him to do his bidding.
They drove on, again in a long-hanging silence. The interstate lay barren, not a single car or scrap of civilization to be seen. The pavement bore veins of black tar from years of shoddy repair. Corentin caught Taylor’s pink gaze in the rearview, and his feral eyes seemed to gleam in the dark.
The princess shifted from one side of the backseat to the other. He seemed to look for anything that would help. He cupped his hands around the glass and peeked out into the night. “I can’t see anything out there. It’s just desert,” Taylor muttered.
Ringo turned to Corentin, “How are we on ga—”
“Don’t say it!” Corentin and Taylor shouted in unison.
Ringo held up his hands and pursed his lips. “Got it…. Uh… why?”
“I assume Eddie is listening in to everything,” Taylor said.
“Idi,” Corentin corrected Taylor again. “I think sir princess is right. It seems the second we’ve said anything, something’s gone wrong.”
Ringo fluttered over to the dash and rested his chin in his palm. “You know… it could be all a coincidence….”
Corentin and Taylor glared angrily at Ringo in silence while the hum of the pavement whooshed as Corentin drove.
Ringo waved his hands. “By Titania’s tatas, guys, I was just kidding!”

Giveaway

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About the author

Lex Chase once heard Stephen King say in a commercial, “We’re all going to die, I’m just trying to make it a little more interesting.” She knew then she wanted to make the world a little more interesting too.

Weaving tales of cinematic, sweeping adventure and epic love—and depending on how she feels that day—Lex sprinkles in high-speed chases, shower scenes, and more explosions than a Hollywood blockbuster. She loves tales of men who kiss as much as they kick ass. She believes if you’re going to going to march into the depths of hell, it better be beside the one you love.

Lex is a pop culture diva and her DVR is constantly backlogged. She wouldn’t last five minutes without technology in the event of the apocalypse and has nightmares about refusing to leave her cats behind. She is incredibly sentimental, to the point that she gets choked up at holiday commercials. But like the lovers driven to extreme measures to get home for the holidays, Lex believes everyone deserves a happy ending.

Lex also has a knack for sarcasm, never takes herself seriously, and has been nicknamed “The Next Alan Moore” by her friends for all the pain and suffering she inflicts on her characters. She is a Damned Yankee hailing from the frozen backwoods of Maine now residing in the burbs of Northwest Florida, where it could be 80F and she’d still be a popsicle.

She is grateful for and humbled by all the readers. She knows very well she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them and welcomes feedback.

 You can find in the Intarwebz here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LXChase Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lex_Chase Tumblr: http://lexiconofkittens.tumblr.com Instagram: http://instagram.com/westbaylen

Cover Reveal: Wet Paint by Will Parkinson

Will Parkinson is here today to share the beautiful cover Reese Dante designed for his new Young Adult novel, Wet Paint. Isn't it gorgeous? There's also an excerpt and a giveaway. It's our lucky day!

Although Addy’s heart and body bear the scars from his life before he was adopted by the Deans, he’s ached for something he thought he would never find. Until he met Benny. He isn’t sure how anyone can care for someone as broken as he is, even though he wants it desperately.
High school senior Benny Peters has his whole life planned out for him, until a chaste kiss at summer camp opens a new world of possibilities. Determined to erase Addy’s insecurities, Benny works to take away his boyfriend’s pain and replace it with love.
When Addy’s past intrudes on their future, it’s going to take everything Benny can muster to show that no matter what – or who – they face, they belong together.

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press





About the Author:

WILL PARKINSON believes that no matter what obstacles are thrown in the path of young love, it will always find a way to win in the end. He wants his characters to have their happily ever after, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to come easily.
None of this would have happened if he had followed the advice he was given many years ago. “What are you wasting your time on that for? It’s never going to amount to anything.” He believed it for the longest time, abandoning characters he’d created in his childhood.
He picked up his very first m/m story by a writer named Eden Winters, who was an absolute joy when they corresponded. She asked him if he wrote and he told her the story. Eden explained to Will that the voices in his head would never go away and how he needed to let them out. With that thought in mind, Will put e-pen to e-paper once more. It was truly a liberating experience and one he has no intention of giving up again.

Website: http://www.willparkinson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillParkinsonau
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/will.parkinson.520
E-mail: will@willparkinson.com





Excerpt:

Benny cast a glance at Addy, noticing how his eyes kept darting to him and then to the floor. He seemed troubled, unsure.

“Addy? Is there something wrong?”

Addy heaved a deep sigh, then was quiet for a moment. “Do I embarrass you?” he finally asked.

“What? No, of course not. Why would you even think that?” Benny was genuinely perplexed.

“Jackson and Taylor don’t seem to have any problem touching each other, but you act like I’ve got germs or something and won’t come anywhere near me when there’s other people around. I have to wonder if you’re ashamed to be seen with someone like... me.”

“Oh God, no,” Benny replied sharply. “Please don’t ever think that. You know what? C’mere.”

He grabbed Addy’s arm and dragged him into the lounge.

“Listen to me, little man. I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever be ashamed of you. If anything, you should be ashamed of me.”

Addy looked puzzled. “Why?”

Benny slid his fingers through his stubbly hair, then rubbed the back of his neck before he spoke. “I’m not really comfortable with being... like this. I really do care for you, but I’ve never felt this way about a guy— well, about anyone—before, and I don’t know how to handle it. So no, I’m not ashamed or embarrassed of you at all. I’m just not sure how to deal with everything.”

Addy took Benny by the hand and peered into his eyes. “That’s all I needed to know. I don’t want to rush you. If you need time, you’ve got to know I’ll give it to you. I just wanted to be sure that you wanted me.”

Benny regarded his boyfriend. Yeah, his boyfriend. Benny had never been afraid to stand up for anyone in his life. Why should he be ashamed to stand up for himself now?

“C’mere, little man,” he growled, putting his hand on Addy’s neck, pulling him in close.

Addy’s eyes went wide, excitement dancing in them. Benny licked his lips and then pressed them to Addy’s in a deep, thrilling kiss. Someone whimpered. Benny wasn’t really sure which one of them it had been. He felt his synapses fry. It was the most incredible thing he’d ever experienced. A voice called out, startling them both.

“Benny? Is there something you’d like to tell me?”

Benny looked up and stared for a moment at Taylor, who had a wide smile across his face. Benny could feel his cheeks heat up. This wasn’t the way he wanted this to go, but damn, right now he needed Addy in the worst way.

“No, Taylor, not right now,” he replied quietly.
Then he went back in for another one of those amazing kisses.

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Angel Martinez, Hearts on Fire, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Amanda C. Stone, SA McAuley, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Love Bytes, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Prism Book Alliance, Havan Fellows, Emotion in Motion, My Fiction Nook, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Charli Green, Jade Crystal, Lee Brazil, Trisha Harrington’s Blog, Will Parkinson, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, EE Montgomery, Inked Rainbow Reads, Full Moon Dreaming, Top2Bottom, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Fallen Angel Reviews, Sinfully Sexy, Iyana Jenna, Andrew Q. Gordon













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Cover Reveal: Key of Behliseth by Lou Hoffmann

On his way to meet a fate he'd rather avoid, homeless gay teen Lucky steps through a wizard's door and is caught up in a whirlwind quest and an ancient war. He tries to convince himself that his involvement with sword fights, magic, and interworld travel is a fluke, and that ice-breathing dragons and fire-breathing eagles don't really exist. But with each passing hour, he remembers more about who he is and where he's from, and with help, he begins to claim his power.

Lucky might someday rule a nation, but before he can do that, he must remember his true name, accept his destiny, and master his extraordinary abilities. Only then can he help to banish the evil that has invaded earth and find his way home—through a gateway to another world.

Cover Artist: Catt Ford

Publisher: Harmony Ink Press (Dreamspinner Press imprint)

eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5395
Paperback : http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5396

Author Bio:

Lou Hoffmann, a mother and grandmother now, has carried on her love affair with books for more than half a century, and she hasn’t even made a dent in the list of books she’d love to read—partly because the list keeps growing as more and more fascinating tales are told in written form. She reads factual things—books about physics and stars and fractal chaos, but when she wants truth, she looks for it in quality fiction. Through all that time she’s written stories of her own, but she’s come to be a published author only as a johnnie-come-lately. Lou loves other kinds of beauty as well, including music and silence, laughter and tears, youth and age, sunshine and storms, forests and fields, rivers and seas. Proud to be a bisexual woman, she’s seen the world change and change back and change more in dozens of ways, and she has great hope for the freedom to love in the world the youth of today will create in the future. You can find Lou on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lou.hoffmann, or twitter @Lou_Hoffmann.

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Amanda C. Stone, Havan Fellows, MM Good Book Reviews, Prism Book Alliance, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Velvet Panic, Love Bytes, The Hat Party, Angel Martinez, Fallen Angel Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Will Parkinson, The Novel Approach, Hearts on Fire, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Smoocher’s Voice, Cate Ashwood, Kimi-Chan, Dawn’s Reading Nook













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