Month: July 2015

Life, and How We DON’T EVER CHANGE–A Review

DEC copyHi there! Today I’m excited to share a newly released contemporary YA coming-of-age novel from M. Beth Bloom. It has a different take on the summer after graduation for Eva, a judgy, intransigent, intellectual girl on her way to a private, prestigious college in Boston who finally finds the way into living, not just absorbing, life.

Don't Ever ChangeAbout the book:
Eva has always wanted to write a modern classic—one that actually appeals to her generation. The only problem is that she has realized she can’t “write what she knows” because she hasn’t yet begun to live. So before heading off to college, Eva is determined to get a life worth writing about.

Soon Eva’s life encounters a few unexpected plot twists. She becomes a counselor at a nearby summer camp—a job she is completely unqualified for. She starts growing apart from her best friends before they’ve even left for school. And most surprising of all, she begins to fall for the last guy she would have ever imagined. But no matter the roadblocks, or writer’s blocks, it is all up to Eva to figure out how she wants this chapter in her story to end.

Perfect for fans of E. Lockhart, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell, Don’t Ever Change is a witty, snarky, and thought-provoking coming-of-age young adult novel about a teen who sets out to write better fiction and, ultimately, discovers the truth about herself.

How about a little taste?

AMERICA, I, AMERICA, is a play about freedom and being an American girl, and it’s the first thing I ever wrote. I was in sixth grade. For my middle school’s Fourth Of July celebration, I picked Erica Bordorfsky to play the lead role, which she accepted wit a bit too much humility, and made me question her star power. “You’ve got to sell it,” was what I told her. “It’s about America!”

But ultimately, the final producation turned out totally shallow and historically inaccurate and extremely disappointing. At that age, when we’re still so young that we can do anything–be nurses or astronauts or princesses or cops–I chose to do this: write. So I began thinking of myself as a writer, but a frustrated one, because Erica insisted on mispronouncing her final line as “America, I Am Erica,” over and over, to a confused assembly of students and teachers.

That’s the first thing you learn: being misunderstood.

The second thing is all those old, “classic” books they make you read. They’re all about the same themes–the Plight of Man, Man’s Epic Nature, Man Versus Society, and whatever else–and there’s always some depressing metaphor like a river or a war. The overall message I learned about Coming of Age is that if it’s a true “classic,” then only a boy is allowed to do it, and that’s why I hate Holden Caulfield and I hate Huck Finn.

If I’m going to be left out because I’m a girl, or I’m going to be misunderstood, then I’d much rather be misunderstood; I’d rather have Erica Bordofsky bombing onstage, missing the entire point.

And I’d rather it be because I wrote it. Because it’s my story.

My Review:
Eva was a fun character to get to know. She’s prickly and sensitive and hides all her fears very well by keeping a figurative perimeter around her thin skin. She has two besties, Michelle and Steph, and all of them are getting different summer jobs. And going to different colleges. Eva wants to keep their friendship strong, by keeping them separate–not allowing “interlopers” into the group, and this causes natural levels of friction.

Plus, Eva’s struggling with her writing. She’s always excelled, but her most esteemed teacher has encouraged her to “write what she knows” and Eva must admit that she doesn’t know much. In fact, in Eva’s esteemed estimation she knows stunningly little. She seeks the counsel of her big sis, Courtney, who is working her way through yoga and meditation to achieve Enlightenment. Courtney is a great contrast to uptight Eva, and provides cryptic, yet sound, advice–and hooks Eva a job working at a summer camp as a youth counselor, too.

Eva’s a terrible counselor. It’s a sports and activities camp, and Eva strives to get her brood of 9 y/o girls…writing. It’s comical, actually, that it works; the girls feel acknowledged and empowered. I had to give her credit, she is dynamic. Her intensity is, I believe, what draws people in despite her prickliness. The thing is, with each new experience, Eva’s rough exterior seems to get ground down, sanded off. Her biggest competition at school, Foster, is a fellow counselor, and develops into a pseudo-boyfriend. Eva has sworn off dating with her impending departure so her single “illicit” (kissing in the counselor’s office) interlude with Foster is well-beyond her self-imposed boundaries.

I loved Eva’s willingness to change. I loved how she stretched herself to find out what she didn’t know. Her steadfastness to developing her craft was so interesting. Her love of her few friends was touching and bittersweet, as those friendships fade and new ones crop up. It was also awesome how she inspired and worked with those girls–standing up for one (who is continually fat-shamed) was inspiring, too. Eva’s a young girl, a work-in-revision, and she accepts that she is imperfect, and she attempts to re-write her flaws. I enjoyed that very much.

Do not expect a romance here. Eva has connections with three different boys in the course of her summer, but they are mostly platonic, with very little crossover. I was nervous there would be a love triangle, but it didn’t manifest. Yay! I also liked that what didn’t change about Eva was her love for herself. She is a proud feminist and I dug that. She could have given in on some of her other ideals–veganism, for instance–but didn’t. Emotionally, she grew enough to allow for new experience without compromising her core beliefs. It was refreshing to have a solid, emotionally-stable, yet intransigent, character learn how to cope with the many changes of her shifting world. At times, I felt the prose bogged with an extended reflection, and then I was pleasantly rewarded with a full-circle moment that paid off my patience. This happened often enough that I was rarely bothered when Eva mined her experiences to help her deal with the new situation she faced. In essence, we learned together and I appreciated being part of the experience.

Interested? You can find DON’T EVER CHANGE on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookDepository, Kobo and iTunes.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a hardcover copy of DON’T EVER CHANGE (open internationally).
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M. Beth BloomAbout the Author:
M. Beth Bloom is a novelist and a screenwriter. Her fiction has appeared in StoryQuarterly and Dave Eggers’s Best American Nonrequired Reading series. She is also the author of Drain You. M. Beth lives in Los Angeles.

