R.E. Hargrave's Blog, page 402

Luna Aerturnus by Simon O'Kill BLOG TOUR

As Eternal’s memory is recovered so her destiny nears and as her strength returns her evil nemesis discovers her and attacks.
Luna Aeturnus Blurb: Rural France, June 1925 - The witness to the Moreau massacre, Eternal, is still incarcerated in an asylum, trapped by her amnesia. Only her true love, Edouard, can help rediscover her identity. But the startling truth attracts the attention of The Count, the secret leader of a vampire cult. The Count needs Eternal’s blood to achieve his destiny at the Eternal Hour and he has the forces of evil to help him.
With little time remaining, Edouard must unravel Eternal’s vampiric past, unmask The Count, and plot their escape. But at every step, dangers beyond his understanding lurk in the shadows, and Eternal is vulnerable to attack the moment he leaves her.
With the Eternal Hour at hand and the forces of darkness converging, Edouard and Eternal must fight to rid the world of this evil. If they lose, The Count will reign supreme and unleash the dogs of war and chaos upon the world. Let the final battle begin.

Welcome to Simon OKill's Blog Tour for Luna Aeturnus! I got a chance to get a peek into Simon's head with some of my crazy questions. I'm sure y'all will find it as entertaining as I did!
If I gave you an elephant where would you hide it? 
In my pajama’s Rachel, as Groucho once said, “I took a photo of an elephant in my pajamas, how it got in my pajamas I have no idea.” Or “Is that an elephant in my pajamas or am I just glad to see you.”

What is your favorite color of socks to wear? 
Eeew sox. Vampire’s don’t wear socks.

Do you wear boxers or briefs?
I am a vampire - I hang free.

If you were a cookie, which would you be? 
The last one in the box, I’m always the last one. Sigh!

Name one actor/actress you would love to get naughty with? 
As a vampire she would have to be

Do you suffer from sleepwalking?
No!

If you were given a chance, would you enter Big Brother? 
Yes as the first singing vampire.

What is your favorite daily wear attire? 
My coffin.

Women or Cars?
Women!

What is Eskimo ice? 
I have no idea.

Do you like dogs or cats? 
Oh cats.

If I came to your home and looked inside the refrigerator, what would I find? 
Nothing, I drink blood from the source.

Tell me how many hats you have in your house? 
None.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? 
I don’t need shoes as I prefer going barefoot. I paint my feet black so no one notices.

What's your bad quality? 
I am bad!

If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be? Why? 
Black, there is no other colour.

If you were a tree, what would you be? 
Ebony.

What was the best thing before sliced bread? 
Blood in a bucket.

If you were a character from 'Weeds,' which one would you be? 
Weeds? Gimmee Trueblood.

Do you speak with your dog? 
Just my cat and she tells me what to do all the time - open the door, feed me, open the door, it never ends.

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done? 
All my failures are other peoples’ successes.

Do you know how to drop an egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it? 
No, but I know how to drop a concrete floor onto an egg and smash it.

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced as onety one? 
Just as 22 isn’t pronounced twoty two.

Describe yourself; what do you think about yourself and do you think people perceive you in the same way?
Do we have an hour or two as I am a narcissistic vampire and so perfect.

Which is your most favorite book ever?
Salem’s Lot.

Which is the one television character that you simply adore? 
Baby Vamp in Trueblood.

What kind of music do you like? 
The Doors - Hendrix - Roxy Music

Which is your favorite genre of movies? (Comedy/Romance/Suspense/Action/Horror)
Horror horror and oh, horror. I die for horror.

What do you do when you feel very sad or depressed? 
Sulk in my coffin.

What makes you angry? Are you short-tempered? How do you overcome your anger? 
Being so misunderstood makes me want to bite and biting calms me down.

Which is the best vacation you've ever had?
A trip to Mevagissey, Cornwall where BTW the 1977 film Dracula starring Frank Langella was filmed.

If you could have a luncheon with any three people (real or fictitious/from any time period/dead or alive), which three people would you choose and why?
Bram Stoker, Stephen King and Graham Masterton, because then I’d find out how I came into being and drink some of their muse just for a keepsake.

Which is your most cherished childhood memory? 
Vampires leave their childhood behind as it will always remind them of frailty, but that said, I do remember dancing with Elizabeth Tudor before she needed the face paint, not bad actually.

What kind of kid were you, naughty or nice? 
My first 19 years were spent slaughtering demons in the dark place, once released I learnt how to have such fun. Mozart was a particular favorite. He knew how to party.

If given complete freedom to start afresh, what profession would you choose and why? 
Well, vampires don’t actually work, we feed off the brilliance of others and that satisfies their existence, but my favorite muse would be in the arts, I do so love to see a naked canvas come alive.

What is your idea of fun? 
Slapping on the white, black nails, lips eyeliner and drink myself silly from as many sources as possible before sun up.

If given a chance to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day? 
Entwined with my true love.

Which is your favorite time of the day? 
The moment the sun dips below the horizon. I cannot bring myself to say the T word.

Are you a morning person or a night person?  
NIGHT.

What is the craziest thing you've ever done? 
I guess trying to out-drink Errol Flynn and David Niven was a stupid mistake. Damn those 30s were so wild.

What is the funniest prank played on you or played by you?
I mused David Niven just before he grabbed his Oscar, he wasn’t at all drunk, but the first words I put in his mouth came out perfect - “I’m loaded ….” The house was in uproar and he didn’t get the chance to say “…. Down with this Oscar.”

