Michael War's Blog, page 2
December 18, 2018
Release Blitz: Full ‘o Festive Spirits by Zakarrie Clarke
RELEASE BLITZ
Book Title: Full O’Festive Spirits
Author: Zakarrie Clarke
Publisher: Self-published
Genre/s: Contemporary romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 40 000 words
Release Date: December 16, 2018
Author Page
Blurb
Gabriel is staggered, upon overhearing two old dears declare that only 21 shopping days remain ’til Christmas. He hadn’t even noticed that December had dawned, far too busy being grim ‘n’ grumpy to be bothered. This, after losing his job—again—leaving him too fed-up of enforced thriftiness to differentiate days that did not. Let alone recall the date on the calen— A thought that sends Gabriel scuttling off the bus, in a belated bid to secure his favourite part of the festive season…an advent calendar. If they have any left. Upon clattering into the nearest shop, he finds himself coshed by the most splendid sight he e’er did see. A Christmas Feast for the eyeballs so sublime, it seemed—for a hectic heartbeat—that they’d all come at once. As the latter was a feat so improbable in said company, they definitely had not.
Dylan is much dismayed by the ramshackle litter of limbs and belongings that trips into the off-license, halfway through his shift. It being way too early for the drunk and determinedly irritating to come staggering in. In the wake of arriving too late to audition for a role he’d set his heart on, Dylan is no mood to deal with a human hatstand—doe-eyed and demented—intent upon purchasing a bloody advent calendar. On the third of December. For himself. Strewth. Could fate have possibly dumped a less welcome portent of festivities doomed to disaster on the doorstep?
Excerpt
Dylan’s trip down misery lane was rudely interrupted by the teeth-gritting jangle of the bell that heralded the entrance of each customer. Reason enough to want to bolt the bloody door to ensure that no one could set the damn thing off.
“Oh, bugger…”
Christ, no. It was way too early for the pissed-up and perennially irritating to start staggering in. Dylan glared at the ramshackle onslaught of limbs and belongings that clattered into the shop. This, with a godawful racket reminiscent of a one-man band, created by what appeared to be: one person, a single guitar, and some plastic bags. The latter were either full of saucepan lids, tambourines and stray cats…or, the customer could cause chaos in a broom cupboard. On his own. Neither of which boded well for the duration. He would no doubt browse for fifteen minutes, knock Dylan’s painstaking display of colour coordinated decorations off the shelf—then insist on arguing about fuck-all—before finally purchasing a cheap lighter, some Rizzla papers and a Snickers bar.
Dylan had, clearly, been working in an off-license far too long. This had been true about an hour into his first shift, despite the fifteen percent staff reduction that had clinched the deal in the first place. Dylan watched, incredulous, as the litter of limbs and baggage rearranged itself into something that resembled a human figure. Albeit, a far too…extravagant one. Then, he lifted his head.
How simple that sounded. The customer’s face had formerly been obscured by the brim of his hat; a battered black trilby, barely a shade darker than eyes as bottomless as they were huge. Framed by excessive eyelashes and skin so pale, he could have played Pierrot, sans make-up. A fact not helped by lips so wind-chapped, they looked kiss-bitten. Or, he’d earned enough to buy more than a packet of bloody Rizzla and a Snickers in the very recent past. If he hadn’t already blown it on his next fix. Get a grip. Who the hell would cart a guitar around with them, while out pulling punters? Punters, f’fucksakes?
“Hiya.” His little-boy-lost features lit up in a smile as startling as his voice; coming from a body comprised of far too many corners. Dylan had expected clipped cockney tones or a harsh estuary drawl. The ‘hiya’ had scarce classified as a word, it had been but a wisp of melody. This particular nugget of nonsense was followed by the belated awareness that Dylan was standing like a lemon, dumbstruck. Ensnared in the dark spotlight of a gaze akin to a steel-jaw trap…
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LF2PNRN
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LF2PNRN
About the Author
After moving to London at eighteen and flitting about for far too long, Zakarrie settled, as blissy as can be, by the sea. ’Twas here that her castaway dreams re-surfaced and she began to write; stories that are, in truth, better at being her than she’s ever been. Her one hope now is that someone, somewhere, will enjoy the misadventures of her miscreants as much as she adores writing them.
Author Links
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a choice of ebook from Zakarrie’s backlist.
RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE
December 15, 2018
Release Blitz: Meik & Sebastian #4 – Obsessed by Quin Perin
RELEASE BLITZ
Book Title: Meik & Sebastian – Obsessed #4
Author: Quin Perin
Publisher: Self-Published
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh
Genre/s: Gay Erotic Romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 18 000 words/ 75 pages
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
After ruining his chances with Sebastian, Meik is plagued by the past and haunted by the present. His escape: booze and sex. But the memories of Gabe continuously well up and never ebb. They become an ever-present companion he cannot escape.
Will he hoist himself out of depression to seal the past and face the present or will he lose himself in the bottom of the bottle?
This is the fourth and FINAL book of the Gay Erotic Romance “Obsessed”. It features explicit adult m/m content as well as romantic elements. Warning: mentions of illness and death.
Excerpt
Meik checked his hair in the rearview mirror. One more time before slipping out of his father’s car. He’d pulled it up to the curb in front of Gabe’s house about ten minutes ago; he’d spent all of those ten minutes fixing his hair. Again and again. It was obsessive, and he knew it, but he wanted to look his best for Gabe.
Smoothing down his shirt, he headed to the front door and rang the doorbell. He waited for a beat before pushing the door open. Gabe’s mother paused in the doorway, eyeing Meik. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, not remotely surprised to see him.
“Well, nice to see you too.” Meik snorted.
She waved her hand, looking up at the stairs. “Gabe! Meik’s here!” she called before facing Meik again. “Where are you two going?”
Meik stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “There’s a new movie, and we might go get something to eat after.” He left out that they’d probably end up making out in the car at some point. They’d agreed to keep the date thing a secret, and they were definitely keeping the making out and heavy petting to themselves as well.
Nodding, she headed back to the kitchen. “Don’t stay out too late and let me know if you’ll spend the night.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned.
“Don’t call me ma’am!”
Meik’s comeback died on his tongue when he heard footsteps on the stairs. His eyes fixed on Gabe, heart throbbing madly in his chest. Neither of them had dressed out of the ordinary. They didn’t want to raise suspicion, but Meik still thought Gabe looked breathtaking. His dark eyes glittered, and a rose petal pink blush adorned his cheeks. The clothes he wore were a bit tighter than normal, jeans clung to slender thighs, and a fitted t-shirt emphasized his thin, narrow chest. Meik’s palms itched with the desire to touch, to grope. He wanted to see what that ass looked like without those pants on.
Swallowing, Meik turned towards the door. “Ready to go?” He was surprised at how calm he sounded. His mouth felt dry, tongue heavy.
“Yeah,” Gabe replied, a thud signifying that he’d jumped down the last two steps. He always did that, and his mother always said he was going to break an ankle one day. “Bye, mom!”
“Bye, honey, be careful!” She didn’t even peek out again.
Meik almost felt bad. They weren’t lying. Not really. They were going to hang out, just as more than friends. It had been Gabe’s idea not to tell his parents and telling Meik’s had never been an option. Gabe thought if his parents—especially his mother—found out, Meik wouldn’t be allowed to come over and stay the night anymore. It made a lot of sense, and if things progressed with them, the cover of being friends would make it so much easier to get Gabe into bed.
Not that Meik had spent way too much time fantasizing about that lately.
About the Authors
This is Quin&Perin. We are a team of Sultry Gay Romance writers who focus on detailed, toe-curling, and realistic smut scenes with a fair share of dirty talking (Oh, boy). Unlike other authors, we write without the goal of publishing anything. Publishing is just the cherry on top of a cream-covered bubble butt.
Social Media Links
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win the complete final series (part 1-4) in one book.
RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE
December 14, 2018
Book Blast and Giveaway: Blessed by Maggie Blackbird
BOOK BLAST
Book Title: Blessed
Author: Maggie Blackbird
Publisher: eXasty Books
Cover Artist: Martine Jardin
Genre/s: M/M, Contemporary, Spiritual, Religious, Multi-Cultural, Romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 92,784 words/330 pages
Tagline
A mixed-blood Catholic seminarian struggles to discern his true calling: the priesthood or his ex-lover, a proud but damaged Ojibway man.
Blurb
It’s been ten years since Emery Matawapit sinned, having succumbed to temptation for the one thing in his life that felt right, another man. In six months he’ll make a life-changing decision that will bar him from sexual relationships for the rest of his life.
Darryl Keejik has a decade-long chip on his shoulder, and he holds Emery’s father, the church deacon, responsible for what he’s suffered: the loss of his family and a chance at true love with Emery. No longer a powerless kid, Darryl has influence within the community—maybe more than the deacon. Darryl intends on using his power to destroy Deacon Matawapit and his church.
