Mickie B. Ashling's Blog, page 158

Winner!

The winner for the free e-book is taylorgibbs . Please contact me with your email addy and format preference.

Tono is now available here:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2145

Thanks to all who participated in the contest.

Tono Contest

Join me in celebrating the release of Tono the sequel to Loving Edits which will release on Friday 1/14/2011. Anyone who comments on this post on either LJ, FB, or the DSP blog will be entered into the drawing for an e-book in the format of your choice.

Here's a short excerpt for your entertainment.




Paul picked up the mug and grimaced when he tasted the cold liquid. "Yuck." He nuked it for about a minute, and when he turned back toward the counter, he saw that Tono was staring. The warmed coffee was good, but the tender look in Tono's eye even better. Paul sighed in satisfaction.

"¿Esta bueno?" Tono asked.

"Yes, it's perfect," Paul said, not really referring to the coffee. He was basking in the look of love that was radiating from the Spaniard. "Tono, there's been a new development, I'm not sure you're aware of."

"Is this why you've been trying to reach me?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Mick wrote another novel I knew nothing about."

"I did."

"You knew?"

"Si. I was aware that he was writing another story."

"Why the fuck didn't you say anything?"

"I never meddled in his writing. I read his manuscripts if and when he asked for my opinion. He never asked me to read this one. In fact, I didn't realize he'd completed it."

"Well, he did finish it, and he's left me specific instructions."

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem," Paul explained,trying to rein in his impatience "is that he has certain stipulations we both have to agree with"

"Huh…"

"Yes. That's what I said before I read the manuscript. It's brilliant."

"He was so talented," Tono said proudly.

"That's a given, Tono. Nonetheless, you may have issues with this book."

"Why?"

"It's a romance, a gay romance about three men in a relationship."

"¿Que?"

"You heard me."

"He wrote our story?" Tono's voice rose in disbelief.

"He's changed our names, the setting is completely different, and he's made us years younger, so no one will link us to this novel."

"Are you sure? I have to read it."

"I figured you would, so I brought a copy of the manuscript. After you read it, I'll need your signature on the contract, and then we can get started. This book will be huge."

"Why do you need my signature?"

Paul sighed, now losing all patience. "Because you were his partner, you have his power of attorney, and nothing can move forward without your approval."

"I see."

"Look, he wrote you a letter. Let me go and get it."

"What does it say?"

"I don't know," Paul blustered, "it's addressed to you."

"Oh, I thought you may have read it."

"Give me some credit, will you? I don't open letters unless they're mine. Besides, I already know what he wants."

"What's that?"

"All proceeds from the book sales will go into a fund for artists suffering from ALS; a foundation, bearing his name, headed by you."

"What? I don't know anything about this."

"Apparently no one did but our darling, Mick."

"That's impossible. He would have told me."

Paul shrugged. "Maybe he ran out of time."

"I don't want to head anything. What do I know about foundations?"

"About as much as I do, which is nothing," Paul admitted. "We'll find qualified people to help us."

"Why me?"

"Mick had his reasons, but unfortunately, he neglected to share them. Where were you when he was making all these plans? How could you not be aware of what he was doing?"

"He didn't tell me," Tono snarled, pissed off by Paul's allegation that he knew nothing about Mick. "And what about you? You're his fucking publisher. How come you didn't know?"

"I don't know, and now I never will. Nonetheless, here's the bottom line: we're sitting on Mick's last novel, fighting over trivia, when we should be moving forward. Why don't you just sign the papers, and we'll get this over with."

"I won't sign anything until I've read my letter and the manuscript."

"Christ. How long will it take you?"

"Oh, am I on the clock again? I'd forgotten what a time whore you are."

"Fuck off."

Tono chuckled. "You know you're anal about time. Now where's that letter?"

