It’s Fangirl Friday with K.A. Merikan! INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY!!

It’s Fangirl Friday!

*dances* This month I couldn’t resist the opportunity to gush all over writing duo, Kat and Agnes Merikan. (I’m seriously kicking myself that it took me so long to find these two!) Most of you probably already know them and are rolling your eyes at me. Well, I’m here now and that’s all that matters.

Here’s the cover and blurb for book one – it’s guaranteed to get you hooked.

— Love is sour like a Sicilian lemon. —

The Family is always right.
The Family doesn’t forget.
The Family pays for blood in blood.

Domenico Acerbi grew up in the shade of Sicilian lemon trees ready to give his life for the Family. Ready to follow orders and exceed expectations. A proud man of honor.
When Seth, the younger son of the Don is kidnapped, it’s Domenico who is sent to get him back. The man he finds, though, is not the boy he knew all those years ago. Lazy, annoying, spoiled, and as hot as a Sicilian summer.

Seth Villani wants nothing to do with the mafia. Unfortunately, he doesn’t get a say when the Family pulls him right back into its fold after his mother’s death. Thrown into a den of serpents otherwise known as the Villani Family, Seth has to find a way to navigate the maze of lies. But when Domenico Acerbi, the most vicious snake of them all, sinks his fangs into Seth, the venom changes into an aphrodisiac that courses through Seth’s veins.

Domenico knows his life is about to change when he gets the order to train Seth up to the role of future Don. Seth isn’t made for it. He isn’t even made. But a man Domenico knows he would never have to fear might just be someone he’s always needed.

If Seth is doomed to follow in his father’s footsteps, he might as well enjoy himself—with the most intoxicating man he’s ever met. Maybe he can even fool himself into believing that Domenico isn’t a handsome sociopath who kills for a living.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: Enemies to lovers, mafia, homophobia, assassin, organized crime
Genre: Dark, twisted erotic romance / crime thriller
Erotic content: Explicit gay sex, coercion
Length: ~110,000 words

WARNING: Adult content. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you.
‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a gritty story of extreme violence, offensive language, abuse, and morally ambiguous protagonists. Behind the morbid facade, there is a splash of inappropriate dark humor, and a love story that will crawl under your skin.
(Just to add to this warning; it’s absolutely correct! I didn’t get it at the time, but these two will worm their seductive and dirty way under your skin. Just saying 🙂 )

Aaaaanyway, I’ve just finished binge-reading the Guns n’ Boys series, (and am hanging out for the next one) and have become totally hooked with Dom and Seth. Closeted, alpha mafia guys, who are brutal yet loving. I didn’t like either of them in the first installment, but I quickly fell in love. It’s a great mix. I’ve lost a lot of sleep with this series—no joke—so I felt compelled to contact the Merikans and asked very nicely if they’d like to come over to my blog so I can fangirl to all of you and get some answers to my questions. So, here we go:

RJ: Ladies, thanks so much for being my guests. I totally fell in love with Dom and Seth, even if I didn’t like either of them in the very beginning. Dom was a horrible arsehole and Seth was a whimpering doormat. However, I had to keep reading. There was just something about them that made me keep turning the page. Where did you find the inspiration for these two? They’re such a mismatched couple, yet they’re perfect for each other.

KA: Their story is very long and complicated ;D Seth was originally a side character in our first-ever story written together. His boyfriend was Peter, Seth’s ex in Guns n’ Boys. We decided to use him for a new project after Agnes watched some assassin-themed movie. In first drafts of the character, Domenico was a silent, brooding type, so obviously he got out of control very quickly. Their relationship developed organically, but when drafting out the currently published version, we added some more polish to its progress.

RJ: As an author, I’m always curious to know how other authors write. When you first started this series, did you know what would happen to Dom and Seth? Was it supposed to only be one or two books or did you have the entire series planned?

KA: We first started writing it in Polish and published it on our blog. At the time, our plans for the series weren’t concise and we came up with plot as we went along. When we decided to introduce this story to our English-speaking readers, we saw it as a chance to make it better, think of an arc for each book and improve the plot. The new version diverged so much from the original that despite sharing certain elements, it reads like a completely new story. It was when we were drafting book one in its current form that the rough plan for the whole series came about, but we keep adding new elements to make the story more interesting.

RJ: Any chance of getting Mark’s story? If not, what can I bribe you with?

KA: Yes, we love Mark too much not to give him one :D. His love story will be a part of the main storyline, but there will be up to 2 books focused on him.

RJ: Seth has grown so much over the series. Does he have any more lessons that need to be learned, and if so, will he keep hold of that sweetness that Dom (and me) loves so much. Seth seems to be hanging on to his innocence by his bloody fingernails.

KA: I cannot reveal too much with so many books still left to be written, but every book is a chance for a lesson for those characters. Each time they find out new things about each other, and they fall in love all over again when each conflict is resolved. What I can say is that after Bloodbath, Domenico will do everything in his power to spare what is left of Seth’s innocence, but will he?–we can’t tell ;D

RJ: How many more books in the series? Or is that a secret?

KA: At the moment, we are planning up to fifteen books, including spinoffs.

RJ: Can we expect to see more about Miguel? Will he get his own series? He’s so quiet but tough, he’s totally captured my attention so I’m more than willing to bribe you for his story too.

KA: You know what they say about the quiet ones. He’s definitely got some demons haunting him at night, and those will obviously (haha) be dealt with in his own book 😉 This one might actually come out before 2017 is over.

RJ: Okay, time for some quick-fire questions. No thinking!

