Michael War's Blog, page 4
October 31, 2018
Release Blitz: Dark Rivers (Witchbane #2) by Morgan Brice
Book Title: Dark Rivers (Witchbane #2)
Author: Morgan Brice
Publisher: Darkwind Press
Cover Artist: Lou Harper
Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance
Length: approx. 85 000 words
Blurb
One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse.
Seth uncovers the cycle of ritual killings that feeds the power of the witch-disciples, and he’s hell bent on getting vengeance for Jesse and stopping the murders. His fledgling romantic relationship with Evan Malone complicates his mission, but Seth can’t walk away. Seth and Evan are learning to navigate their partnership—as lovers and monster hunters—while they chase the next witch-disciple and avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention.
When the hunt takes Seth and Evan to Pittsburgh on the trail of the next killer, they’ll have to save the intended victim and take down the powerful witch. If the skills they possess and the bond between them isn’t enough, the evil will remain unchallenged, and more people will die…
Excerpt
“If the sun hasn’t set yet, and there’s no moon, where’s that blue glow coming from?”
Clouds covered the sky, blotting out the dull, late-afternoon sun, and the overhead branches dimmed the light even more. Yet beneath the trees, the snow reflected a twilight indigo, and the shadows all around beneath the trees seemed to have grown darker.
Seth wasn’t a medium, and he had no talent for seeing or hearing the dead. But his experiences hunting supernatural creatures attuned him to the presence of things that went bump in the night, and now he was certain that they weren’t alone.
“We mean you no harm,” Seth said to the blue glow and the empty forest around them. “We’re just looking for information about the witch. Can you help us?”
A sparkling haze gradually filled in between the leafless trees, and as it shifted on the wind, Seth thought he saw forms and faces. Evan was already laying down a salt circle around where they stood, reinforcing it with iron filings. Both substances interfered with ghosts’ ability to manifest and sapped their strength to cause harm.
“Seth, look.” Evan pointed toward the hanging tree. Where only moments ago, it had been nothing but bare branches, now, a shadowed form swung slowly, suspended by a rope around its neck, the head tilted at an unnatural angle.
“We’re here to end the killing,” Seth said, forcing himself to look away from the hanged man, pushing back the memories of Jesse’s body, suspended like that, soaked with blood. As if he could guess Seth’s thoughts, Evan placed a hand on Seth’s forearm, grounding him to the here and now. “We want to stop the witch that caused your pain, keep him from hurting anyone else.”
Overhead, a cold wind stirred the branches, and the trees creaked and rattled. Seth shivered as the temperature dropped. Figures now stood amid the headstones in the old cemetery, and their stance suggested that they were ready for a fight.
“Give me something I can use to stop the witch,” Seth begged the ghosts. “He went by many names—Thane. Carmody. Brunrichter. Wiegand. Whatever he called himself—we want to make him stop.”
The wind carried the whispers of spectral voices, and the blue mist roiled with internal energy. Evan yanked off his gloves, then withdrew a small slate writing board and a piece of chalk from the pocket of his parka. As Seth continued to talk to the ghosts, he saw out of the corner of his eye as Evan carefully drew one of the sigils he’d been practicing, a bit of rote magic that was likely to come in handy.
Seth feared they might need to fight their way clear since the ghosts seemed more interested in intimidation than supplying information.
Seth’s eyes widened as he saw movement. An invisible hand traced shaky block letters on a snow-covered embankment beside the road. W-A-T-C-H.
“Watch?” Seth repeated aloud. “Watch out? Watch for something?”
He could feel the press of spirits all around them, and Seth remembered that the ghosts of Blue Mist Road had a reputation for being unfriendly to intruders. Whatever their cryptic message meant, Seth had the feeling they had worn out their welcome.
The mist grew thick around them. Seth realized that the ominous figures from the cemetery had moved closer and that the hanged man was no longer suspended from his noose. He and Evan were safe for the moment within the salt circle, but they were also trapped inside their sanctuary.
“Ready?” Evan asked. He’d been practicing the small magicks that involved drawing arcane symbols and activating them with concentration; those had come more easily to him than the spoken spells Seth had learned. Seth recognized the drawing Evan made on the slate and hoped to hell the banishment sigil worked.
“Go for it,” he said, crossing his fingers.
Evan closed the last line on the sigil and placed his fingertips on the magical symbol, imbuing it with his will and life energy. The drawing flared gold and then white, so bright Seth and Evan had to avert their eyes as a blast wave of light radiated all around them.
When they opened their eyes, the blue mist and the spirits it harbored were gone, as was the writing in the snow.
“Come on,” Seth said, grabbing Evan by the arm and pulling him toward the truck. “Let’s get out of here before they decide to come back.