Hoping to save the church, Emery races home. But stopping Darryl is harder than expected when their sizzling chemistry threatens to consume Emery. Now he is faced with the toughest decision of his life: please his devout parents and fulfill his call to the priesthood, or remain true to his heart and marry the man created for him.
An erotic spiritual journey…
Buy Links
eXasty Books | Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon AU
Kobo | Nook | Google | Smashwords
Excerpt
The putter of a diesel engine carried to where they stood at the side of the house.
“Sounds like the priest’s clunker.” Clayton puffed on the cigarette.
Knots formed in Darryl’s stomach. Did Emery accompany Father Bennie? What the heck was the priest doing up at Long River? Darryl lived at the reserve’s most northern district, far from Grassy, where the Matawapits resided.
Don’t watch them go by.
The car slowed and then turned into the driveway. Black, wavy hair appeared in the windshield. Hot tingles shot through Darryl’s arms and legs. He’d better get himself under control. Running into the coward was expected. It was the reason why he’d raced around the reserve like a fool earlier, trying to figure out what to say when they eventually crossed paths.
Had Emery come to apologize? Maybe reconnect? Wait a second. Someone had probably sent him. In the past, he hadn’t possessed the testicular fortitude to initiate anything. Father Bennie and Deacon Matawapit were up to something.
“Is that Emery?” Clayton frowned.
“Yeah. Gimme a second.” Darryl marched around the side of the house. When the car door opened, he froze.
Emery’s long legs appeared. He straightened to a towering six-foot-something. His red lips, smooth, pale skin, and high cheekbones melted Darryl’s insides. Tight muscles filled out Emery’s blue polo shirt and white dress pants. His hair curled around his square shoulders. This wasn’t a skinny seventeen-year-old kid who’d favored worn jeans, hiking boots, and t-shirts, but a twenty-seven-year-old elegant man.
“Hello. I was hoping to catch you at home.” Emery doffed his sunglasses, exposing his thick black lashes and bright green eyes. He tapped his shades against firm thighs Darryl had caressed during the best time of his life.
Although Emery’s voice was deeper, the feathery tone still stroked Darryl deep inside his jeans. Quivering, he spat out a, “Hel—hi…” He cleared his throat of the damned frog making him sound like an idiot. “Hello.”
“I-I planned on stopping by sooner.” Emery’s gaze roamed in every direction. “I was busy… unpacking”
Darryl motioned to the side of the house. “I was heading out for a drive once I finish talking to someone.”
“Oh…” Emery’s gaze settled on Clayton, who appeared around the corner. “I’ll come back another day when you’re not busy.” Disappointment lined his voice. “Have a good night.”
When Emery turned for the car, Darryl’s frozen heart churned into overdrive. The question jumped from his mouth. “Where’re you going?”
Emery pivoted. “Back to the rectory. It’s where I’m staying during my visit.”
Darryl stifled his groan. Call him a sucker for asking. “You came here for a reason. Why?”
“Uh… I—” Emery held a fist to his mouth and coughed. “Do you have time for a walk?”
A shiver careened along Darryl’s spine. Instead of being prodded, Emery, of all people, had initiated something.
Clayton’s slim brows twisted downwards. “I guess we’re done?”
Everyone knew how tight Emery and Darryl had once been. The cunning coyote had better not think of Darryl as a traitor who’d lose focus on the Traditionalists Society’s mandate now that Emery was back. “We can finish our convo tomorrow. Stop by my office in the morning.”
“Never mind. I’m outta here.” Clayton stamped to his pick-up parked on the side of the road. He glowered at Emery, who returned the frown with a nod.
Fire crackled through Darryl’s veins. Hostility and rudeness to another wasn’t the purpose of the Traditionalists Society.
“We can meet at the Treaty Grounds.” Darryl used an even tone, though his pulse points raced faster than a bear chasing down dinner. “Right now my road’s pretty much the Trans Canada.”
A truck pulling a skiff rambled by.
“Everyone’s heading out for the evening fish.”
“Okay.” Emery’s mouth remained closed while his full lips moved upward. He had the same shy smile capable of melting Darryl’s limbs. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Sure.” Darryl slid on the four-wheeler.
Emery opened the car door and got in. He drove off and left a trail of dust in his wake.
