Friday, July 29, 2016

Release Day Blitz – Priest and Pariahs by Mann Ramblings

Priest and Pariahs Banner

Synopsis – Priest and Pariahs

Ship Logs of the Santa Claus, Book Three
Costa McQuillen is a Pariah, a para-human with tech empathic abilities who has escaped from Earth, where being para-human is illegal—and marks him for extermination. Arrogant and standoffish, Costa is unable to trust anyone, but is willing to risk everyone’s safety to reach the planet Omoikane. His best solution: gaining passage on board the Santa Claus.
Arbor Kittering, the crew’s newest coding tech, is a medical oddity. With the technologies available to prevent birth defects, Arbor’s status as a dwarf brings the kind of attention he could happily do without. Having spent a short time in prison for data hacking and falsifying government files doesn’t help. The Santa Claus is his last chance at a new start, if he can decipher the strange malfunctions plaguing the ship.
Priest, the Santa Claus’ Head Pilot, is a bit of a scoundrel. Perpetually single, Priest is attracted to Costa for his exotic looks, and to Arbor for his unique qualities. In truth, he’d like to have both, but it’s clear such a thing isn’t in the cards. Now Priest needs to make a choice, before it’s too late.
Priest and Pariah Cover

Buy Links

Don’t miss the discounted release prices on all retailer sites!

Excerpt

THE DARKNESS REMINDED him somehow of an unborn child, floating weightless, enveloped by warmth. What would anyone give to fall back into such a simple existence, removed of all need beyond instinctual thought? What a fortunate nine months it would be. What a wonderful life, sleeping and cared for inside the womb, never requiring a voice. All before anyone could teach a soul to love or hate, or something or someone was unwanted.
Is that what was happening here? Had he somehow regressed back before his own infancy? The pangs of jealousy he was experiencing told him no. Sadly, no.
He felt like he’d been slumbering for such a long time, and very, very slowly he was starting to wake. Threads of logical coherence began to tickle his thoughts in the dark. It was not a welcome sensation and he fought to avoid it. Why couldn’t he go back into the lovely silence?
Envy for the ignorance of the unborn rolled through him. How unfair it was to have the innocence of being sequestered and never hearing the taunts of children or comprehending the cries of the intolerant taken away from him. If only he had never heard slurs of hatred or understood what defined a second-class citizen.
What was that sound? Could it be a faint heartbeat in the distant void? It sounded brash and unnatural, refusing to lull him back to sleep like the soothing cadence of a mother’s pulse.
Like a child, he wanted nothing more than to stay safe and warm, but like in every instance, someone always forced a person into the painful light and cold of reality. The darkness parted above him with a soft mechanical hiss. The warmth bled away, making him want to cry.
Daring to open his foggy eyes, he squinted in the artificial light. A woman in a white coat hovered over him.
“Welcome back to the real world,” she said. “Can you tell me your name?”

Book Trailer


Start with Books One and Two of Ship Logs of the Santa Claus!

The Luxorian Fugitive

Luxorian PreviewSergeant Liam Jacks is the security chief of transport vessel, The Santa Claus. He travels the planetary cluster with Marc Danverse, his best friend and captain, seeking to escape his tortured past and find some peace of mind.
Having been through a civil war together, Danverse and Liam are close. Maybe too close….
All that changes when mysterious stranger, Hadrian Jamison, an escaped Adonirati, books passage to Alpha Centauri. Can he be trusted? Can the stories of his past be believed?
As Liam’s fascination with Hadrian grows, jealousy threatens to tear apart his friendship with Danverse.
When Hadrian’s owner shows up, Liam is forced to go against orders in order to launch a rescue mission to save him.
The ensuing conflict may be more than any of them expected.
Buy Links

A Cook’s Tale

A Cooks Tale - Mann RamblingsThe trials and tribulations of the crew and passengers of interplanetary transport vessel, The Santa Claus continues in A Cook’s Tale.
After a horrific breakup, Erron Murfin is bitter, homeless, and friendless. When the cook’s position on the Santa Claus presents itself, Erron decides to escape his current circumstances and join the crew. On board he reconnects with family friend Gamin Wells, whose own secrets and issues begin to surface upon Erron’s arrival. The least of which is the reason the pair haven’t laid eyes on one another in over twelve years.
As Erron settles into his new duties, the men on board take an interest in their newest crew member. Among those intrigued by Erron are polyamorous couple, Barrus and James. Despite Erron’s cautious nature, he’s drawn into a triad relationship with the pair.
But there’s something about Gamin…
Is Erron too damaged to confront his own feelings?
Will his past prevent him from finding what he needs?
Buy Links