Buy Links
Goodreads
Giveaway
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of three $20 Amazon gift cards.
About the Author
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Look for her other books—Witchbane, Burn (a Witchbane novella #1.5 ), and Badlands.
Author Links
Facebook Group: The Worlds of Morgan Brice
RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE
99-Cent Book Blast: Love Times Five by Lily Blunt
Title: Love Times Five
Author: Lily G. Blunt
Cover Art: Jay Aheer at Simply Defined Art
Release Date: January 19, 2018
Genre/s: paranormal, gay romance, contemporary, polyamory
Length: 77, 000 words
Add on Goodreads
Blurb
There’s safety in numbers and plenty of love to go around.
When Colin searches for his missing colleague and buddy in the hills of northern England, his life is changed forever. Not only does he find Shaun living in a cabin with the mysterious and undeniably gorgeous Zach, but he also discovers the reason Shaun went AWOL in the first place. Colin wants to draw his friend away to safety, but Zach soon mesmerises him, and he’s happy to stay in his company, for now.
Passing hikers, Wes and Dane, need some assistance, and the three men are willing to oblige. Thus begins a friendship that develops into much more.
The five men each have their own secrets. Some are shared, others are kept hidden. It’s only a matter of time before they are exposed and the consequences could change everything for them all.
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
99c for a limited time – Oct. 26 – Nov. 2
Trailer Video
Excerpt #2
Colin yelped and stumbled back. The penknife fell from his grip as he connected with the solid ground and landed on his arse.
“What the fuck?” Colin gaped at the wild beast in front of him, not five feet away, and apparently protecting Zach, who stroked the wolf’s back as if he were petting a huge dog.
Colin blinked, hoping to clear his vision. Had he knocked his head? Was he dreaming? Had he been drugged too?
The wolf sniffed the air and pawed the grass, its tongue now lolling to the side of its mouth. Teeth, sharp and white and scary, distracted Colin from the animal’s other features. The scent of damp fur and woodland soil filled his nostrils, and warm panting breath ghosted over his face.
The wolf was real enough. No vision. No dream.
“What the fuck?” Colin said, keeping his eyes fixed on the animal as it slunk away to the trees. His heart pounded and his mind was a whirl of confused thoughts. He tried to swallow around a thick lump in his parched throat. “What the fuck just happened?”
Zach said nothing but offered a hand to Colin, which after a few seconds pause, Colin grasped. Between the two of them, they easily hauled his bulky frame to standing. He scanned the grass for his knife, relief racing in his veins when he spotted it nestled among two nearby clumps of greenery.
Colin glanced away from the knife in the direction the wolf had headed. Could it really be Shaun? “I don’t understand.”
“Of course, you don’t.” Zach’s mouth curved into a warm, genuine smile. His eyes glimmered, and some of the tension lifted from Colin’s shoulders. “You must be Colin. Shaun’s sexy boss. He’s told me all about you.”
“What?” Colin’s pulse still pounded, and confusion turned his thoughts to sludge, but his heart fluttered at the hope those words kindled. What the hell was happening? What was this arsehole saying? Shaun had never tried anything on with Colin, not even when they’d been drunk. And had Shaun really… turned into a… what the actual fuck?
“You didn’t think he was interested in you?” Zach arched an eyebrow, and his eyes sparkled. Again.
Before Colin could commit himself to an answer or ask any questions about the precarious state of his sanity, there was movement to his side.
Shaun stood naked, his hands cupped over his groin, a little unsteady on his feet. “Chuck us your T-shirt, Zach,” he rasped, not making eye contact with Colin, his cheeks scarlet.
Without hesitation, Zach shed his top and threw it at Shaun, leaving his own fine torso on display. Smooth, defined, firm—perfect. No wonder Shaun had hooked up with him. Colin wouldn’t stand a chance with this guy in the picture, even if Shaun had liked him once upon a time.
Why was he even thinking about such things right now? He’d just seen Shaun turn into a wolf, and now he was back again as himself. And shortly before that, this ridiculously handsome man had been sucking on his neck and was now acting as if he knew things about Shaun that Colin didn’t even know. Was he losing his mind?
Colin dragged his gaze back to Shaun, his chest and nakedness now hidden from view by the oversized T-shirt. He staggered closer to Colin, his legs unsteady as if he were drunk. Shaun collapsed into Colin’s arms, maybe a deliberate move rather than an uncontrolled stumble. As much as Colin wanted to hug him to his chest, he needed answers. Anger bubbled to the surface and exploded. Colin gripped Shaun by his biceps and held him back at arm’s-length.
