Tag Archives: LGBTQ

Balancing Act is Out! #giveaway #MMRomance

 

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It’s here! It’s here! It’s really, really here!

I’m so excited for everyone to catch up with Kyrie and Greg, and to meet Andy–finally!

 

Blurb:

Greg Dwyer and Kyrie Li are living the glorious couple life in New York City. Or are they? When struggling actor Kyrie lands a modeling job, he’s ecstatic to have extra cash to spend on his best-friend-turned-boyfriend.

Of course, Greg is suspicious Anders Berglund, the gorgeous and androgynous Swedish cover model the designers love to pair with Kyrie, is after his man. And maybe Kyrie encourages a growing closeness with the guy?

Greg is probably to blame if Kyrie is drawn to the openly gay and seriously beautiful Andy. With Andy, Kyrie can be himself, as loud and proud as he’s always been. But Greg’s sexuality stays firmly locked in the closest except when he’s with Kyrie’s supportive family or alone with the man he loves.

To make matters worse, Greg’s out-of-touch mom meets with financial ruin and moves in with the couple, forcing him into the closet in his own home.

Can Greg find a way to stand up to Mommy Dearest and win back a love he fought so hard to reach? He discovers the road to pride begins at home and with accepting oneself first. Otherwise, it’s just a dead-end street.

Excerpt:

Two changing screens filled a large portion of the next room. A woman stood at the rack of clothes, organizing and examining them. She beckoned Kyrie over. He recognized some of his attire hanging before her.

“I’m not confident about the fit in the chest, Daphne.” A soft voice with a delightful Nordic lilt came from behind the screen to his right.

The tall brunette turned. “Let’s see. I can take it in if need be.” Daphne put her hands on her hips, and Anders Berglund stepped out. He wore a black ball gown with ebony feathers accenting the bodice. They created a starkly jagged edge against his bare skin. The material gapped before his pale chest, and Daphne was immediately behind him, tugging, marking the fabric with a piece of chalk.

“Hey.” Anders smiled and waved his fingers at Kyrie. “Pleasure to meet you. Ky-ree, right?”

“Close. Rhymes with dearie.”

“Kyrie,” Anders tried again. The subtle extra accent on the first syllable didn’t belong but pleased Kyrie immensely.

He grinned like a fool. “That’s me. I’m absolutely-positively-beyond-excited to be working with you.” He stepped forward, hand out, and Anders Berglund took the offering. His grip wasn’t overly firm, soft skin hiding delicate bones beneath.

“My agent sent me your test shots once he found out we were working together.” The words were slow and measured, especially striking on the heels of Kyrie’s run-on exclamation. Anders’ accent hinted of British influence on certain words. Must have learned the Queen’s version. “The camera really loves you.”

“I’m just hoping not to look like a troll next to the world’s current it model.” Kyrie knew he was attractive; he could claim pretty even, with the slight Asian slant to his unusual amber eyes. They popped against the light brown of his skin, accented further by thick, long lashes every woman he met was jealous of.

But Anders Berglund was flawless. His face was already made up: kohl-ringed turquoise eyes framed with what had to be fake lashes, his skin powdered to pale perfection, and berry-red lips with just the right amount of fullness and a perpetual sexy pout whether he was dressed as a man or a woman. His bone structure was impeccable, including high cheeks and the graceful neck to go with his six-foot-tall, ultra-thin frame. Straw-blond hair was piled on his head, escaped locks artfully framing his face. Women wished they looked like him. Men wanted to fuck him, at least until they realized the gorgeous supermodel was actually a man downstairs. And certainly, some men were still hot for him afterward.

Anders Berglund was far from Kyrie’s type, but he could appreciate iconic beauty when it stared back.

“Hah. I don’t think you could ever be a troll.” Anders scratched his shoulder with two fingers where the tip of a feather had to be driving him insane.

“I’m tempted to do stick-on boobs.” Daphne yanked tight again. “But Syd wants you completely feminine with your natural parts. She likes how skinny you are.”

“Whatever she wants.”

“Yeah, I’ll stitch this up a bit tighter.” She unzipped the back of the dress and slid it down. Anders stepped out and stood in black stockings held up by a garter with matching briefs. He waved at Kyrie, all bright white skin, jutting ribs, long limbs, and sharp hip bones. He looked breakable despite his height, like a piece of fine china.

“Get dressed,” Daphne snapped at Kyrie. “We don’t want to keep Syd waiting.”

“I would have come an hour early just to avoid hearing that a thousand times.”

Anders’ mouth twitched up. Daphne glared.

The off-white tux behind the other screen wasn’t part of the stash of clothes Kyrie had taken home. He’d been measured at the callback, and the powers that be had custom ordered additional pieces. He slipped into the slim-leg cream pants. If the benefactors of the Spectrum Spectacular truly had cut corners with some of the underthings, the suit was an exception. It draped precisely over his hips, and he twisted to check his ass in the full-length mirror in the center panel of the screen. The silk shirt pressed cool kisses to his chest with every movement he made.

In shape from almost daily running, Kyrie normally relied on skintight pants and formfitting shirts to best display his attributes, but this designer-cut clothing thing he could totally get used to. He scrutinized his butt again as he shrugged into the jacket with black-trimmed lapel.

If Greg could see me now…

Kyrie knotted the black bow tie and stepped out wearing a grin and a kick-tail tux. Daphne was fussing with Anders again, his ball gown back in place.

“What do you say, Andy? May I have this dance?” He swept into a low bow.

Anders gave a soft laugh. “Of course.”

“You’ll need your lifts first.” Daphne pointed toward a pair of black dress shoes. The soles were at least an inch thicker than normal.

“Huh.” Kyrie stepped into the shoes, grumbling and shooting death rays with his eyes. Daphne finished with Anders, and it was Kyrie’s turn to be plucked like a Thanksgiving turkey. By the time she sent him out to the first shoot staging, Kyrie had begun to wonder why anyone would want to be a model.

 


Find Balancing Act:

Liquid Silver Publishing

Amazon

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Google Play

iTunes

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Add Balancing Act to Goodreads!

 

 

***To celebrate the release of Balancing Act, I’m giving away a beautiful silver choker necklace with abalone pendant!***

Click away!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 


What I #AmReading

These:

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It’s writing research, not personal (no, my teenager doesn’t have an eating disorder and hopefully never will).

I know this reading list makes Andy’s book sound like a ton of fun. :-/  You’ll just have to trust I’ll find a way to make it amazeballs.

I’ve finished Beyond Magenta. It’s a quick read I’d recommend to anyone who is at all curious about what life can be like for young transgender people. This is just a taste, really, but I think it could be a useful introductory text, especially for parents trying to understand and help their transgender child (some stories are a lesson in what not to do or say, of course). It’s brief (to a fault), but worth the read. I was glad it included some nonbinary viewpoints, though the scope could/should have been much greater, IMO.

Now I’m reading Answers to Anorexia, which addresses nutritional deficits and how they can aggravate the anorexia cycle. Pretty interesting for a grim topic.

In other news, the release day for Balancing Act is June, 27th, so mark your calendars! 🙂 I’ll have a cover reveal soon…but for now, here’s the disguised version. Mwahahahhahahahahha!

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Book Blast “His Womanly Ways” by K. Lynn #giveaway

Today I have author K. Lynn here with her new release, His Womanly Ways. This is such an intriguing blurb!

K. Lynn is giving away a copy, so read on and don’t forget to do the Rafflecopter thing at the end! 🙂

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Blurb:

Alex is a womanizer. He makes no excuses for it. Yes, he picks up women at the local bar, leaving them with just a memory of a good night and a good lay, but he hasn’t had any complaints yet. That is, until he picks up the wrong woman. Not satisfied to be tossed aside as just another notch in Alex’s bedpost, she curses him, wishing he “knew what it was like for a woman.” And he’s about to find out what she means, embarking on a genderswap journey that he can’t stop.

Alex starts slowly gaining secondary female characteristics. Waking up with his cock gone, replaced by a vagina, was bad enough. Then it gets worse, as his body becomes more like a woman than the man he used to be. Alex tries to hide the changes he’s going through, for fear that someone will discover his secret, but keeping this quite literally “under wraps” might be impossible before the curse runs its course.

With the help of his female best friend, Eve, Alex tries to deal with who he is becoming.  He feels like he’s lost his identity, his mind not matching the body he now has. But Eve sticks by him, and they become closer as Alex’s changes progress. What started out as friendship may become something more before Alex’s journey is over. Perhaps this curse was actually a blessing in disguise. 

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Excerpt:

“I don’t need you to courier anybody, okay?” he growled. “This is more serious.”

She gave him a raised eyebrow. “I’m not helping you get rid of a body either. That was just a joke. You can’t hold me to anything I say when I’m drunk.”

“Shut up, there’s no dead body,” he said, untying the strings on the front of his sweatpants. “There’s something wrong with me.”

“For fuck’s sake, Alex, I don’t want to see your diseased dick,” Eve said, covering her eyes. “Go to the clinic.”

“I don’t think the clinic can help me with this,” he said, pulling his pants and underwear down and sitting on the edge of the bed in front of her. Alex pushed his legs apart, splaying them so there was no way she could miss the problem when she opened her eyes again.

“Eve, just look,” he urged, looking up at her.

“No!” she said, keeping her eyes fully covered.

“Please, Eve, I’m freaking out here and you’re the only person I knew to call,” his tone was pleading now and he was starting to freak out again. “Just look at me.”

“I told you,” she began as she started taking her hand away from her face, “I don’t want to see…what the hell is that?!” Her eyes widened as she saw him in full glory, her face losing all trace of color as she stumbled back.

“You should know, you’ve got one yourself,” he said with a pasted-on smirk, but his attempt at humor fell flat.

 

Sales Links: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200&products_id=4390

 

About the author: K. Lynn has been an avid reader and writer since childhood. In her youth, she could most likely be found in the local library, devouring books that covered everything from WWII History to Dr. McCoy’s latest adventures aboard the Enterprise, with some X-Men thrown in for good measure. Once she had read everything that was on the shelves, she turned around and read them again. K. Lynn was also known to create elaborate adventures that more than once made it to the page. Ink-filled papers gave way to overflowing computer memory as the years went on, but the stories never ceased.

While in college, K. Lynn increased her involvement in LGBT issues and writing within the LGBT fiction genre. She has become a long-time fan of the authors that seek to explore the commonality that exists within all sexualities and genders. Most of K. Lynn’s work features LGBT characters, many of whom are in established relationships and show how love perseveres through every trial and tribulation that life holds. She also has a particular interest in seeing transgender characters gain a larger foothold within the LGBT fiction genre, hoping that the market for these works expand in the future.

 

Where to find the author:

Twitter: @WriterKLynn

Livejournal – (I have a personal one at http://kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com/, but it’s not K. Lynn specific…though I do speak about my writing there and welcome friending)

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6294892.K_Lynn

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/K.-Lynn/e/B009PNS6VS

Website: http://writerklynn.com/


Tour Dates & Stops: May 25, 2015

Parker Williams, Cate Ashwood, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Havan Fellows, BFD Book Blog, Molly Lolly, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Divine MagazineFangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Chris McHart, Iyana Jenna, The Hat Party, Up All Night, Read All Day, Bending the Bookshelf, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

 

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘His Womanly Ways’ by K. Lynn

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

 


Jay Northcote’s “The Marrying Kind”

Today I have a taste of Jay Northcote’s latest, The Marrying Kind. Check out this fun excerpt!

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Blurb

 

Five sex-free dates—how hard can it be?

When they were at uni, Owen always had a bit of a crush on Nathan. But Nathan was apparently straight, and Owen was too busy with other guys to take his crush seriously.

When Nathan moves back to Bristol after a year away, Owen hears that Nathan has come out of the closet, and he propositions him. Nathan doesn’t want to be just another notch on Owen’s bedpost, though, so he challenges Owen to prove he can be serious: five dates before they have sex.

Owen doesn’t think that sounds too difficult. He’s expecting Nathan to find his charms irresistible anyway. But as they grow closer, Owen begins to care more about proving himself to Nathan than he does about getting him into bed.TheMarryingKind_FINAL

Excerpt

“So,” Owen began. “I gather you’re into cock now?”

Nathan’s eyes widened, and his cheeks flushed pink. “Um…. Yes?”

“Cool. So, do you wanna get out of here and go someplace to fuck, or suck, or whatever?”

Nathan raised his eyebrows. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” Owen let his gaze slide down over Nathan’s torso to land on his crotch. It looked like Nathan might be getting a little hard. Either that, or he was a shower rather than a grower. “I always thought you were hot. I just never knew you swung my way. So how about it?”

Nathan cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was definitely getting hard. Owen lifted his eyes expecting to see a smile. But Nathan was frowning and biting his lip.

“That’s flattering, but I’m not interested.”

Owen raised an eyebrow and glanced briefly at the bulge in Nathan’s jeans again. “You sure about that?”

Nathan’s face was even pinker now, but he held Owen’s gaze. “I’m not interested in a hookup. I’ve been there, done that, and decided casual sex isn’t for me. I’m looking for something more serious.”

Owen blinked. This wasn’t how the conversation was supposed to go. He found himself blurting out his next words without thinking. “What, like a relationship? I could have a relationship. With you, I mean.”

Nathan chuckled then, a snort of laughter that raised Owen’s hackles, because what the fuck? He’d made a move and was being laughed at. That wasn’t cool.

“What’s so fucking funny?”

“Sorry.” Nathan pulled himself together and pasted on a more serious expression. “But Owen. You don’t do relationships. Everyone knows that. I know what you were like at uni, and from what I’ve heard on the grapevine, you haven’t changed much. And that’s fine—each to their own. But I don’t want to be another notch on your bedpost. I’d rather be friends with you than one of your conquests.”

Owen’s irritation rose, and he resisted the urge to pout childishly, but he wasn’t prepared to back down. Nathan’s words had stung, because yes—Owen would be the first to admit he was a bit of a tart on the surface, but at least he was honest about it. He’d never strung anyone along or made promises he couldn’t keep. And he’d never met anyone who made him want more than a one-night stand or a few casual no-strings repeats.

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of having a relationship, and he found himself wanting to prove to Nathan that he wasn’t as bad as his reputation seemed to imply.

“Will you go on a date with me instead, then?” he asked.

“A date?” Nathan narrowed his eyes. “What, so we eat first and then have sex? I’m not sure that would be any better.”

“We don’t have to have sex!” Owen protested, raising his voice in frustration, then lowering it quickly as he noticed a few people glancing their way. “Jesus. Contrary to popular opinion, that’s not the only thing I’m interested in.”

“So if we went on a date, you wouldn’t expect me to put out?” Nathan’s lips quirked in amusement. He seemed to be enjoying this conversation a little too much.

“Not unless you wanted to.”

“I’d like to get to know you better first. I think we’d need more than one date for that.”

“Okay, so what’s your magic number? Try me.”

Nathan’s brow furrowed as he considered the question for a moment.

“Five,” he finally said. “Five sex-free dates. Then when we’ve had a chance to connect, we can take it from there. Oh… and in case it wasn’t obvious, if this is going to be a relationship, I’d expect you to be exclusive.” Nathan sat back in his seat and folded his arms. “So, what do you say?”

Owen glared at him. Nathan’s pink lips stretched further as he grinned, and all Owen could think was how he wanted to come all over Nathan’s smug face.

“I’m in.”

Nathan’s smile vanished abruptly. “You’re… what, really?”

“Really.” Owen smirked, finding Nathan’s obvious surprise very satisfying. “Five dates with no sex. So, when are you free this week? I can see you every night apart from Thursday, so if you’re free to meet most nights we can be done with all five dates by next weekend.”

“Oh no. No way.” Nathan shook his head. “If we’re going to take things slow, the dates need to be spread out. One a week for five weeks.”

Somehow Owen had thought his loophole was too good to be true.

“You drive a hard bargain, but okay.” He shrugged, conceding some ground, but not defeated. “Next weekend for our first date then?”

“Okay.”

“And while we’re discussing ground rules for this… whatever-the-fuck this is.” Owen waved his hand disparagingly. “What are we counting as sex for the no-sex rule? No fucking obviously, but does that extend to no blowing each other? No handjobs? What about dry humping?”

“Shh!” Nathan’s face was flaming, and he moved his chair closer, leaning in so he could talk quietly. “Keep it down, for fuck’s sake.”

To be fair, Owen’s voice had got rather loud, and a group of girls at the next table were looking very interested in their conversation.

“Well?” Owen asked. “We need to be clear what the boundaries are. Can we even kiss?”

“Kissing is fine,” Nathan replied promptly, and his gaze dropped to Owen’s mouth. He paused before adding, “No orgasms. That’s the line.”

***

Author Bio

JN-Banner2

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.

She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

Links

Buy The Marrying Kindhttp://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NF6TM00

www.jaynorthcote.com

Twitter

Facebook profile

Facebook Author Page

Jay’s books


#Free #Read The House of #Manlove Valentine’s Day #FlashFiction Hop!

CC license courtesy photopin

Cadillac Time Machine

by K. Vale

Based on characters from the book “Forever is Now” by K. Vale

copyright Kimber Vale

“Just keep ’em closed.” Chance Ralan turned the wheel of the black Cadillac Escalade and pulled into the crowded parking lot. He shot a glance at his husband, Alex, in the front passenger’s seat. The red paisley scarf covering half his face made him look like a bandit with bad aim.

“You tied a bandanna over my eyes, Chan. What could I possibly see?”

“Oh, don’t act like you never cheated at Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Everyone did.” Chance yanked the shift into park and pulled the key out of the ignition. “We’re here!”

“So, I can take this off?”

“Nope. Not yet.” Chance hopped out and jogged around the back of the vehicle. He opened Alex’s door and leaned over to unbuckle the seat belt, placing a quick kiss on his man’s lips as he did.

“Come on.” He took Alex’s hand and led him out of the truck. “Careful with this step.”

“If you were hoping for some kinky Valentine’s shit, you really should have cleared your plan with me, first.” Alex shivered in the frigid February night and Chance wrapped an arm around his back. The frozen pond outside the lit-up building made him wish they could have done this in June for the full effect.

But then it wouldn’t be a Valentine’s Day present.

“You’d be in your birthday suit for kinky shit, babe.” Chance swept a hand under the hem of Alex’s pea coat and grabbed his ass through the perfectly pressed wool of his tux. “Just another minute.” He pushed open the front door and pulled Alex into warmth. He led him through the lobby and finally stopped.

“Now?”

“Now.”

Alex pulled the scarf off and gazed around, his brow scrunched together while he ran fingers through mussed black-brown hair.