You can catch up with Ms. Bloom online on Goodreads, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

ffbc copy

HELD HOSTAGE to Love–Review and Giveaway

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for HELD HOSTAGE, fourth book in the Sin City Uniforms series by Morticia Knight. This is a contemporary police M/M romance and features a SWAT officer who falls for a mild-mannered everyday hero. It was so sweet, with a bit of kink to spice it all up! Comment on this post for a chance to win a copy of ALL FIRED UP, the first book in the Sin City Uniforms series.

Held Hostage (Sin City Uniforms, #4)About the book:
SWAT officer Cole can handle just about anything, until he rescues Brett – a man who makes him question all he’s ever believed about love.

As a member of the Las Vegas Police Department’s SWAT team, Cole has seen his fair share of danger, but he’s never taken a chance on love. He’s willing to have some fun when the mood strikes him, but he’s married to the job. Called in on a hostage situation, Cole is prepared for anything and everything… except for the brave and beautiful Brett.

Brett has been burned before, most recently by Officer Parker McLean. He’s hoping to settle down in Vegas, perhaps find someone he can build a life with. The last thing Brett’s looking for is another man in uniform. But when he meets Cole, there’s an attraction that can’t be denied. Still, he hadn’t expected to fall for the chiseled alpha.

What begins as nothing more than two people experiencing a great night together spirals into something far deeper. But will Brett be able to handle the stress that comes with having a lover who constantly puts his life in jeopardy? And can Cole risk his heart on an everyday hero, or will the job he knows so well remain his top priority?

How about a teaser?

Brett had already grabbed both of them a beer and had brought it straight to the bedroom. Instead of jumping him the minute they’d entered the apartment, Cole had simply followed behind, eyeing him, as Brett had moved through the motions of being a good host and getting comfortable. He wasn’t going to stop and analyze why a man who’d just told him the night before that he didn’t do relationships had shown up unannounced at his job and was once again in his bedroom less than twenty-four hours later.

“Stop.”

Brett let go of the tie that he’d half unknotted already. He’d already hung his suit coat in the closet and had toed off his loafers then pushed them out of the way over by the dresser.

“How important is that tie to you?”

Brett glanced down at the royal blue silk neck accessory that had an elegant silver paisley design woven into the fabric. He liked it. Liked it a lot even. But was it important? Not really. He’d purchased close to a hundred ties since he’d been employed by Jon Martin. He wore one every day and preferred to have on the most recent seasonal styles when he went to work. It had no significance beyond that.

“Not important at all.”

Cole stepped toward him and Brett’s heartbeat accelerated. Cole reached down to finish untying the knot then pulled one end, sliding the thin strip of fabric out from under his collar. Cole wrapped the ends around each of his large hands then snapped them. It went taut. It was strong. Brett couldn’t wait to find out what it would feel like when Cole bound him with it.

My Review:
This is a series book, but easily enjoyed as a standalone.

Brett is manager of an upscale men’s clothing store in Las Vegas. This is a step-down from his regional manager position. He made this career move to have more time with a man he thought he loved, Officer Parker from a previous book in the series. Parker didn’t return his strength of affection, but Brett had already set his mind on settling down, so he can find a long-term lover. His former high-travel lifestyle precluded this.

He’s on the job one week when a psychotic man takes his salesforce hostage and a SWAT shootout results in casualties. Brett had tried to intercede, and he’s wracked by guilt over those who died in the crossfire.

SWAT Officer Cole Silva was on the scene and fired the shot that brought the crisis to an end. Recognizing Brett from the gay club scene, Cole found him extremely attractive before, but he expects Brett will suffer emotionally from the aftermath of the hostage situation so Cole tries to comfort Brett. Their mutual attraction grows into more—quickly. Their chemistry and sexytimes, with a teeny bit of kink, is incendiary.

I really liked the story. There are some solid feelings developed in a short span of time, but both are much more raw and vulnerability due to the hostage crisis. Brett is hesitant to embark on anything with Cole–mostly because Cole doesn’t DO relationships. He’s too afraid something bad will happen while he’s on duty and he’ll leave someone mourning him. But, Brett doesn’t do CASUAL anymore. He got burned with Parker, and he wants a man who wants him.

Expect a break-up-to-make-up. Expect some intense police actions. Expect to like Cole and Brett–they are both good guys. I breezed through this one with a bit of tension and big ole smile.

Interested? You can find HELD HOSTAGE on Goodreads, Totally Bound,
Amazon (US and UK), and Barnes & Noble.  I received a copy of this book via Goodreads’ Don’t Buy My Love program in exchange for an honest review.

****GIVEAWAY****

The lovely Ms. Knight is offering a copy of the first book in this series (or a backlist book) to one commenter on each blog on the tour.

So, If you’d like ALL FIRED UP let me know in the comments! You can find and comment on the other tour blogs by clicking here.

Morticia KnightAbout the Author:

Author Morticia Knight spends most of her nights writing about men loving men forever after. If there happens to be some friendly bondage or floggings involved, she doesn’t begrudge her characters whatever their filthy little heart’s desire. Even though she’s been crafting her naughty tales for more years than she’d like to share – her adventures as a published author began in 2011. Once upon a time she was the lead singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She currently resides on the northern Oregon coast and when she’s not fantasizing about hot men she takes walks along the ocean and annoys the local Karaoke bar patrons.

You can find Morticia online on her website, Goodreads, Totally Bound, Amazon, Twitter and Facebook.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading (and commenting!) my friends! Pride-Promotions

Happy Book Birthday to DARE–Review Excerpt & Giveaway

Dare RDL bannerHi there! Today I’m helping to get the word out for TA Foster’s newest release. DARE is the first book in the Nox series, and I just love shifter romance! Rawr!

