A Novel Take PR

August 13 2018

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Kelly Jensen’s To See The Sun

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Title: To See the Sun

Author: Kelly Jensen

Publisher: Riptide Publishing

Release date: August 13, 2018

Cover artist: Garrett Leigh

Genre: m/m science fiction, western

Length: print—243 pages; ebook—295 pages

Warnings: past and present violence, and references to past abuse. For a full list of tags, visit this link and click on “Additional Details”

Blurb:

Survival is hard enough in the outer colonies—what chance does love have?

Life can be harsh and lonely in the outer colonies, but miner-turned-farmer Abraham Bauer is living his dream, cultivating crops that will one day turn the unforgiving world of Alkirak into paradise. He wants more, though. A companion—someone quiet like him. Someone to share his days, his bed, and his heart.

Gael Sonnen has never seen the sky, let alone the sun. He’s spent his whole life locked in the undercity beneath Zhemosen, running from one desperate situation to another. For a chance to get out, he’ll do just about anything—even travel to the far end of the galaxy as a mail-order husband. But no plan of Gael’s has ever gone smoothly, and his new start on Alkirak is no exception. Things go wrong from the moment he steps off the shuttle.

Although Gael arrives with unexpected complications, Abraham is prepared to make their relationship work—until Gael’s past catches up with them, threatening Abraham’s livelihood, the freedom Gael gave everything for, and the love neither man ever hoped to find.

Excerpt:

Opening his eyes, Bram prepared to ask the question that could ruin it all. He had to know. If he was going to take Gael home and make him a part of his life, he had to know. “What are you really running from, Gael?”

Gael’s expression blanked for a second before shuttering tight. That ever-present alertness picked up his shoulders and stiffened his whole body. He sat straighter and turned away. Bram didn’t move. He sat still and waited, trusting the fact that Gael hadn’t run for the door to mean he was just thinking. Sorting his words. Picking an answer.

Hopefully a true one.

When Gael turned back around, his eyes were glassy. “I don’t want to tell you.”

“I need to know, Gael. This can’t work if I don’t know.”

About the author:

If aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.

Kelly is the author of a number of novels, novellas and short stories, including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.

Giveaway:

Enter to win any back catalog Chaos Station ebook by Kelly Jensen and Jenn Burke or paperback of Always and Forever: A Chaos Station Collection by Kelly Jensen and Jenn Burke. Open internationally.

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July 31 2018

Release Blitz: Anyta Sunday’s Love Letters: Novellas A-C

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Anyta Sunday is here today with the release of the first three novellas in her Love Letters series. Check it out!

Series blurb:

Feisty. Nerdy. Sexy. Secretive.

Greenville has them all.

A small town with big hearts, Greenville awakens at the mercy of Millionaire Row, the wealthy neighborhood across the tracks from Poplar Low.

Bad-tempered boys meet cheeky lovers.

Colliding worlds spark a fire of emotion. Heat rages. Hearts mend. Love is lost. And found.

Love Letters are playful, sexy, contemporary M/M stories that can be read as standalones.

Welcome to Greenville. Come for the sexy boys. Stay for the HEA.

Title: Admiring Ash

Series: Love Letters #1

Release date: July 31, 2018

Length: approx. 41,600 words | 222 pages

Genre: m/m contemporary romance

Sub-genre: light-hearted, sexy gay romance

Tropes: slow burn, virgin, one true love, happily ever after, related but not, hurt/comfort, forbidden love

Themes: Sudden inheritance, broken family, insta-dad

Buy it: https://www.anytasunday.com/projects/admiring-ash

Blurb:

A is for Ash Heartford.
Adorable, strong, and independent.
Abandoned by his parents and attached to only person—his little sister.
Attracted to River, the sultry man who saunters onto his doorstep with startling news.
Always yearning for more River, yet afraid to let him in.

Should he play it safe, or claim his legacy and risk losing his heart?

A is for Admiring Ash.

Excerpt:

“You have deft fingers.”

Ash’s voice vibrated through him, urging River to make a move. The playful twitch of those lips begged to be kissed as much as River’s lips begged to do the kissing.

