Leta Blake's Blog, page 7

Pre-order Now Available! Angel Undone by Leta Blake – serving up playful blasphemy and religious side-eye

RELEASE DATE: JULY 18, 2016

Overview

The Archangel Michael is tired. He fought wars and shoved his brother Lucifer out of heaven all before the Dark Ages rolled around. His role as protector of Israel now encompasses all of humanity, and while he performs his job perfectly, there’s little personal joy in it.

Until one night in a bar when he meets Asher.

Michael isn’t sure what it is about the vulnerable, self-deprecating Asher that calls to him, but something about his restrained depths, gentle smiles, and encyclopedic knowledge of flowers tugs at Michael in a way that can’t be denied. Too bad romance isn’t part of his mission.

Facing an eternity of perfect submission to God’s authority, rebellion stirs in Michael. Questions of free will, angelic vocation, and the role of love and lust demand answers that just might cost Michael his place in heaven.

Warnings: this novella contains urban fantasy, wings, angels doing unangelic things, erotic content, religious side-eye, and playful blasphemy.

Word Count: 25,000

Will & Patrick Wake Up Married Bundle Episodes 1-3! Only $4.99! #gay #romance

“I truly adore this series more than words can express. The writing is stellar and the storyline just keeps getting better and better.” – Bayou Book Junkie Reviews

“Ms. Blake and Ms. Griffiths have crafted an endearing tale full of promise, humor, tension, drama, sadness, and forgiveness. An incredible read!” – Alpha Book Club

“If you haven’t read these stories yet what are you waiting for?” Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews

 

BUY EPISODES 1-3 FOR ONLY $4.99!

One World Trade Center – The Freedom Tower – Photos and a Brief Review of Our Experience

A couple of weeks ago while visiting New York City, I went to the top of the new One World Trade tower, also known as the Freedom Tower. Having been to the top of both the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center over the last several visits to New York, I’d been skeptical of my need to go to the top of yet another high building. My New Yorker friend insisted I go, though, telling me that the elevator ride up made it all worth it and that, yes, there was a very nice view at the top.

As a claustrophobe, I wasn’t sure how the elevator ride could be awesome in any way, shape, or form, but my friend made me promise to at least try to keep my eyes open for the surprise. SPOILER ALERT! I am now going to tell you the cool thing about the elevator at One World Trade, so if you don’t want to know, don’t read more! Ahem, okay, so. I got on the elevator and when they crammed a bunch more folks in behind me, my heart started to race, but I kept my eyes open. As the elevator began to rise I realized that the walls were all LED screens and we popped out of the basement of the building and onto a view of what the city looked like in 1524 when it was discovered. Hint: lots of grassy fields and lots of water! Then as we rose into the air, the date changed and the city literally grew up around us through the decades. I would have happily ridden that elevator about ten more times! Alas, you only get to ride it once.

Word to the wise! Don’t get suckered into renting the iPads at the top. Basically, they are iPads that you can hold up at any window and it will tell you what buildings you’re looking at. They seem like a fun and cool idea until you’re lugging it around. They’re heavy and annoying and after a few minutes you’ll realize that you will enjoy yourself a thousand-fold more if you just stand back and enjoy the view. Basically, they were $15 bucks down the drain. Also it was harder than I thought it would be to get rid of them so I could enjoy the view unencumbered.

The view was phenomenal. The entire city was in view from all sides. It was, as you can see, not that easy to get a great shot with just my iPhone, so I eventually gave up on that, too.

There are two possibilities for meals at the top of One World Trade. The first is where most of the tourists seemed to go: a little stand-up sort of cafe with pizza, hot dogs, and the usual tourist fare. The other was a sit down restaurant that was mainly peopled with men and women in business suits conducting meetings. The prices were steep (like really steep!) but I wasn’t in the mood for some terrible greasy food. I wanted something delicious. So I paid for the nice restaurant and what a view we had! These pictures go left to right and speak to the fantastic view in the restaurant.

_

My food was absolutely delicious and served very elegantly. I felt like the experience was worth the money, but I understand entirely if others might balk at the food prices on the restaurant menu.

All in all, I found the experience enjoyable and recommend it. Though, if I had to say which of the highest buildings is my favorite experience, I’ll have to stick with the good ol’ Empire State Building. The elevator ride up is terrifying but there’s just something about the place. It feels like New York to me and One World Trade felt like a very pretty experience. There’s a difference.

911 Memorial – Photos & a Brief Overview of Our Visit #travel

 

*

The day was warm, brilliant, and blue during our visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. My daughter, age ten, wasn’t alive yet when the planes flew into the towers kicking off a chain of terrible events we’re still dealing with today and will continue to deal with for the foreseeable future. She knows what happened, but I think it’s hard to fully grasp the enormity of how life changed for Americans after that event if you didn’t live through it.

I’d been to the site of the former World Trade Towers back in 2002, when there were only two massive gaping holes in the ground, surrounded by dirt and cordoned off by huge fences. I remember pausing by a huge sign by the site which listed all the names of those who’d died and shaking my head before continuing on down to the Battery for a view of the Statue of Liberty.