Dare_FrontCover_LoRes (1)About Dare:
Choices should come easily to a queen.
Especially the queen of panther shifters. But Dare, leader of the Nox, faces the most difficult decisions of her life as she struggles to keep her freedom and keep the Nox safe.

Destined to marry when she turns twenty-two and give up the magic that is her birthright, Dare fights back, determined to change the course of history. Only along the way she falls for a human who forces her to face the reality that there are some things she can’t resist.

Zac Morgan has crossed the globe hoping to find comfort after a tragic loss has left him empty. He hopes Sullen’s Grove will give him peace and just a little taste of home. Even though he’s worked hard to keep his heart protected, he can’t stop the attraction he feels for the mysterious green-eyed college girl, Dare.

When Zac is thrust into the middle of a dangerous shifter war, Dare may be the only one who can save him. Sometimes the choices we make are the ones we least expect.

How about a little taste?

I can see the blood trickle faster now that the point of the knife is pressed deep against his skin. His eyes are closed. He doesn’t see me. None of them does.

They are too focused on the fire and the sacrifice they are about to make in the shadows of its flame.

I crouch, the limb supporting me as I edge closer. I am outnumbered. If I pounce now, the Tribe will surround me in seconds. But, if I wait much longer, they will kill him.

There in the center I see everything familiar to me. I know them and somehow the wildness and violence I’m witnessing has stripped away the memories of who I thought they were.

I’m forced to feel my raw emotions spilling around me, consuming my choices, my inaction. How has this happened?

My ears twitch at the low growling sounds that start in the center of the circle, then make their way around until they’re so loud it’s deafening.

My head throbs from the sounds of their celebration. I don’t have time to regret the choices that led us here. Later. Regrets are for later.

The steel blade sinks against his skin, and my eyes narrow.

Now. I need to move now or he will be lost to me forever.

The forest will hear my roar and so will the Tribe. I leap from the branch, landing in the center, scattering the fire and the knife. They growl, their sharp teeth bared at me.

I’ve spent my life fighting for humans, but tonight I will fight until I’m dead.

My Review:
Dare is an independent woman who wants the right to live her own life. She is queen of a small band of she-panther shifters that she has collected to stand against the magical Council which has decreed forced marriage for all of them. Each of these shifter women is required to get married to a preselected jaguar male, and give up her territory to him. After she bears his child, her magic and shifter power will be transferred to her infant and her hubs will take off in search of his next wife.

Not the best life, Dare thinks, and she’s found six other she-panthers who agree. Case is king of his region in Tennessee, and he’s decided that Dare will be his first wife, as he’d like to expand his domain to North Carolina. Dare wants none of lying, back-stabbing Case, and he knows it, so he kidnaps some of her she-panthers, and infects Zac, a sexy historian and newly-made acquaintance of Dare’s. Dare struggles to save her clan, Zac, and her autonomy–all before college graduation and her birthday come.

I really enjoyed the political interplay. Dare had wanted to do this on her own, but Case’s guerrilla tactics have caused Dare to enlist some local witches, and canvass far and wide for more she-panther support. She tests her boundaries, learning to build self-defense skills for her human side with Zac’s help. Though she is really attracted to Zac, she makes good decisions for her pack of she-panthers, always knowing that her end goal is to keep her own territory safe. There is much to be admired in Dare.

This is the beginning of a series, so I expect the next books will follow the love story of other she-panthers. I can only hope one of these feisty women will fall for delicious Officer Ian Grace, a powerful witch who seems down with breaking traditions and defying Council dictates….

There is good bit of action, and the schemes and maneuvers are ripe plot lines. I enjoyed that there are both heterosexual and homosexual characters–though the main romance is always Dare and Zac. We’ll have to wait for later stories to find out how those romances unfold.

Interested? You can find DARE on Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, and Google.

****GIVEAWAY****
Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
T.A. Foster grew up catching rays and waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her husband, three children and canine kiddo.

She has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.

You can catch up with Ms. Foster on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon.

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Cover Reveals for the Love of Olympus Series!

Hi there! Today, I’m sharing THREE cover reveals for Sasha Summers’ Loves of Olympus series. In anticipation of the release of ECLIPSING APOLLO, the entire series has gotten a new look! They look so good, and interesting. Looking forward to reading these…good thing all three books will be released on August 2, 2015!

Medusa, A Love Story 
(Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #1)
by Sasha Summers 
 
Blurb:
It’s said love can change a person. Medusa wasn’t always a monster…
Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She’s no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves… and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.
Ariston goes to war with a full heart… and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.
Poseidon will use Greece’s war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

Release Date:  August 2, 2015

For the Love of Hades 
(Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #2)
by Sasha Summers
 
Blurb: 
Hades, God of Death, has no heart. Persephone is determined to prove otherwise…
Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, has no patience for living things or his Olympian brethren. His purpose is order, administering justice to those who enter his realm, and keeping the balance decreed by the Fates. Meeting Persephone sways his focus, her gentle sweetness threatening his control. But he will not be tempted.
Poseidon’s scheming wreaks havoc upon Persephone. Hades has no choice – he must rescue her.
Hades awakens something within the Goddess Persephone. She feels no fear from his brooding presence. In truth, she’s never felt so alive. Every stolen moment together only confirms her instinct: he is meant to be hers. Such a powerful union suit will face opposition – from Olympus, her troubled betrothed, the Fates, even Hades himself – but she is determined to win his heart.
 

Release Date:  August 2, 2015

Eclipsing Apollo 
(Loves of Olympus Series, Bk  #3)
by Sasha Summers
 
Blurb:
Apollo is fond of many things. Music, poetry, physical prowess, truth, and love. The Pythian Games are in his honor and he attends, as a mere mortal, to enjoy the competition… and the women. Meeting the fair Coronis offers him his greatest delight. Her strength, her fearlessness, and her beauty clasp his heart with an irrevocable hold. But she wants none of him.
Coronis’ duty is to marry, but she yearns for so much more. She is a fierce competitor, a hunter, skilled in strategy and reason. Those that would court her lack both the mind and the body to rival hers – she will settle for no less. As a mortal, Apollo was both infuriating and tempting. But Apollo the Olympian is terrifying. She fears giving him her heart might destroy her soul.
Demeter’s need for revenge pits Olympian against Olympian, forcing Apollo into a darkness the God of Light must fight if he ever hopes to see his Coronis again.

Release Date: August 2, 2015

About the Author:
 
Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.
You can stalk, I mean find Sasha here
          
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Is it True Love? Or, FOREVER FOR A YEAR–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review for a just-out YA contemporary romance from BT Gottfred. This is a realistic YA romance that features two kids “faking it until they make it” and finding their first love in the process. It’s bittersweet, with some wild turns.

Forever for a YearAbout the book:
When Carolina and Trevor meet on their first day of school, something draws them to each other. They gradually share first kisses, first touches, first sexual experiences. When they’re together, nothing else matters. But one of them will make a choice, and the other a mistake, that will break what they thought was unbreakable. Both will wish that they could fall in love again for the first time . . . but first love, by definition, can’t happen twice.

Told in Carolina and Trevor’s alternating voices, this is an up-close-and-personal story of two teenagers falling in love for the first time, and discovering it might not last forever.

My Review:
3.5 Stars.

Carolina and Trevor are starting freshman year of high school in Riverbend, IL, a fictional town nestled into the North/Northwest side of Chicago. This is the kind of town with wealth disparity–haves and have nots.

Trevor’s family has recently moved from LA to join his mother’s family–his Gram and uncle still reside in his mother’s hometown. He lives with his mom, dad and 7-y/o sister who is precocious and means the world to Trevor. just over a year ago his mother had a botched suicide attempt. Trevor had a hard time dealing with it, and he stayed home from school for a year; he’s more than melancholy. He’s clinically depressed, but it seems that everyone’s focus is on his mom. Kid gives Holden Caulfield his money for all the “this world’s pointless and fake” internal dialogue.

Carolina is a geek. Has been for evah. Her best friend, Peggy, wants desperately to be popular, and Peggie has an in because her older sister is really popular. So Peggy’s sister has agreed to get the popular kids to like both of them–but Carolina’s a mental spaz. Her internal dialogue is equivalent to The Flash mainlining pixie stix. She is meant to be smart, but I mostly saw low-self-esteem. She admits that whatever someone tells her, she will do. I didn’t like her much, but, as the story got on and she stopped listening to Peggy and her insane sister, I admired her backbone.

Trevor and Carolina meet in the first class of the first day of school. Trevor shows up late, and leaves his bag in his dad’s car so he has no supplies. Carolina lends him some–without speaking a word. They have a few classes in common, and it seems as if they make a tentative connection, but it becomes this THING before it can ever be a thing, mostly because they hardly speak to each other. Others step in, and Trevor thinks Carolina must be a “fake” and disses her, but he still thinks she’s beautiful.

Fast forward.

They work out their communication issues, by communicating!, and begin dating. I’m not going to belabor this: they are physical and it’s on the page and their sex is not always protected. There are a lot of emotional issues going on, too. Carolina’s father has had an affair and her parents want to reconcile, but Carolina’s been so hurt, and protective of her mom that she’s obstructive to the process. Trevor’s mom is clearly not faithful, as well, and the emotional impact of both of these relationships influence the development of Trevor and Carolina’s romance. They consider themselves soul mates–pretty early on. This felt both overblown and just right–mostly because I had trouble believing doom and gloom Trevor could be so positive about Carolina. Carolina falling head over heels? Yep.

Both Carolina and Trevor are gaga within a month. I remember those times. It’s heady and overwhelming. Strange that the two parents who become their confidantes are the ones who are known betrayers; I think this was meant to convey the idea that just because a person is a lousy spouse doesn’t mean they are bad parents–and that chestnut was dropped at about 97% in, so my impression was spot on.

I felt like I knew what was going to happen–partly because of the name, but also because this book was billed as a new “Forever” (but with frankly less mature characters than burgeoning adults Katherine and Michael) so I knew this was going to be bittersweet. It was, without question. Expect big family drama, big dumb mistakes, and some betrayal.

Near the end I got frustrated because it seemed that Trevor needed to make a change and couldn’t be honest. That was his whole thing: honesty. He and Carolina had overcome some pretty crap stuff, but he demanded complete honesty and couldn’t even give it.

The final pages were even more frustrating. I can’t even fathom the situation between Trevor and Carolina at that point. Their story might not be over, but I was kinda over it.

In truth, it was a decent read. Not great, not bad. I wanted more. Some plot points were awkward: missing “friend,” jealous manipulative girls, gossip, schoolyard brawl, missed periods, stodgy parent v. permissive parent, barely any communication between the kids and the faithful parents, suffering grades…it felt a bit heavy on the moralizing.

Oh well. It’s freshman year. Everything is dire, even the love. If you don’t want to read about two 14-15 y/o’s falling madly deeply, then getting it on, and having issues, and having more issues this is not the book for you.

Interested? You can find FOREVER FOR A YEAR on Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. I received a review copy via NetGalley.

bt gottfredAbout the author:

BT Gottfred is an author and director. FOREVER FOR A YEAR is his first published novel. You can connect with him online on his website, Facebook and twitter.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!

New Imprint for LGBT—PRIDE PUBLISHING Launches Today

pride logoHi there! Today marks the launch of Pride Publishing, a new house from the Totally Entwined Group, best known for its flagship erotic romance publishing house, Totally Bound Publishing.

This expansion and launch of Pride Publishing has been designed and implemented to give our GLBTQI authors and readers the platform and community they deserve to express themselves.

Pride Publishing will deliver publishing excellence with a passionate and personal approach, offering the best stimulation for the imagination.

The launch of Pride marks the division of all GLBTQI titles from Totally Bound’s backlist, allowing Totally Bound Publishing to focus more on and develop MF and MFM stories. Pride Publishing will kick off with a considerable backlist from authors you know and love including, Amber Kell, Carol Lynne, Bailey Bradford and NR Walker.

Celebrate with Pride!
To celebrate the launch of Pride there is 25% off a selection of eBooks for this week only and lots of other promotions over at the website. Visit the website to learn more!

Moving forward Pride Publishing will also accept submissions that are not only romance focused. We are actively seeking submissions, so as long as your stories involve characters who identify as GLBTQI, we’d like to see them. Please send your submissions to submissions@totallyentwined.com

Authors seeking more information should contact Holly Gunner (holly.gunner@totallyentwinedgroup.com) or Heidi Blakey (heidi.blakey@totallyentwinedgroup.com) at Totally Entwined   Pride Publishing Blogger Launch_728x90 v1_final copy

About Totally Entwined Group

The Totally Entwined Group is a leading eBook publisher in the UK and US and was founded in 2007 by Claire and Marek Siemaszkiewicz. It comprises of four publishing houses – Totally Bound Publishing (Erotic Romance), Finch Books (Young Adult), Pride Publishing (GLBTQI Fiction) and Evidence Press (Crime / Thriller). It employs 12 members of staff and publishes over 350 authors across UK and Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. Its flagship erotic romance publishing house Totally Bound Publishing, was winner of the “Best New Publisher Award” at the All Romance eBooks’ Best of 2007 Awards and was shortlisted for online retailer of the year at The Bookseller Industry Awards 2014. The Totally Entwined Group was recently acquired by Bonnier Publishing.

About Bonnier Publishing Fiction

Bonnier Publishing Fiction is a division of Bonnier Publishing which encompasses the children’s imprints Hot Key Books and Piccadilly Press and adult fiction imprints Zaffre and Twenty7. Bonnier Publishing Fiction combines brand new voices with established storytellers to bring a broad spectrum of high quality and innovative fiction to all ages.

Matched in SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS–Review and Giveaway!

SFA_BLOGTOUR copy
Hi there! Today, I’m sharing of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS by Jennifer Probst. This is the 4th book in the Searching For series and it is published by Gallery Books. I recently reviewed SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL and had to continue with the series. SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS features the love story of Arilynn, yoga teacher, counselor and rescuer of dogs everywhere! Can this do-gooder save the heart of alpha male Officer Stone Petty, meat-eating, stress-case, extraordinaire? Check out the teaser and giveaway below.

SearchingforAlwaysAbout the book:
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Probst sparks a blissful mind-body connection as her “sexy, satisfying” (Kirkus Reviews) new series continues!

She’s an expert in helping others de-stress, but Arilyn Meadows is running on fumes. Along with her job counseling singles seeking soul mates at the Kinnections agency in Verily, New York, she’s a yoga teacher, animal shelter volunteer, anger management therapist, and helping hand to her beloved grandfather. No time to find Mr. Right—but after discovering her yogi boyfriend in a compromising asana, Arilyn would rather dog-sit for her honeymooning friend Kate than risk her heart on another downward dog. And when police officer Stone Petty—radiating masculinity and bad-boy attitude—is sent to her for mandatory lessons in cooling off when the job gets too hot, Arilyn vows to ignore his seductive glances and sexy grin. But there’s no halting their sizzling flirtation—a red-hot, high-speed chase that’s breaking all the limits.
SFA_Teaser2 copy
My Review:
This is the 4th book in a series, but able to be enjoyed as a standalone.
4.5 Stars.

Arilynn is a vegetarian, holistic, dog-fostering, yoga-teaching counselor who works with her college friends, Kennedy and Kate at a computer-matching service, Kinnections, in rural Verily, NY. Her only remaining family is her grandfather–her parents died via lung cancer and suicide in the past ten years. Having witnessed her parents’ illness, she has dedicated her life to living the healthiest life possible. She regularly encourages clean-living behaviors to the people she meets, and counsels, and can be a touch sanctimonious about it. Arilynn has just broken up with her secret lover of the past five years, Jacob, who is a holier-than-thou yogi with monogamy-averse ideas. (And good riddance!!!!)

Officer Stone Petty is a cop with an anger problem, sent to Arilynn’s 6-week anger management program for counseling after a brutality incident. (He beat up a domestic abuser he caught beating the heck out of his wife and child.) As it turns out, Stone is extremely sensitive to domestic abuse as an abuse survivor. He’s also a meat-loving, fast food scarfing, dog-hating recent ex-smoker, and totally wrong for Arilynn–so why are they attracted to each other?

This is low-conflict odd couple romance with lots of heart and some good heat. I really enjoyed the alternating POV, with the large swing in emotions. Stone has a lot of emotional scars, and he’s quick to judge as a result. He is a big proponent of justice, and I liked his remorse regarding the incidents that led to his discipline. I think readers will find kinship with a man having a violent response to child/spousal abuse, even if he’s a cop. Arilynn is a heroine with lofty ideals and down-to-earth solutions. She works hard to channel her frustrations with Stone, who is REALLY difficult to work with as a client. Setting her attraction aside, he’s constantly challenging her and works hard to make her angry–so their interactions are always a lesson in patience. I rejoiced every time she got the better of him, in class and out of it. I also loved that Arilynn found a man who wanted to treat her right and never considered keeping her a secret, like Jacob had. They have some excellent passionate moments, and delicious sexytimes occur after they’ve been in contact daily for a few weeks. They start out, intentionally, to only be casual partners but it quickly turns into something far more.