He wanted to slide his hands into Ash’s tangled hair and let their lips collide.

He wanted Ash under him, mapping every inch of his skin with his mouth.

He wanted Ash not to be off-limits . . .

But he was.

Title: Begging Ben

Series: Love Letters #2

Release date: July 31, 2018

Length: approx. 41,000 words | 220 pages

Genre: m/m contemporary romance

Sub-genre: light-hearted, sexy gay romance

Tropes: pretend boyfriend, friends to lovers, virgin, brother-like, jealousy

Themes: Science, geek, alcohol induced oblivion

Buy it: https://www.anytasunday.com/projects/begging-ben

Blurb:

B is for Ben Spengler.
Brilliant. Bashful. Burned.
Brimming with desire for his BFF Landon, who is beyond compare.
But they aren’t the same Ben and Landon anymore. Not after what Landon did. And didn’t do.
Bitter about his unrequited love.
Bound by a night of drunken promises.

Will the chemistry between them change, or will Ben break first?

B is for Begging Ben.

Excerpt:

“What do you want from a real marriage?”

Ben paused, clawing back the “you” desperately trying to escape him. Not Landon. He was over that. “I want to have someone who supports me, and vice versa. I want conversations and shared interests. I want common goals, my husband and I, a team. Us against the world. I want to be so close to him that I can guess what he is thinking. I want a man who sees I have failures and flaws but loves me anyway. Who has a fantastic sense of humor and finds joy laughing at the silly things. And . . . .”

“And?”

Ben couldn’t hold Landon’s deeply curious gaze. “I want to be his first choice. Not a backup when the guy he really wants doesn’t want him back.”

The silence that followed felt thick and taut, and Ben struggled to breathe.

Landon sat back with a determined stare toward the road. He licked his bottom lip and his hand rested on the wheel, thumb tapping. “You deserve all that, Ben. That and more.”

Title: Challenging Chance

Series: Love Letters #3

Release date: July 31, 2018

Length: approx. 32,000 words | 182 pages

Genre: m/m contemporary romance

Sub-genre: light-hearted, sexy gay romance

Tropes: alpha male, millionaire bad boy, athlete, help/comfort

Themes: basketball, coming out

Buy it: https://www.anytasunday.com/projects/challenging-chance

Blurb:

C is for Chance Roosevelt-Sutton.
Chiseled jaw. Smug attitude. Wild ways.
Chained to his ego—or so everyone thinks. Except his personal assistant, Brook. He knows better.
Chance is challenged to make his father happy for once, but he needs Brook’s help.
Choosing honesty is too risky, so instead they choose secrecy.
Choked by their pasts, they dream of a better life . . . and
Charm each other into submission.

Will their pasts ruin what they have, or will they grow together?

C is for Challenging Chance.

Excerpt:

Clenching the folder tightly against his chest, Brook kicked up a half smile. “I know you are a playboy, and charmingly faulted,” he said. “Didn’t think you’d be sexist too.”

Chance slung the towel around his neck, stretching it taut by pulling the ends. “There you have it,” he said. “I’m all those things.”

He sounded cocky, but the follow-up swallow and downward glance had Brook pausing. The glimpse of vulnerability quickly vanished as Chance strode off the court.

Brook hustled after him, matching his long stride easily since Chance was only a hair taller.

“I can do the job as good as anyone,” he said. “I’ll be at your beck and call, whenever you need me. Most importantly, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Chance abruptly stopped and whisked around. “What do you mean you’ll keep your mouth shut?”

“Public intoxication, public indecency, driver’s license revoked two years ago for accumulating too many fines. None of it is my business. I’ll help you navigate whatever paperwork comes with it, of course. But outside you and me? My lips are sealed.”

He would never blurt Chance’s mistakes in a crowded café. Though he’d been grateful to overhear the ex-PA, he didn’t condone being unprofessional and blabbing about an employer’s affairs.

Everyone made mistakes. They didn’t need those mistakes defining them.

About the author:

HEART-STOPPING SLOW BURN

A bit about me: I'm a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.

My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.