Darryl turned the key. The machine’s engine roared to life. This couldn’t be happening. Someone must have plopped him in the middle of a dream. Who was the courageous man who’d come of his own accord?
He steered the four-wheeler down the driveway. People changed. Before entering St. Michael’s Seminary, Emery had lived in Thunder Bay to attend university. Being out from under his father’s thumb had probably given his confidence a much-needed boost.
His dad’s here and he sought me out.
Had Emery told Father Bennie his intentions for the evening? Where would their talk lead to? There was only one way to find out—drive faster to the Treaty Grounds.
About the Author
An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, Maggie resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two beautiful Alaskan Malamutes. When she’s not writing, she can be found pulling weeds in the flower beds, mowing the huge lawn, walking the Mals deep in the bush, teeing up a ball at the golf course, fishing in the boat for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house, making more wonderful memories with the people she loves most.
Author Links
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win
a $15.00 eXasty Books/Devine Destinies gift card and one e-copy of Blessed.
BOOK BLAST SCHEDULE
December 11, 2018
Review Tour: The Man Inside Me by Sean Kerr
REVIEW TOUR
Book Title: The Man Inside Me
Author: Sean Kerr
Publisher: SGK Publications
Cover Artist: SGK Publications
Release Date 31st September 2018
Genre/s: MM Romance, MM Historical, MM Gothic Romance, MM Paranormal Romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 202 Pages
It’s a standalone story.
Blurb
Victorian London is a difficult place to be when you are gay, as Henry and Gabriel know all too well.
When they were young at Oxford University, Henry and Gabriel’s love burned hot and bright, and they thought to change the world together until a devastating tragedy ripped them apart.
Now, as youth fades away, Henry can no longer stand to see his own reflection in the mirror. All he sees is a sad, tired old man whose body has betrayed him. He craves the touch of another, to feel attractive and vital once more but his obsession with finding a cure for insanity has stolen his life away, and now his work has taken on a dark and sinister dimension. How far will he go to recapture the passion of his lost youth?
Gabriel fears that Henry is losing his mind, and when a brutal killer invades their lives, they are thrust into the dark depths of Victorian London in a fight for their very lives.
As their friendship is tested to its limits, Gabriel cannot help but wonder if there is still a chance for love. Can they move beyond the friendship that has spanned over thirty years and find the love that once made their hearts beat as one?
You may never be too old to find love, but will you be able to survive it?
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
About the Author
Hi everyone, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Sean Kerr, and I am a 49-year-old gay man living in Cardiff, Wales with my husband of 28 years, Derek. We have two cats, Rita and Harry, and a host of tropical fish.
I worked on building sites for years, and I used the money earned from that to put myself through college, specialist paint techniques etc. I trained in fine art, and then I went out and painted murals on client’s walls, and created Roman Bathrooms and fantasy hand painted bedrooms, all the rage back in the late eighties and nineties. I then became an Interior Designer for a large DIY chain. For the past thirteen years I ran my own Interiors business, and while that is no longer in existence, I am now looking for my next challenge in life!
By night I am an Author, and I am very proud to be an author for Extasy Books. It took me some years to get to this point. I spent a very long time trying to get an agent because I thought it was the right thing to do, and after a heck of a lot of refusals, I nearly gave up. I came so close to hitting the delete button on Dead Camp 1 because I thought I did not stand a chance. At the very last moment, I decided to have a go at approaching a few publishers directly, and I sent the manuscript to six. Within two weeks, I had offers of publication from three! Let’s just say that there may have been tears lol. It was my chance, at last, to become a part of a world that I have always loved and admired from a distance, and it is one of the very best things to ever happened to me.
Dead Camp is the first series I ever wrote, and then there is my short novella called Hush Little Baby. Dead Camp is my take on the Vampire genre, an MM Paranormal Romance series that is set against a backdrop of World War 2. However, the series uses key moments from History to tell one enormous saga, and I have loved every single moment of writing it. There are five books in the Dead Camp series.
Hush is a pure horror story with more than a nod towards such classic programmes as The Twilight Zone and Tales of The Unexpected. The project happened just after I completed Dead Camp 3 and it is a story that I had to get out of my system. It’s definitely a different beast to my Vampire saga, and I hope it will make you go to bed with the lights on lol!
I recently ventured into the world of self-publishing, and as such, I have just released my first independent book series, The Last Child. The Last Child is a horror series that is in 3 parts dealing with the occult. It has a definite Dan Brown vibe in that I love conspiracy stories, so I have used religion and some intriguing legends as the backdrop to this contemporary supernatural thriller that tells the story of a female protagonist trying to protect her young student. Neither of them realises how their lives, and indeed their histories, are intertwined in the most horrific and tragic ways.
