M.A. Church's Blog, page 115

Merry Christmas!! And remember...

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas. I wanted to take a second to thank each and every one of you. Without y'all, none of this would be going on lol. You buy my books, you send me emails.... Y'all are there at all times of the day and night to encourage and support me. That means a lot. I hope my books bring you guys joy, a couple of chuckles, and even a few head shakes at my guys antics.

Thank you all!

~Michelle

Cats and Christmas Trees: Trouble Waiting to Happen

A short story from the men in Trouble Comes in Threes. This was written in 2014 so some of you may recognize it lol!

Finally. I picked up a few stray cups of eggnog, took them to the kitchen, and quickly washed them out. The party had gone well. One of my mates, Tal, had come up with the idea of having our Alpha, and the rest of the betas, over for a rousing game of Secret Santa. Since the clowder I now belonged to werecat shifters, they didn’t worship as humans. And since my mates Dolf and Tal found me and mated me, I, too, was no longer human.Hard to believe it’s almost been a year since that night.Of course, no longer being human didn’t change the fact I missed having a Christmas tree with a pile of gifts underneath. I glanced over at the soaring, white flocked tree standing in front of the den’s prowl windows. We lived in a huge log house with a truss system that Tal had built before they’d found me.Honestly, the place was nothing more than a cat play area.The fireplace crackled, the smell of burning wood relaxing me. This was our first Christmas together, and it had been perfect. The sounds of nails clicking on hardwood floors drew my attention from the fireplace.A rather large, jet-black cat raced down the hall hot the on the heels of a snow-white cat. Grinning, I sat on the couch. They’d eyed the tree from the first night we’d put it up and decorated it. All those shining, gleaming objects had driven my mates nearly insane.Cats and Christmas trees. Boy, if that wasn’t just asking for trouble, I didn’t know what was.A blur of white flew past me as Tal ran the length of the room. Dolf was right behind him, swatting at Tal’s hind legs. Tal yowled playfully over his shoulder at Dolf, and then leaped up to on one of the numerous shelves throughout the den. Dolf sat on the ground, his tail swishing as he looked up at Tal.“Meooow!” Tal’s playful purr echoed around the room.Even I heard the dare in that. Shaking my head, I looked at Dolf.“Meeer,” Dolf answered calmly, and then leaped at the shelf Tal sat on.Damn, the power in those hind legs was amazing. Tal scrambled down the walkway, hauling ass. He kept going until he hit the truss system of the log cabin, flying across the logs as if he was just a few feet off the floor instead of fifteen feet, if not more. The first time they did this, I just about had a heart attack.Suddenly, Tal stopped and spun around to face Dolf. Tal arched his back, fluffing up. Dolf stopped too, but didn’t back off. Instead he ignored Tal’s warning  as he slowly prowled closer, his bright blue eyes slitted.“That never works, pretty kitty,” I called from the couch where I was reclining. “Dolf’s gonna swat that cute little ass of yours if you’re not careful.”Our sweet little Omega just didn’t have it in himself to intimidate Dolf. For that matter, neither did I, but I did often stand up to the man. The smartass in me couldn’t help himself. Surprisingly, Dolf was okay with that. Said it kept him from being too arrogant. The male was the heir apparent to their clowder. Arrogant was his middle name.“Meerow.” Tal sniffed at my direction, turning his back to me and sticking his tail straight up.“Yeah, I’ll take you up on that offer just as soon as you’re human,” I called from the couch. “Rawl!” Dolf bellowed in agreement.Laughing, I watched them race down the truss system to the shelves and on down to the floor. Tal ran at me, jumping on the couch and straight onto my lap.“And how did I know you’d end up here?” I found myself with a lap full of white cat and sank my hands into that lean, lanky, furry body. “Watch the claws, babe.” Jesus, the last thing I needed was him to sink his claws somewhere important.Seconds later Dolf launched himself at me, too, and sure enough, I ended up with over sixty pounds of feline sitting on me. Dolf and Tal were the size of Savannahs. They were big, big cats.Dolf licked my cheek while Tal kneaded my thigh. I ran my hands over both of them, enjoying the silky fur.“Are we done or….” The flashing lights of the tree caught Tal’s attention, and he was off again. “Oookay, guess not.”Dolf head butted me, grunted in Tal’s direction, and jumped off me. He raced across the top of the coffee table… and headed straight toward the twinkling Christmas tree.Oh man, I knew it. It was more than their little kitty nature could handle. “Okay you two, you break any of those ornaments and I’m not gonna be happy.” Tal landed on one of the few brightly wrapped gifts not yet opened and launched himself up the tree. A flash of black, and there went Dolf too. Damn good thing the tree was ten feet tall and the ointments weren’t glass.Yeah, I’d had a feeling.A yowl sounded from the tree, but I couldn’t tell which one it was. In fact, Tal was hard to see since he faded into the white background of the tree, but the sparkly red ball a white paw was batting at was a good clue where he was. I heard hisses and mewls coming from them as they amused themselves.Then God help us, Tal found the pretty red tinsel I’d draped on the tree. What had I been thinking? And wow, he was having entirely too much fun fighting the stuff. The tree shuddered, and I held my breath, but it stayed upright. The two of them played in there for another fifteen minutes or so while I watched. A few balls fell off, tinsel lay on shreds on the floor, but the tree remained standing.Somehow.  While I enjoyed seeing Dolf and Tal in their shifted forms, I was ready to move this night along. I had plans for my mates, and I need them in their human forms. I stood up and unbuttoned my shirt. The yowling and hissing from the tree abruptly stopped, and two pair of bright blue eyes focused on me.Seeing that I had their attention, I let the gaping shirt slide off and fall to the floor. I ran my hands up and down my chest, making sure my fingers brushed my nipples. Was that purring I heard? After toeing off my shoes, I made sure my ass faced the tree when I unbuttoned my jeans and dropped them.Then I bent over and pulled off my socks.Yup, that was a pleased meow I heard behind me. Turning back around, I noticed one of the tree limbs shaking as a streak of black made its way down. I couldn’t see Tal, but I bet he was on his way down too. Deciding to give them more incentive, I fisted my cock. I’d gone commando. Before I could say ‘here kitty, kitty’, my two gorgeous mates had shifted and were sitting naked by the tree.Tal’s long, white-blond hair fell over his shoulder and partway down his chest. Resting one elbow on his bent knee, I could see his rosy, hard cock. Dolf sat crossed-legged, his shaft standing up too. His black hair was messy, flopping over his forehead and into those bright blue eyes. Both of them were long and lean with a swimmer’s build… and so sexy they made my mouth water.Happy Christmas to me.Walking over to the fireplace, I knelt on the fur rug. Dolf and Tal rose gracefully to their feet and came to stand in front of me. Both of their cocks were nice and long, but Dolf had about a half-inch on Tal. But then, Tal was a bit thicker. My cock bobbed eagerly as I grabbed Dolf by the hips and pulled him closer. I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on that hard dick so teasingly close.I licked the head then nibbled around the crown. Pre-come glistened at the tip, the salty taste exploding on my tongue. I licked my lips. Dolf’s taste was a little more tart than Tal’s, just as the man was. Holding his shaft, I tongued the thick vein that ran the length. Dolf buried his hands in my hair and tugged me closer.The slight spark of pain raced down my body and ended at my shaft. He knew I liked a little pain, and he liked giving it to me. My hands clutching his hips, I dropped my mouth over his dick. Silken steel and heat. He was so hard against my tongue.“Mmm, so good, sexy,” Dolf mumbled.I glanced up at him. Steel and heat described the man too.“Yeah, just like that,” Dolf muttered. “Let me see those eyes while I fuck that mouth.”He tangled his fingers in my hair, urging me to take more, to go faster. Dolf threw his head back, the cords in his throat standing out. Grabbing both of his ass cheeks, I pulled him closer. Dolf hissed, and I caught the flash of a fang as pleasure drove him.“I want in here, please, Kirk. Gods.” Tal caressed my ass, his fingers cool and slick. Wonder when he got lube? Closing my eyes, I moaned around Dolf’s shaft, and the vibrations caused Dolf to moan too.Dolf tapped my cheek, and I pulled off his cock, abet very slowly. “What?” I whined, his shaft still nodding right in front of my face. “I was busy, you know.”Dolf tapped his cock against my lips, smearing pre-come. “Be good, and I’ll let you get back to what you were doing. But first, hands and knees.”I couldn’t get there fast enough, even knowing the angle wasn’t going to be comfortable. But, before I could say anything, Dolf sat on the furry rug and lay back. Oh yeah, now that I could work with. Dolf grasped his cock and spread his legs. I fully intended to get back to that, but first… I grasped Dolf’s ankle and lifted it.“Fuck, yeah.” Dolf watched me.Dolf sighed softly as I rubbed the arch of his foot against my face then nipped one of his toes. His cock jerked on his belly. My foot fetish made this male, who didn’t care to bottom, absolutely crazy even if he wasn’t in the mood to bottom. I was relieved since so many of the other guys I’d hooked up with laughed at me for it.It didn’t do much for Tal, except make him giggle. I licked and nibbled on those long toes of his, enjoying his grunts of pleasure. Those slim ankles of his called to me, and I placed kissed there too. God, I love this male.“Keep that up and I’m going to come, sexy,” Dolf warned.I kissed his instep. “Well, can’t have that.”Tal patted my ass. “Bend over please, Kirk. I need to open you up.”I kissed my way back up Dolf’s hairy leg until I found my other source of pleasure. I nuzzle Dolf’s shaft while Tal worked one slick finger, then another, in me. A small flash of pain was a small price to pay, and I liked it. Tal hit my hot spot and pleasure stabbed me.I thrust back, wanting more. I sucked Dolf’s cock down while Tal slicked me up. I was very thankful we’d taken to keeping lube all over the house. My sweet Tal eased his way inside me, stroking his hands over my lower back. Tal thrust slowly then moved faster as I moved with him. God, I love this man too. He was always so caring when he took me.I glanced up at Dolf, watching the pleasure I brought him flash over his face. The three of us moved together, each giving and taking. The lights flashed from our Christmas tree and the fire cast a warm glow over the room.Our love blanketed us as skin slapped on skin. Tal’s shaft tapped my hot spot repeatedly, pushing me ever closer to orgasm. My dick bounced under me, and I knew I was close to coming, even without any friction on my poor needy dick. I deep-throated Dolf as Tal slammed in me… then my toes curled, and I came. Lights flashed in my mind.Yup, angels sang, and I even heard two strangled yowls as my mates came.For a few moments, we lay there, holding each other while the fire crackled. Tomorrow was Christmas day, but we didn’t have plans outside of just lazing around. There would be time enough later to deal with clowder issues, Heller, and the day-to-day life living in a triad. For now, I had my two mates close to me, warm and happy. What more could a guy ask for?



~Art work by Gus Li 

Pride Promotions presents Dom of Ages by K.C. Wells & Parker Williams and a special giveaway!

**Special Note:K.C. and Will are going to be stopping at each blog and picking a winner from the comments to receive a copy of 'An Unlocked Heart' (or one of the other first six books in the series). 
So make sure to comment and also  note in the Rafflecopter you've done so to enter the drawing for one of the gift cards!!**




Author Names: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams
Book Name: Dom of AgesSeries: Collars & CuffsBook: Seven
Release Date: December 21, 2015

Blurb:

Eli may only be thirty, but he has had enough of pretend submissives. He wants a sub who truly knows how to submit. So when he spies Jarod in a BDSM club, everything about the man screams submission. It doesn’t matter that Jarod has to be about twenty years older than Eli. What does age matter, anyway? Not one to miss an opportunity, Eli moves fast and takes Jarod home with him, without thinking things through. All he can see is what he’s always wanted – a sub who wants to serve.

Jarod spent twenty-eight years with his Master, until Fate took Phillip from him. Four years on, and Jarod is still lost, so when a young Dom takes charge, Jarod rolls with it and finds himself serving again. But he keeps waiting for the shoe to drop. Because there’s going to come a point when Eli realizes he’s a laughing stock in the club. Who would want to be seen with a fifty-year-old sub? And when the moment of humiliation does arrive, Jarod flees. He’d be better off with Phillip.

Despite several missteps, what happens forces Eli to understand that Jarod needs him as much as he needs Jarod. But he knows in order to find happiness, they need friends who will understand. A friend keeps telling him Collars & Cuffs is what they need. Eli finally goes to visit, refusing to risk Jarod being hurt again, and finds everything he's heard about the club is true. When he takes Jarod, he watches as his sub is met with open arms. As they settle in to their new life, Eli begins to see things differently. And he dares to think he can have it all. Until the phone call that shows him he didn't realize what he could lose.

Pages or Words: 92,000 words
Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, May-December Romance

Excerpt:
JarodI eyed the other subs enviously as they preened for the Doms, each hoping to spend an hour in a private room with one of them. I felt like a kid again, always the last one picked for sports. The looks I got ranged from amused to withering. I couldn’t believe I’d subjected myself to this. What was worse, I’d actually expected a different outcome.I sighed deeply. Who was I fooling? I wasn’t twenty anymore. Hell, I wasn’t even twice that. The Doms wanted someone younger, someone trainable, or, failing that, someone who could give them a hot fuck. I had talents in that department from the many years I had served Master Phillip, but since he died, I’d been a submissive who had no one to serve.“And what are you supposed to be?” a voice near my ear snapped.“My name is Jarod, Sir,” I answered quietly, my heart thumping so loudly I was certain he could hear it.There was a low growl. “I didn’t ask your name. I asked what you think you’re doing here.”Heaven help me, I told him the truth. “Searching for someone to serve, Sir.”His braying laugh mocked me. When he saw I was serious, he sobered. “No one is going to take you. No master is going to have you.” Then in a softer voice he added, “Go home. You don’t belong here.”He was right, of course. It was time I admitted that to myself. This was a world that wasn’t like the one I’d been part of. When Master Phillip and I went to the clubs, there was an understanding. People were respectful, even if they weren’t interested in whatever was going on. This club was awful. It was full of young men strutting around like peacocks, each trying to show off more plumage than the next.It was time to stop kidding myself. There was no reason for me to stay any longer. I’d be on my way, and then everyone would probably have a good laugh at my expense. At least in that, I would have made someone happy. I was about to stand when I felt a hand on my shoulder and smelled the leather.“What is it you want?”His breath smelled of mint. It wafted over my face and made my stomach clench with nerves. “To serve, Sir.”Silence. I waited for it, the inevitable comeback, the jeer, the insult….“That’s a very good answer, boy. Very good indeed. Stand and turn.”I rose to my feet and faced the man whose voice gave me butterflies. When I saw him, my heart dropped and crushed them all to dust. The man was handsome, I would never say otherwise, but he was a child. I wanted a Master to serve, not to be a toy for a youngster who would grow bored with me the next time a pretty pony boy pranced by.“What’s your name?” he asked.“Jarod, Sir,” I replied, cursing my cracking voice.He held out his hand and took mine. His grip was firm and warm, and a jolt of electricity ran through me at his touch.“It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Eli.”His name was like a caress. There was a gentleness to his voice that had me feeling as though everything might be okay after all. I tried to be surreptitious about it as I looked him over, and he laughed.“You don’t need to hide anything from me. If you want to look at me, go ahead.”I raised my head and marveled at how his green eyes shone in the bright lights. His short, spiky hair was dark, but with the colored lights flashing, it was hard to tell what color it was. I had the insane urge to run my fingers through it. He was about my height, and the way those black leather pants clung to his muscular thighs, I really wanted to see his legs. He was slender, but with good definition: it wasn’t a six-pack, but I wouldn’t have minded running my hands over it.“Aren’t you a bit old for this, Jarod?” His voice was deep, and my skin pebbled at his tone. With a shock I realized he wasn’t mocking me; he was genuinely curious.Once more I felt compelled to speak the truth. “No, Sir. I-I don’t believe I am.”His fingers traced along my neck, running gently across my throat. I swallowed hard. It was so different from the treatment I’d received from everyone else here.“Would you like to play?”And with those words my heart dropped. “No. I’d rather not.” I was shocked to hear the words come from my mouth. Never before had I told a Sir no, but it seemed to be a night for honesty. Of all the times to be honest, though….I remained still, awaiting his imminent departure.“Good. I’m glad. I’m not here to play either.” He was quiet for a moment. “I want you to come home with me. Would that be okay?”My breath caught. What the hell? He was so different from everyone else in this club. My heartbeat sped up. “Yes, please.” My damn voice squeaked again.I felt the smooth leather against my throat. “This doesn’t come off until I say so. Is this agreed?”“Yes.”“Yes, what?”
I cursed myself for forgetting. “Yes, Sir.”



Buy the book:
Dreamspinner Press eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7217
Dreamspinner Press Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7218
E-BOOKS 1 – 6 are on sale at Dreamspinner for $1.00 each! http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=907


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dom-Ages-Collars-Cuffs-Book-ebook/dp/B0199BCUUI/ref=sr_1_1

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

Parker Williams:
Parker Williams began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family.
Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and Happily Ever After always has a price tag.

Where to find the authors:

KC:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorldFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KCWells/223608907761521Twitter: @K_C_Wells

Parker: Connect with Parker on: Twitter: @ParkerWAuthorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/parker.willi... Or you can visit his website: http://www.ParkerWilliamsAuthor.com

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27878173-dom-of-ages
Tour Dates& Stops: Parker Williams , Inked Rainbow Reads , Bayou Book Junkie , Decadent Delights , 3 Chicks After Dark , Gay Book Reviews , Unquietly Me , Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves , Alpha Book Club , The Hat Party , Divine Magazine , BFD Book Blog , Happily Ever Chapter , Love Bytes , Lee Brazil , Jessie G. Books , Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words , TTC Books and More , Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents , Book Lovers 4Ever , My Fiction Nook , Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews , Dawn’s Reading Nook , Charley Descoteaux , Carly’s Book Reviews , Molly Lolly , Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance , KathyMac Reviews , Three Books Over the Rainbow , Bonkers About Books , Emotion in Motion , A.M. Leibowitz , Foxylutely Book Reviews , Rainbow Gold Reviews , Velvet Panic , Cheekypee Reads and Reviews
Rafflecopter Prize: One of three $10 ARe gift cards, plus K.C. and Will are going to be stopping at each blog and picking a winner from the comments to receive a copy of 'An Unlocked Heart' (or one of the other first six books in the series).
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Goodreads M/M Members Choice Awards Nominations

Hey, everyone! Yesterday I found out I'd been nominated in a couple of categories for the Goodreads M/M Members Choice Awards. Nominations will be accepted from December 1st to December 25th. 
Whoot!!!

All categories will be capped at 100 nominations. Once GR reaches that number, the nominations will be closed for that category. Other categories will remain open until they reach 100 nominations or until December 25th, whichever comes first.

On January 1, preliminary polls will be opened for any categories in which 51 to 100 nominations have been received. Members may vote for their favorites in those categories until polls close on January 10th. The top 50 books from those categories will then advance to the final round.

The final round of polls will consist of all categories, including those which did not have a preliminary poll because there were 50 or less books nominated in that category. Polls will be conducted from January 12th to January 22nd.

Results will be revealed on Saturday January 30th, 2016 and will include 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.


These are the categories I'm nominated in:


  Best Cover Art: Behind the Eight Ball




Favorite All-Time M/M Author






 Best Sci-fi/Futuristic/Post-Apocalyptic/Steampunk: The Harvest: Journey's End

Pride Promotions presents Wildness by Mario Kai Lipinski and a giveaway

Author Name: Mario Kai Lipinski
Book Name: Wildness
Release Date: December 18, 2015
Blurb: Dr. Åke Jörgensson is a scientist from Sweden whose invention of almost instant travel to any part of the universe will revolutionize space flight.
Khitain is a N’tari, a panther-like alien serving aboard a human space ship, and Åke’s boyfriend of three months.
On Christmas, they visit Åke’s parents for the first time. As if meeting his in-laws weren’t stressful enough, feelings of inadequacy and fear haunt Khitain. His N’tari descent makes him a killing machine, and one wrong move could wipe out what is dearest to him. Åke, however, has to deal with his family’s ignorance and Khitain’s reluctance to let go of his restraint.
When something terrible happens during their Christmas Morning walk, the situation gets out of hands.
Can love span even light years?
Pages or Words:19,000
Categories:M/M Romance, Science Fiction 

Excerpt:December 24, 2267 “So much water.” Khitain looked down at the fuzzy blue ball of Earth. “Your home world is beautiful.” As beautiful as his mate, but Åke didn’t like to hear such praise, so Khitain kept it to himself. “I thought N’tar was also rich in water.” Åke stepped forward and pressed his forehead against the window of the landing pod. As always, some strands of his hair stuck out at the strangest angles. What was the human name for that color again? Oh yes, blond. The blueness of Åke’s irises flowed into the slightly darker shade of the water that reflected in the whites of his eyes. “It is, but most of our water runs in subterranean rivers. Those are the oceans you told me about?” “Yes, they are. See that landmass over there?” Åke pointed at the northern hemisphere. “That’s Scandinavia. Sweden’s over there.” Sweden. The land of Åke’s ancestors. The land of Åke’s parents. Khitain didn’t fear his enemies. So these people couldn’t be his enemies. “If you strain your ears any more, they’ll fall off.” Åke grabbed Khitain’s hand. His tiny human fingers stood out so white from the grayness of Khitain’s fur. “You don’t have to be nervous. They’ll like you. And Emilia? She’ll simply adore you. Emi loves cats more than anything else.” “It’s you who keeps telling everyone that I’m not a cat.” Khitain had seen holo vids of tigers, panthers, and lions. Of course, humans compared him with those. One of the panthers had even resembled his Second Aunt Eritruin, though the animal had looked friendlier. Much friendlier.“Because you aren’t, but for Emi, you’ll be a walking, talking pussycat.” Åke bared his teeth. Why did humans think that doing so was an amicable gesture? “And for your parents?” Khitain closed his hand around Åke’s, his tri-Kevlar claw protector rubbing over Åke’s knuckles. “For them, you’ll be the guy their son loves.” Or a disgrace to their family. A warrior and a scientist. Love goes strange ways. He snuggled up against Åke, whose head rested on Khitain’s lower ribs. “Your love honors me. May my love honor you.” Åke pecked Khitain’s flank and nuzzled the fur until his nose grazed the skin beneath. When Åke’s parents saw how much their son and he loved each other, maybe they’d refrain from chasing him out of their home and at least tolerate a lowly soldier. The pod decelerated and the counterforce of the inertia damper tugged at Khitain’s fur. The claw shape of Scandinavia filled the whole window now. “We’ll land in Stockholm any minute. A glider will take us to Kårböle, and the house of my parents lies a little outside of the town.” Åke still leaned against Khitain, and his voice resonated in Khitain’s body. “Pappa offered to pick us up by car, but I thought you’d prefer a little walk.” Khitain wouldn’t fit into that thing, that car. At least not into the models the ship’s computer had shown him, and moreover, he weighed more than those transports could load. Yet Åke wrapped Khitain’s shame up in a way that allowed him to save face. “I’d love to see the wilderness of Sweden.” He buried his nostrils in Åke’s hair and inhaled its smell, reminding him of mature Garrajfruits. The city soared by beneath them, and the shiny facades of the new buildings reflected the stony images of the old. Human settlements reached so high into the sky, much higher than the low huts on N’tar. The pod came to a halt, hovered in the air for some seconds, and descended onto the landing platform. A jolt rocked the ship as it touched the ground. With a hiss, the hatch of the shuttle opened. Khitain inhaled. They had landed in the center of the city, and yet the air smelled of nature and life. How much he had missed those odors in the artificial atmosphere of the Charon’s Boat, and how much he yearned to return to the safety of the ship, a hundred light-years away from Åke’s parents. 


Buy the book:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-wildness-1936904-340.html

http://www.mlrbooks.com/books.php 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0199DT8YW?keywords=Mario%20K.%20Lipinski&qid=1450408686&ref_=sr_1_fkmr0_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-fkmr0

http://www.mlrbooks.com/Bookstore.php?bookid=MLWILDER

Meet the author:Mario K. Lipinski (born in November, 1975, in Germany) lives in Herne, Germany.
He is a spare-time author and, in "real" life, is a mathematician teaching at university level. Does it show in his books? Yes, it does.
English is not his native language, and a frequent question is why he does write in English. For more than 15 years, most of the books he has read have been in English. So, it felt natural for him to write in English, too.
He is into romance with a capital R.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/M.K.LipinskiFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/M.K.Lipinski

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27982066-wildness

Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Kris Jacen

Tour Dates& Stops:Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Kirsty Loves Books, Chris McHart, Divine Magazine, Decadent Delights, Bayou Book Junkie, The Hat Party, Havan Fellows, Jessie G. Books, Bonkers About Books, Kimi-Chan, A.M. Leibowitz, MM Good Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, KathyMac Reviews, Molly Lolly, Charley Descoteaux, Carly’s Book Reviews, Velvet Panic, Alpha Book ClubRafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Wildness’ by Mario Kai Lipinski
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Star Wars Condom video

The French clip takes the guise of an ad for ‘glow in the dark’ condoms, taking inspiration and sound effects from the Star Wars franchise.

Contest winners!

                                     
Jen CW & Alleson 
I'm going to email you both for your home addy. :) Congrats to the winners! There will be more contests coming soon for the ebooks.
~M

Pride Promotions presents Along Comes a Man by G.A. Hauser and a giveaway!

Author Name: G.A. Hauser
Book Name: Along Comes a Man
Release Date: December 15, 2015
Blurb: Forty year old Freddie Oli and his longtime buddy, thirty-five year old, Barron Isaac, worked in the IT business together for years. When their company was bought out, Freddie and Barron decided to alter their career direction, and open their own landscaping business.
The two older men hire an ex-marine, Dirk Jameson, to help out.  At twenty-eight, Dirk was eager to work, strong, and not to mention, gorgeous.
Although Freddie and Barron were gay, they never felt any chemistry between them, but their bond of friendship was powerful.
As Dirk begins to flirt with both men, Freddie worries that Dirk will be the demise of a good friendship and a budding business. 
 A strong partnership is tested as the men are faced with a handsome stud who seems to want it all.Will this trio have a happy ending? Or will jealousy and doubt creep into their lives?For Barron and Freddie, things were smooth sailing, until, along comes a man…

Pages or Words:Pages: 255, Words: 64,745
Categories:Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Ménage/Poly


Excerpt:Dirk drank his hot coffee, resting a leg on each man, since it was tight for the three of them on the bench seat. He liked the idea of working outdoors, and even though he had a degree in engineering, the thought of being cooped up in an office didn’t appeal.The two men who interviewed him, however, did appeal to him.Barron Isaac, a fit, handsome man, who Dirk figured was in his early thirties, had incredible blue eyes. He wasn’t very tall, but his arms were sculpted and he had designer stubble and conservatively cut brown hair. On his initial interview, Dirk had met both men. They’d told him they had been cut loose from an IT company that had been bought out, so immediately Dirk knew they were bright and eager to start their own business.Since the IT world had become a clutter of winners and losers, landscaping in southern California was a good alternative. And in December, the rains had come, and plants needed tending, and lawns mowing. And in the summer drought, many residents were opting for drought-resistant plants or removing sod for rocks.Sipping his coffee, Dirk glanced at Freddie Oli as he drove. Dirk imagined Freddie was slightly older than Barron, but was, in Dirk’s opinion, the perfect older man fantasy. He had slightly graying temples, some laugh lines near his eyes when he smiled, and was also fit, and well built. Dirk couldn’t help but see the friendship these two men shared, and even when they teased each other, it was good-natured and fun.Dirk liked them on sight.And would love to fuck them. Both.Neither man wore a wedding ring, no one spoke of wives or children, and up until this morning, Dirk assumed the men lived together. He wasn’t so sure about it now, now that Freddie had told Barron to let Dirk park his motorcycle in the garage. If Barron lived there, wouldn’t he have just done it?Dirk had thought he had a read on these men when he first met them. Now he wasn’t so sure. It didn’t matter.He could certainly work for two straight buddies.Dirk took a look at each man’s crotch, seeing the bulge in their pants. But it sure would be fun if they were gay.Dirk relaxed in the bench seat, letting his knees touch each man’s leg, and smiled.~Barron felt the heat of Dirk’s leg on his and didn’t move away. He sipped his coffee, thinking about having a hot hunk like Dirk working with them. Maybe it was silly but the minute Dirk Jameson showed up for an interview, Barron and Freddie exchanged looks as if already hiring the handsome man on sight. Sure, they asked him the standard questions, had him fill out forms, did a quick background and credit check, but the man wasn’t a liar. Everything he had told them was true.Fresh out of the military, marine-tough, and fucking damn handsome. Sure, it was immature for him and Freddie to hire Dirk for his appearance and power, but hell, why shouldn’t they hire him? Barron was proud to have hired a vet. He just hoped Dirk wouldn’t grow bored. This was mostly grunt work. And just as he and Freddie made the change from office and computers to outdoor and physical labor, Barron hoped doing this kind of work was something Dirk would enjoy.Freddie parked in front of their first home. At the moment, they had a client list of only residential property. But Barron would love to build their way up to condo complexes, or better yet, hospitals and office buildings.Freddie adjusted his ball cap and said, “Ready, boys?”As he did, Barron could see Freddie grab Dirk’s thigh playfully, giving it a squeeze.Dirk tossed his empty coffee cup on the floor with the other trash and said, “Let’s go.”Barron opened his door and wondered if Dirk thought it was uncomfortable to have Freddie do that. He tried not to over think it and opened the tailgate of the truck. He hopped on and began lifting up the mower and blower, handing them to the two men standing at the tailgate.Freddie asked Dirk, “Do you want to mow or blow?”Barron paused to see Dirk’s reaction to that question, which obviously had a sexual innuendo.Dirk smiled. “I’ll blow.”Oh, God. Chills rushed over Barron’s body at the sexy smile Dirk gave Freddie.

Buy the book:

ARe:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-alongcomesaman-1940612-145.html


Bookstrand:
http://www.bookstrand.com/along-comes-a-man


Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/along-comes-a-man-g-a-hauser/1123109084?ean=2940152511369


Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/598869


Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Along-Comes-Man-G-Hauser-ebook/dp/B0193KD770/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1449591214&sr=1-1&keywords=G.+A.+Hauser+along+comes+a+man

Kobo:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/along-comes-a-man


Paperback:
ttp://www.amazon.com/Along-Comes-Man-G-Hauser/dp/1517303966/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1449617528&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=along+comes+a+man+hauser





Meet the author:
Amazon bestselling, award-winning author G.A. Hauser is from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA. She attended university at The Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, and has a BA in Fine Art from William Paterson College in Wayne NJ. As well as degrees in art, G.A. is a Graduate Gemologist from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In 1994 G.A. graduated from the Washington State Police academy as a Peace Officer for the Seattle Police Department in Washington where she worked on the patrol division. She was awarded Officer of the Month in February 2000 for her work with recovering stolen vehicles and fingerprint matches to auto-theft and bank robbery suspects. After working for the Seattle Police, G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began to write full length gay romance novels. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has penned over 120 novels and short stories. Breaking into independent film, G. A. was the executive producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES which had its Film Festival Premiere at Philly's Qfest, and its television premiere on OutTV. G.A. is the director and executive producer for her second film NAKED DRAGON, which is an interracial gay police/FBI drama filmed in Los Angeles with the outstanding cinematographer, Pete Borosh. (also the Cinematographer for Capital Games)
The cover photographs of G.A.'s novels have been selected from talented and prolific photographers such as Dennis Dean, Dan Skinner, Michael Stokes, TutaVeloso, Hans Withoos, and CJC Photography, as well as graphic comic artist, Arlen Schumer. Her cover designs have featured actors Chris Salvatore, Jeffery Patrick Olson, and model Brian James Bradley, among many others.  G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.

Where to find the author:
http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmovies/article/CAPITAL-GAMES-Based-on-Novel-by-GA-Hauser-Coming-to-DVD-211-20140106
http://www.authorgahauser.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Capital-Gregor-Cosgrove-Keough-Presnall/dp/B00GSA3K6C#
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Dragon-Jesse-Sean-Atkinson/dp/B00PCZF3E6/ref=sr_1_4?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1415463761&sr=1-4&keywords=naked+dragon
https://www.youtube.com/user/GAHauser?feature=mhsn
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005JT3LMQ
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/authorgahauser
https://twitter.com/nakeddragonfeat
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=G.+A.+Hauser
https://www.facebook.com/ga.hauser
https://twitter.com/AuthorGAHauser
https://www.pinterest.com/gahauser/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bennetpomerantz2/2015/06/06/anything-goes-ga-hauser-1
http://www.authorgahauser.com/about/audio/rainbowRadio.mp3
http://www.authorgahauser.com/about/audio/blogTalkRadio4112015.mp3
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/23760(Naked Dragon on demand)
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/23846(Capital Games on demand)
http://gahauser.tumblr.com/
http://www.shop.breakingglasspictures.com/Capital-Games-DVD-QCC387.htm
Goodreads Link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28164422-along-comes-a-man?from_search=true&search_version=service
Publisher: The G.A. Hauser Collection, LLC
Cover Artist:Photography by Dennis Dean
Tour Dates& Stops:Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Open Skye Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Bayou Book Junkie, Mikky's World of Books, KathyMac Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, BFD Book Blog, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Decadent Delights, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Jessie G. Books, Book Lovers 4Ever, 3 Chicks After Dark, Molly Lolly, Velvet Panic, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Inked Rainbow Reads, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Up All Night, Read All Day, Alpha Book Club, Rainbow Gold Reviews
Rafflecopter Prize: pdf of Along Comes a Man or a small poster of Arlen Schumer’s comic graphic design cover for My Super Boyfriend offered
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pride Promotions presents Destined Prey by Bailey Bradford and a giveaway

Thank you for joining us! This book was written as a fundraiser for Peyton Hollingsworth, a family friend of Bailey's who has been diagnosed with cancer.
*All proceeds and royalties from this book will be donated to help pay the medical bills for Peyton Hollingsworth. While he is currently being treated at St. Jude’s for Ewing’s Sarcoma, and treatment there is free, there are accumulated bills from his treatment and diagnosis before being sent to St. Jude’s.

About Peyton:
Peyton is a funny, loving, 11-year old boy who loves playing outside, riding go-carts, and Batman. In April, we found out he had cancer. Peyton has asthma, and often had to have nebulizer treatments, so when he was having trouble breathing, his doctor thought it was asthma. But nothing worked to ease his breathing, and the doctor sent Peyton to the hospital for a suspected collapsed lung.(4/21/2015)

From one day to the next, it went from us thinking he had a severe bout of asthma to finding out that he had a tumor pressing his lung up until it was almost completely obscured, and he couldn’t get much, if any, air into it.

Peyton was sent to St. Jude’s and diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. The mass was attached to one rib, and was spreading. He has undergone radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, several transfusions and MRI’s, numerous tests and received numerous shots. It’s been a rough, rough time for the Hollingsworth family, and we are hoping to help them out.

While St. Jude’s doesn’t charge for treatment, the Hollingsworth family has accumulated medical bills from Peyton’s doctor and hospitalization before he was sent to St. Jude’s. Cherri, his mother, has been unable to work during this time, and the financial constraints are something they could really use help overcoming.

I am a family friend who is very close to Peyton's family. Any and all donations made will go towards travel, medical, and housing expenses so that his family can stay close. His parents, Dave and Cherri, will most likely be missing work to stay with Peyton.

I will keep updating this as we get more information. We should know more within a few days, but I wanted to go ahead and get a jump start on this, so that we can help his family financially, so this will be one less thing that they have to stress about.


UPDATE: We are currently awaiting another MRI to be scheduled and done to see if all the cancer has been eradicated. We are hopeful and have faith that Peyton will be in remission and the cancer will not have spread or reoccur.

 


If you'd like to help, a Go Fund Me campaign has been set up: https://www.gofundme.com/okwdr0

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and donations.



* * * * 

Author Name: Bailey BradfordBook Name: Destined PreySeries: Wild OnesBook: One
Release Date: December 18, 2015 (available for early download on December 14 from Rainbow Ninja Press).Blurb:
Wild Ones book 1
Destined PreyAll Jack Tucker wanted was to come home for a little while and try to figure out where his life had gone wrong. Moving from Wyoming to New York hadn’t turned out the way he’d thought it would, and a bad breakup leaves him bruised in more than just the emotional sense.
He doesn’t expect to be glad he’s back on the Double T Ranch with his brother, Rhett, and he sure doesn’t expect to find the place crawling with coywolves, wolves, and coyotes. There seems to be some kind of animal-warfare going on, and he and Rhett are caught in the middle of it.
Coywolves—the hybrid of wolves and coyotes, hated by both, and more predatory than either. Add in the fact that all the battling species are shifters, and there’s bound to be trouble.
Ben Akers is part of his brother’s pack. The only coywolf shifters in existence, they find themselves under constant attack from wolf and coyote packs determined to make the Akers pack extinct. But coywolves don’t die out so easy, and when Ben’s life takes a surprising turn in the form of one sexy human named Jack Tucker, they’re both in for surprises, danger, and, if Destiny rules, an abiding love that most people—and shifters—only dream of.

Pages or Words:43,000 words
Categories:Erotica, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Paranormal, with a dash of Western/Cowboy.
Excerpt:

Jack Tucker watched his brother retrieve the rifle from the gun cabinet in the office. “Um. Rhett? What’re you doing?”

Rhett didn’t even glance back at him as he loaded the gun. “What does it look like I’m doing? You been living in the city so long you forgot how a Wyoming rancher lives?” Then he did look over his shoulder at Jack, and Jack kind of wished he hadn’t.

He hated seeing that judgment in his brother’s eyes, and knowing he’d never be good enough for Rhett, never be the man his brother was. “No,” Jack mumbled, “I didn’t forget.”

Rhett sighed and turned until he faced Jack. “Look, that was uncalled for. I’m… I’m sorry, okay?”

Jack was so startled by the apology that he gulped and couldn’t think of a word to say.

Rhett grimaced. “Yeah. Well, okay. Gotta check on some tracks Eddie said he found leading from his property to ours. I’ll be back in a few hours.” He left, striding from the room without seeming to hesitate.

Jack groaned and closed his eyes. Of course Rhett didn’t hesitate—he never had. Rhett always knew what to do, and how to do it, and who he was, and that he was right… Except, he apologized to me, and it screwed my head right up.

“Worse than it already is,” he muttered. Jack couldn’t stop himself from touching his left side, where his bruised ribs throbbed as the pain meds wore off. He was lucky, very lucky, that Rhett hadn’t pushed him on the accident that had sent Jack running home from New York, and possibly into the unemployment line. His boss hadn’t been happy with Jack taking off, even with a medical note as an excuse. Jack hadn’t told Rhett much about any of that. As far as Rhett knew, Jack had fallen down some icy steps, and that was all he was going to ever know about the incident.

Jack replayed his brother’s apology in his head and somehow it mingled in with Alex’s. Cold fear trickled down Jack’s spine and his gut cramped hard enough to make him worry about the dinner he’d just eaten.

After several minutes of trying to calm himself down, Jack stood and left. He’d wanted to sit and talk with Rhett about finances and try to decide if he should offer to let Rhett buy him out. Jack wasn’t made to be a rancher. He wasn’t made to be a New Yorker, either.

Jack didn’t know what he was supposed to do in life, and at the age of twenty-seven, he kind of thought he should have an inkling.

His cell phone was ringing when he stepped into his bedroom. Without looking, he knew it was Alex calling. “Who else would it be?” he huffed. It wasn’t like he had any friends left.

Rather than check to see how many times Alex had called and how many texts he’d sent, Jack turned the phone off, then stuck it in the nightstand. He eased himself onto the bed, then took a couple of prescription pain meds and washed them down with the rest of the water he’d brought in earlier.

The glass was old and familiar, and he felt a pang of regret as he looked it over after he set it down. Green glass, nothing special about it, yet he remembered so much as he stared.

He could see his mom in the kitchen, fixing a pitcher of tea, talking to him, and listening as he told her about his day at school or the chores he’d had to do around the ranch. She’d always been so kind and understanding, Jack had to believe she’d have been okay with him being gay. He’d spent many afternoons in the kitchen, helping her prepare meals or just basking in her presence. Losing her had almost broken him.

For a few more minutes, he let his mind go back to happy childhood days. His dad wasn’t in nearly as many of those good memories, but Chauncey Tucker hadn’t been a bad man. His dad had been more like Rhett—stoic, focused on the ranch and less on the people around him.

Jack ran one finger around the rim of the glass. He was surprised, really, that there were any of the old things left.

The sound of gunshot startled him so badly he jerked and nearly sent the glass flying.

“Shit!” He winced as he pushed it back, then stood as quickly as he could manage.

Another shot rang out, then a third, and fear quickly overtook every other sensation he’d felt until then.

Rhett had always been an ace shot. If he’d had to use three bullets, then there was something bad outside—a bear or a whole pack of wolves.

Jack didn’t like guns, but he went and got one from the gun cabinet anyway. He loaded it as he walked to the front door, and hoped like hell Rhett wasn’t hurt.

As soon as he stepped outside, the fine hairs at his nape seemed to stand up and vibrate, like some kind of primitive survival instinct warning alert system. Jack froze, his back to the door as his heart slammed hard against his ribs.

Another shot sounded, and it jolted Jack into action. “Rhett! Rhett!” He rushed down the steps and toward the direction the shots had come from. “Rhett! Are you okay?”

When Rhett didn’t immediately answer, Jack ran, careless with the gun, aware of that but unable to make himself do anything other than find his brother as soon as possible.

“Rhett!” He stumbled over something on the ground and almost fell before he managed to flail enough to keep himself upright.

Pain tore down his injured side, but he ignored it as he called out for his brother yet again. He cursed himself for not thinking to grab a flashlight. The sky was overcast and there was no moonlight to assist him in his search, and once he was past the barns there was no light coming from the house or other structures, either.

Jack realized that the cattle in the closest field were making enough noise to drown out his voice or Rhett’s, making it impossible for them to hear each other.

The sounds of the gunshots must have scared the cattle. Jack worried about a stampede, but he’d never seen any of the critters take out a fence, so he dismissed the idea.

“Rhett!” His throat burned as he hollered again.

Lightning streaked across the sky, blinding Jack for a moment, then thunder followed and he couldn’t contain his startled yelp as his ears rang from the sound.

Or his shriek when six pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared between him and the fence line.

“Shit!” Jack skidded to a halt and hoped he could steady his hands, and force himself to do what he had to do.



Buy the book:

Destined Prey available Monday 14th December:http://www.rainbowninjapress.com/Destined-Prey
Destined Prey available Friday 18th December:https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-destinedprey-1942060-340.htmlhttp://www.amazon.com/Destined-Prey-Wild-Bailey-Bradford-ebook/dp/B019950LR8/
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/599662


Meet the author:A few things about me…
I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.
And it’s really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I’ll just let y’all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there’s something specific you’d like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio.





Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bailey.bradford.9Twitter: @BaileyBFun4MeBlog: http://baileysplayroom.blogspot.comWebsite: http://baileybradford.com
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3087007.Bailey_Bradford Publisher: Rainbow Ninja PressCover Artist:


Tour Dates& Stops:14-Dec: Decadent Delights, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, BFD Book Blog, Hearts on Fire, Mikky's World of Books, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Unquietly Me
15-DecOpen Skye Book Reviews, Nephy Hart, MM Good Book Reviews, I Read Selfies, Havan Fellows
16-DecScattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Carly’s Book Reviews, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Love Bytes, Divine Magazine, Wake Up Your Wild Side, A.M. Leibowitz
17-DecElisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Happily Ever Chapter,3 Chicks After Dark, QUEERcentric Books, My Fiction Nook, The Hat Party
18-Dec: Jessie G. Books, Bayou Book Junkie, The Novel Approach, Inked Rainbow Reads, Kimi-Chan, Molly Lolly, Book Lovers 4Ever




Today I’m interviewing Bailey Bradford author of the series Wild Ones, with book one, Destined Prey, now out. I'm a huge fan of hers and lucky to call her friend. :)
Hi Bailey! Thank you for agreeing to this interview. *rubs hands together* Hehe...

10 things we didn’t know about you:

I’ve given up soda. I feel lost when I can’t write. I don’t have nearly enough time to get online and socialize as I’d like; I homeschool my 16-yr old daughter, help with my grandkids, take care of the yard—we live on 3 city lots, so much yard. With 8 people living in one house, I am constantly involved with someone here when not writing or sleeping. Even then…I am very shy and introverted. I babble when I meet people because my nerves are shot. I miss PNut any time I have to travel without him. I love cold weather. I don’t love cold, wet weather.I avoid fried foods but have a big weakness for carbs. Sleeping is difficult—I have never slept well, never sleep for more than a couple of hours without waking up. If I did sleep longer, I’d scare people. I work purposefully toward being happy. 

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of 'Destined Prey' by Bailey Bradford
Rafflecopter Code:

A COOK'S TALE Book Two: Ship Logs of the Santa Claus by Mann Ramblings and a giveaway!

BEING THE NEW GUYA Cook's Tale is my second published novel by Wayward Ink and I couldn't be more thrilled. For a long time the idea of someone taking enough interest in my stories to actually pay me to write them was unheard of.There's still a lot of work to be done. Being the new guy on the block, (Oh god, that's such a cliché. Where was my trusted beta during this?) you have to spend nearly as much time marketing yourself as it seems you spent writing the book in the first place. Not a new thing to hear from an author, but it's true. Some people are hesitant to spend their hard earned dollars on an untested face, and I can't say I blame them. And there's always a reader's preferences in genre to contend with shrinking your potential audience. You can't impress a die-hard contemporary fan with a hardcore sci-fi novel.When you're new, you don't get as many reviews as more established authors. Not to say I haven't received good reviews—I have. In fact, some of them still make me warm knowing someone understood the effort I put forward and appreciated it. However, when you don't get a lot, the bad ones—the ones that seem unfairly harsh—stand out like a beacon and make you doubt your work. I've been fortunate not to receive a lot of this type, but they're still hard to deal with. I'm too new to have a thick skin as of yet. LOLSome authors are lucky. They connect the right way or have the novel that can't help but go viral from day one. Then there are the rest of us. LOL There are a lot of downsides to having to earn your stripes. The returns are low and you find yourself happy and jealous for your contemporaries winning accolades. They earn and deserve every one, and you know it, but you want to earn your own as well. You want a taste of the limelight, even if it's fleeting. If we didn't crave validation, we wouldn't do what we do, now would we?And that's really what it comes down to right? I love to tell my stories. I want to paint pictures with phrases and dialogue that reach out to others, making them laugh, cry, and scream at and along with my characters. Every once in a while I get a message, not a formal review or dialogue between authors, but a reader who found the courage to speak up. A little piece of mail, saying how your story touched their lives in a way that made all the heartache of re-writing and painful doubts of your skills inconsequential. One small letter can amount to a huge success.I'm not ready to quit any time soon. There's more books in me for people to find.





A COOK'S TALE Book Two: Ship Logs of the Santa Claus
by Mann Ramblings

M/M Sci-fi Romance by Wayward Ink Publishing
Giveaway for Book One – The Luxorian Fugitive below!
Buy Links:
WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/a-cooks-tale-by-mann-ramblings/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-acook039stale-1925761-153.html
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Cooks-Tale-Ship-Santa-Claus-ebook/dp/B017I26RXG/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cooks-Tale-Ship-Santa-Claus-ebook/dp/B017I26RXG/
Amazon AU:http://www.amazon.com.au/Cooks-Tale-Ship-Santa-Claus-ebook/dp/B017I26RXG/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/Cooks-Tale-Ship-Santa-Claus-ebook/dp/B017I26RXG/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cooks-tale-mann-ramblings/1122908859


Blurb:
The trials and tribulations of the crew and passengers of interplanetary transport vessel, The Santa Claus continues in A Cook’s Tale.
After a horrific breakup, Erron Murfin is bitter, homeless, and friendless. When the cook’s position on the Santa Claus presents itself, Erron decides to escape his current circumstances and join the crew. On board he reconnects with family friend Gamin Wells, whose own secrets and issues begin to surface upon Erron's arrival. The least of which is the reason the pair haven't laid eyes on one another in over twelve years.
As Erron settles into his new duties, the men on board take an interest in their newest crew member. Among those intrigued by Erron are polyamorous couple, Barrus and James. Despite Erron's cautious nature, he’s drawn into a triad relationship with the pair.
But there’s something about Gamin…
Is Erron too damaged to confront his own feelings?
Will his past prevent him from finding what he needs?



Excerpt:
Over two and a half hours had gone by and the game had shifted considerably. Priest had a sizable pile of chips in front of him while Erron's were down to next to nothing. The rest of the group appeared to be surviving through their careful betting.

It wasn't as if Erron was playing badly; he played every hand the way he'd been taught and every time Priest had the better hand. Most of the pile in front of the man was from Erron's holdings; he was losing fast. The worst thing was how he could see that Priest wasn't a better player, he was a fortunate bastard.
If Lady Luck continued to ignore Erron, he was likely to become a misogynist. Adding Toby's bitch fiancée and the fake gypsy at the diner into the list, it seemed lately like every female connected with Erron was screwing him over these days. Good thing his mother wasn't still around to see this.
Every gram of Erron's skill was necessary to quell his frustration. It would be poor form as a player and as a sportsman to start complaining. He wanted to fit in with the crew, the last thing he needed was to be marked as a sore loser.
Priest dealt the next round and Erron found himself looking at four hearts in his hand, a possible flush. After one round of careful betting, everyone folded except him and Priest. Erron was determined to win back part of his winnings and get back into the game.
He passed back one card while Priest replaced three. A fifth heart completed his flush hand with a queen high. The odds of Priest beating him were slim.
“I'll start with fifty,” Erron said and pitched a red chip into the pot.
Priest's eyes narrowed while his sly grin made Erron nervous. He grabbed a stack of blue chips, counted them, and set them in the center.
“I'll see your bet and raise you a thousand.”
Erron quickly counted his stash. “That puts me all in, but I can't cover it. I'm short three hundred fifty.”
“Of course you can. Your shirt and pants are worth three hundred a piece,” Priest answered. His glee couldn't be hidden.
“Come again?” Erron asked.
The grin on Priest's face was far too bright as he explained. “Shirt and pants are worth three hundred. Underwear is worth five. House rules.”
“Priest...” James said, his voice holding a clear warning.
“House rules, James. He didn't have to agree to it.”
Erron wanted to pound his head on the table for not asking details. He was so intent on being part of the group, he failed to find out what he was getting himself into. The first rule of gambling: never play a man at his own game.
“It's fine, James. I'm not someone who doesn't follow through,” Erron said. James begrudgingly relented. “Are there any more of the house rules that I need to know before we continue?”
Priest gave a knowing Cheshire grin to James. “Why don't you tell him, James?” James squirmed in his seat before looking Erron in the eye. He was clearly not happy to pass along the news. His words were slow and tinged in apology.
“Whoever loses and ends up naked spends the night with the winner of the game.”
Laughing in disbelief, Erron scrubbed a hand through his hair. What had he gotten himself into? No wonder the men were playing so conservatively. No doubt once someone lost, the game would gain a new level of aggressiveness while the boys combated to be the final winner. This kind of game was probably pretty common. He should have known better, playing poker with a batch of strangers was risky enough, but with someone as sketchy as Priest, it was downright idiotic.
“You don't have to do this, Erron. I should have said something when house rules came up,” James said. Guilt riddled the poor man. Priest looked absolutely perturbed at James' suggestion. Erron considered letting the supply officer stew for a while, but he really wasn't offended by the house rules. None of the men at the table were unattractive, and he'd been catching furtive glances from them since he'd walked through the door. A night with any one of them would be a nice distraction. No matter what the fake gypsy had foretold, he wasn't looking for true love right now.
“It's okay, James,” Erron said. “Besides, you might actually win.”
With a wolfish grin, Erron peeled his shirt over his head, catching the complete attention of all the players. As his flat, tight stomach came into view, all conversation stopped. Every male in the room projected his need at Erron without a single syllable. He tossed his shirt into the pot before he unbuckled his pants. A collective gasp went through the room as he peeled his clothing down his lean, taut thighs and depositing it on top of his shirt. Erron stood before the men in a pair of snug, wine colored briefs that molded obscenely to his form.
“Holy shit, the new boy is packing!” Priest shouted.

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About the Author:
Like many gay men, when MANN RAMBLINGS grew up, there weren't any heroes he could relate to. The world held him back while he tried futilely to hide the real person inside. So much has changed since those hollow days. He finally found his voice, the voice that says it’s all right to revel in the so-called inappropriate joys, laughs, and loves that storm inside a man's head. It took a long time to find that courage and now that it's here, he plans to use it well.
While spending years more focused on visual arts, he never let go of his innate passion for storytelling—he wanted to write and draw comic books when he grew up. Once he discovered M/M fiction, a whole new world opened with new possibilities. Why couldn't you have fantastic and dynamic tales with an M/M cast? He started reading the online tales of authors like, Night Tempest, Rob Colton, and Alicia Nordwell, which only fueled within him the need to create. Eventually he found GayAuthors.org, and with a little coercive nudge from Night Tempest, started sharing his tales with an unexpected level of positive response. That experience and support gave him the courage to cross his fingers and aim for the world of M/M publishing.
Born and raised in Michigan, Mann Ramblings continues to type away, wishing it was practical to use a noisy, old fashioned keyboard that clacks with each strike, if only to annoy his loving partner and spoiled miniature dachshund.


MANN RAMBLINGS can be found at: 
Blog: http://mannramblingsblog.wordpress.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mannramblings
Twitter: @mannramblings