Release Day: The Beginning by Victoria Sue

Release Blitz - Victoria Sue - The Beginning - Sirius Wolves #6


Author: Victoria Sue

Release Date: July 28

Length: 173 pages

Buy Links


Blurb

The Winter Circle is on the rise and the most desperate hour for humankind is at hand. Working from the shadows, the dark god Anubis, jealous enemy of the goddess Sirius, is setting years' long plans in motion, a master scheme that will strike home in the heart of Jefferson Pack.

Nate is a survivor.  He survived rejection by his father and his pack when he was a child. He survived being alone, kidnapped, starved, and tortured. But the more he recovers, the more he realizes he seems to be developing abilities that surpass those of the Supreme Alphas.

More than that, though, he can't move past the scar of knowing he was responsible for killing Darric, even though the Alpha was resurrected by Orion and Nate was forgiven; he can't let go of his fear that there is something terrible hiding in the many holes in the memories of his childhood.

The Winter Circle strikes, and there is a traitor within the pack, one who means to see the end of all hybrids, including Nate and Kellan's pups.

But as all hell breaks loose Nate's greatest fear is not the danger that surrounds him, it's the danger that hides within him. When Nate's finds out his true purpose, and terrible secrets are revealed, will love triumph over evil? Or will the secret that Nate carries just be the death of them all?

Author Bio


Victoria Sue has loved books for as long as she can remember. Books were always what pocket money went on and what usually Father Christmas brought. When she ran out of her kid's adventure stories, she would go raid her mom's. By the age of eight she was devouring classics like Little Women, and fell in love with love stories.

She's still in love with them. Any size, any shape, any creature - love is love, no matter what it says on the box.

In fact if they don't fit very neatly into any box she loves them even more! She has a very patient husband and three wonderful children. In 2010 in search of adventure they all moved from the UK to the US and are happily settled in Florida. Finally, after reading love stories for so long, she decided to write her own.


@vickysuewrites

https://www.facebook.com/victoriasueauthor/– sign up for my newsletter and download a free story The Wrong Alpha



Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Out of the Frying Pan by Julia Talbot



Out of the Frying Pan
Fearless 7
Julia Talbot
Genre: Gay romance, action adventure
Publisher: All Romance
Date of Publication: July 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-945193-22-4
Word Count: 20000
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill

Book Description:

Trust comes at a price.

Jenson Parkinson can't believe it when Sloane Marlen shows up at his Colorado mountain fire station. They were lovers years ago, until Sloane broke Jenson's trust, and his heart.

Sloane knows he's not guilty of the misdeeds Jenson believes he committed, but he never figured out how to convince Jenson. Or how to get over him. Can Sloane grab this second chance with both hands and teach Jenson he's worthy of trust... and love?


Excerpt:

The training session will start tomorrow morning at nine AM.” Jenson looked at his guys, some of them volunteer, a few career, and gave them the stern eye. “I know we all have jobs to do, but they’re expecting a wildfire season like no other this year thanks to the drought, and the Forestry Service wants all able bodied personnel to be able to dig firelines, offer support to hot shots and smokejumpers, and know how not to die.”

They all murmured, but no one argued. Carroll, Colorado was big enough to have a permanent fire crew only because of the ski areas that surrounded it, the population transient but relatively wealthy. Their very existence in this Rocky Mountain paradise was predicated on the fact that people had expensive homes and vacation rentals which they’d never let burn down. Jenson frickin’ loved his life. He didn’t want to have to move back to Denver or Boulder or someplace.

They’re sending several scientists who should help map possible fire routing and containment, as well as two of their lead trainers in hot shots and smokejumping. In addition to our regular duties, we’ll be giving full attention and support to the training team so that we can deploy and offer assistance during the wildfire season. Clear?”

His men and women all nodded, and Jenson gave them all a tight smile. “Good deal. Assignments have been posted for the new shifts. See Josh for all the deets.” Jenson left the meeting room, ready to get on with his day as best he could. He had to get the station ready for the influx of personnel he was about to have, not just the trainers but the firefighters from other small towns around the area. He knew it was a coup for the mayor that Carroll was chosen for this big get together of high mucky mucks, but really, all he knew was he was going to be handing out coffee and doughnuts to a bunch of assholes who did a lot of dick measuring and making a mess in his territory.