About the Author

Like many gay men, when Mann Ramblings grew up, there weren’t any heroes he could relate to. The world held him back while he tried futilely to hide the real person inside. So much has changed since those hollow days. He finally found his voice, the voice that says it’s all right to revel in the so-called inappropriate joys, laughs, and loves that storm inside a man’s head. It took a long time to find that courage and now that it’s here, he plans to use it well.
While spending years more focused on visual arts, he never let go of his innate passion for storytelling—he wanted to write and draw comic books when he grew up. Once he discovered M/M fiction, a whole new world opened with new possibilities. Why couldnt you have fantastic and dynamic tales with an M/M cast? He started reading the online tales of authors like, Night Tempest, Rob Colton, and Alicia Nordwell, which only fueled within him the need to create. Eventually he found GayAuthors.org, and with a little coercive nudge from Night Tempest, started sharing his tales with an unexpected level of positive response. That experience and support gave him the courage to cross his fingers and aim for the world of M/M publishing.
Born and raised in Michigan, Mann Ramblings continues to type away, wishing it was practical to use a noisy, old fashioned keyboard that clacks with each strike, if only to annoy his loving partner and spoiled miniature dachshund.
Email: mannramblings@gmail.com
Twitter: @mannramblings











Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Release Day Blitz – The Devil’s Hand Series by S. Zanne

The Devils Hand Banner

DRAWING DEAD

Devin endured Hell for a long, long time and has come out literally a changed man. Now a demon, he hunts for the one thing that can make him remember something of what it was to be human—however unfortunate that might be for his prey.
He stumbles upon James Goodman, who tugs at the nearly extinguished memories. The pair enter into a relationship that evolves into something more as Devin grooms James for his pleasure.
Though Devin is a demon and James merely human, who holds the power in their relationship is in question, and, in the end, who holds the winning hand may surprise them both.
DrawingDead_600x956

ACE IN THE HOLE

Months later, Devin is imprisoned and James remains reluctant to face him. Torn and conflicted, he’s still reeling from the experience of living at the side and in the bed of the man his family has spent several lifetimes hunting.
James tries to find solace in the bosom of his family, but it leaves him dissatisfied and wanting, unable to fulfill the newly born cravings even he’s not sure he understands. Finally forced to serve his stint as Devin’s jailer, James returns to the place of Devin’s imprisonment, only to find his confusion grow with every day he spends with Devin.
And Devin may not be entirely out of cards.
AceInTheHole_600x965
Unbeknownst to the Goodman family, Devin’s influence extends far beyond the ten- by twelve-foot room in which he’s confined.
James comes to the realization that perhaps his great-grandfather’s plan hadn’t been for the family to save Devin after all, but instead to repay a debt owed—a soul for a soul.

Buy Links

Don’t miss the discounted prices available on all retailer sites for a few days after release day!

Excerpt

It was bad enough in the unforgiving light of day, when he had no excuses, but the dreams were a weakness from which he couldn’t run. James could keep Devin at bay and out of his head when he was awake, but at night he was vulnerable, incapable of defending himself from whatever Devin threw at him—all too often leaving James with come-wet sheets and memories of pain fading along his limbs. So he had tried to exhaust himself in any way possible, to make those dreams a trivial reality so they had no hold on him; but even when every last bit of his energy was tapped and unconsciousness violently dragged him under, he still found himself dreaming of Devin.
Not that he recognized everything in the dreams. Some of it was… different—a different Devin with a different face, full of more affection than lust, set in places James had never been.
That was almost worse. It was in those dreams that James knew the Devin he had always heard about as a boy, but had never seen—the Devin he had begun to doubt had ever truly existed.
The Devin he had always imagined as a child, hero-worship heavy in his heart.
DevilsHandSeries_600x940
With another breathless pant, James stared at the ceiling and debated going upstairs to slip into bed with Joanne. No matter his wishes or his level of desperation, he knew that would not work—it hadn’t any other time he had attempted it—so instead, he rose from the couch and padded quietly to the bar on the other side of his study. With ritualistic ease, James poured himself a shot of whiskey and slugged it back. He took the bottle with him as he slumped on the couch, settling it beside him like an old friend come to call.
It looked like yet another night with no sleep, his brain’s roughened edges dulled only by the soothing persistence of the liquor. If he were lucky, he would pass out too deeply for Devin to find him. If he weren’t, he would be too weak to fight back.
James was not sure which he preferred—the blankness of oblivion, or the excuse to just give in.

