Susan Mac Nicol's Blog, page 14

The Hard Climate Blitz Day is here!!

Hi, and welcome to the Hard Climate Blitz tour and Giveaway.  This book is the eighth one in my Men of London series. I think there’ll be another one. In fact, I’m pretty sure there will be. It will be a while coming though as I have other commitments first. So in the meantime if you haven’t read this series, why not give it a go. And please drop me a line and let me know how you liked it.

 

 

Title: Hard Climate

Series: Men of London #8



Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group

Genre: M/M New Adult Contemporary

Release

Date: July 28, 2016

 

Blurb

Eco-warrior Mango Manning must shake the demons of his past to win back London nightclub owner Ryan Bishop, who is suddenly facing issues of his own.

WITH BOTH HANDS

Brawny, beautiful, complicated and sexy as hell, eco-warrior Mango Manning is everything performer and London nightclub owner Ryan Bishop wants in a life-partner. But Mango has been loving and leaving Ryan for the past two years, and Ryan’s had enough. That’s why he’s moving on. Ryan’s the monogamous type—which means now he’ll be alone at the worst possible time.

Mango Manning knows he’s screwed up and has commitment issues. That’s why he’s been so on-and-off with Ryan these past two years. He’d thought he found a safe haven, a place to hide from the losses of his past, but there are other demons you just can’t escape. Like Ryan’s health. If Mango is to put things right, he must man up and discover a way back into Club Delish and the heart of its owner. Only then can they look to the future together, come what may. True happiness will slip through their fingers…unless they both grab on and hold tight.

 

ADD TO GOODREADS  

 

Purchase Links

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Also Available



AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS




AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS




AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS




AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS





AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS 


SMASHWORDS / CREATESPACE
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS




AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS 


SMASHWORDS
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP




AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS 


SMASHWORDS
BOROUGHS PUBLISHING GROUP



Excerpt

 

“You have got to be fucking kidding me.”

Ryan gulped down the remains of his Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee and stormed over to his front door. He was as pissed off that he’d wasted a mouthful of expensive and exclusive coffee as he was with Mango, who stood at the entrance to his building being an insistent pest.

After the first buzz of the doorbell, Ryan had checked the security camera to determine who his visitor was. When he’d seen it was Mango, he’d ignored the bastard. Mango obviously didn’t have the keys he’d been given for Ryan’s flat and Club Delish in case of emergencies.

The buzzer had gone again. And again. Each time Mango lay on the bell longer than before. The fourth time it sounded, Ryan was ready to commit murder. The overwhelming desire to punch Mango’s lights out was, however, accompanied with an instant body tingle at the sight of his lover. Ryan knew this moment had been coming but he still wasn’t prepared for what he needed to do.

He flung the door open and put his hands on his hips. “You’ve got a fucking nerve,” he growled as Mango smiled hesitantly at him.

“Sorry for the buzzing and knocking.” Mango waved a tanned hand. “I didn’t have my keys with me.”

Ryan’s temper got the better of him. “It’s been six fucking weeks. Haven’t you got a whale to save or a bat to protect? Maybe visiting a whole rain forest of pygmy dwarves and their habitat? I know I have nothing here that might pique your eco-warrior interest so you may as well piss off.” Part of Ryan hoped Mango might do as he was told and postpone the pain for another day.

“Hello to you too, babe.” Mango raised one eyebrow. Ryan had to admit each time he did that it was as sexy as hell. And Mango knew it. “Pygmy dwarves?” Mango drawled, with amusement. “I had that particular excursion a few months ago, remember?”

“Don’t call me babe.” Mango’s smile faltered as Ryan took the comment and ran with it. “And I remember the whole pygmy dwarves scenario very well. It was the night you left me at dinner sitting alone like some pathetic man waiting for his date because you had an urgent plane to catch.”

Mango looked a little abashed but Ryan hadn’t finished. He waggled his index finger in Mango’s face. “Oh, wait, I remember now, the pathetic man waiting for a date was me. Because his date-to-be decided he had more important places to go.” Ryan took a deep breath, willing his ever-fiery drama queen to stay on the down-low. The throb in his temples signalled a low-grade headache coming on.

Mango held out a hand in a ‘whoa, stop’ gesture. “Ryan, I explained about that. The only plane out to the North Congo was the one I had to catch. They’d grounded a whole load because of some rainstorm coming in. It was the only way to get in and out of the conservation area.” He grinned faintly. “And for the record, you call them pygmies, not pygmy dwarves.”

Carefully constructed break-up plan forgotten, Ryan’s temper combusted at Mango’s teasing. “What-the-fuck-ever,” he exploded and slammed the door right in Mango’s face. He only wished Mango’s nose had been closer so he could have had the pleasure of hearing it break.