You ready for this, Cap?” Carson Diets asked. Carson was a Forestry guy, and he worked closely with the Carroll department to keep their area clear and keep the campers educated.

No.” He winked, though, trying for light and happy. “If I get through this without losing my shit we’ll all be grateful. It’s good for the guys, though, right? Trading ideas and shit.”

Yep.” Carson stepped close and lowered his voice. “There are a couple of real big names in the biz coming, Jenson. Just be diplomatic, huh?”

Don’t make you look bad, is that what you’re saying?” He grimaced. “Come on, man, I got your back. You know that.”

I do know that.” Carson clapped him on the back. “I also know you have a reputation for ruling this place with an iron fist and being pissy when someone invades your territory.”

Well, I’ll try to be all sweetness and light. I don’t suppose you have a roster of who’s coming so I can prepare myself?”


I do.” Carson pulled out his phone. “I’ll email it to you.”

Great. Thanks.” His head started to throb, his temples tight and his neck freezing up. Lord. He needed more coffee before he could deal with this shit. His phone chimed, an email popping up from Carson when he looked at his notifications. Jenson walked into his office and set up his K-Cup coffee maker for a hazelnut cream latte. That was his one luxury, because he was from Boulder, dammit. He loathed the Folgers sludge the other guys seemed to adore so much.

He sat at his desk and opened the email, a forward of an interdepartmental memo. When he read the list of presenters, Jenson’s eyes widened. Oh, Jesus fuck. No way. He tried to blink away the name he’d just read, but when he opened his eyes it was still there.

Sloane Marlen.

Jenson leaned back in his chair, letting his head thunk against the backrest. He hadn’t seen Sloane since they were probies, and he really never wanted to see the bastard again.

There wasn’t enough coffee on earth to make this shitty day better now. Jenson was never gonna make it through tomorrow.


About the Author:

Julia Talbot lives in the great Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been published by Samhain Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, All Romance eBooks and Changeling Press. She believes in stories that leave a mark, and that everyone deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild, especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved. Find Julia at @juliatalbot on Twitter.

For more information on other books by Julia, please visit her official website:







Tour giveaway

3 ebooks of A LOVER OF MEN to three winners

Book Review & Giveaway: Setting His Sights by B.A. Tortuga




Setting His Sights
Fearless 6
BA Tortuga
Genre: Gay Romance, action adventure
Publisher: All Romance eBooks
Date of Publication: July 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-945193-20-0
Word Count: 20000
ARe
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill

Book Description:

Trey’s waited long enough to take what he needs.

Trey Jamison leads an elite mercenary team that specializes in snatch and grabs. Things have been going well – well enough that he’s letting himself notice Kai Tanaka, fellow Texan and team long-range sniper.

Kai hasn’t made any secret of his attraction to Trey. But the boss is the boss, and it isn’t until the team gets compromised and Kai is captured during a job that Trey lets himself admit the feelings he has for his captured teammate.

***

Review 4 Stars:

Trey Jamison and his elite team of ex-special ops are good at what they do - rescuing kidnap victims, getting in and out the quickest way possible and with the least amount of casualties. They've worked together for years, know each other's method and know that everyone will always have their back. They are colleagues as well as boss and employees, but sometimes Trey wishes that he and Kai could be more. But mindful of the team dynamic, he doesn't make a move, even though he very much wants to.

Kai has been in love with Trey for as long as he can remember, and although he sometimes wishes for more, he doesn't want to rock the boat and mess with the team either. So he might joke and flirt, but he doesn't think his feelings would ever be reciprocrated.

Their most recent job should have been a simple in and out, a teenage girl snatched by a drug baron boyfriend. It goes according to plan, but then they hear of another hostage situation - two reporters taken a few days ago. Since they were in the area anyway, they decide to take on the extra job. Only things there don't quite as planned.

Someone is gunning for Trey and his team and they start with snatching Kai...

This book was thrilling, keeping you on the edge of your seat as things unfold. The banter between them all is fun and snarky, but you know that deep down all these characters care about each other and would die for them.