Book Trailer


About the author

Call her ZANNE. She lives in beautiful, sunny Southern California, which is ironic since she tends to avoid the sun like it might incinerate her on the spot. While her colleagues often refer to her job as zookeeping, the technical title is actually middle school teacher. Misfit Prophets Beneath a Bankrupt Sky was her first published novel and her short story “Persephone Is Bleeding” was published in the Hungry Hearts anthology with Inkstained Succubus Press.
ZANNE can be found at:

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Cover Reveal – The Devil’s Hand Series by S. Zanne

The Devils Hand Banner

DRAWING DEAD


Devin endured Hell for a long, long time and has come out literally a changed man. Now a demon, he hunts for the one thing that can make him remember something of what it was to be human—however unfortunate that might be for his prey.
He stumbles upon James Goodman, who tugs at the nearly extinguished memories. The pair enter into a relationship that evolves into something more as Devin grooms James for his pleasure.
Though Devin is a demon and James merely human, who holds the power in their relationship is in question, and, in the end, who holds the winning hand may surprise them both.
DrawingDead_600x956

ACE IN THE HOLE


Months later, Devin is imprisoned and James remains reluctant to face him. Torn and conflicted, he’s still reeling from the experience of living at the side and in the bed of the man his family has spent several lifetimes hunting.
James tries to find solace in the bosom of his family, but it leaves him dissatisfied and wanting, unable to fulfill the newly born cravings even he’s not sure he understands. Finally forced to serve his stint as Devin’s jailer, James returns to the place of Devin’s imprisonment, only to find his confusion grow with every day he spends with Devin.
And Devin may not be entirely out of cards.
AceInTheHole_600x965
Unbeknownst to the Goodman family, Devin’s influence extends far beyond the ten- by twelve-foot room in which he’s confined.
James comes to the realization that perhaps his great-grandfather’s plan hadn’t been for the family to save Devin after all, but instead to repay a debt owed—a soul for a soul.
Release Day: July 19th

Pre-order Links


Don’t miss the discounted prices for pre-orders and immediately after release available on all retailer sites!
WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/devils-hand-series-by-s-zanne/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-devil039shandseries-2071696-387.html
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Hand-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01I7TT95W/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Hand-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01I7TT95W/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Devils-Hand-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01I7TT95W/
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/Devils-Hand-Books-One-Two-ebook/dp/B01I7TT95W/

Excerpt


HE HAD BEEN human once.

Once, a long time ago… so they told him. They said he had a family, people who cared about him, loved him.
That was what they said when they wanted him to suffer.
Sometimes he thought he remembered sorrow, that sharp stab that tore through his insides when they told him these things, but he was not so sure anymore. It was difficult to feel much of anything now.
He knew with certainty they were lying. But, truth or lie, it did not matter much after so long.
With every blink, every breath, time passed. Time was a puzzle in this realm, twisting around his fingers like a cat’s cradle, spilling like marbles from his hands.  Every yesterday was tomorrow, and every tomorrow was already gone, hissing away like smoke on the breeze. There was only now, the unceasing, never-ending reality of this particular moment.
This moment alone could last eons. That was why they called it Hell.
DevilsHandSeries_600x940
Tall… so tall… soft black hair falling across the brow and eyes that shifted color like the sea—from a hard, sun-bright blue to the darker reflection of a storm-clouded sky; these were the things that called to him.
They told him this was what his husband had looked like, the husband they told him he once had. He did not think he should believe them because lies were the very air they breathed—spoon-fed like bitter drops of poison, trying to make him hurt, trying to make him feel.
Trying to see if he was still touched by human anguish.

Book Trailer



About the author


Call her ZANNE. She lives in beautiful, sunny Southern California, which is ironic since she tends to avoid the sun like it might incinerate her on the spot. While her colleagues often refer to her job as zookeeping, the technical title is actually middle school teacher. Misfit Prophets Beneath a Bankrupt Sky was her first published novel and her short story “Persephone Is Bleeding” was published in the Hungry Hearts anthology with Inkstained Succubus Press.
ZANNE can be found at:
Website: http://lvfp.tripod.com/zanneiam/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/zanneiam

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Release Day Blitz: Dawn to Dusk (Lover’s Journey, Book One) by Alina Popescu