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July 11 2018

Cover Reveal: Anyta Sunday’s Pisces Hooks Taurus

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I'm so excited to welcome Anyta Sunday to the blog today to share the new cover for her upcoming slow-burn novel, Pisces Hooks Taurus, book #4 in her Signs of Love series, coming this October! I love this series, and I can't wait to read this new one.

Check it out below! AND BONUS: Keep reading for a bonus free ebook, Anyta's Scorpio Hates Virgo.

Title: Pisces Hooks Taurus

Author: Anyta Sunday

Series: Signs of Love #4

Publisher: self-published

Release date: October 2018

Genre: m/m contemporary romance

Tropes: slow burn, opposites attract

Length: approx. 69,000 words / 285 pages

Teaser:

Does love at first sight exist?

Find out in Signs of Love 4, an opposites attract romantic comedy featuring an unapologetic romantic and a broken realist.

More wit, banter and bad puns — and even more heart-stopping slow burn!

About the author:

HEART-STOPPING SLOW BURN

A bit about me: I'm a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love.

I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy.

My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Wait! Before you go!

For today only, Scorpio Hates Virgo, Anyta's Signs of Love book #2, is absolutely free! Check it out below.

Title: Scorpio Hates Virgo

Author: Anyta Sunday

Series: Signs of Love #2

Publisher: self-published

Original release date: September 1, 2017

Genre: m/m contemporary romance, new adult

Tropes: friends to lovers, slow burn

Length: 245 pages

The title includes: sarcasm, sexual content, and a slightly sappy HEA

All buy links: http://www.anytasunday.com/#scorpio-hates-virgo

Blurb:

This year is all about healing the heart, Scorpio. It’s time to leave negative attitudes and stoic facades at the door and let others see the real, more vulnerable you.

Percy Freedman is not grieving. Absolutely not,take that back at once. No, he’s entirely sure that selling his dead aunt’s home and leaving the neighbors he’s known for years is the sane thing to do. Who in their right mind would keep the house that smells like all the hugs he’ll never have again?

Nobody, that’s who.

Well, except his cul-de-sac neighbors. They all seem to think some paint and new furniture will clean the emotional slate. They all want him to stay.

Even his old nemesis, Callaghan Glover.

Especially his old nemesis, Callaghan Glover.

Lured into a game of Sherlock Gnomes, Percy finds himself hanging out with his neighbors more than might be considered healthy. Along with juggling new and surprising verbal grenades from Cal, and his burgeoning friendship with Gnomber9, Percy is starting to wonder if selling might have been the grief talking after all . . .

That’s right, Scorpio. With a little patience, heartbreak might be a thing of the past . . .

“Scorpio Hates Virgo” contains sarcasm, sexual content, a slightly sappy HEA, and an unhealthy obsession with dinosaurs.

It can be read as a standalone.

Themes: Light-hearted, friends-to-lovers, slow burn

Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance

Excerpt:

percalinary

noun / per . cal . i . nary

Definition of PERCALINARY

:a reference containing words and their definitions and usage according to Percy Freedman and Callaghan Glover

: a reference explaining the implied meanings of words as used by Percy Freedman and Callaghan Glover

Example of PERCALINARY in a sentence

My first time watching Percy and Cal interact required frequent recourse to a percalinaryto understand what thehelltype of flirting these two were up to.

Cal rocked up to his Jeep all business-casual, in form-fitting jeans, polished leather shoes and matching brown satchel, and a dark jacket that covered a beige T-shirt.

“You got a meeting or something?” Percy asked, slipping his sunglasses on.

Cal opened the passenger door and looked at him over the roof. “No.”

Sunlight did very striking things to Cal’s hair. Made it look positively copper. Not as red as his cheeks were getting, though.

A cheerful cry startled Percy and he ripped his gaze away from Cal. Crystal was waving at them from her opened kitchen window.

“Good morning,” she called.

After another restless night, he could hardly call it good, but . . . “Morning.”

She leaned further out the window, her dressing gown gaping a little too much down the front. “Are you out for the day?”

“A couple of hours. Taking Callaghan here to work, then nipping past the Home Depot.” To get the home ready to market, he needed to spruce up the place. Paint the living room and bathroom, put in a new vanity, replace the door handles of the kitchen cupboards, change the faucets and showerhead and put in a new toilet seat.