My latest book, ‘The Man Inside Me’ is an MM Victorian Gothic Romance, and I think it is the favourite thing I have written so far. It deals with two men in their fifties trying to find love again, a subject that is very close to my heart as I approach that milestone. It is a very important book to me, and while it has some very ‘KERR’ twists and turns, it is, at its heart, a very romantic tale that deals with middle age. I am particularly proud of this book, and it is a very different spin on the MM genre.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to meeting you on social media.
Author Links
REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE
December 10, 2018
Blog Tour and Guest Post: The Stars May Rise and Fall by Estella Mirai
I am pleased to welcome Estella Mirai, who is here to as a Blog Tour for The Stars May Rise and Fall, a modern retelling of Phatom of the Opera (a personal fave of mine.) Check out the guest post below, and also take a look at the book information. Blurb and buy links are included. Plus, click on the rafflecopter link for a chance to win a twenty-five dollar Amazon giftcard!
Guest Post: Estella Mirai Talks About Inspiration for The Stars May Rise and Fall
I have a not-so-guilty confession: I really, REALLY love retellings. There are some stories that have made such a lasting cultural impact that they continue to be told, in one form or another, hundreds or thousands of years after their creation. And one of the most interesting things to me, as a reader and a writer, is the idea of retelling one of those stories by changing some key elements, while still keeping the heart of it alive.
The idea to write an M/M retelling of Phantom of the Opera came to me in 2005, shortly after the movie version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical came out. Back then, I was reading a lot of fanfiction, and one of the most popular fanfiction tropes was the modern retelling—usually set in a high school or college, or maybe a community theater, although I also read a few where the Phantom was a rock star. Less popular, but interesting to me, was the idea of a genderswapped version—a male “Christine” and a female “Phantom.” Now, I had also been active in other fandoms, where M/M pairings were more popular, and I had friends who wrote real-person slash about Japanese rock bands as well (which I got to beta read!). This idea sort of came from a fusion of all of those subgenres of fanfiction—a genderbent modern-retelling about Japanese rock stars.
Now that I knew what I wanted to change about the story (the setting, some of the genders, the sexual orientations, and the ethnicity of the characters), I had to decide what core elements of the original story I wanted to keep. What made a Phantom story a Phantom story? What would I need to include, and how would those elements connect with and be influenced by the new elements that I wanted to introduce?
One of things that really helped me narrow down the core elements, I think, was the fact that I was already familiar with several existing retellings. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, itself, is of course a reinterpretation of Gaston Leroux’s original novel, and the movie is not exactly the same as the stage show. There have been multiple other film incarnations over the years, and while the original silent film starring Lon Cheney is fairly faithful to the novel, later versions, such as the 1974 Brian dePalma rock musical Phantom of the Paradise or the 1989 horror film starring Robert Englund as a Phantom who wears a “mask” made of the sewn-together skin of his victims, take things in a very different direction. The Phantom story is itself a retelling, of Beauty and the Beast… so I had a lot of material to work with, and also a lot of flexibility.
Obviously, I needed to have one of my guys be physically attractive by conventional standards, and the other not (although I think they’re both hot!). There also needed to be a musical element, and the Phantom character needed to wear a mask—the two elements that tend to set Phantom stories apart from other incarnations of Beauty and the Beast. Half in response to the 2005 movie, where the Phantom’s deformity looked more like a bad sunburn, and half in response to an annoying-to-me trend in fanfiction for Christine, or an original female character, to get her first look at the Phantom’s face and not be shocked or put off at all, I needed the Phantom character to be disfigured in a way that would be an obstacle to both the relationship and to his interactions with society—by the standards of 21st century Tokyo, not 19th century Paris. There needed to be a mentor-student relationship, and an age difference. The Phantom character needed to…. Oh, wait, that would give away the end. 
December 9, 2018
Release Blitz: The Selkie Prince’s Unexpected Omega (The Royal Alphas Book 3) by J.J. Masters
RELEASE BLITZ
Book Title: The Selkie Prince’s Unexpected Omega
Series: The Royal Alphas, Book 3
Author: J.J. Masters
Publisher: Self-Published
Cover Artist: Megan Parker of EmCat Designs
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance (PNR/Gay/mpreg)
Length: 58 368 words/240 pages
It’s a standalone story within a series
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
Blurb
An alpha claim. A possible heir. A Selkie prince whose mistake might just be what the fates intended.
Zale, the third alpha-born son of King Solomon, is concerned. His youngest brother, Caol, has been spending time with an unbonded omega. Being a responsible alpha, Zale feels it’s his duty to warn the omega Finn before he and Caol get into trouble. Especially since Finn had only been brought to the colony by their father in case his oldest brother’s fated mate couldn’t conceive. However, when Zale goes to Finn’s quarters to have a word with him, he isn’t expecting to discover what he does: the omega in the throes of oestrus and begging for an alpha’s assistance.
Finn has nowhere else to go. Not only unwanted by his own family, his previous alpha perished in a tragic accident. So for the past two years, the omega has relied on the King of the North’s generosity, even if it means he may end up as a surrogate for one of the alpha-born princes. Or even worse, the king’s sixth mate. But when the Prince Zale comes upon him during his heat, Finn demands relief from the alpha. Although afterward, has to live with the guilt. Now, he might not only be carrying the prince’s son, he may have very well ruined Zale’s chance to find his true fated mate…
Note: A 58k-plus word m/m shifter mpreg story, this is the third book in the Royal Alpha series. Due to the “knotty” times in this book, it is recommended for mature readers only. While it can be read as a standalone, it’s recommended to read the series in order. And, like all of my books, it has an HEA.
Excerpt
Zale’s jaw was tight and his teeth gritted as he waited in the hall outside of Finn’s quarters.
He knocked again. This time more loudly using the heel of his fist, since, apparently, his knuckles weren’t getting the job done.
The alpha-born prince was losing his patience, which he usually had an abundance of. Just not today. Especially since the visiting omega, Finn, had been seen sneaking off with Zale’s youngest brother Caol.
Which was dangerous.
Particularly since Caol was considered a Selkie slut. What humans would call a man-ho. He loved to rut with anyone who would let him, be it Selkie, human or hybrid. Most likely any male with a cock swinging between his legs.
Hell, he probably rutted with other species of shifters.
But even so, it brought Zale back to the problem at hand. He and his brothers had told their father, the King of the North, that he should send Finn away. Return the omega to his own colony. That he was no longer needed here at the Northern colony. But his father hadn’t listened.
No surprise there.
They all suspected that King Solomon had considered taking the omega for himself.
But a whole two years had passed since the King first brought Finn to the castle, so it made no sense for the unbonded male to remain. His father needed to shit or get off the pot. Either take Finn as his own to bear more sons or send the poor omega home so he could find an alpha of his very own.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a fated mate waiting for Finn anywhere. His supposed alpha had been killed and eaten by an orca during their bonding swim from what Zale understood.
None of them had ever asked Finn about it because neither Zale or his brothers wanted to know those cringe-worthy details and they also were inclined to avoid him since he was an unbonded male. Again, being around an unbonded omega could be dangerous.
However, Caol tended to be reckless. If the omega came into heat, Caol would most likely be the proud father of a future pup. Zale could just imagine how the king’s head would spin at that news.
So, Zale needed to nip whatever was going on between Finn and Caol in the bud. For his youngest brother’s sake and also for Finn’s. If the omega had the urge to rut, he could do so with some of the betas the king kept on hand for that purpose. Nothing stopped Finn from taking a beta lover, especially since his corona membrane was no longer intact.
But an alpha? No. He could not rut with an alpha that was not his mate.
That was against Selkie law.
Caol knew that. As did Finn.
Therefore, Zale was being a good older brother and trying to head off a disaster.
Or that’s what he told himself.
Yes, he was protecting not only Caol but this omega… who continued to live among a castle-full of alphas even though that was unsafe.
He stared at the heavy wood door and cursed. Why wasn’t Finn answering?
He leaned closer and shouted, “Finn! Are you in there? Open your door.”
Zale listened carefully. Nothing.
He was done knocking. He had announced his presence and now it was time to take the next step…
Into the omega’s quarters.
About the Author
J.J. Masters is the alter-ego of a USA Today bestselling author who writes hot, gay romance filled with heart, humor and heat. J.J. became fascinated with mpreg romance as soon as she figured out what mpreg stood for. She loves to write about “knotty” men!
You can join JJ’s FB Group here: https://www.facebook.com/JJMastersAuthor/ or her newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2E2zcaB to keep up with exclusive content and news.
