Black Dog Blues by Rhys Ford virtual tour | Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Ever since he’d been part of the pot in a high-stakes poker game, elfin outcast Kai Gracen figured he’d used up any good karma he had when Dempsey, a human Stalker, won the hand and took him in. Following the violent merge of Earth and Underhill, the human and elfin races were left with a messy, monster-ridden world and Stalkers were often the only cavalry willing to ride to someone’s rescue when something shadowy and dark moved into the neighbourhood.

There certainly were no shortage of monsters or people stupidly willing to become lunch for one.It was a hard life but one Kai liked. And he was good at it. Killing monsters was easy. Especially since he was one himself.

After an accident retired Dempsey out, Kai set up permanent shop in San Diego, contracting out to the local SoCalGov depot. It was a decent life, filled with bounty, a few friends and most importantly, no other elfin around to remind him he wasn’t really human.

That was until a sidhe lord named Ryder arrives in San Diego and Kai is conscripted to do a job for Ryder’s fledgling Dawn Court. It was supposed to a simple run; head up the coast during dragon-mating season to retrieve a pregnant human woman seeking sanctuary with the new Court then back to San Diego. Easy, quick and best of all, profitable. But Ryder’s “simple” run leads to massive trouble and Kai ends up being caught in the middle of a deadly bloodline feud he has no hope of escaping.

No one ever got rich by being a Stalker. But then hardly any of them got old either. The way things were looking, it didn’t look like Kai was going to be the exception.

Pre-Order your copy of Black Dog Blues from DSP Publications today! 

Scheduled release date February 2nd 2015

Dark, gripping, intense and imaginative, Black Dog Blues is the first book in a new somewhat Urban and slightly Dystopian fantasy series full of paranormal creatures that will surprise you.

Kai Gracen is an Elf with a dark past, living as a human and working as a Stalker. He was won in a poker game by his boss and sort of father figure, Dempsey, who is now retiring so Kai is taking over the family business. Kai is an enigma. He was born an Elf, but prefers to live his life like a human. His parentage will surprise you, but he wants nothing to do with that part of his life. And while Kai would be considered bi-sexual, he is far from someone that confines his sexuality to a title or a box.

When Kai is hired to retrieve a pregnant human woman it is supposed to be an easy job, that is until the  sidhe lord Ryder shows up on his door step, intent on accompanying Kai on the job. Secrets are revealed on both sides and the job turns out to be more dangerous that Kai assumed, and then there is the lustful way Ryder eyes Kai that sets his teeth on edge. Unanswered questions prove deadly for the Elfin Stalker. Who is this human pregnant woman that Ryder is hell bent on protecting? And why is Kai’s father suddenly intent on bringing his wayward son back home?

I think I just fell in love with a fictional, slightly psychotic elf with a death wish and a snarky sense of humor. Kai is unapologetically brash and intense. He loathes his past and is determined to live his life in his own way, make his own rules. Ryder is very mysterious and secretive but the one thing he doesn’t hide is just how much he wants Kai. While there isn’t any romance per say in this story, there is an undeniable attraction between these two that Kai does an impressive job of ignoring.

There was a lot going on throughout this story, Dempsey retiring, Kai taking over, the safe transport of the pregnant woman, Ryder’s involvement in her life, Kai’s past merging with his present and the link he has to Ryder. While I was completely engrossed in this story from start to finish, I got a little confused at times with everything that was taking place, but all roads intersected along the way. There were a few unappealing secondary characters as well, but I’m thinking Ford may have plans for them somewhere in the context of this series, so I’ll file them all away for later.

Overall I thought this was a great read. As I said it is dark, imaginative, mysterious and engaging. The way Ford merged the human and Fae worlds, the history and lore of the sidhe that was told, I’m anxious to see where Ford takes Kai and Ryder and possibly Alexa in the next story. This book reminded me a lot of Holly Black’s Modern Tales of Fairy series, which is one of the best Fae series to date. If you read multiple genres like I do, or you are thinking of dipping your toe into the warm waters of the MM genre, then this book would probably be the perfect start for you. 

A note from the Author, Rhys Ford... the birth of Black Dog Blues.

