Happy Release Day! For Mac by Brynn Stein

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Branson Farrell lost his parents when he was thirteen, and for the last ten years his brother, Mac, eight years his senior, has taken care of him. But Mac’s love came at a price. Both brothers were raised to believe being gay was completely unacceptable, and Branson has almost convinced himself he can be what Mac expects. When he looks at a man in a bar and Mac notices, Mac drags him off in horror.

Mac’s distress and disgust leads to a car accident that leaves Branson injured and Mac in a coma. Branson heals and stays at Mac’s bedside, but when Mac doesn’t recover, he is moved to a long-term care facility. There, Branson meets openly gay, confident, and attractive Liam Sullivan. Liam stirs feelings Branson thought he’d rid himself of, and to honor his brother, Branson fights tooth and nail against his attraction. When the cost of denying who he is becomes too high, Branson must battle a lifetime of hatred that’s been beaten into his body and mind to try for something of his own.

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Liam Sullivan from Brynn Stein’s new book For Mac

Hi Liam, thank you for agreeing to this interview. I know you have places to go, so let’s get right to it..

What do you find attractive in a man?

I love blond hair and blue eyes, but more important for me is that the man is kind and loving.

The first thing that went through your head when you saw Branson.

I was so sorry for him with what he was going through with his brother. I was attracted to him immediately. He’s gorgeous, who wouldn’t be. But I was getting ‘leave me alone vibes’ from him, so I had a hard time figuring him out.

Do you think you’ll insist the author visits you again?

I think we bugged poor Brynn until she wrote down our entire story, so I don’t think there’s anything else to tell right yet.

Before you met Branson, what was your ideal man?

The typical, I guess. Tall, ripped, strong. Porn star material.

You’re going out for dinner. What’s your favorite food?

Anything but tuna subs. I’ve had enough of those with Branson at the hospital to last a lifetime. <G>

I've always loved to write and wrote fan fiction before I even knew what it was called. When computers came along, with online communities and places to publish fan fiction, I wrote even more. Then a friend convinced me to try to have an altered version of an AU (alternate universe, meaning all but original) published. My manuscript was accepted and now I'm a 'published author'.

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Diana's Reviews! Hold on You by M.S. Brannon

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“My heart lurches, and the agony throbbing in my side is soon masked by the feeling of uncertainty this moment has brought.” ~ Madison Stone

Life has a way of always keeping you tethered to someone or something in your past. It grabs you, threatening to never let go, and when you eventually attempt to release it completely, you are forced to face it, instead. For Madison and Nate, that is certainly true.

Finishing their senior year, life couldn’t have been better for them. They were young, reckless, spontaneous, and most importantly, they were best friends. However, for Madison, when the future’s path was presented to her, she only understood one notion—escape.

Ten years later, Madison believed she had all she ever wanted. She was convinced she had done everything right by pursuing a life on her own. Then it all began to rapidly fall apart. Nothing was certain anymore. In her mind, everything was lost, leading her back to the very place she had abandoned a decade ago.

For Nate, since the night Madison ran off, life had been the opposite slowly and painfully continuing to unravel around him. Over those ten years, he lost everything he held dear. As he had done time and time before, Nate found himself at the very spot where his pain had all begun, teetering on the edge of moving on or fading away.

Now, as they see all they tried to escape lying before them, Nate and Madison are forced to face the past and finally understand what it is about the other that keeps this unrelenting Hold on You.

“AHHHH!” The scream is horrific. The boiling, hot blood pumping through my body instantly turns to ice as I witness the tragedy I am responsible for. She was standing in front of me and then, a moment later, fell over the edge, disappearing from my sight. “No!” I immediately fall to the ground, coming face-to-face with my self-inflicted hell. I surge my frame forward, landing on my stomach, half my body leaning over the edge. In that moment, I am unexpectedly able to clasp on to her hand. The wind is furious, and the jagged cliff rocks are barely visible under the crashing waves. She is dangling from the edge, holding on like hell to my outstretched hand. Any thought of my future plans vanishes the second I see her disappear. The moment my hand feels hers, I thaw in a mere second. I can feel the blood raging as it floods my veins with unyielding determination to help this woman. “Nate! Oh, God, please don’t drop me!” she screams as she tries to pull herself up, using my arm as a fleshy rope. My hand is sweaty from the adrenaline skyrocketing through my body, making my grip wet and slick. As she swings her body back and forth, she has no idea that, the more she struggles, the easier it will be to drop her. “Stop moving!” I demand as firmly and loudly as I can. “You have to help me, please! I don’t want to die, not like this. Please!” Her pleading gives me that much more strength to pull up. I came up here for selfish reasons of my own, but soon discovered I was not alone. She wouldn’t stand for me to leave her behind, and now I am forced to stare into her blue eyes encased in terror. She only wanted to help, and look where that got her—a front row seat to her imminent death. I cannot allow it to happen. If anyone should die, it needs to be me, not her, never her. “You’re not going to die, but you need to stay calm. Please…” I release a breath as I struggle to keep her attached to my hand. “I’m not going to drop you. I promise I will not allow that to happen, but you need to be calm. Do you hear me? Just keep your body as still as you can!” I shout back, digging deep and finding the strength inside myself. The wind is whipping, getting stronger by the second. I have to get her up, and it has to be now, or the both of us will be falling over the edge. “AWWWWWW!” I release a loud, gut-wrenching roar as I pull with all my power. I swear to God, if she goes over, I will go after her. I will not survive this life knowing this woman died because of me, because I was an asshole who couldn’t get past the pain of ten years ago. “Nate!” I keep my eyes on hers, seeing the panic oozing from them. She is pleading with me to save her life, a life I almost destroyed. If I don’t save her now, it will be destroyed. “I’m slipping! Please, don’t let me go!” Just as the words leave her mouth, a forceful gust of wind bounces off the walls of the cliffs and sends her body into the rocky side. Small fragments of rock fall from the edge and disappear into the rolling waves below. She could fall hundreds of feet down, and nothing but tragedy would follow. It would be my fault. It’s solely up to me to save her, but the wind is becoming too much, and my grip is weakening. She is frantically trying to climb up my arm, but with each movement, she is inching her way out of my grasp. Then she slides down farther until we are only holding on with our fingers, desperately trying to thread them together, but she is slipping. I close my eyes because I can’t watch. I simply can’t watch.

Hold on you is a story about second chances that proves love is patient and waits.

After ten years, Madison returns to the hometown she hoped she'd never see again, the one she left behind along with the boy she refused to marry. What Madison doesn't expect is for Nate to hate her so much.

Nate has been through a lot. He had never gotten over Madison and when she makes her unexpected appearance, old, bitter feelings are brought to surface.

I would like to say that the author's idea was very good and the beginning of the story is very entertaining/intriguing, making you want to know what has happened between Maddie and Nate.

Unfortunately, for me, it didn't work that way as the story kept unfolding. It was a little bit repetitive and kept dragging at some point. I really couldn't understand how they could go from 'hating' each other to realizing that they are in love in just a few pages. I would have liked to see how their relationship develops now, when they’re adults and after everything they went through.

Also, him getting better, letting go of everything just like that didn’t sit well with me. I can’t say I was impressed by Nate’s character.

I really tried to like this story. The synopsis was promising. I guess it just wasn’t for me.

M.S. Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, watching movies, and discovering new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache is the rawest emotion one can experience.

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Release Day Blitz: Excerpt & Giveaway! Phoenix by Elle King

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New York City homicide detectives Rachel Wayland and Artemis Gregory are first on the murder scene of a beautiful young gay man, the third victim of a serial killer dubbed the Moon Killer by the department. Their investigation leads them to Talis Kehk, charismatic lead singer of the rock group Phoenix Rising. As the next full moon approaches, Rachel and her partner uncover clues that lead straight to Talis, even as Talis, exhibiting behavior Rachel finds strange indeed, considering the circumstances, uses every means possible to keep her close. Innocent or not, Talis has a secret, and discovering what it is will change Rachel’s world forever.