“You at the Home Depot?” Cal murmured. “Sure you’d even know what to buy?”

Percy gestured for him to get in the car. “High time I get you to work.”

As he slipped into the driver’s seat, Crystal called out after them. “Good to see water and earth spending time together!”

Over his sunglasses that had slipped down his nose, Percy looked at Cal. “See, this is why we’ll always be nemeses.”

Cal hitched his brow, and Percy turned the ignition and peeled out from the curb.

“Together we’re mud.”

July 9 2018

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Annabeth Albert’s Tight Quarters

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Title: Tight Quarters

Author: Annabeth Albert

Series: Out of Uniform #6

Book 1: Off Base
Book 2: At Attention
Book 3: On Point
Book 4: Wheels Up
Book 5: Squared Away

Publisher: Carina Press

Release date: July 9, 2018 | Paperback: July 31, 2018

Genre: m/m military romance, contemporary

Length: approx. 82,000 words

Buy it: Carina Press | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Blurb:

Petty Officer Bacon, a navy SEAL and ace sharpshooter, has been on the front lines of more than his fair share of dangerous ops. Yet when a minor injury relegates him to the beta team, he’s tasked with what may be his riskiest assignment yet: the silver fox journalist he’s babysitting is the hottest, most charismatic man he’s ever encountered.

Award-winning journalist Spencer Bryant may have been named one of Pride magazine’s most eligible bachelors of the year, but he’s not looking to change his relationship status. He’s a consummate professional who won’t risk his ethics or impeccable reputation by getting involved with a source. Even a sexy-as-hell military man. But while Spencer can resist his physical attraction to Bacon, he has less control over his emotions—especially when the mission goes sideways and the two men are trapped alone.

Getting out of the jungle alive turns out to be easy compared to facing the truth about their feelings for one another back in the real world. And whether or not they can build a future is a different story altogether.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Excerpt:

Bacon was hanging on to life by one index finger. Literally. One sore, overused finger was all that separated him and a plunge down the sheer cliff face. The desert sun had sweat rolling down his face, stinging his eyes.

“Come on, Bake. You’ve got this!” Curly called at him. He was already safely on the ridge, along with several other SEAL team members. This was the last step in a grueling training mission that had tried their stamina with a HALO jump followed by a long run over rough terrain and this final climb.

About the author:

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. The #OutOfUniform series joins her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat and #PerfectHarmony series. To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two active children.

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June 19 2018

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Erin Satie’s Bed of Flowers

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Title: Bed of Flowers

Author: Erin Satie

Series: Sweetness and Light #1

Publisher: Little Phrase

Release date: June 19, 2018

Length: approx. 80,000 words

Genre: historical romance

Buy links: Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | B&N | Kobo

Blurb:

Bonny Reed is beautiful, inside and out.

A loyal friend and loving daughter, she’s newly engaged to her small town’s most eligible bachelor. She’s happy for herself—but mostly for her family, who need the security her marriage will bring.

An old enemy shatters her illusions.

First Baron Loel cost Bonny’s family her fortune. Now he’s insisting that her fiancé has hidden flaws, secrets so dark that—if she believed him—she’d have to call off the wedding.

How will she choose?

When the truth comes out, Bonny will have to choose between doing what’s right and what’s easy. Between her family and her best friend. And hardest of all—between her honor and the love of a man who everyone wants her to hate.

Excerpt:

This is from Loel’s perspective; he’s just kissed Bonny’s wrist.

“You know that you are beautiful,” he said.

She began to shake her head, but he didn’t wait for her to contradict him. He would not offer the courtesy of pretense.

“I do not think you understand how beautiful.” How could she? She’d never seen much of the world. He’d circled the globe and he’d never met another woman who could compare. “If you wanted a husband who would prostrate himself at your feet and worship you, you would have no trouble finding one. If you demanded this of him every day of your married life, year after year until his knees crumbled to dust, he would still get down on those ruined knees to thank God that you chose him.”

Miss Reed tittered. “Don’t be absurd.”

He was dead serious and she knew that, too. “If Charles Gavin has convinced you that he is your equal, he is a liar. When you chose him, it was an act of grace.”