Paul sighed. "I'll go and get it." He had to fish it out of his briefcase, which he found on the sofa in the living room where he'd left it last night. When he got back to the kitchen, he was surprised to see that Tono had thrown on some running shorts, a T-shirt, and his athletic shoes.

"I'm going running, rubio." Tono took the letter from Paul's outstretched hand, folded it in half, and stuck it in his back pocket. "Make yourself at home."

Paul stared in disbelief. "Hey, wait a minute."

"I'll be back," Tono smiled and walked out the door, leaving a sputtering Paul standing in the middle of the kitchen. Regardless of the circumstances, his blondie was back, which made Tono ridiculously happy all of a sudden.

Book Rec

All She Wrote by Josh Lanyon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Giving screwball mystery a whole deadly new meaning.

All She Wrote:Holmes & Moriarity, Book 2

A murderous fall down icy stairs is nearly the death of Anna Hitchcock, the much-beloved "American Agatha Christie" and Christopher Holmes's former mentor. Anna's plea for him to host her annual winter writing retreat touches all Kit's sore spots—traveling, teaching writing classes, and separation from his new lover, J.X. Moriarity.

For J.X., Kit's cancellation of yet another romantic weekend is the death knell of a relationship that has been limping along for months. But that's just as well, right? Kit isn't ready for anything serious and besides, Kit owes Anna far too much to refuse.

Faster than you can say "Miss Marple wears boxer shorts", Kit is snooping around Anna's elegant, snowbound mansion in the Berkshires for clues as to who's trying to kill her. A tough task with six amateur sleuths underfoot. Six budding writers with a tangled web of dark undercurrents running among them.

Slowly, Kit gets the uneasy feeling that the secret may lie between the pages of someone's fictional past. Unfortunately, a clever killer is one step ahead. And it may be too late for J.X. to ride to the rescue.

Warning: Contains one irascible, forty-year-old mystery writer who desperately needs to get laid, one exasperated thirty-something ex-cop only too happy to oblige, an isolated country manor that needs the thermostat cranked up, various assorted aspiring and perspiring authors, and a merciless killer who may have read one too many mystery novels.

All She Wrote is book two in the Holmes and Moriarity series. I didn't think anything could take the place of the Adrien English books but I have to admit that Kit and J.X. have filled the void in a most special way. I love the dynamic between these two men. Josh Lanyon has created two great characters who are polar opposites struggling through their many differences in one memorable scene after another. The dialogue was great; the sex scenes utterly satisfying. The murder and mayhem were secondary for me, but well thought out, and resolved with satisfaction. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us with the next book in this series. Highly recommended.

Follow the link to win...

Hi all!

As part of her January celebration Clare London is featuring my upcoming novel Tono on her journal here:

http://clarelondon.livejournal.com/263742.html

She's posted a couple of excerpts and anyone who comments will be entered into a drawing for a free ebook when Tono releases on January 14.

Contest

Hi all. Join Chris over at her blog Stumbling Over Chaos to join the contest to win a copy of Tono which releases January 14. More information is available by clicking on this link.

http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/10804

There will be another chance to win next week when I start posting excerpts on Wednesday, January 12. Anyone who comments will be entered into a random drawing for a free ebook in the format of your choice.

Book Rec

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



From the author of the breathtaking bestsellers Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber, the extraordinary saga continues.
Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love.

The Voyager is book three of the Outlander series. Unlike the first two books, I don't feel this rated five stars. Don't get me wrong. The research is impeccable and Gabaldon's ability to take you to another time and place still holds true. However, there were parts of the book that were so improbable and over-the-top it put a damper on my enthusiasm. The best part was the reunion scene when Claire and Jamie meet for the first time after a twenty year separation. It was extremely moving, romantic, and very satisfying. The rest of the book was exhausting and I'm glad I'm done. I think it's time to pause before I pick up book four. That being said, anyone who loves the Outlander series can't help wanting more of this earthy and romantic couple. It's like eating M & M candy. Once you start it's impossible to stop.

