Elisa Rolle's Blog, page 383

2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Lower Education by A.M. Leibowitz

Lower Education by A.M. Leibowitz
Gay Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Supposed Crimes, LLC (November 1, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1938108523
ISBN-13: 978-1938108525
Amazon: Lower Education
Amazon Kindle: Lower Education

Phin Patterson is an educational consultant dissatisfied with his job and his life. On a mission to complete one last assignment before escaping his unfulfilling career and figure out what he wants, he accepts a commission from Donald Murdock at the New York State Education Department. Suddenly, he finds himself on his way to evaluate a tiny school in New York's Southern Tier, not far from the town where he grew up. Now his only goal is to get in, do his job, and get out before anyone from his past remembers him. That turns out to be easier said than done. Dani Sloane, the sharp-witted administrative assistant to the principal, learns the truth about why Phin is really there. With the help of her friends, she sets out to unmask him and force the local board of education to stop the plans that could ruin their school. Discovering that her sometime-lover is an old business associate of Phin's only complicates both the situation and their relationship. Meanwhile, Phin, who has committed himself to keeping his emotional distance, can't resist the charm of the town and its residents-especially the school psychologist, who turns out to be an old friend he hasn't seen in over twenty years. While Dani works to take him down and save her school, Phin wrestles with learning how to do the right thing, including telling the truth to the man with whom he's already falling in love.

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html



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Book Blast: Songbook, Paulo and Preston Shorts by Lee Benoit

[image error]Songbook: Paulo and Preston Shorts by Lee Benoit
Sales Links: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.ph...

Cue the music! SONGBOOK collects, for the first time ever, all of the stories in the Paulo and Preston series!

PRESTON is a lifestyle Dominant, recently retired from a career on stage at an exclusive BDSM club. When the series begins, he's single and looking forward to a quieter life. All that changes on the night of Preston's last performance when PAULO, a complete novice, takes the place of Preston's usual stage submissive. By day Paulo does odd jobs and sings in the Sister City Gay Men's Chorus. After that first night with Preston, however, he wants more. He wants everything. Can a newbie sub and a gracefully aging Dom learn to harmonize?

Each story chronicles a new phase in Paulo and Preston's relationship and features song lyrics mangled in deliciously naughty ways by Paulo.

( Excerpt )

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[image error]About the author: Before dawn and after dark, Lee Benoit is a writer of queer fiction, some contemporary, some speculative, some historical. During the daylight hours she is a professor of sociology & anthropology. In the old days, Lee traveled the world doing field research. Now she lives in the middle of a New England hayfield where being a single parent provides more than enough excitement. Proudly pansexual, whenever she gets itchy feet and misses the world of research and advocacy, Lee invents a new world in her head and takes notes on what happens there.

Discover more about Lee at http://www.leebenoittales.com

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Tour Dates & Stops: May 19, 2015
Parker Williams, Molly Lolly, Bayou Book Junkie, Inked Rainbow Reads, Charley Descoteaux, Happily Ever Chapter, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Chris McHart, MM Good Book Reviews, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, 3 Chicks After Dark, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Velvet Panic, Up All Night, Read All Day,
My Fiction Nook, Rainbow Gold Reviews

Rafflecopter Prize: E-book of Songbook: Paulo and Preston Shorts
Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Memoir in the Making by Adrian J. Smith

Memoir in the Making by Adrian J. Smith
Lesbian Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher: Supposed Crimes, LLC (May 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193810854X
ISBN-13: 978-1938108549
Amazon: Memoir in the Making
Amazon Kindle: Memoir in the Making

The first day of her junior year in college was supposed to go off without a hitch. But when Ainsley Jacobs sat in her memoir class with a professor she'd never had before, her life took an unexpected turn. She couldn't get her well-dressed professor, Meredith Frenz, out of her head. Meredith had lived a lonely yet comfortable life for the past fifteen years, and despite flings here and there, she had no desire to jump head first into a relationship, especially one with her student. Despite all her thwarted efforts, Meredith was determined to keep to herself and push Ainsley away. Forbidden love is often the most attractive.

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html

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George Benson & Herbert Croft

Herbert Croft (1603–1691) was an English churchman, bishop of Hereford from 1661. (P: Herbert Croft bishop of Hereford about 1670 by an unknown artist this portrait is in the hall at Croft Castle)

Croft was born 18 May 1603 at Great Milton, Oxfordshire, his mother being then on a journey to London, the third son of Sir Herbert Croft and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Anthony Bourne of Holt Castle. He married, before 8 April 1645, Anne Browne, the only daughter of the Very Rev. Dr. Jonathan Browne and Anne Barne Lovelace. Her half-brothers were Richard Lovelace (1618–1657) an English poet in the seventeenth century and Francis Lovelace (1621–1675), who was the second governor of the New York colony appointed by the Duke of York and of Albany (later King James II & VII.

After being for some time, like his father who had converted, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, he returned to the Church of England about 1630, and in 1644 was appointed chaplain to Charles I, and obtained within a few years a prebendary's stall at Worcester, a canonry of St George's Chapel, Windsor (1641–1662), and the deanery of Hereford (1644–1661), all of which preferments he lost during the Civil War and Commonwealth.

By Charles II he was made bishop of Hereford in 1661 and also dean of the Chapel Royal (1668–1669) from which position he preached to the King. Becoming disillusioned with court life he returned to his Hereford see. Despite his youthful adherence to that faith, he was noted for exceptional severity towards Roman Catholics, especially during the Popish Plot.


"The 17th century bishop of Hereford, Herbert Croft (May 18, 1603–1691), and the cathedral dean, George Benson (who appears to have died within a year of his friend in 1691), were buried together within the communion rails of the cathedral with a Latin inscription that runs from one ledger-stone to the other. It is inscribed In Vita conjuncti on one, In Morte non divisi on the other, in a phrase similar to that left by John Gostlin to his friend Thomas Legge: "In life united. In death not divided". Burial: Hereford Cathedral, Hereford, Herefordshire Unitary Authority, Herefordshire, England The two ledger-stones were laid side by side and are united by a pair of hands stretching from the one to the other exchanging the handfast." Alan Bray

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Croft_%28bishop%29

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G&T: italian gay webserie

When Gay Romance wasn't so popular, I was already passionate about gay love stories, and the only source to fullfill my passion were movies. There are wonderful Gay Romance Movies, but again, I think I have seen most of them. I have also backed many kickstarter campaigns, bought DVDs and rented/streamed many of them. Lately, I was again feeling a gap... no more new movies out there for me. And then, without searching, something nice happened: I "met" G&T (Giulio&Tommy), the Italian Gay Webseries and do you want to know what is the best thing? it's free!

That is the point, the product is so good that I was all for paying to see it, and instead these two guys, Matteo and Francesco, authors, directors and main actors of the webseries, put it out there for free. The first season was low-budget, but trust me, you don't perceive that: I have bought many indie movies, with a good story but a so-and-so background work (sound, screenplay, actors...) and I have always reviewed them in a positive way since my starting point was, with such low budget that is the best they could do... and here we have a webseries that instead did well beyond that, it's almost a product I wouldn't mind to see screened on an International Festival, and do you want to know more? it has different subtitles, so that you can enjoy it even if you are not an Italian speaking follower.



G&T wants to fill a gap in the Italian market (but sincerely that is something lacking also abroad): a contemporary gay love story with an happy ending. Giulio and Tommy, childhood best friends, move to the realm of lovers, need to overcome many obstacles, but we, audience, strongly feel they will have their happy ending... and they will have IT! How many time we fell in love for "our" characters (because, yes, they are our own after a bit) and in the end, for many reasons, the author decided it was most "catching" to deprive us of the happy ending? I don't want to drop names, but I have at least three movies in mind. G&T will not disappoint you on that regard, trust me.

And now, for who is wondering, but do they dare, or the gay thing is just th flavour of the month, and the story has simply put a same-sex pair in an otherwise traditional relationship? Do not worry, they dare, and a lot too, the relationship between Giulio and Tommy develops both in an emotional than physical way, and when they got physical, it's like achieving an apex (pun intended), but it's never, ever vulgar: it was explicit, but it was like seeing a tableau from Caravaggio, passion and strength, dark colors and sudden light, it was arousing but also emotional uplifting.



I'm still wondering how those two guys managed such a good job with such a small budget. Season 2 is complete and they are trying to understand how to afford Season 3... if they will indeed crowfund this project, I will be first in line to contribute.




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MM Romance: è davvero una novità?

My presentation for yesterday Italian MM Meeting:



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2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Wedding Favors by Anne Tenino

Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay 7) by Anne Tenino
Gay Romantic Comedy
Series: Bluewater Bay
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (April 10, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 162649293X
ISBN-13: 978-1626492936
Amazon: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay 7)
Amazon Kindle: Wedding Favors (Bluewater Bay 7)

Lucas Wilder’s best friend is a traitor. First, Audrey moved back to their hick-infested hometown, Bluewater Bay, and now she’s marrying a local. His own brother, in fact. And as her man of honor, Lucas gets coerced into returning for an extended stay. Although, between his unfaithful ex-boyfriend and his artist’s block, going home isn’t the worst thing that could happen. Even if the best man is Gabriel Savage, Lucas’s first crush, first hookup, and first heartbreak.

The only reason Gabe hasn’t been waiting for Lucas to return to Bluewater Bay is because he never thought it’d happen. Not that it matters now that Lucas is back—Gabe’s still a logger who’s never been anywhere (Canada doesn’t count), and Lucas is now a famous sculptor who’s been everywhere twice. Plus, there’s that shared past.

When Audrey asks Lucas to make her wedding favors, the only place to set up a kiln is at Gabe’s tree farm. Soon, they pick up where they left off twelve years before, then blow past it, discovering why neither of them forgot the other. Now they have to choose how much of their history they’ll repeat, and what future they’ll make together.

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html

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2015 Rainbow Awards Submission: Billionaire with Benefits by Anne Tenino

Billionaire with Benefits by Anne Tenino
Gay Contemporary Romance
Series: Romancelandia
Paperback: 374 pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (October 14, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626491976
ISBN-13: 978-1626491977
Amazon: Billionaire with Benefits (Romancelandia 2)
Amazon Kindle: Billionaire with Benefits (Romancelandia 2)

It’s just a friend thing.

Before confessing his gayness to his best friend, Tierney Terrebonne’s sex life is -strictly restroom. After confessing his gayness to his best friend . . . it doesn’t improve much. Why bother trying when the man he’s loved for fourteen years (see: “best friend”) is totally unattainable? Good thing Tierney is an old hand at accepting defeat; all it takes is a bottle of bourbon. Or fifty. Repeat as needed.

Dalton Lehnart has a history of dating wealthy, damaged, closeted, lying, cheating, no-good, cowardly men, so of course he’s immediately attracted to Tierney Terrebonne. Fortunately, Tierney is so dissolute that even Dalton’s feelings for the man would be better described as pity. Which becomes sympathy as they get to know each other. Followed by compassion, concern, caring, and hopefulness as Tierney struggles to change his life. When the man comes out very publicly and enters rehab, Dalton finds himself downright attached to Tierney. And as everyone knows, after attachment comes . . .

Uh oh.

But post-rehab Tierney can’t handle more than friendship, so Dalton should be safe from repeating his own past mistakes, right? Right?

2015 Rainbow Awards Guidelines: http://www.elisarolle.com/rainbowawards/rainbow_awards_2015.html

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Blog Tour: Young Love, Old Hearts

Young Love, Old Hearts by A. M. Leibowitz, Adrian J. Smith, Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese, Geonn Cannon, Helena Maeve, Kassandra Lea, Lela E. Buis, Ralph Greco Jr., & Stacy O’Steen
Publisher: Supposed Crimes LLC; 1 edition (May 1, 2015)
Amazon Kindle: Young Love, Old Hearts

Everyone hears "He's too young for you." "She's too old for you." Not between these pages. This anthology crosses the age gap with nine enchanting stories of cross-generational relationships. Some are sweet, some are sexy, some are heartbreaking. One is downright murderous. The protagonists are gay men or women searching for true love or trying out what's right in front of them.



About the Authors:
A. M. Leibowitz: A. M. Leibowitz is a spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. She keeps warm through the long, cold western New York winters by writing romantic plot twists and happy-for-now endings. Her published fiction includes her first novel, Lower Education, as well as a number of short works, and her stories have been included in several anthologies. In between noveling and editing, she blogs coffee-fueled, quirky commentary on faith, culture, writing, and her family at amleibowitz.com.

Adrian J. Smith: AJ is a Christian, author, editor, spouse and all around crazy person. She’s constantly doing something at any given time and never learned to practice the word “relax.” AJ loves stories with a dramatic flair, stories that aren’t afraid to take risk and characters that are as real as the person sitting next to her. You can find her on twitter (@AdrianAJSmith) or her website (adrianjsmith.wordpress.com).

Erin McRae & Racheline Maltese: Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese are authors of the gay romance series Love in Los Angeles from Torquere Press. Their gay romance novella Midsummer (Love’s Labour 1), is from Dreamspinner Press (May 2015). They also have a story in Best Gay Romance 2015 from Cleis Press and edited by Felice Picano. You can find them on the web at http://www.Avian30.com.

Geonn Cannon: Geonn Cannon has been writing for nearly twenty years. Among the genres he's written are drama, romance, mystery, western, steampunk, and thriller. The only thing he's completely against writing are bios. Find him at geonncannon.com

Helena Maeve: Helena Maeve has always been globetrotter with a fondness for adventure, but only recently has she started putting to paper the many stories she’s collected in her excursions. She can usually be found in an airport or on a plane, furiously penning away in her trusty little notebook.

Kassandra Lea: Growing up Kassandra Lea wanted to be Batman or a horse, then she discovered writing and the ability to live vicariously through her characters. She lives in southern WI with a gang full of furry-feathered monsters and a ghost that's infatuated with the bathroom light.

Lela E. Buis: Lela E. Buis lives in Tennessee and is working hard at writing just lately. In past lives she worked at Kennedy Space Center and at a couple of different colleges. She takes care of four cats and a part time dog.

Ralph Greco, Jr.: Ralph Greco, Jr. is a professional writer living in the wilds of New Jersey suburbia.

Stacy O’Steen: Stacy spends her days pedaling wares to the masses but at night she's free to roam and explore the reaches of her imagination. She loves crafting, nerdy things and generally making a mess. Find her at stacyosteen.com



Tour Dates & Stops: May 8, 2015
Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, BFD Book Blog, Molly Lolly, Love Bytes, Hearts on Fire, Cate Ashwood, Divine Magazine, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, MM Good Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Velvet Panic, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Andrew Q. Gordon

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of the anthology
Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway







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Henry Finder & Kwame Anthony Appiah

Kwame Anthony Appiah (born May 8, 1954) is a philosopher, cultural theorist, and novelist whose interests include political and moral theory, the philosophy of language and mind, and African intellectual history. Kwame Anthony Appiah grew up in Ghana and earned a Ph.D. at Cambridge University. He was the Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, before moving to New York University in 2014. He currently holds an appointment at NYU’s Department of Philosophy and NYU's School of Law. He lives with his husband, Henry Finder, in an apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan, and a home in Pennington, New Jersey. Appiah has written about what it was like growing up gay in Ghana.

Appiah was born in London to Enid Margaret Appiah, an art historian and writer, and Joe Emmanuel Appiah (born 16 November 1918), a lawyer, diplomat, and politician from the Asante region, once part of the British Gold Coast colony but now part of Ghana. For two years (1970–72) Joe Appiah was the leader of a new opposition party that was made by the country's three opposing parties, simultaneously he was the president of the Ghana Bar association. Between the years 1977 and 1978, he was Ghana's representative at the United Nations. He died on 8 July 1990 in an Accra hospital at the age of 71.

Anthony Appiah was raised in Kumasi, Ghana, and educated at Bryanston School and Clare College, Cambridge, where he earned his BA (First Class) and Ph.D. in philosophy. Appiah has three sisters: Isobel, Adwoa and Abena. As a child, he also spent a good deal of time in England, staying with his grandmother Isobel, the Honourable Lady Cripps, widow of the English statesman the Right Honourable Sir Stafford Cripps.


Fabulously learned, these two men of letters split time between New York — where Mr. Finder is the editorial director of The New Yorker — and Princeton – where Mr. Appiah is a chaired professor of philosophy. But it’s not all Ivory Tower contemplation for the author of Cosmopolitanism, he has also contributed to Time, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Review of Books. (http://observer.com/2011/07/new-yorks...)
Kwame Anthony Appiah is a philosopher, cultural theorist, and novelist whose interests include political and moral theory, the philosophy of language and mind, and African intellectual history. He was the Laurance S. Rockefeller University Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, before moving to New York University in 2014. He currently holds an appointment at NYU’s Department of Philosophy and NYU's School of Law. He lives with his husband, Henry Finder, in an apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan, and a home in Pennington, New Jersey.

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Anthony_Appiah

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