As this is a series read, we get some of Arilynn’s pals in the mix, but the character interactions are toned down from recent books. This allows for greater development of accessory characters, like Arilynn’s busybody neighbor and her grandpa. Those two are a hoot! Oh, and don’t forget the dogs! Stone has a bad history with dogs and is not best pleased that his anger management includes animal therapy–his experience will melt readers. Pinky is the best, BEST, medicine for his hardened heart.

I really enjoyed this one.

Interested? You can find SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.

****GIVEAWAY****

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Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win! Help pet rescue shelters by posting a picture of your rescued pet, or sharing your favorite shelter, and using the hashtag #SEARCHINGFORRESCUES. 4 shelters will get a $50 prize (winners choice) and 1 a grand prize winner will also get a prize pack from Jennifer Probst.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Jennifer Probst
Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers.

You can catch up with Jennifer online on her website for updates on new releases and her street team. Also check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

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Captivated by THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing another fantastic historical M/M romance from KJ Charles, this time with a heaping helping of the paranormal. THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL is a gorgeously told Victorian story about Robert Caldwell, a journalist, who contracts occultist Simon Fleximal to rid his crumbling ancestral home of the ghost of one of his outre ancestors. It starts out fast and hard, and it ends so dang tender! I couldn’t quit reading it. I adore how KJ writes her stalwart British men. They are so strong and proper, yet so vulnerable.

The Secret Casebook of Simon FeximalAbout the book:
A story too secret, too terrifying—and too shockingly intimate—for Victorian eyes.

A note to the Editor
Dear Henry,
I have been Simon Feximal’s companion, assistant and chronicler for twenty years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide.

You have asked me often for the tale of our first meeting, and how my association with Feximal came about. I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted, and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.

So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.

I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.

Robert Caldwell
September 1914

My Review:
This book is written as a series of tell-all vignettes confessing the TRUE nature of the partnership between renown occultist Simon Feximal and his journalist-cum-paranormalist Robert Caldwell. The setting is 1890s London and men are not allowed, legally, to have sexual relations with each other. (But boy-howdy, do they!)

They meet because Robert has a ghost inhabiting his ancestral home. He calls out Simon, who has the ability to communicate with spirits, by means of writings that etch across his skin, when he is in the presence of a ghost. It is horrifying and fascinating to Robert, and the manner of expulsion of his ancestral ghost is sexy-sexy. This was actually so fascinating to read. It could have gone campy, but it never did.

Each chapter is a case; all of them have some heat between Simon and Robert, mostly as a way for Simon to disgorge the coldness that saps him while communing with spirits. I honestly could not get enough of this couple. There could have been a hundred chapters and I’d have continued turning the pages. There are little threads woven in the stories which connect one to the next, but each is unique and interesting while building on the developing love story between these two men.

I won’t say this is tender, because it isn’t. There is tenderness at times, but often it’s harsh and necessary couplings. The desperation they both experience, amid life-and-death encounters kept me captivated. There is incredible tenderness in their small gestures–the ones which need to be hidden to protect them both. Political machinations, revenge plots, destruction, self-sacrifice–it’s all in here. The journal-style of the writing allows an intimate look into Robert’s side of the story and he’s just a dream of an MC. He so adores Simon that it’s impossible not to love Simon through Robert’s POV.

I adored the historical setting, and the old-style British grammar and spellings. I felt like I was there, as gorgeously and clearly as the settings were described. Nothing like a good ghost story–and this book is chock full of good ones.

Interested? You can find THE SECRET CASEBOOK OF SIMON FEXIMAL on Goodreads, Samhain Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and AllRomance. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

About the Author:

KJ Charles is a writer and freelance editor. She lives in London with her husband, two kids, an out-of-control garden and an increasingly murderous cat.

KJ writes mostly romance, gay and straight, frequently historical, and usually with some fantasy or horror in there. She specialises in editing romance, especially historical and fantasy, and also edits children’s fiction.

Find her on Twitter @kj_charles or on Facebook, join her Facebook group, or contact her here. She is represented by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency, and published by Samhain and Loveswept.

Thanks for popping in and keep reading my friends!

A Series HARD TO LET GO–Review & Giveaway

HTLG RWB banner
Hi there! I’m so excited to share in the Release Week Blitz for Laura Kaye’s HARD TO LET GO! This is the fourth book in the Hard Ink series published by Avon Romance and wraps up the plot arcs…completely. I read HARD TO COME BY and HARD TO BE GOOD and really enjoyed those, so I jumped to get the last book!

This contemporary military romance links the taciturn Beckett Murda with his team leader’s sister—the beautiful and intelligent Kat Rixey. I really enjoyed their love story. Two people who’ve seen a lot of pain and personal loss finally find happiness. *swoon*

Don’t forget to scroll down and enter the giveaway for one of 2 $25 gift cards.

Hard to Let Go - cover
About HARD TO LET GO:
Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers’ Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger’s gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he’s also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat’s brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett’s sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies’ crosshairs.

Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.

How about a little taste?

Beckett was a wrung-out mess. He’d just spent the past hour talking to Emilie, and it was maybe more than he’d talked at one time in his whole life. He couldn’t exactly say he felt good, and maybe not even better, but he could say that he was a little proud of himself for facing his past. Didn’t matter that dealing with that shit was as comfortable as swallowing crushed glass, because choking it down was the only way he’d have a chance at a future.

At least, a future that he really, truly wanted.

One where he wasn’t alone. One where he wasn’t angry. One where he wasn’t wasting the time he might have left on this earth—time his seven fallen teammates no longer had.

Jogging down the stairs from the third-floor apartment, Beckett headed to the gym. No matter how trashed he felt, he had one more conversation that absolutely had to happen tonight.

With Nick. About Kat.

