Naughty Netherworld Press's Blog: Naughty Netherworld Press on Goodreads, page 28
March 31, 2025
Love Before Covid Book Blitz #rabtbooktours
Dark / Drama / Thriller
Date Published: July 28, 2023
Publisher: Troubadour Books
“Love before Covid - A raw, philosophical dive into love’s messy reality—unflinching, dark, and unapologetically human. Unlike typical romance novels, LOVE BEFORE COVID is a dialogue-driven exploration of human flaws and ideologies, blending fiction with metaphysical inquiry. It’s not about comfort; it’s about confrontation and insight.”
Laced with dark humour, it is best described as traumatic (sur)realism. Love Before Covid takes the reader on a journey through the mind of Joe Pastorius - jazz fan, poet, and victim of horrendous sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of his mother.
The real-time dialogues between the characters that emerge from Joe’s unconscious come via arguably corrupted memories and dystopian dreams. They tell us more about Joe than he could ever know, and perhaps more about our world than you could ever imagine.
Dialogues entail an exploration of clashing perspectives and opinions, that cause reflection. Today though, our world has been infiltrated by online dialogues that tend to feel like wild unfiltered streams of human thought, raw, chaotic and often polarising and devoid of much reflection. Arguably that attitude, and lack of reflection is mirrored by the characters you will encounter. The reflection comes from the reader as the situations unfold. Your moral boundaries will without doubt be pushed to the limit.
You will meet an altruist who can’t stand up for himself, a charming but violent public intellectual, a beautiful dancer who hates fat people, a flirty and gregarious bartender who will do anything to get pregnant, a traumatised art historian who never wants to be a mother, a successful intellectual Mexican writer who is secretly disapproving of her childhood friend’s career as a pornstar, the teenage genius son of that pornstar who has sexual fantasises about his mother, a woman who is pressured into cutting off her penis and a successful therapist who has a habit of ruining people’s lives.
And yes, before you ask, some of the characters in this book eventually catch Covid 19. However, there is always hope. For Joe Pastorious, that comes in the form of the psychopath named Janet Waverley.
About the Author
During the pandemic Dr Greg Scorzo completed his first novel ‘LOVE BEFORE COVID’ as well as producing an innovative radio play based on 6 chapters from that book, also called – LOVE BEFORE COVID. available on our YouTube Channel. and via Audioboom with links to all major podcast platforms.
Greg says, “I was interested in the challenge of writing a novel that was formally experimental, while still being easy for a mass audience to read and understand. I love the idea of a piece of philosophy that is simultaneously a work of fiction, and a philosophical thought experiment which can function like a great, twisty roller coaster of a story that asks the reader many questions. Unlike traditional philosophy and many fashionable works of literature, this book purposefully asks questions without giving answers, encouraging readers to think (and emote) for themselves.”
Since gaining his PhD in Philosophy in 2011, Greg Scorzo has aimed to find creative and original ways to take philosophical thinking outside of academia. By using modern accessible philosophical dialogue inpublic talks, podcasts and his novel Love Before Covid, Greg explores clashing perspectives and opinions that cause reflection. Based in Leicester, he was a founding member of Culture on the Offensive and runs the podcast The ‘Art of Thinking’.
Dialogues entail an exploration of clashing perspectives and opinions that cause reflection. Statements and declarations can close minds.
The ‘Art of Thinking’ with Greg Scorzo podcast is available on YouTube where he does friendly philosophical interrogation of ideas with many interesting thinkers. Also available via Audioboom linking to all major podcast platforms.
His extended essays on Arts and Culture as well as Cultural Issues are available on this platform www.gregscorzo.com
He has a passion and extensive knowledge of film and music.
From 2017 – 2020 Greg Scorzo was active in running over 60 engaging voluntary community sessions, centred around ‘The Art of Thinking’ The focussed on universal philosophical themes, arts and culture and cultural issues. The ethos behind these events was to encourage the use of EMPATHY, CLARITY and COURAGE in ensuing dialogues with the audience. These were organised by COTO.
He also took up invitations to partner and run sessions at other events, including the Battle of Ideas Festival at the Barbican London, the Philosophy Now conference, Leicester Comedy Festival and DeMontfort University’s Cultural Exchanges festival. He is always interested to partner up with other like minded people.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
https://mybook.to/LoveBeforeCovid
Forever Release Blitz #rabtbooktours
YA Christian Fantasy
Date Published: April 1, 2025
The End Times have arrived…
Grace Fortune leads the rebellion against the United Earth, devastated by the belief that her husband, Jared Lorn, has joined the dark side as the son of the ruthless Supreme Lord Grigori Zazel.
But Jared, now known as the gladiator and demigod Baldyr, is locked in a desperate battle with his fallen angel father. His father's plan? To annihilate not just Israel but the entire world.
As the apocalypse looms, will Grace and Jared find a way to reunite before the world is destroyed? Can they survive the coming devastation? And what happens when a new, even more terrifying enemy emerges—one who will exploit their love and humanity to bring about their downfall?
All these questions and more will be answered in the thrilling conclusion of The Forlorn series.
About the Author
Gina Detwiler is the author of the award-winning YA Supernatural series Forlorn and is co-author with Priscilla Shirer of the bestselling middle-grade fantasy series, The Prince Warriors. Her non-fiction books include The Ultimate Bible Character Guide and The Ultimate Bible Character Devotional.
She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, her dog, several imaginary friends, and all of the characters from her books, even the dead ones. She is also the author of three beautiful daughters, for whom she shares credit with her husband, Steve.
Contact Links
Purchase Links
Beltane Anthology Cover Reveal
I am so excited to have a story in this forthcoming charity anthology! The theme is Beltane, and it is a collection of magical stories and poems all about May Day, or Beltane.
One of my favorite things about this anthology is the beautiful cover. The participating authors crowdsourced to pay for the services of a professional artist to create a truly stunning design to showcase our work.
I will have a preorder link soon. In the meantime, please enjoy an excerpt from my anthology story.
Elderwood Hollow
The moon hung low and heavy in the sky, spilling silver light overthe twisted oaks of Elderwood Hollow as the May Day revelry began.Bursting with laughter and stilted courage from the dregs of theirmead, two sloshed revelers stumbled into the clearing where the covenof witches had gathered, their ancient chant rising like smoke intothe chilled air. With a loud, braying whoop, one of the drunkstripped over a gnarled root, crashing into an ornate altar of herbsand bones, sending cackling black feathers swirling into the night.The witches, wrapped in shadows and disenchantment, paused mid-spell,their fiery eyes narrowing at the intruders who brightened this darknight with nothing but drunken folly and the promise of chaos.
March 30, 2025
Arcadia U Series Tour #GayBookPromotions
SERIES TOUR and NEW RELEASE
Arcadia U Books 1 and 2 by Roxas Winters
Books 1 and 2 should be read in order. Neither of them ends in a cliffhangar.
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 4 flames
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 2 - NEW RELEASE
Book Title: Beautiful Liar
Author: Roxas Winters
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Length: 80 000 words
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Genres: MM Contemporary Romance, mafia, college age
Tropes: Second chances. forbidden love, obsessive love, secrets, alpha male
Themes: Hurt/Comfort, healing from abuse (abuse happens off page)
This story is best enjoyed after reading book one.
It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links
I gave in to temptation, but happily ever after was never part of the deal.
Blurb
Kieran
I gave in to temptation, but happily ever after was never part of the deal.
I am heir to a mafia kingdom and taking my place means leaving Arcadia behind. Arcadia U was built to house bastards of the criminal elite and wayward children of soldiers loyal to the four founding families. I am neither. When a death at the school puts everyone at risk, I return to keep my friends safe. But things have changed since the three months I've been gone. Loyalty must be earned, and my secrets revealed. But is it too late to save what I want most?
Tomás
I chose the enemy. I chose to be a secret. Kieran asked me to wait until he was ready, and I fell easily into the lies. But I have a lie of my own. After a death puts the school on lockdown, I'm forced to face a past I buried. A past that threatens everyone I love, including Kieran. To protect him, I must lie to him.
But lies fester. And the rot always finds a way out.
The following excerpt contains adult material, including profanity, sexual situations, and violence.Excerpt from book 2
Tomás
“What did I tell you would happen if you ran from me?” The voice I knew so well whispered in my ear. All the tension lifted and for a slight second, I let myself be vulnerable. Kieran had come for me. The reaction to him that got me in this mess in the first place—trusting Kieran. Giving him space in my heart. But he hadn’t come back when he promised. He hadn’t been there when I needed him. Ignoring my body’s response to him, I wasn’t my dick, I moved. I just wanted to feel physical pain, so damn tired of the pain I couldn’t reach inside, the itch I couldn’t scratch burrowed under my skin.
I twisted my body, grabbed his arm meaning to throw him over my shoulder to the floor, but the fucker was fast. A surprised inhale brushed my cheeks. Oddly satisfying in my current pissed off state. I didn’t get to slam him against the floor. Fucker had cat reflexes. His feet landed on the counter, and he used the leverage to push off, sending me back against the refrigerator hard. Shit tumbled around us. He used me to keep his footing, pushing off and putting space between us.
The low light was enough to still get a good look at his face. Three months and four days hadn’t changed his appearance. He looked … good. As if he hadn’t suffered like I had. As if he hadn’t cared. I wanted to talk shit, but my ruined voice would only come out meek, cracked, broken. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of hearing me pathetic, so I said nothing.
Kieran took my silence as submission. He narrowed the gap between us. “What is your problem?” he started.
Once he was close enough, I swung. The fist to his face felt better than I thought it should. He stumbled back. And I moved before he could recover. I spun him against the counter and shoved him face down onto the surface. His ass against my groin. I may have been bigger than him, but he had more fighting skills than me. I knew he could’ve gotten free from my hold if he wanted to, but he didn’t.
He didn’t even struggle.
“Fuck you,” I managed to whisper into his ear, pushing my body against him. “I’m no longer yours.”
“You sure about that?” he said, pushing out his ass right into the rod tenting my joggers. Because of course my cock would respond to him with an erection. Which only pissed me off more.
“Unlike you, I’m not my dick. And unlike you, I can put my dick into whoever the fuck I want.”
I felt the vibration first. Like a canvas rippling against my skin. The jolt of it forced me back, but only a fraction before he had me on the floor pinned under him. The impact pushed the breath out of my lungs, made me disoriented. He pinned my wrists above my head, his body sprawled on top of me, his face close enough to see the lighter green bursts in his eyes. “You think I would ever let you stick your dick in anyone else,” he hissed. “Try it, Tomás. Test me. I will end that motherfucker.”
BOOK 1
Book Title: Beautiful Dark Temptation (Arcadia U Book 1)
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Length: 76 200 words
Release Date: September 27, 2024
Tense/pov: first person; alternating pov
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, college, mafia
Tropes: Forbidden love, enemies to lovers
Themes: Bisexual awakening
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links
I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation
Blurb
Tomás
I’ve lost everything.
Forced into a prison masking as a school, I find myself in the crosshairs of more than one killer. My savior? The arrogant prick who wants to control me. Kieran is a nightmare wrapped in a seductive package and when he sets his sights on me I don’t know whether to fight him or kiss him.
Kieran
I am the eldest bastard of one of the four founders of Arcadia University, and I will do anything to see my family fall.
The secrets I’ve kept hidden behind my heart now threaten to bury me alive with the arrival of Tomás. He consumes my space, my thoughts, my nightmares. I hate him for how he makes me feel. This toxic attraction between us forces me to question what matters most—vengeance, power, love. But Tomas doesn’t fit into my world of lies and violence and I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation.
About the Author
Roxas writes dark, forbidden MM Romance with morally gray characters you will love to hate. Beautiful Dark Temptation is her first novel in a planned series.
Author Links
Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter
Instagram | Newsletter Sign-up
Giveaway
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1 x $10 Amazon Gift Card
March 29, 2025
Stolen Dreams Review #GayBookPromotions
BLOG TOUR
Book Title: Stolen Dream
Author: Oliver Takely
Publisher: MM Romance Press
Cover Artist: Emily’s World of Design
Release Date: March 5, 2025
Tense/POV: Third person, dual POV
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance
Tropes: Forbidden love, first times, demisexual rep, found family
Themes: Second chance romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 60 000 words
It is book three of the Soho Knights Series. Books four and five are scheduled in 2025.
The book ends on a cliffhanger for the series, but not for the couple.
Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited
In a world that tried to change them, love becomes their greatest rebellion.Blurb
At just eighteen, Paolo and Max meet at a conversion therapy camp. Abandoned by their families. left to endure literal hell on earth, their love is forbidden. Their secret romance grows and as they make plans to escape, they are brutally torn apart.
They both spend the next twelve years building lives in different worlds. Paolo in the vibrant heart of Soho, London, surrounded by his found family, and Max thriving as a successful criminal lawyer in the bustling streets of New York. Both of them believing they’ve lost the love of their life forever.
Max finds himself in London after defending a mobster, which leads to an offer he literally can’t refuse. Needing thinking time before his fate is sealed, he unexpectedly crosses paths with Paolo again. The spark between them reignites, yet their reunion is fraught with challenges, and even the magical backdrop of the holidays may not be enough for them to get their second chance at love. With Paolo's sister at risk of suffering the same fate they endured, the stakes are even higher.
Stolen Dream is a tale of resilience, forbidden love, and the fight for a future that embraces who they truly are. Will they save Paolo's sister in time, and can they find a way to be together, against all odds? Join them on this emotional journey of hope and redemption, where stolen dreams may just lead to a love worth fighting for.
Excerpt
KC greeted Paolo with a big hug when he arrived. She was such a wonderful woman, who had been through more than all his brothers put together. The bravery it took for her to transition in the nineties had Paolo in awe of her.
“What are you doing here on a Saturday?”
“I’m meeting an . . . an old friend.”
“Old boyfriend?” She smiled.
Paolo felt his face heating. She leant forward and whispered to him.
“Well, if it’s the guy who just walked in who looks like he wants to eat you, then I think I’ve got my answer.”
Paolo spun around and there was Max. He hadn’t gotten a proper look last night with the shock. Max had always had a broad build, but now he was built like a rugby player, with wide shoulders and a tapered waist. His hazel eyes were as captivating as they had been twelve years ago. Max smiled at him, showing those perfect dimples in his pinchable cheeks. He was clean-shaven, unlike Paolo who’d had a short beard for the last five years. His face was too babyish when he was clean-shaven.
“Can I give you a hug?” asked Max.
Paolo was too choked up, so he just nodded, and Max wrapped his big, muscular arms around him. They were the same height, but even though Paolo had packed on the muscle over the last few years, Max almost smothered him – albeit in a good way. He was wearing a citrusy aftershave, and he could happily stay like this in Max’s arms forever.
When the hug was bordering on being far too long for a public setting, they pulled apart and both smiled. Paolo gestured to a nearby table he’d claimed when he arrived. He made eye contact with KC, who gave him a warm smile and touched her heart. Paolo rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
“Thank you for seeing me,” said Max.
Was he nervous? This wasn’t how he remembered him. Max had been the strong one when they’d been in the camp. It wasn’t just Paolo who looked up to him; it was everyone. Paolo wasn’t sure what to say. He felt tongue tied, so he grabbed a menu, passing one to Max. He knew the menu by heart, but Max didn’t need to know that.
“Did you want to get something to eat?” asked Paolo. That was a safe conversation starter.
“I am always hungry.”
He smiled, and then a dark shadow appeared in his eyes. It was clear a memory had hit him. One they shared. Paolo needed to get things back on track. Today was not a day to go down memory lane.
“Everything’s amazing here. KC is the best cook in the world.”
“That’s a bold claim. I’ll have to let Mason know.”
“Mason?”
“He’s a Michelin starred chef in New York.”
“How do you know him?”
Max took hold of Paolo’s hand. It felt strange, yet familiar.
“Mason’s just a friend. I’m not with anyone.”
“That’s not . . . I didn’t mean . . .” Ugh, why couldn’t he get his words out?
Perhaps sensing his struggle, Max suggested they order. He let go of Paolo’s hand and Paolo missed the touch instantly. How could this be happening? He’d not had butterflies or any of these feelings for twelve years.
About the Author
Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in both 2023 and 2024. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.
Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?
Author Links
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Giveaway
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one of three eBook copies of Stolen Dream
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Four out of Five Stars
This is an intense story that discusses conversion therapy, an abusive practice intended to make a homosexual person heterosexual. The protagonists, Max and Paolo, meet in a conversion therapy camp run by the creepy, sadistic Father Moretti. I quickly clocked Father Moretti as a self-righteous, closeted homosexual. As the story progresses, he's revealed to be even worse than I initially thought.
The concept is compelling, the storytelling is engaging, and the author creates characters the reader cares about. The story contains several wonderful "Oh, my heart!" moments and intense surprises.
My reasons for giving the story four stars rather than five are subjective rather than objective. I would have liked more non-sexual interaction between Max and Paolo. While the author made it clear that there was a strong emotional bond between them rather than a strictly sexual attraction, I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the non-steamy side of their relationship.
While I understand Paolo's obsession with his physique, his discussions about diet and exercise were a little overwhelming for someone who struggles with body image and an eating disorder.
I recommend Stolen Dream for readers who like an intense contemporary romance that tackles real-world issues and don't mind when things get dark. Because of adult themes and explicit sexual content, the book is not suitable for readers younger than eighteen.
At Her Service New Release Blitz #IndiGo
Title: At Her Service
Author: K.S. Trenten
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: 03/25/2025
Heat Level: 1 - No Sex
Pairing: Female/Female
Length: 23500
Genre: Fantasy, Cinderella, F/F fairy tales, nonbinary characters, romance, magic, royalty, humor, glass shoes
Add to Goodreads
DescriptionThere are one too many Ariellas in our family chateau, when my stepmother becomes its mistress. She’s the rightful Ariella, and Ariella is a name she’ll only share with her daughter. Fortunately, the lady doesn’t realize I’m more than happy to give her daughter anything, including my name. I’ve come to live for the moments when I tickle her feet into her glass slippers. Why would I wish for anything more?
Magic, however, is going to whisk me away from my pallet in the cinders for a night of lights, dancing, and mystery. Mischief will try to sweep me off my feet, but I’m not so easy to sway. For princes are not what they seem, and a servant’s loyalty can be as strong as any spell.ExcerptAt Her ServiceK.S. Trenten © 2025All Rights Reserved
One Ariella Too Many
I’ll never forget the first time my mistress offered me her hand.
“Every woman should dance once.” She hadn’t been my mistress yet. She was my stepsister, a bewitching girl with sapphire-blue eyes and a husky voice.
No, the other Ariella’s voice was more than husky. I could feel every syllable caressing the inside of my ear. Nor did the sensation stop there. The sound glided down my spine, raising the hairs of my neck, awakening my entire body.
“Shall I show you how, Ariella?” She kept her strong fingers steady, ready to catch and claim me.
Shy, uncertain, I dared to raise my hand to touch hers.
“Ariella, stay away from that girl!” Harsh as the caw of a crow, those words stopped us where we stood.
Ariella stiffened, turning to face its owner at the same moment as I did.
The lady of the chateau wasn’t a tall woman, but her presence loomed within the room, ready to quell anyone who dared to irritate her.
I could already tell I more than irritated her.
“Ariella was only showing me how to dance…” I began, trailing off when I saw the expression in my stepmother’s eyes. How could she look so much like Ariella herself, yet be so different?
“You will address my daughter as the Lady Ariella.” The lady of the chateau spoke in a tone as cold and flat as her eyes. “This is not your home, not anymore. You may no longer dance around as if you owned it.”
“Mother…” Ariella began, but her mother cut her off.
“This is our ancestral estate, the Lady Ariella’s and mine.” She advanced upon me, raising one hand in a claw. It reminded me of a chicken who’d once challenged a hound dog for dominion over a pile of sand. The chicken had won.
“Even if your ancestor managed to steal this chateau from ours, we have taken it back.” She kept her hand raised, a ring flashing upon it. It may have once belonged to my mother, but she hadn’t worn it very often.
“Isn’t it my father’s estate?” Frightened as I was, I hadn’t learned yet not to contradict the lady. “Aren’t you only here because my father married you?”
She struck me, a sharp, glancing blow which might have been no more than a slap to a sturdier woman.
I had never been particularly sturdy. I was tiny, overimaginative, and lacking in a sense of balance.
The lady’s strike knocked me off my feet. I hit the ground in an ungraceful pile at the lady’s own.
“How dare you!”
I’ll never forget the angry snarl that distorted her face. What she’d constrained within her eyes and pinched lips had finally been set free.
I crawled to my knees, not getting up. It seemed better to stay down. One glance at the lady’s twisted, quivering mouth was enough to convince me. I covered my head with my hands.
No, I’ve never been particularly brave. I try to avoid conflict. I suppose I’m like my father in this.
Submitting didn’t appease my stepmother. She raised her hand. Perhaps she meant to hit me again once she’d grabbed my hair, pulling me up to the level of her fist.
“Mother, stop.” Ariella’s husky voice rose with a firm authority I’d never heard her use.
I opened my eyes to glimpse her ankles peeking out from under the hem of a dark-blue skirt.
They were pale, bony, but there was a strength to them. They were planted on the floor between the lady and myself, drawing energy from beneath her heels. I could feel it, traveling up her legs to her torso, heart, and head. The shape of the bone protruding from her ankles reminded me of a rock jutting out from the coastline, standing in proud defiance of the coming waves.
I wanted to grab her ankles, kiss her feet, to give her whatever I could to help her withstand her mother’s rage. Or anything else that might crash against her.
Not that I could do any of those things while huddled on the floor.PurchaseNineStar Press | Books2Read
Meet the AuthorI’m a California Bay Area author, exploring the borders of reality and gender to create new worlds and populate them with compelling characters. I live with my husband and our two four footed children, i.e. cats.Website | Facebook | Twitter | PinterestGiveawayOne lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code! a Rafflecopter giveaway
March 27, 2025
The Dan Alsop Series Release Blitz #rabtbooktours
Book 1, The Dan Alsop Series
Murder Mystery
Date Published: March 28, 2025
A cowboy lies dead on the trail, shot through the heart with no one around. Detective Dan Alsop must find his killer through a maze of squabbling relatives, disgruntled friends and Hollywood mobsters. Was it a single event or will the killer strike again?
Book 2, The Dan Alsop Series
Murder Mystery
Date Published: March 28, 2025
His mentor lies dead at his feet. Detective Dan Alsop is stretched thin with only the notion of an ancient casino robbery to guide him. His search for the elusive killer takes him to cemeteries and silver mines until he strikes again.
About the Author
SJ SLAGLE started her career as a language arts teacher. When she began writing, her initial interest was children’s stories, but then she moved on to Western Romance, Mysteries and Historical Fiction. She has published over 30 novels and her website is www.sjslagle.com.
SJ has written several Western Romance series including the THESE NEVADA BOYS, RANCHER, and THE WESTERNERS, as well as Mystery series: FLOYD SISTERS MYSTERIES and SHERLOCK AND ME. All her books are distributed in digital, paper and audiobook formats.
Her first historical fiction novel, LONDON SPIES, was awarded a B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2018. She was given the Silver Award with the International Independent Film Awards for her screenplay called REDEMPTION. She conducts writing/publishing symposiums in her local area.
S.J. Slagle lives and works in Reno, Nevada.
Contact Links
Twitter: @SindaSlagle
Purchase Links
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Specimen #GayBookPromotions
RECENT RELEASE
Book Title: Specimen
Author: C. Quince
Publisher: Ninestar Press
Cover Artist: HolBat
Release Date: March 11, 2024
Tense/POV: third person/past tense/alternating POV
Genre: MM paranormal/alien/sci-fi romance
Themes: Enemies to lovers, mystery, thriller, action adventure, spies, frenemies, forced proximity, colleagues
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 105 000 words/ 300 pages
It is the first book of a series.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger as the mysteries are ongoing,
but the couple are solidly together.
Buy Links
NineStar Press | Universal Link
A former US Marine and a British M16 Intelligence agent find more in common than attraction.
Blurb
David Cortez, a decorated US Marine, is now on the run from his own government after escaping a top-secret CIA lab when an experimental medical procedure turned sour.
While lying low in Mexico, an assassin sent from British Intelligence tracks him down. However, Sonny from MI6, a British-Iranian with a cockney accent, offers David a choice: join his team, or be killed.
David chooses to work with Sonny, not only because he wants his life back, but because he feels a kinship with the man.
They’re also both in the unique position of being the only living test subjects with alien DNA in their blood. Could that explain the strong attraction between them?
Excerpt
Sonny opened the brief. Inside, the first page was stamped TOP SECRET in big letters, which always made him want to laugh, along with the usual disclaimers typed out manually from a typewriter. Sonny breezed past all that and looked at the mission itself. What he saw was a collected file on one man: former US Marine, last known employment in private security. The collected photos were from past ID’s like Marine Corps and the DMV, and included some candids and hospital patient logs.
Handsome guy, Sonny thought idly. Tan skin, short brown hair, a strong jawline. Sonny was unsure of the guy’s ethnicity until he clocked the name.
“The file is Sergeant David Luis Cortez,” Shepherd said. “US Marines scout sniper.” She sat down at the opposite end of the table to Guv. “Peak physical health while on duty,” she went on. “Loyal. Follows orders. Impressive stats. Fifty-two confirmed kills, one of which being a one-and-a-half-mile sniper shot from a thirty-storey window.”
Sonny felt equally annoyed and impressed to hear that. He was the trick shot in this division, and he didn’t need another hotshot coming for his wig.
“Served in Afghanistan, Sudan, and South America, as well as several black ops missions. Honourable discharge, moved onto private security and diplomatic detail,” Shepherd went on. “Assigned to US diplomat Philip Sherman, thwarted an assassination attempt, but fell victim to poisoning from thallium sulphate.”
Sonny leafed through the hospital files. These medical records were official, along with a copy of the death certificate.
Sonny guessed what had happened before Shepherd confirmed it: they had another resurrected government experiment on their hands. Sonny should know; he was one himself.
“His condition in civilian hospital deteriorated,” Shepherd explained. “Through an Army connection, Cortez was recommended for special medical trials, codenamed Trial X. His first round of tests proved successful, when not many subjects pass that stage…” She glanced up pointedly. “As we well know.”
Sonny kept quiet and lifted his cup to take a sip. The slurp was noisy in the quiet room.
Guv gave Sonny a warning look. Sonny stopped slurping and smirked. He’d made his point. He was a special case who’d survived testing and was worth his weight in gold. He got away with murder on a daily basis.
“So,” Shepherd continued, “the CIA faked Cortez’s death, and moved him to one of their black sites for further testing. Cortez was renamed Specimen X.”
Sonny turned the page and saw copies of top secret CIA medical files, including a colour photo of the poor bastard inside a tank filled with bubbly blue liquid. He was naked except for an oxygen mask over his face and various cables attached to his limbs. The photo cut off below the waist. Sonny, being a thirsty bitch, immediately zeroed in on the man’s toned abs and pecs, and biceps to die for.
Was it uncouth to lust over him in that condition? Probably. Did Sonny care? Not really.
In the photo the man’s eyes were closed. His hair had grown longer than the short army cut, and he also had a beard now. He’d be hot shit, if not for the fact he was stuck inside a human-sized test tube.
“Was it Wallace’s team?” Guv asked Shepherd, referencing a top CIA operative.
“We don’t know for sure,” Shepherd replied. “My mole was tight lipped about the department. But we do know they were working with their own version of Sample A-X, which is why I’ve brought this to the front of our queue. It’s amazing we got as much intel as is, considering their operation was all shut down and relocated after his escape.”
Escape? Sonny perked up at that. Excellent! He loved drama.
He flicked through more of the file, speed-reading reports detailing the subject’s general disorientation after the procedure, then his violent outbursts toward medical staff… But Sonny never trusted a doctor’s word on patients. Who wouldn’t get pissed off after being poked and prodded then shoved in a tank? Sonny could sympathise.
There were some printouts of shots taken from a black-and-white security feed showing the naked (and ripped) subject overpowering several doctors and guards in the lab in order to break down the door and escape.
Sonny felt vicariously proud of the guy.
He probably shouldn’t have smirked over it, because Guv and Shepherd noticed. “I’m glad you think this is amusing, Sonny,” Shepherd said haughtily, “because you’re the one who’s going to track him down.”
About the Author
Quince is a MENA-British author who lives in England, enjoys sci-fi and fantasy, history, and Halloween.
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March 26, 2025
Innatraea Book Blitz #rabtbooktours
Small Footsteps
Fantasy
Date Published: January 16, 2025
Magic is in her blood...
The destiny of Innatraea is in her hands…
Can she rise to power, or will the forces against her prevail?
"Every legend begins with the small footsteps of ordinary Innatraeans." -Tavid the Traveler
Rosalie Sharone, one of the strongest magic wielders ever born, has been waiting and training for this moment all her life. Orphaned as a baby, the child prodigy was raised in the small farm town of Aliselle Falls, away from suspecting eyes. Now she is a young woman ready to fulfill her destiny by traveling across Innatraea to become an initiate of The Weavers, an ancient and powerful order on the island kingdom of Sceotan. In doing so, she must leave her adoptive mother, her first love, and her friends behind. Yet emotional trials are not the only challenge awaiting Rosalie and those closest to her. Weavers especially attract danger, and Rosalie will face her share as she makes her way to her destiny. This is only the beginning of her story however. Once on Sceotan, her magic and intellect along with The Weavers’ influence across all of Innatraea will either make her the most powerful woman in history or completely destroy her.
Power, sacrifice, and destiny collide—get your copy today and dare to walk the path with Rosalie as she begins the journey to her ultimate fate.
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Innatraea Novella Two: Am'ayim
Coming July 26, 2025
"Ele o aiga uma e toto. O nisi e fananau mai i Di Asin.
Not all families a blood. Som a dem born inna Di Saalt.
Not all families are blood. Some of them are born in the Salt."
-Am'ayim Saying
Rosalie has finally left the dangers of Aedonia behind in her quest to reach Sceotan and the Weavers. She now embarks upon another leg of that long journey aboard an Am'ayim vessel known as Di Ariela. Here, she will meet new friends amongst the ship's crew and face new threats and challenges, all while still grappling with the loss of her mother and parting ways with her childhood friends. Rosalie must now find the strength to go on alone and become the woman she's meant to be. But the twisting tides of destiny and fate are tricky and may yet claim them all or unite them as her journey across Innatraea continues. Destiny is no easy thing, though; fate may have more in store for her than she ever imagined.
About the Author
E.R. Zaugg has published several articles on being the parent of a vulnerable child, won poetry contests, and been an avid reader and world traveler for decades. His work is inspired by seeing the world and encountering different religions, spiritual beliefs, and cultures in both literature and actual journeys. These experiences have led to a body of deeply poetic work that explores what it means to be human. The Innatraea novella series highlights the value of vulnerable cultures, children, and strong women, with the goal of imparting to its readers a greater understanding and love of humanity.
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March 25, 2025
Lessen the Stressin' Book Blitz #rabtbooktours
Strategies for Becoming Smarter in Managing Stress
Nonfiction / Self-Help
Date Published: February 12, 2025
A Practical Guide for Learning Ways to Better Manage Stress
How do you experience more joy each day and remain productive and focused on what is most important to you despite sometimes being surrounded by the dark clouds of stress circling overhead or looming on the horizon? Lessen the Stressin’ effectively answers this challenging question by providing a comprehensive review of practical strategies and information essential to managing stress. Conceived and written with the goal of offering an enlightening training opportunity, this book also includes self-assessments and anecdotes to enhance learning. In addition, there are chapters focused on ways for handling stress generated in three areas often found to be particularly problematic – conflict, change, and communication, including digital communication. Dr. German’s insights and thorough coverage of easy to implement strategies help contribute to the optimistic feeling that with some effort, it is possible to successfully manage stress in an increasingly complex world.
About the Author
Dr. Steven German is a licensed psychologist and nationally certified counselor who has sought throughout his professional career to help others deal with the potentially negative impact of stress. This goal has been achieved while serving as a guidance counselor, school psychologist, and special education director in the public schools, as a trainer and consultant in the outplacement field, as a psychologist with the Medical Service Corps of the U.S. Army Reserves, and in his private practice of almost three decades. In addition to his published works, he has delivered training for organizations on topics related to stress. In his spare time, Dr. German enjoys hiking, traveling, singing, working on small building projects, and spending quality time with family and friends.
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