“It bugs me that there’s no obvious motive,” Rachel said. “Why kill these young people? Thrill seeker? Lunatic? Someone who’s taking revenge because of some slight, real or imagined? Except they all appear to have died peacefully. No trauma, so it couldn’t be revenge, could it?” She stared hard at her picture of the tattoo, as if it might whisper something to her. “What do you know about Phoenix Rising?”

“Played all over Europe before coming here—did you see that asshole cut me off? I oughta give him a ticket.” Artemis laid on the horn. “He wouldn’t have done that if we’d been in a squad car.”

“Phoenix Rising,” she reminded him, hiding a smile. He was all about road rage. She shouldn’t let him drive, but she enjoyed the frequent adrenalin rushes it provided her.

“Yeah. They’re huge right now, very popular. Lead singer is hot as hell.”

“Do you really have tickets to their concert, or were you bullshitting Creed?”

“I really have tickets.” He shot her a suspicious look. “Why?”

“When is it?”

“Saturday night.”

It was Thursday. “I suppose you’re going with Steve.”

“I suppose I am,” he said, eyes narrowing. “Don’t you dare.”

“What?”

“Don’t give me that innocent look. You want me to dump him and take you.”

“I think I should experience them firsthand, considering they’re on the periphery of our cases.”

“That is such shit.” He raced through an intersection on yellow. “A couple of bodies have bird tats and right away, you’re making a connection? I would guess that general design is in demand right now, given how popular the band is, and exclusive flash or not, plenty of shops are offering something similar. And let me remind you, the second victim didn’t have one. I am not dumping Steve in favor of you.”

Rachel grinned. “Where is this band staying? Let’s check them out.”

“How the hell are you going to justify that?”

“Call it a hunch, and I’m a detective doing legwork for a series of murders. They won’t say no.” She called the number Creed had provided, introduced herself, spoke briefly, and hung up. “That was too easy; the guy was über cooperative. They’re at the Waldorf Towers.” 

“Do you know how much that place costs? A goddamn fortune, that’s what it costs.”

“I guess they have one then.” She tapped an index finger against her knee. “It’s on our way. Let’s drop by and welcome them to the neighborhood.”

“It’s not on our way, and you are not getting Steve’s ticket.” But he obediently turned right at the next light, headed for the Waldorf-Astoria.

Elle King lives in Florida with a five-pound dog and a stack of manuscripts she hopes one day to finish.

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Book Blast: Excerpt & Giveaway! How It Was Supposed To Be

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Reese Kennecott had everything he could ever want and life was good. He’s dating the guy of his dreams and has a great group of friends. The Kennecotts were living the carefree life as an upper middle class family until the day his father arrives home from work with the news that the company he has worked for since he was Reese’s age has gone out of business. Aside from the great depression, this is the worst economic downturn the United States has ever faced. It does not take long for the Kennecotts to fall behind in their bills and eventually to lose everything. 

Reese used to work part time for extra money now he is working all the hours he can get in order to help his family get by. But things have gone from bad to worse. Hope finally comes with a new job that will take the family across the country, which means giving up their lives as they’ve always known them. The family embarks on a road trip to their new life. Along the way, they are forced to make difficult choices and hope begins to fade. Each day things become bleaker and the Kennecotts begin to wonder if they are ever going to make it to their destination. But sometimes things that have no reason to work out do and we end up right where we should be, at the right time and in the right place.

A few days later Cruz caught Reese on his way out to the parking lot after school. He appeared so smug and at the same time seemed so debonair as he approached Reese. When he was close enough, he looked around, perhaps to make sure there was no one in ear shot. There was no greeting from Cruz before he asked, “Relationship troubles?”

He responded, “You mean Morgan?” Cruz nodded his head as if telling him duh. “We’re only friends.”

“Oh.” Cruz shrugged, “So he’s not gay then?”

“No he’s not gay.” Reese did not feel it was his place to share Morgan’s bisexuality.