Author Links
RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE
99 cent Book Blast: Love’s Trials (Revolutionary Heart Book 2)
Book Title: Love’s Trials (Revolutionary Heart, Book 2)
Author: Janice Jarrell
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Length: 78,333 words/224 pages
Genre/s: Contemporary Gay Romance
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
99c OFFER – December 2 – 9
Blurb
After half a lifetime spent in short-term liaisons that allowed no intimacy, charismatic Irish police officer, Colin Campbell, found the love of his life. Dark-eyed, steady Joshua Abrams burned through Colin’s emotional barriers and taught him to look at life through new eyes, eyes that made room for the love and closeness he had always denied himself. Deeply in love and completely happy, their life together remains idyllic and their fiery passion for each other seems limitless.
They survive the Charlottesville ‘Unite the Right’ riots, though not without scars. But later that month Colin’s position with the campus police force places him in charge of an informant program designed to crack a dangerous drug ring. Fully aware of the risks, he swears to Joshua that he will oversee the program without becoming directly involved. But Colin’s promise begins to crumble when he becomes the only one who can save a young Nigerian exchange student from a deadly drug lord.
Video – Colin and Joshua’s Story
Excerpt
“Listen,” Colin said, “what you said earlier, Josh. You had a point.”
Joshua turned to face him and shrugged. “Maybe. But wallowing in self-pity isn’t exactly constructive either and I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.”
Colin pressed his lips together. “Yeah. Me too.” He gestured to the couch, inviting Joshua to sit. “I don’t mean to shut you out, Josh.”
“Then why do you?” Joshua asked, collapsing to the couch beside him. “Makes it a pretty lonely life for both of us, Colin.”
Colin switched the television off and turned to face him. “Nothing I feel for you has changed, Josh. Nothing. Why can’t you believe me and just give me some space for awhile?”
“Why can’t you trust me enough to let me in, Colin?” He hesitated for a moment, then spoke: “When you were in the hospital you told me that I could never really leave you because I was part of you. If that’s true then let me be part of you! Let me share what you’re going through. Don’t go through this alone!”
Colin grimaced, his whole body tightening. “I can’t, Josh! You don’t know what it does to me, being this helpless…being in this much pain. I fucking hate having anyone see me like this, especially you!”
“Needing me doesn’t make you weak, Colin, and yes, seeing you in pain is hard on me too. But it’s still something we need to go through together!” He took Colin’s hand in his. “Let me say it another way. I’m lonely! I miss the man I love. I miss his company and his smile and his kisses. I miss him and I feel desolate without him. I want to be there for you, Colin. I’m your partner and I want to help you through this. But I can’t if you won’t let me. Please don’t let your pride keep us apart at the moment when we need each other most!”
About the Author
My name is Janice Jarrell. I am a retired grandmother who lives in Seattle, WA. I have two children and three grandsons. I’ve been writing gay romance since I was twelve years old, only back then it wasn’t called ‘gay romance’. In fact, it had no name at all. It was the fifties, and it was worth your life to admit to being gay, let alone confess to being a girl who constantly fantasized about relationships between gay men. Hell, I didn’t even know what a homosexual was. I lived on a farm out in the sticks in a tiny Michigan village and I’d never, to my knowledge, even heard the word. I just knew I loved the thought of boy on boy romance. I just knew that there was something hot going on between Tom Corbett and his Space Cadets and all those guys on ‘Combat’.
I wrote slash fanfiction for 30 years, writing over 337 stories, some as short as 100 words (a drabble) some as long as a series which was over 119,012 words. I enjoy writing my stories. I enjoyed the feedback I received from my readers. It was a creative release I’d been searching for my entire life and I blessed the Internet for leading me to this artistic oasis for my spirit.
Love’s Magic was my very first step into writing my own characters. I will always be grateful the slash fanfiction community for nurturing the budding author until she was ready to blossom into a fully realized novelist. It’s been an amazing thing to watch the gay community’s growth over these past twenty years. My own journey has echoed theirs in many ways, and I’m grateful to all those gay activists who fought to give the gay community the rights and privileges they always deserved.
I’m also grateful to the gay romance community, readers, authors, publishers and promoters, who are making these, my retirement years, the most creative ones of my life. When I’m not writing, I’m traveling, walking, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and weaving.
I’m very excited about the upcoming release of my second contemporary gay romance novel, Love’s Trials. Those of you who fell in love with Joshua and Colin in Love’s Magic are in for a treat because they are the STARS of Love’s Trials, though they may not thank me for it given the very difficult ‘trials’ they are about to face.
