Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 303

Book Blast: Mocha Kisses and Coffee

Mocha Kisses and Coffee by Rawiya
Publisher: Thirteen Below Press
Amazon: Mocha Kisses and Coffee
Amazon Kindle: Mocha Kisses and Coffee

Synopsis: Simple delicacies like donuts and coffee can bring two people together no matter what their differences; it can make for a very satisfying experience. But deceit can turn those experiences sour.
In these two stories, Cupid shoots his arrows at four men, drawing them to one another through chance encounters that instantly grow into something more.

Time To Make The Donuts
Christopher Wettlon has inherited his grandfather’s Donuts to Go shop. He’s young, educated, and pretty well off, but still something is missing from his life.
Enter Andre Bentley, who seems to have everything going for him. Little does Christopher know Andre is out for more than his fresh, strawberry creams.
The two men are getting along well until Chris confronts Andre about his job. Can Andre ‘work’ himself back into Chris’s good graces?

Smooth Like Latte
Brendan Walsh is committed to working for his irrational, homophobic dad who has threatened to disown him if he comes out gay to the world. Pretending to be someone he isn’t weighs him down. This puts Brendan on edge and alert at all times, leaving little to no time for him to build a steady relationship with anyone.
Davori “Latte” Jenkins is a happy go lucky barista working in the Walsh building. Born and raised in North Carolina, Latte possesses extremely good looks and charms the pants off anyone in his path using his Southern boy attitude.
When Brendan visits the shop Latte works in, they’re immediately drawn to one another. Latte makes him a caramel latte with something extra.
Because Brendan isn’t out of the closet, they keep their thoughts and flirtations private. Once they start dating, Brendan gets the courage to come out publicly and the relationship goes into overdrive. Still, Latte desires something more to define their relationship.

( Excerpt )



Meet the Author
RAWIYA is the more sensual erotica writer in the BLRawiya duo. She loves multiracial characters who overcome obstacles other than race. Sweet, sassy, and spicy would be the best way to describe her work. Happily married mother of two, loves music, computers, and travel.
Blog | The Literary Triad | Pinterest | Instagram | Ello | Twitter | Facebook

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2016 Rainbow Awards: Throwing Stones by Robin Reardon (83-04-16-2016)

Throwing Stones by Robin Reardon
Gay Young Adult
Paperback: 406 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 7, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1517253101
ISBN-13: 978-1517253103
Amazon: Throwing Stones
Amazon Kindle: Throwing Stones

What if you fell in love with a Pagan?
And what if you were both gay? What would happen next?

In this paranormal romance, something is drawing seventeen-year-old Jesse Bryce toward the community of Pagans who live in "the village," just outside his rural Oklahoma town. Maybe it's that he has a crush on Griffin Holyoke, a tall, dark-haired boy with a tree tattooed all up his back. Or maybe it's that the Pagans accept Jesse for who he is, unlike his family--or his church, where he hears that being gay is a sin.

After a man from the village is murdered while trying to prevent an assault on a girl from the town, Jesse's confusion at the town's unsympathetic reaction inspires him to set a mission for himself: to build a bridge of acceptance between the town and the village.

As Jesse defies his parents and continues to visit the village, he witnesses mysterious rituals that haunt him with their beauty and intensity. And he falls in love with one enigmatic, mercurial Pagan who opens his eyes to a whole new world.

This first-person story explores what can happen when we make conclusions about others based on too little information, or on the wrong information. Whether we're misunderstanding each others' religions or each others' sexual orientation, everyone benefits from learning the truth. And everyone benefits from forgiveness.

Find out what happens. Scroll up and order your copy today.

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html

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Blog Tour: Send Lawyers, Guns, and Roses (Heart and Haven #2) by Heloise West

Send Lawyers, Guns, and Roses (Heart and Haven #2) by Heloise West
Publisher: Loose Id LLC (April 18, 2016)
Amazon Kindle: Send Lawyers, Guns, and Roses (Heart and Haven #2)

Blurb: When Hunter and Alex are given the vacation of a lifetime, it’s a chance for them to pay attention to romance and get out of the path of danger. The tiny Caribbean island of Saba is gorgeous, the first to have marriage equality, and the Sabans are the nicest people on earth.
There’s lots of rum poolside for relaxing and a room with a mirror on the ceiling for passion. Hot karaoke nights, cold beer, and new friends.
But their new friends Orfeo and Max, and Max’s sister Talisha, share a troubling secret. Alex and Hunter want to help. As a hurricane bears down on them, a dead body surfaces, and a purple backpack loaded with stolen jewels leads a pair of dangerous men to the island.
Alex would rather poke his own eyes out with a pointy stick than call on his old enemy Nick Truman for help; he’d also do anything to keep Hunter out of danger. But even his nemesis can’t reach them now.
Once again, they only have each other to depend on as their paradise is about to become hell on earth.

( Excerpt )



Meet the author: Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.

"This is the second installment in the Heart and Haven series, a universe that began with Hitting Black Ice (Loose Id). Send Lawyers, Guns, and Roses picks up after the events in HBI a few months after. Hunter and Alex’s troubles aren’t over yet, and to help the couple escape them, Alex’s parents given them a vacation on the Caribbean island of Saba.

I love to travel, and though recently we’ve been alternating American and European cities, in another century I did some traveling in the Caribbean, mostly in the Lesser Antilles, as far south as Barbados. I’ve never been to Saba, though. I’d love to, now. "

1) What is the most satisfying thing about being a writer?
If I don't write, I don't know who I am. I've always written, had dreams of publishing despite negativity from family. I worked hard to get my work to a place I'm happy with though I know I have a lot to learn.

2) Do your characters ever take over your writing and make the story go somewhere you hadn’t originally planned?
Well, yes, but that's the process, right? Getting out of your own way, erasing that border between the character and the creative process.

3) How did you celebrate the release of your book?
Prosecco is the celebratory beverage of choice.

4) How did you come up with the idea for this book?
I needed to continue the story of Hunter and Alex in the same vein, as a romantic suspense. At first thought I thought I'd send them to Europe, get involved with spies or something. But I always loved the movie "Key Largo" and the Caribbean, so we went south instead of east.

5) Have you ever written naked?
Only when it's really, really hot. Outside.

Where to find the author:
Blog: https://velvetpanic2.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heloise.west.1
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heloisewest/
Email: heloise_67@hotmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/velvetpanic
Tumblr: http://heloisewest.tumblr.com/
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...



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2016 Rainbow Awards: Minacious Malice (Malice #19) by K’Anne Meinel (82-04-15-2016)

Minacious Malice (Malice #19) by K’Anne Meinel
Lesbian Mystery / Thriller
Series: Malice
Paperback: 150 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (March 1, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 153012476X
ISBN-13: 978-1530124763
Amazon: Minacious Malice (Malice #19)
Amazon Kindle: Minacious Malice (Malice #19)

As Alice continues with her tale of where she has been for the last couple of years, Kathy realizes the tally of deaths is adding up. The same reasons that caused their separation are still there. Can she forgive, much less forget, why they broke up in the first place? Murder, planned murder especially, takes time. Alice must feel ‘justified’ in who she targets. She also must take into account that Sasha is not only a witness, but an accomplice to what Alice must do. Sasha will be shocked as she realizes the depth of what Alice is capable of. Sasha must learn to ‘appreciate’ Alice and her ‘skills’. Follow along as Sasha and Alice begin the hunt for those who had imprisoned them….

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html

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2016 Rainbow Awards: Broken Soldier by Jamie Lynn Miller (81-04-14-2016)

Broken Soldier by Jamie Lynn Miller
Gay Romantic Suspence
Paperback: 150 pages
Publisher: lulu.com (March 8, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 132995971X
ISBN-13: 978-1329959712
Amazon: Broken Soldier
Amazon Kindle: Broken Soldier

Sergeant Connor Finley and Sergeant Shawn Weller are dedicated soldiers working covert ops for Shadow Unit -- a joint Uk/Us anti-terrorism task force. Partners in the field and out, they had been through hell together for the last four years and made it through standing side by side. But when their latest undercover op to bring down an arms dealer plunges them into a world of drugs, sex and violence, Shawn must literally get in bed with the enemy in order to complete the mission. And Connor is forced to watch, helpless, as his partner is broken into pieces. Will love be enough to put them both back together or will this be their final mission? Warning: Contains scenes of drug use, graphic sex and realistic situations

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html

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Blog Tour: A Wizard in Waikiki by A.J. Llewellyn

A Wizard in Waikiki by A.J. Llewellyn
Amazon Kindle: A Wizard in Waikiki

BLURB: Summoned from the past, Konu rises naked from the sea to reclaim his power for the freedom to live—and love. If the forces of evil don’t get to him first!

On a hot day in Waikiki, beachgoers are stunned when a tall, handsome man rises from the ocean. Striding naked to a small, ringed enclosure containing four huge stones most tourists never even notice, he becomes visibly upset. These are Wizard Stones, positioned between the beach and the foot traffic on Kalakaua Avenue. Konu, the naked man, is agitated by a young Asian girl draping her beach towel over the stones. He's come a long way, from Tahiti, and is one of the ancient wizards whose power was infused into these sacred stones four hundred years ago.

With the invisible battle between good and evil raging, Konu has been dispatched to help balance the power. Landing in modern-day Waikiki, he's stunned by the changes – and to find he is alone. A cop tries to arrest him for indecent exposure but the young girl's grandfather – who thinks Konu's a homeless lunatic offers him refuge. Will the ancient forces of evil beat this wizard in Waikiki? Or can Konu find his power again, and perhaps…even love?

Publisher’s note: This book was previously published. It has been edited and re-released with Ai Press.

( Excerpt: )



About the Author: A.J. Llewellyn lives in California, but dreams of living in Hawaii. Frequent trips to all the islands, bags of Kona coffee in the fridge and a healthy collection of Hawaiian records keep this writer refueled.
A.J’s passion for the islands led to writing a play about the last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani as well as a non-erotic novel about the overthrow of her kingdom written in diary form from her maid’s point of view.
A.J. never lacks inspiritation for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasion this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions.
A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.
|| Website & Blog || Facebook || Twitter || Goodreads ||

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Blog Tour: Bryan & Jase (Something about Him) by A.D. Ellis

Bryan & Jase (Something about Him) by A.D. Ellis
Amazon Kindle: Bryan & Jase (Something about Him)

BLURB: Jase Rafferty grew up hiding his sexual curiosities—until he meets Bryan Keating. Bryan’s sexual preference is no secret, and being deployed overseas together allows the two men to forge a solid friendship. The sexual attraction is undeniable, but after one lust-filled week, they must go their separate ways.

A year later, a chance meeting gives them one more weekend together, even though they know Jase can’t risk his military career or his family obligations to be with Bryan.

Several years pass before Jase finally accepts the desperate longing in his heart and body. But when fear and hatred threaten to tear them apart, Jase must make a tough decision, one that he isn’t sure he and Bryan can overcome. Together, they must choose to weather the storm or say goodbye forever.

**This is a male/male romance meant for ages 18+ due to adult language and adult situations.**

( Excerpt )



Author Bio: A.D. Ellis spends the majority of her days loving and wrangling two school-aged children and a husband before heading to the inner city of Indiana to teach a challenging group of alternative education students in grades third through sixth. Most days she hits the gym after school in hopes of running and lifting away the stress and headaches of the day before picking up her children and squeezing a whole day’s worth of loving and living into the too-short hours before bed. It’s no wonder Ms. Ellis lives for the slower, easier days she gets to enjoy on breaks from school.
Growing up in a small farming town in southern Indiana, A.D. is grateful to her mother for passing along the love of reading. With her nose constantly stuck in a book, Ms. Ellis became accustomed to friends and acquaintances snickering and shaking their heads at her love of reading.
A.D. never dreamed of being anything but a teacher, although there are certain times of the year when she laments her career choice. Ms. Ellis had a story idea floating in her head for about a year. After persistent prodding from a friend, A.D. put pen to paper and began writing her first story in October 2013. From that moment on, she was hooked. Taking the people and stories from her head and sharing them with readers is a scary, exhausting, rewarding, and fulfilling experience which A.D. plans to continue until there are no more stories banging around in her mind.
:: Website :: Facebook Page :: Twitter :: Amazon ::

Giveaway
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2016 Rainbow Awards: Song of Souls (Terra #3) by S.J. Frost (80-04-13-2016)

Song of Souls (Terra #3) by S.J. Frost
Gay Fantasy Romance
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (February 22, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 194477002X
ISBN-13: 978-1944770020
Amazon: Song of Souls (Terra #3)
Amazon Kindle: Song of Souls (Terra #3)

Assassin and thief, Zain, will do anything to protect the beautiful minstrel, Lark, but when a new enemy arises, it'll take more than steel to keep the man he loves safe. Lark is a renowned minstrel in Forest's End, but he has a gift beyond his beautiful voice and masterful skill with a lute that few know about. He has the ability to see and speak with souls of the dead. Other than his closest companions, only one man has never shown fear of his gift and even offered him love. Known as the Black Fox, Zain is an assassin and thief. He never planned much of a future for himself, until he met Lark. He wants to make a good life for them, but to truly be with Lark, he needs to give up his life in the shadows. Passion and love strengthens between them, and nothing will stop Zain from protecting Lark. When a new enemy threatens to pull them apart, it'll take more than steel to keep Lark safe. It may be that the only one who has the key to defeat a murderous necromancer is Lark himself.

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html

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Blog Tour: Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor#4) by Tali Spencer

Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor#4) by Tali Spencer
Publisher: Resplendence Publishing, LLC (April 8, 2016)
Amazon Kindle: Victory Portrait (Pride of Uttor#4)

Blurb: Imperial captive and former Sebboyan prince Peta Kordeun has one great wish: to meet Darius Arrento, conqueror of his country and a man he has idolized since childhood. That wish comes true the day the Uttoran emperor assigns Peta to assist the artist who will be painting the great general’s official portrait.

General Darius Arrento would rather take a crossbow bolt through his flesh than sit for a portrait, until his friend the emperor forces his hand. The notorious artist, Brazzi, uses semen and other sexual fluids to bind his colors—and Arrento is captivated by the artist’s pretty helper. Before long he is driven to possess the gorgeous young man who draws battle maps and whose naïve charm has won more hearts in Uttor than Arrento has won battles.

When Arrento learns that Peta, the slave he covets and wants for his own, is one of the despised Kordeun princes, he storms from Uttor toward a far corner of the empire—where he quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot to tear Uttor’s empire apart. His emotions and loyalties frayed, the great Arrento is in the battle of his life…and Peta may hold the key to his survival.

( Excerpt )



Meet the author: Tali Spencer delights in erotic fantasy and adventure, creating worlds where she can explore the heights and shadows of sexual passion. A hopeful romantic and lover of all things exotic, she also writes high fantasy and science fiction. If you would like to see inspiration pictures for her characters, or glimpse how she envisions her worlds, check out her Pinterest boards.

Thanks to a restless father, she grew up as a bit of a nomad and still loves to travel whenever she can. Her longest stint in one place was Milwaukee where she went to college, enjoyed a series of interesting careers, and raised three surprisingly well-adjusted sons. She later married her true love and put down new roots in Philadelphia, where she lives in an ongoing Italian American family sitcom. At least she’s learned how make good pasta. When not writing, Tali reads everything from sweet goofy romances to medical research, manages her fantasy football team—go Gekkos!—and takes long walks with her loving, if slightly neurotic, poodle.

Tali’s other books include the three preceding Uttor books: Captive Heart, Dangerous Beauty, and Adored, all with Resplendence. Her gay male high fantasy stories, Thick as Thieves, Sorcerer’s Knot, and The Prince of Winds, are published by Dreamspinner Press. She often posts free stories and excerpts on her blog.

"Thanks so much, Elisa, for having me stop by to talk about Victory Portrait, my new release. I had a lot of fun writing this book, particularly because I really enjoyed working with my favorite tropes. Tropes get a bad rap in some quarters, but I rather respect them.

When I was in the ninth grade, a most amazing English teacher gave my young mind one of its first glimpses of adult thinking. To children everything tends to be painted either black or white. Good or bad. True or not true.

This teacher, in preparation for learning Shakespeare, wrote “stereotype” on the chalk board. (We had chalk boards, which were indisputably bad because they were dirty.)

Stereotype. Good? Or bad?

To a child, we were certain we had this one pegged: stereotypes were bad. It was a time of peace marches, TV news, nuclear threats, civil rights and feminism. Stereotypes, we knew, were used by that murky entity The Establishment to put good people down.

My teacher pointed out that The Establishment was, itself, a stereotype. Dang. I hadn’t thought of that. She went on to lead us in a fascinating (to this day) discussion of all the different stereotypes we knew about, which ones we believed, and which ones we wanted to change. We had a great deal of fun looking at all the stereotypes in Romeo and Juliet, and talking about which ones existed then and still existed in our time.

Turns out stereotypes exist not because of some evil stereotype-creating conspiracy, but because stereotypes are simplified, often over-simplified, perceptions that may or may not be true—and they have roots in something that either is true or that people want to believe.

A stereotype is a cultural shortcut. We use them to say we know or understand something or someone, rather than take the extra time and effort to create understanding for each individual or event. We use stereotypes to understand something just enough—and no more.

Tropes, like stereotypes, exist as shortcuts. As a writer I’m particularly fond of the captive trope in romance. You know the one: virgin (usually, though not always) captured by a powerful man, leading to mind-blowing sex and happy ever after. I like to combine this trope with other favorites, like royalty or the alpha hero. Enemies to lovers is another fun one. The trope keys in on what’s at the core of that story’s relationship.

In Victory Portrait, my latest release, the captive royal main character (not quite a virgin but might as well be) is of course thrown together with an alpha hero and a bit of enemies to lovers. That is, to be sure, a vast oversimplification of the plot and characters, but it would be laughable to deny that these tropes are present.

As a reader, I use tropes to help decide what to read. Give me an alien prince, a little captivity, perhaps a billionaire due his comeuppance, maybe a sweet new guy in town meets crusty native who just needs to get the stick out of his… well, you get my drift. We all have our favorites, and we look for books that will give us those things.

Or, as is my case, I write them. Like Shakespeare, just not as good."

Where to find the author:
Facebook: : http://www.facebook.com/tali.spencer
Twitter: @tali_spencer
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/talispencer/
Blog: http://talismania-brilliantdisguise.b...
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...



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2016 Rainbow Awards: The Art of Hero Worship by Mia Kerick (79-04-11-2016)

The Art of Hero Worship by Mia Kerick
Gay Romantic Suspence
Paperback: 216 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (January 15, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1523427868
ISBN-13: 978-1523427864
Amazon: The Art of Hero Worship
Amazon Kindle: The Art of Hero Worship

Trembling on the floor, pressed beneath a row of seats in a dark theater, college freshman Jason Tripp listens to the terrifying sound of gunshots, as an unknown shooter moves methodically through the theater, randomly murdering men, women, and children attending a student performance of Hamlet. Junior Liam Norcross drapes his massive body on top of Jason, sheltering the younger man from the deathly hail of bullets, risking his life willingly, and maybe even eagerly. As a result of the shared horror, an extraordinary bond forms between the two young men, causing discomfort for family and friends, and for Jason and Liam, themselves. Added to the challenge of two previously “straight” men falling into a same-sex love, are the complications that arise from the abundance of secrets Liam holds with regard to a past family tragedy. The fledgling passion between the men seems bound to fade away into the darkness from which it emerged. Jason, however, is inexplicably called to rescue his hero in return, by delving into Liam’s shady past and uncovering the mystery that compels the older man to act as the college town’s selfless savior. The Art of Hero Worship takes the reader on a voyage from the dark and chilling chaos that accompanies a mass shooting to the thrill of an unexpected and sensual romance.

Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2016.html

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