If given a choice, which animal would you want to be? Why? 
A cat, they love the night and embrace nature with such freedom.

Which is your most favorite place in this earth?
Mevagissey at night, the lights shimmer across the harbor, clangs of bells, smell the sea. Invigorating.

If you were stranded on a lonely beach, what are the five things that you would want to survive? 
5 gorgeous babes for my regular top ups. Yummy.


Buy Links: http:// amzn.to/19e22PQ    us http:// amzn.to/17JKfAS   uk
An excerpt from Count Lucien:
Count Lucien:Lucien brooded, silently listening, waiting to hear her dark music. He could feel her presence; but where and how close. She would never enter a place of worship, but he had been fooled by her. Could his mind violate the sanctity of the church? He tried. He got nothing. Lucien’s black heart pounded like a sledgehammer in his chest at the thought of his Delicate Rose begging for mercy. He grew a hard on with the thought of her offering herself in reconciliation for their abrupt separation, before he drank every drop of her ancient essence to be Eternal. As for Jacques and Claudette – so what if they needed Eternal’s blood as badly as he did. They could suffer the consequences. Let their addiction burn their blood dry and fry their brains. Her blood was his alone, no more sharing.  
About the Author:
I live with my wife, Shirlee Anne in a pretty coastal town in South Wales, UK. We both love Stephen King and had read many of his books and enjoyed their transition to the screen. Due to our love of books, my wife and I dabbled in writing for some years as a hobby. We were approached by a film company to write a paranormal TV series. We struggled most nights and all through weekends to come up with 22 episodes only for the company to go bust. Then after an accident at work, I was forced into early retirement due to disability. I used my newfound skills as a writer to help with my depression. We decided to use our TV series episodes as templates for film scripts and novels. My writing became more serious as certain A-list actors expressed interest in my scripts. I now have 3 books published - Nobody Loves a Bigfoot Like a Bigfoot Babe - Luna Sanguis and Luna Aeturnus.
Luna Historica is the final episode and will explore Eternal’s birth during Khufu’s reign as Pharaoh to her death in the French Revolution. 
Bigfoot Episode 2/3 – it’s a secret!
SS-steppenwolf is a supernatural retelling of WWII involving the Occult Warfare department run by Himmler. Think Indiana Jones searching for a werewolf.
Scripts: 
‘Flip Side’ is one of my most exciting screenplays to date with its unusual slant on a supernatural gangster story that encompasses music and dynamic dance sequences to portray the action. 
‘Nightmare Circus’ is a supernatural revenge mystery script set in the Australian outback. 
‘Dark House’ is set in Massachusetts, US, where a lonely female artist must overcome her agoraphobia to escape from three kidnappers holed up in a house haunted by a witch finder’s hanging tree. 
‘Circus of Blood’ is a horror script set in Rome AD79 where two citizens go on a dangerous quest to kill a brutal serial killer. Their adventures end in Pompeii.
‘Hunter’s Moon’ is a contemporary supernatural western script set on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.
The Last Warlord is set during WWII and tells of Major Stewart of MI6 who must find the Nazi’s secret Atlantis base in Antarctica or the entire world will be doomed
Stalk Him! For reviews and more info: http:// bit.ly/164nBWE   Aeturnus Goodreads page.
Personal Media Links:http://facebook.com/simondokillwriter
http://twitter.com/simonokillhttps://www.amazon.com/author/simondokillwriterhttp://goodreads.com/tassyoneillhttp://tassyoneill.wix.com/the-phantom-bigfoot

COVER REVEAL: Seducing Anne by

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Title: Seducing Anne (SHROAG #1)Author: Chanse LowellGenre: Sci-fi EroticaExpected Release Date: November 22nd 2013

Goodreads Book Link

Synopsis: 
Symptoms of time travel are never fun—ask Guy Moore. He just returned, and now he's being thrown back in time. His assignment? To impregnate Anne Boleyn. As an agent of SHROAG, he's completed more assignments than any other agent, and is ready to retire. Too bad Elizabeth I needs to be born to preserve history, and his DNA is the only one to do it. How will Guy seduce Anne, the woman who kept Henry VIII at arm's length for over seven years? And how will he keep from falling for her in his efforts?
Excerpt:
“I will be there tonight—for you. Not for him. And I will touch you. If you do not want me to do that, then I will not be there.”She sucked in some air, and her gaze went up to the ceiling.“Lavender lady—do you want me there? Do you want me to touch you in front of the king and everyone else?”She remained mute and stoic.“When you make a decision, find me. I will await your answer.” He dropped his grip, releasing her chin.“Yes, sir.”“What was that? Are you saying I can touch you at dinner?”“Yes, sir,” she repeated.His groin tightened. She really was sweet and very beautiful, and her submissiveness came to her naturally when she wasn’t struggling to fit herself into a man’s world.“I will protect you. I will be there for you, and Henry will not touch you while I am around. If I am to play with you, then you are mine. No one else’s. I do not share, Lady Anne. So, when you are ready to take him as your lover, then you release me, and I will be gone from your life.”She made a quiet whimpering noise and her eyes twisted as if in pain.“Look at me—eyes on mine,” he said.Her gaze roamed down to his.“As your lord and sir, you will always wear your hair down like this when you are around me. I want it soft, straight and virginal—pure like you. I want you always smelling of lavender and finding some way to please me each day, even if it is something small.”She sagged for a moment. Were her knees buckling on her?He gripped her by the upper arms. “Follow these guidelines, and I am at your disposal. Any time you need me, you ask, and I will be there.”Her lips drifted into a small, but sweet, smile. “Thank you, sir.”“You are a naturally kind woman. Court life has hardened you—and I intend to undo that.”Her face fell.His hands on her arms loosened.“That would be the death of me. We all have parts to play at court,” she said, her voice soft.“And you have yours—serve and please me, and you will have everything you have ever desired. That I vow.”
CONTENT WARNING — This story contains scenes of an explicit, erotic nature and is intended for adults, 18+. Story includes bondage, dirty talk with crude language, dubious consent, and graphic consensual sex. There is also a graphic birthing scene that some might find offensive. Characters portrayed are 18 or older.
Author Bio: 
Chanse Lowell grew up in the desert southwest and still lives there with her husband, children, and pet cactus. She’s addicted to three things—reading erotica, writing erotica and sandwiches with a side of erotica to aid with digestion. She grew up watching programs with science fiction and historical fiction themes, and is determined she can combine her three favorite genres, creating a new breed of novel with scifi, historical and smut sandwiched in the middle.
The last thing she ever thought she’d do was pursue her dream to be a writer since her family tends to keep her busy. When she was introduced to fan fiction, she realized she wanted to see more science fiction and historical fiction to fill in the gap with lots of naughtiness thrown in, of course. Her true passion is creating her own worlds from scratch, letting her imagination go and take her to another place.
Having recently entered the BDSM lifestyle and discovering she’s a submissive herself has opened her eyes to how few stories there are exploring the softer side of the lifestyle. She enjoys chatting online with others with similar kinky interests and has advisers in the lifestyle that help make sure her stories remain true and don’t veer off into outer space. Although aliens probably enjoy kink, too, since they like to dress in rubber fetish-wear while traveling. At least that’s her argument for why her new genre she’s created is valid.

{AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS}
Website I Facebook I Goodreads I Twitter

COVER REVEAL: The Truth Seekers by Elizabeth M. Lawrence

Summary: At the turn of the century, the Victorian upper classes live in a vibrant but strictly-ordered world that encourages gentle, intellectual pursuits. Theirs is a life of ease and elegance, but it can be snatched away from them in an instant if the rules of polite society are not followed. Gothic novelist Geoffrey Hawes has never been willing to let such restrictions hold him back, and he refuses to honor conventions for which there is no discernible value. When he spends a social season in a community created to celebrate the Arts, music, and philosophy, he is unexpectedly befriended by the daughter of the Governor, Miranda Claridge.
Bitter and disenchanted with the privileged and wealthy, Geoffrey finds his beliefs repeatedly challenged by the intelligent and vivacious Miranda. In the midst of their heated debates on the mores of the upper class, this unlikely friendship blossoms into a passionate love. He encourages her to pursue her interest in painting and gives her a new understanding of what relationships between men and women should be. Meanwhile, Miranda begins to open his eyes to all that is wonderful and beautiful and good in the world.
Geoffrey at last accepts that he has fallen in love with Miranda, but misunderstandings and lies come between them. Knowing that Miranda believes it is her duty to marry, he prepares himself to hear news of her wedding. Geoffrey attempts to escape the pain of her perceived rejection by traveling and throwing himself into his work. However, he cannot run forever. One day, he encounters Miranda again and soon discovers that she is not the same woman he left behind. Can the couple realize that they each must relinquish some of their prejudices and preconceived notions before it is too late? Can love really conquer all?
Are you ready to see the cover?


Author Bio: Elizabeth Lawrence is the author of both contemporary and period romances. Each book incorporates its own unique blend of humor and reverence, the peculiar and the mundane. In addition to her novels, Elizabeth serves as a freelance editor. A lifelong writer and former paralegal, Elizabeth divides her free time between her husband and two sons, her three cats, her collection of cozy murder mysteries, and her mildly severe caffeine addiction. A native of Lawrence, Kansas, Elizabeth now works from her home in Cleveland, Ohio.

Social Links: About.me I Blog I Facebook I Goodreads I @ELawrenceAuthor
Retail Links:
Amazon I Barnes & Noble I Smashwords I Diesel I Kobo I Sony I iTunes

COVER REVEAL: Sempre: Redemption by JM Darhower

Coming December 23rd, 2013:

Synopsis:
In this thrilling and sexy follow-up to Sempre (which is re-releasing on November 25, 2013), two young lovers struggle to keep their relationship intact after they become deeply enmeshed in the dangerous mafia-run crime ring they once tried to overthrow.

Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco have been through a lot. Haven was taken in by Carmine’s father, and with his family’s help, she escaped a gruesome fate. However, saving Haven from the dark intentions of a mafia family cost Carmine a steep price: he was forced to swear loyalty to them.

Now, still passionately in love, Carmine and Haven must face the fall-out of Carmine’s forced service, as Haven discovers terrifying secrets about the family that enslaved both her and her mother—and why she matters so much in this intricate web of lies.


About the Author:
JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn't writing (or fangirling about books) she's usually ranting about those things.

Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can usually always find her there.


Author's links:
Twitter I Facebook I Website

Pre-order links:
Simon & Schuster I Amazon Kindle I iTunes I B&N Nook

Fall Into Winter Romance BLOG HOP

Welcome to the Winter Romance Blog Hop!! About 60 blogs are signed up to bring you info on new books and authors... and of course there are PRIZES ... lots and lots of PRIZES! (There are TWO rafflecopter entry forms in this post, make sure to enter them both!)

The lovely host of the hop is offering up a GRAND PRIZE of a $50 Amazon Gift Carda Rafflecopter giveaway
Now, for my own romantic post, I've decided to share an excerpt from A Divine Life.In keeping with the theme of ADL, at the end of the excerpt you'll find the Rafflecopter for the PRIZE I'm offering to those stopping by: a signed paperback copy !*


SUMMARY:
Over the past year of being Jayden Masterson’s collared submissive, Catherine O’Chancey has worked through the mental terrors left behind by her old Dom—she thinks. To celebrate their collaring anniversary, Jayden organizes a special day, during which her final limits and fantasies will be realized. Will it prove to be more than she can handle? Can she endure the erotic onslaught her mind and body will experience and survive unscathed? While Catherine faces dark shadows and pleasurable highs, Jayden finds his own inner strength being tested. He has come to realize that, somewhere along the way, Catherine has taken possession of his heart, mind, and body. Now he faces his biggest challenge ever; he must let go of all his submissives but one: his jewel, Catherine. Can he leave his philandering ways behind? Has he made the ultimate mistake by putting his jewel into the hands of others?

EXCERPT:
While she studied the pool, romantic music began floating on the air. Erin glanced around, trying to decide from which direction it was coming. Beyond the pool and deck, the trees thickened, and the yard was pitch black. She clutched the dozen roses she’d gathered against her chest and peered into the darkness.
“Jayden!” Erin called. “Are you out here?”
Light exploded before her eyes. Erin blinked rapidly while they adjusted. Then her vision came into focus on a gazebo covered in tiny twinkling lights about ten feet away. Standing on the steps and leaning against the rail, was Jayden, and the look on his face was smoldering.
His rich voice extended across the distance between them, wrapping around her and enfolding her in pure desire. “May I please have this dance, my beautiful Erin?” He held out a single rose toward her.
Somehow, her feet cooperated before her mind could catch up, carrying her forward to him—to her love. He brought her to a halt at the bottom of the gazebo steps by extending the rose to touch her forehead. Her eyes drifted closed when he began to stroke the satin petals across her face. Caressing the side of her jaw, he let the flower curve under her chin, coaxing her head up with light strokes of the bloom. She lifted her face in response and opened her eyes when she felt his breath on her.
Jayden’s face was mere inches away, and his lips hovered over Erin’s lips. He closed the distance, and time froze while she was kissed with absolute thoroughness. When they had to part to allow in fresh air, she realized Jayden had moved them up into the gazebo, and that they were dancing.
One song faded into another while he continued gliding Erin back and forth in slow circles. Erin had never learned to dance, but with Jayden leading, it was effortless. He twirled her around and around until they made their way to the far side of the gazebo. Jayden stilled their motions in front of a table set with an empty vase, a bottle of wine in an ice bucket, two crystal glasses, and a flat, long box embossed with a fine jeweler’s logo. Her new collar?

Enter below for your chance to win an autographed copy of A Divine Life :
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That's it, that's all I got folks! Of course, you can keep on hopping and entering to win even MORE prizes using the Linky list below! Thanks so much for stopping by!
');

Woodshed Wishes by N. Wood FALL FIRES BLOG TOUR

Summary:Ben, a young gay romance author, loses his way in the forest one stormy evening and is found by a ranger. When Ben pitches in to help his new friend Peter in the woodshed, he discovers that he may have met his match. Will Peter make Ben's woodshed wishes come true?

Add it on GOODREADS Add Fall Fires (full anthology) on Goodreads

Excerpt from Woodshed Wishes:

 “Come on, Petey,” I whined, teasing him with my personal rendition of his name. I only used it when I was desperate to get my own way. The slight narrowing of his eyes betrayed how little he thought of my chosen pet name for him, but I took the opportunity to argue my point with a pout. “It’s still summer. We won’t need a fire for months with this heat. There's plenty of time to do the work.”On any other day, my brown puppy eyes could make him crumble and agree to whatever I suggested, but on that day in particular, he appeared to somehow have the strength to refuse.“You should take a leaf out of your own book — literally,” he jested back, adding a little more pressure to my breast bone to deter my attempt to edge nearer to him. “What was it that Blake said to Trent in Ballboys? ‘Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today’?”I rolled my eyes when he quoted one of my many characters. Trust him to know my stories word for word, not that I could complain. Some scenes from my books gained their inspiration from things Peter and I had experienced together.“Yes, but you forget that Blake was encouraging Trent to get down on his knees and suck his cock today instead of putting it off until tomorrow,” I corrected him. “So how about we re-enact that scene?”My hinting words distracted him long enough that I was able to take the last step towards him. Reaching down, I snagged my fingers under the belt that was looped through the waistband of his jeans and started to unbuckle it. Though his eyes contained a slight glaze of lust from the thoughts I’d instilled in him, he snapped out of his distraction and caught a hold of my wrists, prying my hands away from him and holding them there.
“Tut tut, naughty boy,” he scolded with a teasing tone. “I have plans for tonight once all this work is done, but you want to jump the gun and get the party started early? You can’t disrupt my plans like that. You ought to be punished.”


Nat's been a regular here at the blog as she's been at this publishing thing for a little longer and has tasted it from both sides of the process. So, I asked:
What are the pros & cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing through a house?

Good question.

In my experience and opinion, there are pros and cons to both sides. Some might say that going through a publishing house is easier because then all the work gets done for you, such as editing, book covers, and promotion. Well, that isn't completely true.

To begin with, many traditional publishing houses have set guidelines to format your manuscript to before you even consider submitting to them. Each house is different, so you have to make sure that you get it all right for the specifics they demand. Once that is done, you then have at least an eight week wait just to hear from them about whether or not they like your story and what they intend to do with it. In the mean time, what you should do while waiting is to keep writing, start a brand new story, and never send the same manuscript to more than one publisher at a time. They wouldn't appreciate you telling them that even though they want to sign you, they can't because another beat them to it for that story.

As for all the editing and cover art being done for you, that's half true and half false. Yes, the editing is done, but only in a way that you still need to go over your story several times to alter the corrections made and to make sure you make no further mistakes. If you're lucky, you may get some say on your cover art, depending on the publishing house's preference of how they work things.

For promotion, the publishing house will advertise your book before and during its release, but that doesn't mean you get to sit on your hands and leave them to it. Self promote, but don't do so too much that it will annoy people who view your blog, twitter, and author pages. Mix it up by spreading the love and promoting other authors, who may well return the favour. Pat their back and they'll pat yours.

When it comes to self-publishing, I guess it goes on a person's preference. When you go through a traditional publisher, the cover art and editing are all in the package, whereas when you self-publish, you have to sort that all out yourself. If you want your manuscript to be professionally edited and a really amazing cover made for you, it all costs. When I self-published my books, I made the covers myself using an art programme on my computer and my digital camera. As for editing, I couldn't afford it to be done and several readers flamed my books because of that. There was, however, a handful who didn't care about the editing because the content of the book was more important. You read for the characters and the story, not the missing comma.

I suppose the only other difference between self-publishing and traditional publishing is the time frame. Yes, you could well take a month to edit and produce the cover art for your self-published book, which is quicker than waiting the two months to hear if you've even been accepted by a traditional house. Also, through traditional, the average waiting time from acceptance to the first sale is around six months, which is used up by excessive editing, usually three or four passes worth.  In the time that takes, you could have already made money through self-publishing.

It really depends on how much quality you want your book to hold. Rush it, make money, but probably get flamed for bad editing, or take the time to submit to houses, get some proper edits done and a professional cover, and hope that it pays off in the end.

About the Author:
N. Wood is a budding young author living in Cornwall, United Kingdom. She developed an interest in writing when her poetry was first published at the age of nine. Since then, she has moved onto writing both short stories and novels focusing on gay romantic themes.
Also by N. Wood:
La CalaWaves Of Healing
Coming Soon from Renaissance Romance Publishing:Take A Gamble, Second Edition, on November 12, 2013.
Blog  I Facebook I Twitter I Amazon I Goodreads

Nat's Tour Schedule:10/22: S.A. Jones – Promo/excerpts 10/23: Elizabeth M. Lawrence – Guest Post 10/24:10/25: Lorenz – Promo/Excerpt10/26: Layne Faire – Guest Post10/27:10/28: Lily G. Blunt – Guest Post10/29: Jennifer Garcia – Promo/Excerpt10/30: Jude Ouvrard – Promo/Excerpt10/31: R.E. Hargrave – Guest Post11/1: K.L. Pratt – Promo/Excerpt         Sam – Promo/Excerpt11/2: The Hive Book Reviews – Review/Promo/Excerpt11/3: C.W. Stevens – Promo/Excerpt 11/4: Mich's Book Reviews – Guest Post           M.C. Rayne -- Review

Halloween FREEBIE!

GET YOUR COPY HERE

Love, Unexpected by C.W. Stephens FALL FIRES BLOG TOUR

Summary:As Michael and Chuck's loving union comes to pass, two, gay members of the wedding party discover the sweet bonds of a comfortable companionship. Attraction becomes more as they recognize their true soul mate in each other, which fills the romantic void in their solitary lives. It seems only one, small obstacle stands in their way.

Add it on GOODREADS Add Fall Fires (full anthology) on Goodreads
Excerpt from Love, Unexpected:
Chuck slapped me on the back and pulled me into a tight hug, giving me a peck on the cheek. “Evan! It’s so good to see you again. What’s it been… four months?” I smiled while looking at my friend.      “You were up in Oak Harbor helping some friend work on his boat the last time I was here for a visit, if I remember correctly,” I reminded him. “You returned the day after I left!”      He got me into a headlock and playfully poked me in the ribs. “Yeah, you just couldn’t manage to stay one more day until I got back, could you, punk?”      With both of us laughing, he released me. When he did, my attention was drawn away; I became enraptured by a handsome stranger whose face had the power to make me forget how to breathe. My palms became sweaty, and my breath caught in my throat while I took in his features.      There he stood, long and lean, and looking very toned. I guessed he was around six foot two, his dark wash jeans tight enough to accentuate his ass, hugging it in all the right places. He had on a deep red, button-down shirt, which seemed created to be worn only by him, the top three buttons undone. His hair was long, dark, and pushed behind his ears; it was straight and shiny, and the overhead lights sparkled off each strand. Eyes, which were a brilliant shade of blue, seemed depthless as they pierced through my soul. Fuck! My jaw had fallen to the floor, and I snapped it closed before he could see. Chuck noticed though, smirked at me, and then made the introduction.      “Evan, I don’t think you’ve ever met my cousin, Jon Schubert. Jon, this is Evan Thomas, Michael’s cousin and best friend. He’ll be serving as Mike’s best man.”      The stranger captivated me, but I managed to find my voice. “Very pleased to make your acquaintance,” I stuttered with a smile while our eyes remained locked together. I was hoping he hadn’t noticed my tongue hanging out when he raised his hand to shake mine. It wasn’t much of a shake; more like a lingering touch.      “Likewise, Evan. Always a pleasure to meet one of Chuck’s boys.” His voice was as smooth as satin when he spoke in a low, rich tone, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand to attention.      His eyes sparkled, a smile emerged, and dimples blossomed within his cheeks, his lips full and pink. I didn’t miss the fact he was still holding my hand, his eyes never leaving mine while I hesitated to pull away. He was beautiful, the darkness of his hair highlighting his pale skin.



Ms. Stephens is another new author to the blog and I just had to pick her brain regarding her ink. Y'all know how much I love it!
Considering your debut publication is a m/m romance, I'm curious about the story behind your LGBT tattoo. It's a gorgeous piece of work, and I'd love to know more about it!

Thank you! I love it, and had a small hand in the designing process. The design came from something I’ve always supported: Equal rights for the LGBT Community. The signs for male and female, along with the inverted pink triangle; the international symbol of gay pride and the gay rights movement, which is second in popularity only to the rainbow flag.
The idea of getting the tattoo was something I’d thought about for a long time but, at the same time, ended up being sort of an impulse. My friend Karen and I had talked about getting one for the past couple of years but neither of us had a clear vision of what we wanted. We’d talked about having them done together, but we lived over eight hundred miles apart. Unless one of us found time to take a vacation, it would never happen.
As I got more and more involved writing m/m tales, I read a lot of short stories from the genre and began to do research of my own about how difficult life can be for members of the gay/lesbian community. Some of the things I saw, and read, were despicable. Bullying, beatings, ridicule, even killings are a few of the things I read about, which made me nauseous and broke my heart. It’s wrong. People have no right to judge anyone, or to take it upon themselves to “right” a situation they believe is wrong. Everyone has the right to live, love, and have the kind of life they want, and to be treated with respect; how we all want to be treated.
During this time, I had started to plan a personal vacation to Philadelphia, to visit Karen. A week before I departed, I related to her the symbols I saw in my head via email. She took our designs to a parlour on the other side of town. While there, she checked the place out, made sure the place was spotless, read up on the artists and their certifications, and how long they’d been in the business. Satisfied with all her findings, she made our appointments for the day I arrived. The artist she’d chosen had already made our stencils. We loved them and he went straight to work.
That was a year ago. Today I still wear my tattoo like a badge, and take the opportunity to talk up equal rights to the people who don’t get it. At work, at home in the neighborhood, even to my eighty-three year old mother. I would have to say through all I’ve learned, all the research I’ve done, and finally getting the tattoo, it’s definitely had an impact on my ability to write a better m/m story because I draw from the people I speak with; some of their attributes end up belonging to my characters.
I hope to continue to educate myself and, some day, volunteer my time to this specific cause, to help in any way I can.
The tattoo brought it full circle.

About the Author:

C.W. Stevens lives in the United States, in the Midwest, where the winters are cold and icy, and the summers are disgustingly hot and humid. Spring and fall are her favorite times of the year.Reading is one of her favorite pastimes.
She enjoys writing and loves meeting new people along the way. Music and Abstract are a couple of her favorite Arts. She enjoys the challenge of trying to unlock the meaning of what the artist is trying to express. She enjoys solitude and hates crowds.
C. W. has two, grown sons, and loves spending time with her three grandchildren. Life is good!

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 Cheryl's Tour Schedule:
10/22: Elizabeth M. Lawrence – Guest Post10/23: S.A. Jones – Promo/excerpts10/24: Lorenz – Promo/Excerpt10/25:10/26: N. Wood -- Interview10/27: Layne Faire – Guest Post10/28: Jennifer Garcia – Promo/Excerpt10/29: Lily G. Blunt – Guest Post10/30: R.E. Hargrave – Guest Post10/31: Jude Ouvrard – Promo/Excerpt11/1: K.L. Pratt – Promo/Excerpt         Sam – Promo/Excerpt11/2: The Hive Book Reviews – Review/Promo/Excerpt11/3: Mich's Book Reviews – Guest Post
11/4: M.C. Rayne -- Review

Our Walk to Remember by M.C. Rayne FALL FIRES BLOG TOUR

Summary:For the Robinson-Shae family, an annual charity walk means more to them than any expensive holiday abroad. After all, it’s where Elisha’s fathers met, and this year it’s even more important to her. Sammy couldn't make it this time, so she asks Charlie to share memories of how they met, and fell in love.

Add it on GOODREADS Add Fall Fires (full anthology) on Goodreads
Excerpt from Our Walk to Remember:

Elisha looks back at me and pulls on our adjoined arms, giggling happily to herself while dancing her knee-length, yellow summer dress around her body so it moves with the warm breeze. I forget how much she loves this annual event. We’ve always done it together. She gets excited to see all the people she’s grown up around. I hope she never grows tired of this venture, never loses herself to the world of television and computer games when she could make a difference doing something small, yet huge. Such thoughts make me shudder, thinking someone as delicate as little Elisha could ever be a slave to the mediocre. Not our baby, no way!“Tell me again, Dad,” she interjects, turning towards me and smiling with joy. “Tell me about when you met Daddy?” Her brown eyes sparkle when she looks up at me, lighting her porcelain face. Can a father ever refuse his daughter? How do you say ‘no’ to the product of your love, the person who found a home in your heart without trying and looks to you to lead them along the right paths?“Again?” I tease. “You know this story so well, you can probably tell it better than me.”Warmth fills my cheeks, bringing colour back into this aging man’s face while he toys with the light of his life, the only other person he loves without question. So many times Sammy and I have sat before a roaring fire while Elisha recounted our history like she’s reading a book. Her voice is always filled with such passion that we hang on her every word. One would be forgiven for thinking it’s her past she is detailing, but I guess my husband and I never get bored with sharing how we came to be the lovers we are today.“I like it better when you tell it, Dad. Don’t worry; I will fill in any parts you miss,” she chimes in an assertive manner, and I know without a doubt she will.“Okay, baby,” I commence, drawing her in close so I don’t have to shout too loud. I don’t need unwanted ears to hear something that will forever remain unwritten, a story that’s stamped into my heart and is ours alone. Sammy has his own version of the life we share, but this is all from the very soul of Charlie Shae — this is how I found my love. This shouldn’t be so hard to recollect, but I’ve never had to share our story without my counterpart sitting next to me, relishing my retelling. While the warm breeze runs through my free fingers again, I try to grab onto the emptiness and envision that Sammy isn’t very far away. Sadly, my mind isn’t that creative.Swallowing the pain, I lose myself to the words flowing from me and find myself on auto pilot. “It was the summer of 1996. I had just finished college. . .” 

Please welcome debut author M.C. Rayne to the blog. As the only male author in this collection of six, I asked him to tell us about being the one man writing m/m amongst a group of ladies.

I love this question, and was really hoping someone would ask me this. Reading the lovely R.E Hargrave's guest post idea had me smiling.

When you’re a homosexul man, and a new author, you expect that all other M/M stories are written by other gay men. Well this is what I believed anyway.

Had someone told me that most of the stories I loved were written by hetrosexual woman, then I wouldn’t have believed them. Initially I found it difficult to comprehend that the books I were reading were by women, and that the majority of the M/M market was led by them. I would be reading a story and thinking how could a woman know something like this, how would they be able to tell how it feels for a man to be with a man, but they did. Granted, some of the authors I have read do stick to the stereotype of gay men jumping into bed with one another after the first five seconds, but these stories are few and far between - well the ones I read are anyway. I avoid books with half naked men on the cover, because I want something more than sex, sex, sex, this is something I don’t want to be reading about. I’m not a prude, I just like a good story and only like sex in a book if I feel its needed.

I have asked so many male romance authors how they get their ideas, and how they know what to write in an intimate scene and most of them agree - they watch a lot or gay porn! This was something which shocked me, that these mothers and grandmothers were watching more of it than I do, and were shocked by how little I do. Most of them were even suggesting websites to me for ‘research’ purposes.

Being the only man in the anthology is probably clear evidence on how females rule the M/M market, but its something I kind of like. I love the fact my story is surrounded by these great women, the ones who have produced such amazing stories that I know I will never get bored of. In fact, I don’t think my story is the best in the book, because there is so much talent to be envious of. Each offering by the other ladies is so different to the last, showing the reader love from both angles and I am proud to stand amongst them.

I may be the only man, and more importantly, the only gay man, but its probably me that is learning from them. Yes, I would love to have had more male authors in the anthology, but the book is about wonderful romance stories - it doesn't matter which gender wrote the thing!

There should always be equal opportunities, both in life and literacy. These ladies are showing just this to the world of readers how you don’t have to be gay, to write about gay love, you just have to love and feel loved in returned.

About the Author:
M. C. Rayne got into writing after the passing of his mother, and used it as an outlet to get through the difficult time. He never really thought about becoming an author, but since putting pen to paper he has never looked back
Currently he lives in Leeds with his two best friends Dae and Pete, and his guinea pig, Bean. He spends a lot of time reading and writing, and far too much time procrastination online.
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Matt's Tour Schedule:
10/22: Lorenz – Promo/Excerpt10/23: Jude Ouvrard – Guest Post10/24: Lily G. Blunt – Guest Post 10/25: N. Wood -- Interview10/26: S.A. Jones – Promo/excerpts10/27: Jennifer Garcia – Promo/Excerpt10/28: Elizabeth M. Lawrence – Guest Post10/29: R.E. Hargrave – Guest Post10/30: Layne Faire – Guest Post10/31: C.W. Stevens – Promo/Excerpt11/1: K.L. Pratt – Promo/Excerpt         Sam – Promo/Excerpt11/2: Mich's Book Reviews – Guest Post           The Hive Book Reviews – Review/Promo/Excerpt11/3:
11/4:

Exit Strategy by LV Lewis RELEASE DAY BLITZ

Cover Design by:CoverMeCreative.com by © krischarbonneau@yahoo.com 

 Photo Credits:Cover Image - Passion © Chris Schmidt - Track5 Photography via iStockPhoto.comVintage Carriage Return © Editorial via Dreamstime.com



BUY LINKS for Exit Strategy:
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Author L.V. Lewis revisits the world of Keisha Beale and Tristan White from her Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever in Exit Strategy !


Ex•it Strat•e•gy (noun) 1. A preplanned means of extricating oneself from a situation that is likely to become difficult or unpleasant. 2. The method by which a venture capitalist or business owner intends to get out of an investment that he or she has made in the past.
Will Keisha and Tristan exercise their elaborate EXIT STRATEGY and end their unorthodox arrangement?

Assailed by demons she thought she had conquered, Keisha Beale has uttered the words to end her tumultuous relationship with Tristan White. Separated, they grapple for a time with their personal demons. However, when their lives apart become unbearable, a credible threat brings them back together prematurely.
As they seek to discover who is responsible for the threats, several seemingly unrelated incidents throw them into a tailspin. Will Keisha’s youthful indiscretions or Tristan’s un-reconciled feelings for a former sub derail their tenuous arrangement?
In the meantime, trouble in Nathan and Jada’s paradise send dramatic ripples that hint of future difficulties in the idyllic pairing.
Nothing Ventured…
Tristan uses his vast wealth and connections to correct a gross miscarriage of justice, while Keisha makes herself utterly vulnerable to Tristan and fears he has chosen to exercise his own exit strategy.

…Nothing Gained!

Will this be the end of the indecent arrangement that became a fairy tale? Or will Keisha and Tristan reveal the trauma from their pasts so they may heal and completely embrace their relationship?
Sensual, suspenseful, and still infused with the riotous levity of Triple-G and Fairy Hoochie Mama, the Ghetto Girl Romance Quadrilogy departs from full parody with a distinctive take on love, loyalty, sacrifice, redemption, and acceptance.

EXCERPT
“Tell me again why you can’t stay?” Tristan says as we stand in front of the elevator.
“Because it’s just not a good idea. And I don’t have anything to wear.”
“Actually, you do,” he says. “Mrs. Naven found some things in the laundry after you left. Problem solved.” He takes both my hands and backs up into the sitting room.
“Tristan, we still have some things to sort out. Tonight was great, but I still don’t think I’m cut out to be your submissive.”
“Just my submissive, Keisha?”
I drop my head. “No. Anyone’s.”
“You’re afraid you’ll have panic attacks again, aren’t you?” 
I feel like I’m about to be swallowed up by the sincere blue eyes tracking and pinning mine so effectively I can’t look away. “Yes. And I’m no use to you if I can’t endure the scenes, particularly the occasional disciplinary consequences.”
“What if there was a way you could?” His finger traces a gentle path down my cheek.
“What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. If there was a way we could work around the panic attacks, would you come back? For good?”
“You mean until you perfect your exit strategy? That’s what you venture capitalists call it, don’t you?”
“Ah, someone’s been paying attention at our semiannual business meetings?”
“I have a rather exacting mentor who insists on being heard.”
“Asshole,” he says and pulls me close. 
I place my hands on his chest in an effort to sustain some emotional equilibrium, but he doesn’t let me go. “I’m the one who’ll be ass-out when you lose confidence in your investment and decide it’s time to diversify your portfolio again.”
“I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.” He draws me closer, palming my hips, and I get his point. Pun intended. “I can’t seem to get enough of you.” 
I slip out of his arms and put some space between us. “Chemistry has never been an issue for us, Tristan. I know your lifestyle is important to you, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up.” 
The truth is, I’m hopelessly in love with a man who hasn’t given me any indication that he will ever want a real relationship. Nothing has changed on that front. He still just wants just a Dominant/submissive relationship, which might enjoy a longevity his other arrangements haven’t had, but it will eventually end.
Can I really do this? I certainly don’t think I’ll become any less in love with him over time. Reentering a sexual relationship with Tristan now would be exceedingly counterproductive to the reasons I left in the first place, but I am hard-pressed to make myself walk away again. 
Tristan moves so close behind me that I can feel the warmth of his skin, his breath wafting over my ear as he speaks. “We’ll take things slow—again.” 
He runs a finger along my arm, and gooseflesh sprouts like ivy in its wake. I feel a pull toward him that can only be described as magnetic—my body eager to be reunited to his. Even though it could conceivably be more painful for me this time around, I’m not sure if leaving him again is within the realm of possibility. I can’t rationalize staying, but leaving becomes increasingly more difficult with each second I remain in his presence.
I turn to face him. “Slow isn’t necessarily going to keep the attacks at bay.” Or guard my heart if he decides he’s done with me.
“We’ll figure out a way to do that together.” He takes me into his arms again. “These three weeks have been  . . . just please stay.”
I look into his eyes, and all I want to do at that moment is kiss him senseless. He may not have given me a declaration of love, but somehow I know this is as close as I’m going to get with a man like Tristan White. For now.
As an answer, I stand on my tiptoes, throw my arms around his neck, and kiss him with everything in me.


L. V. Lewis doesn't have the financial means of Tristan White, but she wouldn't want readers to go away from this new release empty handed, so she's giving all readers the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

This time there are too many to list, but you can read the list and “Like” or “Follow” the Authors participating in my Release Day to enter the attached rafflecopter giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The giveaway will run from now until November 28, so like and follow my friends, then tweet about the giveaway daily to increase your odds of winning!
The giveaway will run from October 29th - November 28th. 
During the week of October 29th - November 5th,  Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever 
will be on sale for $.99!
DISCLAIMER:  If for some reason the book doesn’t load on all the platforms by the release date, this will be due to circumstances beyond my control. I apologize in advance for any snafus that might occur.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
L. V. Lewis has one foot in South Georgia and the other in North Florida. She's been blessed with a husband who's put up with her for a lot of years and has given birth to four children, two of whom she has raised to adulthood and one to near adulthood. She delights in her almost empty nest status so much that she writes the kinkiest novels she can conjure up.
L. V. Lewis’s Exhaustive List of Contact Info:  Email: lv.lewis148@gmail.com GoodReads, Twitter, Facebook, The Block, & Pinterest

L. V. Lewis’s Buy Links for Fifty Shades of Jungle Fever: Barnes & Noble I Amazon I Kobo I Smashwords I iTunes I Sony