Social Media Links
BOOK BLAST SCHEDULE
December 8, 2018
Blog Tour: Slow Thaw by J. Scott Coatsworth
I want to welcome J.Scott Coatsworth, who is here to promote their new book Slow Thaw. Check out the interview below, then look at the excerpt, cover and buy links. Also, don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
Interview – J. Scott Coatsworth
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Once upon a time, five years? But since I completed the first draft of Skythane in NaNoWriMo in 30 days, it takes me on average six months. I’ve written seven books in the last three years. I am actually looking forward to giving myself eight months for the next one.
Blog Tour: Blood for the Spilling (Studies in Demonology #3) by TJ Nichols
Greetings Everyone! Today we are happy to welcome author TJ Nichols, who is making a stop on their blog tour to promote their new book Blood for the Spilling. TJ has provided a guest post, which will give you a look into what they watch when they aren’t writing. You’ll also find information on Blood for the Spilling, and a link to a rafflecopter giveaway.
My to be Watched Pile
What do I do when I’m not reading or writing or actually doing life stuff? I try to catch up on TV shows that have zooming past me. That I live in Australia where some stuff is only streaming services doesn’t help (my internet is awful, so I buy DVDs).
At the moment there are only a couple of shows on my to be watched pile Killjoys and American Gods. I’m sure there are plenty of others that I should be watching but there’s only so many hours in the day.
A few weeks ago I started watching Lucifer, which had been on list for a while (so many friends recommended it, and they were right). It funny and the banter is great. Though I am a little surprized that Lucifer is so straight. I mean if I was a few thousand years old…
I just finished watching Versailles (set in the court of Louis XIV). The clothes, the hair, the drama! What’s not to love. If you haven’t watched it you should. #MonChevy forever.
Some of my other favorites include:
Strike Back. I’ve watched them all. Best to watch each season in one 10 hour long marathon. The banter between Scott and Stonebridge is the best (where is all the fanfiction?). Did I mention things blowing up and that the writer kill cast members most shockingly? No one is safe which makes it extra good.
Farscape. Worlds building…or should that be universe building? Either way, magnificent. Have watched the whole thing several times.
Battlestar Galactica. While it got weird at the end, I really liked the gritty people drama in space and the constant threat to survival.
Wild Boys, there was only one season but it was about Australian bushrangers in the 1860s and was a lot of fun. And if you like the idea of bushrangers check out my Christmas novella coming out in December.
I know on that list really screams urban fantasy author, but I loved Buffy back in the day. I grew up watching Doctor Who and watched both 9 and 10…11 didn’t work for me—don’t hate me. The Empty Child was terrifying, as was Silence in the Library. I also think it’s important to have a wide range of influences. The only thing these TV shows have in common is that they take me away to someplace else. I rarely watch TV shows set in the here and now with ordinary people. That is my life and I like my books and TV shows to be escapist.
With Australian TV full of endless, cheap reality TV I’m always looking to add to my to be watched pile. So if you have any recommendations, send them my way 
December 4, 2018
New Post: Dipping My Toes into YA Territory
I’ve been doing this writing thing since 2014. I started with two small short stories, then took a break when I realized I wasn’t quite ready. Fast forward a few years, and I tried again. I had thought my skills had improved, and that I was finally on the right track. Then Outdated came out. Boy, was I not ready for the love/hate relationship that people had with this one. It got so bad that I almost quit altogether. But flash forward another couple of years, and I’m back at it. Not only have I released a bunch of new Gay Romance, but I also decided to tip my toes into YA.
At first, I didn’t expect to do it, but I wanted to really challenge myself for this year’s NaNoWriMo. So I decided to focus on what it was like to be a gay high school kid growing up in South Texas. It wasn’t easy and led to a lot of pent-up emotions that needed to come out. I won’t get into more detail, but I do feel that this one really brought out the best in me. It was deeply personal and made me tear up a few times. I plan to start editing it soon and will then give out more details.
One thing I’m not sure about though is whether or not I want to use the same pen name for the YA book that I use for my Romance. I mean, it’s for a different type of reader, but some gay romance readers also read YA, so I am torn. What do you all think?
I’m also waiting for the first round of edits for Espejos, which is also set in South Texas. I guess that’s my new thing, especially considering that my latest short, “A South Texas Holiday,” will also be out on December 8th. Hmm, maybe I found my new brand.
What do you all think? Should I use the same pen name? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