Coke or Pepsi?
Agnes: Pepsi
Kat: Coke

Favorite colour?
Agnes: black and teal
Kat: purple, lilac

Favourite place to read?
Agnes: my room
Kat: Love listening to audiobooks on a walk

Cook at home or dine out?
Agnes: dine out – no cleaning ;D
Kat: dine out, hands down

Favourite non-alcoholic drink?
Agnes: elderflower cordial
Kat: fresh lemonade with mint

Favourite holiday spot?
Agnes: Croatia, Italy, and Cornwall
Kat: I’ll be copycatting Agnes on this one

Winter or summer?
Agnes: Summer!!
Kat: Summer.

Harry Potter or Twilight?
Agnes: Potter, obviously
Kat: Potter

Favourite author. (Both MM and non-mm)
Agnes: Currently, it’s KJ Charles
Kat: Lately I’ve been loving Kasia Bacon 🙂

If there were 25hrs in a day, what would you do with the extra hour?
Agnes: I would like to say “reading” or something reasonable like that, but it would probably be swallowed up by work ;p
Kat: Sport if I was being motivated, writing otherwise 😉 Nothing like some more words in the day

RJ: That’s it from me. A huge big thanks to Kat and Agnes for taking the time to indulge in my fangirling. If you haven’t checked out the Guns n’ Boys series yet, you are missing out!

And if you think this series sounds fantastic, it gets better because all books are on KU!

You’ll find the series buy link here.

 

Keep scrolling for the buy links and a chance to win your copy of the first two books!

K. A. Merikan is the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan, a team of writers, who are taken for sisters with surprising regularity.

They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and books. When you pick up a Merikan book, there’s one thing you can be sure of – it will be full of surprises.

To keep up to date with their new releases (and get a free book in the process!) sign up to their newsletter: http://kamerikan.com/newsletter

e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com

FUN FACTS:
– We are Polish,
– We’re neither sisters nor a couple,
– Kat’s an artist, and Agnes is a psychologist but neither works in her field,
– Kat’s fingers are two times longer than Agnes’s.

One lucky person will win the first two books in this series. All you need to do is comment below and a random commenter will be drawn next Friday, April 21.

Good luck!

 

Blog tour and giveaway! TOUCHES by ALINA POPESCU

Are you ready for some sexy short stories? Make sure you check out Alina’s Touches.

(Make sure you keep scrolling for the giveaway too!)

Touches is a collection of four contemporary gay romance short stories following the same cast of characters. They can be read in any order, but to better immerse yourself in the characters’ lives, reading them in order is advised.

Synopsis

Sometimes a single touch is enough to change everything. Physical or emotional, a touch can tilt the world on its axis and shift your entire life. It can lead to hell, or it can lead to paradise, but things will never be the same…

A TOUCH OF GLAMOUR
Tudor has big plans for New York City.
Ditch his homophobic colleague. See a musical. Definitely check out the go-go boys.
Meeting one Phantom on Grindr wasn’t in the script.
Tudor gets caught up in a whirlwind when his favorite musical character steps off the stage and into his life.

A TOUCH OF PARADISE
Hauled to work in Hawaii, Tudor has little time to enjoy the island paradise.
His obnoxious friend Radu has it much easier, using his free time to set Tudor up, dangling a willing Hawaiian beauty in front of him.
Having been burned by long-distance relationships before, Tudor stubbornly resists Kahoni’s advances.
But can Tudor be worn down enough to enjoy a touch of paradise?

A TOUCH OF KINK
A moody and angry Tudor follows his friend, Radu, to the airport to pick up a client.
Despite Radu’s efforts, he’s still sulking over his boyfriend, Kahoni, not being able to fly over for his birthday.
But the airport only opens up the door to a stream of steamy surprises for Tudor. Will his mood improve?

A TOUCH OF GAY
Radu has always joked with Tudor about his friend’s gay rubbing off on him. Neither of them has taken that joke seriously until Radu’s meltdown and crazy confession: Radu thinks he might be gay.
Despite Radu’s insistence that Tudor’s gayness has helped him figure out his own, there’s more to that story of discovery. Charismatic, sexy, and all around amazing Marius, the man Radu has been crushing on for months, pushed the loud-mouth, offensive Radu into exploring who he truly is.
Figuring out he wasn’t all that straight is the easy part. Getting enough courage to talk to Marius, that’s a whole different challenge, as Radu seems to turn into a stuttering idiot around Marius. Will Radu learn to be confident enough to pursue Marius? Or will Marius act faster and challenge the confused Radu too soon?

Excerpt – A Touch of Gay

Radu kept his eyes closed, relying on Tudor to steer him clear of any incoming threat. He’d worried about nothing but feeling and enjoying this moment of pure openness, even if no one guessed how much of himself he’d put in every move, every twist, and every step.

Suddenly, Radu felt he needed to open his eyes. There was something he had to see. He forced his eyes open and they fell on Marius, a slack-jawed Marius, to be exact. Marius was standing in the middle of the dancing ring, a few steps away from Radu, his eyes glued to Radu’s hips. As if sensing the gaze now trained on him, Marius slowly looked up, taking in every inch of Radu. When their eyes met, Radu shivered. He didn’t know for sure, but that looked a lot like naked lust. Marius craved him, and that thought shook Radu’s entire world. This wasn’t a tentative idea of a future date. This seemed real, something Radu could cling to. Hold on to, long after the evening was over.