Cruz stared at him, only perpetuating Reese’s discomfort. “You’re gay though?”

“Yes. You’re gay too?” He figured fair was fair.

Nodding in agreement, Cruz asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.” Reese was feeling as if he was being sized up added, “I hear you don’t either.” Cruz was silent, glancing away and yawning, appearing disinterested in the conversation. Reese decided that he’d better make his move, “You want to go out sometime?”

Cruz turned toward him and seemed to be thinking over his response. Reese smiled feeling hopeful and then concerned he might be coming off as desperate. Cruz nodded, “That would be fine by me.” Then he turned to walk away without saying another word.

I have a horrible time when it comes to writing about myself. It is not that I have low self-esteem, but the fact that I am not comfortable talking about myself. 

For most of my life, I have been writing and sharing it with my friends. They have repeatedly told me I needed to publish my writing and share it with the world. Now that I have, I am amazed at how many people admire it.

My interests beyond writing include reading a variety of books, watching movies and drawing.

I truly appreciate all the support and encouragement from my friends, family, and you. I am so thankful to your support!

Keep on reading! I am always interested in hearing about what people are reading, especially if it is something I have written.

Thank you for reading and letting me know what you think of my writing!

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Happy Release Day! Still Life, Forever Still Series #1 by A.M. Johnson

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Loss… a word Elizabeth Haddington knows only too well. Despite the tragedies she’s endured, she’s been able to rise from the adversity she’s faced and begin her life again. Being a self-assured and strong woman, she knows she doesn’t need anyone to make her whole.

HHate, pain, and twisted memories are all Sawyer Bryant’s ever known. He’d slowly lost who he was and what he should’ve become. His only escape was the military… Eight years later, as an ex-Navy SEAL, he’s forced to confront his father and their disturbed and violent past.

Then one day, his life is turned upside down, when he glimpses a woman singing in her car at a set of traffic lights. Thinking he’d never see her again, amazingly he finds her performing with her band at the local bar. This chance encounter brings these two lost souls together. Once Sawyer gets a taste of her melodic voice, there’s no turning back. For Elizabeth, when she meets Sawyer… she realizes she’s fallen hard. But is this really love she’s feeling or does love build slowly over time? What happens when fate turns things around on you, creates flashes you can’t turn from… moments that will shape your life?

They are faced with the choice of darkness surrounding them or to rid themselves of the guilt and pain and move toward the light. This story is about life’s moments. How they can make you or break you, and one man’s hope that… Love, won’t judge him.

Sawyer was the first person to not define me by my parents’ deaths. My past felt so far away when I was with him. I could let it go. Let them go. My parents’ faces haunted me every night since that day twelve years ago. I was ready to set the memory free. I felt loved and I wanted him to feel the same. His childhood was dark and I wanted to shed light onto him, fill his heart with the white light of love, evicting the blackness that I saw flash across his eyes when he thought deeply to himself. I wanted him to get better with me. This was crazy. This man, this idea, this night. I loved him and whatever demons he had, my heart was ready to move on to something better, and that was Sawyer.

His breathing became even and I chanced a look at his face. His dark eyelashes fanned down. He looked like an arc angel. I situated myself on my side so that my body rested against his. I placed my head on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

“I love you, too,” I whispered touching the skin of his cheek with my lips. “I do.”

His breathing stopped and I recognized when I looked up that he would be awake. I lifted up on my forearm and we watched each other in a deep silence.

Amanda Marie Johnson was born and raised in Valrico, Florida. She’s now surrounded by mountains with her husband and three children in Ogden, Utah. She attended Weber State University and graduated with her A.S.N. She is a full-time registered nurse and works on the mother/newborn unit. Reading and writing have always been something she is passionate about. She loves to write about the human experience, love and happily ever afters. Still Life is her debut novel.

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Mikky's Reviews! The Contradiction of Solitude by A. Meredith Walters

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You may notice me, but you will never know me.

I prefer it that way.

I am the daughter of a monster.

Born from blood and lies.

Dead before I have truly lived.