Author Bio

Susan Mac Nicol is a self-confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…

She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and a member of their Rainbow Writers Chapter. She’s also a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK.

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Giveaway

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Cover reveal – A Summer’s Day: Shakespearean Anthology with a Twist

I was thrilled to be able to take part in this project, which is both unusual and inspiring. I mean, the cover is simply beautiful, a typical Jay Aheer creation and the contents? Well, the contents are meant to be savoured while sipping a glass of great wine and sat out in a field on a blanket while the sun shines.

Some wonderful writers gave their names to this anthology and I for one will be reading it soon. The proceeds of this anthology benefit the It Gets Better Project™ so along with reading some great stories, you get to contribute to this wonderful enterprise.

 

 

Release Date: 12th of August

Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art

Genre: MM Mixed*

We have modern retelling of some plays, interpretations of others and one of the sonnets, and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.

There is gentle YA romance next to very hot 18+ stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.

We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.

There’s fun, drama, tears, angst, joy and, above all, lots of true love.

Note: All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.

 

Blurbs

 

DEEPER THAN DID EVER PLUMMET SOUND

Rory Ni Coileain

Clarence Limont is a slowly fading star of the London stage; convinced his great performances are all behind him, he nevertheless agrees to play Prospero in an off-off-Broadway production of The Tempest helmed by an old friend.

Jaymes Stafford is the production’s starry-eyed Ariel, waking feelings Clarence had thought long dead and buried.

But the poisonous jealousy of other members of the cast may steal the stars from Jaymes’ eyes, and even put paid to Clarence’s illustrious career.

(“The Tempest”)

A FINE LINE BETWEEN

Louise Lyons

When Romeo runs into Julian on the beach, he’s the last person he wants to see as he’s grown up hating him due to his parents’ aversion to Julian’s dad.

Forced to rescue Julian from the sea, Romeo is surprised by his grudging attraction to the other young man.

When simple lust becomes something more, the pair ignore their parents’ anger, but family fights drive the lovers away from home – into a horrifying incident. Will it make the Montgomerys and the Caplins rethink their feud?

(“Romeo and Juliet”)

TWO GUYS FROM VANCOUVER

Dianne Hartsock

Valentine has been watching Preston date man after man with never more than a brotherly hug for him.

Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.

Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.

(“The Two Gentlemen of Verona”)

KISS ME, KADE

Nephy Heart

Kade is in trouble, negotiating a dangerous path between an authoritarian father and wayward sister.

Then Pete storms into his life and tries to take over.

It can only end in disaster.

(“Taming of The Shrew”)

WHEN I LOVE THEE NOT

Rian Durant

Desmond, the heir of a business owner is outed in the media after a hot night with his lover, Olvin, who also happens to be the company’s best negotiation expert.

This is only the first step in Ian’s plan to get back at Olvin for choosing Michel Caswell as a main assistant for the latest merger instead of him, a plan in which he’s moving everybody around like pawns on a chessboard, bending the rules.

Will Ian drive a wedge between Desmond and Olvin and get the position he wants or will he realize that there’s something more important that stops the world from turning into chaos?

(“Othello”)

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE BEACH

Kathy Griffith

Tony and Bartholomew have been friends for years, but his latest request is a little much.

Bart needs a loan to impress Porsche Keller, a personable billionaire, but the only cash available is from banker and raging homophobe Sherlock Palmer, who has a devious plan for them.

Will our heroes find love and get their happy ending?

(“The Merchant of Venice”)

THE DEVIL AND THE LION

Asta Idonea

Caius Martius and Tullus Aufidius have long been enemies.

Then Martius arrives on Aufidius’ doorstep, seeking a military alliance. Aufidius accepts; however, he wishes their partnership to extend from the battlefield to the bedchamber.

His lust for Martius is one of the reasons he spares his life, but his jealousy will soon have terrible consequences.

(“Coriolanus”)

IF MUSIC BE…

Charlie Cochrane

Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking it’ll help him get over the death of his partner.

He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have reveled in.

Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?

(“Twelfth Night”)

A HERO’S LAST BATTLE

Phetra H Novak

Claudio is happy to be home after serving his country as a soldier for over fifteen years being stationed mostly abroad ready to settle down.

Hero is still living at home, together with his father, trying to do what is expected a young man his age is supposed to do, work and live every day like it is your last.

The two men meet at a family wedding, realizing they share a mutual dream of finding love and starting a family but evil lurks amongst them. Will these two lovers find a way to be together?

(“Much Ado About Nothing”)

NOTHING LIKE THE SUN

JL Merrow

Hollywood darling Jerome Winter always defined himself by his looks—until a fire destroyed them.

His oldest friend and still-loyal manager, Sam, has long carried a torch for him, but with his looks—and earning power—gone, what does Jerome have left to offer?