Marius blinked a few times, licked his lips, and took one step toward Radu. His second step faltered, his eyes on Radu, a questioning look silently asking for permission to move closer. Radu smiled and rolled his hips, trying to dance invitingly enough that Marius wouldn’t stop again. Not before their bodies were close together, Marius’ arms around Radu.

A few heartbeats later, Marius took the remaining steps between them, closing the gap and meshing into the dancing crowd of bodies. Although he’d wanted it, Radu hadn’t been prepared for it. Feeling Marius’ body against his, the man’s breath brushing his cheek and ear, his cologne invading his sense of smell, Radu got dizzy. Not the kind of dizziness that made you faint, the kind that pushed you to insane decision, the kind where you didn’t know which way was up, but never wanted to find out anyway.

Radu reached up and locked his hands behind Marius’ neck, moving with him and swaying against his body. The thrill of it sent shivers all the way down his body, and returned in waves every time a new part of his body brushed against Marius. Who fucking knew why people took drugs when there were sensations like this one right here to experience.

Buy Links

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06XPTVXCM
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B06XPTVXCM

Giveaway

Prizes: $5 Amazon Gift Card; 3 ebook copies of backlist titles (winner’s choice)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and even won awards in local competitions. She has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm, which explains her deep love for vampires and is also to blame for this trilogy.

 

 

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:  h

An interview, some fangirling, and a giveaway with LETA BLAKE!

Today I’m going to unapologetically fangirl the hell out of Leta Blake. You’ll probably know her for her ice skating novel, Training Season, and also the Will and Patrick (Wake Up Married) series. But I’m fangirling all over her for The River Leith. Seriously peeps. This book kept me up all night. I simply could not put it down. I felt compelled to contact Leta (I gushed via Messenger. Can you imagine?) and asked very nicely if she’d like to come over to my blog and answer some questions. So, here we go:     (Don’t forget to check out the giveaway!)

RJ: I totally fell in love with Leith and Zach. Where did you find the inspiration for these two?

Leta: I often find inspiration in music and, this will make no sense, but this whole story showed up for me when I was listening to the Gaslight Anthem song “Here’s Looking at You Kid”.

If you can listen to that and tell me how this story lived in the song and then accosted me with a demand that I write it, let me know! Because I have no idea!

The other thing I was playing with at the time was the idea of falling in love with the same person twice. I’d been talking with a fellow writer pal about how people love to read first time love stories and how it’d be fun to write one where the people fall in love a second time, but not because they broke up. Amnesia seemed a good solution.

RJ: Okay, you’re right. That makes no sense. It’s a cool song, though. I loved how you gave us Zach’s POV, without actually giving it to us. (For those who haven’t read it, Zach ‘talks’ to us via his vlog) This was ingenious and I haven’t seen it done before. Why not just write his POV? Was there a specific reason why you did it this way?

Leta: A dear friend of mine actually suggested the idea back when she was beta reading the original draft, which had none of Zach’s point of view at all. She read the draft and said, “You know, this really requires Zach’s point of view, and you’ve already got this vlog thread in there, why don’t you write his point of view as him doing the vlogs?”

 If I recall correctly, though, I’m the one who decided to do it in script form, but it’s possible that was her idea, too. It was quite a few years ago now.

But I’m glad you liked the way Zach’s point of view was presented. I enjoyed pushing some boundaries with that!

RJ: Any chance of getting Arthur’s story? If not, what can I bribe you with?

Leta: Aw, Arthur! He’s a good brother! And, alas, no. I’m afraid this entire universe is off my writing radar right now. For some time after I’d finished it, I’d actually thought I’d write the story of their first time falling in love, and do it from Zach’s point of view. I was going to call it The Running Zachariah. But I’ve only written a few very, very short things for my blog, AO3, and Patreon account.

The Running Zachariah Meets the River Leith: https://archiveofourown.org/works/2601446

Are You a Runner or a Fighter? https://letablake.wordpress.com/2014/09/18/are-you-a-runner-or-a-fighter-the-running-zachariah-mmromance-amreading/

RJ: Leith’s story revolves around him losing three years of his memory and the implications, not only on his life, but on those closest to him. How much research went into the medical and emotional side of these events.

Leta: I did quite a bit of research but I tried to keep it more emotionally true than medically true. I wanted to explore the idea that love is more than memories and explore the grief of how a traumatic event can change people’s lives, leading them to make less than stellar choices (Zach) and yet also making them dig deep to find themselves again. I was more interested in telling that sort of story than making the medical details perfect.

I wrote a blog post about the choices I made regarding the amnesia here: https://letablake.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/amnesia-doesnt-work-like-that-research/

RJ: The title is reflected around Leith and Zach’s names but also around the loss of memory. How did you come up with the title? Did it come first or did the storyline dictate it?

Leta: Well, I specifically chose the name Leith because it was a great play on the River Lethe in Greek Mythology. That’s the river of forgetting that the dead cross through on their way to the underworld, making them forget their loved ones. I chose Zach’s name because it means ‘The Lord has remembered”, which sort of means like the one who remembers it all, yeah? So it made sense that there would be a lot of river symbolism in the story itself and, in the end, it just seemed to be the right title for the book. I actually love the title but have wondered if it is off-putting to readers since it doesn’t make it really clear that it’s a romance, etc.

RJ: Okay, time for some quick-fire questions. No thinking!

Coke or Pepsi?   COKE 4-EVA
Favorite color?  Red or green or yellow or blue depending on the day. 🙂
Favorite place to read?  The beach!
Cook at home or dine out?  Dine out!
Favorite non-alcoholic drink?  Seltzer water!
Favorite holiday spot?  Florida’s Gulf Coast
Winter or summer?  SUMMER ALWAYS
Harry Potter or Twilight?  Harry Potter!
If there were 25hrs in a day, what would you do with the extra hour?  Write! 🙂

RJ: Wow! Most of your answers match mine. We could be twins!

That’s it from me. A huge big thanks to Leta for taking the time to indulge in my fangirling. If you haven’t read The River Leith, or any of Leta’s other works, I suggest you step it up and check them out. I guarantee a great read.

Keep scrolling for the buy links and a chance to win an ecopy of The River Leith and the first three episodes of Will and Patrick, you lucky buggers. 🙂

Memory is everything.

After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain.

For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach’s choices may come back to haunt him.

Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.

The River Leith Buy Links

iTunes   Amazon   Kobo   B&N   Smashwords

 

Giveaway details

A random commenter on this blog post  will receive an ecopy of The River Leith (you’ll be fangirling too after you read it) PLUS the first three episodes from Will and Patrick – Wake Up Married series. Winner will be drawn next week.

Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.

If you’d like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta’s newsletter HERE or join her Patreon HERE.

 

RELEASE DAY! Blueprint (Out of the Blue, #4) Psst… There’s a giveaway too!

I am so pleased to be able to say ‘Happy Release Day’ to Jet and Ethan! I’ve waited so long for them to get their happy ever after. Yes I know I’m the author, but as soon as Jet hit the page in Black & Bluhe, I knew his story would be heart-wrenching and warming all at the same time. *le sigh*

See below for the blurb and links. I hope you guys enjoy reading Blueprint as much as I did writing it. *smooches everyone*

 

If only building the foundation for a lasting relationship was as easy as drafting the blueprint.

Jet Black doesn’t date. Even if he wanted a man beyond sex, his ever-watchful identical twin scares potential suitors away. Jet lives with his brother, but since Gray fell in love with Kris, Jet feels like a third wheel. Despite their bond, Jet knows he needs to move out and experience life for himself, whether Gray likes it or not.

After his father dies in a boating accident, Ethan Nichols is devastated. As the last survivor of his family, he realizes the need to put down roots. He leaves Australia and returns home to San Francisco and his old architectural firm. But there’s more to building a new life than simply moving house.

Jet and Ethan’s first encounter is brash and anonymous, but when Ethan moves across the hall, their lives become irrevocably linked. Jet is quirky and fun loving, while Ethan is rock steady and dependable. There’s no denying the passionate spark between them.

But Ethan is looking for a more solid foundation than Jet is ready to offer. Until Jet learns to spread his wings and trust Ethan with his darkest secrets, building a life together will be impossible.

**This can be read as a standalone, however it is best enjoyed reading the series in order as side characters play a major role.**

If you want to read the entire first chapter, go here.

 

Goodreads   Amazon   All Romance   Smashwords   iBooks

Click here for the chance to win a $25 Amazon voucher plus an e-copy of Blueprint. 

 

All Cocks, No Bull Blog Hop – WIN A FREE ECOPY OF ANY OF MY BOOKS PLUS…

Want to check out some great m/m books and hear from some wonderful gay romance authors? Then this is the blog hop for you! Make sure you visit each author to find out about their latest release and enter the multiple giveaways available. Good luck!

Scroll down to read more!

 

A best friends to lovers road trip. What more could  you want?

The Blurb:

Two best friends take a year off to find themselves… and end up finding each other.

Joshua Simpson has just finished four years at Purdue University, but that’s not why he’s buzzing with excitement. Once they’ve said goodbye to their families, Josh and his best friend Alex are taking off to discover America in an old but reliable VW van, planning on not seeing snow for an entire year.

Josh has always considered himself straight—except for that one time in college—so when he and Alex are living in such close proximity on the road, he’s unsure what these new feelings mean. Is it because they’re spending 24/7 together, or is it something deeper? And does it really matter since Josh has only ever seen Alex with women?

While in Oregon, Josh meets Johnno, a sexy but confusing Aussie surfer. While having an impromptu surfing lesson, Johnno helps Josh realize who he is and what he wants—but Alex’s reaction leaves Josh confused.

From a Montana ranch to the bright lights and dangerous streets of Los Angeles, to a dark and lonely deserted highway in Alabama, join Josh and Alex as they drive around the US, discovering not only who they are, but who they can be together.

An Excerpt:

WE STUMBLED up the stairs to our room at the B&B, and no sooner had we closed the door than Alex had me pinned against it, mouth assaulting my throat.
“Tell me this isn’t weird,” Alex said on a breath.
“It’s not weird. It’s right.”
“Tell me… tell me you want this as much as I do.”
Alex’s lips made their way to my ear and the soft spot behind it, making any coherent thought impossible.
“Want… you,” I managed to squeeze out.
In an instant, his body was gone from mine and I was left cold without him. Alex grabbed my hand and led me quickly to the bed, pushing me down and climbing on top.
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said, resuming the assault on my throat as he pushed my shirt up. He found a nipple and tweaked it hard.
“Ungh, more of that.”
My hips had a mind of their own as they bucked, trying to find some friction. I’d never been so turned on. Alex palmed my cock through my jeans, his movements gentle and hesitant.
“Is this okay?” Alex asked.
“Better if my jeans weren’t in the way.”
“Um, I…”
I stopped his movement, placing my hand over his but not removing it from my groin.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I have no idea what I’m doing either, but I know I want something.”
Alex smiled, his eyes shining. “I’m so glad you’re just as clueless.”