But Elian tells me that I'm different. 

He tells me that I'm beautiful.

That I'm an enigma wrapped in irresistibly complicated skin.

Elian says that he loves me.

These words terrify me.

I can't trust love.

Or hope.

Or truth.

Because I fear the beast inside.

It threatens to drown Elian and his sweet, unconditional love.

It's a beast that will destroy everything.

*This is a psychological thriller and very different than my previous books*

"The truth is the ugly side no one wants to see."

I have absolutely no idea where or how to begin. I think it’s the first time I found myself unable to find the words to described the book I’ve just read.

Meredith Walters is one of my favorite authors and I’ll always say yes to her novels. She has yet to disappoint me and I’ve read all of her books bar one.

The Contradiction of Solitude was a complete surprise, though. It is so different from what she has written before.

Her inclination for dark stories is well known but this one blew me away. 

First of all, I’ll give you a warning. This is a psychological thriller and not for the faint of heart. If you’re looking for a fairytale or a HEA, you’re way out of your league with this one. 

This book will mess you up and you won’t be able to disconnect long after you’re done with it. You’ll either hate it or love it. There’s no way in between.

The characters are very complex and hard to understand. Victims of their pasts, connected by a gruesome secret, Lay and Elian’s relationship is toxic and threatens to destroy the last remaining shreds of their soul.

Everything is a lie and everything is truth. Nothing is what it seems and the game is not over yet. Far from it. New players, new rules, new stories to be written, new stars to be set free.

Caught is a web of deception, Elian seeks absolution from a mistake he didn’t really made. 

Layna is running from her past, running far and fast but the monsters are already there. The darkness is part of her soul and has always been. She craves it and she craves the joy only pain can give her.

They’re completely wrong for each other but there’s something more that will always pull them together.

I know this review doesn’t make sense. You will have to read it yourself and find out what Layna and Elian’s story is. I highly recommend it.

I stand in awe, Meredith. With this book you managed to throw me into a bottomless pit of despair and sadness from which I’m trying to crawl my way out while keeping a strong hold on my sanity because I can’t help but wonder how much truth is behind your words. All the stories we hear, all the things we see… How many Laynas and Elians are out there? How well do we really know someone? How many stories are left untold and how many mysteries unsolved? How many stars have a name?

You never cease to amaze me. Never stop writing.

Happy Reading!!

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well Reclaiming the Sand, and the Twisted Love series (Lead Me Not out in 2014 and Follow Me Back coming in 2015) from Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

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Book Promo! Absolution by Amanda Dick

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Jack McKenna is a man with two very distinct pasts. One ended with a car accident involving his girlfriend, Ally, and a split-second decision with horrific consequences. Desperate to escape the guilt, he carved out a new life for himself. Four years spent hiding in the shadows, punishing himself for not having the courage to go back to her. Then, out of the blue, a phone call forces him to face up to everything and everyone he left behind. Ally Connor’s life was split in two - before the car accident that shattered her spine, and after Jack’s sudden disappearance. Abandoning her when she needed him most, she fought hard to make it back from the brink. The face she shows to the world is strong and courageous, but behind the mask, the pain is burrowing deeper. But fate had more in store for these two broken souls than either could have imagined. A funeral, a homecoming and a journey of self-discovery that would change both their lives - if they let it. Suddenly, the secrets they want to hide from each other are the very secrets that could make them whole again.

     

Amanda Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover. She loves to do DIY (if it's not bolted down, she'll probably paint it, re-cover it or otherwise decorate it) and has tried almost every craft known to man/womankind. She has two sewing machines and an over-locker she can't remember how to thread. She crochets (but can't follow a pattern), knits (badly) and refrains from both as a public service. She believes in love at first sight, in women's intuition and in following your heart. She is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes in the power of a good vanilla latte. What lights her fire is writing stories about real people in trying situations. Her passion is finding characters who are forced to test their boundaries. She is insanely curious about how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge. Most of all, she enjoys writing about human behaviour - love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and the complexity of relationships in general. After living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.

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