“What the fuck is going on? What did I just see?” It took all of Colin’s willpower not to shake the answer out of Shaun. “And what’s this fucking guy been doing to you?”
Shaun trembled beneath his touch, and his voice was hoarse and uneven, not its usual sweet timbre. “It’s okay, Col. I promise you, I’m okay now.” He placed his palm on Colin’s shoulder. “I know it’s a lot for you to take in all at once. I’m sorry I didn’t get the chance to explain before.”
His words didn’t tell Colin anything. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me you were leaving and where you were going? I’d have listened… and helped you.” What the fuck could Colin have done to help if Shaun was a—?
Zach cleared his throat, distracting them both. He moved closer, running his long fingers down those taut abs of his until they came to rest on the waistband of his perfectly clinging jeans.
Shaun gazed at Zach, over his body, the renewed flush of arousal evident in his eyes. Colin’s heart sank but gave a hopeful flip when Shaun looked back at him with that same darkened expression. “Hey, how about we go inside? I can get dressed, and then explain what’s been going on with me.”
For a moment, Colin feared he might be overpowered or drugged or something like that once they got him inside the cabin, perhaps in the same way Shaun might have been. He eyed his knife lying on the ground, tempted to bend down and scoop it up for some protection.
Zach chuckled, and in a smooth yet swift motion slid past Colin. “I think you dropped this.” His mouth nestled close to Colin’s ear, his voice deep, his breath cool. A curl of interest coiled its way around Colin’s groin at the closeness of the man. Zach gripped Colin’s hand, turning his palm face-up, and placed the missing knife softly against his skin.
Colin couldn’t help but let out a gasp. He hadn’t witnessed the knife being retrieved from the ground. Whoever this man was, he was fast. He would probably dodge any knife or fist that Colin hurled his way. No way was Colin walking from this meadow without finding out who this man was. He pocketed the knife, despite his doubts about its usefulness now.
Zach glided away, entwined his fingers around Shaun’s hand, and pulled him towards the cabin. With an encouraging look over his shoulder, Shaun waved his free hand behind him. “Come on. We need to talk.”
Colin really had no choice, so he followed them. He needed to find out what had happened to Shaun and what the hell was going on between him and Zach.
About the Author
Lily G. Blunt enjoys writing contemporary gay romance and paranormal stories. She loves to explore the relationship between two or more men and the intensity of their physical and emotional attraction. Angst often features in her stories as she feels this demonstrates the depth of feelings between them. Lily is often inspired by the lyrics to songs and is forever writing imaginary scenes and plots in her head. Only a few of these ever make their way to the page.
Lily reviews for several blogs and has recently launched Gay Book Promotions, an online book promotion service for authors of LGBT+ romance and fiction. She loves to hear from readers and other authors.
Author Links
Amazon | Amazon UK | Blog | Facebook
Goodreads | Twitter | Gay Book Promotions
BOOK BLAST SCHEDULE
October 28, 2018
WIP Progress: Timeless, YA, and Everything Else on My Mind
Sometimes I think I have too much going on in my head. That’s the most apparent when I sit down to write. I make myself a to-do list, and I do my best to stick with with. But anytime I try to focus on my current WIP, I get distracted with all the other things I could be writing. For instance, I really have been thinking about writing a YA novel based on some of the feelings I had growing up as a young gay man in South Texas. Why? Well, while the world has made some progress, there are still people in that region (and others like it) who may not feel as liberated as others.
I’ve actually written the first 12,000 words, and will do the rest starting next month. Quick question though: Do all YA novels need to be in first person? As I’ve been trying to get my more mature works into third person, that’s how I started writing the first 12,000 words. But I’ve been reading online that the preference is first. So does that matter?
That being said, I also know that I have to finish some of the other stuff that I have already started. Timeless three still needs to be finished. I’ve gone over this one again and again and keep changing it. I’m on my third version right now, and have never struggled so much writing an 8,000 word short in my life. I also need to get started on South Texas Lore 2, but I figure that can wait until I have more information about when Espejos (South Texas Lore 1) is going to be available. I’m also considering doing some YA companions to those stories, since that might make for some interesting reading.
On the plus side, I do have one more release for the year. A South Texas Holiday will be out this December, which marks the first time I’ve dipped into the Christmas short story arena. I find it to be very sweet and romantic, and I hope you will too.
I guess that’s it for now. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section on what person YA should be told from.
October 22, 2018
Book Blast: Omega Challenge (Pine Creek Lake Den #4) by Quinn Michaels
Book Title: Omega Challenge
Series: Pine Creek Lake Den, Book 4
Author: Quinn Michaels
Publisher: Global Grafx Press
Cover Artist: Pebbles Davis
Genre/s: Genre/s: gay romance, MMM, menage, omegaverse, mpreg, paranormal, wereshifters
Length: 35,920 words
Release Date: September 26, 2018
Buy Links
Link to chapters and all platforms
Blurb
One is forsworn. One is forsaken. One will pay.
