Andrew Q. Gordon's Blog, page 27

Puppies and Toddlers and Dogs – Oh My!

Okay, so how cliche is it that the gay man paraphrases a Judy Garland movie? Never mind.

As I mentioned, we have puppies – Six to be exact. For those who don’t know, Emma is a Vizsla, a Hungarian Pointer. There’s a whole lot that went into getting us to now, do shows, learning to show, getting the points for a championship, finding the right stud dog to complement each other, etc.  Mike did all that. I just help were I can.

‘lil q is very curious and already loves them. She has to see them when she gets up and before she goes to bed. Last night she wanted to see them being born, so we let her see some a very limited some, and she was good with it.  I’m still surprised by the lack of questions on this topic, but I’m totally not complaining.  During the height of the delivery, I took her to get ice-cream to distract her. Works every time.

One last thing before I show the pups, the breeder tends to give them temporary names that go with a theme. Each pup gets their own collar and that way we always know which one is which.  because we only have one girl, she didn’t get a collar because, well she’s fabulous enough already. Mike and I decided that since our two hobbies are over lapping—he’s got puppies and I have a new release—we’re going to give them names from my Champion of the Gods series. So here goes:

This is Farrell – he’s the smallest, but he’s feisty.

These are Grohl (green) and Takala (blue) – after the peregrine brothers who adopt Farrell as their brother.

Our lone girl is Penelope – after the princess of Dumbarten. She’s also one of the feisty ones.

The orange one is Kel, and the black one is Miceral. Miceral is the largest of the group, but is really quite mellow.

Couple more, just because:

Another picture of Farrell. I was keeping him company when mama went to go eat and go outside.

Grohl was crying when mama went to eat so I was holding him. This is when he pooped on my arm. Such love.

And since we’re going for cuteness overload, here are a couple from our ice-cream social.

Here she’s checking it out to see that I put all the things she wanted in her ice-cream.

Happiness evidently is gummy bears and squishy red things in your frozen chocolate ice-cream.

It’s all fun and smiles until the ice cream is gone.

Free Fiction Friday: Second Shot – The Senior Year – 44

 Free Fiction Friday: April 10, 2015:

Second Shot – The Senior Year: Chapter 44:

I started the year putting the links to the last five chapters before each post I noticed they were being used so I’m going to continue it for the time being.  If nothing else it will make it easier for folks to find the last few chapters.

Chapter 39:

Chapter 40:

Chapter 41:

Chapter 42:

Chapter 43:

It had been a while since Jason had been to his grandparent’s country club. The way staff looked down on him and his friends had always irritated him, but never more than tonight. Both Blake and Peter were overly conscious of the issue.

“Stop worrying.” He heard his brother say. When he turned, he saw Dean talking to Blake. “Just ignore them. Pops won’t treat you like that.”

That was the truth. Their grandfather had been thrilled that the ‘Miller boy’s friend’ could make it. Jason hoped Blake was prepared for the onslaught of questions from Pops. Peter squeezed his hand and Jason looked over.

Peter nodded toward the archway and Jason saw his grandfather coming toward them.

“Mr. Henry? Did you need something?” the annoying host said in his most fawning voice.

When Jason and his friends showed up, the man had been dismissive. Even more so after he noticed Jason and Peter holding hands. He’d made no effort to take them to their table, telling them he’d need to check with their ‘party’ before he could let them back.

Jason nearly asked to see the manager. He’d been coming here since he could remember and Gary had taken over as manager when Jason was ten. Gary’s son also played soccer, so they’d talked often about how Jason and Dean were doing.

“I came to see why you’ve left ours grandsons and guests waiting here instead of bringing them to our table.” Raymond Henry was generally very jovial and informal, but when he got mad, he changed. He’d always told Dean and Jason, money didn’t give you the right to be rude and that was something he’d always shown by example.

“Don’t worry, Pops,” Dean said. “He said he was going to find someone to ask you if you were expecting guests. He’d have gotten to us eventually.”