Best wishes to everyone for 2011

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Best wishes to everyone for 2011

Book Rec

His For The Holidays by Josh Lanyon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



His For The Holidays by Josh Lanyon, Z.A. Maxfield, L.B. Gregg, Harper Fox

Mistletoe at Midnight By LB Gregg

Owen McKenzie has traveled to Vermont to spend an old-fashioned Christmas with his family when he finds himself staying at the same inn as his first love. Owen is disconcerted to realize he's still attracted to Caleb Black but refuses to pursue him. Caleb left him once, and Owen's not going down that road again.

Caleb is ready for a second chance with Owen and gets it when fate and the matchmaking McKenzies conspire to strand the two men in a rustic cabin during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. Can Caleb convince Owen to rekindle their romance so they can stop spending their holidays apart?

Nine Lights Over Edinburgh By Harper Fox

Detective Inspector James McBride is riding high on the belief that he's about to bust a human-trafficking ring. But just five days before Christmas, his unorthodox methods catch up with him and his world comes crashing down.

McBride tries to concentrate on his new day job as security for the visiting Israeli ambassador. He even starts to feel a renewed sense of self-worth when the leader of the Israeli team, the aristocratic Tobias Leitner, takes a bullet for him in the line of duty. But he can't forget the trafficking case, especially when his investigations result in the kidnapping of his own daughter! McBride has no one to turn to for help-no one, except Toby.

Can these two very different men work together to bring about a holiday miracle-and heal one another's heart in the process?

I Heard Him Exclaim By Z.A. Maxfield

Who Likes a Skinny Santa?

Steve Adams's heart hasn't been in the Christmas spirit ever since doctors put a stent in it and ordered him to clean up his act. No longer filling out his Santa suit or allowed to make merry, he's forgoing the holidays this year and heading to Vegas to indulge in the few vices left to him: gambling and anonymous sex.

His road trip takes a detour when he encounters Chandler Tracey, who's just inherited guardianship of his five-year-old niece. Overwhelmed, Chandler's on his way to deliver Poppy to his parents. But fate has other plans and, after car trouble, Chandler and Poppy accept a ride home with Steve. Though the heat between the two men is obvious, they put it on simmer while they band together to make Poppy's Christmas as perfect as possible.

Steve soon comes to believe that while Chandler is the right person to look after Poppy, someone needs to look after Chandler. Fortunately, Steve knows just the man for the job.

Icecapade By Josh Lanyon

On the eve of the new millennium, diamond thief Noel Snow seduced FBI special agent Robert Cuffe, then fled into the dawn. Now a successful novelist, Noel uses his capers as fodder for his books, and has modeled his hero's nemesis (and potential love interest) on Cuffe. Though he leaves Robert a drunken phone message every New Year's Eve, Noel hasn't seen or heard from him in a decade.

So he's thrilled when his former lover shows up at his upstate farm one Christmas Eve. Elation quickly turns to alarm when Robert accuses Noel of being responsible for a recent rash of diamond heists. Robert is all business and as cold as ice: it seems his only interest in Noel is to put him behind bars.

Innocent of the crimes, and still as attracted as ever to the oh-so-serious lawman, Noel plans a second seduction-providing he can stay out of jail long enough!

I don't normally read anthologies but I couldn't resist picking up this book since two of my favorite authors were featured. Four very different stories with a recurring theme of love, hope, and second chances. They made me smile, laugh outloud, shed several sentimental tears, and wish that one of them was twice as long. All in all, a wonderful gift from four very talented writers. 4.5 read and highly recommended.

Tono Book Vid

Presenting the book vid for Tono made by the talented and generous qafmaniac . Release date is Friday, January 14, 2011. Excerpts will be posted two days before the release. Anyone who comments will be entered into a drawing for a free ebook in a format of your choice.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas greetings to all the wonderful people who have enriched my life and made 2010 a memorable year. Best wishes for the holidays and the New Year.