BLOG TOUR ![]() Book Title: Novas Got Nerve Author: BL Jones Publisher: Ninestar Press Cover Artist: Jaycee DeLorenzo Release Date: June 14, 2022 Genres: Sci-fi/paranormal/urban fantasy, action/romance thriller, Superhero/supervillain. Magic/superpowers. Tropes: Found family, slow burn romance, tragic past, orphan, emotional scars, Best friends older brother, love triangle, antagonistic romance, love/hate relationship, Opposites attract Themes: Emotional trauma. What makes a hero? Found family. Not being defined by your parents’ actions/by your past. Heat Rating: 2 flames Length: 165 000 words/585 pages It is not a standalone book and is part of a series (Liquid Onyx series) The book ends on a cliffhanger. Buy Links NineStar Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK ![]() He has far too much nerve. He can blow things up with his mind. He’s got anxiety. Yeah. The world should probably brace itself for this one. Blurb British superheroes, melodramatic Mages, snarky secret agents, one hell of a found family, and a whole load of weird people. Excerpt “Come on, North,” I say, coaxing, spitting blood out of my mouth. “Don’t be nice.” I get as close as he’ll let me. “Treat me like you’re paying for it.” Damon’s nose flares, and his lips curl to form a jagged snarl. His expression changing from robot to human in zero point five seconds flat. He makes a low sound that’s just the right side of threatening to be a problem for me. And not in the way it should be a problem for me. Damon catches my arm at the right angle and twists me around so my back is pressed against his front. He wraps an arm securely around my waist, hauling me in even closer. A blaze of heat singes along my nerves when Damon runs his hand under my T-shirt, his fingers dragging over the hot skin of my belly. I try to kill it dead, the vulnerable quiver his intimate touch invokes, but that just makes it worse. A full-on no-shit bonfire lights up inside my stomach. It sends a fucked-up message to my head, which in turn sends an even more fucked-up message to my cock. It’s like my body is playing telephone with itself. You’re not supposed to want to get off with the bloke who’s making you bruise and bleed. Not without a serious discussion about it beforehand, anyway. Pretty sure Damon and I aren’t going to be doing anything that sensible. Especially since the most sensible thing would be letting go and walking away before we can make this situation any worse. Damon wraps his other hand around my throat, fingers digging in lightly, his thumb pressing against the edge of my jaw. He tilts my head to the side, exposing more of my throat to him. I resist the urge to lean my head back on his shoulder. Because I’m not mad. My chest rapidly rises and falls as I struggle to breathe. It’s not really because of all the hits I’ve taken. I’m having more trouble dealing with Damon’s proximity than I am to what he’s done to me with his hands. A sign that maybe he was pulling some of his punches. “You,” I say, barely getting the words out through all the tightness and the pain and the blood, “have got some serious control issues, North.” I shift against him, and he tightens his hold in response. I smile, oddly charmed by it. “Might want—” Another few unsteady breaths. “—to see somebody about that.” Damon feels like solid stone against my back, his body so tense I’m worried he might shatter if I tap the wrong spot too hard. As if in response to my thoughts, Damon’s arm around my waist changes from tight to crushing. His fingers press into my neck with clear intention. Not enough to choke. Just a reminder. Or a warning. A warning to be careful where I’m going with all of this. My pale skin bruises easily. I can tell I’m going to have some on my throat. I don’t hate that idea like I should. And something about it being Damon who made them, whose fingers dug into my skin and left behind a mark, speaks to a primal part of my brain. Damon’s mouth skates along my jaw, either by accident or on purpose, I’m not sure which. It doesn’t really matter. A short, bitten-off moan leaves my throat in a rush. I clamp my lips together to try to contain the rest of it. But it’s too late. Damon heard it. A shudder runs through him, a ripple of feeling and skin and warmth. An answering wave rolls through me, my body set to quaking. I need to stop. Damon bends his neck to speak directly into my ear. Our height and size difference aids him in making me feel completely taken over, enveloped, held in place, swallowed up and overwhelmed by my temporary loss of autonomy. “Is this a game?” Damon asks, and he sounds, it beggars belief, genuinely upset by the idea. ![]() About the Author BL Jones is a twentysomething British author who spends all her free time reading and writing and taming her three little brothers. She lives in Bristol with a temperamental bunny named Pepsi. She’s been writing stories since she was five, rarely sharing them with anyone except her numerous stuffed animals. BL has had a difficult journey into discovering and accepting her own queerness, and therefore believes that positive, honest, and authentic stories about queer people are very important. She hopes to contribute her own stories for people to have fun with and enjoy. Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the ebook and a $10 Amazon gift card ![]() Hello Snippetters! My snippet this week is from Scintilla, book one of the El Corazon series. I'm hoping to have book two out around the end of 2022 or early 2023. Once settled in Brandon’s room again they turned on the TV. Raul scooted the chair around so he could prop his feet on the end of Brandon’s bed. “That doesn’t look very comfortable for sleeping.” Brandon inched to the far side of the bed and patted the empty space beside him. “We can make it work.” “You sure?” Brandon smiled and nodded. “No funny business, I’m on duty.” Raul stretched on the bed next to Brandon. After a minute of shuffling around they found a comfortable position. Raul’s wolf was by nature a protector and took a great deal of satisfaction from having Brandon pressed against him, their legs intertwined and arms around each other. Raul agreed wholeheartedly with his wolf. Brandon shifted so his ear rested on Raul’s solar plexus and it wasn’t long before Brandon got heavier against Raul and his breathing evened out. Raul didn’t have much time to think about it before the television shut off and the lights on the floor dimmed. He yawned and let his eyelids close. Read more snippets on the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Scintilla is available in paperback, eBook and in Kindle Unlimited. For the whole month of August the eBook is on sale for $2.99.
RELEASE BLITZ ![]() Book Title: Truth or Darren (Games We Play, Book 2) Author: DJ Jamison Publisher: Must Love Books LLC Cover Artist: Cate Artist Release Date: August 11, 2022 Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance Tropes: Enemies to lovers, sister’s ex-boyfriend, small town Themes: Finding love, finding your self-confidence and figuring out where you belong in the world. Community as family. Heat Rating: 4 flames It is a standalone story but book 2 in a series. It does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK ![]() Truth or...whoa, that's not how this dare works! Blurb What happens when my big mouth writes a check it can't cash while taunting my ex's brother in a game of Truth or Dare? I end up with his tongue in my mouth. In my very straight, totally uninterested mouth. Excerpt Darren caught my uneasy expression and smirked. “Oh, I’ve got the perfect dare.” “Yeah?” “I dare you to kiss a guy. And not just some peck. You have to mean it. Emulate Dawson over there and give it a hundred precent.” “That’s the dare?” “That’s it.” I glanced around the group. “Any guy?” His wide mouth quirked, eyes sparking with challenge and amusement. He thought he’d cornered me. Clearly, he didn’t know I was bi. I hadn’t come out until last year at Hayworth, and I hadn’t seen Darren in two years at least. “Yep. Any guy.” “Even you?” His grin slipped. “What?” “I mean, you said any guy. You said you’re not scared of anything. And I know you’re not homophobic, right? You wouldn’t give me a dare like that because you think it’s a big deal to kiss a guy, right?” Darren scoffed. “Pfft. What? No. I mean, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I can’t speak for what you might think of it.” “Okay, then. I’ll take the dare and kiss you. Unless you’re gonna run scared when you’re in the hot seat?” “Oh boy,” someone muttered behind me. “This should be good,” someone else said with a small snicker. Their comments washed over me as I stared down Darren. I’d come over here reluctantly, but his antagonism was exactly what I needed. I’d been brimming with rage for days, frustrated as my future plans were vaporized without warning, and Darren Rafferty made the perfect target. He glared. “I don’t run from anything. Besides, it’s not like you’ve got the guts to kiss me.” I barked a laugh. “You picked the wrong day to fuck with me.” “Like I said, you don’t have the—” I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and jerked him close, then slammed my mouth onto his. Darren stumbled into me, his hands clutching my waist as he caught his balance. His hard body pressed against mine, and heat lanced through me. Jesus, he was hot. I hated him, but he was so fucking gorgeous I couldn’t help but enjoy the kiss. He gasped, startled, and I swept my tongue into his mouth. Darren had goaded me into this—and I was going to make the most of it. He tasted like Jack Daniel’s, which sent a flicker of guilt through me. He’d clearly been drinking. But he’d been clear-eyed when he’d challenged me, and I couldn’t seem to detach from his delectable mouth. His tongue curled around mine, and my eyes rolled back in my head. I gripped his hair tighter, having no idea when I’d lifted my hands to touch him, and tried to maintain control of the kiss—but it was too late. Darren was in the driver’s seat now, and he relentlessly devoured my mouth, making me take everything he wanted to give as he kissed me back. Wait a second. He was kissing me back. What the fuck? Shocked out of my lusty stupor, I jerked back. Darren’s eyes were wide and dark, a little intense as he stared at me. We were both breathing hard. I was aware of the crowd of people watching us, all of them silent, as if waiting for all hell to break loose. “Well,” he said, sounding surprisingly calm, “I guess I underestimated how far you’d go to prove me wrong.” “No,” I said with a shit-eating grin. “You just failed to realize that daring me to kiss a guy is no dare at all.” I leaned in close and whispered. “I like men, Darren.” He gaped. “Wh-what?” “I’m bi, and you’re a dumbass,” I said. “I guess you didn’t get the memo.” ![]() About the Author ![]() DJ Jamison writes romances about everyday life and extraordinary love featuring a variety of queer characters, from gay to bisexual to asexual. DJ grew up in the Midwest in a working-class family, and those influences can be found in her writing through characters coping with real-life problems: money troubles, workplace drama, family conflicts and, of course, falling in love. DJ spent more than a decade in the newspaper industry before chasing her first dream to write fiction. She spent a lifetime reading before that and continues to avidly devour her fellow authors’ books each night. She lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, one snake, and a sadistic cat named Birdie. Social Media Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter Instagram | Newsletter Sign-up | KoFi for bonus content | BookBub ![]() Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon US gift card ![]() ![]() R.L. Merrill has a new MM paranormal romance out: Sundowners. And there's a giveaway. Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him. Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems. Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart. Universal Buy LinkGiveaway R.L. is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card with this tour: Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47251/? Excerpt Chapter One Creed January “Well, Mr. Lowell, I think we have everything we need. Your references all check out, and you passed your background check. Can you start on Friday?” What a relief! I smiled and leaned against the wall of my dingy hotel room. Thank goodness for excellent references. I inhaled the combination mildew/chlorine smell caused by the permanent dampness from the ocean and the indoor swimming pool below my room, glad . This was the break I needed, or my current accommodations would soon go from bad to worse. “Thank you, yes. What time does the evening shift start?” I kept my fingers crossed while I waited for the answer. “Six o’clock. Just come to the front desk and our evening supervisor will get you set up. Lexi’s great. She’ll show you the ropes.” “Wonderful. Thank you for this opportunity.” “We should be thanking you, Mr. Lowell. You’re overqualified for the position, and we’ve had a difficult time keeping our evening staff. I hope this works out for the both of us.” I thanked Yvonne, the Human Resources director, once more before disconnecting. Then the victory dance commenced. “Did you hear that, Rhonda? We’re in!” My red Doberman rested her jaw on her paws and made an old lady noise, indicating that she’d rather be napping than dancing. I would not be thwarted, however. I danced a West Side Story routine across the room to the kitchenette and reached into the fridge with panache. There was one last bag of A-positive that I’d been sipping on since arriving in Santa Cruz, and now I could finish it off since I’d have a steady supply in just two days’ time. Not that I needed much—especially not when I was working—but it was important to never let my energy stores deplete. It affected my judgement and my ability to do the work that was so desperately needed. I did a spin and a box step before kicking my leg out, and throwing my arms back in a layout. Hopefully I’d find a patient who knew the old dances at Puesta Del Sol, my new place of employment. They were the most fun to work with. I reached into my lone duffel bag, which contained seven sets of scrubs, a suit, three white t-shirts, a pair of jeans, a Harvard hoodie, two pairs of shoes, and a small photo album that contained cherished pictures of my parents and younger siblings. The rest of my belongings and resources were hidden in pre-paid storage facilities around the country for when I got desperate…or had to run. My family was all gone now. My little sister was the last, and she’d passed away four months ago according to the hometown newspaper in Macon County, Georgia. I read every copy that I could get ahold of through the local libraries. The internet had been such a great invention. Even though I hadn’t been home in nearly forty years, I’d managed to keep tabs on everyone. They’d all lived mostly happy, satisfying lives and died of natural causes at advanced ages, which was the best I could have hoped for. But now that I had no worry of repercussions for my family, I could finally seek out the truth. Puesta Del Sol was hopefully the end of the line. The last assisted-living home where I’d worked in Albuquerque had led me here, to Santa Cruz, California. “Go west, young man,” turned out to be the advice I’d needed all along. I was determined to find those responsible for sending me on this decades-long exile. It wouldn’t be long now. It was time to set things straight, and it seemed fitting to be back near where it all started. March 2019 Two months later, the trail of promising leads had gone cold. Still, I loved my new life in California. I was surrounded by a competent and diverse staff at Puesta Del Sol that knew how to run a place of healing and hope with patients who were happy and well cared for. And I loved Santa Cruz. It was almost enough to make me consider letting go of the past. What a great place for a guy like me. It was easy to fit into the college town that was also a magnet for transients, tourists, and folks who were followers of alternative lifestyles. Not only were there practitioners of Eastern religions and schools of thought, but also those who claimed to be creatures of the night, a holdover from the vampire craze that swept the area after a hit movie in the ’80s made them cool. I occasionally even found folks who didn’t mind a little role play. My love of music meant I was a frequent guest of The Catalyst, a large music venue, bar, and eatery located downtown that drew fans from all over the Bay Area. One night they’d feature punk, the next rap, and sometimes even classic rock bands made their way to the club. Tonight was a perfect opportunity to blend in as a lineup of alternative bands from the eighties was playing. I’d worn my black suit, skinny tie, and black Dr. Martens. I’d even slicked my dark auburn hair back and donned black eyeliner for the hell of it, the makeup highlighting my eyes, so blue they made people stop and stare. Of course, the rest of the package could also be to blame for that. My pale, freckled skin fit the role of a night walker perfectly to round out the look. I made my way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a beer. A willing playmate soon appeared, and the game was on. The young man, dressed in a velvet waistcoat and ruffled poet’s shirt, saw me approach the bar and immediately perked up. I took a swig of my beer and nodded at the Goth. When I moved away from the bar, I felt him at my back as I headed to a dark corner. Once there, I leaned against the wall and waited. The young man approached with a sly smile, and I took it as an invitation. I reached for his shoulder, turned him around slowly, and pulled him back against my chest, enjoying the way his body fit against mine. “I have your permission?” I whispered in the young man’s ear. “I promise you’ll enjoy it.” The young man turned to face me and his eyes widened in surprise. “Here?” I smiled at him and ran a finger down his neck, enjoying the way he shivered. The energy from his excitement would have been enough to nourish me, but I was feeling greedy tonight. “Yeah, just um, be safe about it.” I bathed him in a wave of calm. The manipulation of energy was effortless for me now. “You’re in good hands, my friend.” I turned him around and stopped him when he went to loosen his belt. “Relax, I’ve got you.” I slid his long curly blond hair to the side. I had ways of making the experience pleasurable, so I poured energy into giving this guy one helluva good time, one he’d remember for years to come. He just wouldn’t remember that a vampire sank his teeth gently into his neck and took sustenance from his body. Give unto them what they require. Take only what you need to survive. I would never forget what I’d been taught. “Blessed be.” After a few sips, I felt my playmate shudder against me and let out a satisfied moan. A few more pulls and his body tensed, gasped, and shuddered once more. It was nice to know I hadn’t lost my touch. It had been a long time since I’d chanced feeding in public, but I felt safe here. Santa Cruz had welcomed me with open arms, and I wanted to stay. The young man raised his arm and cupped the back of my head. He pressed his ass back against me, and I knew it was time to end this tryst. “Thank you,” I whispered against his ear, and then pressed a kiss to his neck. “I should be thanking you,” the guy said. “What’s your name?” I disappeared into the crowd before the young man turned to look, and I was out of the club before he could wonder what happened. I rarely drank blood—it was an infrequent need to maintain my existence as long as I had plenty of human energy to manipulate—and I always made sure my partner enjoyed it. But the act often left me feeling…empty. I worked hard to help others live a more satisfying life, and after all this time, I sometimes resented that I couldn’t pursue happiness of my own. I would have loved to take that young man home and enjoy more than just an Exchange. Someday I would find…someone. But not until it was safe. Not until I’d done what I came here to do. Author Bio “With a strong plot, an expertly crafted cast of supporting characters, and deep empathy, Merrill’s novel will keep readers hooked.” —Publishers Weekly review of Typhoon Toby. Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, and a Foreword INDIES finalist for Summer of Hush, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. She writes diverse and inclusive romance, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe, and pens horror-inspired music reviews for HorrorAddicts.net. You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, raising two brilliant kids, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more… Author Website: https://www.rlmerrillauthor.com Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/rochellerlmerrill Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/rlmerrillauthor Author Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rlmerrillauthor Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rlmerrillauthor Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9828914.R_L_Merrill Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/r-l-merrill/ Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/R-L-Merrill/e/B00PI6Q1LI ![]() RELEASE BLITZ ![]() Book Title: Cash: An MM Mafia Romance (Ruthless Daddies) Author and Publisher: K.L. Hiers Cover Artist: Charli Childs Release Date: August 12, 2022 Genre: Contemporary MM Romance, Mafia Romance Tropes: Interracial Couple, First Time Gay, Bad Boys Do It Better, Daddy Kink, Kidnapping, Bad Men Doing Bad Things Themes: Food is love, learning to trust, sex first feelings later, daddy/boy Heat Rating: 5 flames Length: 90 000 words It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK ![]() Blurb Cho “Brick” Brixton enjoys cooking, working in his yard, and binge-watching television while living as an out and proud gay man in the heart of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. His parents had the perfect romance, having fallen in love at first sight when they met in Korea, and Brick longs to find a love like that for his own. Whipping up meals for one isn’t much fun, and the constant boredom is a drag. Not to mention it’s miserably lonely. All of that changes when a giant mysterious hunk named Jules Price moves in next door. Jules has arrived on business of the not-so-legal sort, namely to retrieve something that was stolen from his criminal family. When he’s not busy being a vicious gangster, Jules is set on getting close to Brick and exploring his first ever attraction to another man. Although Brick has been yearning for the excitement of meeting that special someone, he soon realizes he may have bitten off more than he can swallow. As their romance heats up, so too does the danger, and Brick finds himself in the middle of a bloodbath in the making if Jules can’t get back what he came here for. Luckily for Brick, Jules is the kind of man who will stop at nothing to keep him safe, and he doesn’t care who gets in his way—or how high the body count gets. CASH is part of the Ruthless Daddies multi-author collab and a complete standalone. Expect to find a criminal Daddy, a tough boy, high steam, and some dark mafia themes. Want more deliciously morally gray Daddies and boys? Grab the whole series! Excerpt “Never met a guy that got me hard before.” Jules glanced over Brick appraisingly. “Well, except you.” Brick couldn’t have heard that correctly. “Excuse me?” “I’ve met some of the most fuckin’ fearless motherfuckers on the planet. Nothing makes these guys flinch, not a fuckin’ thing.” Jules paused to sip his drink, his dark eyes fixed on Brick’s. “And you…” Brick’s face was instantly on fire from the intensity of Jules’s gaze, and he was hyperaware of how very close they were right now. He couldn’t stop glancing down at Jules’s mouth, fixated on a wet spot of liquor that he desperately wanted to taste. “You’re just some fuckin’ translator. You’re just a regular guy, but you didn’t hesitate a fuckin’ second to point that gun at those assholes. I saw you fightin’ them before I got in there. You were gonna mess those fuckers up if they hadn’t pulled on you.” Jules grinned. “It was fuckin’ hot.” “Yeah?” Brick leaned in, gravitating as closely as he dared to Jules. “And how many other guys have you tried to sell this shit to, huh? Oh, I’ve never ever been with any dudes before, but you are so way hot, please suck my dick.” “Hey. I didn’t say nothin’ about suckin’ me.” Jules’s tongue flicked over his lips. “But if you wanna, I ain’t gonna stop you.” “Who said I wanted to?” Brick fired back. “Oh, baby boy.” Jules’s smile grew wicked. “You definitely wanna.” “You sure about that?” Brick couldn’t believe this was happening now. Flirting with Jules was somehow even more insane than having a gun pulled on him earlier tonight, especially since Jules was so eagerly flirting right back. The energy in the room was charged, hot, and Brick knew he was in deep trouble because the only thing on his mind was kissing this sexy gangster. “Very sure.” Jules’s hand slid up Brick’s thigh to rest on his hip. “I know a pair of fuck-me eyes when I see ’em. You wanna suck Daddy’s dick, huh?” “I think you’re just really into this Daddy thing,” Brick argued, seeking out Jules’s chest and rubbing over his thick pec. “You want some sweet little thing to roll over and call you Daddy while he blows you, huh?” “Can that sweet little thing be you? ’Cause I’m startin’ to get into it.” “I don’t know, Daddy,” Brick teased. “I still think this isn’t the first time you’ve pulled this.” “It is.” Jules touched Brick’s cheek. “Ain’t ever had any guy get to my dick like this. You’re… pretty fuckin’ special.” “And you’re not having any kind of weird identity crisis wanting a guy to blow you?” “I’m very well adjusted.” “Uh-huh.” “It don’t matter. Like I told you before, when I want something, I go for it.” Jules’s lips hovered over Brick’s, and his breath was hot and smelled of spicy liquor as he whispered, “And right fuckin’ now, I want you.” Brick’s brain imploded. He could not think clearly when Jules said shit like that, and touching Jules’s thick muscled chest was every bit as delicious as Brick had imagined. Moving fast wasn’t new to Brick—hell, once upon a time he’d been known to have some fun in the men’s room at the club when he couldn’t wait to get home. But this was crazy, right? Wanting to sleep with his attractive neighbor who was a dangerous gangster, had saved Brick’s life, and also apparently just decided that he wanted to sleep with Brick despite never having been with a man before? Definitely crazy. Like, all the planets in the solar system had aligned in full batshit formation just for tonight to ensure optimal levels of crazy. “What if I say no?” Brick challenged. “Mmm.” Jules hummed thoughtfully. “Then I get to be real disappointed for a lil’ bit while I think up some way to change your mind.” “You think it’s gonna be that easy?” “Trust me. Daddy Jules is very, very convincing.” “Right.” Brick scoffed, his pulse rising to an eardrum-shattering level. He could deny it all he wanted to, but they both already knew what was about to happen. “Sure you are.” Jules smiled, slid his fingers into Brick’s hair, and pulled him in for a deep kiss. ![]() About the Author K.L. “Kat” Hiers is an embalmer, restorative artist, and queer writer. Licensed in both funeral directing and funeral service, they worked in the death industry for nearly a decade. Their first love was always telling stories, and they have been writing for over twenty years, penning their very first book at just eight years old. Publishers generally do not accept manuscripts in Hello Kitty notebooks, however, but they never gave up. Following the success of their first novel, Cold Hard Cash, they now enjoy writing professionally, focusing on spinning tales of sultry passion, exotic worlds, and emotional journeys. They love attending horror movie conventions and indulging in cosplay of their favorite characters. They live in Zebulon, NC, with their husband and their children, some of whom have paws and a few that only pretend to because they think it’s cute. Author Links Blog/Website | Facebook | Instagram Twitter | Newsletter Sign-up | Patreon ![]() Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card ![]() “C’mon,” Val said and grabbed Wyatt’s hand. “We need to get down to the stables and meet Rod before they go to the winner’s circle.” They began making their way out of the stands. “You know, if we watched from the owners’ box with Rod, we wouldn’t have to worry,” Wyatt pointed out. “This is so much better, watching from the Clubhouse.” Val had to raise his voice to be heard over what Wyatt could only describe as controlled chaos among the spectators. Val’s excitement and enthusiasm washed over Wyatt, and he laughed again. He turned and waved a good-bye to the people they’d been near and let Val pull him along through the crowd. Val insisted on sitting in the stands, closer to the track, which meant they’d have to make their trek to the owner area through a swell of people. Wyatt had come to think of the big colt as Sunny, and that was usually the name Val and Wyatt’s daughter, Janelle, used to refer to him. To everyone else, press, race announcers, and fans, he was Fire and Spice, and he was currently the most famous three-year-old Thoroughbred around. Wyatt had no way of knowing for sure, but it was probable Sunny had no idea he was galloping his way into a place in history. He simply loved to run. What Sunny most likely cared about was the extra attention in the form of rubdowns and treats that would be coming to him very shortly. One thing Wyatt had learned in the time since he’d first met Fire and Spice was that the horse did love getting attention. A Barlow Lens is available in eBook, paperback and through Kindle Unlimited. The entire Circles collection is available in an eBook box set.
![]() Roz Alexander has a new FF holiday romance out: Higher. And there's a Giveaway. Where do dreams go to wait? Tali Blue is definitely going back to finish her last semester of rabbinical school...eventually. When she moved back to her hometown seven years ago to help her grandparents raise her younger sisters, she planned on it being temporary. Now though, she has a stable job and a stable life surrounded by the people she's known forever. It's all just fine - and then there's the incredibly annoying surprise of Maple. Maple never meant to be successful. She just wanted to make weird art and practice her Ladino. And just like that, 15 years of adulthood has built a solid career, a great reputation as an art instructor, and a lackluster love life. It doesn't help that she's been spending all her free time consumed with making it as a Sephardic Jew into the Jewish art world that never seems to have space for her. And it definitely doesn't help that she's strictly a butch-for-butch queer. And then comes a sex goddess in the form of short, chunky, smoking hot, and incredibly nervous, butch, Tali Blue. When Tali's love of family, Maple's art ambitions, and a Rosh Hashanah effort to #savethebees force these two together, both of them may learn that the only way out is up, together. This new year the honey is dripping on a lot more than apples. Higher is a steamy, butch-for-butch, grump-sunshine sapphic romance about what happens when you choose to take your dreams higher. About the Series: This entire Hot for the Holidays series is about queer Jewish people (and the people who love them) falling in love and having hot, explicit sex that can be read in any order and all year round. Universal Buy Link | GoodreadsGiveaway Roz is giving away a $10 bookshop.org gift card with this tour: Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47250/? Excerpt Forty-five minutes later Tali was done ha-cha-cha-ing down the hot oatmeal, scrubbing every inch of her body, and blow drying her short hair into something resembling a nice coif. She exited the bathroom into her bedroom, not unlocking the bathroom door into Anna’s room. Let her have to walk around as payback! It was a holdover from childhood when Beth and Anna played pranks on each other and Tali. She was about to whip off the towel and dive into her closet for an outfit when she realized Maple was sitting on her bed. Looking at her. She gripped the towel tighter, conscious of how it barely met across her hips. “What are you doing in here!” “Want me to avert my gaze?” Maple’s tone was pure hunger, even while a teasing glint shone in her eyes. “Why are you always early to everything? It’s ridiculous! Did Anna send you up?” “Why are you always so late? And, yes. Both of your sisters did. I’m sure they’ll find this amusing that I made it just in time.” She stood and took a step toward Tali, who backed up, her shoulders and ass meeting the doorframe. “You don’t look embarrassed though, so maybe you’re as amused.” “It’s a towel, why would I be embarrassed?” Tali swallowed around a surprising lump in her throat. And had it suddenly gotten much warmer in the room? She glanced over to double check she’d remembered to close the windows that morning. Yep, shut tight. The AC must be off or something. “What is this look then? Is it your tell?” Maple was practically purring, a sound Tali didn’t realize humans were capable of until that moment. “I’m great at poker. No tells here.” But her voice was growing faint, which indeed seemed to be a tell all on its own. “No? What about me?” Maple was almost on top of her now, and Tali was torn between putting a hand out to stop her, and gripping her floral button-up to pull her closer. So many of their conversations took place over the phone and through text. Having her there, in front of her, reminded her how handsome and tall she was. How strong her arms looked. How irritating that smirk was. “If I wanted to kiss you, for example. What would my tell be?” “Uh.” Tali felt herself at a crossroads. Maybe one they’d been at for some time. “You lick your lip.” Maple startled at that, the smooth top energy sliding away for a moment while she considered that information. “In a sexy way?” And here was the moment Tali knew it was up to her to choose what path they’d take. She wasn’t sure how to move forward in either direction, so she chose honesty. “Yes.” Maple’s smile was staggering before it turned dangerous. She placed a hand on the wall above Tali’s shoulder and leaned in until they were a whisper apart. And then she slid her tongue slowly across her bottom lip, staring into Tali’s eyes. “Yes,” was all Tali could manage. Yes, like that. Yes, please kiss me. Yes, I want this. Yes, yes, yes. Maple’s other hand slid up the side of the towel, reaching the top and tucking her fingers under its edge. The look she gave Tali turned to one seeking permission. And Tali was going to give it, was going to enthusiastically consent to whatever came next, was going to… “TALI!” Beth shouted as she swung the bedroom door open. “You locked the go—” Tali moved faster than she could ever remember moving in her life. She meant to spin back into the bathroom and slam the door behind her, but Maple’s hand was still tucked into the towel. So, instead, she pulled herself free of the fabric, falling naked onto the cool blue tile. Maple, eyes round as the moon, spun away from her, holding up the towel to block the sight from Beth while she managed to move forward and shut the door with her foot. Forget every embarrassing moment before this. This is how I die of embarrassment. There’s no coming back from this. Beth will literally never let me live this down. And Maple… Tali groaned and rolled around on the floor helplessly. She was stuck in here without her towel and with no clothing. Maybe she’d take up sewing and emerge one day in a beautiful button-up and slacks made out of the Moomins shower curtain. Author Bio They are a physically/progressively disabled, white, trans person with ADHD and have more interests than time in the day. You can find them spoiling their three terrible cat-beasts; connecting to their Jewish culture through moon-worship, plantcraft, and cooking traditions; and making weird art when they're not writing or stewarding a native pollinator garden with their beshert. Author Website: www.rozalexander.com Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritesRoz Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rozalexanderbooks/ Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21096037.Roz_Alexander Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roz-Alexander/e/B0917ZWFZ2 ![]() COVER REVEAL ![]() Book Title: Famine (The Four Horsemen Book #3) Author and Publisher: Sienna Moreau Cover Artist: Reese Dante Release Date: August 29, 2022 Genre: Dark M/M Paranormal Romance Tropes: Second chance, forbidden love, lovers to enemies to lovers, hurt/comfort Length: 80,000 – 90,000 words Heat Rating: 3 - 4 flames It is not a standalone story. It is the third book in the series and must be read in order. This book does not end on a cliffhanger. It is a HFN as there is an overarching plotline that will conclude in book 4. Pre-Order Links Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK ![]() A fallen angel with a broken heart. The third horseman who rejected him. A love that can destroy them both. Blurb Punished for choosing love over faith, the Archangel of Kindness emerged from a century of confinement enshrined in darkness, a shell of his former self. Rejected by the very Being for whom he sold his soul, the last threads of his sanity were stripped away. He is now Lucifer, the King of Hell. Famine’s choices have only ever caused suffering for those he loves. He struggles with guilt, blaming himself for what Lucifer has become. He’s certain keeping his distance is the only way he can ensure Lucifer falls no further. But together or apart, on the same side or not, it doesn’t matter. They are forever bound, forced to endure a never-ending loop of anguish. Betrayed and surrounded by new threats, they find themselves relying on each other while battling their own demons. But soon a choice must be made: allow their love to destroy them both or embrace it before the world ends. Famine is the third book in the Four Horsemen series. This book is not a standalone and must be read in order. Content Warnings: Religious themes, extreme violence, gore, and others. Arachnophobia warning: There is also a dog-sized pet spider named Paul who just wants to be loved. This is a paranormal, second chance, lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, MM romance filled with snark and morally questionable characters. It ends with a HFN and a mild plot cliffhanger. ![]() Excerpt “Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” Famine said, his voice low. “You know something.” “I know many things,” Lucifer said. He slowly circled Famine, his tail dragging on the concrete behind him. It slid over Famine’s boots, scratching lines into the black. Famine didn’t follow the movement, even when his instincts screamed at him not to let Lucifer stand at his back. He had trusted Samael with everything in him, and he wanted—wanted so badly—to be able to trust Lucifer, even though he knew it was futile. Lucifer still loved him but that love had been contorted, turned to something dark and nothing like the beautiful love they had once shared. He was just as likely to stab Famine in the back as he was to kiss it. A deep, dark, twisted part of Famine didn’t care which one he did, so long as Lucifer touched him. When Lucifer touched him with any kind of intent, everything in Famine settled. The world righted itself, and the turmoil that he lived with every day seemed less, more manageable. Sharp nails slid across his back. They didn’t dig enough to draw blood, but even through the fabric of his shirt Famine felt it. He flinched, even as warmth trailed out from the places Lucifer touched. “I have so many secrets, Famine,” Lucifer whispered. He pressed his nose against Famine’s nape, breathing in deeply. Wet flicked across his skin—Lucifer’s tongue. “I gather them, so you’re forced to come to me. To beg.”
Sienna Moreau is a dark MM romance author who likes to let the darker side of life come out to play. If you’re looking for morally grey characters, snark, mayhem and steamy situations then you’re in the right place. Social Media Links Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram ![]() Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card or one of two ebook copies from the author's backlist ![]() Kai nodded and quietly closed the chest. “Iron shackles and chains, coated with silver.” “A vampire, or a werewolf, wouldn’t be able to escape and if they were cut and the silver got into their systems—” “Yes,” Kai cut him off. “You’re not a Nazi.” Kai smiled softly. “But you knew that before we came in here. No, I’m not. I’m here to find out what’s going on in the camp we’re headed to, Buchenwald near Weimar. Vampires and werewolves are being taken there, under force.” “No easy task,” Ori rubbed his palms over his thighs. “Even for a goose stepper.” “No. And something is being done to them.” “Do you know what?” Ori stilled and watched Kai. His answer was a shake of Kai’s head. Ori drew a deep breath. “I’m here to stop this train. Maybe I can’t save everyone, but I can save these people.” “Bonding right now isn’t advisable,” Kai said. Ori grinned and stepped forward. “But it’s unavoidable.” He grabbed Kai’s face and kissed him then turned to leave. He caught a glimpse of the surprised, bewildered expression Kai wore and how he used two fingers to caress his lips for a few seconds. “You just…” Kai mumbled. Check out other snippets at the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.
Endosymbiont is available in eBook and through Kindle Unlimited. ![]() J. Scott Coatsworth's diverse hopepunk space opera Dropnauts Is out in audio, narrated by Kevin Earlywine. And there's a giveaway! Life after the Crash. Over a century after the end of the Earth, life goes on in Redemption, the sole remaining Lunar colony, and possibly the last outpost of humankind in the Solar System. But with an existential threat burrowing its way into the Moon's core, humanity must recolonize the homeworld. Twenty brave dropnauts set off on a mission to explore the empty planet. Four of them—Rai, Hera, Ghost and Tien—have trained for two-and-a-half years for the Return. They're bound for Martinez Base, just outside the Old Earth city of San Francisco. But what awaits them there will turn their assumptions upside down—and in the process, either save or destroy what's left of humanity. Amazon Audio | Universal Buy Link | GoodreadsGiveaway Scott is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card with this tour: Direct Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b60e8d47248/? Excerpt Listen to chapter one: [audio mp3="https://www.otherworldsink.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DS-CH-1.mp3"][/audio] We’re going home. Rai sweated inside his suit, white-knuckling the arms of the retrofitted launch chair under his suit gloves. He watched the Zhenyi'slaunch countdown clock. Sixty, fifty-nine, fifty-eight… Outside he was calm, but inside he vibrated like an erhu string, his stomach doing acrobatics in his chest. I’m not ready. Five teams of dropnauts had strapped themselves into their jumper ships, prepared for the ascent from Redemption on the lunar surface to Launchpad station. Outside his porthole, the blue-green marble of Earth beckoned. Forty-five, forty-four… Rai cast a nervous glance at his three teammates. Hera was doing her preflight check, her back to him, sweat dripping down the umber skin of her neck from her short-cropped, curly black hair. Behind him on his right, Tien’s eyes were closed, and she was still as a golden statue. Zen. He turned to find Ghost looking at him from behind. His ex grinned, running his hand through his lanky, dirty blond hair, his green eyes twinkling. His skin was as white as Rai’s own, but with a dusting of freckles over the bridge of his nose. Rai managed a pale imitation of a smile back. -It's totally safe.- Ghost's voice pinged in his head, em to em. -Easy for you to say.- Ghost had never feared a thing in his life. Rai sighed. If he had to, he could take the small ship apart and put it back together with his bare hands, a skill learned under Sam's supervision—the mech was as harsh a taskmaster as any human Rai had ever worked for. Still, he felt like puking. The speeches and adulation of the farewell celebration were over, and now his doubts circled like vultures. I'm not ready. Thirty-two, thirty-one… -You'll be ok.- Hera's determined voice this time. She turned to squeeze his knee, and then fired up the Zhenyi'shydro-fuel engine. He flashed her a sheepish grin. A hundred meters away, the Bristol's takeoff shook the landing pad. Rai watched it rise, carrying Dax, Jess, Ola, and Xiu Ying, the London team, toward the bright stars above. The jumper’s expelled water froze almost instantly, falling as snow over the snaking lava tube that held the city of Redemption. A lunar blizzard whipped by them and shimmered into nothing. Rai closed his eyes, remembering the night before. Jess, laughing and dancing with him at Heaven, the clear dome of the lunar sky sparkling above them, the heavy beat of the thromb club pulsing through his chest. Dancing like no one was watching. He rubbed his jaw. It still ached from the fist he'd taken to the face. Wild party. And a wilder night with Ayvin, the jack he'd picked up at the club. "Zhenyi, ready for liftoff in T-Minus ten seconds.” Sam's voice, coming from Team Five's ship, the Liánhuā, was cool and collected. Did the mech feel emotion, like the nausea that was boiling in Rai's guts? His teammates were strong, smart, and prepared for anything. I can do this. Besides, it was too late to back out now. "Affirmative.” Hera shifted in her seat, her biframes stretching her paralyzed legs for her. "You’ll do okay, tiger.” Ghost elbowed him in the ribs. “Six, five, four…” Hera swiped the glossy white control deck, and the launch controls appeared, floating over the white surface. “Leave him alone.” Rai could hear the icy frown in Tien’s voice. He closed his eyes, willing his stomach to calm. Here we go. Nothing he could do about it now. “Three, two, one… hang on.” Hera fired the engines, and the craft lifted on a cloud of steam into the star-filled skies of Luna. Rai squeezed his armrests again as G-force pushed him hard back in his seat. He was committed now. Poppies, Chinese Houses, Fiddlenecks, Baby Blue Eyes, Yellow Pansies, Star Lilies… Reciting the flowers of the old San Francisco basin helped soothe his abraded nerves as the rumbling of the little craft rattled his bones. He opened his eyes to see Redemption receding below them. The great lava tube was striped with sparkling bands of solar receptors that let sunlight into the city below. Rail lines snaked out from Redemption to the transit center like roping vines—to the seed launcher at Copernicus Crater, to Renewal colony, and beyond. As the city shrank below them, his fear turned to sadness, a lump forming in his throat. He’d taken his home for granted, enthralled by the idea of joining humankind’s greatest adventure in a century. Now he might never see it again. The hydro rocket thrust them up out of Luna’s gravity well into naked space, toward the bright blue skies of the empty Earth above. Rai stared at it, that enigmatic ball in space which no one had visited in over a century. What secrets are you hiding? The roar cut off as quickly as it had begun, leaving the Zhenyi drifting upward in silence as they slipped out of Luna’s grasp. Hera’s hands flew across the deck, swapping the launch controls for navigation, and nudged them onto a new course following the Bristol toward the Launchpad. Rai let go, his breath coming out in a heavy sigh. “See? That wasn’t so bad.” Ghost unbuckled his seatbelt and stretched, yawning as if he didn’t have a care in the world. God, he's beautiful. Pale as his namesake under his mop of dirty blond hair, the engineer’s thick arms were just a suggestion under the bulky suit, but Rai could still see them in his mind. Ghost’s well-toned muscles, the smell of his skin after-- “You okay, buddy?” Ghost was staring at him, one dark eyebrow raised in concern. Rai bit his lip and looked away. “Just nervous. Wondering if we’ll ever make it back home” “Hey, if things go well after the drop, maybe you and me could open the first Earthside bar since the Crash.” Ghost leaned over him from behind to stare at the Earth through the porthole, his cheek close to Rai’s “That’s crazy.” But his spirits lifted. It was idiotic. And just the distraction he needed. Ghost sank back into his own seat. “Every outpost needs a good bar where the colonists can blow off a little steam, right?” Rai laughed in spite of himself, warming to the idea. “We could call it ‘The Frontier’.” “Or ‘The Wild Hookup’.” “Best beer this side of the planet.” “Only beer!” Rai snorted. Just like old times. He hadn’t forgiven Ghost, though. Not yet. He looked down at his gloved hands, emblazoned with the leaf-and-orb of Redemption’s space service. Things had ended badly between them--crash and burn bad. Still, they’d be too busy the next few weeks to think about anything but the drop. The survival of Redemption and the remnants of humanity depended on them. He could let it go. I have to. He’d managed the launch, after all. I can do this too. Ghost squeezed his shoulder and closed his eyes, touching his temple and bobbing his head to a song only he could hear. Rai turned away. You're stronger than any of us. Hera had told him that the night before. Still, he didn’t feel strong. He looked out of the porthole again at the Earth—the same view they’d had from Heaven. And yet somehow, it looked different. More real. Poppies, Chinese Houses, Fiddlenecks, Baby Blue Eyes, Yellow Pansies, Star Lilies… He touched his hand to the porthole. Even through the glove, it was cold. We're going home. Author Bio Scott lives with his husband Mark in a yellow bungalow in Sacramento. He was indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine. He devoured her library, but as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were. He decided that if there weren’t queer characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends. A Rainbow Award winning author, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueeRomance Ink, and Other Worlds Ink with Mark, sites that celebrate fiction reflecting queer reality, and is a full member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Author Website: https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworth Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/jscottcoatsworthauthor/ Author Twitter: https://www.jscottcoatsworth.com/jscoatsworth Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jscottcoatsworth/ Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8392709.J_Scott_Coatsworth Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/j-scott-coatsworth/ Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/j-scott-coatsworth/ Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/J.-Scott-Coatsworth/e/B011AFO4OQ Author BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-scott-coatsworth Narrator Bio: Kevin Earlywine is an actor, director, singer/songwriter, and audiobook narrator who hails from Rockford, Illinois! His debut album DANGER was released February 28th, 2017. Kevin started writing songs for the album in 2012, and finally in November, 2015, he started recording the songs! ![]() |
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