AMAZON  ALL ROMANCE  SMASHWORDS

To win a FREE stuff, enter the Rafflecopter below. Make sure you hop on over to the other blogs as well. Lots of giveaways to be snapped up!

One lucky winner will win an ecopy of Indigo Road, PLUS their choice of one of my backlist titles.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back to the All Cocks, No Bull Blog Hop.

Click on each author below to be in the draw to win!

Hennessee Andrews, Andrew Jericho, Evelise Archer, Penny Brandon, Bronwyn Heeley, Nic Starr, Jess Buffett, Toni Griffin, Freddy MacKay, NJ Nielsen

GOOD LUCK!!

 

Guest Post with A.V. Sanders. HOT, WET, AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS.

Page/Word Count: 39 pages/11,500 words
Release Date: December 16, 2015
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Genre: Holiday Themed Contemporary Gay M/M Romance

Blurb:

Reid, an American shark research scientist, is in Perth, Australia working to develop a mobile app that may revolutionize shark safety practices. But even the company of his boyfriend, Graham, isn’t enough to stave off homesickness as Christmas approaches, and a missing shark and Graham’s struggling business seem set to ruin the holiday for good.

Buy Links:

// *~Less Than Three Press~* // All Romance ebooks // Amazon Kindle // Smashwords // BookStrand.com // Kobo // Barnes & Noble //

Add to Goodreads

I was lucky enough to be able to help A.V. with betaing this story and I was impressed with the level of research she did to get the Perth feel just right. Below is a guest post where we talk about the on going fight for Marriage Equality in Australia. Change will come, let’s just hope it’s sooner rather than later.

On the Global Stage: Marriage Equality in Australia

Hi, RJ, Happy Holidays! Thanks so much for having me on your blog for ‘Five Engagement Rings‘— the fifth day of the ‘7 HOT Days of Christmas Blog Tour’ for “Wet, Hot, Australian Christmas”!

Thanks for asking me. It’s always nice to read about my little patch of the Earth and it’s not very often –read never – that I come across Perth in a book.

Oh, those authors are missing out! The more I learned about Perth, I had to write about it. Here’s a quick side-story: the way I first got to know RJ. I’d noticed where she lived, and I asked whether the term “lifesaver” or “lifeguard” was more prevalent in Western Australia. She answered, and within moments, she was taking a poll on Facebook with her friends! Now that’s pretty extraordinary. I took a chance, and asked if she would be kind enough to read “Wet, Hot, Australian Christmas” in one of its early drafts for Aussie-accuracy, and she agreed! I’ll always be grateful for her willing kindness. ❤

Now, when I was writing this novelette, I waffled about how much of a “statement” I wanted to make with it. I came to realize that if I can’t make a statement with my own writing, then why write anything at all? So, this is a special post because it’s about one of the central themes of my story: marriage equality in Australia.

About the time I was outlining this story, the world was in a beautiful afterglow from Ireland saying YES to equal marriage by an unprecedented popular vote. America was still waiting, but hopeful, while our Supreme Court judges decided what was constitutional for all U.S. citizens. I was noticing rumblings that Australia was up next to be in the spotlight for same-sex rights. RJ, what sorts of things have you been seeing and hearing, and has it been building for a while, or does it seem to be happening quickly in the wake of other favorable outcomes around the world?

Our last Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, was a staunch Catholic and was vehement in his statement that the Australian Constitution would not be changed. (Currently it states that marriage is between a man and woman.) Mr Abbott’s sister is gay and has been in a relationship for many, many years and Mr Abbott states that he loves his sister’s partner, but he believes that marriage was only for one man and one woman. (He studied to be a Catholic priest once so his faith is very deep.) When he was ousted as PM and Malcolm Turnbull came to power we all thought “Woohoo. Marriage equality at last!” There was a huge push and it dominated the news, but, even though Mr Turnbull is quite liberal in his views, he states that the Party’s policy is to go to a vote at the next election, much like what Ireland did. The majority of us think it’s a waste of money (it would cost $millions to have a separate vote) and we don’t understand why the Australian Government is dragging its heels. It’s globally embarrassing.

Funny you say that; I have a lot of my own global embarrassment. Don’t get me started on Prop 8 from 2008—I do live in California. Talk about shame! It was feelings like these that prompted me to write “Wet, Hot, Australian Christmas” as if the cross-party bill had gone through and that there was a successful vote in favor of equal marriage. I chose to do this because, to me, that reality is how it should and needs to be. I am hoping that what I’ve written as fact inside my fiction will soon bear no separation between it and what has already come to pass. I’ve read articles that’ve said it is inevitable Australia will have marriage equality put into law—if not now, soon. I even found this great new video from Australian Marriage Equality that outlines a solid plan to help love win in 2016.

What’s your pulse on it, RJ? Is Australia going to make it happen this first time around?

God, I hope so. I can’t imagine how stupid we’d look if it didn’t happen soon. We have openly gay members of parliament and it probably feels a slap in the face for them especially. They’re the ones passing bills and voting within the Party to change things, yet this one policy has become such a sticking point. Honestly, to be the only English speaking, Western country to NOT have marriage equality is highly embarrassing. We’re on the wrong side of history.

I know that feeling, and waiting for people to make up their minds to do the right thing…ugh. But, soon! May 23^rd and June 26^th will always be days of happiness and hope for myself and countless others around the world. I’m incredibly proud of every person who is fighting for and supporting marriage equality in Australia now, and looking forward to adding their happy date to the list. The world is watching, and we’re cheering you on! Together, we can all stand on the right side of global history.