Beckett had seen the all-knowing looks on Marz’s and Jeremy’s faces when he and Kat joined the all-hands’ meeting earlier in the evening. If he didn’t go to Nick soon, the guy was going to learn about them some other way. And then the hell was going to be even worse to pay. And Beckett didn’t want that to happen. Not just because he didn’t want the hassle. But because he owed it to Nick—as his friend and his brother—to come clean.

Didn’t mean that his gut wasn’t all twisted up about whether Nick would think him good enough for his baby sister, though.

He reached the gym door, took a deep breath, and punched in the pass code. Man up, Murda. Right.

Inside, things were hopping, despite the fact that it was pushing eleven o’clock. Some Ravens were lifting weights. Others were shooting the shit around the table. And two guys were tossing a ball back and forth, driving Eileen crazy by bouncing it over her head. Easy was pounding out a fast pace on the treadmill. And, in the back corner, Nick, Marz, and Shane were poring over something on Marz’s desk.

Beckett had faced down terrorists who wanted nothing more than to take his life with their very hands, and he’d probably never been as nervous as he was right now. For fuck’s sake.

He moved into the room. About midway across he spied Cy peeking out from behind a weight machine. “You and me are gonna have a talk soon, too,” he said, pointing at the cat. A one-eyed blink was his only answer.

And then he was standing on the far side of Marz’s desk next to Shane, peering down at what the three men were examining.

Marz gave him a smile and tapped his finger against the pages. “Just going over all these instances when Merritt noted Kaine as having changed orders regarding counternarcotics missions.”

“Marz was right,” Nick said, looking up at him. “Some of these gave me a bad feeling in my gut at the time, because they seemed out of character for Merritt. He was never a last minute kinda guy. Every damn time he’s marked those changes as having been ordered by Kaine.”

Beckett nodded. And then his mouth acted without his brain’s permission. “I’d like to date your sister.”

My Review:
This is the final book in the Hard Ink series and should be read in order.

Becket Murda is one of five survivors of an ambush of his SF squadron a year ago. Since then he’s been guilt-ridden, and less-than-honorably discharged, drifting between security gigs. Three weeks ago he was called into action by his former squad leader, Nick Rixey, to help them track down the missing children of their dead former commander, Merritt, and help solve a serious mystery regarding their ambush, missing heroin, and $12 million in Merritt’s bank accounts. This is the backdrop of the series. Each of the other men in his squad found a special person to love during this timeframe, all with sexy books detailing their romances, and this book is Beckett’s ungrateful backslide into love…. 😉

Beckett has a lot of issues with self-esteem, basically because his mother drank herself to death, and his murderously-abusive father beat him regularly as a child. He stands as an outsider, never believing that he is worthy of love. Yet, Kat Rixey, the Justice Dept attorney and younger sister of his friend and comrade Nick, won’t put up with his crap. She challenges him regularly, and he relishes the connection, even as he doesn’t believe himself worthy.

Kat Rixey is a tenacious woman who is just extricating herself from a sticky relationship with a stalkery colleague. She had no idea what she was stepping into when she fled to her brothers’ compound, a now bombed warehouse that holds Jeremy’s tattoo studio and Nick’s colleagues and more than a few collateral strays. Learning that Nick’s mission is centered around a security company now under Justice Dept investigation leads Kat to make some ethically-questionable, but morally-sound, decisions.

In the midst of the unravelling of the larger “restore our honor” plot arc, Kat and Beckett find their tinderbox chemistry provides some smoking sexytimes, and brings out new vulnerabilities. They are a sweet couple who face some incredibly high challenges. As with all the previous books in the series, expect high octane situations, shoot outs, injuries, double-crosses and, finally, a resolution for these injured heroes that will have readers more than satisfied. The HEA is excellent, for all our Hard ink pals, even when it looks to be bleak. Beckett proves time and again why he is a survivor, and, enjoyably, finds something and someone to live for.

Hard Ink Series Trailer:

Link: https://youtu.be/qM45fjLJXXk

 

HTLG Reviews Tease

Praise for HARD TO LET GO:
“Kaye wraps up her bestselling series with this action-packed story, highlighting her talent for alpha military heroes, hot romance, and an ensemble cast of characters who are unique and engaging. A super sexy, high-octane romantic suspense novel that concludes the popular Hard Ink series in a completely satisfying way.” ~Kirkus Reviews

“TOP PICK! Kaye brings her Hard Ink series to a spectacular conclusion that successfully wraps up the overarching mystery and brings closure to her compelling characters. Kaye really nails it with this awesome book and series!” ~RT Book Reviews

“HARD TO LET GO will blow you away! Anyone who has been following Laura Kaye’s fantastic Hard Ink series will expect something great for the last book in the series, and to say HARD TO LET GO does not disappoint would be the understatement of the year! Ms. Kaye writes sex scenes like it’s nobody’s business, and the blistering chemistry between Kat and Becket will leave you panting and begging for more! If you expected world-class action in HARD TO LET GO, think again and multiply that by ten! HARD TO LET GO has to be the most explosive conclusion to a series ever! Do not miss it at any cost!” ~Fresh Fiction

Interested? You can find HARD TO LET GO on Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, and Kobo.

And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, now available:

Hard as It gets

HARD AS IT GETS

Hard as You Can

HARD AS YOU CAN

Hard To Hold On To

HARD TO HOLD ON TO

Hard To Come By Cover

HARD TO COME BY

Hard to Be Good - Cover

HARD TO BE GOOD

Praise for the Hard Ink Series:
“TOP PICK! If you’re looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you.” ~RT Book Reviews Magazine

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on the Rafflecopter link for your chance to win on of two $25 gift cards to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
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Good luck and keep reading my friends!

Author PhotoAbout Laura Kaye:
Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

You can catch up with Laura online on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Newsletter SignUp.