Dawn to Dusk Banner

Synopsis

That first encounter with Robert in rural Romania at eleven. A summer spent together in the same setting a year later. Their first text exchange in high school. The first sexual experience. The first heartbreak—the second and third and fourth chance. The point of total breakdown and the despair of failing. More love than anyone could have warned him about.
No matter how much time passes, no matter how different their paths, every meeting brings Edi and Robert closer together. Those stolen moments shine brighter than any. Yet loving Robert is not easy, not when Edi wants to be true to himself and is met with dishonesty. Or when Robert keeps parading new conquests and ignores Edi more often than not.
Edi has always loved Robert, but he must decide if his journey leads to or away from his childhood friend. Is it true love or is Edi just unable to let go?
Dawn to Dusk Cover

Buy Links

Excerpt

What a big jerk. I frowned at the new boy and he must have noticed because he tilted his head and stared at me. His smirk still in place, he winked before returning his attention to the game.
“Who’s that other kid playing with Nicu?” I asked after bumping my shoulder into Tatiana’s to get her attention.
“That’s our cousin, Robert,” she said, smiling all adoringly at him. “He’s from Bucharest.”
I rolled my eyes at that tidbit. Just great, another brat from the capital! The other Bucharest kid was staying with the neighbors on the other side of my grandma’s house. He was full of himself, he had a funny walk, and I wanted to punch him right in the face every time I saw him. What was it with these kids from the Capital, anyway? They thought they were better than the rest just because of the city they’d been born into.
Robert and Nicu played until the younger one was thoroughly defeated. Nicu begged Robert for a rematch, but he refused. Holding the ball against his right hip, he turned to face me. “What about you, kid? Wanna be the next one I beat?”
I wanted to tell him where to shove that ball of his, but I stopped myself. I probably shouldn’t get into another fight. I might be shipped to the other grandparents for the rest of the summer. Or worse, get my ass kicked by this older kid.
dawn-to-dusk-3D-render
“Nah, too hot to play now anyways.”
“Are you a chicken?” Robert asked. His mocking tone angered me, but not as much as his stupid cousins parroting the “chicken” part and laughing at me. I glared at him and then at Tatiana. I didn’t care about Nicu, but her taking her cousin’s side stung. Well, he was family, but still. He’d refused to play with her. The snotty traitor!
“Fine, you ass. I’ll play.”
I pushed myself up and dragged my feet through the grass. I jumped over the ditch and walked to the middle of the court side Nicu had been in. The bastard Robert had the advantage, I had the sun in my eyes.
I’d watched them play, though. He’d beaten Nicu because he was stronger and a bit faster. But he had no finesse with the ball. I spent most of my time outside, running and playing. Somehow, this smug pretty boy seemed to be into different things. Probably kissing girls and going to the movies and other stupid shit.
He acted all nice and let me serve. I took full advantage of it and showed him what I was made of. I beat him easily after that. Robert was more concerned with talking to his cousins than paying attention to the game. I took it as an offense. He wanted to blame the loss on him being distracted. Ass!

About the authorAlina Popescu

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, Alina Popescu has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and she has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm. Born and raised in Romania, she finds her inspiration in books of all genres, in movies, and the occasional manga comic book. She is a proud geek who needs her fast Internet and gadgets more than she needs air.
Social Links



Monday, July 11, 2016

Guest post - Layla Dorine

Ever since Guitars and Cages, Layla Dorine has become one of my favorite authors, so having her here today is a joy.


Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog today to talk about Roadhouse Reds and Spider Webs

and Cover Art. So much of Roadhouse Reds was inspired by all of the time I spent in bars, little side of

the road dives, and darkened taverns all over the East Coast. I learned to bartend and loved waitressing

and even working behind the grill in the back if the need arose. It provided me with countless hours to

people watch as well as to interact with folks that otherwise, I’d likely never have talked to. I knew

plenty of people in those days who preferred working on the weekends because that’s when we were

busiest, but for me, the best part of the week to work was Monday through Thursday, because that was

when the ‘real’ people came in, not the party goers or the college kids or the idiots looking to blow off

steam because they’d had a shit week. You could talk to people in between pouring beers and refilling

coffees and sometimes a simple conversation could spark the wildest of daydreams.