A few years ago, I wrote an urban fantasy called Black Dog Blues. When the book simmered and boiled in my brain, there were a few things I wanted to have in this book: An elf who was unapologetically bisexual and raised human, blood, gore, guns and monsters.I’d released it into the wilds of self-pubbing—mostly because there wasn’t a place for him then— and Kai did pretty well.

Then, one day at a yarn store, Elizabeth North of Dreamspinner Press fame, started talking about a new venture they were trying out—DSP Publications, DSP’s boutique genre imprint. Long story short, Elizabeth asked if I’d submit Black Dog Blues, I did and now, here we are—with Kai making his way into the mainstream.

Repackaged and gone over again for red squiggles, Black Dog Blues is getting a re-release on February 3rd and I can’t be more excited. The story is the same but Anne Cain rocked me a new cover, more in line with the urban fantasy feel of that genre and I’ve had a chance to kick a few of the tires I wanted to kick in editing. The biggest thing about this re-release is that Kai is going out there again and I can put his sequel firmly into my queue.

So to celebrate Black Dog Blues’ re-release, I’m holding a 12 stop blog tour where YOU can win a dragon. Well, a stuffed dragon. Who’s kind of goofy. And much less terrifying than the one Kai ran into. Leave a comment or use the widget the blog’s provided and enter to win one of these plush dragons! International welcome. Dragons for all. Mostly because man, they’re HUGE and take up a lot of space in the guest room.

As an added bonus, be sure to collect ALL of the Black Dog Blues trading cards and return to my blog rhysford.com at the end of the tour for a special giveaway. You’ll need the cards to enter. Winner will be chosen randomly from entrants with the correct answers.

Black Dog Blues Trading Card

These fine collectibles showcase some of the many creatures and inhabitants of Kai Gracen world. Just like life, there are no true good or evil creatures. It’s just that some of them are more wicked and deadlier than others.

If you’ve already read Black Dog Blues, thank you. REALLY. Thank you. You rock and you’ve made Black Dog Blues a success and got it notice. I cannot say thank you enough. No need to re-buy the book but if you’d left a review on Amazon—and have the time—repost it onto the new listing. Unlike Goodreads, re-release reviews don’t carry over. *grins*

If you haven’t read Black Dog Blues, ah—Kai really is my special precious, growly kitten. I adore writing him. I adore writing his world and man, there’s so many places to go with his story. I’m really looking forward to digging in.

Thank you again for letting my snarling elf have a space on your ebook reader. You all rock. Thank you.

Rhys Ford was born and raised in Hawai’i then wandered off to see the world. After chewing through a pile of books, a lot of odd food, and a stray boyfriend or two, Rhys eventually landed in San Diego, which is a very nice place but seriously needs more rain.

Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and an overworked red coffee maker.

My Blog: www.rhysford.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhys_Ford

And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.

My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press. 

As Rhys said in her guest post, leave a comment to be entered into the giveaway for a stuffed dragon, and collect the card above so you can go to her blog at the end of the tour and enter an additional giveaway there. 

Anni Moon The Elemental Artifact blog tour Spotlight & Giveaway {Jean Book Nerd}

Publisher: Oculus Pictures, Inc.

Format: Paperback | 392 pages

Dimensions: 140mm x 216mm x 22mm | 494g

Publication date: 7 October 2014

ISBN 10: 0990706214

ISBN 13: 9780990706212

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Anni doesn't know about Elementals, Funk, Zephyrs, excited talking Bat-Rat creatures, and, least of all, Dragons. All that changes when her best friend, Lexi, is kidnapped and forces beyond Anni’s control trap her on a hidden, floating island in the Elemental world.

In a race against time, Anni sets out to save her friend. Along the way she finds allies among the Elementals, but she is also presented with a choice, one that might help save Lexi. If Anni agrees to an ancient, open-ended contract, will her sacrifice cost her more than she’s bargained for? Or will it land her in the middle of an age-old war between the humans, the Elementals, and the dreaded Fectus?

You can purchase Anni Moon & The Elemental Artifact at the following Retailers:

        

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Book Nerd Spotlight

In kindergarten my life's goal was to become a teacher who wore only pink and ate French fries all day long. Now that I've matured, my goal in life is to become a Miss Marple-Sherlockian-Jedi Knight--I'm totally serious, it's a real thing.