(Sonnet 130)

THE SUN OF TOMORROW

M LeAnne Phoenix

When actor Koray Shepherd rescues writer Winter Sirois from the brutal hands of his supervisor, Winter never would have believed the beautiful Turk would share his love of The Bard.

When Koray asks Winter out on a date, Winter takes center stage in his very own tragedy, determined to end his play for today with a happily ever after.

Screwing his courage to the sticking place, Winter sets his sights on the future and Koray… but when the horrors of yesterday resurface, will he crest the waves of fear and despair, or will he be heard no more?

(“Macbeth”)

MUCH ADO ABOUT LADY MACBETH

Rebecca Cohen

Competition for roles is always high when the King’s Men put on a play, but David seems to come up against Jacob time and time again, no matter what part he is auditioning for.

But now they both want to be Lady Macbeth and it’s more than simple rivalry that causes the sparks to fly.

(Shakespeare’s Magic)

 

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Smashwords

What do you when you lose your drive to put down words?

I’m sure I’m not alone in this…

I have a serious question to ask all the writers. This isn’t a post for sympathy or compliments so please don’t see it as such. I was in two minds as to whether to write it at all. Then I decided, hell, it’s a genuine appeal for advice and feedback. If people think I’m looking for aforementioned items, then stuff ’em. Writing is a lonely business and sometimes, you need your peers to tell you what you might be doing wrong.

I’ve been writing in the genre now for three years and when I first started I was on fire. I wrote all those books you saw released. I couldn’t wait to get home from work and pick up my laptop and write. Weekends weren’t spent with family or friends. I wrote. I was passionate, manic to the point everything else came second. Including people. And food. I lost weight because I couldn’t be bothered eating. I never watched TV. I went to bed at 12, 1 am every night. I had DRIVE for God’s sake. I was a demonic writer, obsessed, OCD to the point of being committed.

Now? Now I find it a chore to pick up my laptop when I get home and write anything. I find excuses not to. I feel a sense of dread contemplating what to write next. It’s not writer’s block because the ideas are there, they just need formulating into sentences. But I’m not. There, I mean. I’m not in the same place I was a year ago. And I really want to know why, what’s changed that my day is now one where I come home from the day job, plop down on the couch, watch some telly, do some social networking stuff but do anything than pick up my laptop to write. I go to bed much earlier than I used to, read a while, then drop off to sleep. Once I’m committed to writing, the words come and I write until I’ve had enough. But I’m worried, and frustrated and scared stupid. I want to be that me again, the one who had fire and passion and came to bed at 1am still full of ideas. So, tell me, please tell me, I’m not the only one that sometimes goes through this…and that it will all be okay. Because the alternative is too scary to contemplate. #BurnOut #MojoLoss

I have book deadlines to meet and I will do it, come hell or high water. I’m truly excited about my next project, ‘Sight Unseen’, a book I’m collaborating on with actor Nicholas Downs. We have plans to get this story published, then develop as screen play together and hopefully get this story to film. It’s exciting as hell and I am so looking forward to it. This book is my current priority. I need to focus and get it written. Nicholas deserves that much.

I’m busy writing Survival Game, which is Kyle and Eric’s story, another book in the Men of London series. This one won’t be forthcoming soon, like the others, but it will appear sometime in 2017. There may even be another one after that, Callum’s story.

I’ve got my gothic horror steam punk romance in the works, I have an idea for a new series which travels the world and is a rather a different take on a popular TV programme and I have a potential Rock Star book I’m dying to expand on.

So, to achieve all this, I just need to find my OOMPH!! Does anyone out there fancy kicking my ass to stop whinging so I can find my inner demon again? Or tell me I’m not alone, they’ve been through this too?

Hah. I’m sure you’d all line up to slap me stupid, or box my ears though. Take a number, and mosey on down. I look forward to it.

Tea – and ginger biscuits

I need to write this. I’ve seen a few posts lately about authors getting despondent, wondering why they keep going. (I guess they’ve just had a royalty statement. My latest one from one of my publishers was crap, but I can at least buy a few cups of coffee and perhaps a bun with it. Maybe even buy a few Kindle books to support those despondent authors.) I hope this post cheers these authors up and makes them feel a little better about the work they do. Because it’s an amazing thing to do, writing and publishing a book. Never forget that.

I feel the same way some of the time. Writing is an insecure business. We authors wonder why we keep publishing books, why we put up with the vagaries of readership, fans, popularity. We sometimes wonder why, when others are rising to the top like cream with thousands of book sales, that while we seem to do okay, most times we’re that soggy ginger biscuit that suddenly fell into our tea, languishing at the bottom of the cup. *Cue pitiful sobbing* We’ve all been there, no doubt. I know I have. I’m a qualified ginger biscuit. That said, I’m thankful for every one of my sales and my readers. The readers make it all worthwhile and I treasure them.