We get into the heads of Trey and Kai the most, as the story is told alternately from their points of view. They are both well-drawn, with their own quirks and foibles and the attraction between them sizzles off the page. These are tough, hard men, and the sex they have isn't flowery in the least, which suits their characters. The earthy, down-to-earth language of the love scenes fit much better than purple prose would have. They are hot together and leave you breathless.

The romance and the plot seemed to be evenly paced. Dialogue might seem a bit rough for some, but I woudn't expect them to talk like they were having tea and cake, so it suited here. The ending seemed a little too abrupt, but other than that it was a great read.


***

About the Author:

B.A. Tortuga Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy's Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, 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.

For more information on other books by B.A., visit her official website:

http://www.batortuga.com/

http://batortuga.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/batortuga

https://twitter.com/batortuga

***

Tour Giveaway:

3 winners to receive Smashing the Spotlight by BA Tortuga

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Book Spotlight: Reaction Shot by Parker Avrile

Reaction Shot
by Parker Avrile
M/M Suspense/Thriller/BDSM
Amazon US | UK | BN | ARe | iTunes

Blurb:

What happens in the dungeon doesn't stay in the dungeon.

The official story was that I was the ex-boytoy of some now-disgraced Chinese billionaire. The gay wasn't an issue. Even the BDSM wasn't an issue. The issue was money-laundering. As long as the powers-that-be saw me as just another party boy, I was safe. Or so I thought.

Then somebody set me up for a kinky scene in Vegas with a guy who turned out to be Hollywood's latest A-list action star. Lyndon's gay and ready to play, with a strong taste for dominating younger men. I hate to admit it, but I was attracted to the arrogant son of a you-know-what almost immediately.

Of course, it's all fun and games until we find out somebody's got our whole twisted encounter on video...

Reaction Shot is a complete 150-page short novel including all four episodes of this gay male BDSM suspense thriller-- Audition, Camera, Action, and Cut.

***

Excerpt:

"You're pretty enough to be in the movies." I looked him over. Yeah, I could definitely see this one as some kind of star. Those dimples were quality.

"Stop. Just stop. I don't need a lot of honesty from a blowjob, but I need that much."

"OK, OK, you're in the movies, and I'm your stalker, and you had to capture me and teach me a lesson. Maybe you better handcuff me again. I don't think the last lesson took."

"I really should ask you to leave." But we both knew he didn't want to.

I snuggled close. "All right. Name one movie I've seen you in."

He named five.

Oh fuck. I sat up and took his head in my two hands. Turned it this way and that to study him from every angle. "I just thought you were a guy who looks like him," I said. "Lyndon Fucking Becker. Wow. I guess I didn't think actors needed to have fuckboys sent up to their hotel rooms. I thought they could get it on their own."

"I didn't have you sent up to my room."

"Well, somebody did. I thought I was going to play with some tech millionaire I met in a bar."

"You ought to call that guy. Find out what's going on."

"Can't. Don't have a number for him."

"Are you fucking kidding me? You arranged to play with a guy you met in a bar who wouldn't even give you his phone number?"

"Hey, it was a nice bar. And it seemed like a nice hotel. So... you know..."

"You like to live dangerously, don't you... uh, what was your name again?"

"Shale. Shale Shelby."

"That a real name?"

"Yeah. I don't care if the Department of Justice knows I meet guys for sex games." I shouldn't have mentioned the DOJ. Maybe they were on my mind because I knew they were watching some of my known associates. Probably they were still watching me to see if I crossed any lines.

My sex stuff wouldn't make my father happy, but the feds didn't mind it at all. In fact, the official story was that I was the ex-boytoy of some now-disgraced Chinese billionaire. The gay wasn't an issue. Even the BDSM wasn't an issue. The issue was money-laundering. As long as they saw me as just another party boy, I was safe.

"Well, I do care if people know," he said. "I don't want to see a story about this night in the fucking tabloids." He poured his own wine this time.

I sipped a little more. "Don't worry. You won't. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and all that crap. I'd never be allowed in a decent resort again if I kissed and told."