Noah and Luther are in love. The problem, Luther is a beta, Noah is an omega, and their mating is forbidden. Worse, if Noah can’t find an acceptable alpha in the next three days, he will have no choice but to mate with Raymond, an alpha he despises.
Then Arthur arrives, and everything falls apart.
Arthur is an alpha with a secret. He and his mother were betrayed, and both wear the mark of it. Now, Arthur will stop at nothing to make the alpha who cursed them pay. Now, with revenge in his teeth, Arthur’s own body betrays him. Twice. Will Arthur sacrifice love and happiness for vengeance? Or will he choose another path?
Find out in Omega Challenge an action-packed Omegaverse romance. This is a short book set prior to the events of the other three books of the Pine Creek Lake series.
If you love shifters, mmm menage, alpha, omega, and beta dynamics, adventure, magic, and a touch of mpreg, grab Omega Challenge now!
Excerpt
The rock was red and rust-brown with fallen blood when the stranger approached.
He was large, blonde with a scruffy beard and a patch over his left eye. His right eye was gray. He wore a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, riding shirt and dungarees. Even from a distance, even through the smell of blood, this alpha’s scent was powerful. Noah felt something inside of him stir, like a vibrating banjo string only he could hear. To his embarrassment, his cock thickened.
Noah quickly averted his gaze. He took a gulp from a glass of lemonade he had been holding, and then, still feeling thirsty, he drank the last of it down.
Luther grazed his fingers over Noah’s neck, a seemingly absent touch, but one that grounded Noah. He didn’t dare look at the beta. His face was hot. He loved Luther, and this sudden attraction was a betrayal of the promises he’d made himself.
If only the alpha would leave. But no, he took his place in line behind another pair of alphas preparing to shed their blood and enter the Cluiche.
The stranger had a scar running from his hairline down his temple and beneath the eyepatch to the center of his cheek. Noah’s sight flashed. He saw a young, female omega wolf snapping her teeth. The edges of her muzzle were splattered with blood.
Noah blinked. In his moon vision, the alpha’s scar was a shimmering silver line.
Noah swallowed, wishing he had more lemonade.
The alpha approached the rock. “This is where I bleed for the challenge?”
Horace was quiet, and Noah scented fear on him.
Fear?
“Yes,” Noah said. The vision was beginning to fade, thankfully, but he couldn’t push away his attraction.
In one fluid motion, the stranger swiped a silver dagger over his palm. Squeezing his hand tight, he let three drops fall on to the stone. “I am Arthur, son of Marion,” he said, giving his family line and no pack affiliation.
A mutt.
Odd considering his youth and obvious physical strength. A small pack would have wanted an alpha and accepted him unless he had some deeper problem of disposition or character. Or maybe he was entering the Cluiche with the intention of proving himself so that he might join one of the packs here?
The stranger, Arthur turned to leave.
Horace said, “Wait.”
The stranger turned back around. He cocked his head. “Yes?”
“Show us your eye. Under the patch.”
Horace didn’t have the sight. He hadn’t seen the scar shimmer, had he?
“The Cluiche is open to all,” Arthur said. “Pack or no.”
Noah leaned towards Horace and whispered, “He’s right. There’s no reason to embarrass him this way.”
Horace said, “Show us your eye, mutt.”
Arthur reached up and, taking the patch in a tight, almost white-knuckled grip, yanked it down. Where Noah had expected to see a hollow space, scarred and sewn over, the eye was amber. A wolf’s eye with the pupil rimmed in red and a line of white through the center, following the path of his scar.
Noah’s breath caught. Around him, the others went silent.
About the Author
Pennsylvania native, Quinn Michaels loves fantasy, werewolves and M/M mpreg romance! Her goal is to write action-packed adventures of romance, self-discovery, and second chances, all served up with a hefty helping of sweet, sexy Omegas and hot, determined Alphas who will do anything to cherish, love, and protect them. She is ecstatic to share her characters and worlds, and she hopes you enjoy them (and the sexy times!)
Her books are available on Kindle, via Gumroad directly, and also on Nook, iBooks, Kobo & Google Play.
Author Links
BOOK BLAST SCHEDULE
October 15, 2018
Cover Reveal: Morgan Brice’s Dark Rivers (Witchbane #2)
Book Title: Dark Rivers (Witchbane #2)
Author: Morgan Brice
Publisher: Darkwind Press
Cover Artist: Lou Harper
Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance
Length: 85 000 words
Blurb
One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse.
Seth uncovers the cycle of ritual killings that feeds the power of the witch-disciples, and he’s hell bent on getting vengeance for Jesse and stopping the murders. His fledgling romantic relationship with Evan Malone complicates his mission, but Seth can’t walk away. Seth and Evan are learning to navigate their partnership—as lovers and monster hunters—while they chase the next witch-disciple and avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention.
When the hunt takes Seth and Evan to Pittsburgh on the trail of the next killer, they’ll have to save the intended victim and take down the powerful witch. If the skills they possess and the bond between them isn’t enough, the evil will remain unchallenged, and more people will die…
About the Author
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Look for her other books—Witchbane, Burn (a Witchbane novella), and Badlands.
Author Links
Facebook Group: The Worlds of Morgan Brice
October 14, 2018
Release Blitz: Love’s Trials (Revolutionary Heart, Book 2) by Janice Jarrell
Book Title: Love’s Trials (Revolutionary Heart, Book 2)
Author: Janice Jarrell
Publisher: Janice Jarrell
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Length: 78,333 words/224 pages
Genre/s: Contemporary Gay Romance
Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited
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.
Excerpt
Colin drew in a breath. He released Joshua, then took his hand and drew him toward the couch. “Sit with me a minute. I need to tell you something.”
Joshua shook his head as he fell onto the couch beside Colin. “You’re going to do it,” he said. “You’re going to be part of the drug investigation.”
Colin’s eyes widened. “Lenny! That jackass called you?”
Joshua chuckled and shook his head. “No,” he said. “C’mon! Lenny would never do that. No. I was expecting it.” His fingers tightening on Colin’s. “I knew you couldn’t say ‘no’ to them. Once they started waving the students in front of you it was a done deal.”
“You mad at me?”
“Oh, hell no! Are you serious? Why would I be?”
“I know this whole operation worries you.”
Joshua looked past Colin to the windows of their house, past which the Rivanna river flowed. “You can’t base the way you do your job on what might or might not make me nervous,” he said. “You have to do what you think is right.” He turned back to Colin. “And I know you always will.”
Colin leaned in and kissed him. “I didn’t tell you the best part! David’s going to partner with me. They want us to develop a set of prerequisites for the students’ participation. It’s…,” he shrugged and wrinkled his nose, “it’s paperwork. It’s grunt work. It’s no big deal.”
“I see,” Joshua said. “So there’s absolutely no chance that you’ll end up involved on a deeper level. Zero. None. Nada.”
Colin lifted Joshua’s hand to his lips. “Josh…,” he began, then stopped. It no longer surprised him when Joshua seemed to read his thoughts and often even his fears, and since he couldn’t bring himself to lie, Colin was now left with little choice. He sighed and looked somewhat sheepishly into Joshua’s dark eyes. “Well…,” he began.
“Yeah,” Joshua interrupted. “That’s what I figured.”
“I promise you this,” Colin said, pulling him closer. “I swear to you that I will resist any attempt to get me into the field. I will absolutely handcuff myself to my desk.”
Joshua’s face twisted with doubt, as he returned Colin’s gaze, then he shook his head in resignation. “Colin, I believe you. And I truly believe you’ll hold to that—”
Colin nodded.
“—right up to the moment when one of them says the words ‘student in danger’.”
Colin’s eyes fell.
“And thirty seconds after that,” Joshua said, “there’ll be a white streak where Colin used to be.”
“Josh—”
“Don’t bother denying it,” Joshua said. He leaned in to press his lips to Colin’s then sat back, his eyes locking, once again, with the honey-green eyes of his lover. “You’re the Man of La Mancha, Colin. You hear the call of glory and off you go. You don’t even think about consequences to yourself. You never have. You only care about doing what’s right.” As he spoke this last his dark brown eyes closed and his head dropped.
“Josh, please..,”
“You are who you are, Colin,” Joshua continued. “That’s why you’re the man I love.”
Colin touched his cheek.
“And no matter how this thing turns out,” Joshua continued, “I would never, ever want that man to change.”
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
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of three $5 Amazon gift cards and an ebook of Love’s Trials.
RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE
October 6, 2018
Book Blast: The Selkie Prince and His Omega Guard (The Royal Alphas Book 2) by J.J. Masters
Book Title: The Selkie Prince & His Omega Guard: An MM Mpreg Shifter Romance
Series: The Royal Alphas, Book 2
Author: J.J. Masters
Publisher: Self-Published
Cover Artist: Megan Parker of EmCat Designs
Release Date: October 6, 2018
Genre/s: Contemporary Romance (PNR/Gay/mpreg)
Length: 56427 words /236 pages
It is a standalone story but within a series
Blurb
An alpha prince ready to find his fated mate. A Selkie who wishes he wasn’t omega-born…
Unlike his brothers, Prince Adrian, the dutiful second-born son to the King of the North, looks forward to finding his true mate and producing an heir. Until he stumbles across a beta guard with an enticing scent.