THEY are why we keep doing it. It’s a simple basic truth, nothing profound about it. We do it because we love writing. We do it because creating worlds and characters where we can control them, make sure they get what they deserve, and make the world a better place through reading, is our mission. We do it because for every ONE single sale you make out there, someone is reading the story you wrote. Any sale is a good sale and those loyal readers who support us, wait for our next offering, cajole us, push us, inspire us, berate us, tell us how much they enjoyed our book- they are the reason we do what we do.

I understand for those authors who are fortunate (or unfortunate enough perhaps given the gist of this post) enough to make writing a full time job it’s a scary place. And my heart goes out to them when they fall short of what they expected or things get tough. Believe me, I’ve been there. I tried to be a full time writer for ten months when I lost my job, my house, my self-respect because I struggled to find someone to employ me. And trust me, I struggled. I had to get back into full time work and I was lucky enough someone took me on. So I know what it’s like to try make a living off writing alone.

My hat goes off to anyone doing this and who keeps fighting. You guys are my heroes. I hope to be a hero too some day.

So remember – keep going please, because I’m one of those readers who love your stories. Who joins you on the journey you create for us to enjoy and escape into. And if you decided not to do it anymore, you’d be sorely missed.

 

 

Divine Magazine Summer Blog Hop 2016

 

In celebration of Divine’s new author service, Divine Promotions,  I’m participating in their Summer Blog Hop.

I don’t cook much, so giving out my favourite Summer recipe is a no-no. Instead I’ll tell you a bit about my best memories of Summer.

I lived in South Africa for over thirty years. So, summer there was celebrated exactly how you’d think it would be – swimming, having what we called ‘braais’, and others call a BBQ, tanning on our towels, stretched out on grass or sun loungers, running around drying off in the dry heat of day and basking in the sunshine. It was cold beers by our pool, crisp gin and tonics at sundown, the insistent and annoying whine of mosquitos at dusk and during the warm nights, sweating under the loose covers and wishing there was a breeze to make things just that little bit cooler. It was the cold, refreshing shower you took when you went inside then had an afternoon nap because it was so hot. It was the late afternoon thunderstorm, like clockwork around 3 pm, when you sat on your ‘stoep’ or patio, and watched the clouds build into dark grey masses of angry. A thunderstorm in SA is a magnificent thing to see. They are fierce, unapologetic, magnificent in their majesty and you are left in awe of their power. Car alarms would sound down the block when the thunder hit, the house alarm would go off, the dogs would howl and it would be a cacophony of fierceness. Then as suddenly as it hit, it was over. The clouds dissipated, the sun shone again, the garden smelt of scents released by the rain and the wind and we all jumped back in the pool without a care in the world. Towels that were left out in the rain, and were sodden, are quickly dried by the dry heat of the African sun.

Picture courtesy of my husband when he visited a few years ago

The summers in SA are different to the ones I experience here in the UK. Summer here is softer, more genteel. More refined. The temperature is pleasantly warm, not hot and dry. Summer in England is the buzz of bees around country gardens. It’s the chirrup of birds in trees and the chattering of squirrels. It’s the soft pitter-patter of raindrops against leaded panes, the steady swish of the rain as it falls in sheets. It’s the rushing around bringing everything in before the rain hits, because the temperature drops and one can’t count now on the scorching African sun to dry everything out within minutes.

 

Where summer in Africa is a fierce warrior, full of extremes, summer in England is a genteel country gentleman, full of nuance. I love the differences, I’ve been fortunate to experience them both. I like them equally, not having a favourite. Both have their own charms and quirks. A little like me.

To take part in the giveaway, go to the blog hop page here and leave a comment (Share your best summer memory, or your favorite summer tips or activities)

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Hooray – Grand Prize Giveaway

18K Gold Filled Crystal Pearls Heart Party Dress Jewelry Set 

Divine Promotions – 10 Days Promo Tour

Divine Promotions – 3 Day Release Blitz

$75 credit from Dreamspinner Press

$30 credit from Dreamspinner Press

Click here to view all the participants taking part in the blog hop!

 

Men of London series promotion

The Men of London are at again…well, not quite at it in THAT way, you understand, (okay, well, maybe just a little…) but there is another book in the series featuring the lives and loves of the Men in London due out on the 28th July. It’s called Hard Climate and you can pre-order it here.

If you’d like to join the Hard Climate Release party on Facebook, with the chance to win goodies, including some intriguing sexy ones, then head down here and join. It’ll be fun, I promise and you may come away with one of those strange, but erotic gifts.

As a celebration of this being the eighth (and so far) final book in the series, book one, Love You Senseless is going to be made available for 0.99 from 14th July. So why not read the first book in this British series when the promotion starts and if you like it, there’s seven more to enjoy. From chefs to psychics, cross dressers to suit-loving porn stars, and cheeky sassy fashion divas to love’s first kiss or eco-warriors, there’s something to appeal to everyone.

If you’d like a more visual look at the Men of London, head down here and watch the book trailers.

You can check out all the books in the series at this link – the Men of London (Amazon UK) or the Men of London (Amazon.com)

What people are saying about the series so far-

Men of London is a series about different men, from all walks of life, living in London and living their lives. They all have nothing in common with each other but the stories are interconnected in one way or another.

I’m loving this series, I really am! Eddie, Gideon , Taylor, and Draven all play a part here, and for that I am eternally grateful! I love we get to catch up with them as well as delving into the fashion and porn world.

Soooooooo awesome. Seriously, you can never go wrong with Susan’s books. They’re like a romp through a broken heart’s dreams and then kisses to make it all better.

Another terrific pairing of two mismatched but ultimately destined to be together Men of London. This series just gets better and better…

Susan Mac Nicol has a way with words, and her Men of London are just another reason I want to jump in a plane and plan a trip…….I want to find these guys and hug them all, and never let go. Thank you Susan for writing such a wonderful book, one that will be read over, and over again.

I love that this series intersects the lives of these couples. You fall in love with them and even though you don’t get full information you still get little snippets of their lives in the next book.

Men of London brings new and interesting relationships with every instalment. Yet somehow, your favorites from previous books are all there and their circle of friends keeps expanding. It’s a smart way to link the series and keep fans close to their earlier character crushes.

 

Damaged Goods Blog tour is underway

Eeek! The Damaged Goods tour has begun with some wonderful bloggers taking part. Thanks so much to the wonderful Kirsty Vizard from Embrace the Rainbow tours for hosting this tour for me. Kirsty rocks!

Please join us on the tour, take part, and put your name down to win some goodies too. Thanks for the support.

Title: Damaged Goods

Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Series: Men of London #7

Release Date: April 28th 2016

Genre: New Adult MM Contemporary Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29616981-damaged-goods?ac=1&from_search=true

 

BLURB

Touched by tragedy, love is an elusive dream never to be realised by eighteen-year-old Jax Grady–until he discovers his secret admirer and receives the sweetest gift he could ever desire.

THE SWEETEST GIFT

Tragedy and horror shaped Jackson Grady’s life, leaving him orphaned and scarred. At eighteen he’s ready to claim his future, but who could love his disfigured face and damaged soul? Definitely not a big, burly, beautiful Irish Traveller who is entirely the stuff of dreams.

Dare Rowan didn’t mean to become obsessed with the blue-eyed man he first saw across a field, but that porcelain skin and innocent air demanded another meeting. Jax has the face of a wounded angel, and the rest of the young man is as heart-breakingly perfect. Jax is beautiful in every way and teaching him about love and life will be something Dare will embrace. Like unwrapping and savouring the candy at the shop where he works, Dare will show this young man everything Jax desired but never thought he’d have, and take Jax to new highs while he holds him through the lows. Between them, they’ll find out just how sweet life can be.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

 

EXCERPT

He wasn’t stalking his fantasy. He wasn’t.

Dare clamped his lips together mutinously as he hunkered down behind a towering oak. The tree lay on the outskirts, in the garden of a large Georgian house. From a distance, Dare watched as the beautiful blond man he’d been observing, thank you very much, tenderly placed what looked like flower bulbs in the rich soil. The man—whom Dare had first called Angel, though he now knew his name was Jax thanks to the younger kids playing in the garden yelling to him—leaned over. His pert jean-encased backside pushed out into the air and Dare swallowed, mesmerised by the enticing sight. A pang of guilt washed over his skin at the sneaking knowledge that yes, he could actually be deemed a stalker.

“I’ve only watched him a few times,” Dare murmured under his breath. “It’s not like I’m some pervert checking through the windows. I mean, the guy is in plain sight and there’s no boundary fence, so why shouldn’t I look? Anyone would. God, he’s gorgeous. A flawed angel with those blond curls and blue eyes.”

His wistful voice echoed in the quiet of the forest surrounding the large house called Castaways. It was some sort of place for homeless kids, Dare thought. He’d found this vantage point by accident one day when he’d been out gathering bits of greenery for his boss, Sally, an eccentric seventy-year-old woman who owned the sweet shop he’d managed for the past three years.

Some weeks ago, Sally had decided she wanted to display certain wildflowers in their place of work. She was also heavily into aromatherapy at the moment, so she sent Dare out each week to pick new blossoms and plants to further her ambitions to be a “flower child,” as Dare teasingly called it. He hadn’t minded. It had become a pleasant routine to take the short tube ride to Camden to perform what Sally loftily called his “ecological duties.” This secluded part of the woods around the area was the best place she knew of to find the flowers. Dare had caught sight of the beautiful man in the garden tending to a bunch of what looked like unruly kids, and now, having seen his Angel, Sally could send him out every day and Dare wouldn’t mind.

“But that would make me a stalker,” he said to himself. “So I’m not one now—yet.” He huffed and ducked back behind a bush as Jax turned to stare fixedly in his direction from underneath his wide-brimmed straw hat, an item Dare found rather endearing.

 

Read the Men of London series:

Amazon | Boroughs Publishing | Goodreads

 

COMING SOON ~ HARD CLIMATE (MEN OF LONDON #8)

PRE-ORDER: Boroughs Publishing | Goodreads

 

GIVEAWAY: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/391d73bd38/ ?

 

About the Author

Susan Mac Nicol is a self- confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…

She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason. She likes to think of herself as a ‘half full’ kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.

Lover of walks in the forest, theatre productions, dabbling her toes in the cold North Sea and the vibrant city of London where you can experience all four seasons in a day , she is a hater of pantomime (so please don’t tar and feather her), duplicitous people, bigotry and self-righteous idiots.

In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK.

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest | Amazon | Goodreads

 

Eeek! The Damaged Goods tour has begun with some wonderfu...

Eeek! The Damaged Goods tour has begun with some wonderful bloggers taking part. Thanks so much to the wonderful Kirsty Vizard from Embrace the Rainbow tours for hosting this tour for me. Kirsty rocks!

Please join us on the tour, take part, and put your name down to win some goodies too. Thanks for the support.

Title: Damaged Goods

Author: Susan Mac Nicol

Series: Men of London #7

Release Date: April 28th 2016

Genre: New Adult MM Contemporary Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29616981-damaged-goods?ac=1&from_search=true

 

BLURB

Touched by tragedy, love is an elusive dream never to be realised by eighteen-year-old Jax Grady–until he discovers his secret admirer and receives the sweetest gift he could ever desire.

THE SWEETEST GIFT

Tragedy and horror shaped Jackson Grady’s life, leaving him orphaned and scarred. At eighteen he’s ready to claim his future, but who could love his disfigured face and damaged soul? Definitely not a big, burly, beautiful Irish Traveller who is entirely the stuff of dreams.

Dare Rowan didn’t mean to become obsessed with the blue-eyed man he first saw across a field, but that porcelain skin and innocent air demanded another meeting. Jax has the face of a wounded angel, and the rest of the young man is as heart-breakingly perfect. Jax is beautiful in every way and teaching him about love and life will be something Dare will embrace. Like unwrapping and savouring the candy at the shop where he works, Dare will show this young man everything Jax desired but never thought he’d have, and take Jax to new highs while he holds him through the lows. Between them, they’ll find out just how sweet life can be.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | iBooks | Kobo | Smashwords

 

EXCERPT

He wasn’t stalking his fantasy. He wasn’t.

Dare clamped his lips together mutinously as he hunkered down behind a towering oak. The tree lay on the outskirts, in the garden of a large Georgian house. From a distance, Dare watched as the beautiful blond man he’d been observing, thank you very much, tenderly placed what looked like flower bulbs in the rich soil. The man—whom Dare had first called Angel, though he now knew his name was Jax thanks to the younger kids playing in the garden yelling to him—leaned over. His pert jean-encased backside pushed out into the air and Dare swallowed, mesmerised by the enticing sight. A pang of guilt washed over his skin at the sneaking knowledge that yes, he could actually be deemed a stalker.

“I’ve only watched him a few times,” Dare murmured under his breath. “It’s not like I’m some pervert checking through the windows. I mean, the guy is in plain sight and there’s no boundary fence, so why shouldn’t I look? Anyone would. God, he’s gorgeous. A flawed angel with those blond curls and blue eyes.”

His wistful voice echoed in the quiet of the forest surrounding the large house called Castaways. It was some sort of place for homeless kids, Dare thought. He’d found this vantage point by accident one day when he’d been out gathering bits of greenery for his boss, Sally, an eccentric seventy-year-old woman who owned the sweet shop he’d managed for the past three years.

Some weeks ago, Sally had decided she wanted to display certain wildflowers in their place of work. She was also heavily into aromatherapy at the moment, so she sent Dare out each week to pick new blossoms and plants to further her ambitions to be a “flower child,” as Dare teasingly called it. He hadn’t minded. It had become a pleasant routine to take the short tube ride to Camden to perform what Sally loftily called his “ecological duties.” This secluded part of the woods around the area was the best place she knew of to find the flowers. Dare had caught sight of the beautiful man in the garden tending to a bunch of what looked like unruly kids, and now, having seen his Angel, Sally could send him out every day and Dare wouldn’t mind.

“But that would make me a stalker,” he said to himself. “So I’m not one now—yet.” He huffed and ducked back behind a bush as Jax turned to stare fixedly in his direction from underneath his wide-brimmed straw hat, an item Dare found rather endearing.

 

Read the Men of London series:

Amazon | Boroughs Publishing | Goodreads

 

COMING SOON ~ HARD CLIMATE (MEN OF LONDON #8)

PRE-ORDER: Boroughs Publishing | Goodreads

 

GIVEAWAY: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/391d73bd38/ ?

 

About the Author

Susan Mac Nicol is a self- confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…

She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason. She likes to think of herself as a ‘half full’ kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.

Lover of walks in the forest, theatre productions, dabbling her toes in the cold North Sea and the vibrant city of London where you can experience all four seasons in a day , she is a hater of pantomime (so please don’t tar and feather her), duplicitous people, bigotry and self-righteous idiots.

In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.

Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK.

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest | Amazon | Goodreads

 

Live for Love By Tammy Middleton

Tammy’s new book is available for pre-order if you fancy a great read

✴✴✴ PREORDER YOUR COPY NOW ✴✴✴

 

Beauregard Boudreaux is a native of New Orleans Louisiana, born and raised there, he never thought he would ever stray far from home. The untimely death of his first love left Beau lost, adrift, looking for a place as far away from the pain as possible. Initially, he came to New York to visit a friend, the city growing on him, so he decided to stay. His law degree comes in handy at the LGBT Center he runs, but his bar is his baby.William Richards grew up in Chicago, his family oddly normal and very accepting of his sexuality. Modeling paid the bills, gigs across the country as a model, male entertainer and a personal trainer giving him the opportunity to see the world. He hasn’t experienced loss or pain as Beau has, the common denominator between them is the loneliness. As All Cocks big, brooding bottom Connor, William has found friendship, family and an outlet for his craving to be more submissive than men of his size and stature usually are.

The two men are perfect for each other, their tastes and lives align and the writing seems to be on the wall. But Beau has a secret he shares with a choice few, a secret that not only threatens to keep them apart, it’s deadly. Determined to keep a wall between himself and William, Beau fights the attraction, pushes William away every time he steps closer. Can one man’s determination and strength be enough to tear down a wall that holds back decades of pain and darkness? And if he can, will either of them survive the flood?

Disclaimer: This book is the fictional story of a man living with HIV. I have put a lot of time and effort into presenting this story as true to fact as possible, without going into gory or gruesome detail. If this subject is a trigger for you, you may want to skip this read. But my hope is that you give Beau a chance to capture your heart as he has mine, and William’s.

 

 
Preorder via Amazon only – available through all other online e-book sellers on July 1st
 
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon AU
 

 
Get caught up on the series before Live for Love releases on July 1st!
 

 

 

Read the other books in the All Cocks Series…
 
Gay for Pay – Book 1
Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR 
B&N | ARe | Smashwords | Audible | Amazon Audio | Kobo FR | Fnac

 

 Fame and Fortune – Book 2
Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | B&N | ARe | Smashwords 
 
How to Deal – Book 3
 Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | B&N | ARe | Smashwords 





Dare to Hope – Book 4

 Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon AU | ARe | Smashwords

Points of Sue and a bit of a rant (apologies to Divine)

You aren’t going to believe me when I tell you this but this post was written and scheduled over a week ago to be published today. I’ve had to amend some of it now because it was too close to the bone bearing in mind the recent event in Orlando. It was the removal of a child’s headstone from his grave that set me off on this one originally. That and the news headlines where tragedy and hate against each other seemed to abound.

This doesn’t start out as a jolly post at all, so if you’re depressed, don’t read it. It could end up ugly. I nearly bashed myself on the head writing it just to stop the miserable thoughts. If you are upset at the thought of violence or have been affected by such, then this could trigger bad feelings. Be aware though. I may prove unpopular to some with some of my beliefs. That won’t stop me though because I need to say it.

So here I go. Can I say- sometimes I think the world should stop turning, we should all fall off and the universe should start again to create a better place.

What is it with human beings that they feel they have a right to poop on other people’s parades, define how someone should live their lives, decide that a certain way of life should be the ONLY way to live, decide that someone who is different to them is wrong, or that what is their norm should be everyone else’s? What the hell is it with us that certain people are hell bent on everyone conforming to the same ideals they have as regards religion, beliefs, notion of gender, sexuality, colour, physical appearance.

WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, it’s what makes us human beings. The fact we are not mass produced like alien spawn in a Matrix like environment with wet slime coating our bodies and transparent tubes feeding us God knows what is exactly what makes us unique.

The only things we all have in common is the fact we are bags of blood and bone, set in an outer covering of skin, and we all have a consciousness of some sort. We don’t all have the same organs, body parts or the same shaped features. Hell, sometimes even the skin part may be in question. So I ask again – what gives one person or a group of people domain over another to affect the way they live, love and die? Other than the rules we have in place to protect each other.

I understand societal rules, laws and restrictions that protect most of us. I truly do and for the most part I respect them. These are the laws that keep us safe, that give some semblance of humanity into the world of being human. Because simply being a human being doesn’t make you an automatic member of humanity. Far from it. This is the definition of humanity- below. (PS I don’t agree with some of it. I don’t think it’s limited to planet Earth; I think if an alien or robot shows the same capacity to love and care for someone, and be compassionate, it’s entitled to be grouped with the rest of in the ‘humanity’ category. I’ve seen I-Robot… )

Humanity is the human race, which includes everyone on Earth. It’s also a word for the qualities that make us human, such as the ability to love and have compassion, be creative, and not be a robot or alien. The word humanity is from the Latin humanitas for “human nature, kindness.”

Ergo, they are qualities which make us empathic, sympathetic, compassionate and loving. A serial killer skinning his victims and boiling them for a late time snack does not a humanitarian make. Therefore, in my view, said people boiler is not entitled to any human rights. Because he or she is not really human if they have no humanity. It’s what I think anyway. I even wrote a book about it.

I’m digressing. The whole point of this post is to say openly to some dickwad out there, ‘Who the hell are YOU, Mr or Mrs. WTF, to say someone can’t take pleasure in a child’s special headstone after they’ve passed on?’

‘Who are you, Mr. Thundershit, to say a man can’t hold hands with his boyfriend?’ (I’m channelling my character Lenny here with his favourite swearword- heels, where’s my heels and what have you done with my wig, bitch?)

‘Who are you, Mrs. High and effing Mighty, to say being gay is wrong, being a Catholic or a Protestant is wrong, that if you have a disability you’re less of a human being, if you’re a plus size you should be ashamed of yourself because you’re nothing but a piggy- glutton, if you’re depressed you are obviously a weak person with no backbone’…I could go on and on.

Since when did we become so damn judgemental with one another? It’s a man- made condition, make no doubt about that. It’s years of conditioning, nurturing in a negative way, both in society, religion and culture, by those before us which makes people think theirs is the only path. And this kind of brain washing sucks and is dangerous to the extreme.

Sigh. And yet – human beings also have access to one very important commodity. It’s called HOPE. It is what springs eternal in the human breast and it’s what we have to keep channelling and feeling. Because, after all-what’s the alternative? A future lived in fear, dictated to by the minorities who believe in destruction not the sanctity of life? A path ahead strewn with hate and bitterness, causing untold damage to more innocents? A life filled with pain and angst as we begin to believe in the very things we are trying to fight against-injustice, that bullying and violence resolves problems, and that the more we close ourselves off as human beings, and protect ourselves by withdrawing from humanity, the less we will feel.

Being human is a joy, it’s a journey we all make with each other and that’s what we need to remember. That it’s the actions of one individual, or a group of individuals, that cause heartache and tragedy. Because when I look around me, all I see are a caring and compassionate group of individuals who all believe life can be good, and kind, and worth carrying on for. I see people who believe in the live and let live, live and let love philosophies and I embrace those people with all the affection in my heart and say Yes! Carry on because this is the only way we can bring reason to the world, even when it costs dearly in the struggle. Because this isn’t a fairy tale or a romance novel with a happy ever after. Tragedies happen and no matter what, all we can do is rebuild stronger and more determined than ever before.

So whenever you have a decision to make and you’re not sure you’re making the right one – ask yourself ‘what’s the alternative.’ You might be surprised at the sense of perspective you find when you do.

And continue spreading the message that it’s okay to be who you are, that every single human on this planet matters. To themselves and to someone else. NO ONE is better than anyone else- not the Pope, the Queen, the billionaire, the film star, the priest, the Prime Minister or the rock singer. Or Joe down the road with his big house and fancy car who thinks he’s something special. Or Mavis next door who used to be a big wig in the Women’s Institute and now lords it over the community with her lofty ideals of grandeur. Or the parents and relatives who think their children should follow in their footsteps to the point where they, the children, have to hide who they really are and live in fear.

No one has a right to dictate how you live your life. Be proud of who you are and keep striving to be that person. It’s your own one-person journey and you have the right to travel its path without feeling guilty or ashamed.

#BeWhoYouAre  #NoGuilt  #KeepHopeAlive