The last time I worked in a bar and grill it was mostly in the kitchen, where I had a pretty boring view of

the field next door. Mostly sheep grazed in it, which wasn’t very amusing, but add in an active

imagination and a lot of reading at that time about haunted places and alien sightings and well,

Roadhouse Reds was born. Still it took about ten years from the time I wrote the first scene until the

time I wrote the ending and in between the ideas shifted and changed quite a bit. I’d thought it would

be something sweet, oddballs at the roadhouse teaching the alien how to fit in. Maybe see him trying to

mix drinks behind the bar or cook in the kitchen, experience his first crush on a human and how cute

and awkward he’d be.

Let me just say that nothing about Ano ki is cute or awkward, nor would sweet be a word that I would

use to describe him, and yet, in all the changes and evolution the idea of him underwent, Jason also

changed quite a bit too. In the end, I felt like I had as much of a beginning as I did an ending, and plenty

of room to write more stories featuring these guys.

When it comes to Spider Webs and Cover Art, the call for submission was what really caught my

attention. Asking writers to craft stories to bring attention to the semi-colon tattoos made me think

about events in my own past. When I was 19 a close friend took his life, leaving behind questions,

confusion and grief. It’s been 20 years and the memory of him hasn’t faded, nor has my confusion over

why he chose to do what he did. I tried to pour all of the feelings and emotions that I carried with me

regarding his suicide into Spider Webs and Cover Art. I’m pretty sure I spilled as many tears as words,

I’m pretty sure I’ll spill more when I go get my own tattoo in a few days, one that is described in the

story as the one that Jace goes into the tattoo parlor to get. I do think it is very important to open the

door to talk about the effects of suicide and mental health issues because sometimes the connections

we make are the only things that help us handle all of the confusion and grief we are left with.

I’d like to thank you again for giving me the opportunity to talk about my stories.

Double Blog Tour – Roadhouse Reds and Spider Webs & Cover Art by Layla Dorine

Roadhouse Reds - Spider Webs & Cover Art Banner

ROADHOUSE REDS

Born moments before his parents crashed landed on Earth, Jason was raised in foster care. As soon as he was old enough, he packed his backpack and hit the road. Just him and his bike.
Now a jaded young man, living above a roadhouse diner and bar with several other misfits, he struggles to understand friendships, relationships, and the bonds of family.
Unbeknownst to Jason, other refugees from the planet Altiss also made it safely to Earth. After discovering Jason living as a human, they seek to safeguard him and his fledgling abilities.
As Jason’s powers begin to manifest, his mate arrives on earth looking to claim him. Ano ki stalks Jason, seeking to gain his trust, and his proximity only intensifies Jason’s burgeoning magic..
Fearing they will be dragged back to the planet they fled, the refugees prepare to do battle. In Jason, they believe they may have what is needed to tip the scales in their favor.
Left with no choice but to accept his heritage and learn to fight, Jason struggles with some harsh lessons about love and trust amidst a backdrop of battle and betrayal.
Roadhouse Reds Cover

Buy Links

Book Trailer

SPIDER WEBS & COVER ART

Losing his brother leaves rocker Jace Christenson struggling to understand how it happened, and what he can do to open the door to conversation about suicide and mental illness.
Losing his brother leaves rocker Jace Christenson struggling to understand how it happened, and what he can do to open the door to a conversation about suicide and mental illness. A trip to visit an old friend who runs the tattoo parlor where he got his first tattoo soon nets him a conversation piece, in the form of a semi-colon tattoo, but the pain of grief is still overwhelming. Reconnecting with his band is an obstacle he’s not sure he can overcome. It takes some time away with best friend and fellow bandmate Troy Paulus to finally get him to open up and accept that the things he’s feeling are normal parts of the healing process. And if along the way, the two grow even closer, than that’s just a bonus right?
Spider Webs & Cover Art Cover

Buy Links

Giveaway

Prize: $10 WIP Gift Card

About the author

LAYLA DORINE lives among the sprawling prairies of Midwestern America, in a house with more cats than people. She loves hiking, fishing, swimming, martial arts, camping out, photography, cooking, and dabbling with several artistic mediums. In addition, she loves to travel and visit museums, historic, and haunted places.
Layla got hooked on writing as a child, starting with poetry and then branching out, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. Hard times, troubled times, the lives of her characters are never easy, but then what life is? The story is in the struggle, the journey, the triumphs and the falls. She writes about artists, musicians, loners, drifters, dreamers, hippies, bikers, truckers, hunters and all the other folks that she’s met and fallen in love with over the years. Sometimes she writes urban romance and sometimes its aliens crash landing near a roadside bar. When she isn’t writing, or wandering somewhere outdoors, she can often be found curled up with a good book and a kitty on her lap.
Layla Dorine can be found at: