M.A. Church's Blog, page 148

Sail Away with the Wednesday Briefers! Chat and Giveaways at Beth Wylde

Beth Wylde group

Many of the members will be taking part. There will be giveaways! You do have to be part of the group to take part, but signup is free and easy. Just click on the above link. :)

We will be posting flashing that all revolve around a cruise in the group. These flashes will be part of an anthology we have planned. So make sure to stop by and chat with us!

Now on to my flash!





Say Yes
Sun, sea, surf. Were there better words in the human language?Clay stood at the ship’s rail, enjoying the salty ocean breeze on his face. As he watched, the Queen Bee pulled out of port. It had taken hours, but they were finally underway. The farther out they sailed, the more stress fell from his shoulders. This was the first vacation he’d had in over a year. A good friend had told him about the Queen Bee gay cruise package. Clay had been intrigued and booked the two-week round-trip from his home town of San Francisco to Hawaii. He sighed. A trip to paradise. Was there anything greater? Yeah, two weeks surrounded by nothing but hot men on the prowl. He absolutely planned to live it up on this cruise and get laid. Thanks to his job at Hosh Blank Inc, an American-based multinational information technology corporation, Clay couldn’t remember the last time he got some. He stayed at the rail, people watching. Damn good thing this ship was ginormous. There were more gay men milling around than you could shake a stick at. The cruise included a mass wedding, so there were couples, but many more singles. There were men in every color, shape, age… it was a smorgasbord of male flesh. Several guys caught his eye and eye-fucked him in return. Not quite ready to hook up without taking a good look about, Clay moved around the ship. He found the pool and made plans to swim as soon as he finished his little scouting trip.  Even in shorts and a white T-shirt, he was sweating. Clay found another area he could just kick back and watch. So far, no one had tripped his switch.Then the crowd parted, and fuck him yes, his switch officially tripped. Holy Mother of God, the man was sex on two legs. Clay guesstimated Dream Guy was around six feet tall, with dark, rich brown hair cut short. Mirrored shades hid his eyes. As he moved closer, Clay noticed the dark hair had a hint of gray at the temples. Dark stubble covered a strong jaw. A playful breeze ruffled his dark hair, leaving that gorgeous mane in an untidy mess. Clay thought it was much sexier that way. Dream Guy looked like he just rolled out of bed, a look Clay heartily approved. His pricey yellow knit shirt and khaki dress shorts couldn’t hide the darkly tanned forearms that caught Clay’s attention. Someone worked out from the looks of it, and the muscular legs encased in those khakis agreed with Clay’s assessment. Tall, dark, and sexy fit this man. But even from here, Clay could feel the power radiating off him. Whoever Dream Guy was, Clay was willing to bet he was either a company owner or held an important job. There was just too much authority and command coming off the guy. Clay’s mouth watered. He had a thing for power suits. Which was funny, since he was one too.But unlike most of his conservative, intelligent, driven co-workers, Clay was a wild child at heart. If it wasn’t for his high IQ and lawyer parents, he’d have been completely happy spending his days surfing and his nights tinkering with computers. What the people he worked with couldn’t see were the tattoos and piercings hidden under his clothes. And here, on a ship filled with hundreds of men, he wasn’t worried about running into anyone he knew. Suddenly, Clay had a genius idea. There was supposed to be a charity bachelor auction that afternoon, starting at 3pm in the ballroom. He’d enter the guy and bid on him. Oh yeah, all sorts of kinky ideas rolled through his head for when he won. He rubbed his hands together. Now all he needed was a name and the hope Dream Guy would be game. Clay glanced around the immediate area. He needed someone with enough authority to find out the guy’s name for him. Ah! There was a blonde- haired lady standing not far from him. Her nametag read Cruise Director Lisa Taylor. Perfect. Clay made his way to her. After a quick discussion of what he wanted, she left Clay and approached Dream Guy.  Clay returned to the ship’s rail. Well, good grief, Clay’s heart actually sped up as she spoke to the man. A swift smile crossed his face, perfect white teeth gleaming against wonderfully tanned skin. Clay swallowed as Dream Guy nodded. The cruise director withdrew a card from a multitude of pockets and offered it to the man. He quickly wrote on it and handed it back.A pleasant rush warmed Clay’s body as the guy nodded one more time in response to something the cruise director said then walked off. The director was delayed as a few more men stopped her with questions. Finally, she joined Clay, card in hand.“Mr. Young? The gentleman’s name is Asa Moore, and he was very pleased someone volunteered him for the auction. I can drop his name in one of the many boxes placed through the ship, if you like.”“That would be great, Lisa, but can I see the card for a minute? I just want…” Clay blushed. “I’d like to see his handwriting.”“No problem.” She handed Clay the card.Clay held it, staring at the writing. Just as he thought. Nice handwriting with strong, sure strokes. The name was beautifully written too. Asa was somewhat of an unusual name, but he found it intriguing. He certainly had no problem visualizing himself crying it out while being pounded through the mattress.Clay handed the card back to the cruise director, a gigantic smile on his lips. “Thank you so much. I’m most definitely excited about the auction now.”Lisa’s smile was just as big as Clay’s. “Remember, all proceeds go to The Trevor Project. Good luck!”
Clay smirked. His luck was always good. 