Del never wanted to be an omega. All his life, he’s only wanted one thing: to serve as a Royal Guard. Though forbidden, he found a concoction to mask his omega scent and was successful until his dwindling supply caused the alpha prince to discover his deception.
Rian not only breaks every cherished royal tradition, but ends up hiding Del until he can figure out the reason for the attraction between them. However, one selfish mistake puts them in a precarious position they can’t escape. Their reckless actions have them worried they’ll be banished from the Selkie community. Rian needs a plan to convince his father to accept his mate before he has to risk everything he’s ever known and loved for their future. Because, no matter what the king says, Rian will not give up Del.
Note: A 60k-plus word m/m shifter mpreg story, this is the second book in the Royal Alpha series. Due to the “knotty” times in this book, it is recommended for mature readers only. It can be read as a standalone and, of course, has an HEA.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
Excerpt
Prince Adrian, the second born alpha son to the King of the North, frowned. As he stood near the throne where his father sat with his four brothers flanking him, his gaze bounced off the six omegas that had their foreheads pinned to the stone floor and their naked asses presented in the air.
He sighed quietly in disappointment. Not one of these omegas was his fated mate. The Selkie Seekers had gathered these males from good families all over the world, but none of the half dozen presented today belonged to him.
Rian—as his brothers liked to call him—glanced over at Luca who stood with his pup, Dylan, at the back of the Great Hall, bouncing the baby in his arms to keep him from fussing. He reminded himself that it had taken his oldest brother, Kai, several presentation ceremonies until he found his fated mate.
This was only Rian’s first. But still…
Unlike Kai, Rian had always preferred the Selkie traditions and he looked forward to finding his true mate and producing an heir. He was tired of rutting with the betas they had at their disposal. And to even think about rutting with a human…
He wrinkled his nose. His brothers may very well enjoy the sexual release the human males brought, but Rian refused to join them. He was a Selkie prince. He would rut only with another Selkie.
He found humans to be boring and figured none of them would be able to take his size anyway. As his brothers liked to point out time and time again, Rian was big. Most alphas were, but his was… extraordinary. As his younger brother Zale liked to call it… a dinosaur bone.
Not even all the betas could accommodate him. He knew which ones could and tended to use them for relief when needed.
He wrinkled his nose again, but this time it was for another reason. A sweet scent pulled at him. And it wasn’t coming from any of the omegas kneeling on the ground before him.
His eyes flicked back to Luca. Then he twisted his head and glanced over his shoulder at Kai. “Is Luca due to come into oestrus soon?”
Kai’s blue eyes narrowed as his gaze shot to his omega mate then back to Rian. “No.”
Rian inhaled deeply trying to pinpoint what the smell was and where it was coming from. “Do you smell that?”
Before any of his brothers could answer him, this father, the king, loudly pounded the end of his scepter onto the floor at his feet.
“Douglass! If Prince Adrian cannot identify any of these omegas as his fated mate, then let’s get this wrapped up.”
His father’s asshole assistant fluttered down the steps from where he’d been standing behind the king, and approached Rian.
Rian frowned at the weasel-faced beta servant. “What?”
“Has none of them caught your fancy, Your Highness?”
Rian let his gaze wander over the six naked males all bent over in a line. “None of these are my omega, Douglass. You may dismiss them all.” He tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice, but it was a struggle.
With a nod of his head and what curiously looked like a satisfied expression, Douglass clapped his hands, had the omegas rise to their feet, and herded them out of the Great Hall.
Rian couldn’t help but take one last look at the naked males. All were from acceptable families, all very handsome and some were even hung very well for an omega, but even if he was sexually interested in any of them, he was forbidden to rut with them.
Doing so could throw an omega into heat and with heat came pregnancy and then Rian would be stuck with an omega who was not his intended fated mate.
All for a quick dalliance.
Rutting for pleasure with an omega would also ruin the omega’s reputation. Omegas didn’t have to come to their mate with their corona membrane intact, but no matter what, they couldn’t rut with an alpha unless it was their mate. To do so was illegal and could mean imprisonment. Or worse, banishment.
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 or subscribe to her newsletter to keep up with exclusive content and news.