Lyndon Fucking Becker probably didn't realize that he'd cuddled up to me while we were talking. It was a lonely life, being a rich important son of a bitch. I hadn't ever had any actors before, but I'd done some bankers and CEOs. They were lonely, needy, often expecting me to take the lead and be the dominant one. If the public only knew how different these so-called alpha power dudes act in private...

***


Release Day Dawn to Dusk by Alina Popescu

Dawn to Dusk Banner


Synopsis

That first encounter with Robert in rural Romania at eleven. A summer spent together in the same setting a year later. Their first text exchange in high school. The first sexual experience. The first heartbreak—the second and third and fourth chance. The point of total breakdown and the despair of failing. More love than anyone could have warned him about.

No matter how much time passes, no matter how different their paths, every meeting brings Edi and Robert closer together. Those stolen moments shine brighter than any. Yet loving Robert is not easy, not when Edi wants to be true to himself and is met with dishonesty. Or when Robert keeps parading new conquests and ignores Edi more often than not.

Edi has always loved Robert, but he must decide if his journey leads to or away from his childhood friend. Is it true love or is Edi just unable to let go?

Dawn to Dusk Cover

Buy Links

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I8FG8P4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01I8FG8P4
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01I8FG8P4
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01I8FG8P4
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dawntodusk-2048734-149.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/649340

Excerpt

What a big jerk. I frowned at the new boy and he must have noticed because he tilted his head and stared at me. His smirk still in place, he winked before returning his attention to the game. 
“Who’s that other kid playing with Nicu?” I asked after bumping my shoulder into Tatiana’s to get her attention. 
“That’s our cousin, Robert,” she said, smiling all adoringly at him. “He’s from Bucharest.” 
I rolled my eyes at that tidbit. Just great, another brat from the capital! The other Bucharest kid was staying with the neighbors on the other side of my grandma’s house. He was full of himself, he had a funny walk, and I wanted to punch him right in the face every time I saw him. What was it with these kids from the Capital, anyway? They thought they were better than the rest just because of the city they’d been born into.
Robert and Nicu played until the younger one was thoroughly defeated. Nicu begged Robert for a rematch, but he refused. Holding the ball against his right hip, he turned to face me. “What about you, kid? Wanna be the next one I beat?” 
I wanted to tell him where to shove that ball of his, but I stopped myself. I probably shouldn’t get into another fight. I might be shipped to the other grandparents for the rest of the summer. Or worse, get my ass kicked by this older kid.

dawn-to-dusk-3D-render 
“Nah, too hot to play now anyways.” 
“Are you a chicken?” Robert asked. His mocking tone angered me, but not as much as his stupid cousins parroting the “chicken” part and laughing at me. I glared at him and then at Tatiana. I didn’t care about Nicu, but her taking her cousin’s side stung. Well, he was family, but still. He’d refused to play with her. The snotty traitor! 
“Fine, you ass. I’ll play.” 
I pushed myself up and dragged my feet through the grass. I jumped over the ditch and walked to the middle of the court side Nicu had been in. The bastard Robert had the advantage, I had the sun in my eyes. 
I’d watched them play, though. He’d beaten Nicu because he was stronger and a bit faster. But he had no finesse with the ball. I spent most of my time outside, running and playing. Somehow, this smug pretty boy seemed to be into different things. Probably kissing girls and going to the movies and other stupid shit. 
He acted all nice and let me serve. I took full advantage of it and showed him what I was made of. I beat him easily after that. Robert was more concerned with talking to his cousins than paying attention to the game. I took it as an offense. He wanted to blame the loss on him being distracted. Ass!

About the authorAlina Popescu

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and she has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm. Born and raised in Romania, she finds her inspiration in books of all genres, in movies, and the occasional manga comic book. She is a proud geek who needs her fast Internet and gadgets more than she needs air.
Social Links
Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu
Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu
Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu
Google+:  https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu
Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu


Freebie Spotlight: Beach Night by Parker Avrile

Beach Night
by Parker Avrile
M/M Contemporary Novella
Free read
Amazon US | UK | BN | iTunes | ARe | Kobo

Note to UK fans - Amazon hasn't yet price-matched it to free on their UK site, but you should be able to get it free at one of the other vendors.

Blurb:

Three million dollars is up for grabs...