“I see.” Raymond motioned for everyone to come with him. “Obviously telling you I was expecting five guests and you seating my wife and I at a table for seven wasn’t sufficient notice. Next time I’ll be more specific.”

Jason held back a snort, but Peter didn’t.

Dinner proved less exciting than getting seated. Blake seemed especially tense. He ate with caution and seemed confused a couple times by which utensil to use when. Dean was his usual immature self, drawing two glares from Flora Henry before Raymond told him to behave.

Peter seemed a bit off to Jason. He’d answer when asked, laugh at the right time, but after almost two years together, Jason knew his boyfriend well enough to know something was bothering him. What that something was, he had a very good idea.

Between trying to make Blake less uncomfortable and watching Peter, dinner turned into a stressful occassion for Jason. Something his grandmother seemed to hone in on. After dinner they retired to the lounge and she cornered him while Ray showed the other some of the more interesting things in the room.

“Why the serious look, Jason.” She grabbed his hand with both of hers and rubbed until he smiled. She’d done this for as long as he could remember.

Rather than answer, he gave her a hug. “I’ve missed you, gran.”

“Okay, now I know something’s wrong.” Despite her comment she hugged him back. “No twenty-one year old says that about his…his slightly older than twenty-one year old grandmother.”

He squeezed a little tighter before he let go. “Everything’s fine. I’m just starting to realize I’m almost a real grown up.”

“A grown-up? At your age? Ridiculous.” She dismissed the thought with a wave and led him to a couch near a cold fireplace. She pointed to the far end of the large room where Ray was regaling the others with some story or other. “Your grandfather still isn’t a grown-up so why should you be?”

“You know what I mean. College is almost over, then no matter what I do next, everything changes.”

She patted his leg gently. “Not everything, dear. But, yes, some things will change and that’s a good thing. Life is always moving forward. Each new stage is as wonderful as the old one, even if you can’t imagine it being that way.”

“I guess.” He shrugged, not convinced she was right.

“Like I said, I know it’s hard to see it now, but whatever comes next will have its own challenges and rewards. There is an entire world out there, Jason. You’re one of the lucky ones who can see and experience as much of it as you like.”

For most of his life, she was just gran. The sweet woman in the big house who always made him feel special. She still made him feel special, and she was still sweet, but she talked to him like an adult and that only reinforced his point.

“I know all that and I also know I can’t hold back time, but….”

“But you want everything to stay the same and be twenty-one forever.”

“Maybe not that, but D is going to go his way, Dean will stay here, this is my last year of soccer… you get the point.” He hadn’t meant to sound so pathetic.

“I do, dear, but you aren’t seeing things beyond the small universe you live in. Soon you will make choices about what you do with your life, where you’ll life, what career you’ll pursue.” She smiled and for a moment she seemed far away. “I remember feeling this same anxiety when I was your age.”

“That was just a few years ago, right?” He winked as she rolled her eyes.

“Just a few.” Flora looked toward her husband again and her smile returned. “Ray and I were getting ready to graduate and I could see the same restlessness in him as I see in you. We knew what we wanted and we knew what it meant, but he didn’t want to give up his college days.”

“Yes, but he proposed to you before you graduated.”

“Yes he did.” She stared at Ray a moment longer, then reached for Jason’s hand again. “And we embarked on a grand adventure together call a family. Jason, I know that watching things change is hard, it will be harder when you see your children grow-up and move on—and I still expect grandchild from you, dear. You will be an amazing parent, just like your father, so don’t let being gay stop you.”

“That’s a bit more than I’m thinking about right now, gran.”

“I know, but I want to make sure you don’t rule it out.” She squeezed his hand until he looked up. “Each new stage is scary before it happens, but it is also exciting and wonderful. You can’t stop time from moving, so you have to embrace the change and find those things that make it as good, or better than what was before.”

“That’s easy to say, but hard to do.” Jason knew she was right, but somehow, nothing was ever that simple in his life.