Come Sail Away with the Wednesday Briefers at Beth Wylde tomorrow!

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/bethwylde/info
Make sure to join us tomorrow! The Wednesday Briefers will be at Beth Wylde. See our special flash fiction, learn more about the Briefers, ask us questions, and enter the contests!

I'll give away a free copy of Shadows in the Night, and the group has decided to give away (3) $25 gift cards!

See you there!

~M

Goddess Fish Presents Nothing But Smoke by Daisy Harris and a Giveaway!

Nothing But Smokeby Daisy Harris



Goddess Fish presents Nothing But Smoke by Daisy Harris. Please follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/04/virtual-nbtm-review-tour-nothing-but.html 
Daisy will be awarding a $50 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


BLURB:
Sometimes good boys do bad things.
Fire and Rain, Book 3
Michael Larson considers himself one of the good guys. He recycles, eats mostly vegan, and volunteers. But one night, while on a jog through a Seattle park, he encounters a sexy man on a motorcycle he wants to be bad with.
Firefighter Nicky O’Brian barely has time to even think about a sex life. Between his job and caring for his critically ill mother, his only pleasures involve a few racy videos and occasional nighttime forays to find men willing to help him forget his troubles.
It was supposed to be a one-time, anonymous hookup—until fate intervenes and their mutual attraction blossoms into a furtive affair. Michael doesn’t date closeted guys, but for the haunted, lonely Nicky he makes an exception.
When Nicky’s mother takes a turn for the worse, Michael is forced to make a choice between idealism and compassion. And as Nicky’s needs spiral out of control, Michael realizes that a new set of ideals could be exactly what he needs to keep love in his life—for good.
Warning: Contains sex in the trees, sex in parked cars, and sex in other uncomfortable places. Tissues are required, because the ending will make you cry—and maybe make you want to call your Mom.



Excerpt:
Where would I have seen…?
The answer snapped into his head, like a whip cracking against his consciousness.
Leather Dude from the park. F**k, f**k, f**k.
Michael dropped his gaze to his plate.
“Well, hurry up, or we’ll be done by the time you get around to eating.” Henri grabbed a chicken leg out of a bucket and headed to their spot.
Scooping casserole onto his plate, Michael snuck another glance at the man he’d blown in the park.
The guy’s friends moved away from him, leaving him standing awkwardly on the outer edge of a conversation between a middle-aged man—who Michael figured was a boss of some kind—and a couple women.
Not that Michael cared, but he couldn’t help wondering if the younger woman was the guy’s girlfriend. He guessed not, since Leather Dude didn’t lift his chin when she said something to him. Instead he kept his eyes on the grass like he was measuring its growth for a science experiment.
In the bright afternoon, Leather Dude’s bulk was even more pronounced than it had been at the park. His shoulders and chest strained his shirt, his biceps so pumped they barely fit through the sleeves.
With a nervous scratch to the back of his neck, the guy darted his gaze Michael’s direction before dropping it back to the grass.
What…? Oh!
Michael spun away, realizing the guy was ignoring him on purpose. God, that was weird. Normally when Michael ran into guys he’d messed around with, Michael was the one ducking behind trees or slipping into the nearest coffee shop to avoid conversation. He headed back to his friends before he was tempted to stare at the guy any longer. Something about Leather Dude had Michael wanting to twist around again, check out the guy one more time.




AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Birkenstock-wearing glamour girl and mother of two by immaculate conception, Daisy Harris still isn't sure if she writes erotica. Her romances start out innocently enough. However, her characters behave like complete sluts. Much to Miss Harris's dismay the sex tends to get completely out of hand.
She writes about fantastical creatures and about young men getting their freak on, and she's never missed an episode of The Walking Dead.
Want to learn more about new releases, general news and my latest inappropriate boy band crush? Sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/b96xX

