Tag Archives: Gio Savale

Double Takes Review Round-Up

Wow, I’ve been spreading my love on a bunch of other blogs lately, but ignoring my own little baby over here. 😥

Well, as my Double Takes blog tour rolls along, I figured I’d accumulate links to DT’s reviews. Since they don’t all necessarily end up in one spot, I figured I’d make it easy for anyone wondering.

Here are the highlights from Amazon reviewers:

“While Gio finds himself falling for Lance behind the scenes, he has to pretend to be falling for Kyrie, a cute twenty something college student, in front of the scenes. Kyrie is studying acting, so he puts his skills to good use in front of the camera. The rest is a great story, well played out. The editing is spot on, no typos anywhere. Oh and did I mention there is a dog? If you are a fan of MM stories, please do yourself a favor and get this one. You won’t be disappointed.” 5 Stars from Tamela Gibson

“With near-flawless prose that sparkles with wit and heat, the author leads us hand in hand with Gio as he tries to keep his world from completely crashing down around his ears. The author never makes it easy for Gio, and his soul searching to find the real person under all the rock and roll glitter makes him all too human. As Gio sheds his old self for the new, he finds a new love, Lance, but Gio is not the only one who has past mistakes to account for. The author pulls out all the stops as their hearts and worlds collide.” 5 Stars from J.A. Matthews

“It was well written and actually edited so typo’s were non-existent. Not your typical cookie cutter rocker romance. I liked it as a sequel. Read the first book too!” 4 Stars from Mary

And on Amazon.co.uk:

“Since reading Forever is now I feel like I had been waiting forever for the second book in Ms Vale’s series to come out and this does not disappoint. It was a book that was filled with laughter, tears, misunderstandings (Kyrie and Greg), hot scenes between both MCs and a lovely twist that I did not expect.

As described Gio is in the middle of a divorce when the producers of the show wants him to get a boyfriend for the camera – enter Kyrie (gorgeous, funny and sexy to boot that he did grabs some of the scenes from Gio). Gio them meets Lance who knew who and what he wanted, the scene where he first kisses Gio made him open his eye really wide as to what he wanted – Lance.

The two MCs bounced off of each other really well with how they communicated together until the end when I had tears in my eyes (no spoiler included but you need to read) when Lance told Gio who he really was and what he had done (keeping you intrigued now).

Now it is a waiting game for number three to see just how Ms Vale brings together Kyrie and Greg and how funny I can see it will be with hopefully some of the Drama that is Kyrie.” 5 Stars from Bobbie Walker

Meanwhile, on On Top Down Under:

“Double Takes is a really enjoyable book. I really did liked Gio and Lance, individually and as a couple. The sex was hot without saturating every Double Takes Quote 2second page and the plot was very good. I also REALLY liked the occasional dirty talking from both guys –  the sex in the gym shower was mmm, mmm, mmm. I also thought Kyrie was a hoot. I would have loved more of him to be honest. If Kimber Vale writes another in the series, and I hope she does, I would love to see the flamboyant Kyrie and the uptight Greg get a book. Oh yes, there is a very interesting relationship right there.” 4.5 Stars from Kazza K.

From Susan of The Blogger Girls:

“So all in all, if you love rocker stories with a twist than I would highly recommend K Vales “Double Takes”. It’s sexy, funny, a little sad, a little surprising, a lot sexy, and a unique story. Loved the fake boyfriend, he was divine and fabulous; loved the twist at the end with Lance; and loved that the ex-wife and Gio were able to settle without destroying their son.” 4 Stars

From Jackie of The Novel Approach:

“The last fifteen percent of this book is totally shocking and fast moving. Very rarely does an author completely blindside me with a plot twist, but Kimber Vale totally got me this time. This book had me laughing out loud in parts, gasping in shock and crying my eyes out.

I loved Forever is Now, but I believe that Gio’s story eclipsed that book completely. I cannot wait to see what is next for these rockers. I would highly recommend y’all joining me on the ride.” 4.5 Stars

———

Double Takes is on sale over on Amazon (for whatever reason) so pick it up while the gettin’ is good (a savings of $1.17 good, that is).

Double Takes-600x800

 

 

And don’t forget to enter my $25 gift card giveaway! RIGHT HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Kimber

 


Book Review: Double Takes by K. Vale

Book Review: Double Takes by K. Vale.


The Spring Fling Blog Hop #Giveaway

Sepia Shot of a Young Kissing Couple.Happy spring!  Few words are sweeter on my fingertips after the long, hard winter we had. I probably say that every year. They always seem to go on and on, and I know parts of the country have been bent over and slammed harder than the North East, but still…

Adios, winter. Don’t let the Green Man stab you in the back on the way out.

How about a bunch of amazing prizes to celebrate the changing of the season? Hell, yeah, we’ve got ’em!

For my personal giveaway, I’m going to get out my crystal ball and look into the future. April 28, 2014, to be specific. That’s the day my next release, Double Takes, comes out.

That’s also the day I will send an e-copy of said book to a random person who adds it to their Goodreads: Want To Read shelf. That’s right, peeps. Win it before you can buy it! Sweet, right? Click over and add Double Takes, and you are in!  I’ll pick a winner via Random.org on 3/25.

Double Takes-highresSeriously? I could stare at this cover all day. I’d only need a drool rag on occasion.

Blurb:

Ah, the life of a rock star. Everyone thinks it’s nothing but sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Not for Giovanni Savale.

For the lead singer of Three Deaf Mice, a band that reached its pinnacle in the late nineties, it’s nothing but an ugly divorce with a custody battle, money trouble, and now the nightmare exposure of starring in a reality television show. When his producer decides to cash in on an infamous interview Gio did years ago, and give the self-confessed bisexual rocker an onscreen boyfriend, things really hit the fan. Gio is certain his sexual experimentation back in his drug-abusing days meant nothing—after all he’s been married for nine years, clean and sober for nearly as long, and he has a son. And Gio is not remotely attracted to Kyrie, the funny, flamboyant actor they choose for his love interest. Of course, Lance Garrett, the mysterious and sexy owner of the local antique shop, Double Takes, is a whole different story. The man has Gio planning out a future he never imagined. With the threat of losing all custody of his ten-year-old son, ghosts from the past returning for revenge, and the cameras rolling, can Gio keep his head above water and his heart from getting broken?

****

To celebrate my coming release (that sounds dirty, huh?) here’s a teaser from Double Takes to whet your appetite.

————-

“How much more do you need?” Lance’s face was stone serious.

“For what? You want to rent a sailboat and escape for a week? I got it covered.” He held up the paper to prove it.

“I want you out of this show. What’s left to pay back your advance?”

“Hmmm.” Gio glanced down again, disappointment warring with common sense. “Shit. I guess it’s just the fifty K they advanced me when I signed on for next season. I have maybe half that socked away still. Put a chunk of my initial payment into buying Christine out of the condo, and then Marco’s school … it was spent before I got it…” His voice trailed off as he looked up to see Lance bending over his desk. Good Lord, the man was temptation personified. The sound of paper tearing accompanied Lance standing straight. He turned and handed Gio a check for twenty thousand more than the printout in Gio’s hand.

“Does that work?” Lance took Gio’s fingers and pressed the paper into his palm.

“No. I mean, yeah, it would, but I can’t take your money. It’s only another week or two of filming. A little more tape with Kyrie, and then we break.” Gio paused to think it through. “Although, if I pay back my advance, I should be off the hook for the additional filming since, technically, we were done with this season.” He shook his head. “Maybe we can book a couple local shows, and I can scrape enough together—buy my freedom before work on season two starts. Or see if the bank’ll give me a line of credit on the house.” Not fuckin’ likely without a dime of equity. Gio tried to hand it back.

“Take it.”