I love stories, and I've had the privilege of working in Hollywood for over a decade in many different capacities, working with celebrities, directors (I'm married to one, plus he's my illustrator), and a few executives (the head-honcho types that I can't talk about because I signed confidentiality waivers). I'm not sure any of these people would have hired me if they knew I had a closet full of mint condition Star Wars toys...

However, the life of a freelancer is not for the faint of heart. I've kept myself busy with my extracurricular activities, from skydiving to scuba diving, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a degree in Fine Art, an M.A. in Psychology (with a focus in Neuroscience), and a few other things that I like to keep top secret. ...Some people think I'm a spy, but I'll never tell!

Social Media

   

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Guest Post with Author Melanie Abed (“What fiction most influenced your childhood, and what effect did those stories

have on Anni Moon & The Elemental Artifact?”)

I loved stories, and was fortunate to have a wonderful Grandmother who read several translated 

Swedish fairytales from her homeland. I particularly liked fables from foreign countries because I 

enjoyed discovering something new and different from the books available in my school’s library. 

During middle school, I was lucky to read several very influential and thought provoking books, 

such as 1984, by George Orwell; Brave New World by Aldous Huxley; and the Count of Monte 

Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. Although we discussed these books in class, I found that these books 

stayed with me for a long time to come. I mean, who could ever forget Big Brother? I was impressed 

by how these authors crafted such brilliant books that made my young mind spin. My curiosity was 

thoroughly sparked trying to figure out how these authors were able to create such wonderful plots, 

with such developed characters, inside such compelling worlds.  

To say that I was obsessed with all kinds of stories, especially movies, would be an understatement. 

My imagination was highly vivid as a child. I was always in my own world, always dreaming up 

stories in my mind. I adored adventures, fantasy, action, and sci-fi, especially Star Wars. Much later I 

discovered J.R.R. Tolkien’s work, and I believe it was the compilation and exposure to so many 

stories with so many worlds, populated with unique characters that ultimately influenced my desire 

to create my own world one day. However, I didn’t get much encouragement in school for my 

writing, which was a shame, because if I did, I believe that I would have considered writing more 

seriously, earlier on. 

It wasn’t until later that I started writing seriously, and fortunately I had some teachers who were 

very encouraging. Anni Moon’s story was there in my mind all along, just waiting to get out, and 

fortunately it did.

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January 30th Friday: TTC Books and More GUEST POST 

January 31st Saturday: Rmorror Fan Girl REVIEW 

February 1st Sunday: TMBA Corbett Tries to Write REVIEW & INTERVIEW 

February 2nd Monday: I am a Reader RANDOM THINGS 

February 3rd Tuesday: Book Lovers Life REVIEW & TENS LIST 

February 4th Wednesday: The Word at My Fingertips REVIEW & MUSIC PLAYLIST 

February 5th Thursday: Notebook of Books REVIEW & EXCERPT 

February 6th Friday: DaybreakInAutumn REVIEW & RANDOM THINGS 

February 7th Saturday: DJ’s Book Corner FILL IN THE BLANKS 

February 8th Sunday: CBY Book Club INTERVIEW 

February 9th Monday: A Dream Within a Dream DREAM CAST 

February 10th Tuesday: Sabrina’s Paranormal Palace REVIEW & FAVORITE BOOKS 

February 11th Wednesday: Aphonic Book Reviews REVIEW 

February 12th Thursday: Girls *Hearts* Books REVIEW & EXCERPT

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Lessons For Survivors by Charlie Cochran virtual tour | Review, Guest Post & Giveaway {Riptide Publishing}

A more than professional interest . . . a more than personal intrigue.

Orlando Coppersmith should be happy. WWI is almost a year in the past, he’s back at St. Bride’s College in Cambridge, his lover and best friend Jonty Stewart is at his side again, and—to top it all—he’s about to be made Forster Professor of Applied Mathematics. And although he and Jonty have precious little time for an investigative commission, they can’t resist a suspected murder case that must be solved in a month so a clergyman can claim his rightful inheritance.

