There’s
something to be said for life experience, a little gray at the
temple…
And
then there is the appeal of youth.
When
it comes to what the heart wants, Age Is Just A Number.
Stories
Included
TWENTY
LIGHT YEARS BETWEEN US
Eric
Gober
An
alien encounter…
An
unfortunate misstep…
A
lightning fast journey through space…
The
laws of physics are about to wreak havoc on Walt and Michael’s May-December
love.
ALL
ROADS LEAD WITHIN
Layla
Dorine
When
James spotted Rogue, a young man for whom wandering is like breathing,
half-dozing on the hood of his car, he never expected that warning him about
the dangers of sleeping out in the open would lead to a weekly visitor at his
door.
NORTH
PASTURE
Lily
Velden
Upon
the death of his grandfather, up and coming Fantasy author, Thomas, returns
home.
A
place he left four years earlier to get over his unrequited love for Sam
Fletcher, his older, straight, and very much married
neighbor.
Thomas
soon discovers, however, that things are much changed with
Sam…
AMERICAN
MASTER BAKER
Dale
Cameron Lowry
Baking
is a way of life for Joey, a young pastry chef vying for first place in the
popular reality show American Master Bakers.
But
the judges have been showing favoritism to Terence, an aggravatingly attractive
older man with more experience under his belt.
When
the competition gets hot, so do the two men. Can a relationship that started in
hatred end in love?
ALPHA
AND OMEGA: THE CLAIMING
Eddy
LeFey
A
young Omega shifter meets a much older Alpha.
Will
Elliot let Issac help him be who he is too afraid to be?
STAND
AND DELIVER
Asta
Idonea
Necessity
has forced former soldier Captain Keen to assume the occupation of gentleman
highwayman. His fortunes take a turn, however, the night he stops the Marquis
de Beaumont’s coach and gets more than he bargained for when he utters the
words “Stand and deliver!”
LOST
AND FOUND
Louise
Lyons
The
loss of his best friend leads Phil to find love.
TRAIL
TO LOVE
Kassandra
Lea
There’s
only one thing Kit Conley likes more than horses and that’s Roman Meadery.
But
will the elite rider ever notice him?
CRUISING
WITH LOVE
Carol
Pedroso
Gus
is under the thumb of a controlling father. Can meeting his mate give him a
reason to make a break for freedom?
Nelson
is twice Gus’ age, and very protective of what is his.
What
will happen when Gus’ father tries to split them up? And what surprises does
Nelson have up his sleeve?
NEAR
MISS
Aimee
Brissay
A
few seconds, that’s all it takes to make a difference between life and
death.
Between
killing someone and stopping on time.
But
is it enough to turn yourself around when you’ve hit bottom?
Or
to make you recognize something good when you have it?
Pre-order
Links
Don’t
miss the discounted pre-order prices on publishers’ and all major retailer
sites!
Title: Surfacing Author: A.L. Bates Series: The Ariel Series, Book Two Genre: Gay Romance, Science Fiction Length: Novella Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing
Synopsis
A few weeks following the events that concluded DEEP, Book One: The Ariel Series, Captain Joel Riley is struggling to adjust to his new relationship with his medic, Sean, and when a face from Sean’s past sets out to destroy Joel and his ship, Joel faces an impossible decision: Sean or Ariel.
Sensing Joel’s dilemma, Sean makes the decision to leave. He does so knowing he must confront his past and the abuse he suffered. Subjected to the same trauma again, this time at the hands of his brother, he uses the strength Joel taught him to take his future into his own hands.
For Joel, life without Sean proves unbearable and he comes to the realization that he needs more than just his ship. He sets out to bring Sean back… whatever the cost.
Review: 5 stars
5 stars without a doubt. Surfacing is book 2 of the Ariel series. It can be read as a stand alone, but it works better as part of the series. It's a continuation of the story of Ariel's Captain Joel Riley and his medic, Sean. In this installment, Sean and Joel have to face the arrival of Sean's tormentor, his older brother, and Joel's coming out.
The connection between Joel and Sean is palpable, real. The characters are very well developed and we get to see more of the crew. The story flows nicely, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The world itself is unique and easily to understand, despite being pretty complex and I would love to see more of it. In conclusion, I can't wait for next book in the series and I'm praying that there will be more than 3 stories in the series!!!
