Moment of Clarity blog tour | Spotlight, Excerpt & Review {Eyes on Books}

The last installment of Karen Stivali’s Moments in Time series, Moment of Clarity, has just been released. At the same time, the paperback Moments in Time that contains all three novellas in the series has also been published!

Title: Moment of Clarity

Author: Karen Stivali

Length: novella

Genre: gay romance, contemporary, new adult, college.

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Spending the summer together on Fire Island brought Collin and Tanner closer than ever, but back in their conservative college town, challenges confront them at every turn.

As they search for their new normal in their old environment, Collin’s brother Sean surprises them with help when they need it most. But when word about their relationship gets out, trouble erupts with friends and family. When Collin’s relationship with Tanner becomes an issue in his brother’s custody battle and Tanner struggles with his feelings for a heartbroken Wendy, Collin wonders if everyone he cares about would be better off without him in the picture.

In order to save them both, Tanner must make it clear to Collin that their love for each other is all that matters.

Buy Links: Amazon | DSP | ARe | B&N

Tams 5 star review *****

Collin and Tanner return to college after a summer spent on Fire Island working, vacationing and facing some fears. But there are more hurdles they will have to jump before they can have their happy ever after. There was a fire in the dorms so everyone is forced into close quarters in the school gym. And then once they finally get the safe, secure, privacy of their dorm room back Collin thinks it will be smooth sailing from there. Wrong again.

Another one of their “friends” finds out the truth about Collin and Tanner and to say he reacts badly would be an understatement. When Collins brother offers them an alternative they take it, but wind up causing more harm than good. Collin starts to believe that everyone would be better off without him, so he removes himself from the equation. Alone and miserable, Collin reaches out to Tanner’s mother who becomes the friend he never knew she could be.

Let me start by saying I am completely enamored with these two characters. Stivali created two young men that are such a realistic portrayal of young gay reality today. Tanner’s mother is very accepting of his sexuality while Collins family is not, they are the ‘oh my god you are going to hell this is immoral religious ridiculousness’ family. There is the hard truth of how people you believe to be friends react when they learn you are in love with another man. Then there are the people that realize love is love, friendship is to be treasured and sometimes you have to break a confidence when someone is acting like an ass.

This is a very well written story with three dimensional characters that are perfectly flawed. There is hatred, bigotry and ignorance… but there is also love, passion and understanding. So it all balances out quite well in the end. There were a few intense moments in the story where I held my breath, but then by the end I was smiling and I even got a little misty eyed. If this is just a trilogy then this is the perfect ending to a long, hard road for these two guys that deserve their own version of a happy ending.

Loved it, just go buy it now you won’t be disappointed! But start with the first installment if you haven’t read any of the three yet, this series must be read in order. 

Moments in Time – Series Paperback

Contains books 1, 2, and 3 – Moment of Impact, Moment of Truth, and Moment of Clarity.
Get your copy of all 3 books in one from Dreamspinner Press!

Haven’t read books 1 and 2? Then hurry up as Moment of Impact and Moment of Truth will be on sale for 99 cents for a limited time (May 5 -18).

Moment of Impact/ book 1

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 Moment of Impact

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5855
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RO1Z6ZC/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RO1Z6ZC/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00RO1Z6ZC/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-momentofimpact-1700287-340.html

Moment of Truth

Collin expected to spend another summer fixing cars and working at the college pizzeria. Instead, he’s living in a beach house on Fire Island, waiting tables at a hip seaside restaurant and, for the first time since he and Tanner got together, they can publicly be known as boyfriends. Being “out” takes some getting used to, but with the help of new and old friends, Collin is happier than he ever imagined. And more in love. But newfound freedom brings unexpected challenges, and when friends get flirty, old insecurities arise. Moments of doubt and jealousy threaten their happiness, and Collin and Tanner must confront the truth or risk losing it all.

Buy Moment of Truth

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6066
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TWO2XH8/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TWO2XH8/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00TWO2XH8/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-momentoftruth-1751880-149.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moment-of-truth-karen-stivali/1121262738?ean=2940151483421

Want more? Moment of Silence and Moment of Fate, featuring secondary characters in Collin and Tanner’s story, will be released in late 2015 and early 2016.

Excerpt from Moment of Clarity...

It took me four hours to finish writing my paper, probably in part because I kept stopping to check my phone. I’d been hoping for an update from Sean even though I knew that wasn’t likely. It was the
weekend, and any more info from his lawyer probably wouldn’t arrive until Monday. I also kept thinkingmaybe we’d hear something from Housing, but so far, silence.

After I’d saved my document, I went in search of Tanner. He’d finished his work an hour earlier and said he’d be reading in one of the lounges. I found him in one of the alcoves, sprawled on a big couch under one of the heavily leaded windows. An open book lay tented on his chest—Dostoevsky’s short stories.

His eyes were closed, those thick black lashes casting shadows on his cheekbones.

I approached slowly, wanting the time to keep looking. Tanner hadn’t had a haircut in weeks. Silky dark bangs fell across his forehead, begging for my fingers to sweep them off his face. Perfect lips, ever so slightly parted, looking desperately in need of a kiss. My gaze passed lower, taking in his long strong fingers as they rested on the book, his narrow waist, slim hips.

I struggled to swallow. My cock enjoyed the show with me, not so silently encouraging me to climb on top of Tanner, toss that book aside, grind against him….

Tanner’s eyelids fluttered open, and he shook his head, craning his neck to look around. He yawned and stretched as he sat up. “What time is it?”

“Little after ten.” I sat next to him, needing to be close to him. He smelled warm and sweet. I breathed in, taking in as much of his scent as possible. God, I missed that. Sleeping apart for two weeks had me waking in the middle of the night craving him—his touch, his smell, his taste—all of him.

My thigh knocked into his, and he pressed back against me. “You wanna get out of here?”

I nodded, wanting to be anywhere as long as he was there too.

A light rain had started to fall, so we half jogged to the Towers.

“What do you suppose is going on in Wendy’s room?” I asked as we rode the elevator.

Tanner brushed rain droplets off his backpack. The elevator dinged and opened. “Guess we’re about to find out.”

Wendy’s door was open. Music and voices filled the hallway, and as we approached the room, a purple bra came flying out, followed by the sound of drunken laughter and cheering.

Tanner caught the elevator door just before it closed. “What do you say we go for a drive instead?”

“I say that’s the best offer I’ve had in weeks.”

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:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KarenStivaliAuthor
Website: http://karenstivali.com