But the courses of scholarship, true love, and amateur detecting never did run smooth. Orlando’s inaugural lecture proves almost impossible to write. A plagiarism case he’s adjudicating on turns nasty with a threat of blackmail against him and Jonty. And the murder investigation turns up too many leads and too little hard evidence.

Orlando and Jonty may be facing their first failure as amateur detectives, and the ruin of their professional and private reputations. Brains, brawn, the pleasures of the double bed—they’ll need them all to lay their problems to rest.

Grab your copy of Lessons For Survivors now from Riptide Publishing.
And for more info on this Author and this series, visit Charlie Cochrans Author page.

Murder, mystery and a forbidden romance between the two would be detectives trying to solve the case. The backdrop is Britain around WWI at a small Cambridge college while lovers Jonty and Orlando try to keep their romance behind closed doors and contained to the double bed they share, all while trying to solve the mysteries that encircle their lives.

Orlando is now a Professor and if that weren’t enough to make him stress and fret like only Orlando can do, someone is blackmailing him. At the same time, Orlando and Jorty are hired to investigate a murder that is on a time frame if the man that hired them is to receive his inheritance. Jorty is determined to have a normal life with Orlando, and though the case is confusing and nothing is as it seems, their love, witty sense of humor and strong character will see them through any challenge they face, together.

I admit to being slightly confused with the characters and the story as I picked up the ninth book in a series, not realizing it should have been read in order. But I was seriously drawn into the mystery, intrigue and romance of this historical era story. I love when an Author can literally transport me back in time in my imagination with vivid details, scenery and characters. I could see Orlando and Jorty tromping through the halls of the college, putting their heads together to solve the case, and that double bed!

So, while I’m lost on the relationship between characters and the history of this world Cochran has created with her Cambridge stories, I thoroughly enjoyed the development of these two men as individuals and as a couple as they faced the challenges presented to them in this book. I would probably suggest you start at the beginning, and my plan is to go back and read all the stories from this series, but I was able to enjoy this story regardless.

A must read for fans of this series, Cochran’s work and anyone that likes a rich historical romance full of depth, romance and mystery.

Guest post with Author Charlie Cochran... 

Contemporary or historical – which is easier to write?

That’s a question I’ve been asked and put considerable thought to. The answer is totally counter-intuitive because, at least for me, historicals are easier. On several counts, not least because I’ve read so many stories written during or set in the early 20th century that it’s really easy for me to slip straight in the feel of the era – cadence of dialogue, customs, manners, etc. But there are some specific issues which affect all authors.

You may ask, “Isn’t it easier to make mistakes when writing about the past?” to which I’d say, “Not necessarily.” I do a lot of checking (of facts and words) when I’m putting together a historical story, and I’m very lucky that I’ve always had editors who pick up on the howlers I let through. I suspect if there are errors that appear, it would take somebody with a real working knowledge of the era to pick up on them – and even then you can argue the toss. I believe the great Patrick O’Brian was brought to book for having used a term in dialogue that wasn’t first recorded until ten years later. He said that the words had likely been in use orally well before they were first written down.

For a contemporary, there are likely to be many more people who’d spot a mistake, because they know things from their own experience, and there are lots of experts in modern day stuff out there. Trouble is that we don’t always check stuff, because we “know” it or “think we know it”; wasn’t PD James caught out by featuring a motorbike travelling in reverse gear? I have a good pal who’s an author and she’s got what I’m 95% certain is a mistake in one of her books, and it’s key to the denouement. The sort of thing that’s a loophole, a loophole that’s been dealt with, although unless you or someone you knew had been in a similar situation, you wouldn’t know. (Notice how cagey I’m being? I haven’t dared tell her.)

For the mystery writer, a previous era where there aren’t such things as mobile phones, the world wide web, SatNavs, security cameras and other modern innovations can make plotting so much more simple. You have to be far more ingenious writing about a modern setting – in “The Best Corpse for the Job” I had a phone signal blackspot, which is believable in a country village but wouldn’t be in a large city. Any murder, especially if it involved children or was part of a series of murders, would attract huge media attention, although I notice that aspect is sometimes given short shrift in contemporary stories.