“Nothing good is ever easy, dear.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “But I’m sure you can do it.”

He watched Peter and his friends listening to Ray. Blake seemed to relax now that he didn’t have to worry about eating and Peter seemed happier and less tense. He turned and his eyes met Jason’s. After a moment he winked and gave Jason a smile that made his heart beat a tiny bit faster.

Leaving some things behind would be hard, but fortunately, he wouldn’t have to let go of everything.

“Thanks, gran.”

“You’re welcome.” She let go of his hand motioned for him to go join his friends. “Go have fun. I want to go speak to Dolores Hines.”

He stood, helped her up and kissed her cheek. “Thanks again, gran.”

Be Sure To Check Out The Other Free Fiction Friday Stories:
Follow all your favorite authors and read the first 100 words on the group’s website:
Free Fiction Friday

Release Day for Craving Stains; by Alina Popescu

Synopsis

Wynn Brenwood has been trapped by his mother since birth, shut away in a sterile, hospital-like apartment.

Is it her desire to keep him safe that sees him locked up in his pristine cage? Or are her motives less innocent and well-intentioned?

Wynn longs to break free to experience the world he sees beyond his window.

Desperate to escape, he meets Doyle, a handsome, leather-clad, and enigmatic stranger.

But is Doyle real, or is he just a figment of Wynnís imagination?

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UUE58SU/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00UUE58SU/

Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00UUE58SU/

Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00UUE58SU/

WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/p...

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod...

Excerpt

A nervous giggle escaped him and he rolled his eyes. It was hard to keep his emotions under control. Twenty years made for one long wait to finally breach the confines of his apartment. He looked around, taking in the large, pure white room with its scarce, minimalist furniture. The wall made of nothing but floor to ceiling windows was his favorite part. Sure, it threw away anything from the sun that was not pure light—UV filters, air cleansing devices, and CDC grade measures all made sure no microbes or bacteria ever penetrated this cage—but it was still his only direct connection with the outside world.

Wynn snorted, thinking of how unnecessary it would all become the moment he stepped outside and returned home alive. Only then would these absurd measures his mother had taken be forgotten. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to prove to her he could stay healthy and walk outside. He was tired of the Maid Bot 2000, his computer, his TV, and the books he kept buying. He supposed he should be thankful for the ‘Rise of the eBook’, yet he could not love them, not really, not like a normal reader. The TV programs, the news and stories on the Internet, the photos and videos of faraway places, the gripping stories in the books he read, they were all cruel reminders of the life he’d been denied. A normal human being, even if they never did go to that exotic beach on the other side of the world, still knew they could. They weren’t stranded, abandoned in their own home, with the somber doctor that came to inspect every inch of Wynn’s body as their sole contact with the outside world, other than his mother of course.

He perked up when he heard the click of the outside door opening. It unlocked when a certain code was pressed into the keypad on its right side. Wynn had seen the process through the security system; he’d never been on that side of the apartment. His mother’s high heels clicked on the floor, the hiss of dry showers cleansing her followed. Ten meters of different heads pushing air and heuristic nanobots, mixed into the traditional bacteria- and virus-killing formulae. It was all the rage in disease control: microscopic machines programmed to guess what would make a potentially deadly intruder, and isolate the tiny killers before they could be spread. Wynn imagined it cost a lot, but there was nothing his mother wouldn’t do to keep him alive. To what end, he could not guess. Maybe she just enjoyed having him a prisoner.

A bright smile curved his mouth, this time reaching his eyes. Wynn did not have to fake his pleasure at seeing his mother; it was as natural as it could be this time around. She was taking him outside. He supposed it made sense to even think he might love her one day. If he got to enjoy a normal life, experiencing the outside world, Wynn was ready to forget everything about how she’d kept him locked up and alone for as long as he could remember.

She walked to the armchair he was sitting on, taking step after stiff step. Wynn had always thought he hated the sound of her heels hitting the marble floor, but today it heralded amazing new adventures, so he smiled and stood up. She took his hands in hers, giving them a little squeeze and gracing him with a tight smile.