This felt wrong. He was always the provider; never took a dollar from anyone unless he’d earned it. “I can’t, Lance.”

Lance stepped toward him and shook his head stiffly, his greenish gaze skewering Gio. “This is not for you. This is me being completely selfish.”

Gio frowned, mesmerized by Lance’s moving mouth despite his reservations.

“I don’t want to be jerking off in front of a computer screen when you’re a few miles down the road—as much fun as it’s been. I don’t want to see you kissing anyone else on my TV. I don’t wanna miss you like I do.” His palms covered Gio’s cheeks. “This isn’t for you. It’s for me.”

Gio hissed in a breath as he reached one hand behind Lance’s head while his other grabbed the guy’s hip and pulled their bodies flush. Their mouths crashed together, warm lips and steel wool cheeks pulling hungrily, grappling for purchase. Gio sucked Lance’s hot tongue into his mouth, groaning as his dick swelled at the familiar taste of his lover while his hand on Lance’s neck crushed their lips closer.

“God.” Lance shuddered as Gio bit a rough trail across his scruffy cheek and down his neck, Gio’s tongue soothing the sting his need couldn’t bridle. He grabbed Lance’s cock through his jeans, fingers reaching possessively under his denim-clad sac.

“Fuck.” Lance’s voice hitched in time with Gio’s rough hands all over his erection. “Do we have time for this?”

Gio pulled his mouth off Lance’s collarbone and glanced at his watch. “Five minutes to fuck you,” he said in a growl. “You want it?”

“Not long enough but I’ll take it.” Lance began to unbutton his pants with one hand as his other opened a drawer behind his desk.

Gio turned, kicked the office door closed, and twisted the lock. He flipped open his fly and released his painfully hard cock as he walked back toward Lance.

With one hand on his desk, Lance reached lubed fingers back to grease his hole. A light trail of flame-kissed fur led the path down to his tight, glistening entrance, and his slick fingertip teased the spot hypnotically. Gio bit his lip as raw animal desire tore through him. He grabbed the rubber on the desk and had it opened and on in a matter of seconds.

“Look out.” Gio’s voice was gruff, demanding, as he pushed a hand down on Lance’s back and aimed his dick with the other. Lance’s palms slapped the surface of the desk and his cheek followed as Gio surged inside.

——-

This hop has got some fantastic stuff free for the Rafflecopterin’!

The Grand Prizes are:
One Kindle Fire–Donated by Blushing Books!
One $75 Gift Card to Amazon (or Barnes and Noble)–Donated by Jane!
One $25 Starbucks Gift Card–Donated by Sue Lyndon!
One $25 Gift Card to Blushing Books–Donated by Patty Devlin!
One $25 Gift Card to Loose Id–Donated by Cara Bristol!

Go ahead and get your name in there!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the other posts and giveaways here:

www.hopswithheart.blogspot.com

Thanks for playing!

-Kimber


Change of Plans

The video is just because I’m obsessed with it. I love Imogen Heap. This makes me want to read Homestuck Kids and get all crazy with the Yaoi.

❤ ❤ ❤

Anyway, my change of plans is something that’s been percolating for just a few days, but now that I’ve got my teeth in it I won’t likely let go. It’s like cutting my hair or dying it a funky color—I can’t stop thinking about it until it’s done, good idea or bad.

I’ve been writing on my 3rd book in my Shooting Stars series, getting awfully close to the dark moment and subsequent wind-down. Originally, I only planned to write 3 books in this series. Chance and Alex came to me one day, and then Gio stepped in at the end of their book and I knew he was next. Kyrie and Greg’s story was evident to me early on in Gio’s book (Double Takes, coming April 28th from Liquid Silver Books! Yay!). So, that was going to be it. Three books. Kyrie and Greg get their tale told and I wash my hands of this business and move on to sci-fi-y-er pastures. Heck, I even have the opening pages written for my crazy anti-super hero book and I’m salivating to get on that for real.

Thing is, Chance and Alex get a revisit in Double Takes (cue the wedding bells). And Gio and Lance get a little walk-on in book 3, so we get to see that they’re together and madly in love as ever. But what about Greg and Kyrie? When the curtain closes, that’s it? The end?

It’s gonna break my heart.

So, to be sure they are still together and fighting the good fight side by side in the future, I need to write another book (Kyrie is 23, mind you–it’s hard to pull off a believable HEA with a 23 year-old, right? Thank God Greg is sensible). I’m convinced I will be writing a Shooting Stars #4 at some point in the future. I’m also sure it will be another book about Kyrie and Greg, which will be different from the way I’ve done this series so far. Fuck it, I say. I’m dying to know what these guys are doing in a few years.

Only one way to find out. 😉

-Kimber


Two Boys Playing Footsie

So, there I was doing my final editing pass on Double Takes, when I decided to add the term “footsie.” Now, I’m sure I’ve written about couples nudging each other under a table before and not called it “footsie,” but the term made me laugh, so I used it.

Anyway, I figured I should look it up and make sure I’m spelling footsie correctly, and that it isn’t something so specific that I’m mislabeling Gio’s adorable little slide of his foot up Lance’s calf (no, not his baby cow–that would be weird and have a different name—possibly Cowsie).

In my quest for footsie Nirvana, I found this fabulous gem of a “How to:”

Photo courtesy of WikiHow

So stellar. I had a momentary panic attack when I saw the woman had her shoe off. Shit! Can’t you play footsie with shoes on? And then he reciprocated, and it was all clear as the freakin’ ice cube in my martini: Guys don’t take their shoes off for footsie!

Okay, so they might. In fact, I’m writing a character right now who would totally take his shoes off, and probably sneak to the little boys room to roll on a knee-high for the occasion. You go, Kyrie! But, it isn’t required, and that’s the Wikipedia-style info I’ve garnered with this tutorial.

Hooray!  Footsie on, ye with penises!

Oh, and “Double Takes” is finally off to my publisher, Liquid Silver Books. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes. 🙂

-Kimber


Procrastination Works for Me

Okay, it may not work for the almighty word count (hey, I’m up to 23,196 on my NaNoWriMo so nanny-nanny-boo-boo all you suckers who thought you had to get that shit done in a month).

No, seriously, I suck big fat ostrich…eggs when it comes to getting my writing done in a timely fashion. I’ve tried forcing it, but it simply won’t work for me that way. In the case of my NaNo, and current, WIP (Shooting Stars Book 3), I stopped after a week to work on edits for “Double Takes” so I could get that out to beta readers. Oh, and I started my November writathon a few days late because I had to finish DTs.

No, I still haven’t gotten DTs to my publisher. Screw you for judging me.

But, in my own slllloooooowwwww defense, my waiting-until-the-feeling-is just-right approach (and no, again, I was never like that with guys) is working for me now.

I’ve been mulling over my next scene in Shooting Stars Book 3—yes it has a title, and no I won’t tell you what it is because it is so fucking good and I am a weeeeeee bit paranoid a faster writer will rip that shit out from under me. Fuck, a dead writer could probably do it.

Shhhhhhh.

Where was I? Yeah, so I was trying to triangulate this scene (I was just doing some stupid math homework with the biggest hobbit. Forgive my triangulation), and I couldn’t quite make it work (not at all unlike this crazy 5th grade math homework. WTF????) so I slept on it.

I’m such a planner, I can’t sit down and write until it feels right, you know? I’ve heard of writing through writer’s block and that sounds swell, Beav, but if I don’t know what the hell I’m writing, then…  What the hell am I writing? Damn straight I’ll be re-writing.

I digress. It’s the wine.

So, I had a vague outline for my scene based on the events of senior week for my character’s college, which I found online. I didn’t really like how it all fit together, and if I don’t like it in my head, I sure as shit don’t like writing it. Anyway, come to find out the next day after I slept on it (okay, twice. Maybe three times) that the itinerary I was looking at was for the wrong school with a similar name. Freakin’ Google. I Googled it again with the correct name to double-check, and the wrong one came up again. Same city. Similar name. I guess Google prefers BC to BU.

So does my husband.

Long story too freakin’ long, I scrapped the whole thing. Not that I couldn’t pull the artistic license card. I could. It’s fiction. But it wasn’t right and I knew it.

I guess my point is that I’m psychic. And I procrastinate.

Oh! And I slept on this new information and came up with a fantastic new scene in which I was able to write in my old buddy Gio from “Double Takes.”

See? Taking your sweet ass time can pay off on occasion.

Pipe down all you NaNo winners who are on your third book since November. I’ve got my ears covered and I’m singing “La Cucaracha” at the top of my voice.

-Kimber


100th Sunday Snog– #Giveaway and Blog Hop

So, the lovely and so philanthropic Victoria Blisse is hosting this fabulous blog hop.  She has about 50 hoppers lined up, all posting kissing scenes with giveaways.  Frankly, people, you can’t lose.  Please consider tossing a small donation toward the charity Doctors Without Borders by clicking the above button.  As I’m sure you well know, they do tremendous work the world over, saving lives with minimal resources and little thanks.  Here’s a great way to say we care about the work they do!

My kiss comes from my WIP, Double Takes, Shooting Stars Book 2.  It probably needs more editing, but this is what happens when I fly by the seat of my pants.

Incidentally, Gio Savale, my (maybe?) bisexual rock star is flying by the seat of his pants in this scene, and loving every minute of it. 😉  For a little back story, he is the star of a reality show he hates, and he and his new friend Lance have just seen a commercial for said show while watching a baseball game at Gio’s place.

———

“What was that all about?”  Lance’s warm fingers slid from Gio’s, leaving his hand cold.

“Ah, it’s dumb.  The world’s most degrading way to make a paycheck.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure.”  Lance stared at something past Gio’s shoulder as he spoke.

“The producers took some stupid poll and found out the viewers want to see me…” Gio paused in search of the right word.  What the hell did people want to see?  And then it hit him. 

“Squirm.  They want to see a supposedly bisexual man drowning in the same-sex dating pool.  It’s all bullshit—just for ratings.”

“So you’re not really dating that guy?”

“No!  Well, yeah, I have to for the show.  But not really.  It’s just a publicity stunt, you know?”

“So you aren’t bi, then?”  Lance cocked his head and skewered Gio with those intense hazel eyes.

“Yeah!  No!  I mean…it’s not like I…”  What the fuck was he even trying to say?  You’ve screwed around with guys before, ass munch.

The confused squint of the eyes staring back at him—moss-green with spikes of brown radiating from his pupils—told Gio his answer didn’t exactly make sense to Lance, either.

“I always wondered if those rumors were true before you got married.”  Lance made it sound like a question.

“Well, you know how it is…when you’re young, and you party too much.  Sometimes you do shit you wouldn’t normally do if you weren’t fucked up, right?”  Gio gave a weak laugh.

Lance’s face was introspective and finally he shook his head.  “When I was young and I partied too much, I never ended up in bed with a woman, so no…I don’t know.”

Hold the fucking phone.  Gio felt something skip inside his chest.  It was nauseating and exhilarating all at once.  Like a rollercoaster when it crests the top of the hill.  He knew it was about to drop—craved the intoxicating feel of free-fall—but was scared shitless at the same time.

Lance placed his dinner on the coffee table and turned to Gio.

What is going on?  How do I even respond to that?

“So…?”  Gio began, but then Lance’s right hand wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer to those amazing eyes, his mouth closer to Lance’s flawless one.

Lips, soft yet firm and unbelievably full, pressed to Gio’s and his eyelids pulled down like they were weighted.   Fingers carded the hair at the back of his head and lured him to kiss back.  Or maybe it was the faint spicy smell Gio now associated with Lance that made his lips pucker and nibble against the other guy’s delicious mouth.  Gio detected a hint of lemon poppy-seed dressing as he sucked a voluptuous bottom lip between his own. 

Lance’s tongue darted out to lick Gio’s closed mouth and Gio opened to suck in a surprised breath.  That had to be why he parted his lips, but Gio’s tongue had a will of its own.  It met Lance’s wet tip and they swirled together, exploring each other’s taste, marking new territory in the other’s domain.

Gio heard a low rumble and wasn’t sure if it was he who had groaned or Lance.  He wanted to grab the man sitting next to him, wanted to slide his hand up the inseam of his jeans and stroke his dick into dripping hardness.  Gio’s own cock was filling, twitching against the constraints of his pants with each meeting of their tongues.

Oh my God, what the hell am I doing?  Nothing about this kiss—hot slippery tongues meshing and soft bristles tickling his cheeks—nothing about it was like his memories of other men.  Those were hazy and unreal and this was vibrant, electric.  His conscience had long ago associated those fleeting, drugged sexual acts with perversion.   He had swept them under the carpets of history along with his ancient addictions.  But this kiss didn’t make him think of sinfulness and mistakes.  It felt right like nothing before ever had.  It flooded his senses and his prick and had him aching for more—everything Lance had.

Gio pulled away from his thoughts and Lance’s lips.  His breath came in shallow gasps that exposed him as much as the bulge in his pants did.  Lance slid his warm hand off Gio’s neck and took a shaky inhalation.  Gio swallowed hard as he swiped his hair back with a trembling hand.  His plate was still in the other hand, tilting precariously but thankfully not dumped all over the floor.  He set it down on the table just as a cheer went up on the television.

The Red Sox had scored a home run.  I only got to first base, but man, I was close to dropping to my knees and knocking this one out of the park.  What the fuck?

—————-

For my giveaway, I’ll gift an e-copy of Forever is Now, Shooting Stars Book 1. If you’ve already read it, don’t be shy about entering, and we can discuss another prize.  To be entered, leave a comment and follow my blog if you aren’t already. I’ll throw everyone into the random.org mixer on Sunday 9/29 and get back to the winner shortly.

Thanks for checking out the snog and spreading the love for Doctors Without Borders! 🙂

1. Victoria Blisse 2. Lucy Felthouse
3. Kay Jaybee 4. Maggie Mitchell
5. Harper Bliss 6. Amy Valenti
7. Gemma Parkes 8. K D Grace
9. Amy Armstrong 10. Lavinia Lewis
11. Tamsin’s Superotica 12. Jacqueline Brocker
13. A kiss is more than a kiss 14. Love is a Many Flavored Thing
15. Vanessa de Sade 16. A Special Sunday Snog
17. Jillian Boyd at Lady Laid Bare 18. Lisabet Sarai
19. Lily Harlem 20. Patricia Yager Delagrange
21. C.A. Szarek Collision Kiss 22. Dianne Hartsock
23. L.C.Wwilkinson 24. Jaime Samms
25. Normandie Alleman 26. Justine Elyot
27. Diana DeRicci 28. Belinda McBride
29. Tonya’s Tales 30. Layla Hunter
31. Tricia Andersen 32. Thea Landen
33. Tabitha Rayne 34. Colette Saucier
35. Kiru Taye 36. J.P. Bowie
37. Love is a Many Flavored Thing 38. 100 Kisses from Justine
39. P.K. Morris 40. Grace Marshall Romance
41. A Special Sunday Snog 42. Tilly Hunter
43. Tara Lain 44. Kimber Vale
45. Juliette Cross, NA Urban Fantasy 46. Ashe Barker – a snippet from Darkening
47. Candlelit Magic by Wendi Zwaduk 48. Hot Laps by Megan Slayer
49. Amber Garr: The Evolution of a Muse

-Kimber

 


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