I’d been warned by my New York pals that people had mixed opinions about the memorial. My friends love it, personally, but they said many people found it unappealing. I found it interesting that there were are apparently mixed feelings about the memorial site of two buildings which also provoked mixed feelings in New Yorkers. The Trade Towers had been considered by many to be a blemish on the skyline for years until they were gone and then they were missed terribly. I overheard a New Yorker at the memorial telling their tourist friend that they can’t look at old pictures of the skyline with the Twin Towers in it without crying. He said, “I wish I’d admired them more when they were still here.”

The fountains proved to be hard to photograph, especially with just an iPhone. I’m sure a professional photographer could have done a better job, but these were the best I could achieve. The photos don’t do the fountains justice, though. The water rushing down the sides sparkles like diamonds in the sun and the sight of the water rushing into the darkness, an endless pit as far as the eye can see, like millions of tears falling into the never-ending sadness of grief, is poignant. And yet in photos it looks like water rushing into a square black hole. In person, it feels like so much more.

Above is my attempt to capture the diamond sparkle of the water cascading down the sides.

Around the edges of each fountain are the names of every person who died in the terrorist attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. They are inscribed in bronze around the twin memorial pools. Many names held roses and I wondered if loved ones left them daily or just on special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.

The memorials were beautiful and thought provoking. I encourage all visitors to New York City to stop by and view them.

 

Advanced Review by Gillian: Bad Reputation, by Ajax Bell

Ajax Bell is a one-click, must-buy author for me! Loved this advance review! Can’t wait for Bad Reputation!

Just Love: Romance Novel Reviews

Bad Reputation, by Ajax Bell

Series: Queen City Boys, Book 2

Publisher: Jugum Press

Release Date: July 1, 2016

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

View original post 852 more words

Steem -A Fascinating New Social Media Opportunity

Hey, everyone! I’m really excited to say that I’m checking out Steem, a new “blockchain-based social media platform where anyone can earn rewards.” You can find me there as leta-blake.

I’m pretty excited to see where this new platform goes. It looks like it could be a really cool conduit to talk about LGBTQ issues and have productive discussions that won’t feel like pouring time and energy into something without any rewards. I’m not sure how much of a queer crowd is hanging out there now, but it looks like a cool opportunity to build one!

Anyway, I’m sure I’ll have more to say as I begin to really use it. If you’re using Steem, let me know and hook me up with a link to your profile. Also I’d love to hear your thoughts about the platform and to know about any experiences-good or bad-you might have had there.

leta-blake

 

“One of the best slow burns I’ve read.” Wake Up Married serial by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths #gay #romance

“The sexual tension is smoking hot. I know they have feelings for each other but they are both fighting it and it’s driving me crazy! This is one of the best slow burns I’ve read. Everyone has to read this!” — Stacy Jo, Goodreads reader review.

 

“Beautiful, compelling and above all, believable. I couldn’t put it down.” Review of Vespertine by Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn

“Beautiful, compelling and above all, believable. I couldn’t put it down. Hope to see more from this writing pair.”

Source: Amazon.com: Elr’s review of Vespertine

 

“I might have missed a great book.” Flight by Leta Blake #gay #fairytale

“The story was fanciful and in some places kind of bizarre but I enjoyed it immensely. I did not read the blurbs about it before I read it so I had no idea what to expect. I think if I had, that I might have missed a great book.

via Amazon.com: Amazon Customer’s review of Flight.

Previously released as Love’s Nest in 2013.

There’s no greater mystery in the kingdom than where Prince Mateo’s sisters disappear to each night. The king is determined to discover where they go and issues a challenge to all the nobles to help him learn their secret. Hoping to protect them, Mateo hides beneath a magic cloak and follows his sisters to an enchanted world of fairies and lusty delights.

Ópalo has waited years to finally meet his human lover. Fairies are bound by fate, and Ópalo is eager to embrace his, and plans a future with Mateo. But while Mateo soon succumbs to the pleasures of the flesh, he refuses to surrender his heart so easily.

As their worlds collide, Ópalo has to risk everything to win his man forever.

Do the Holidays & Fight Their Feelings available NOW at most retailers! #will&patrick #wake up married

NOW AVAILABLE AT MOST RETAILERS!

EPISODES 3 & 4 of WAKE UP MARRIED serial

by LETA BLAKE & ALICE GRIFFITHS

_______________________________________

Follow Will & Patrick as they do the holidays in this third installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

A couple’s first holiday season is always a special time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are magical when you’re in love. Too bad Will and Patrick’s marriage is a sham and they’re only faking their affection for each other. Or are they?

Sparks fly in this episode of the Wake Up Married serial. Will the sexual tension between Will and Patrick finally explode in a needy night of passion? Or will they continue to deny their feelings?

Episode 3 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.

_____________________________________________

Follow Will & Patrick in this fourth installment of the romantic-comedy serial, Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Will and Patrick have embraced adding hot sexy-times to their fake marriage, but as their emotions deepen, they confront whether or not they want to be more than friends-with-benefits. Freshly free of a restrictive relationship, Will’s not ready for more than exploratory fun. And no matter how Patrick feels about Will, his own difficult past has left him wary of love.

The heat is high (and occasionally kinky) in this episode of the Wake Up Married serial, but Will and Patrick struggle to accept their mutual affection, much less confess it. How long will they fight their feelings?

Episode 4 of 6 in the Wake Up Married serial.