Moira Brenwood was a beautiful woman, he knew. She was tall and slim, always full of grace, perfect in every detail, from the way her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, to the impeccable line of her eyebrows, and the flawless makeup.

“Good morning, darling. How are you today?” Her voice echoed in the large room, coming back to him with the same rehearsed warm notes.

“I’m great, Mother. Let’s go!” he urged, shaking her hands and chuckling.

“Wynn! Where are your manners?” she hissed through clenched teeth. He saw the disapproval in her look and the way her lips were pressed together. Moira didn’t take too kindly to rude people.

He cringed and gave her an apologetic smile. Damn it, don’t screw this up! Don’t give her any reason to take back her promise of allowing you outside!

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and she has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm. Born and raised in Romania, she finds her inspiration in books of all genres, in movies, and the occasional manga comic book. She is a proud geek who needs her fast Internet and gadgets more than she needs air.

Social Links

Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu

Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu

Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu

Google+:  https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu

Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

My Zombie Boyfriend; by T. Strange

My Zombie Boyfriend, by T. Strange – Book Blast and Giveaway
Blurb:

Edward Grey is a medical student by day, necromancer by night. He lives alone with the first zombie he ever raised, his childhood cat, Boo. Edward’s life is simple: studying medicine, training his necromantic powers with his mentor, Mariel, and having weekly dinners with his parents. When he finds a very attractive corpse in a park and brings it home to reanimate, he accidentally creates a sassy, free-willed zombie who believes Edward is the one who murdered him.

With no memory of his former life, Edward names the zombie Kit and tries to win his trust. Kit slowly adjusts to his new un-life with Edward’s help, though he’s still suspicious of Edward’s role in his death and is convinced that Edward is hiding his former identity. Edward is very attracted to Kit, but understands why Kit doesn’t trust him. As they become closer to one another, Kit turns to Edward for comfort and love. The fragile trust they’ve built together will be tested when Kit unexpectedly regains his memory and seeks revenge on his murderers.

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: B. S. Clay
Release Date: April 15, 2015
Pre-Order Links:

Torquere Press:

Excerpt:

Kit took one look at the concoction and raised his eyebrows in disbelief and disgust. “What is that supposed to be?”

“It’s your food. Mmm! Delicious, brains! Zombies love brains!” I could see right away that I had gone too far.

“I am not a dog or a child, Edward. And I don’t appreciate your stereotyping.”

Oh, great. I had offended a zombie. What a schmuck. “I’m sorry, Kit. Won’t you at least try it?”

“Is that a slice of brain?”

“…yes. Technically. It’s not human!”

“Oh, it’s a brain, but it’s not human. That makes it all better. What’s in the rest of it?”

“The rest of the cow?” No, this was not going at all well. I pleaded. I cajoled. I begged.

He poured it down the sink.

About the Author:

My Zombie Boyfriend is T. Strange’s first full-length novel, though she has published several shorter works with Torquere Press. When not writing, T. enjoys gardening, spending time with her horse, and, of course, reading. T. lives in Canada with her wife, surrounded by pets.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tq.strange

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTStrange

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TqStrange

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tqstrange/

Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Other: http://tqstrange.tumblr.com/

Other: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=464

Tour Date:

April 10, 2015

Stops:

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, Tara Lain, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Molly Lolly, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Love Bytes, Charley Descoteaux, Decadent Delights, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Cate Ashwood, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, TTC Books and More, Andrew Q. Gordon, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, 3 Chicks After Dark

Giveaway:

Click the Rafflecopter link to be entered for a chance to win an eCopy of My Zombie Boyfriend:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Champion of the Gods: Books One and Two – Available Now

 

 

For those who don’t own it (or who want a copy with the new cover art) The Last Grand Master is on sale now through the release of Book 2 – The Eye and the Arm on April 14, 2015.

Also – you can now pre-order The Eye and the Arm from all your favorite places.