I’ve even heard the view espoused that modern forensic and policing techniques make it almost impossible to write a traditional style “amateur detective who puts the poor dim police right” story set in the present day, although that may be taking it too far. Certainly the author would need a deft touch (Simon Brett manages it!) and maybe would have to set their tale in that strange parallel cosy mystery universe where Oxford is the murder capital of Britain  and nobody uses the F-word, but that’s food for a whole other blog post... 

As Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes, with titles published by Carina, Samhain, Bold Strokes, MLR and Cheyenne.

Charlie's Cambridge Fellows Series of Edwardian romantic mysteries was instrumental in her being named Author of the Year 2009 by the review site Speak Its Name. She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, International Thriller Writers Inc and is on the organising team for UK Meet for readers/writers of GLBT fiction. She regularly appears with The Deadly Dames.

Connect with Charlie:

·Website:charliecochrane.co.uk/

·Blog: charliecochrane.livejournal.com/

·Twitter: @charliecochrane

·Facebook profile page: facebook.com/charlie.cochrane.18

·Goodreads: goodreads.com/goodreadscomcharlie_cochrane

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for an e-book from Charlie Cochrane’s backlist (excluding Lessons For Survivors). Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 31. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. 

Fire & Rain by Carter Quinn | Release day Review, Guest Post & Giveaway {Kansas stories book #2}

Fire & Rain, Kansas book #2
{The sequel to The Way Back}

Eric Walker has learned hard lessons from his past. He’s no longer the alcoholic husband hiding in the closet. He’s no longer the guy who tried to steal his brother’s boyfriend. He has two items on his agenda: fix his relationship with his brother, Jason, and find his own soul mate. But when it comes to relationships, Eric's track record looks more like a train wreck. He craves intimacy almost as much as he fears reverting to his old ways.

Johnny Osborne has watched Eric mature over the last year and a half and has fallen in love with him in the process. He's tried being patient, but it’s gotten him nowhere. No matter how many disastrous blind dates Johnny sets Eric up on, Eric seems determined to consider everyone but the man who’s been right in front of him all along.

Eric and Johnny aren't the only ones struggling with their emotions. After his apartment burns down, their coworker, Travis, can't choose between the guy he’s been crushing on for months and the guy he’s afraid to love. He seems determined to re-enact every blunder of Eric’s past. Will Travis learn from Eric's mistakes before the man who loves him walks away for good? Will Eric ever see that best friends make the best lovers?

Eric Walker didn’t make the greatest impression on readers in the first book in this series, The Way Back, as the man that would steal his brother’s boyfriend all in an effort to “find himself”. I didn’t start this book having the highest expectations for the character, and straight away you learn that his love interest at the end of that story, Mitch, has left him. I was like, well score one for Karma! But then Eric had to go and make himself relatable, loveable and attainable, he had to go and redeem himself.

Eric is now managing the gay bar Mo’s and has become a father figure of sorts to some of the younger employees there. Friend, co-worker and star of the show, Queen Johnny, keeps setting Eric up on the most hysterically disasterous blind dates. And Eric is clueless, he just keeps putting up a minimal fight, then caving and going on the dates. Until the night he shows up and it’s Johnny on the other side of the booth. Suddenly Eric sees Johnny in a new light, he realizes that it’s been Johnny all along.

But if it’s Johnny then Eric has finally found happiness and the minute Eric lets himself be happy, lets his guard down and assumes his emotions, his heart is safe, he gets hurt. So he damn near breaks the foundation of the relationship before it’s even solidified in an effort to get ahead of being hurt. If Eric admits how he feels about Johnny, then he has to admit to the failures of his past, and that might be more than our new found hero is capable of.

Eric is like a flame, he burns hot and fast and his emotions are explosive. Johnny is like Rain, a steady flowing current that grounds Eric and shows him he deserves to be loved. The two sort of balance each other out. I am always amazed when an author can take a character that is hated or loathed entirely and make them do a complete 180, make them someone you are now rooting for. That is exactly what Quinn has done with Eric. One of my favorite parts of this story was the conversation Eric had with his brother Jason when he finally swallowed his pride and approached Jason, asking for that forgiveness.

Oh but the firey passion that Eric and Johnny share was a strong element to this story as well. Eric has to let go of this notion he has of a the perfect soul mate, he has to get over Riley and Mitch and his ex-wife and the feeling that he has been wronged in some way before he can finally see Johnny through the eyes Johnny deserves to be loved through. And Johnny’s ever present strength, even in the face of Eric’s denial and while always impeccable dressed and sporting 5 inch heels, well it was impressive.

Detailed, descriptive and precise with three dimensional, flawed characters and strong secondary characters to add depth to the story. Fire and Rain is a must read if you are a fan of hard fought happy ever afters. And if you, like me, absolutely loathed Eric after reading The Way Back, then you have to at least give him a chance at redemption by reading this follow up novel.

Carter Quinn... 'More than just Friction Fiction' 

Carter Quinn was born and raised in a very small Western Kansas town where cattle vastly outnumber humans. In the 90s he read enough depressing gay fiction to give up on it. He discovered M/M in 2010 and started writing again. Now he's told Corporate America to kiss his books. Carter lives in the Denver area, near his beloved Colorado Avalanche.

Author links: Website | Goodreads | Amazon

Guest Post, the story behind the character you Love to Hate, Eric... 

Eric Walker. Everybody loved to hate on Eric Walker. Even I loved to hate on Eric Walker when I first conceived of him. Then he waltzed onto the page in person (not the phone call) and everything changed. He wasn’t the permanent douche bag I expected. He was a deeply flawed man who was undergoing tremendous personal growth. And I hated him. I wanted that permanent douche bag.

The concept of Eric Walker is loosely based on a guy I once knew. The real Eric (whom I’ll call Trey) was a charming, loving, hilarious man with very odd personality quirks I didn’t dare get into with my Eric. He was also so deep in the closet the man still hasn’t found his way out, some sixteen years later. (How do I know? Honey, people in small towns talk! It’s all they have to do.)

In the time I knew Trey, I fell for him. Go figure. So when I wondered what would happen if he swept back into my life, Riley and Jason were born. I planned to excoriate Trey through Eric. I figured if Trey denied me an HEA with him, there was no way Eric was going to have one.

Didn’t work out that way. When Eric Walker took up residence in my brain, he kicked Trey out. We lived together in an amicable truce for a couple of years while he continued to get his shit together. Then Johnny showed up and I couldn’t deny them. I think they’re fun and fabulous and sexy together. They’re Fire and Rain. One wouldn’t think they’d work, but they do. I hope you agree.

Thanks for the insight into this character Carter. For everyone stopping by today, here are the links for both books in this series. Get caught up before you read Fire & Rain by reading The Way Back, if you haven't yet. It is one of my top 10 favorite MM stories I've ever read! Grab your copy of both these great novels from Amazon today!! 

One lucky winner will get a Kindle copy of Fire & Rain from Author Carter Quinn. Tams is giving away a Surprise Swag pack from her goodie box of items she snagged at GRL in Chicago last year (US shipping only) so follow the links in the rafflecopter giveaway below to enter. Leave a comment as well, have you read The Way Back yet? If not, you really should!

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Godsend by Sloan Johnson Cover Reveal & Giveaway {Enticing Journey Book Promotions}

Title: Godsend

Author: Sloan Johnson

Genre: Adult, Gay Romance

Coming: February 2015

You can’t choose who you fall in love with. Despite knowing from a young age that he was gay, Scott Murphy couldn’t imagine life without Shelly. He threw away the labels and had eleven amazing years with her, but now, he feels even more lost trying to figure out how to move on after Shelly’s death. After nearly a year of watching Scott fade away, Shelly’s father forces him to start living again.

As much as Chris loathes the idea of attending a bereavement group week after week, it’s one of the only places he can go in this town, other than the bar, to not feel so alone. When there’s nothing to distract him or dull his senses, he spends too much time obsessing over how he should have been able to help his sister. When Scott shows up at his group session, Chris decides that maybe some good can come out of his sister’s death. 

There’s no denying that Chris is the first man to catch Scott’s attention in a long time, but how can he move on when just thinking of Shelly sends him to his dark place? 

The road to recovery won’t be an easy one, but Chris is determined to help Scott see that life is still worth living. But before Scott can allow himself to admit what he feels for Chris, he knows he has to reveal the full truth about Shelly’s death.

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.

When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.

Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?

Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.

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Moment of Impact by Karen Stivali blog tour | Review, Excerpt & Giveaway {Eyes on Books}

Outside Collin Fitzpatrick’s dorm room is a dangerous place. Beyond his door the students of his small, conservative college think he’s straight, as does his Catholic family who’d disown him if they learned the truth. Inside, he’s safe with his incredibly sexy roommate Tanner D’Amico. Their room makes a perfect place to hide away and fall in love. The moment they cross the line from roommates to lovers, Collin becomes caught between their heavenly passionate encounters and the hellish reality that someone might find out and destroy everything. Tanner’s not used to being so confined, and wants to show the world how much he loves Collin. But Collin’s not sure he’s ready for the impact stepping outside will make.


Buy link/ Moment of Impact/ Dreamspinner Press

Collin Fitzpatrick was raised by a devoutly Catholic mother with some odd rules on how to keep her kids on the straight and narrow. Even away from his mom, his family and the church, Collin still feels strange expressing himself in certain ways. He never really thought about another guy in that way until he watches his roommate and best friend Tanner one night, alone in their dorm room, in the dark.

In just one night, everything changes, and while Collin knows how he feels about Tanner, he doesn’t want to share it with anyone outside the confines of their safe space in their room. Collin’s fear of what their friends and his family will think and unwillingness to acknowledge what Tanner is to him causes strife between them, and just when Collin figures out Tanner is worth it, worth whatever the outcome may be, an accident forces his hand.

I was quickly engrossed in this story, the characters were thankfully flawed and relatable. There was a lot of content, just the right balance of tension and angst, and a whole lot of passion. I especially enjoyed the awkwardness Collin displayed in the beginning. Between his upbringing and his inexperience you would expect him to fumble his way through early on, and that is exactly what he did. Stivali is a new Author for me but I was really amazed with her writing chops. She has this ability to draw you into the story and the lives of these characters, get you rooting for Collin and Tanner, hoping they learn to navigate their new found romance.

Definitely a must read… short, sexy and steamy, too short! But thankfully, the next two books are teased at the end so I know there is more to come, just not soon enough. 

Buy links, Moment of Impact: DSP | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon UA

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She’s also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. Her lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen’s novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life.
When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don’t hesitate to contact/follow/like her at:

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E-mail: karenstivali@gmail.com

Excerpt

Don’t blow this. Not now. Not when he’s right here. So close. So… Forcing myself to move, I reached out and clutched at his shoulder. His skin was smooth, warm. I pressed my fingers into his flesh with enough force, he flinched. His gaze darted to mine, wary.
Swallowing hard, I willed myself to maintain eye contact. “I didn’t think I wanted that, until I met you.”
Tanner’s gaze raced back and forth between my hand, which was still gripping his shoulder, and my eyes, which felt like they were about to bulge out of my skull. I couldn’t blink. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Do something. Say something.
Then his mouth crashed into mine.
I like kissing. I always have. Even though I wasn’t super into any of the girls I’d been with, kissing was the one thing I still enjoyed. Warm mouths, wet tongues, moving together. It felt good. I seriously thought I’d done some decent kissing in my life.
I was wrong. Tanner’s mouth on mine for one fucking second proved to me that what I’d done before might have looked like kissing, might have felt like kissing, but was like the frozen french  bread pizza version of kissing. Nothing like the real thing.
Nothing like this.
His tongue swept into my mouth, hot and velvety. His hand gripped the back of my neck, tugging me upright. Everything fell away. Disappeared. The whole world was this one kiss. I could have drowned in it and died happy.
Tanner pulled away, breathing hard, his forehead pressed to mine. The room spun like a carnival ride.
“You okay?”
His voice sounded lower than usual. Deep and gravelly. I gave a shaky nod, and he tipped his head back, looking at me.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” My heart beat double time as I realized he still had his hands on me. And he was still naked. And I was probably harder than I’d ever been in my entire life. Jesus.
“We can stop.”
“No.” That wasn’t what I wanted. Not at all. “I just… I mean… we’re roommates. What if this doesn’t work out?”
Tanner’s lips pulled into a grin so sexy my brain turned to oatmeal. He rubbed the back of my neck. “So, one kiss and you’re already thinking about what happens if we break up?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s see how we feel after another kiss.”

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