Nobody stumbles into this two-bit lakefront casino by accident. Chris knows there's something hinky going on from the moment Dillon waltzes into the place wearing his form-fitting three-hundred-dollar jeans. Dillon's blazing hot, but those magic fingers keep triggering the machines to spit out jackpots.

It's Chris's job to put guys like Dillon in prison. That's the reason Chris needs to go undercover as a hookup who meets Dillon on a secluded beach.

Or at least Chris tells himself that's the reason.

"Beach Night" is an 18,000-word male/male contemporary romantic suspense novella. It's a complete standalone story with a happily ever after and NO cliffhanger.


***

Excerpt:

"...This wasn't the kind of place where two guys held hands in public, but Chris could feel the warmth of him scant inches away. Maybe he was kidding himself all along. Research? All he wanted to research at the moment was what Dillon looked like out of those custom-fitted jeans. He imagined a tailor kneeling, a measuring tape in his hands, as he figured out exactly where to make the adjustments. It was a sexy image, a guy's face so close to the level of Dillon's crotch.

Once Dillon put up all the deadbolts on the door of his hotel room, Chris felt nervous again. All the locks were meant to make him feel secure, to remind him that everything they did and said was now utterly private, but they had the opposite effect. For a minute Chris didn't know where to put his hands or how fast to move.

Dillon turned and traced a finger along the line of Chris's mouth. The butterfly wing touch sent sparkles running down Chris's spine.

"You don't do this often, do you?" Dillon asked.

"Do I seem that pathetic?"

"Let me rephrase that. I don't do this often. I was in a relationship for five years. A guy from college. I thought we had something." Now Dillon's hand cupped Chris's chin.

"What happened?"

"He decided to pursue a job opportunity in Paris."

"Oh. That's harsh."

"I guess I'm not prettier than Paris." Dillon didn't seem too broken up about it. Maybe the wound had healed. He closed the final inch between them, kissing Chris around his lips and then directly on his mouth and then slipping his tongue just inside. It wasn't the kind of kiss Chris expected from a dating app hookup. It was slow and suggestive and told you this man liked to take his time.

Chris touched the button at Dillon's collarbone. He felt like his hands were still trembling, but he hoped it didn't show. "Same song, different verse. When we met, I knew mine liked 'em blond and twenty-three. I'm still blond but I got older every year." He thought his own wound had healed, but he didn't like the way his voice sounded in his ears when he said that.

"Fuck," Dillon said. "I'm sorry, Justin."

Justin. Oh yeah. Chris didn't want to talk any more. What was the point of talking to a man you didn't trust enough to give him a real name? It was better just to touch.

Every time he unbuttoned a button, he kissed the lickable patch of smooth skin beneath it. Well-defined muscles said Dillon spent as much time in the gym as he did in the casino...."

***

Visit the author at: http://www.therunawaymodel.com/


Release Blitz & Giveaway: Ice by Christ Quinton & R.J. Scott

Release Blitz - Ice (The Salisbury Series #2) - Chris Quinton & RJ Scott


Authors: Chris Quinton & RJ Scott

Release Date: July 1 2016


Other Books In Series:

Blurb: 

With millions in diamonds at stake, can Jon make Greg see that some things are not worth dying for?

Footloose adventurer Greg Drakowski used to live for the moment but these days shadows of grief and guilt cling to him. Recklessly following one lead to the next, Greg crosses oceans at the very hint of treasure, and doesn’t care that he rushes into danger.

This time his quarry is a cache of diamonds, hidden away decades ago. When the clues bring him to the ancient city of Salisbury, he knows he’s close to success.

Renovations expert Jonathan Ellis is part of Ageless Wood Restorations - three generations of knowledge and trade. Focused and hard-working, Jon finds value in recreating the elegance of the past with his own hands, and it will take something - or someone - extraordinary to break into his enclosed world.

When Greg drops into Jon's lap he finds it impossible to refuse him. Even when the bad guy appears and Jon isn't sure whom he can trust, he knows he has to stand by Greg, if only to save the idiot from himself.
 