A.L. BATES has a keen interest in Sci-fi and adventure novels and enjoys writing stories with strong characters in imaginative backgrounds. Although an avid writer, Deep is the first published novella by A.L. Bates.
A.L. Bates can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralbates
Good Boys, The Solomon Series, Book One
Paul Solomon is a homicide detective in Baltimore, a city with a high murder rate and a complicated relationship between the police and the citizens they are sworn to protect.
He’s also a gay man who has been out on the job since he first joined. Being out on a tough police force hasn’t always been easy, but living with integrity is important to him.
Paul’s love life becomes as tumultuous as his job with the demise of his relationship of eight years. While dealing with the emotional and physical upheaval in his personal life, a case comes across his desk that hits a little too close to home—the murder of two gay teenagers.
Paul and his partner, Tim Cullen, must solve the double homicide, and Paul has to find a way to move on from his failed relationship.
BEFORE HE EVEN opened his eyes, Paul knew something was wrong. He could feel the heat of the morning sun on his face in a way that never happened in his west-facing bedroom, but for a few seconds he couldn’t figure out why it was wrong. The bed felt familiar enough, and smelled familiar too.
Oh, shit.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face and pressing the heels of his hands into his forehead as if that might somehow hold back the monster headache he felt pushing its way into the backs of his eyes. His stomach lurched as he carefully swung his feet onto the floor, and he lowered his head into his hands until it passed. He made his way to the bathroom, at one point losing his balance slightly and bumping into the wall.
In the shower, he leaned up against the slick tiles and angled the showerhead so he could let it run over him. He tried closing his eyes, but little pinpricks of light blossomed behind his lids. He started to feel dizzy, so he opened them again. Bits and pieces of the night before began to creep into his consciousness, and he sincerely wished he could block them out for a little while longer. No such luck. The stack of flattened boxes in the entranceway when he’d gotten home the day before—and the look on Andy’s face as he told him he needed to move out—had started the whole thing. They’d fought. There were tears, followed by wine and then scotch. Paul was pretty sure that what happened next wouldn’t surprise a single goddamn person in the entire world. The worst part was that it wasn’t the first time it had happened, and he’d been no less regretful either of the other times. One would think he’d learn his lesson eventually.
Paul stayed in the shower until the hot water was gone, swallowed three Advil, and looked at himself in the mirror. At thirty-eight he still had his dark curls, but his beard was starting to come in gray where he used to have some copper strands. Today he felt like he could see the future in his face. He looked ten years older this morning, at a minimum. He picked up his razor and shaved carefully, still managing to nick himself on his jawline with his unsteady hand. Oh well, maybe I’ll actually look like a real cop today. Too bad I don’t have any short-sleeved dress shirts.
About the author
KEELAN ELLIS is an east coast girl for life, a progressive, a lover of music and musicians, a mother of two very challenging girls, a loyal though sometimes thoughtless friend, a slacker, a dreamer and a bad influence. She likes true crime podcasts, great television and expensive craft cocktails made by hipsters in silly vests. KEELAN ELLIS can be found at:
Website: keelanellis.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004482857209
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeelanEllisAuth
Dealing with
HIV, high school bullies, and new found feelings.
That is Jeremy’s
Story.
Synopsis
Jeremy is a teenager with
a terrible past.
He has to live with its
consequences for the rest of his life.
There is hope.
He’s found a new family, a
new life, and a new school.
Will he be able to find
friends? Love?
Or will he let those who
would judge him prevail?
Excerpt:
He sat in the middle of a row of chairs and looked around while he waited. Secretaries and teachers were all running around trying to get the last minute details sorted. Students were busy getting their schedules. Then the most beautiful boy that Jeremy had ever seen in his life walked in.
His blond, wavy hair was cut short, and he wore flattering trousers and a fitted blue dress shirt, with rolled-up sleeves showing off his nicely developed arms. He went to the counter and addressed the head secretary—the woman who had been so nice to Jeremy.
“Hey, Aunt Susan. Do you have my revised class schedule for me?” The boy turned his head towards Jeremy and leaned forward.
Oh my God! I shouldn’t be attracted to that behind. Why am I? Is he moving it that way on purpose?