About the author:

Erin Satie is the author of the dark and elegant No Better Angelsseries of historical romances set in the early Victorian period. She’s currently hard at work on her new series, Sweetness and Light.

Erin is a California native who’s lived on the coasts and in the heartland, in tiny city apartments and on a working farm. She studied art history in both college and graduate school—research is always her favorite part of starting a new book.

Her favorite part of finishing a book, whether reading or writing, is the happily ever after.

Author Site| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram| Newsletter

Giveaway:

Enter to win 1 of 2 e-copies of any back catalog book by Erin Satie!

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April 30 2018

Release Blitz & Giveaway: Layla Reyne’s Medley

amyaislin Blog, Books, Excerpts, Giveaway, Release Blitz A Novel Take PR, contemporary, Layla Reyne, m/m romance, new, new adult, self-published, sports 0

With Medley, Layla Reyne combines love, self-discovery, swimming, and the excitement of the Olympics in to one stellar event. I loved Jacob and Bas’s story.—Anna Zabo, author of Syncopation

Title: Medley

Author: Layla Reyne

Series: Changing Lanes #2

Will the race for gold cost them their hearts?

Publisher: Self-Publish

Release date: April 30 (Print & Ebook)

Length (Print & Ebook): Approx 270 pages

Subgenre: m/m romance, bisexual romance, contemporary romance, sports romance, new adult romance

Buy: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Blurb:

Sebastian Stewart was never Mr. Dependable; he was more the good-time guy who only wanted to swim, party, and ink tattoos. Until he cost his team the Olympic gold four years ago. Bas is determined to do right this time around—by his medley relay team and his rookie mentee.

Jacob Burrows is in over his head. The Olympic experience—from the hazing, to the endless practices, to the unrelenting media—makes the shy nineteen-year-old’s head spin. He’s trying to be everything to everyone while trying not to fall for his gorgeous tattooed teammate who just gets him—gets his need to fix things, his dorky pirate quips, and his bisexuality.

When Jacob falters under the stress, threatening his individual races and the medley relay gold, he needs Bas’s help to escape from drowning. Bas, however, fearing a repeat of his mistakes four years ago, pushes Jacob away, sure he’ll only let Jacob down. But the only path to salvaging gold is for Jacob to finally ask for what he needs—the heart of the man he loves—and for Bas to become the dependable one.

“How can you be your best when you’re not sure if your best will measure up? That’s the dilemma facing Bas and Jacob, as they deal with the immense pressure of swimming for Olympic gold while also trying to sort out their tangled hearts.” --Layla Reyne

Excerpt:

Lawyer, priest, shrink.

Maybe bartender.

Ask someone to name their confessor and those were the usual suspects.

Bas would argue tattoo artist for the last spot in the top five. Humming needle in hand, he’d heard more than a few confessions over the years.

From the second a client stepped into his shop, they told a story. The design they picked. How much liquid courage it took. The tale of joy or woe that spilled from their lips after the first shock of the needle. Their reaction when it was done—relief, pain, regret, pleasure.

He’d heard almost every story.

In love, in lust, in rebellion, in hate, in freedom, in chains.

But he still couldn’t figure out the story that’d nagged him most the past ten days. He swiveled on the stool in the rented studio, droplets of dark ink splattering his worn jeans. “You gonna give me something to go on, Pup?”

Straddling the fancy tattoo-massage chair, Jacob laid a cheek in the cradle and glanced to his side. Mint green eyes, tequila-hazy, peered out from under long burnished lashes. “This was your idea, not mine.”

Maybe there was the start of a story. Why did his nineteen-year-old teammate have a fake ID, and why was he so friendly with Mr. Cuervo? Was it the same story as countless other college undergraduates?

Bas didn’t think so.

Jacob’s eyes slipped shut again, lips turning up in a faint smile. “You said you needed to get out of there and work.” He shrugged his bare left shoulder, the one closest to Bas. The breaststroker’s upper back was wide, like most swimmers’, his delts and lats hard and lean beneath suntanned skin. Not yet fully developed, given his age, but stronger than most. “So do what you need,” Jacob said. “Work it out.”

There.

There was the start of the story.

About the author:

Author Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bi-coastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart pounding romance. When she’s not writing stories to excite her readers, she downloads too many books, watches too much television, and cooks too much food with her scientist husband, much to the delight of their smushed-face, leftover-loving dogs. Layla is a member of Romance Writers of America and its Kiss of Death and Rainbow Romance Writers chapters. She was a 2016 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist in Romantic Suspense.

Giveaway:

Win an ecopy of any back catalog ebook by Layla Reyne, or a paperback copy of Relay and Medley.

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March 28 2018

Release Blitz, Review, and Giveaway: Roan Parrish’s Invitation to the Blues

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Title: Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Author: Roan Parrish

Publisher: Monster Press

Release date: March 28, 2018

Length: approx. 81,000 words

Sub-genre: contemporary romance

Content warning: depression, suicide, thoughts of worthlessness, food issues

Buy links: Amazon | Kobo | iBooks | B&N | Angus & Robinson

Blurb:

Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.

The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content warning: This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.

Excerpt:

My problem with Faron was that he was stunning.

He was tall and taut, with broad shoulders and an elegant neck. His tawny brown skin was flawless and he had dreamy, gray-brown eyes that always seemed to focus on something in a plane beyond this one. His riot of corkscrew curls was sometimes loose, but today was caught up in a topknot. It had been bleached nearly white when I first met him and was now growing out. His cheekbones were high and broad, casting shadows that made him look like he was candlelit from every angle. His mouth was lush and full, and his rare smiles turned his chiseled beauty to a warmth so engaging that you didn’t ever want him to look away from you.

His beauty was a problem because it made me want him and I hated wanting anything. Desire was the beginning of disappointment.

It wasn’t just his looks, though. I could’ve handled that. I’d known a lot of beautiful people.

No, it was everything.

He was graceful and forceful at the same time. His focus was intense, whether it was on the things that only he saw or on whoever he was listening to. And he made me feel calm—as if he held the whole world in his hands and slowed it down or sped it up to whatever speed I was going.

It was intoxicating: a promise of peace as long as I was in his presence.

A hope.

And hope was even worse than desire.

My review:

5 stars.

I haven’t read the first book in this series, and I’ll admit it’s been a couple of years since I read the Middle of Somewhere books. That being said, I didn’t feel lost with this book at all. It reads as a standalone.

This novel was beautiful. Jude and Faron both have their own problems and issues to deal with, and I loved that them meeting and being a part of each other’s lives wasn’t a fix for everything. Neither was a saviour to the other, but more of a grounding stone to keep the other steady. It was a wonderful relationship. And I loved that they actually talked to each other like mature adults. The communication in this story is amazing.

I could totally relate to Jude. Not to his depression and anxiety so much as his issue with talking. Sometimes Jude simply lacks the energy to talk even though he has something to say. I get that. I get it so much because that’s me about 70% of the time, if not more. It was refreshing to see it in a character like Jude.

Now let’s talk about the sex. I don’t read sex scenes in 99% of the books I read. That’s not why I read. I read for the plot. However, the sex scenes in this novel are incredibly sensuous and so different from many books out there. They didn’t feel like filler, but actually advanced the plot in a beautiful way.

A wonderful novel, with wonderful chemistry between the main characters, a fun cast of side characters, and a happily ever after. Five stars and highly recommended. This is going on my re-read shelf and my best of 2018 shelf!

About the author:

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

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March 13 2018

Release Blitz: Exposed, A Romance Anthology

amyaislin Blog, Books, Excerpts, Giveaway, Release Blitz A Novel Take PR, Amy Jo Cousins, Annabeth Albert, contemporary, Karen Booth, Karen Stivali, m/m romance, new, Roan Parrish, Robin Covington, Tamsen Parker, Tiffany Reisz, Vanessa North 0

It's release day for the new m/f, m/m, f/f romance anthology, EXPOSED. In this blog post you'll find buy links, excerpts, and a giveaway! Thanks for stopping by.

Title: EXPOSED: A Romance Anthology

Publisher: Karen Stivali

Release date (print & ebook): March 13, 2018

Length: approx 400,000 words

Subgenre: contemporary romance/mixed pairings

Of note: This collection contains m/f, m/m, f/f and menage stories, some of which contain BDSM

Buy links: Amazon, iBooks, B&N, Kobo

Blurb:

Hot. Naked. Guys. Reading.
When the sexiest Top 30 Under 30 men agree to pose naked for the "Expose Yourself To A Good Book" charity calendar, their hot bodies aren't the only thing that gets EXPOSED. Ten brand new romances with M/F, M/M, F/F and menage pairings from bestselling and award winning authors, there's something for everyone in this limited release anthology.

Annabeth Albert
LEVEL UP
When Landon, a genius physicist, is picked for a charity calendar, he must deal with an inconvenient attraction to Bailey, his rising-star photographer. Can he slay enough demons from his past to ensure a future together with him?

Karen Booth
WISHING
Jobless and painfully single, Samantha agrees to drive musician Duncan to a photo shoot. He’s in town for only five days, so sexy, and she’s eager for a no-strings fling. But Duncan shoots straight for the heart, making her unsure how she’ll ever survive his goodbye.

Amy Jo Cousins
KATE LIKES GIRLS
Garden center manager Kate Rhee is on a mission. No more hook ups with women or second-guessing her recent break up with an unavailable man. Too bad the foxy, pink-haired bar owner she meets at a naked calendar photo shoot has sworn off girlfriends. Because Kate isn’t doing casual. She can totally resist that temptation. Totally.

Robin Covington
GHOST
Oliver Burns publicly bragged he’d sign the reclusive artist “G”- creator of the First Nations graphic novel, Ghost Warriors - to his comic publishing company. But that gets tough when “G” is Gareth Rain – the man he pulled a post-one-night-stand runner on years ago and the man he’s never forgotten.

Roan Parrish
NATURAL ENEMIES
When buttoned-up botanist Stefan Albemarle meets freewheeling urban gardener Milo Rios, it’s hatred at first sight. But hatred quickly turns to lust as Milo shows him how exquisite it can feel to lose control. When opposites attract, love blooms in unexpected places.

Vanessa North
RIGGED
For Kaitlyn, seeing her best friend Gordon naked is no big deal—until watching Sean tie him up changes everything.

Tiffany Reisz
THE WATERMARK
Jason "Still" Waters' life looks perfect from the outside—money, fame, and the words "World Champion Bull-Rider" after his name. But Jason has a secret, one he never planned on telling anybody...until he meets Simone. She's the kinky girl of his dreams...and his conservative family's worst nightmare.

Karen Stivali
LEGAL BRIEFS
When organizing a naked charity calendar puts Rose's tenure bid in jeopardy, the last person she wants help from is Michael, the gorgeous, arrogant lawyer she butted heads with during his shoot. He'll defend her for free, but if their secrets come out they could both pay with their hearts.

Tamsen Parker
THROWN OFF TRACK
Teague has been License to Game’s bassist for over a decade, during which time he’s slept with almost everyone in his path. But it’s always felt like going through the motions. Until he sees his bandmate Christian naked at a charity photoshoot and suddenly, he knows what it is to want.

“The authors of this anthology are hoping to show readers that romance series, like the real world, should reflect our society and should feature the stories of people falling in love without regard to their gender and sexuality. That is why you’ll find m/f, m/m, f/f and menage stories all within this collection.” --Karen Stivali, Curator and Publisher, Exposed: A Romance Anthology

“One of my favorite things about my friends in the romance community, aside from their stellar writing skills, is their passionate commitment to having romance novels depict healthy, loving relationships featuring people of all orientations falling in love in varied combinations. The premise for this anthology is that indie bookstore owner Emma Davis and her best friend, college professor Rose Everheart, both owe a debt of gratitude to the literacy foundation that changed their lives. When they’re trying to come up with an idea to raise money for the foundation, they combine the viral popularity of Hot Dudes Reading with the enormous success of the Naked Rowers charity calendars and the idea for Hot Naked Guys Reading is born.” --Karen Stivali, Curator and Publisher, Exposed: A Romance Anthology

“The calendar will feature men who are not only irresistibly sexy, but have been named to Top 30 Under 30 lists in their respective fields, posed in famous libraries throughout the country. The Expose Yourself to a Good Book campaign draws the attention of photographers, reporters and other professionals. People often find love where they least expect it, when they’re not looking for it, so this anthology explores the journeys of not only the models but the crew, the organizers and all the people brought together in the creation of this charity calendar. Readers will find m/f, m/m, f/f and ménage stories, told by award-winning and bestselling authors from the romance community in this limited-release collection.” --Karen Stivali, Curator and Publisher, Exposed: A Romance Anthology

Excerpt:

Excerpt from Karen Stivali’s LEGAL BRIEFS:

“I missed you.” He murmurs the word as he kisses his way back up to my neck and latches on, his erection pressing into me, making me wish our clothes would magically disappear.

His phone rings and I feel the vibration against my hip.

He fumbles to grab it and glances at the screen. “Shit. I have to take this.” He swipes at the screen looking worried and barks, “What?”

I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but his face quickly relaxes.

“No, it’s fine. I just can’t talk. I have a…pressing matter to attend to.” He rolls his eyes and I can see him willing the other person to stop talking. “Okay. Call you tomorrow.”

“Everything okay?”

He slides the phone onto the counter and returns his hands to me, grinding against me again. “Yes. Just my brother. Nothing important.”

“Did you refer to your dick as a ‘pressing matter’?”

He grins and kisses me, rubbing against me again. “Is it pressing?”

“Yes,” the word comes out as a groan as he hits just the right spot.

“Does it matter?” He swivels again, and I sigh, dropping my head against his chest.

“Yes.”

“I rest my case.”

About the authors:

ANNABETH ALBERT grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. The #OutOfUniform series joins her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat and #PerfectHarmony series.

To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.

VANESSA NORTH is a romance novelist, a short fiction geek, and a knitter of strange and wonderful things living her own HEA in Northwest Georgia with her husband, twin boy-children, and a very, very large dog.

Connect with Vanessa: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Patreon

ROAN PARRISH lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

TIFFANY REISZ lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer. She has won a RITA Award (The Saint), a Lambda Award (The King), and two RT Booklovers Editor’s Choice Awards (The Siren and One Hot December). Find her online at TiffanyReisz.com.

Connect with Tiffany: Website | Facebook | Instagram

KAREN STIVALI is the multiple award winning author of over twenty straight and LGBTQ+ contemporary romances. She writes novels about love…like real life, only hotter.

KAREN BOOTH is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on ‘80s music, and forever envious of Judy Blume. She is the author of more than twenty sexy contemporary romances.

Connect with Karen: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

AMY JO COUSINS writes contemporary romance and erotica about smart people finding their own best kind of smexy. She lives in Chicago with her son, where she tweets too much, sometimes runs really far, and waits for the Cubs to win the World Series again.

A USAToday bestseller, ROBIN COVINGTON loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her books. Her stories burn up the sheets. . .one page at a time. When she’s not writing she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, hoarding red nail polish and stalking Chris Evans.

A 2016 RITA® Award finalist, Robin’s books have won the National Reader’s Choice and Golden Leaf Awards and finaled in the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, and the Book Seller’s Best.

She lives in Maryland with her handsome husband, her two brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!), and her beloved furbabies, Dutch and Dixie Joan Wilder (Yes – THE Joan Wilder)

Drop her a line at robin@robincovingtonromance.com — she always writes back.

TAMSEN PARKER is a stay-at-home mom by day, USA Today bestselling erotic romance writer by naptime. Her novella CRAVING FLIGHT was named to the Best of 2015 lists of Heroes and Heartbreakers, Smexy Books, Romance Novel News, and Dear Author. Heroes and Heartbreakers called her Compass series “bewitching, humorous, erotically intense and emotional.”

She lives with her family outside of Boston, where she tweets too much, sleeps too little and is always in the middle of a book. Aside from good food, sweet rieslings and gin cocktails, she has a fondness for monograms and subway maps. She should really start drinking coffee.

Giveaway:

Enter to win one of three e-copies of any backlist books by any of the contributing authors.

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