Thank you so much again for having me here, RJ!

You’re welcome anytime! 🙂

Keep scrolling for the Grand Prize Giveaway!

Click to enter here or the image above

 

Click to enter here or the image above

 

A.V. Sanders loves and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She shares her home with her husband, two cats, and tropical aquarium fish. She is an avid hoarder of Halloween decorations and inconsequential information. When writing science fiction, mystery, horror and romance with LGBTQ main characters, she can be found staying up all hours of the night listening to endless sets of EDM music. She is an advocate of love, art, animals and frivolous acts of beauty. She also has a growing suspicion that not causing harm to one another is what matters in the end.

Connect with A.V. Sanders:

// Website // Twitter // Facebook // Tumblr // Goodreads //

 

‘7 HOT Days of Christmas Blog Tour’ Schedule:

 12.16 – Wednesday – THE NOVEL APPROACH – A Partridge in a White Fir Tree: Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaways

 12.17 – Thursday – CARLY’S BOOK REVIEWS – Two Sea Turtles: ‘Christmas Memories’ with A.V. and Carly + Giveaways

 12.18 – Friday – PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE – Three French Men: ‘Let’s Talk About: Sharks!’ + Giveaways

 12.19 – Saturday – BAYOU BOOK JUNKIE – Four Sea Birds: ‘On Location: Inspiration for the Story’ + Giveaways

 12.20 – Sunday, Double Day! – AUTHOR RJ JONES’ WEBSITE + BECAUSE TWO MEN ARE BETTER THAN ONE BOOK REVIEWS – Five Engagement Rings: ‘Marriage Equality in Australia’ with A.V. + RJ Jones, Review at BTM, Giveaways at both!

 12.21 – Monday – ON TOP DOWN UNDER BOOK REVIEWS – Six Blokes a-Layin’…Out: Review + Story Playlist + Giveaways

 12.22 – Tuesday – HEARTS ON FIRE REVIEWS – Seven Sharks a-Swimmin’: Character Interview + Giveaways

Out of the Blue GIVEAWAY!!

I’m giving away a signed paperback copy of Out of the Blue and the good thing is you don’t have to do anything extravagant to win!  Just click on the link below and hit enter. (Postage worldwide on me) Enter as many times as you like until September 11th.

Here’s the blurb:

When everything happens Out of the Blue…

Lt Cameron Cooper has been with the San Francisco Fire Department for fifteen years. He’s seen and dealt with a lot of horrifying situations. He’s always considered himself mentally tough, but when he attends a multi-vehicle accident and sees a dead boy with features remarkably similar to his long-time boyfriend, his mental health takes a hit.

All Jake Montgomery wants is to propose to his boyfriend on their ten-year anniversary. He’s already bought the perfect rings, but when Cameron struggles to look at him after a tragic accident, he has doubts about their future. Cam is withdrawing, and Jake doesn’t know why.

With heated arguments and cold shoulders, Cam and Jake’s life starts to fall apart. Just when Cam thinks he can overcome his issues and finally talk to Jake, memories from Jake’s past threaten to push them apart forever.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Out of the Blue

by R.J. Jones

Giveaway ends September 11, 2015.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/widget/151876

LGBTQ Push Back Giveaway!

 

Want to give back to the community and possibly win a free book? Want to give to a charity and help a LGBTQ worthy cause?

Read on to find out more…

It started when my sister Sarah overheard me talking to my boyfriend on the phone. That afternoon, under the football stadium bleachers, Jonathan and I had our first kiss, and I told him how much I liked it, how I wanted to do it again. I didn’t notice the click of another phone in the house being picked up, but I sure heard it when my parents yelled my full name.

“Elijah Michael Goodman, come here right this second!”

“I gotta go,” I whispered to Jonathan, and hung up before he could say anything. My heart was in my throat as I went downstairs to the living room to see my mother and father standing there, looking for all the world like they’d swallowed lemons.

“Who were you on the phone with?” Dad asked.

“Jonathan,” I answered truthfully. They thought he was my best friend. “Why?”

“What were you talking about?” Mom demanded, her voice shaking.

I squirmed and did the only thing I could with no time to think. I lied. “A test in Algebra tomorrow.”

“That’s not what Sarah heard,” Dad challenged, eyes flashing.

Oh shit, I thought, but would never say out loud. My parents would tan my hide if I swore in front of them, then take me to confession.

My silence made them angrier. Dad’s face turned red. “She said you kissed Jonathan.”

There was no way to refute that. I wasn’t a good liar. All I could do was take a deep breath and nod, hoping they’d see the pleading in my eyes.

“Are you gay?” Mom demanded. Another nod.

The rest is a blur. My mother began screaming about my soul and salvation, and they wouldn’t listen when I tried to tell them I tried not to be interested in guys, but it was impossible. My dad went quiet, which was scarier than if he’d yelled, or even taken out the belt.

Roughly grabbing my arm, he marched me up to my room, got out a duffel bag, and threw three changes of clothes in it, grabbed my deodorant from the top of the dresser, and shoved my shoes at my chest. Then he dragged me back downstairs, twisting my ankle in the process, and threw me out the front door, the duffel landing beside me on the dry, brown lawn.

“Don’t come back. You’re not our son anymore.”

My heart, having never left my throat, exploded, taking with it my ability to breathe. What did he mean? Don’t come back, ever?