 

 

 

 

 

DSP Publications: The Last Grand Master
Amazon: The Last Grand Master
Barnes & Noble: The Last Grand Master
ARe OmniLit: The Last Grand Master

DSP Publications: The Eye and the Arm
Amazon: The Eye and the Arm
Are OmniLit: The Eye and the Arm
Barnes & Noble: The Eye and the Arm

 

 

 

A Trip to Tali Spencer’s House.

‘lil q and I took a daughter/papa road trip on Thursday April 2, to Tali Spencer’s house. The occasion? You mean meeting Tali isn’t reason enough?  How about because Chris T. Kat was visiting? I’d met Chris when she was in the states two years ago, but I’d never met Tali. When Tali said she was going to have cannoli’s, that sealed the deal. So I took advantage of the occasion.  Chris didn’t want to appear in pictures so those with her in them will remain private.
Click to view slideshow.

The Island Keepers; by Kristopher Quentin – Book Blast and Giveaway

Blurb:

They could hardly have been less alike.

David is striking, tanned, smooth, charismatic, blond with an ice melting smile,and possesses an unmistakable gift as a fiction writer, even at twenty-one. Wyatt looks as plain as paper, short by comparison, white as a ghost, graceless, a celebrated oil painter. He is single and he is out. David, raised a strict evangelical fundamentalist, is embarrassed by his own virginity. Both men are sent to Puffin Island and, within days of their arrival a young woman washes ashore, frozen and unresponsive after her kayak crashes against the rocks.

David and Wyatt save her life. Days later, Wyatt is charged with rape. While the authorities investigate, the woman’s nineteen year old identical twin brothers paddle their way to Puffin to teach Wyatt a lesson. Their goal, to avenge their sister.

The bond between David and Wyatt increases during island duty, and his heart struggles with the imbedded childhood dogma and lethally homophobic parents, propelling him to bond with Wyatt, but, when the unthinkable happens, Wyatt is once more left alone. Wyatt has no option but to move on because there is a lot at stake and he turns to the unlikeliest of characters to fill the void, a person who will teach him an important lesson; that love is all about choice. By making a decision, Wyatt must sacrifice a need that had been created by his past with David.

Publisher: Cool Dudes Publishing
Cover Artist: 

Cover Artist: Louis C. Harris with photography of lighthouse supplied by author

Buy Link:
Cool Dudes Publishing
Excerpt:

“Wyatt?”

“Yes?”

“ I need to ask you a point blank question.”

“You can always ask, David. You know that.”

“I…I want to…I want know if…fuck this is so hard. Just a sec. I need to breathe.”

I waited a few moments, listening to him breathe deeply.

‘Okay, I’m ready. You still there?”

“Still here. What’s bothering you David?”

“I…I’ve never done this before so please forgive me for botching it up.”

“Talk to me, David.”

“Okay. Okay.” He whispered, and then taking a deep breath, said, “I want to know if you love me. I mean, are you in love with me?”

 

* * *

 

Knock me over with a feather.

I’d been staring out the window watching a couple of kittens chasing each other up and down a pair of maples in our yard.

Somehow, I suddenly identified with the chaser.

“I’ll answer that if you promise to answer the same question. Deal?”

I heard a gulp in my ear piece. “Perfect. I’ll answer it first since I asked it,” he said. “You need to know that I love you. I am in love with you. And I’m fucking miserable not having you by my side. I’m even more forlorn knowing you’re dating someone else.” He paused and took a deep breath. “Okay? There, I said it.”

“Do you feel better?”

“That depends on your answer.”

About the Author:

Kristopher Quentin has been writing for decades. He is a businessman

and broadcast journalist by trade, a man up at 3:45 every weekday

morning for a stint on the news desk; a little earlier on weekends to

write fiction in his man cave. An upstate New Yorker by birth, he now

lives in the most rural area of far northern Maine, USA, on 54-acres

of land: wooded, lawns, driveways, and a few buildings including his

four thousand square foot home which he calls the white house; because

it is. His property is home to moose, deer, rabbits, raccoons,

porcupines, fox, weasels, black bears, and one Bard owl.

He loves reading gay romances among other forms of fiction;

non-fiction; and memoirs most of which he considers to be fictional.

Travelling, dining out, boat riding are among his passions; that and

flying his own single engine airplane when he was younger.

Tour Dates & Stops: April 2, 2015

Parker Williams, Cate Ashwood, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Inked Rainbow Reads, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Molly Lolly, BFD Book Blog, , Michael Mandrake, Andrew Q. Gordon, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Bayou Book Junkie, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Hearts on Fire, Elin Gregory

Giveaway:

Kristopher is giving away an eCopy of The Islander Keepers to one lucky commenter on each blog. So leave a comment and I’ll pick a winner on April 9th.

 

The Last Grand Master – New Cover – New Sale Price

 

When DSP Publications decided to re-release The Last Grand Master as part of taking the entire Champion of the Gods series, I didn’t think to ask about a new cover, so when Book One was re-released on February 10, 2015, it had the same cover as the first edition. But then I sent in my request for what I wanted in the cover for The Eye and the Arm and to do what I wanted for Book Two, we needed to redesign the cover for Book One to keep the theme consistent.  What you’re about to see is the result.

For those who don’t know how getting a cover works, DSP Publications took my input and paired with a cover artist – AngstyG in this case. The artist and I discussed my general idea and she got to work. I’ll be honest, the end result was all her. She gave me some choices, but with just a few minor tweaks, Sam came up with the theme for my books.

The only issue with the new cover was we’d released Book One a few weeks ago with the old cover and now we were coming back with a new look. Sadly, that couldn’t be helped. I think you’ll agree the new theme is amazing and it will be easier to sustain over the life of the series. But what to do about everyone who bought Book One with the old cover?  I asked DSP Publications if they’d consider running a .99 cent sale on the book and they agreed.

From now until Book Two is released on April 14, 2015, The Last Grand Master will be on sale for .99 cents.

 

DSP Publications: The Last Grand Master

Amazon: The Last Grand Master

Barnes & Noble: The Last Grand Master

ARe OmniLit: The Last Grand Master

The text hasn’t changed, so unless you want the new cover, you don’t need to buy it to learn anything new.

Remember to check back on April 14, 2015 for the release of Book Two – The Eye and the Arm. 

Better yet, Pre-order it now:

DSP Publications: The Eye and the Arm

Are OmniLit: The Eye and the Arm

 

 

New Release—Defined By Deceit; by A.E. Via Brown—Guest Post & Giveaway

Blurb:

Life isn’t always fair, and that’s something that Llewellyn Gardner knows about first hand. His life was on the fast track until one night of extreme passion changed everything.

Now eight years later, he’s still living with the aftershocks of that night. Everywhere he turns or runs, there’s another reminder. What the hell do you do when you try to drown your demons only to find out they can swim?

Shane Smith, Jr. owner of Smith Construction, could see the emotional turmoil within his new employee — it’s why he hired him. There was something about the gorgeous, misunderstood man with the overly expressive eyes that came to their small town with a past no one was willing to overlook. Shane could see the good in Llewellyn, and those eyes of his were a clear window to his soul. Shane wasn’t going to let the man live a future of solitude because his past had been plagued with deceit.

Llewellyn wasn’t sure what to think about Shane. After years of protecting himself from being tricked twice, he was now faced with worry again. What would happen to him if Shane didn’t believe his truth, and walked away? Llewellyn wasn’t sure he’d be able to survive being left alone. Again.

DEFINED BY DECEIT
~ A.E. Via ~
M/M GAY ROMANCE CONTEMPORARY
Edited by: Tina Adamski
Cover Art by: Jay Aheer
PAGE COUNT – 300 pages
Release Date: March 27, 2015
Buy Links:
Amazon:
Excerpt:

“Thinking of going in? Or are you just gonna block the entrance?”

Llew turned at the sound of the sure voice behind him. Since he seemed to tower over everyone he looked down at the pretty brunette with dark brown eyes to match. “Um. Sorry.” Llew mumbled quickly moving out of her way.

“Well don’t be sorry shuga’, just escort a lady inside.” Llew didn’t blink as he watched the lady stalk towards him. Her full chest sat above an extremely narrow waist. It almost looked unnatural. She dressed and wore the amount of makeup that a grown woman would, but her smooth face and approach screamed her real age. She was jailbait if he’d ever seen one. Llew gave her a slight head nod and turned to leave when his elbow was hooked.

“I saw you in the general store applying for a job. You musta’ jus’ got into town, because if not I’d have known, honey. So you got kin here?”

Silence.

The laugh was an all-out immature giggle and it graded on his nerves. “Cat got your tongue, darlin’”. She moved in even closer and dragged a long red nail down Llew’s arm, tilting her head back to look up at him. “You want me to beg, huh? Come on now, handsome. Escort a lady to a movie… then maybe -”

“Maybe when he sees’ a lady… he’ll escort one.”

Llew diverted his attention away from the overzealous minx that was practically humping his leg and focused on the beautiful man approaching with another guy in tow. His voice wasn’t overly deep like his own, it was a smooth and melodic southern drawl. Like he could be a singer or a poet. He walked with an unhurried gait that was a mixture of ‘I’m in charge’ and ‘you’re on my time, not the other way around’, and Llew found it sexy as fuck. His tall friend chuckled behind him, moving away to purchase their tickets. Is he on a date? No, their demeanor definitely said ‘friends.’

“Mind ya’ own business Smith, Jr. I saw him first.”

Smith, Jr.

The man hooked one thumb in his pocket not the slightest bit fazed at the remark. But Llew was thrown. Was this guy actually gay or was she being a smart aleck? The man gave him nothing to go on. He moved closer towards them and Llew got a nice whiff of his spicy, bold cologne when a cool breeze blew his way. It was an interesting contradiction, because the man’s entire persona said ‘cool and composed’.

“Mosey along, Sallie Ann. Don’t make me ring ya’ daddy. He told me keep an eye on you while he’s gone and I agreed. He’d be rather put out if I didn’t follow through on my promise.”

She reluctantly let go of his arm, letting loose a long drawn out huff of annoyance. Llew didn’t bother watching her walk away. She was irrelevant. With his hands tucked deep in his pockets he eyed the man in front of him with a mixture of curiosity and wistfulness.

“Sometimes a person has gotta’ run interference with that girl. She’s usually not that bad but her daddy’s outta’ town, so ya’ know how young girls can be.”

Actually, not really.

“Hi. I’m Shane Smith, Jr.” he stuck out a large, calloused hand and it took Llew a couple seconds to process that he was going to touch him. Llew shook his hand, his mouth still closed tight as he watched the man’s eyes. They were light brown and full of humor and amusement. He immediately thought that this was obviously a guy who had little worries if any in life. Wait a minute…Smith….Jr. Is he the owner of? He let go of the strong grip on his hand and wished he’d been able to hold it a little longer.

“And you are?”

Llew swallowed before answering. “Llew.”

Those eyes twinkled again and dark brown brows rose up in question. “Llew…just Llew.”

It was a humiliation when a man hated to tell someone his name. But by doing so it meant that they would soon know who he really was. Know who he was classified as. He didn’t want this man to know that, god help him he didn’t. But lying wasn’t an option. Fuck it. “Llewellyn Gardner.”

So many broke eye contact with him and Llew was more than intrigued that Mr. Shane Smith, Jr. was staring at him just as hard as he was staring back. He didn’t know why he was looking at him that way but he didn’t mind it.

“Now that’s a name.” Smith smiled beautifully.