Website: www.thedaisyharris.com 
Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Nothing-but-Smoke-Fire-Rain-ebook/dp/B00I41ZA7K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395514625&sr=1-1&keywords=nothing+but+smoke+daisy+harris 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daisy.harris.31





~~~~~


The Manic Monday REVIEW:
First off… beautiful, beautiful cover. The story opens in Volunteer Park in Seattle. Two guys are looking for a quick hook-up. Little does either know how life-altering a simple blowjob will become.Michael is out and proud. He’s been hurt before by a lover hiding in the closet. No way is he going back to hiding, sneaking… being a dirty secret. Once was more than enough, thanks all the same. While looking for a hook-up, he spots Leather Dude—a thirtyish, ripped, motorcycle-riding sex god—who obviously is so far in the closet Michael would need a wrench to get him out. But Leather Dude is agreeable, so Michael blows him. And in the process, blows the top off the guy’s safe world. The attraction—and a need Michael senses, but doesn’t understand—spirals between them.Then it happens—they meet again at the Seattle Firefighters Annual Potluck. Leather Dude, Nicky, is a firefighter whose very religious mom is dying.This is a story about a man facing the death of his beloved mom while also trying to come to terms with his own wants and needs. It’s a sad, nervous, funny, heartbreaking tale. I ached for Nicky. Watching a parent die in stages is a soul-sucking experience. One I know about first hand. So, there were times I had to step away from this. It just brought too many of my own memories. But on the other hand, the author did an excellent, realistic job showing the pain Nicky goes through. I cried over this book. I don’t often do that. J It was well written and kept me interested. I did find a few awkward phrases throughout the book, but that’s really my only complaint. Just beware, it’s a tear jerker.Nothing But Smoke (Fire and Rain #3)by Daisy Harris 
Rating: 5 stars







Publisher: www.samhainpublishing.com
Publication Date: 06-10-2014   Buy link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/nothing-smoke-p-73454.html





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tease Me Thursday - Week 16

Welcome to week 16 of Tease Me Thursday ! When it's not quite Friday, and you're feeling like some fun from your favorite authors and authors you haven't met yet. Come on in, have a seat, and most of all... have fun! For this hop you post 7 paragraphs or 7 sentences or 7 words. It can be from a WIP or something published.
For this week, I thought I’d do something from Trouble Comes in Threes. Still waiting to hear something too, but it's only been a month. Hopefully I'll hear something soon!~M
Touble Comes in ThreesI gulped. Why was dude stripping? The view was damn nice but… “Ah, look, you don’t have to… Wait a minute. Are those my clothes? Those are my clothes you’re wearing, aren’t they? What the fuck?” And why was I even remotely worried about him wearing my clothes? Just how hard had I rattled my brain? I wish he’d put them back on at this point. It would make me feel a hell of a lot better.


Tal cocked his head. “They are your clothes, yes. We came here as cats, remember? So we had no way to bring our clothes with us. Clothes don’t just magically appear when we shift. We had to borrow yours, of course.”“Of course.” Like I should know that. “Wait, did you just say they don’t magically… That you… Ah, dude, why are you kneeling on the floor?” Holy shit, did we just go from the Twilight Zone to Kink City?Tal grinned at Kirk. “I like being close to the ground when I shift. It’s easier.”“Right. Close to the—” My mouth dropped open as the cute blond-haired guy groaned loudly. Sounds filled the room. Oh God, my stomach cramped… and I was sure I was going to be sick. That… that sound. Jesus. I’d heard something similar when I broke my arm as a kid. This sounded amazingly like that. Truly cringe-worthy. My shoulders hunched and my toes curled. That sound was worse than nails down a chalkboard, but that was nothing compared to what I was seeing in front of me. 
 “Oh. My. Fucking. God.”

Wednesday Briefs - To Touch the Sky #2.2

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Welcome to the  Wednesday Briefs  flash group (click to go to the site). The short stories have a maximum of a 1000 word count plus links at the bottom to the other flashers. If interested in joining us, drop me a line and I'll tell you how. :)
Prompts this week are:You’re giving me the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ excuse?”
“You need an ambulance?”
“He/She’s dumber that a sack of hair.”
“Turn the tunes down, man.”
“One enemy is too many and a hundred friends too few.”
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
“Happy is as happy does.”
“Love me a ginger.”
“Save a horse, ride a cowboy.”
“Get down on it….”
“Did you butcher a deer in here, or what?”
“I’m ready for warmer weather.”
“Spread’em…”
or have a character jogging
or use: oil, pitchfork, hay
or have a character fall in a pool fully clothed
or have a character drop something breakable in a store
or use: book, two, frame
or use: hand, insult, cap
or use: clipboard, boots, gravel
or have a river in a story
or find a penny on the sidewalk
or "Mind your manners"
or "Stupid is as stupid does"
or "Necessity is the mother of invention"