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Building a LIFE, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED–A Review

Hi there! Today I’m sharing my review of a new contemporary M/M romance from Kaje Harper. LIFE, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED is a sequel that can be read as a standalone. It relates the mundane acts of a newly out gay couple as the traverse the hate-infested waters–and everyday occurrences of life–in a way that is anything but mundane. I really liked it.

imageAbout the book:
Finding love in the ashes was easy. Building a life together? Don’t make Fate laugh.

After spending the first part of his life chasing pretty girls, love has finally come to Ryan in the form of John, a tall, lanky, red-headed landscape architect with wide shoulders and a five-o’clock shadow.

For the first time in his life, love feels easy. Hell, he even ran into a burning building for John and his son, and he’d do it again if he had to. But telling his father and brothers “I’m gay. I’ve met a man”? That’s a bumpy ride he’s not looking forward to.

For John, loving Ryan is as natural as breathing. Now if only the rest of his life would fall into place. Dealing with his teen son is complicated enough, but with his ex-wife causing trouble and his daughter wanting to move in, John’s house—and his relationship with Ryan—threaten to split at the seams.

Would one month without a new surprise knocking him upside the heart be asking too much? If the sound of Fate’s laughter is any indication, the answer must be yes…

Product Warnings: Contains two formerly straight guys learning to navigate the gay-guy waters, sometimes without a paddle. Plus six kinds of family ensuring nothing comes easy.

My Review:
This is the second book in a series, and I read it as a standalone. I think the reader loses nothing in doing so. I had a brief recap of the previous book in this one, and I’m kinda glad I skipped that book, on account of I get triggers over evil-scientist plots….but that’s MY issue.

John and Ryan are two men who have always had straight relationships but have recently embarked on a relationship with each other. They came to terms with their bisexuality in the first book, and are just trying to figure this “gay thing” out. This causes a lot of conflict within their families.

John is a divorced man with two teenaged children, Mark and Torey. He doesn’t have joint custody, but Mark had run to John in the previous book, and currently lives with John and Ryan, with his mother’s grudging permission. John’s ex, Cynthia, is not cool with the “gay thing”–she and her husband are blatantly homophobic. Cynthia lives in LA with Torey, and John tries to keep a decent relationship for his daughter’s sake.

Ryan’s family is mixed; one brother is totally okay with his orientation, his father and other brother are not. Well, dad’s kinda okay, and he gets better, but Brent is really hostile. I had to give props to his bride-to-be, Anne, who makes Brent adjust his attitude.

Ryan and John are stable, and love each other, but they have a lot of stress–Ryan is a medical student, recovering from burn injuries suffered as a fire fighter. He had recently saved Mark from a fire, and John, Ryan and Mark suffer nightmares over that ordeal. John is a parent, and has the associated parental worries, especially as Mark begins to close in emotionally, and Torey’s calls from LA are becoming more regular and more upsetting–she hates her stepfather, and Cynthia is sick with pregnancy issues (and perhaps depression).

The stress peaks when Torey and Cynthia turn up on their Wisconsin doorstep, essentially destitute. Ryan is afraid that John will reconnect with his pregnant ex, and all his heart will be broken–plus he will have come out and estranged himself for nothing. John is a stalwart and the best kind of man. He only cares for Cynthia in that she’s the mother of his kids and soon to deliver his kids’ half-sister. His love is really more of agape, than amore. I didn’t wonder much regarding Ryan’s angst. Both Mark and Torey really like Ryan, and want him to remain their dad’s partner–and perhaps more.

This book is big on reality. It deals with the mundane in an approachable way. Life is messy, and Ryan and John’s life is especially messy. At times I wondered if the stress would break them apart, but they consistently took steps to come closer; even if Ryan’s motives seem selfish. It’s funny, though. People say love is selfless, and it isn’t always. Motives can indeed be selfish, and still be the right thing to do. Ryan has a right to be suspicious of Cynthia’s motives. She is a crafty gal, and focused on finding a good provider for her infant–and John is a demonstrated good provider.

The end of this book is not the end of this story, I’m sure, but it does end with a solid resolution and a solid HEA. There are some nice sexytimes that, again, are realistic. First times and fun times and aborted missions…which only drew me into this relationship more. I think there were plenty of ways for this book to go wrong, to get melodramatic and absurd, but it never did. It stayed the course and captivated me.

Interested? You can find LIFE, SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Samhain Publishing and AllRomance.

About the Author:
I live in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, the mosquito is the state bird, and where sometimes in winter it can be breathtakingly beautiful. Of course, the deepfreeze chill contributes to the breath-taking, but Minnesota’s a kindly, quiet place and it’s home to me now. I’ve been writing for far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – forty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, and currently am focused on M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, history, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories released under the pen name Kira Harp.

My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. My husband finally convinced me that after all that time writing, I really should submit something, somewhere. I was thrilled when it was accepted. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing the four novels and three freebie short stories in the series. I’ve been just delighted by the reception Mac and Tony have received.

My first free book became the first story that I actually released – I put it up a month before Life Lessons just for the fun of getting it out there. Lies and Consequences began as a reaction to the November 2010 election. It looked like the repeal of DADT might be derailed by the political shift and I put the insanity of that law into the book. Then as I was finishing the first draft in mid-December the repeal passed. Which was great, but prompted a rewrite to a lighter and more action/romance book. This was a solo effort and I learned a lot from writing and releasing it and from the reviews. Check Smashwords for that one and many of my other freebies.

I now have a decent backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my Books page. This writing thing is addictive. So read, comment, tell me what you like and what you don’t, and help me make the upcoming books even better.

You can find me to chat on my author page here on Goodreads most easily – I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group there. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.

You can also find me on my blog.

Thanks for popping in, and keep reading my friends!