Author Links
BOOK BLAST SCHEDULE
October 3, 2018
Update: WIP’s, Blog Content, and Other Thoughts (Mostly About Writer’s Block)
Hey everyone. It’s been a very busy time for me. Unfortunately it’s not been because I’ve been making great traction on my latest and greatest WIP. Nope, the day job has me going all over, which has left little energy for writing. But I do hope to get at it again pretty soon, especially to finish up the last of the Timeless series and begin on South Texas Lore #2. I’ve been playing around with a few titles, and I think I may have settled on one I really like. I’ll share that as soon as I get closer to starting.
If you have looked at my page recently, you will have notices some new content. I’ve decided to start taking posts that help promote other authors that write gay romance/mm romance and other LGBT stories. It’s my way of trying to figure out how to give others some exposure, especially those just starting out. Plus, it could help bring more people who may want to check out my work too. If you are interested in a guest post, release blitz, or anything like that, just hit the contact page and send me a message. I’m not doing reviews though. I just don’t have the time.
On a sad note, once again I’ve been hit with the dreaded writer’s block. I had hoped to submit a story to an anthology last month, but the idea just never reached where I wanted it to. Every time I started to write, nothing would come out. Plus if it did, it wasn’t anything worth using. It’s a shame though, since I really liked the idea. But maybe I can come back to it one day and just publish it as a short.
I’ve also been thinking about my heritage a lot. I know I’ve touched on this with the start of my South Texas Lore series (the first, Espejos, being worked on by Less Than Three Press), but I feel there is a lot more I can do with it, even without the supernatural stuff. I have an idea, but we will see if I ever get around to starting it. Maybe it will be my Nanawrimo project.
I guess that is all for now. If you are so inclined, check out some of the release/reveal posts. Maybe you’ll find a new author to add to your growing collection.
Release Blitz: Burn (Witchbane #1.5) by Morgan Brice
Book Title: Burn (Witchbane #1.5)
Author: Morgan Brice
Cover Artist: Lou Harper
Release Date: September 30, 2018
Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance
Sexy, satisfying supernatural suspense.
Blurb
One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse.
Seth uncovers the cycle of ritual murders that feed the witch-disciples’ power, and he saves Evan Malone, one of the warlock’s potential victims. Neither Seth nor Evan expected to fall in love, but when the dust settles, they find themselves on the run and on the road together, heading toward Pittsburgh, on the trail of the next killer.
Seth wonders whether Evan will come to regret his choice to stay together, now that he’s living the reality of Seth’s nomadic life and the risks that come with it. He wants Evan to stay, but he’s afraid that Evan would be better off without him, living a normal life. Evan’s whole world has been upended, but there’s one thing he’s sure of, his love for Seth. Evan worries that he’s a liability, not yet able to hold his own in Seth’s rough-and-tumble world, but determined to do whatever necessary to have Seth’s back. On the way to face the next warlock, supernatural threats abound, forcing them to learn to fight as a team.
Fate and danger threw them together. But once the adrenaline fades, will love last?
Excerpt
The RV’s galley kitchen had all the important equipment, packed into a compact space. That made it difficult for two men to move around at the same time. Seth was broad-shouldered with plenty of muscle honed by time in the military and a grueling fitness regimen he maintained to keep him in shape so he could fight the supernatural creatures they hunted. At six-three and two-twenty, Seth took up his share of space. But while Seth had thirty more pounds of muscle, Evan wasn’t exactly small, even if he had a more slender build and a runner’s physique. Tight quarters made for plenty of accidentally-on-purpose crotch-to-ass slides that added spice to the process of cooking a meal and set the stage for sweet after-dinner activities.
Dinner wasn’t fancy—spaghetti with meat sauce, a bagged salad, and garlic bread from the freezer, but it filled the RV with luscious aromas and made Evan’s stomach rumble even more. Evan looked around at the trailer. Seth’s parents bought it for a retirement they didn’t live to enjoy. Seth had added some touches of his own, but it still felt like he had borrowed it from someone else. Maybe in time, if this thing between them worked out, Evan could help him make it feel more like theirs.
Two weeks had passed since Seth defeated the witch-disciple in Richmond and saved Evan’s life. They had gone north to Fredericksburg, to a proper campground with electric and water hookups instead of squatting at an abandoned farm. The family-owned park wasn’t fancy, but it had a fire pit and grills, as well as a rec room and a small convenience store, concession stand, and vending machines. The pool was closed for the season, but Evan could imagine kids playing and parents lounging on chairs nearby.
“Are you in there?” Seth snapped his fingers. Evan realized he’d been lost in thought.
“Yeah, just…wondering what the next stop is on the Magical Mystery tour,” Evan said. They had been glad to get away from Richmond in the wake of what happened and drove north until they found an open park. Most of the time since then had been recovering and easing into a relationship, a mixture of sex, sleep, and tentative conversation.
They were still both dancing around each other. Now that Evan wasn’t targeted for death by a psycho warlock, their initial reason to stay together was gone. In the intensity of their struggle to live through the fight with the killer, their emotions had been high, and they had declared their love for one another. It all felt genuine. Evan had never fallen so hard, or so fast before. He didn’t think Seth had, either. But when the adrenaline finally subsided, would they still feel the same?
“Everything we’ve found makes me think the next witch-disciple is near Pittsburgh,” Seth said, pushing his plate away and wiping his mouth with a napkin. He went to the fridge and came back with a beer for both of them. “Technically, we have until next Halloween. But—”
“But why not pick him off early and go on to the next one?” Evan supplied.
“That was my thought.”
Seth’s phone rang, and he answered. “Hi, Toby. What do you have for me?” Evan could hear the older man’s voice, although the words were muffled. “We’re near Fredericksburg. Need us to do something?” He listened for a while, nodding. “We can definitely take care of that. And thanks for the intel. That helps.”
He paused again. “Yeah, he’s here. Breaking him in to life on the road.” That look came back again, sad and something else, before vanishing. “Killjoy,” he chuckled. “‘Cause I’m sure you and Milo wouldn’t if you had the chance. On second thought, I don’t want to know! I’d need to bleach my brain. Some things can’t be unseen.” Toby said something else, and Seth nodded. “You too. Give my best to your better half.” He ended the call and stayed silent for a while.
“Hello? What was that all about?” Evan asked after the minutes dragged by.
Seth shook off his wandering thoughts. “Toby says that there’ve been some reports of a vengeful haunting near here. He was going to put it out to someone else, but it might be good for us to take it; you know, on the job training. Get your feet wet on something simple.”
Evan restrained himself from reminding Seth that just a few weeks ago, his feet had been very wet—with blood. They’d cut it fine and nearly hadn’t survived the encounter. But if Evan was serious about being in Seth’s life, then stopping dangerous supernatural threats—aside from murderous witch-disciples—was part of the bargain. His heart thudded at the prospect, but if he couldn’t handle hunting, he and Seth had no future.
“I’m game,” he said, hoping his smile looked whole-hearted. “What was Toby razzing you about?”
Seth’s cheeks pinked. “Ah…he wondered how we were getting on in our little mobile ‘passion pit.’”
Evan sputtered on his beer. “He said that?”
Seth nodded, grinning. “Yeah, and he must have made a list of other phrases because I don’t think he’s clever enough to just whip off one after another. “Sex on wheels. Horny home away from home—”
“I get the picture,” Evan said, laughing.
Buy Links
About the Author
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Look for her other books—Witchbane and Badlands. Coming soon—Dark Rivers (Witchbane novel #2) and Lucky Town (a Christmas Badlands novella).
Social Media Links
Facebook: The Worlds of Morgan Brice
Giveaway
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of three $20 Amazon gift cards
RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE
September 30, 2018
Cover Reveal: Morgan Brice’s Burn (Witchbane #1.5)
Book Title: Burn (Witchbane #1.5)
Author: Morgan Brice
Cover Artist: Lou Harper
Release Date: September 30, 2018
Genre/s: urban fantasy MM paranormal romance
Sexy, satisfying supernatural suspense.
Blurb
One hundred years ago, a sheriff’s posse killed dark warlock Rhyfel Gremory, but his witch-disciples escaped, and their magic made them nearly immortal. To keep their power, each year one of the witch-disciples kills a descendant of one of the men in the posse, a twelve-year cycle that has cost dozens of lives, including that of Seth Tanner’s brother, Jesse.
Seth uncovers the cycle of ritual murders that feed the witch-disciples’ power, and he saves Evan Malone, one of the warlock’s potential victims. Neither Seth nor Evan expected to fall in love, but when the dust settles, they find themselves on the run and on the road together, heading toward Pittsburgh, on the trail of the next killer.
Seth wonders whether Evan will come to regret his choice to stay together, now that he’s living the reality of Seth’s nomadic life and the risks that come with it. He wants Evan to stay, but he’s afraid that Evan would be better off without him, living a normal life. Evan’s whole world has been upended, but there’s one thing he’s sure of, his love for Seth. Evan worries that he’s a liability, not yet able to hold his own in Seth’s rough-and-tumble world, but determined to do whatever necessary to have Seth’s back. On the way to face the next warlock, supernatural threats abound, forcing them to learn to fight as a team.
Fate and danger threw them together. But once the adrenaline fades, will love last?
About the Author
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Look for her other books—Witchbane and Badlands. Coming soon—Dark Rivers (Witchbane novel #2) and Lucky Town (a Christmas Badlands novella).
Social Media Links
Facebook: The Worlds of Morgan Brice