Chapter 2.2“Ah, look…” Hawk fought not to fidget. He was drawing a blank on the guy’s name.Another sigh came from the man across from him. “You don’t remember my name, do you? We’ve gone to bed three times now, and you can’t remember my name. It’s Nicky.”You weren’t even in the right ballpark.“I’m sorry, Nicky. I’m just really bad with names. But yes, I don’t bring a guy home more than three times. It’s a rule. You’re nice and all—”“Oh God, seriously? You’re giving me the ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ excuse?” Nicky glared at Hawk.Hawk needed to nip this in the bud. Emotional scenes weren’t his thing, either. “It’s not an excuse. It is me. I promise. I… Nicky, I just don’t do relationships. I… It’s better if I… I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you, but… I have my reasons.”Nicky’s anger suddenly fled from his face. “I’m sure you do. And I’m sorry to hear that. I had hoped we could… but I guess not. You’re a nice guy, Hawk, but you… Man, whatever’s eating you, you need to let it go.”Hawk’s head snapped back. “What… How did you—”“Oh, come on. You think you’re the only person on this planet who’s been hurt? You aren’t.” Nicky fished his keys out of his pocket. “Let it go, man, and move on.”Hawk’s mouth was still hanging open when Nicky walked out the door.I like him!Hawk shut the door. “Shut. Up. And there’s no point in you liking him. He’s got dark hair, remember?”Which is why you never sleep with blond-haired men. Yeah, I get it. We both know he’s not your mate, but here’s a human telling you the same thing I’ve told you for years. For that reason, I like him. It’s a shame. He could’ve been a good friend to you. “I don’t want a mate, and I don’t need friends.”Everyone needs someone. Even you. Hawk shook his head. “I’m not mate material. Whoever my mate is, he’d do better with someone else, someone who isn’t me. He’d be happier.”You’re full of shit.“I’m done talking about this.” Yawning, Hawk locked the door, returned to bed… and straight back to dreaming about his mate.
Two hours later, he was back up, pacing the floor, beyond annoyed. Why was he doing this now? He knew who his mate was, and he wanted no part it. He was responsible for himself only, and he liked it that way. Too bad the spirit that shared his body didn’t agree.Really? What about all those people at the bar who depend on you?“Not the same thing and you know it.” A quick glance out his bedroom window confirmed dawn was about to break. Arguing with you is like arguing with a sign post. Why don’t you go stretch your wings, old man? The sun’s out, and it’s such a nice morning… bright and cool. I love Spring. Imagine how good it’ll feel as we soar toward the clouds. Bet we could fly up and up until we can touch the sky. Shift and let the gentle breeze under our wings soothe you. We’ll find a nice juicy pigeon or rabbit for breakfast. Just do something, willya? I gotta tell you, dude, you’re bringing me down, and it’s much too pretty a morning for all these dire thoughts.Hawk rolled his neck. His totem spirit had the mentality of a fifteen-year-old hopped up on sugar and running on three hours of sleep. The spirit was very old, but damned if it acted like it. The crazy thing had talked him into doing things, things Hawk wouldn’t normally do, just to have ‘fun’. Like sky diving. Hawk was sure they were either going to die as they raced toward mother Earth, or he’d have to shift and risk exposing all their kind. His totem spirit, on the other hand, had screamed with excitement the whole time. So had he, but for a different reason.Same thing when he let the spirit talk him into scuba-diving. What the hell was he, a bird shifter, doing under that much water? That was just wrong in ways he couldn’t voice. His totem spirit had been fascinated, while he just wanted to get the hell back to the surface. It had been like this forever. He tried to live a nice quiet life, and his totem spirit kept at him until they did something that would curl a normal person’s hair.Hey, don’t even start that. You need a little excitement in your life. Ever since that night… You changed, Hawk. You became an old man way before your time. All you do is work, eat, sleep, work, ignore life, have meaningless sex, work—“Don’t.” Hawk stormed toward the bathroom. Fuck, he hadn’t even pissed yet and already his totem was on his ass. “Just don’t. I do what I have to.”Yeah, and I’m calling bullshit on that one. You do what you feel you’ve earned. A type of punishment for something that was notyour fault. You have no life, you just exist. What happened was a long time ago, and you need to move on. Why do you keep punishing yourself over something you had no control over?“Why the hell are you harping on me first thing in the morning? If you were female, I’d ask if it was that time of the month. Hells bells, I haven’t even had coffee yet.”
Dare you to say that to Mapiya.







[image error] TBC. Make sure to check the other flashers, lol! ;)


NephylimChris T. KatAveryLarry BenjaminCia NordwellTali SpencerJC WallaceKazy ReedSarah HayesJim DunawayRob ColtonJulie Lynn Hayes

Manic Monday Review: Rescued by Bailey Bradford (Southwestern Shifters #1)

Rescued (Southwestern Shifters #1)by Bailey BradfordStars: 4

First off, let me say I’m a huge fan of Bailey’s. I’ve read a lot of her stuff and am totally hooked. I also want to mention a blog story called My Life Without Garlic at her blog: Bailey’s Playroom. Check it out, seriously. I promise you will fall over laughing at one certain human.





Bio: A native Texan, Bailey spends her days spinning stories around in her head, which has contributed to more than one incident of tripping over her own feet. Evenings are reserved for pounding away at the keyboard, as are early morning hours. Sleep? Doesn't happen much. Writing is too much fun, and there are too many characters bouncing about, tapping on Bailey's brain demanding to be let out.Caffeine and chocolate are permanent fixtures in Bailey's office and are never far from hand at any given time. Removing either of those necessities from Bailey's presence can result in what is known as A Very, Very Scary Bailey and is not advised under any circumstances.Visit Bailey at:Blog: http://baileysplayroom.blogspot.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BaileyBFun4MeFB: https://www.facebook.com/bailey.bradford.9

Blurb:When Gabriel Staley rescues a magnificent black wolf, he has no idea that destiny has just turned up the heat and brought him his mate, sexy shapeshifter Mika Blackwell.

Gabriel Staley was used to being an outcast in the small town of Shasta, Texas. More concerned with rescuing stray dogs from a cruel death at the hands of the local Sheriff, Gabe focuses on making a difference and standing up for what he believes is right. Mika Blackwell, a shape shifter who was banned from his pack, is new to the outcast status, and not adjusting very well.

When Gabe heads out to rescue an injured wolf, he has no idea that his life is about to be eternally altered. As Mika watches the man approach him, he feels the universe tilt and realises that, while he may have lost his pack, he's just found what every shifter longs for - his destined mate.

Together, Gabriel and Mika must find their way and fight for their love—from confronting Mika's former pack leader to stopping someone who tries to kill Gabe's best friend, Todd. When Todd's attacker comes after Gabe, Mika is determined to protect his mate at all costs.
Buy Links:Totally Bound: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=711ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-rescued-444210-340.htmlAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rescued-Southwestern-Shifters-Bailey-Bradford-ebook/dp/B003Z4JZWC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1403232777&sr=1-1&keywords=rescued+by+Bailey+Bradford

The Manic Monday REVIEW:
Rated - April 25, 2014Shasta, Texas. Welcome to the South, where racism of all forms is alive and well. Gabriel Staley lives on the outskirts of town. Being gay here can be a problem. Little does Gabe know how much more complicated his life will become when he rescues a black wolf. But what choice does he have when he knows stray dogs in Shasta are being killed by Sheriff Kaufman? He saves the wolf, and I have to admit, that scene got to me, lol. Now the wolf is at the vet, being looked after by Gabe. Which would be fine, if the wolf was justa wolf.Thrown out of his pack by his Alpha for being gay (keep that in mind for future reference lol), Mika Blackwell is fighting just to survive. He knows immediately that the lovely human Gabe is his mate. Of course, Mika really needs to shift if he wants to talk to his mate. And he can’t do that as long as he’s caged. Then the fun starts lol.
This is a great book, and a wonderful start to a series. There’s the mate bond, the explanation of pack hierarchy, and hot mate sex. ;) ~Michelle

Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust anthology by Wayward Ink and Giveaway!

Birth of a story...
Inspiration can strike a writer in many ways. A picture seen, a song that is heard, a snatch of conversation that sparks an idea that demands to be written... A color, a word, an idea. There as many ways as there are writers. This is how this particular story, His Prince Wore Pink Stilettos came to be.
I had a job doing payroll and accounting at the time. One of my customers was a friend of mine named Gail, and she works at a national chain department store. One day she told me about the excitement of the day at her work. A guy had come in, wearing a black mini-skirt and pink high heels. There really was no more to the story than that. He didn’t do anything unusual, other than wearing an outfit that is generally not seen worn by men into a public place.
But something in my mind took that idea and ran with it. I knew there was a story there, and I was determined to find it... and I did...
His Prince is a coming-of-age story set in the 1970s, a time when acceptance and understanding of homosexuality was nowhere near what it is today. For young men entering puberty and questioning their sexuality, it could be a very confusing time indeed. One such  young man is Michael. The story actually begins some years after high school, when his teenage daughter discovers a supposedly lost memento in the attic—a pair of pink stilettos, and he can’t help but remember those long ago days, and a special someone...
This story was originally published by Dreamspinner Press a few years ago. It has been re-edited and the title slightly changed. I’m proud to have had it accepted by Wayward Ink for their Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust anthology. As the title implies, there is something for everyone in this book.
Sometimes inspiration comes when we least expect it. If you’re lucky, you’ll be near paper and pen when it does! Thanks for having me on your blog, I hope you enjoy the anthology!


Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust

We’ve all loved.

We’ve all laughed.

Sadly, we’ve also probably all known loss in one form or another.

And, yes, we at Wayward Ink are sure we’ve all experienced lust!

In Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust,  you'll experience one or more of the "L"s as we take you on a roller coaster of emotions.

Whether you like to sigh over the sweet, cry for the broken-hearted, enjoy a good laugh, or get a little hot and bothered; there's something for everyone in this collection. 

Buy link for Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust at Wayward Ink:  http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/love-loss-laughter-lust/



MINI BLURB FOR EACH STORY
His Prince Wore Pink Stilettos Julie Lynn HayesWanted: one prince, ball optional…
Invisible Taylin ClavelliWhat do you do when you become invisible to the love of your life?
Hearts Anyta Sunday
What if your fate is to lose the one you love and be doomed to live in a city of lost hearts? Is it possible two dead hearts can see life again?

A Closed Door Andrew Q. Gordon
Sometimes when you leave to find yourself, you've left the answer behind.
SleepwalkingTaylin Clavelli
Devastated by loss, Matthew sleepwalks through life, existing but not living. Can someone rescue him from his waking nightmare and help him to live again?
Life According to BuddyLily Velden
Buddy is a penis on a mission... Mission Objective: The Love Tunnel

Service with a Smile Lily G. Blunt
Terry visits a men’s designer boutique, and Ash gives him service with a smile…
Hunter or Hunted?Lily Velden
Any hunter worth his salt will tell you that in order to capture your prey, there are few simple rules you must follow…




Bio: Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. She enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, knitting and needlepoint and loves to cook. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all. Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, Amber Quill Press, MuseitUp Publishing, Torquere Press, and eXtasy Books, and coming soon to Wayward Ink Publishing and Prizm Publishing. She has also begun to self-publish and is an editor at MuseitUp.

You can find her on her blog at http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com , and you can contact her at tothemax.wolf@gmail.com




My links:Blog:  http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.comTwitter @Shelley_runyonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.l.hayes.7My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes

Wayward Ink is having a giveaway to celebrate the anthology’s release! Just enter your name in the rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tease Me Thursday week #15 - Be My Alien

Welcome to week 15 of Tease Me Thursday ! When it's not quite Friday, and you're feeling like some fun from your favorite authors and authors you haven't met yet. Come on in, have a seat, and most of all... have fun! For this hop you post 7 paragraphs or 7 sentences or 7 words. It can be from a WIP or something published. For this week, I thought I’d do something from Be My Alien from the Moonlit series. Book #2 called Be My Human, is due out in September/October.

Reed shifted under the body lying so contentedly on top of him. Hell’s bells, the guy fit against him perfectly. From the feel of things, they were both close to the same height. Which also meant certain things were… aligned. “Oh yeah, I’m okay. Banged my head a little, but I’m fine.”The stranger bit his bottom lip, his teeth worrying the tender skin. Reed debated slamming his head against the floor a few more times in the hopes of rattling his brain back to normal as the stranger rolled off him.“I really am sorry.”“No harm done.” Reed sat up and looked at the guy once again. Well, not much harm, anyway. His libido just had to pick now to perk up, didn’t it? But damn, this guy was sexy. Reed struggled to his feet and held his hand out to the man still on the floor, looking up at him. The guy took his hand and let Reed pull him up. “Name’s Reed. Are you okay?”“Hi, Reed!” The guy hopped to his feet in a single, lithe movement, as if it was the most….world. “My name is Taz. Nice to meet you, and yes, I am.”For a moment there was a flash in the guy’s eyes that belied his statement. “Good, that’s good. Glad to hear it. Well, I guess I’d better be going—”A forlorn expression crossed Taz’s face and his pretty eyes clouded. “Oh.” 

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3801

Wednesday Briefs - To Touch the Sky #2

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Welcome to the  Wednesday Briefs  flash group (click to go to the site). The short stories have a maximum of a 1000 word count plus links at the bottom to the other flashers. If interested in joining us, drop me a line and I'll tell you how. :)
Prompts this week are:
“The safer bet is…”“Why can’t you be that guy/gal?”“I just bought a lemon.”“That’s the most terrible smell ever.”“Get on with it.”“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”“Call me Mr. Sandman.”“I am not helping move that.”“I come bearing gifts.”“We’re at the end of the street.”“I’m done.”“Dinner is served.”“Better come get it while it’s hot!”“Stop running and face me.”“Hush, little baby, don’t say a word...”“No rubber, no nooky.”“Mischief makes the heart grow fonder.”or have a character on a TV showor use: dream, time, sheriffor have a character take a showeror have a character paint somethingor use: carpet, stick, sheetor use: board, sack, cupor use: gun, paper, sink or have a elephant in the storyor have a ceiling fan fall from the ceiling or use chocolate in a sexy wayor have a character with a severe case of blue balls

Chapter Two 
Present DayHawk’s eyes snapped open as the last of the—dream? vision? memory? nightmare?—faded. Dammit, why was he remembering this now? It’d been hundreds of years since that night happened. Frankly, he could stand to go hundreds more. “Shit,” he muttered.So much had changed since then. He now went by Gus Hawkins, his real name of Chetan nearly forgotten. Most everyone called him Hawk. Hania, the black cougar shifter, was now Jason Sky. Lootah’s name was Owen Woods. Hawk snorted in remembrance. As time passed, they finally did find a name that described Lootah’s totem spirit—he was a Bengal tiger. Owen was the sheriff of the small town where Jason lived. Mapiya lived there too. She was the only one of them who still used her original name.Rolling over, he punched the pillow. Or he started to, until he saw the dark head next to him. Shit, he’d forgotten what’s-his-name was here. A grimace crossed Hawk’s face. He hadn’t intended to let the guy stay, but… he’d been tired last night. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t so much tired as… lonely. He fought hard to keep that needy side of him locked down. But panting softly next to his bed partner, he’d caved when the guy asked if he could just stay a minute. Just long enough to catch his breath. Right. He knew better, but he’d craved more than just a quick fuck. “Aw, damn.”He’d let that need to be held, to be touched while snuggling with a warm body… He’d let his self-control slip and now look—Mark? Mac? Macon?—was still here and asleep in his bed. He did not do stuff like this for a reason. The whole morning after was a pain in the ass. He glanced at the alarm on the nightstand. Three AM. Technically, it wasn’t the butt crack of morning—just God-awful fucking middle of the night. But still. Mario? Mason? Markie?—what was this guy’s name?—had to go. Like now. “Hey.” Hawk gently shook the naked shoulder next to him. “Come on, man, time to wake up.”A snort sounded, followed by a low moan. An array of softly mumbled words greeted his announcement. Hawk found himself fighting not to laugh. Such language. Never would he have dreamed such words coming from such an innocent-looking mouth. But then again, that sweet innocent look had been just that—a look. This dude had showed he could suck the brass off a doorknob. He’d certainly impressed Hawk.Suddenly his bedmate jerked the sheet over his tousled dark head. Now Hawk was really resisting the urge to grin. So the guy was cute, but he still needed to leave. He’d already pushed Rule #2—they never stayed longer than it took to get dressed and get out—farther than he intended. “You’re welcome to use the shower.”A sigh came from the bed. “And here I was sleeping so good.”“Towels are in the closet behind the door.” Hawk patted the sheet-covered lump, then stood.Dark eyes peeked over the sheet. “Shower. Yeah, okay. Gotcha.”Out of the corner of his eye, Hawk saw the guy stumble to the bathroom. Minutes later the shower came on. Maybe he should fix the guy a cup of coffee. Naw, cancel that thought. That would just be more time the guy—jeez, what was his name?—hung around. Hawk wasn’t trying to be rude, but he had rules. His rules. Rule #3 was he didn’t sleep with the same guy more than a couple of times. Three was the cutoff point, and that didn’t happen often. By the time the third encounter rolled around, most guys were starting to think there might be something between them. Hawk didn’t do relationships. Period. That was the Golden Rule.He slipped on the pair of jeans he had on earlier while he waited for his guest to finish and fixed a Coke, his mind returning to his dream. Why was that memory haunting him after so long? And after all this time, no one knew what had happened to that fucker Kaytall. Hopefully he was dead. Right before the Great War started, things came to a head in the most dangerous of ways—Kaytall tried to obliterate Jason’s animal spirit by destroying Jason’s totem—a totem was a small, carved piece of wood that represented the spirit. Killing the totem was like ripping away the bonded human’s very soul—very few of their kind could live after such a horrific loss. Hawk had stopped Kaytall. The Elders of the tribe had been in an uproar, and the chief—Jason’s own father—had decreed Kaytall’s totem be destroyed. But Jason had argued for banishment instead. And they’d promptly lost track of the bastard. He’d been one of the first to leave. “Shit.” Hawk sipped his drink as he wandered through the minefield of his past.  The ones who left eventually created their own tribal names, which translated into names like Sioux, Cree, Cheyenne. The original names were now a distant memory of what the ancestral tribes called themselves. But as they developed their own cultures, they no longer followed the old ways. Some of the tribes were peaceful, but other had grown to be powerful and… brash. And they all had lost the ability to shift. Eventually the white man did show up on their shores, bringing with him death and destruction. The disease brought by the strangers decimated not only Hawk’s tribe, but so many others too. Some of those who retained the ability to shift came together to try to rebuild what was left of their ways. Only The People, his tribe, retained that ability. His totem was a red-tailed hawk.“Hawk?”Hawk mentally cursed, even as he slapped a smile on his face. So lost in his memories, he hadn’t heard the guy’s approach. There was a time that would not have happened.“Hey… um, you ready?”“Yeah. I just… This is the last time, isn’t it? I mean, it’s a well known fact you never take the same guy home more than three times. This makes the third time. Am I right?”Hawk set his drink down. This was another reason he got his hook-ups out as fast as possible. He wasn’t into that whole ‘talking’ thing. Finding out what his reputation seemed to be was a little disconcerting, though. Made him sound like a player.Well, aren’t you?Great, just what he didn’t need right now—the spirit he shared his body with yacking in his ear.
TBC. Make sure to check out the other Briefers!
Chris T. KatJon KeysKazy ReedNephylimRob ColtonShelly SchulzCia NordwellJC WallaceAveryJim DunawayTC CollinsTali SpencerJohayanJulie Lynn Hayes

Manic Monday Review - Reluctant Alpha (Love Slaves of the Alphas #4)

Reluctant Alpha (Love Slaves of the Alphas #4)by Shannon West
4 Stars


Hey everyone, and welcome to Manic Mondays on my blog! I don’t know the author, but I really enjoy her work. I’ve read all the books in this series and loved them. This is the last one, so far. 
This is going to be a day dedicated to authors. I may post book reviews on some Mondays, it might be author interviews on others. It could be new releases, or just my thoughts in general. I'm hoping it'll be lots of fun, whatever or whoever shows up for Monday lol.

Now, a quick note on the book reviews. If I post it on here, then just know I liked the book. I will not be posting a review that's not at least a 3 rating. I'm not going to bash what are basically others who are in my peer group. No nasty reviews happening here. :) And the reviews I'm posting are already on my GR shelf too.

So, let's get this Manic Monday started lol! ~ ~ ~ ~Bio: Shannon West is a bestselling author of M/M romance. She currently lives in the South with her husband and large family. A lover of M/M romances, she began writing them with a male partner to add authenticity to the love scenes, but graduated to watching videos online and reading everything she could get her hands on. She loves men and everything about them, and believes that love is love, no matter the gender. A huge proponent of gay rights, she is a member of PFLAG and supports equal rights for everyone. Though there are never enough hours in the day, she tries to work every day, giving in to the demanding men in her head and writing their stories. She’s easy like that. She loves traveling, reading, watching scary movies and is totally hooked on that zombie show on TV. Her website is www.shannonwestbooks.com
Blurb:Handsome, young Kai is living a lie. On Scythia, male children are “rejected” so his mother, the queen, hid his true sex all his life. On this planet of Amazon-like women, he’s been able to hide out, but his mother needs to get him safely away from the planet, arranging a marriage to the powerful Lycan alpha. Lucas likes men but is being pressured to find a female and have an heir. Reluctantly, he agrees to meet Princess Kai, and is shocked to discover Kai is no princess, but a handsome young man! Instantly recognizing him as his bloodmate, Lucas is still furious at the deception. He mates with Kai and takes him home, but the lies between them threaten to tear them apart. Kai is still harboring a terrible secret—one that will destroy his world if it ever becomes known.
Secret Cravings Publishing: http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=book_info&cPath=4&products_id=649
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-reluctantalpha-1228772-340.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Alpha-Love-Slaves-Alphas-ebook/dp/B00DU10Y3Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401635769&sr=1-1&keywords=Reluctant+Alpha





The Manic Monday REVIEW:
A life of lies. That’s what Princess Kai has lived. He’s born into a world that ‘rejects’ males, and his mother, the queen, hides the fact that the princess is actually a prince. On this world, females rule. On this world, the prevailing thought is males are defective. Women must reproduce—can’t keep a race going without kids, you know—so the women only mate with men from other planets. They stay with the men long enough to get pregnant, then return home. Then things take a dark turn. If the baby is male, then he’s ‘re-assimilated’ by the priestesses, to be reborn as a girl. We can all guess what that means. Kai avoids this horror because his mother hides the fact he’s male. So, Kai is raised as female.So starts the half-truths and misunderstanding. Lucas is the Alpha of Lycanus 3. There is pressure brought to bear on him to mate. He must continue his line. Problem is, he prefers males. An arrangement between him and Kai is made, to which Lucas reluctantly agrees. Imagine his surprise when he responds to the pretty princess. The princess Kai is his Fated mate, and Lucas is more than a little confused. That soon turns to suspicion. There’s something not quite right about the princess. When he figures out Kai’s secret, he’s not a happy Lycan. In fact, he’s furious. He’s been played and he’s not happy with that, either. His feelings make it hard for Lucas to trust Kia. And Kai isn’t helping matters since he’s keeping secrets, but he worries about how Lucas will react if he ever finds out the truth. The coming birth of another royal baby changes everything… because that baby is male, or a non-person as males are called.

This one is a little hard to read. It’s a bit darker than the others because of the subject matter. It’s one of those books you’re either going to love or hate. I’ve talked about how the werewolves act in this series, so that’s not a problem for me. They take Alpha to a whole new level. They’re stubborn, heat-headed, and sometimes… they do things in the heat of the moment they shouldn’t. They aren’t perfect, but then, very few of us are.
~Michelle