The boy whispered something into Susan’s ear. She responded by squinting and wagging her finger at him, one corner of her mouth turning upward. The boy leaned closer and whispered something else. Susan’s response was to shake her head and dismiss him with a gesture.
What did he say?
The boy laughed aloud, took his papers from Susan, and turned around. He walked towards Jeremy and plumped down onto the seat next to him. Their legs actually touched.
Oh my God! Jeremy tried very hard not to let his blushing show. Why am I feeling like this?
After publishing several
adult stories under a different name, NED ERICSSON decided to reach deep down
inside himself and write a story for which a younger generation, as well as the
older ones, might relate. He hopes he succeeded in making people
think.
Ned looks forward to
writing many more stories to entertain and he hopes provoke some minds into
thinking about today’s issues through their telling.
Ned lives in Canada with
his husband Ken and their cat, Oscar Wild.
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.
Excerpt:
“WHAT THE FUCK is this, Priest?” Arbor shouted. Mac watched as his newest employee scrambled out of his Mess Hall chair and stalked towards the Santa Claus’ head pilot. When they sat down to dinner, Mac noticed an edge of discomfort running through Arbor, but Mac had put it off to being the new guy. Now he knew there was something specific bothering him. The sudden vitriol pouring off Arbor made Mac get up and follow him, if only to avoid another public incident with Priest. Arbor thrust his personal datapad into Priest’s line of sight. “You want to tell me what this looks like?” The raised eyebrows and thin smirk on Priest’s face spoke volumes. “It looks like Mr. Wiggles.” “Mr. Wiggles?” Mac said. Craning his head over Arbor, he reached over and turned the screen by turning Arbor’s wrist. “Oh cute! You have a sock monkey! Is this picture in Engineering? Why...?” Mac’s expression deadpanned as he realized what was happening. “Oh, wait... there’s a ransom note attached. Shit.” Frowning, Mac turned on Priest. “You didn’t.” Arbor didn’t wait for a response. “The message said, ‘Come to Engineering or you’ll never see Mr. Wiggles alive again.’ Then I went to where the holo showed, but he wasn’t there. Then I got another com that sent me somewhere else.” Arbor jammed a finger into Priest’s chest. “Where is he?” Priest’s mouth went tight to contain his laughter. “I have no idea.” Arbor’s jaw tightened and his whole body quaked in rage. “Bullshit! You’re the only one who’s been in my room, so it has to be you!” A few snickers could be heard from other dining crew members. It was clear multiple people were already involved and watching this new scene. “Arbor, it’s a prank.” Mac placed his hand on Arbor’s shoulder in a vain hope to calm him down. “Every so often the crew snatches a personal effect and they pass it around from one person to the next. They send an encrypted ransom note to make the owner run around. It’s kind of an initiation of sorts.” “Has it ever happened to you?” Priest snorted. “He’s the captain’s boy. We like our nuts where they are, thank you very much.” “Why would you do that to me?”
Prizes: 1 ebook copy – The Luxorian Fugitive; 1 bundle – Books 1 & 2 of Ship Logs of the Santa Claus a Rafflecopter giveaway
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 couldn’t 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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mannramblings
Twitter: @mannramblings
A few weeks following the events that concluded
DEEP, Book One: The Ariel Series,
Captain Joel Riley is struggling to adjust to his new relationship with his
medic, Sean, and when a face from Sean’s past sets out to destroy Joel and his
ship, Joel faces an impossible decision: Sean or
Ariel.
Sensing Joel’s dilemma, Sean makes the decision to leave.
He does so knowing he must confront his past and the abuse he suffered.
Subjected to the same trauma again, this time at the hands of his brother, he
uses the strength Joel taught him to take his future into his own
hands.
For Joel, life without Sean proves unbearable and he comes
to the realization that he needs more than just his ship. He sets out to bring
Sean back… whatever the cost.
Pre-order Links
Don’t miss the discounted pre-release prices on all
retailer sites!
THE ALARM WAS ringing. Joel slammed it
off before it could do any damage. Normally a captain’s work was never done and
he would have a list of things he needed to check before he made it to the mess
for breakfast. But the mining season was coming to a close. Quality minerals
filled his cargo hold, and he wasn’t even going to need to haggle for a good
price this time. The ship was running, the crew were optimistic, and the man
asleep beside him had done things last night Joel wouldn’t have thought were
possible.
Sean had been a regular feature in Joel’s quarters since
the young doctor had gotten shot. Joel ran his fingers over Sean’s bare,
milk-white torso, allowing the tips to skate around the fresh scarring on his
stomach. The memories surrounding the injury were troubling, but from those
dark days came something Joel had never expected. Him and
Sean. It was still new; barely two weeks if he didn’t count the long
period of sexual tension before they got together.
Never in all his years sailing Ariel did
he think he would end up sharing his bed with one of his crew, and certainly
not a male crew member. But the past weeks had been some of the most enjoyable
he’d ever had. Sean was different from the other folks on the ship and back
home. His gentle, compassionate nature was a contrast to Joel’s brash,
hard-line approach, but both men cared passionately about the same things: the
ship and the crew.
“Hey,” Sean said, glancing down at Joel’s wandering
fingers.
“Morning.” Joel ran his thumb over Sean’s lips. The guy was
so handsome it made Joel’s knees go weak. “Did I wake you?”
Sean shook his head, a sleepy smile on his face. “No. Or at
least not in any way I object to.”
“You sleep deep in my room.”
“Your bed is a lot comfier than mine,” Sean said. He rolled
over and draped an arm across Joel’s chest.
“And there I was thinking I had worn you out.”
“Oh, yeah, that too. What are you doing awake so early? You
should be as tired as me.”
Joel smirked. “Stamina,” he said, planting a wet kiss on
Sean’s face. “And I like to watch you sleep.”
“That’s not creepy.” Sean laughed and snuggled closer,
awakening all kinds of sensations in Joel’s body.
Start reading the series with book one!
Synopsis – Deep
Fleeing from a troubled past that left him feeling
tarnished and used, Sean finds work as a medic aboard the deep sea mining ship
Ariel, on a distant planet.
Under the leader ship of the infuriating, yet charismatic,
Captain Joel Riley, Sean settles into his simple, but dangerous, new life. It’s
a life he soon comes to love; albeit one in which he conceals his sexuality and
avoids intimacy.
But Sean’s new world is turned on its head when an old face
threatens to expose him for the man he used to be.
With Joel’s help, will Sean learn to come to terms with his
past and become a man he can be proud of?
A.L. BATES has a keen interest in Sci-fi and adventure
novels and enjoys writing stories with strong characters in imaginative
backgrounds. Although an avid writer,
Deep is the first
published novella by A.L. Bates.
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.
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.
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.
Review:
I loved the premise, the uniqueness of the plot behind the story, and the anti-hero protagonist. The writing style is also compelling. All these are the reasons why I am giving it 3 stars and not less.
The rest is... confusing to say the least. I found no connection with the characters, especially not with James, and the flow of the story felt forced, gappy at times. Devin is the only character with some substance, though to me he is just a secondary character. James....there is nothing compelling about him. There nothing beneath the trainings he had received from his mentor, nothing personal, to put some flesh on the bare bones of the character. Perhaps it was intentional, to make him more similar with his great-grandfather, but sadly there wasn't much about his great-grandfather either.
As for the ending....to say we're left on a cliffhanger is putting it mildly. I like a good cliffhanger, but this left me completely unsatisfied.
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.
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? Review: 5 stars
This is hard to describe. On one hand it's sweet and brings back all these childhood memories, on the other, it's bitter sweet and takes you on an emotional roller-coaster. And kudos to Alina for this, it's not a small feat. Though my summer vacations spent at my grandma when I was a child was different than this, reading D2D took me back to that time. Only the chicken and the kittens were missing, I tell you.
As for Edi and Robert...Robert is a prick, but love is blind. And I know, know, that this reflects a reality a lot of us are very familiar with. The only thing that I would have liked better would have been a HEA, instead of a HFN, but that doesn't take anything from the pleasure I got from reading this.
Not everyone will like the story, and there are a few taboo in the story, but I felt that damn roller-coaster all the way through and that, to me, makes a book great.
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.
Fleeing from a troubled past that left him feeling tarnished and used, Sean finds work as a medic aboard the deep sea mining ship Ariel, on a distant planet.
Sergeant 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.
The trials and tribulations of the crew and passengers of interplanetary transport vessel, The Santa Claus continues in A Cook’s Tale.