Excerpt: 


Greg woke up a good hour before his alarm went off and rolled out of bed to shower and shave, and dress in his usual jeans and T-shirt ready for work. He drank instant coffee and ate the small wrapped cookies that came with the room, then took out all his notes and spread them out in chronological order on the floor, holding down recalcitrant corners with anything he could find.
A mug held down one, a notebook another, a pillow near his knee, and a shoe furthest from him.
Not exactly the best way to have this laid out, but he couldn’t pin everything up on the wall.
Andrey would laugh at him, seeing him on his hands and knees like this. Familiar grief welled inside him. A year and he could still conjure up Andrey’s face. He held the pendant that hung around his neck in a tight grip.
Greg sat back on his haunches to get a better perspective on the papers and to get a grip on the heartache that wouldn’t leave him. Instead he focused on why he was doing this: a mental promise to Andrey to find the Khlebnikov Diamonds. Somehow, in his screwed-up brain, he had rationalized the guilt he felt over Andrey’s death with finding the diamonds. Like it would restore some sort of cosmic balance in his life.
“Stupid,” he muttered to the empty room. “Find the diamonds, give them to Mack, get your cut, give the money to Lena, and fucking retire, already.”
His own island in the Aegean, beaches, warm water, peace.
Find the diamonds.
Author Bios:

Chris Quinton started creating stories not long after she mastered joined-up writing, somewhat to the bemusement of her parents and her English teachers. But she received plenty of encouragement. Her dad gave her an already old Everest typewriter when she was ten, and it was probably the best gift she'd ever received – until the inventions of the home-computer and the worldwide web.

Chris's reading and writing interests range from historical, mystery, and paranormal, to science-fiction and fantasy, writing mostly in the male/male genre. She refuses to be pigeon-holed and intends to uphold the long and honourable tradition of the Eccentric Brit to the best of her ability. In her spare time [hah!] she reads, embroiders, quilts and knits. Over the years she has been a stable lad [briefly] in a local racing stable and stud, a part-time and unpaid amateur archaeologist, a civilian clerk at her local police station and a 15th century re-enactor.

She lives in a small and ancient city in the south-west of the United Kingdom, sharing her usually chaotic home with an extended family, three dogs, a frilled dragon [lizard] and sundry goldfish and tropicals.
chris.quintonwriter@ymail.com
http://chrisquintonwriter.blogspot.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/chris.quinton.14
https://twitter.com/Chris_writer
http://uk.pinterest.com/writerchris/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2952441.Chris_Quinton
http://www.librarything.com/author/quintonchris


RJ's goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the bestselling gay romance author of over ninety MM romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn't with family either reading or writing. 

RJ also writes MF romance under the name Rozenn Scott.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn't like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.



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Guest Post: Writing Gay Romance by Kelli Wilkins

Writing Gay Romances - 4 FAQ
By Romance Author Kelli A. Wilkins
www.KelliWilkins.com

Hi everyone,

My name is Kelli Wilkins and I write romances. My books cover nearly every genre and vary in heat level from mild to super-spicy. People have different reactions when they learn what I write. (Sometimes they gasp and pretend to be horrified, and then ask me if I “act out” my love scenes at home!)

But when people find out that I write gay romances—that really gets them going! “Why would you write one of those? You’re not a man or gay.” (Here’s my turn to gasp and act surprised. Really? You’re kidding!) I generally respond with: “Why shouldn’t I write gay romances? I wrote a vampire romance, and I’ve never been a vampire.” (That usually quiets people down for a while.)

I get a lot of questions about “why” or “how” I write gay romances. Here are the top four, along with my answers.

You’ve written lots of straight romances. Why write gay romances?

Why not? I’m a writer. And as a writer, I write whatever romance book comes to me, whether it’s a contemporary, historical, paranormal, or gay romance. My stories are about people who meet, fall in love, and overcome obstacles to be with each other.

This basic philosophy applies whether the characters are same-sex, different sex, or space alien and earth girl. Love is love and romance is romance. I’m not married to one specific genre or heat level. I go where the story and the characters take me.

When I wrote A Secret Match and Killer in Wolf’s Clothing I trusted my instincts and wrote the story that was in my head. Although both books are contemporary gay romances, they’re very different.

In A Secret Match, a big part of the storyline centers around Everett dealing (or rather, not dealing) with his sexuality, and his (un)willingness to be open about who he really is. The characters in Killer in Wolf's Clothing are comfortable with their sexuality, but have other issues to deal with. This super-hot paranormal/shifter is a fun look at the werewolf legend and blends romance, mystery, danger, humor, and sizzling love scenes.

How do you write the gay love scenes? 

I approach a same-sex love scene the same way I would if I was writing about a hetero couple. When I write a straight romance, about half of the scenes are written from a male point of view. So I have experience “thinking” about scenes from a male perspective anyway.

Peter thinks about the girl he loves, fantasizes about making love to her, he kisses her, they touch, and… There’s not much difference in writing a story from two male points of view. Writing a love scene isn’t only about the gender or the anatomy of the characters—it’s about creating a believable, intimate scene where two people express their love for each other.

Each character in each book is unique, so the love scenes are always approached from different directions. Everett and Josh’s first kiss (in A Secret Match) was a tender and sweet moment, while the first time readers meet Deke (from Killer in Wolf’s Clothing) they realize he’s anything but shy.

What’s the hardest part about writing a gay romance?

The answer to this is quite surprising, and no, it has nothing to do with bedroom activities. The hardest part about writing a same-sex romance or love scene is: pronouns.

As I’m writing, I’ll dash off something like: “He ran his hand down his chest and…” Wait, what? He ran his own hand down his own chest? No… I have to pay extra close attention when revising or editing a same-sex scene. Too many “his” references and the reader doesn’t know who is doing what. Better to say: “He ran his hand down Kevin’s chest and...”

Are you concerned about “what people will think” about you writing gay romances?

Not in the least. People will think whatever they want. I realize that not everyone wants to read the same type of romance, and that’s fine. But if readers are turned off to me as an author just because I write gay romances… well, that’s too bad, see ya.

When I wrote my first gay romance, I considered “what people would think” about the book and me writing it—for about three seconds. Then I reminded myself that I’m a writer, and I create the characters and scenes that make up the book.

I don’t worry about what people might think of me writing about two male characters kissing, going to bed, or making dinner. Basically, the story needs to be told, and I’m the one telling it. As a writer, I’ve made up all sorts of things: an erotic Bigfoot story, a historical Viking tale, detailed ménage scenes (in all combinations), and a first-person vampire love story.

Writers need to turn off their internal editors and forge ahead with the story as it should be (and needs to be) told. If we constantly worried about what grandma would think about our writing, or if we were afraid to open up and let the characters (and the story) take us into the bedroom, we’d never write anything except G-rated fables.

I once read a blog where a woman was “confessing” to writing an erotic romance, even though she couldn’t tell anyone about it and wouldn’t “dare” put her real name on the story. I got to wondering…why? Why hide your writing? And if you’re “ashamed” to be writing in a particular genre, why invest the time and energy into something you’re not going to stand behind?

Now more than ever, I’m just as proud of my gay romances as I am of my straight romances. Why? Because I’m a romance writer—and in my books, everyone deserves to be in love and live happily-ever-after with whatever partner they choose.

And that’s the way it should be… in fiction and in real life.

Kelli

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 95 short stories, 19 romance novels, and 5 non-fiction books. Her romances span many genres and heat levels.

In 2016 Kelli is re-releasing her romances previously published by Amber Quill Press. Visit her website and blog for a full title list, book summaries, and other information as it becomes available. Look for her Medallion Press historical western romance, Lies, Love & Redemption, coming in September.

Her writing book, You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction is a fun and informative non-fiction guide based on her 15 years of experience as a writer. It’s filled with writing exercises and helpful tips all authors can use.

If you like to be scared, check out Kelli’s horror ebooks: Dead Til Dawn and Kropsy’s Curse.

Kelli posts on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor. She also writes a weekly blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/.

Visit her website, www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about all of her writings, read book excerpts, reviews, and more. Readers can sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb.


CATCH UP WITH KELLI

Here are a few links to find Kelli & her writings on the web

Website: www.KelliWilkins.com
Blog: http://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins
Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/HVQqb
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1123678.Kelli_A_Wilkins
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/KWilkinsAuthor/


 
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