Llew wasn’t sure if this guy was flirting with him or not, he’d been in a place where flirting didn’t exist for so long, he’d forgotten what it looked like…what it sounded like. The way Shane Smith, Jr. was smiling at him it sure seemed like it. Llew could imagine himself with a strong man like this. A man who was gorgeous but didn’t know it. Not overly done up in fancy digs, he was dressed like a working man but he wore that look well. He appeared simple but confident, like a man that followed his own counsel and was not easily persuaded. But Llew wouldn’t dare get his hopes up. As soon as word got out that there was a newly registered sex offender in their quaint little town, Smith, Jr. might be leading the lynch mob to run him out of there.

Author Bio:

A.E. Via is still a fairly new author in the beautiful gay erotic genre. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to spicy to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children.

While this is only her seventh novel, she has plenty more to come. So stalk her – she loves that – because the male on male action is just heating up!

Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, and where she’ll appear next.

 

Social Media:

Author Official Website: http://authoraevia.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7354860.A_E_Via

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/aeviaauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoraevia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorAEVia

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/A.-E.-Via/e/B00GMNMS4U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Giveaway:
Click the Rafflecopter link below for a chance to win an eCopy of Defined by Deceit:
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Early to Rise: by V. L. Locey—Book Blast and Giveaway

Early to Rise; by V.L. Locey—Book Blast and Giveaway
Blurb:

There are few things worse than being left at the altar by the man you thought loved you. Just ask Simon Wilder. He knows all about it. He also knows a thing or two about getting fired. It`s been a rotten week for Simon and making major life decisions during such turmoil may not be the wisest thing Simon has ever done. Or is it?

Packing up his clothes, his collection of Tony Orlando CD`s, and his cat, Sambuca, Simon leaves the hustle and bustle of Philadelphia behind and heads out to live on his uncle Tiberius` farm in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Starting over on the farm where he vacationed once as a child is a going to be just what the doctor ordered, as long as that doctor is the good-looking large animal veterinarian, Gentry Martin. Is a sexy country vet the cure for a love-sick city boy?

 

 

Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Brandon Clay
Release Date: April 1, 2015
Pre-Order Link:
Torquere:
Excerpt:

“Welcome to Elderberry Grove. You passing through?” He offered his hand and I shook it. Then I reluctantly released his hand and busied myself with putting my watch back on.

“No, actually I’m going to be moving into–”

A sharp blast on a horn cut me off. Handsome-As-Hell and I both whipped around to find a huge white pig tooting the horn of the old blue Chevy pickup parked beside my Captiva. My mouth literally dropped open.

“Shit. I forgot how she gets when her coffee is late. Nice meeting you!” the man who saved my life grinned. Good thing I had my vehicle behind me or I would have melted like an ice cream cone in August at his flashing white teeth.

Dumbstruck, I watched the man grab a takeout container holding two large cups of coffee off my hood then run to the porker resting her cloven hooves on the steering wheel.

With a grin and a wave, he and his swine friend rattled off down the two-lane in the direction of Elderberry Grove’s booming downtown section. I closed my mouth.

“I get the feeling we’re not in Port Richmond anymore,” I muttered, eyes glued to the departing blue tailgate. Sambuca hissed at me in reply.

About the Author:

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, belly laughs, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted goofy domestic fowl, and three steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, tsú, and GoodReads.

Social Media Links:
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452
Twitter- https://twitter.com/vllocey
Pinterest-http://www.pinterest.com/vllocey/
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey
My blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/
tsú – https://www.tsu.co/vllocey
Tour Dates:
March 25, 2015

Parker Williams, Inked Rainbow Reads, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, Fallen Angel Reviews, Andrew Q. Gordon, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Cate Ashwood, 3 Chicks After Dark, Velvet Panic, Hearts on Fire, Amanda C. Stone, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Bike Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Cathy Brockman Romances, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Charley Descoteaux, Emotion in Motion, The Hat Party

 Giveaway:
Click the Rafflecopter link below for a chance to win an eCopy of Early Riser:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This Book Blast is a Pride Promotions event.  Click the badge for more information about Pride Promotions: