BA Tortuga's Thousand Word Thursday Ficlet: On One Knee

“Christ on a pink sparkly crutch, cowboy? You drop your phone again?” The last time Finn had done that, it’d cost them two hundred dollars to get the damn thing replaced and God knew Finn’s whole life was on that phone.

“No, Benjamin. I didn’t.”

“Then what?” The sun was on the way to faded out and they still needed to get a move on. They had to feed critters and then they had to feed themselves and…

“Ain’t you never been proposed to before, honey? Ain’t you never had a man on his knees for you?”

“Just you, Finn.” Oh. Oh, damn. His heart did a little pitty-pat, and his voice was rough as a cob when he growled. “Get up, you idjit, ‘fore you get eat up with fire ants. They make you swell up.”

“You gotta say yes, first.”

“Do I?” Because he totally intended to. Yes and please and thank you, God, for cowboys that didn’t give up, no matter what.

“Yessir.”

“Okay then. I reckon I will. Yeah.”

The ring slipped on his finger, heavy and odd, but it fit just fine. “Good. Let’s go feed, huh?”

“Yeah. Then maybe I’ll cook you steaks.”

After all, it wasn’t every day a man said yes.

*****

After that, I think we all need a longer chunk of this author's writing. How about BA's latest M/M title?

ER doctor Dusty Lowry grew up in a conservative rural Texas family that has never quite forgiven him for staying in New Mexico after his stint in the Army. Paramedic Nate Miller, Dusty’s best friend since their early Army days, has a hippie momma, a tiny apartment, and is in lust with his buddy. When their other Army friend, Kyle, gets married, they start thinking about settling down. In fact, they both know what they want: each other. Too bad they’ve never shared that goofy little fact.

A trip to visit Dusty’s family in Texas changes everything, and Dusty and Nate aren’t sure where to go from there. Good thing they’re smart guys, and between a series of bombings that target first responders, their friend Kyle’s wife getting pregnant, and more than one bowl of guacamole, they begin to figure out how to have a relationship.

But as the bombings get closer to home, Nate and Dusty must navigate love and commitment before they lose their chance.

Buy at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and All Romance eBooks.

About BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she's not doing that, she's writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA's personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

You can find BA Tortuga on her website, her blog, her Facebook page, her Facebook group, or on Twitter.

Body Heat by Devyn Morgan

Title: Body Heat
Author: Devyn Morgan
Purchase or read through Kindle Unlimited at Amazon,
Cover Artist: unknown
Genre: contemporary
Length: 28k estimated
Formats:  MOBI


With ingenuity and luck, a wilderness mishap turns into a romantic adventure where love has room to bloom! A short novel.

Though he lives as an openly gay man in DC, Nick decides to revert to his closeted alter ego when he returns home to Colorado. Someday he’d come out to his family – in six months, maybe. Or six years. Now he steels himself to survive a back-country camping and hunting trip with his brother and friends. But Nick forgets he isn’t out East anymore when he kisses his hot skiing instructor just as his brother arrives! If the awkward silence on the drive up is bad, the constant stream of gay jokes by his brother’s friends is even worse.

Clay likes his skiing student a lot – enough to exchange phone numbers despite his sulking brother and the pile of hunting gear in the back of their truck. Nick is smart and funny and incredibly cute. Clay texts to invite him to dinner, only to find Nick is still out on the mountain and at the mercy of the elements. When a winter storm threatens, Clay resolves to rescue Nick personally. He thinks Nick is “the one” – but only if their new relationship survives the close quarters of a cozy snow cave.

BODY HEAT is a contemporary gay romance with a happy ending.

Oh my goodness I love to find stories set in Colorado, especially if they feel like the author knows the area. Devyn Morgan does. I felt like this story could have been in the news this last winter, except how many of those stories have happy endings? This one does.

Poor Nick, not only has he accidentally outed himself to his brother and his companions, he’s gone and fallen into a tree well. The snow falls around the evergreens but not under, it makes a pit that’s easy to get into and hard to get out of. If no one knows you’re there, you might be there until next summer when the hikers find your bones. This unfortunately is a feature of our local news.

This story doesn’t make light of a really dangerous situation, but does use it to bring the two potential lovers together. Nick manages to summon help and has enough gear with him to survive for a bit. Clay races to the rescue, but due to conditions, has to stay with Nick in their My Side of the Mountain accommodations. Things are serious, but the author promises us a happy ending and gives it to us, but not without making us suffer a little with the characters.

I’ve read a lot of this author’s stories, most of them a lot shorter than this, some but not all of them as well crafted. Even so, I read them all because they make me happy. Here, I think the author found an extra gear for his writing, with style and content. I really felt the cold of the mountain night and the heat between the men, and the happy fumbling of sex in a sleeping bag. There’s danger, there’s humor, and smile smile smile for a happy ending. 4.5 marbles

Tara Lain's here for Thousand Word Thursday!

It may be because Tara Lain's an awesome human being, or that I'm a terrible nag, or both, but she's offered us a snippet of Canning the Center to go with our hunky football player.

***
Manny Hartford reminded him more of a basketball coach, slim and slick. A political animal. So different from Jamal’s coach at SCU. Still, he liked the guy okay.

Hartford nodded. “Yes. Go in for Shields.”

“In, sir?”

“Yeah. At center. The position you play, right?” He gave Jamal a tight smile.

Well, shit, talk about ass sex with no lube. They hadn’t given him any training with the first string and now they were throwing him in the deep end. He pulled his shoulder blades together. Okay, fuck. Show ’em why you were a first-round draft pick.

Jamal trotted out to midfield. Ray Shields jogged toward him, and Jamal smiled inside his helmet, but the big man ran past like he wasn’t there. No attaboys from that department.

Jamal looked at the assembled line. Don’t fuck it up. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he approached the men waiting for him on the field. The guards, especially Brian “Boogaloo” Johnson, almost made him feel small. At about three fifty, Boogaloo outweighed Jamal by fifty pounds. Glad he’s on my side.

Jamal nodded. Be cool. “Gentlemen.”

One of the tackles, Adolphus Winston, stuck out a hand and gave Jamal a low five. Nice to be welcomed by somebody.

The legendary quarterback, Jet West, stood with his hip cocked. Did that face say Show me something?

Jamal nodded and took his place in the line. He dropped into stance, ball in hand. The defensive line took position against them. Jamal scoped the defense. “OG twenty-four, T thirty-one.” Winston’s head snapped up at Jamal’s audible for a reposition on him and the tackle since centers rarely did audibles, but he moved along with Matoa.

West generally liked shotgun position for the snap, but he stuck his hands under Jamal’s butt. “Flash thirty. Flash thirty.” Adrenaline rising, Jamal ticked the running back position off in his mind.

West called, “F-stop two.” Fullback pass. “Hut. Hut.” Jamal snapped on two, his hands acting on instinct. No time to look. He felt West run backward. Jamal took three steps toward him to fill the hole and braced like a rhino for two linebackers coming at him. With a grunt, he locked a shoulder under one giant guy and pushed him toward the other one. Some luck and some skill caught the man off-balance, and his attackers wound up in a linebacker pile as Jamal opened a path for the halfback to run through for first down.

Whistle. Wow. Blood pumped like joy juice. Hard-on city. They reformed the line and started another play, with no breather. This time, West slid back into shotgun, Jamal snapped directly into that soft right hand, took a step, and—oof—got sacked by three hundred pounds of linebacker. Shit! His shoulder hit the ground like he’d jumped off a two-story building, and he memorized the smell of the synthetic turf. Jesus, these guys sure hit harder than college, even just in practice. Imagine what a game will be like. No wonder Shields needed to retire; the guy was no spring chicken. Still, excitement tingled up Jamal’s spine, and every hair stood on end. He’d waited for this chance his whole life and he was up for it.

***
You want to read the rest--I did and I enjoyed it!  (Review here)

Six foot seven inch, 300 pound Jamal Jones loves football, so when he finds out the ultra-conservative owner of his new pro football team fired their current center because he’s gay, bisexual Jamal decides to stay in the closet and hang with the females. Then, at a small drag show, he comes face-to-face with his sexual fantasy in the form of Trixie LaRue, a drag queen so exquisitely convincing she scrambles Jamal’s hormones -- and his resolve to nurse his straight side.

Trevor Landry, aka Trixie LaRue, hides more than his genitals. A mathematician so brilliant he can’t be measured, Trevor disguises his astronomical IQ and his quirk for women’s clothes behind his act as a gay activist undergrad at Southern California University.

To Trevor, Jamal is the answer to a dream -- a man who can love and accept both his personas. When he discovers Jamal’s future is threatened if he’s seen with a guy, Trevor becomes Trixie to let Jamal pass as straight. But Trevor risks his position every time he puts on a dress. Is there a closet big enough to hold a football pro and a drag queen?

 Find your copy at Dreamspinner, Amazon, and all your favorite retailers. 

Strong Medicine by J.K. Hogan

Title: Strong Medicine

Author: J.K. Hogan

Publisher: Wilde City Press

Cover Artist: J.K. Hogan (KHD Graphics)

Release Date: 5/11/16

Heat Level: 3

Pairing: m/m

Length: 97k words

Genre/Tags: Psychological, Dark, M/M Romance

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Two men who meet in a psychiatric institution couldn’t possibly find happiness together—could they?

The world seemed to be telling disgraced former child star and singer Cameron Fox that he would never be happy again. A drunken car accident gets him sentenced to a work-release at Riverbend Behavioral Health Facility.

Reclusive, traumatized writer Jonah Radley has an entire graveyard of skeletons in his closet. Jonah regularly hospitalizes himself for psychotic episodes caused by a horrific childhood trauma, his biggest secret—one he refuses to speak about in therapy.

Jonah and Cameron form a bond inside the hospital, forged in mutual pain and hope for a better life. Once they leave the hospital, they must decide if they are brave enough to explore the intricacies of living with mental illness—and find a new normal together.

Excerpt

Jonah was feeling particularly lucid that day. He hadn’t seen any dead relatives, nothing had burned, and he actually felt like he was inside his own body, for once. He knew it wouldn’t last. It was a constant feeling of dancing on the edge of the cliff, just waiting for the one misstep that would send him plummeting into the void again.

He sat in the rocking chair, the one that had become known as ‘Jonah’s chair,’ and watched Harry the groundskeeper shovel snow off the patio next to the picture window. The scoliotic old man bent to sprinkle handfuls of rock salt over the pavers before moving on farther into the courtyard.

As usual, Jonah lost himself in the warmth of the blanket of sunlight, so much so that he was startled when he sensed a presence behind him. It was just a change in the air, a shift of the molecules, and then a new scent—sharp and heady, a mixture of cedar smoke and Old Spice. Jonah had smelled it before, yesterday. He didn’t need to see to know that the sparkly new probie was standing behind him.

And just like that, just picturing the man in his mind with his weird, shaggy blond hair, dark blue eyes, and boyish features, Jonah remembered. He’d been much younger then, the boy on the TV that his mother had sat him in front of when she couldn’t deal with his damning silence anymore. That boy, his sweet face, and even sweeter voice, had saved Jonah more times than he could count, just kept him hanging on for one more day.

Staring unblinking out the window, Jonah breathed deep of that fragrance and addressed the spectral memory of Kyle Chase. “I know you,” he whispered.

The air stilled as the movement behind him ceased, as if the other man had turned to stone.

“I loved you once.”

Footsteps. Soft, padding, staccato beats of leather against linoleum, until Jonah was face to face with his boyhood crush. Well, more like face to chest, since Jonah was seated and Kyle was looming over him. He wasn’t Kyle, of course, not really. Though Jonah strained, digging through layers of memory, he couldn’t extract the boy—man’s real name.

“Excuse me?” Not-Kyle asked, bushy eyebrows raised toward his hairline.

Jonah tried for a rueful smile, and he could practically hear his skin cracking with the effort. “Sorry, probie. It’s well known around here that I don’t make any sense. What I meant was ‘I used to watch your show.’”

“Oh. I, uh… really?”

Jonah half coughed, half grunted, because it was as close as he ever got to a laugh. “That surprises you?”

“Yes—No! I just sometimes forget that the people who used to watch my show are all grown-up now. Most of the time, I still feel like a kid, so it kind of catches me off guard.” He ran a hand through that mop of messy hair—bleached blond like he was still playing a Cali surfer boy on TV—then squatted down so that he was on Jonah’s level.

“I think you’d be the first one to call me a grown-up. I’ve been called a lot of things, but never that. Besides, I’m not as old as I look.”

“Yeah? How old?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Oh. Wow.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s what hard living and insanity will do to you,” Jonah explained without a hint of malice.

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, that came out wrong… You don’t look bad. It’s the opposite, really. You look… yeah, anyway, you’re right, you do just look older than twenty-three. Not in a bad way.”

“Easy there. It’s really okay. I’m pretty hard to insult. Most of the things you could think of to say about me would be true anyway.” Jonah wiped his sweaty palms on his sweatpants and reached on out to him. “Jonah Radley.”

“Cameron Fox.” Cameron took his hand, shook it, lingered just a second longer than was proper.

“I have to admit, I was wrangling for an introduction because I couldn’t remember your real name. I figure you probably wouldn’t want me calling you Kyle.”

Cameron’s laugh was soft, cozy, like a splash of honey in some warm Earl Grey. “No, I guess not. It’s nice to meet you, Jonah Radley. Radley, that’s an unusual name.”

“Indeed it is. Not as unusual as you’d think, but yes… I did have to deal with the well-read students in school calling me ‘Boo’ all the time. But this is rural Appalachia, so it wasn’t always a problem if you get my drift.”

Jonah could see it took Cameron a moment to get the reference, but when he did, he chuckled again. “So what made you decide to join the wonderful world of psychiatric care?” Jonah asked.

Something flashed in Cameron’s eyes, a cloud, a moment of indecision, before he answered. “I got arrested.”

“Ah, you’re one of Rohan’s boys.” Jonah kept his voice neutral, careful not to seem like he was judging, because people in glass houses and all that… “A probie in every sense of the word.”

Cameron lowered his head, studied the ugly, weathered linoleum. “Unfortunately.”

“Hey, we all have pasts. At least you have a future.”

That blond head snapped up, and Cameron gaped at him. “So do you, Jonah.”

Jonah shook his head sadly, then caught sight of a pair of dark, yawning eye sockets peering through the window. One of the dead girls, of course, just when he was starting to feel human again.

He didn’t make eye contact when he spoke to Cameron. “You should go now,” he whispered.

“Jonah…”

“Go!” Jonah shouted it, his voice tinged with desperation. He never cared before, but he didn’t want this man to see him disappear, to see him float. His eyes welled up, something that hadn’t ever happened at Riverbend before, and he felt ashamed. “Please.”

“Probie!” Rohan’s rich tenor rang out across the buzzing air, slicing the tension between them. Cameron tensed, and his feet seemed to obey Rohan before the rest of him caught up. He cast one more sad, sidelong look at Jonah before he was led away.

Once he was alone, Jonah began to shake. Shivering violently though he was burning up inside, Jonah felt tears sear flaming rivulets down his cheeks. He dug the heels of his hands into his eye sockets until they ached, and eventually the tears stopped. Then there was nothing left but smoke.

Purchase

Wilde City Press

Some Questions for the author:

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing (with the goal of completing novels) for about thirteen years. I was going through a difficult time in my life, and one of my favorite escapes was through books. Eventually I started to believe I could possibly write one too, so I started my first novel. I finished it all but the final few chapters and never submitted it, but I still have it. It’s terrible, of course, but it’s better than I would have expected from someone that young with no training.

I wrote my first completed novel in 2011, which went on to be published in 2012.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

I don’t often suffer from writer’s block, because my head is usually overflowing with stories , scenes, and scenarios. When I do get stuck, I go on a long drive because that’s when my mind sort of clears and ideas start to flow.

I do suffer from what I call ”word constipation” which is basically where I know what is supposed to happen next, but I can’t find the words to make it turn out right on the page. That one is harder to overcome. Usually I just have to step away from it for a couple of days and come back with fresh eyes.

What are you reading now?

Occasionally I have to take a romance break, especially when I’m in the middle of a release or in editing. I just finished The Stand by Stephen King, and now I’m reading Pines by Blake Crouch. (In between those, I read First and First by Santino Hassell, which was fabulous)

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Well, that’s kind of like choosing between my children… Strong Medicine is my eighth published novel, my fifth m/m, and I think it might be my best work to date. That said, I think I have the softest spot in my heart for Rory’s story, Unbreak Broken.

Meet the Author

J.K. Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them. J.K. is hoping to one day have a little something for everyone, so she’s branched out from m/f paranormal romance and added m/m contemporary romance. Who knows what’s next?

J.K. resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she lives in the country with her husband and two sons, a cat, and two champion agility dogs. If she isn’t on the agility field, J.K. can often be found chasing waterfalls in the mountains with her husband, or down in front at a blues concert. In addition to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! For more information, please visit www.jkhogan.com.

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Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: One winner will be selected to win an eBook copy of Strong Medicine.

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The Tenth Muse by Belinda McBride (review, excerpt and giveaway)

The Tenth Muse  (Aphrodite Project #1) by Belinda McBride

Blurb: 

In a wicked game, the God of Love falls to his own arrow, and a gentle scholar learns how dangerous knowledge can be.

Aphrodite has had it.

It was bad enough that her son Eros walked a fashion show in drag, but did he really have to show the entire world his wings? Desperate to rein in the impulsive young god, she recruits the scholarly muse Rees to lure him back to Olympus until the scandal dies down.

After hundreds of years, Eros has finally located the reincarnation of his former love, Psyche. The only way to her heart is through fame, so the God of Love plans a daring campaign to win her back. Yet the closer he gets to Psyche, the more he’s drawn to a geeky young professor who came crashing into his life.

Eros drags Rees into his wicked world of high fashion and risqué parties, only to expose him to danger from an unexpected source. When Rees’ secrets come out, they threaten to destroy Eros’ love for him. Yet when Rees is kidnapped, Eros is forced to turn to the woman who set this catastrophe in motion—his mother, Aphrodite.

Reader Advisory: This book contains some scenes of kidnapping/captivity and graphic scenes of death and violence. This book also contains references to/discussions of rape.

Review


Quite an unique set-up, with the Greek Pantheon operating in modern day. Aphrodite's running a kind of detective agency, but when her son Eros acts up in the mortal realm, she needs an unknown agent to intervene and protect the mystery of the gods. After that blurb, I'm not sure there's anything left to spoil.

 Many echos of Ovid ring through this story, where characters from the old stories are alive again and working out their destinies in life after life. Rees isn't in that lore, and he's an untouched soul in many ways, nearly primed to fall completely for Eros. They blossom together and are good in so many ways that it's a shock when everything falls apart.

And when things fall apart, it's into little tiny pieces--Belinda McBride is an expert at torturing her characters. (For all that, the advisory seems like overkill.) Eros, and most of the rest of the pantheon, are going to have to get their heads out of their undercarriages to save a gentle soul who's endured too much.

The story cracks along, ringing with a couple of obvious questions that get answered eventually, if not to my entire satisfaction. Larger questions do get answered, and in that I was left completely happy. I was pulled along through the story, occasionally getting clobbered with chunks of description, but definitely needing to know what happened next. One character's actions crossed my WTF line, but how over the top is really over the top when we're discussing deities?

One particularly well drawn secondary character is Eros' brother Hermaphroditus, another figure from the old stories who has also been through the wringer. Since this book is noted as first in the series, I can hope Herma, as he's usually called, will get a more complete telling of his story and some lasting happiness. The early part of his story is a matter of legend, and isn't what we think of in the modern sense of his name.

I was left with a new appreciation of blending old storytelling with new, and will be watching for further adventures. 4 marbles

Available for purchase at 

       

Excerpt

“Rees?”

He looked up and relief flooded through him—Eros strode down the hall. He was clad in a long black coat over jeans and a T-shirt. Oddly, his hair was messy and one eye seemed swollen. There was a slight bruise at the corner of his mouth, making it a little lopsided.

 The feeling of dread returned. His entire existence narrowed down to the blond god approaching him, and once again, he was dizzy. Everything was about to change.

 “Eros.”

He broke away from the other two, briefly forgetting their presence. “Is everything all right?” He reached and brushed his fingers against the injury, and Eros flinched away. Gods didn’t bruise easily.

“Why do you think something’s wrong?”

Even Eros’ voice was odd…strained. “Just one question, Rees. Did she send you? Did my mother send you for me?”

 “W-what?” His heart crashed. For an eternity, maybe longer, they stood staring at each other, oblivious to Barry and Elena. It took Rees a moment to recover, then he took Eros by the arm and led him into the makeup room.

 “Eros…I…”

 “Don’t bother to deny it, you may be good at deception, but you aren’t very good at the outright lie. The truth is on your face.”

Eros waited, gazing at Rees, and what little hope that lingered in his eyes withered and died. Rees was at a loss for words. How did he explain…how did he justify his actions?

 “Yes. She hired me to keep an eye on you. To keep you out of the tabloids. She was—” 

“Fuck!” Eros shook him off, walking away. It didn’t matter that he gave Rees his back, he could see the god’s furious image reflected back in dozens of mirrors.

 “Who hurt you, Eros?”

 He turned, facing Rees. “What else?”

 Rees swallowed, his mouth suddenly parched. “She wants you to go home. To Olympus. I explained about Psyche, so she agreed to give you more time. Rumors are beginning to spread, though. Both here and…there. We were trying… We were trying to keep it from Ares.”

Obviously, they’d failed.

 Eros stood, his golden head bowed. When he looked up, his blue eyes glittered. He laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and angry.

 “Of course, it was all for my own good. The timing was perfect. I was able to fob off Ares with the promise of good behavior. I believe I might also have agreed to spend time with him…learning.”

 “No.” Rees shook his head in denial. “You don’t belong with him.” The thought of Eros at the mercy of the God of War…it sickened him. “Eros, you know what you did. You know Aphrodite did the best she could. You may be immortal, but that doesn’t make you immune from the wrath of the pantheon.”

 He stepped forward, reaching out, and Eros backed away. He let his hand drop.

“Did my mother suggest that you seduce me? Brilliant plan, except that she had to realize how…how furious I’d be when I found out.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I find that at the moment, I hate my mother. I hate you too. The difference is, in time I’ll forgive her, because I know she acted out of love. You though…”

“I do, Eros. I didn’t lie. I lo—”

 “Stop! Don’t say it.” Eros took a step back. And another. “I packed your things and sent them to your hotel. I’m sure you won’t need the room, you can just flash back to wherever you came from.”

“I can’t, Eros. I have no powers, not anymore.”

Eros rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you’ll manage. Aphrodite must have you covered in some way, right? Now move out of my way so I can leave.” He blinked rapidly, tears filling his brilliant eyes. “I can’t believe she was so stupid to send you and not realize I’d figure it out. And you know what gave it all away?”

Wordlessly, Rees shook his head.

 “Your friend out there…Barry. He said…he said you’re like a muse. And I didn’t really understand the literal fact. But you are, aren’t you? A Muse?”

 Rees shook his head. He pressed a hand to the wall, fighting to stay on his feet. “My sisters, they are. I’m just a teacher.”

Eros stared at him, an expression of near-horror on his face. “Gods. You’re the son of Mnemosyne and Zeus. You’re a full-on fucking god. You’re literally the Tenth Muse. Too reclusive to walk among the humans or even to visit Olympus. You came from your gleaming castle in the Elysian Fields just for me. I’m so honored.”

 He pressed a hand over his heart and gave a mocking bow. He then edged past Rees as though he were something repulsive. “Go back to your life in those shining heavens. Bother me no more, Rees, or I promise you’ll know the revenge of Eros, and it will not be pretty.”

About The Author

Belinda was born in Inglewood, California, but grew up far to the north in the shadow of Mt. Shasta. While her upbringing seemed pretty normal to her, she was surrounded by a fascinating array of friends and family, including various cowboys, hippies, scoundrels and saints.

She has a degree in history and cultural anthropology, but in 2006 made the life-changing decision to quit her job as a public health paraprofessional and stay at home full time to care for her severely disabled niece. This difficult decision gave Belinda the gift of time, which allowed her to return to writing fiction, which she’d abandoned years before.

Belinda’s hobbies include soap making, dog shows, collecting gemstones, travel, and Chinese martial arts. She has two daughters, three Siberian Huskies, two Salukis, and an array of wild birds that visit the feeders in the front yard.

As an author, Belinda loves crossing genres, kicking taboos to the curb, and pulling from world mythology and folklore for inspiration. She won the Passionate Plume in science fiction for her m/m romance An Uncommon Whore and the EPIC in paranormal romance for Blacque/Bleu, and in science fiction for The Bacchi. She, along with co-authors Cherise Sinclair and Sierra Cartwright were nominated for an RT Reviewer’s Choice Award.

You can find Belinda at 

            

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Presented By

Golden Dancer by Tara Lain Review and giveaway

Golden Dancer 

(Dangerous Dancers Series, #1)

By Tara Lain

Blurb:

A reporter and the thief he's investigating both fall for a golden dancer forging a ménage of love and lies that could send one to prison and one to the morgue. Will he get his story or will he get his men?

Mac Macallister is obsessed. The online news reporter needs enough evidence to write a story accusing billionaire art collector Daniel Terrebone of stealing The Golden Dancer, a priceless work of art, from son-of-a-Nazi Horst Von Berg. The story promises the recognition Mac craves. Then Mac meets a real golden dancer, ballet star Trelain Medveyev, and his attraction to the man rocks his formerly straight world.

When the mysterious Terrebone "collects" this beautiful dancer, too, Mac rushes to the rescue like a knight in shining cargo pants and plunges into a three-way passion that tears him between love and guilt. Can Mac keep investigating when his story could send one man to prison and another to the morgue? Will this reporter get his story or get his men?

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing. 

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Excerpt

Trelain snuggled tight, resting his head in the crook of Mac’s shoulder, and that was when the second lesson came up. Women did not provide a hard cock to rub against him. Holy crap, he needed to back away. But his half-hard cock poked Trelain’s flat belly, and it felt so good. Way too good.

Trelain gave a little humming sound that might have been a moan, and though he could claim they were just dancing, that cock moved with mind-searing precision, up, down, a bit to the side. Mac’s dick filled relentlessly until it hurt. Explosion imminent. Jesus, just the thought of Trelain tortured him. The reality was more than he could stand. Get the hell out of here.

He ripped himself out of the dancer’s arms. “Sorry, gotta go.” Slouching a little in hopes that the bagginess of his cargoes would cover his throbbing erection, he headed through the open doors and across the great room. There were far fewer people to observe his humiliation in here. Goal—get to the door.

“Mac, don’t go.”

He glanced over his shoulder at Trelain and almost stopped. Hell, no. Go now.

He almost made it to the front door when a big solid body stepped in front of him. “Mac, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Get out of my way, Terrebone.”

“Hell, no. Come with me.” Daniel grabbed and pulled him into the hall that led toward the back of the house. Mac started to pull back when he was spun and pushed hard against the wall.

“Daniel. What are you doing? Don’t hurt him.” Trelain’s voice sounded distraught.

Terrebone pushed his face into Mac’s. “I’m not hurting him, darling. He’s hurting himself. This man has got to realize that he wants you and you want him and, for that matter, he probably wants me.”

The bastard. Mac tried to pull away, but shit, the guy was strong. Daniel pressed his forearm harder against his neck. One hand reached down and grabbed Mac’s cock, still stiff despite the shock. “Feel this? It’s not some anomaly or weird mistake, Mac. You’re hot for Trelain. Does that make you gay? I’d say yes, but I’m not into definitions. Who the fuck cares? You just have to quit torturing yourself and everyone else. You hear me?”

Okay, calm down so you can fucking breathe. Relax. No, don’t want to hear it. Terrebone pushed a tiny bit harder. “Do…you…hear…me?”

Crap! Mac managed to nod, and Terrebone released him.

“Fuck, Terrebone, what the hell…?” He rubbed at his throat. His pride hurt more than his neck if he was honest. “I’m so out of here.” He started for the door and again got dragged back. Shit, where did this guy work out? With the Russian Mafia? Mac was a runner, but this guy must lift weights.

Daniel pounded him against the wall again, but this time no arm came up. Instead, the man pressed his mouth to Mac’s. Fuck! Mac twisted, but the soft mouth just kept moving against his while the strong hands held him still. Oh yeah, soft. Mac felt a silky, liquid tongue caress his lips, back and forth. He tried to move his head, but no use. No use…no use not just letting that pressing tongue go where it wanted. His lips opened a tiny crack, and Daniel took full advantage, pushing that wet, hot tongue farther into his mouth. Mac tried to move his tongue out of the way, but…no use. Hot and wet against his tongue. Filling his mouth with hot and wet.

Cryselle's Review

What a great blend of attraction, confusion, opposition, and heat! This story balances an investigation of a stolen artwork against Mac’s sexual awakening.

The ménage is beautifully done, even though Mac isn’t at all certain his world is ready for one male lover, let alone two. The three of them come to fit together in ways that don’t leave any room for the investigation Mac’s been putting a lot of legwork into. He’s torn between his personal inclinations and the story he could crack, and he’s both the weakest link in this group and its salvation.

All three men exist in their wider worlds: Trelain’s dancing conjures images in the mind’s eye, Daniel has a billion dollar business to finance his private excursions, and Mac’s work affects the other two—he’s there, he’s an irritant, he creates change. Any two of them together wouldn’t work nearly as well as the three of them do. And the sex is hot.

The wider world for Mac and Trelain include parents, and this was the part that didn’t set well with me. Perfectly believable that they should react as they do, right up until the end of the book, where personality transplants occurred.That always makes me froth at the mouth.

Resolutions to two other plot arcs kept me on the edge of my seat—I was scared to death for Trelain and biting my nails for Mac and Daniel. I was totally whipsawed by this book, and mostly in the best way.  4.5 marbles

About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 23. Her best­selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul­mate husband and her soul­mate dog in Laguna Beach, California, a pretty seaside town where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

You can find Tara at

               

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This pic makes me wish for football season. Have a ficlet or an excerpt for him?  100-1000 words. 

'Til Death Do Us Part by Addison Albright

Title: ‘Til Death Do Us Part
Author: Addison Albright
Purchase at Amazon
Purchase at All Romance eBooks 
Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs
Genre: contemporary
Length: 72k
Formats MOBI, EPUB, PDF

Henry and Sam Miller-Greene are living the dream. They love their careers -- which afford each of them opportunities to travel to exotic locations -- they love their home, Sam’s caring family, and each other. They disagree on the subject of adoption, but are fully committed to each other in marriage ... ’Til Death Do Us Part.

The dream is shattered when Henry’s plane crashes and he’s presumed dead. But four people -- Henry, two other men, and a child -- survive undetected on a remote, small, and insignificant island. Will Sam and Henry’s love be able to survive, as well?

Henry fights to endure in harsh conditions, never knowing when disaster will strike. Sam struggles with his loss, but with help moves on with his life. Will Sam be able to put aside his new love when he reunites with Henry?

This is a love story more than a romance, exploring what happens after boy gets boy and the worst thing happens. The author sure puts her characters through the wringer.

After Henry and his companions get stranded, it’s no Gilligan style picnic, they have to scramble for survival. Fortunately, Henry knows a lot about the local flora, having paid attention to Sam’s expertise in South Seas botany. I like this touch, because in a very real way, Sam keeps Henry alive, even though he’s miles away grieving. Not only that, but Henry rescued a baby boy from the wreckage, and having a family was a tension point for them as a couple. Now Henry’s thrust into the fatherhood Sam longed for and Henry wasn’t so sure about.

We see a lot more of Henry’s situation than Sam’s, because survival, but we know how hard Sam’s grieving and how much it takes for him to close a chapter of his life when there’s no real closure. Getting someone presumed dead back after years and years has to be a horrible shock, even if it’s exactly what you’ve been hoping for. The author chose not to go into the details of getting Henry’s life back, such as drivers’ licenses for a “dead man” because finding out where he stands with Sam is more important. Still, some issues resolved with amazingly little discussion.

Sam’s between a rock and a hard place, and I had a little trouble connecting with this section, possibly because we’re not in his head the way we are with Henry. Still he’s got some very real conflict, which would be hard not to, after working so hard to accept his loss.

The author definitely learned her stuff about the island’s biology, which Henry uses to keep his companions alive.  This comes over a little heavy handed in places, and I’m really not sure people who are mostly living on mangoes could be constipated, but the island sections are vivid. The storm sequence had the hair on my arms standing up. Each of Henry's fellow castaways has his strengths, and they have to depend on each other, because the dangers they face are so real.

This couple's happiness is hard won, and it's bittersweet that someone else had pain amidst the joy. Maybe he'll get a story too? I enjoyed reading this adventure in survival of body and heart, and was left smiling. 4 marbles

Evan's Luck by Jennah Scott and H. Sterling Blog Tour

Evan’s Luck

Jennah Scott

April 26, 2016

Five Hearts Publishing

Spencer Quinn has an image to uphold. His family name means more than anything. It’s the reason the reason they've become the most successful stock contractor on the rodeo circuit. Fresh out of school, he’s ready to take over the family business. It’s no secret he’s attracted to men, and so far that hasn’t been a problem.

Until Evan.

The assertive friend who knows how to push every one of his buttons.

Evan Taylor is known for his love ‘em and leave ‘em style, yet the last few months have left him deflated and lonely. His father's shadow wasn't where he wanted to end up, but he's having trouble finding happiness. Maybe because women can't keep his attention. He’s losing hope of settling down until a blast from the past saunters by, his heart catches and tingles spread over his skin.

Of all people, Spencer. The one person who would never give Evan a second glance. It’s just his luck.

The old saying, “Bad luck is better than none at all” fits Evan perfectly. Or does it? Is his bad luck about to change? Will Spencer Quinn be a good luck charm instead?

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Born and raised in Texas, Jennah Scott is a transplant to Missouri long enough ago she should probably consider that her hometown. But she will forever be a Texan. She loves to write any story that will make a reader smile, laugh, and maybe even cry (although you won't ever hear her admit that she cries). No matter what her next crazy idea turns out to be, there will always be romance for everyone.

Sign up for her newsletter (www.jennahscott.com) to stay up to date with new releases, sneak peeks, and other news!

H. Sterling has published multiple contemporary romance books, usually on the more sweet and sassy side of the line, using her alter ego. After pairing up with Jennah she discovered just how much fun writing hot, sexy cowboys can be. Together they experienced how quickly stories can write themselves. Stick around, there's plenty more to come!

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Website: www.jennahscott.com

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