That’s how it started. By the time I’d walked to Jonathan’s, my parents—no, Mr. and Mrs. Goodman—had already called his parents, and his mother met me at the door with crossed arms and a stern expression, telling me Jonathan wasn’t home, and that he wasn’t allowed to see me. As I’d walked away shivering, tears stinging my cheeks in the cold November air, I’d looked back. Jonathan was at his bedroom window, holding an ice pack to his eye and looking miserable. He gave a tentative wave, which I returned.

I had no choice. I had no money. I didn’t have my coat. No phone. And no one to call anyway.

That first night, I slept in the doorway of a shop downtown. Maybe I could shovel driveways for money when the snows hit. I didn’t think anyone would hire a fourteen year old to work as a busboy or store clerk. I’d been trying to talk my mother, I mean Amanda, into letting me get a job, but she’d just kept telling me to be a kid as long as I could, that I was too young to get a job in Indiana anyway.

For two days, I went up and down the stores on Main Street, but no one needed help, and the ones that did said I needed a work permit. To get one, I needed my birth certificate to prove my age. I couldn’t get it without my guardians’ help, and I had no guardians.

By day three, I was so hungry, I gave my first blowjob for twenty bucks. The guy was a trucker at the local diner, and the cab of his rig smelled like B.O. When he was done, he patted my head like I was a good boy. My face burned with shame. Hating myself, I tried not to cry when I walked to the Goodwill store to buy a coat with my dirty money. That left me five dollars to get something to eat.

In a way, that first week was hard, but also easy. I still looked like a normal kid, if a little dingy around the edges. People still served me if I had the money to pay. No one said I couldn’t loiter. The hard part was when I stopped trying to survive long enough to think about my dad’s—George’s—last words to me. You’re not our son anymore. I ached at those words.

A couple weeks later, I saw Sarah coming out of the stationery store with her friends. Her eyes got huge when she saw me, but she didn’t speak or wave. Didn’t tell me if my—her—parents regretted what they’d done. She did, however, look back at me one more time before they got on their bikes and rode off. Her face was wet.

After that, I walked by what used to be my home. Maybe Sarah would help me. Maybe she could get my birth certificate. The next time I saw her, she pretended I wasn’t there.

For months, I ghosted around town, trying to stay away from cops, who’d realized I wasn’t just some kid, and that I was up to no good. I tried to keep going to school, but I didn’t have my backpack or my books or my school supplies, and the lunch ladies wouldn’t give me food without my account being paid up.

It was the day I saw my face on a Missing Person’s poster outside the local diner that I met Brandon. I started to retreat, but he spoke, and his voice didn’t carry the disdain I’d become used to.

“They do that, sometimes,” he said, standing next to me as I stared at the smiling kid I’d once been. “Parents will tell the truancy officers you’re a runaway so they get out of trouble when you drop out of school too young. How old is that picture?”

“Three years.”

He nodded sagely. “You’re what, fourteen, fifteen?”

“Fifteen,” My birthday was a month ago. I’d celebrated by doing three blowjobs in one night, then buying myself a new pair of shoes because the ones I’d been wearing had pinched my growing feet. Sucking guys off for money was the only work I could get. I had what they called “cocksucker lips” and as sick as it made me, I used them to my full advantage.

“Puberty changes you enough no one will recognize you even if they look at the photos on the notice boards,” Brandon continued.

“How did you?” I asked suspiciously.

“The look on your face.” He turned and stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Elijah Goodman. I’m Brandon Maxwell.”

I didn’t shake his hand immediately. What does he want? He wasn’t bad looking, and frankly, he smelled a lot better than my last customer.

He chuckled and gripped my wrist with one hand, then closed his fingers over my palm with the other, pumping it twice. “Have you eaten?”

Not since I’d scavenged some soggy tacos from the trash behind a fast food restaurant two nights ago. The last one was lunch the day before. “It’s been a few hours.”

“Come on.” He led me into the diner, and the waitress who’d thrown me out last week started to yell again, until Brandon shut her down with a look. We sat in a cracked vinyl booth and he passed the laminated menu over. “Order as much as you want.”

There had to be a catch, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to fill my belly. I’d grown a few inches since the day of the First Kiss Phone Call, and I was always hungry, and conscious of my wrists and ankles protruding from my clothes. Ordering a burger, two chili cheese dogs, fries, a Coke, and a piece of pie, I barely spoke as Brandon talked, telling me about the shelter he and his partner ran for kids like me.

I was one of the lucky ones, finding help after only months on the streets. I hadn’t resorted to riskier behavior for money. I hadn’t been attacked, though many of the street kids I knew had been. I hadn’t gotten pneumonia or hypothermia during that long winter, and when Brandon found me, there was a bed available right away.

I will never forget the pillow beneath my head the night he brought me to the shelter. The comfort of blankets. How warm felt. Sleeping without worry of being jumped. I knew what I had lost, but not how to get it back. All because of a phone call about my first kiss, and the Goodmans’ conviction I was an abomination.

Thanks to Brandon, in the three years since being tossed out of my home for being gay, I’m back on track. Got my GED and my important papers. In a few months, I start college. Thanks to the generosity of kindhearted donors to Brandon’s shelter, who accept LGBT people as human beings, I survived.

 

While Elijah’s story is fiction, here are some facts. LGBT people make up less than 10% of the overall population, yet 40% of homeless kids in the U.S. identify as LGBT. Of them, 68% cited family rejection for the reason they were on the streets. Studies have repeatedly shown that homeless LGBT kids are more at risk of being attacked, robbed, and raped than their heterosexual counterparts, more likely to engage in prostitution or survival sex, more likely to turn to drugs or alcohol, and more likely to attempt or commit suicide. Despite this, less than 25% of homeless shelters cater for or specifically target LGBT kids, leaving them at the mercy of individual organizations who can pick and choose who they help and who they abandon on the streets. Laws such as Indiana’s SB 101 enshrine the legality of refusing service—including such basic assistance as food and shelter—to people specifically because they’re LGBT.