“What?” He cocked his head at the huge sign over the entrance to the Crystal Room. It read “Prom 2003: A Night to Remember.”

“I did my homework. That was the theme.” Chan took Alex’s hand and yanked him toward the door like a kid leading a parent into a toy store.

They stepped inside the function room festooned with purple and silver balloons, streamers, and tablecloths. At least a hundred people were there dressed in tuxedos and extravagant gowns. They stood and clapped when Chance and Alex walked in.

“What did you do?” Alex slowly shook his head as he took it all in.

“We missed it. So I made a do-over.”

Glen Palmer waved at them and Alex waved back, still shaking his head. His eyes widened as he scanned the room full of classmates from their senior year.

“We did our own thing, Chan. It was cool.” Alex turned to him, a bewildered smile on his gorgeous face.

Except it wasn’t cool, for so many reasons. Chance didn’t have the balls to admit who he was back then. Sure, they’d hung out secretly that night ten years ago, but just a few weeks afterward Alex’s dad caught them together and Chance had run like a chicken shit.

He spent nine years reliving and regretting, so maybe he’d paid his dues, but he was so excited to give Alex this little piece of their youth finally done right—out and proud.

“Is that Tara Bleaks? And that looks like…Jeremy! Jeremy Castiglione!” Alex scratched the back of his head and waved with his other hand. A general look of amusement was shared by nearly every prom attendee, but they gave Chance and Alex their space.

“Yup!” Chance took their coats and threw them over a vacant chair. “Plus some spouses you’ve never met. I tried to convince people to go with their original prom dates, but most of them didn’t like the idea.”

Alex gave him his wry, raised eyebrow stare. “You’re joking, right?”

“Yeah, rude, huh?”

Alex laughed and rolled his eyes. “You can’t do that to people. If I’d taken Heather Phillips like my mom tried to arrange, I’d be here with her, you dope.”

“Oh, no. That would mess with the time-space continuum.” Chan squeezed Alex’s hand tight. “That’d be like stepping on a prehistoric butterfly and turning the future world into a Lovecraft book. Let’s dance.”

“Babe, you didn’t really invent a time machine, you know.”

“Most of these women crammed themselves into their old dresses, with a few obvious exceptions.” Chance tilted his head toward a table of has-been cheerleaders who’d apparently traded their pom poms for bon-bons. “They’re playing 3 Doors Down, ‘Here Without You.’ It was Audioslave when we walked in. The DJ has my express orders to play nothing but music from ’03 or earlier. Yes, we’ve gone back in time.” He gave Alex a cocky grin.

“I’m pretty sure the real thing was heavy on the pop and dance music.”

“Yeah, well, when I fund the prom, they play only the shit I like. And I didn’t invite anyone I really hated, either.”

“What a catty bitch you are.” Alex laughed, his sapphire eyes sparkling under the shimmering lights of the disco ball above them.

“Mmm. And you love me anyway.”

“Yes, I do.”

Alex wrapped his arms around him and Chance melted against his perfectly tailored jacket. “This was really sweet, Chan. Now I’m feeling a little inadequate about what I got you.”

Chance stretched up to lock lips for a moment. “Don’t worry. You know what happens on prom night, don’t ya? You’re not gonna get off easy.”

“Isn’t that exactly what happens on prom night?”

“Oh, yeah…well, you know what I mean.”

“I have an idea. Thank God you didn’t rent a limo. I’d be up all night paying you back.”

Chance pulled his cell out of his jacket pocket. “Hold that thought…limos…limos…” He scrolled over the search results.

“Guess I’ll need a cup of coffee or two.” Alex laughed and leaned down to kiss him again.

John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland” came on. Alex grimaced.

Chance smirked and pulled him closer. “Shut up and just go with it.”

With a laugh and a pinch of Chance’s ass, Alex did just that.

The night was everything their prom should have been, with the added bonus of ending the party at their own house, greeting by their giant, doofy dog, and falling together into their shared king-sized bed. No way could their senior prom ever have been half as good.

“No! Watch out for the butterfly!” Alex mumbled in his sleep.

Chance placed a kiss on his temple and another on his cheek before he settled against Alex’s naked chest. “No changin’ this now, babe. Don’t worry.” He pulled the covers up around them both and closed his eyes.

—————–

Check out these other February Flash Fiction Blog Hop Participants:

14th: Jena Wade and Heloise West

15th: Amelia Bishop  and Mina Kelly

16th: Kimber Vale and Shiloh Saddler

17th: Eva Lefoy and Azalea Moone

18th: Dakota TraceJade Crystal, and Crane Hana

19th: JT Hall and ND Wylders

20th: Evelise Archer , Kate Lowell, and Skye Jones


Playing Matchmaker: Guest Post by Shiloh Saddler

Playing Matchmaker

by Shiloh Saddler

Usually a friend or parent or co-worker will try to play matchmaker.  It seems single people are always being paired up. Or maybe that’s just my experience.  It is hard enough to go on a blind date solely on the advice of someone you know… can you imagine meeting your love through some ghosts playing matchmaker?

Saltwater Lover is set in America in 1800. Kojo is a man with a deep connection to the spirits. He always lives with one foot in this world and one foot in the spirit world. He chose to become a shaman because of his secret urgings to be with another man.  Normally he’d be expected to marry a woman in the village, but now he was married to his work, to the spirits. Except he was lonely…

The spirits knew this. The spirits know everything. So they devised a plan to get Kojo a lover. And, well, the spirits work in mysterious ways.

Miles Mather is the captain of a slaving vessel. Now forty years old he hasn’t had a lover in months. The young men don’t find him as appealing as they used to. And with his choice of partners being illegal it made looking for a lover tricky.

He sails to the African Coast for another cargo of slaves. The spirits do not warn Kojo the catchermen are coming. He is captured and taken to the shoreline with the others soon to be transported to a new life in America, a life in chains.

The spirits think Captain Mather and Kojo will be a good match. Their attraction is instant, but will they resist the forbidden relationship? Could a slave and slaver really fall in love?

Blurb:

In 1800, Kojo is a native African with deep connections to the spirits—but those spirits choose not to save him from the slaving ship. He’s captured and taken aboard, where he meets Captain Mather. During the long journey to America, not even the spirits can save him from their growing attraction. Love blooms. A doomed love. For when they land, Kojo’s fate is to be sold.

Captain Mather can’t imagine Kojo being treated as a slave. Desperate to spare him from that life, the captain hides him, taking him to his home. When he’s blackmailed by a mutinous former crewmember, there seems little choice but to sell his ship and pay. Anything to save the man he loves.

Excerpt:

When the captain reached him, Kojo’s pulse quickened, jumping several beats. The man’s green gaze scanned his muscular chest, glistening with sweat from the long walk. He wrapped a hand around Kojo’s chin, drawing his face gently toward him. His touch was not forceful as Kojo had expected, only enough pressure to direct the movement. The captain smelled of tobacco and rum and a spice Kojo couldn’t name. It was a manly, intoxicating scent.

The man’s calloused fingers trailed down Kojo’s neck, lingering for a moment at the base of his throat. Kojo felt the man’s hot breath on his lips, merely inches from his own. His round face and toned arms made it hard for Kojo to guess his age. A few strands of silver were mixed into his beard and at his hairline but were hard to see—perhaps forty?

Unbridled lust gleamed in the captain’s eyes and yet Kojo wasn’t terrified. It made him feel alive, wanted. Under the man’s predatory gaze, Kojo’s cock thickened, straining against the confines of his breechcloth. No man had looked at him or touched him like that before. And he liked it.

The captain smiled, the harshness in his eyes easing by a fraction.

Kojo’s cheeks burned.

One of the catchermen laughed, peering at Kojo’s loins.

The heat in Kojo’s cheeks spread throughout his whole body. He lowered his gaze, staring at his feet.

The captain shouted at the laughing man and he shut up.

The muscular white man guarding him started arguing with the captain. Kojo didn’t know what they were saying, but the man pointed at him. The captain must have told the man to guard another section of slaves, because his guard changed.

Returning his attention to Kojo, he tipped up his chin as if to tell him not to be ashamed. Then he slipped his fingers around the sacred bead hanging on a piece of leather from his neck. Kojo figured the man was going to cut it off with the small knife hanging in a sheath on his belt. But he didn’t.

The captain’s hand barely brushed his chest as he let go of the bead. The contact was so light Kojo wondered if he had imagined it. Gooseflesh rose on his arms. Then he was gone, leaving him alone with his strange, unmet desires.

Buy Saltwater Lover now:

 

Liquid Silver Books: http://www.lsbooks.com/saltwater-lover-p863.php

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/o4j6udk

Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/m67rhqb

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-saltwaterlover-1374822-340.html

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/saltwater-lover

Author Bio:

Shiloh Saddler likes to do research for her steamy romances first hand. She has invented a time machine and travels back to the 19th century on a regular basis. There are experimental settings on her time machine which could propel her into the future and even other worlds. She believes love and a good book makes anything possible.

Social Media Links:

Blog: http://shilohsaddler.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiloh.saddler?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShilohSaddler

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Shiloh-Saddler/e/B00H6CN5D4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 


I Got Tagged. Hard.

I was tagged to write this blog post by the damn awesome Sofia Grey.

Thanks much, Sofia! You can find her post here. 

What are you working on right now?

Well, I’m trying to finish up my second Shooting Stars book, Double Takes.  It’s an MM romance involving a middle-aged, sorta-washed-up rock star and a younger guy. I originally pegged it for 50K words, but I’m there now and still have a sex scene, a climax (not the sex scene kind), and a happy ending (again, not the sex kind) to go. Sigh. I’m thinking 60K at this point.

Gio_veNaLe

Gio_veNaLe (Photo credit: Niccolò Caranti)

After that, I have plans for the third in this series, (top-secret title, with a main character who is an actor, not a rocker) but I may take a break to write the futuristic thingy I have keeping me up at night. We’ll see. Book three smacked me upside the head with inspiration while I was in the shower earlier today, so it may win out. It’s gonna be angsty (she said, shaking like an excited terrier)!

How does Double Takes differ from other works in its genre?

It probably doesn’t. 😉 Actually, I think Gio’s book has a pretty original premise, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. And it takes place in my old stomping ground, Bean Town, so it’s near and dear to my heart. The entire book is told only from Gio’s point of view, which was different for me, but a fun writing workout. I had to make my other MC likable and relatable without ever getting in his head (In his pants? Yes, but not in his head). You can check out the first kiss scene from Double Takes posted here, if you are so inclined. And Chance and Alex from Forever do make an appearance in Gio’s book, for anyone who’s wondering.

Why do you write what you do?

Basically, I write what I like to read. I’m also a crazy rock-metal-concert-going-fan-girl, so the music theme in my current series was a natural. I was always a huge fan of rogues and romance ever since I was a young thing who shouldn’t have been reading such business, and I devoured horror, sci-fi, and adventure my entire reading career. Now, I just mash-up my favorite things and hope for the best. I also firmly believe that love isn’t ruled by anything, including gender, so I will write any damn sexual pairing that beckons my muse.

How does your writing process work?

Does it? I’m not so sure. 🙂 I usually have a flash of idea—a character, an overall plot arc, or even a title—that dictates the whole shebang. Very often a song will spark an idea. I plot via an outline and copious scribbles in a black and white composition notebook. When I feel I have enough to actually seal the deal and not get stuck in a plot rut, I start writing.  And that’s all she wrote.

Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance, I mean tag three other people.

The fickle finger of fate lands on Diane Saxon, Heloise West, and Max Vos.

-Kimber


Hot in Fall Blog Hop #Giveaway

I just asked the ten-year-old girl I spawned what I should blog about. She says my favorite pizza topping.  Well, I love me some sun-dried tomatoes and onions, but I’m not sure what that has to do with being hot in fall. 

I suppose, as far as pizza goes, I find sun-dried tomatoes and onions to be hot stuff. Also hot sauce in copious amounts.

Now, as far as men go, what do I find hot?

1.  Hmmm. Definitely a certain amount of cockiness.  I kinda hate to admit it, but it’s been proven time and again to work against my man defenses. Act like you’re hot shit, and I will fall for it, much to my dismay.

2.  Toned physique. Yummmm.  You don’t need muscles on your muscles (not that I’d turn that sextastic business down), but a delicious little V pointing towards your goods makes me unable to think of anything but your goods.

3.  Tattoos.  Good lord, a good tattoo can make a man. Or woman. It’s like a fine painting hung in an already gorgeous building.  I just want to stand there and gawk. I could get lost in a great tattoo, and could definitely get sucked in by one.

Wonderful. Now I’m getting all hot and bothered thinking about unadulterated hotness. My old man may even reap the benefits of this blog post, by George.

Anyway, my rock star from Forever is Now, Chance Ralan, is a cocky bastard who isn’t ripped, but definitely has a V, and he is absolutely covered in ink. I think he’s smokin’ hot, which is why I wrote him.  Now, his boyfriend, Alex Bremen, isn’t full of himself, just very straightforward.  He doesn’t have any ink, but he does hit the gym hard enough to make any gay man need to re-position his junk, and any straight woman insane with envy. This, paired with his dark hair and sapphire-blue eyes, gets my motor running just fine. Actually, I may need to rethink my whole blog post…

Wanna read Forever is Now?  Comment below with your favorite pizza topping and/or favorite male attribute.  If you tweet it to me @KimberVale you get a bonus point in the running. If you tag me on Facebook with the same info (or any other damn thing you please, really, or like my stupid Facebook page) you get your name in the virtual hat three times.  Follow my blog (right here—I’m done linking things) and you get a home-freakin’-run of contest entries! Sweet, sweet cyber-gravy!

At the end of the week I’ll tally up all the names and numbers, stick them in the random.org magic eight ball, and contact the winner.

Thanks for participating, and don’t forget to check out all the other hoppers below! 🙂

-Kimber

foreverisnow

If you love someone, set him free. If he steals something of yours, hunt him down and make him sorry.Alex Bremen is over Chance Ralan. Ever since his high school boyfriend ditched him nine years ago, Alex has barely thought of Chance at all. Sure, Alex attended a concert or two when his ex’s band, Armageddon Showdown, was in the area, but that was more curiosity than anything else. Who wouldn’t want to see firsthand how his once clean-cut boyfriend transformed into a pierced and tattooed heavy metal god?But when Chance has the nerve to record a love song Alex wrote for him years ago, Alex crosses the country to confront him. Revenge becomes a dish best served sizzling hot. The two men lock horns, but find the chemistry between them has only intensified with time, and occasionally love needs to do some growing up before it can be done right.


Hop Against Homophobia

Happy International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia!

To celebrate, The Hop Against Homophobia and Transphobia begins now, and I am thrilled to be taking part this year!

Participating authors are posting on LGBTQ-related topics, and everyone involved is hosting a giveaway of their own. With well over 150 participants, this hop is huge, with tons of opportunities to win books, swag, and whatever other LGBTQ-related prizes bloggers are offering. Make sure you check it out!

For my part, I logged on here to work on a post, and noticed that I had lost a blog follower.  At first, I was a little hurt.  Then, it got me thinking—should I do something different?  Was it the photo of the naked butt I recently posted for the cover of my Love Has No Boundaries story?  Was it the fact that I write gay erotic romance in addition to the heterosexual variety and someone doesn’t want to read my blog anymore because of one or the other?  Was it my potty mouth? Shit!

I spent some time trying to mentally sift through my recent posts to figure it out, and then a thought occurred to me: it really doesn’t matter.  I’m not going to change who I am or what I write.  I can’t please all of the people, and those who enjoy my writing, or my potty mouth, or my naked butt pictures, will continue to follow me, or hopefully find me eventually.

I have to enjoy my writing first and foremost. Part of that enjoyment involves the notion that maybe, just maybe, I’m broadening someone else’s horizons with what I write.  Whether it’s a story about a gay character, a hardcore environmentalist, a heterosexual female who isn’t shamed by her enjoyment of sex, or simply about a dude with a foreskin—I enjoy shining a light on ideas that I think deserve to be illuminated. Do I want to entertain? Absolutely.  But I would love to make people think at the same time. 

And that “take it or leave it” attitude is how I imagine people who are homosexual (or transsexual, or bisexual, or …fill in the blank…) feel as well.  Or, at least, I want them to feel that way.  I strive to have my characters embrace who they are, and say to hell with everyone else.  I want them to have that empowering moment eventually, especially  if the social ramifications of their sexuality are a factor in their tale. 

I want everyone who has ever felt “different” to get to that point and hold onto it for a lifetime—to be proud of who they are, and to enjoy every precious moment on this earth.

So, let the people who aren’t interested unfollow you.  Let them go their own way and read their own crap.  Hang out with whoever they want.  They can’t stop me from posting what I like, liking what I like, or loving who I love.  They can’t stop you, either.  And there will always be those who believe in you, think the way you think, and respect you for who you are, regardless of whether or not you walk identical paths. Those people are the only ones you want following you anyway.

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.”

-Irish Blessing

For my giveaway, I’m offering a signed paperback of “Written in Flesh.”

 

WrittenInFlesh_author_copy

——

For many people, there’s nothing hotter than a man with tattoos. He might get them to commemorate a lost loved one, celebrate an event, or just to look bad-ass, but there’s no doubt the man enjoys showing off his ink. Tribal, classic black and white, or elaborate colored artwork spanning the entire back, each mark has a story, an indelible reminder of the past etched onto the human canvas with care and precision. We’re showcasing four of those stories in “Written in Flesh”.

Key is “Bound by Ink” to a woman he does not—*cannot*—love. He runs to escape his fate, but finds Dax, another fugitive, and learns that some bonds go deeper than skin. In the heyday of the 1980’s, Ian Grothe’s club is about to discover the Next Big Thing, but Ian only has eyes for the lead singer. But as the band’s star rises, Ian gets left behind, his hopes turning to “Powder”.

Then, in “Helotry”, Rontak is an escaped slave who wears the mark of his service beneath his skin. While on the run, he is sheltered by Tréy, an artist with a heavy secret of his own. Finally, Ellis comes to the Sui Generis Protection Agency bearing the “Mark of the Familiar”, magical animal tattoos granting him remarkable shapeshifting abilities. When he feels a True Bond to William, the Wardsman of the agency, he has to convince William of the truth or risk losing his sanctuary, and perhaps even his life.

Comment for a chance to win, and follow my blog for a double entry. 😉  I’ll select a random commenter/follower at the end of the hop, May 27th, and contact that person for mailing details.

Happy hopping and don’t forget to make the rounds to all of the participating blogs–grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and help make some noise for equal rights for every person!

 

Here’s the link for all of the other authors taking part! http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=252494

-Kimber


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