This isn’t about pizza. This is about creating a climate in which LGBT individuals feel isolated from and rejected by the rest of society. It’s about creating a climate in which parents feel justified for kicking their kids out on the street. It’s about cutting off any and all support networks which might otherwise be available to prevent kids from ending up on life’s scrapheap because of how they were born.

 Want to read a happier ending?

Changing laws and attitudes takes time, and right now there are LGBT people in need who can’t afford to wait. The sooner we can help them, the better, and the more resources we have, the more help we can offer.

That’s why 224 authors, review bloggers, and publishers have got together to offer something wonderful: a reward for people who do a little bit to give back to charity. Instead of spending $5 on a book in the next two weeks, give that $5 to an LGBT charity of your choice, tell us about it in the comments, and go into the draw to win a book from one of our participating donors. And because it’s not all about money, if you can’t make a donation then please take a moment to share a charity’s links and tell us about that instead.

Three fundraisers have been set up to counter the hateful effects of Indiana’s SB 101. #Pizza4Equality is aiming to match the money raised by *that* pizza parlor, with all donations going to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund. Another fundraiser is aiming to raise $100,000 for Indiana Youth Group. Finally, Planting Peace is trying to raise $100,000 to provide beds for homeless LGBT people.

Please consider giving to one of these deserving fundraisers, or any other LGBT charity anywhere in the world. We’re not telling you where you should donate your time and money, only asking that you do. The smallest things can make the biggest difference, and together, we can do something incredible.

Go here: 

http://diversereader.blogspot.com/2015/04/lgbtq-push-back-charity-giveaway.html 

to enter the giveaway to win, not only a copy of my novel, Out of the Blue, but one of a number of books being offered. There’s over 200 authors involved, giving away free books in exchange for a little kindness to someone who really needs it.

 

*First Kiss is a work of fiction copyright 2015 by AJ Rose and any resemblance to actual places or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

 

Out of the Blue is coming in two weeks and there’s a giveaway!

Out of the Blue
By
RJ Jones

Release: March 27, 2015

Release day is looming and to say I’m nervous would be a gross understatement. Sleep has become non-existent and my stomach’s all twisty. <— not even kidding. LOL.  So to make myself feel better, I’ve set up a Rafflecopter so you can win a copy of Out of the Blue. We all like free stuff, right? And they say giving is much better than receiving. 🙂

The Blurb…

When everything happens Out of the Blue…

Lt Cameron Cooper has been with the San Francisco Fire Department for fifteen years. He’s seen and dealt with a lot of horrifying situations. He’s always considered himself mentally tough, but when he attends a multi-vehicle accident and sees a dead boy with features remarkably similar to his long-time boyfriend, his mental health takes a hit.

All Jake Montgomery wants is to propose to his boyfriend on their ten-year anniversary. He’s already bought the perfect rings, but when Cameron struggles to look at him after a tragic accident, he has doubts about their future. Cam is withdrawing, and Jake doesn’t know why.

With heated arguments and cold shoulders, Cam and Jake’s life starts to fall apart. Just when Cam thinks he can overcome his issues and finally talk to Jake, memories from Jake’s past threaten to push them apart forever.

The Excerpt…

I turned on the shower without stepping in and waited for the water to warm up. I looked in the mirror above the sink, I looked like hell. Yeah, it was a tough night—one of the worst—and my body ached all over. The mirror fogged up as I stared blankly at myself, which was my cue to move. I adjusted the temperature and stepped into the shower, bracing my hands against the tile. I closed my eyes as the warm water sluiced down my back, offering relief to my aching muscles. All I wanted was to shower and climb into my comfortable bed with Jake’s nice warm body.

I’d never needed anybody as much as I needed Jake. He kept me grounded when my job made me want to fall apart, like it did last night. Being a firefighter in a large city could take its toll on your mental health sometimes, and I’d seen some things that no one should ever see. From car wrecks to suicides, house fires to machinery accidents, some images never left you.

I felt Jake’s presence before I heard him. I knew he stood outside the shower and watched my shadowy form. I’d always been able to tell when he walked into a room, always sensed when he was near, even when I couldn’t see him. Ever since the first time I saw him on campus over nine years ago, the awareness had never gone away. And after almost ten years, my heart still skipped a beat every time I saw him. Every time.

I heard Jake’s footsteps a second before he opened the shower door and climbed in behind me. I didn’t move. Jake wrapped his body around mine, pressing his sculpted, hairless chest to my broader back. Tightening his arms around my waist, he rested his cheek against my shoulder blade.

“Hi,” he whispered. “Bad night, huh?”

I didn’t say anything. My voice had left me, and all I could do was hang my head lower and release a quiet sigh. Grabbing one of his hands, I entwined our fingers together, letting them rest on my flat stomach. Jake held me for a long minute, and I relished the feel of his body against mine. Jake sighed and tried to release my hand, but I didn’t want to let go—he’d always been my anchor and I needed his touch to ground me.

“Let go, Romeo. I’m not going anywhere, just let me take care of you before I go to work.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click on the image to win a copy of the e-book on release day!

Buy Links…

ARe   Amazon  Smashwords

❤ RJ