Hi guys, we have Lain Hayes stopping by today with her new release Leaning Into The Fall, we have a short interview with Lane, a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Shorty’s review so check out the post and click that giveaway link! <3 ~Pixie~

Leaning Into The Fall

Lane Hayes

Nick Jorgensen is a quirky genius. He’s made a fortune in the competitive high tech field with his quick mind and attention to detail. He believes in hard work and trusting his gut. And he believes in karma. It’s the only thing that makes sense. People are difficult, but numbers never lie. In the disastrous wake of a broken engagement to an investor’s daughter, Nick is more certain than ever he isn’t relationship material.

Wes Conrad owns a thriving winery in Napa Valley. The relaxed atmosphere is a welcome departure from his former career as a high-rolling businessman. Wes’s laid-back nature is laced with a fierceness that appeals to Nick. In spite of his best intention to steer clear of complications, Nick can’t fight his growing attraction to the sexy older man who seems to understand him. Even the broken parts he doesn’t get himself. However, when Wes’s past collides with Nick’s present, both men will have to have to decide if they’re ready to lean into the ultimate fall.

Lane Hayes Interview!

Thank you for having me here to chat about Leaning Into the Fall. This is my first full-length self-pub book and the second book in my brand new series set in San Francisco. Leaning Into the Fall is technically a May/December romance featuring Nick, who readers may recognize as Eric’s best friend in Leaning Into Love. He’s a bit of a handful who has a hard time grasping social clues and communicating with many people outside of his close-knit group of college friends. Yet Wes Conrad, the hunky and somewhat formidable winery owner, seems to get him.

I’m having so much fun with the characters in this series. I love their friendships. This is one of those magical times when the characters truly inspires the author. I’m planning to release another short story in the series before book 3 comes out this summer. If you end up reading one of them out of order, no worries, all of my stories are standalones.

And now for a few questions for Lane…

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Editing is the most challenging part of writing for sure. I tend to overwrite and end up having to cut entire scenes. And with them, some fabulous dialogue. At least I think so, lol. It hurts to lop out witty repartee, but if it doesn’t move the story, it’s got to go!

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

My favorites are Anne Rice and Jane Austen. Two very different authors from very different times. I love Anne Rice’s uncompromising vision. Her characters can be polarizing and yet she manages to evoke compassion because they’re still somehow relatable. Not an easy feat. The Vampire Lestat is by far one of my most loved books. And Jane Austen is the ultimate romantic. I adore Mr. Darcy and yeah, I kinda of wish I was Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice. I aspire to write perfectly imperfect characters like these authors. They’re pure genius.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

Yes! I love to travel and when the opportunity arises, my bags are the first ones packed! LOL. So far my books have been set in DC, Los Angeles and New York City. My newest series, Leaning Into Stories is set in San Francisco, which happens to be where my oldest son lives. It’s important for me to have a good feel for the places I write about. My ability to give accurate descriptions of the people, sights, smells and overall vibe lends another dimension to a story. And traveling is soul food. It’s good for the body and the mind. I’m always ready to go!

Who designed the covers for your books?

I’ve published thirteen books and so far, I’ve only had two cover artists. That’s how much I love the artists. Aaron Anderson has done all of my covers for my first three series, Better Than, Right & Wrong and A Kind of Stories. Reese Dante is responsible for Leaning Into Love and Leaning Into the Fall, my first two self-pubs books. I’m a fan of simple but impactful.  Aaron and Reese are both very good at delivering what the author has in mind.

Thanks again and Happy Reading!

Lane Hayes xo

Excerpt!

Wes led me to a small room at the opposite end of the building filled with barrels. The temperature dipped at least ten degrees here and the strong scent of fermenting wine was offset by the smell of oak. I moved toward the round table in the middle and glanced up at the tower of barrels. Each was labeled and dated, but as far as I could tell, the order wasn’t chronological. I categorized and filed the numbers in my mind in an attempt to solve a mystery that probably wasn’t so mysterious after all.

“These are special reserve wines. The best of the best. Theoretically anyway,” Wes said, picking up the long-sleeved plaid shirt draped over one of the chairs at the table.

“What do the numbers mean?” I asked, running my fingers over the printed tag on the barrel.

“It’s an internal code that basically tells us exactly which vines yielded the harvest. Some have information about soil disruption or weather flux. Of course, once the wine is fermenting that information is no longer significant but—”

“Where are the dates on these labels? Isn’t timing everything in the wine business?”

“Some might argue timing is everything in every facet of life.” Wes regarded me curiously before pointing out the dates in the middle of the tag. “It’s all here. See?”

“I don’t understand your system,” I said, stuffing my hands in my back pocket and staring up at the barrels.

“It’s an internal system. You’re not meant to understand. It’s for us only. The same way you wouldn’t explain the science behind how an advanced operating system works to one of your clients. They might say they’re fascinated but they aren’t really interested in the details. Same goes for wine. People come to tour the winery every day. They want to know about grape varietals and blends and some even ask about topography, weather and the fermentation process. But the true science of wine making confounds them. At the end of the day, truth is in the bottle.”

“In vino veritas.”

Wes smiled as he pulled his shirt on. “’In wine, truth’,” he translated. “Different context, but yes… truth. Are you going to tell me why you’re here or do I have to break out a bottle of Pinot to get the real story?”

Wes’s wolfish grin spread slowly across his handsome face as he closed the distance between us. He tilted my chin with his forefinger and stared deep into my eyes as though he was trying to read my mind. Or devour me whole.

“You look like you want to eat me,” I said before I could stop myself.

“I do. I want to do lots of things to you. Is that why you’re here? You want me to eat you, Nicky?”

“You invited me.” My eyes drifted shut when he ran his fingers along my jaw then splayed his hand behind my head and tugged my hair.

“I did. I’m glad you came.”

“Well, we were in the middle of listing our all-time favorite bands or artists by decade. That’s not the kind of thing you can leave for a whole week. It’s important.”

“You’re right. What were we thinking?” He licked my bottom lip in a sensual line from one corner of my mouth to the other. “We’ll have to continue that discussion later. I want to do other things first.”

About Lane!

Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in an almost empty nest.

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Review

Title: Leaning into the Fall 

Series: Leaning into # 2

Author: Lane Hayes

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (210 pages)

Publisher: Lane Hayes (March 12, 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.75 Hearts

Blurb: Nick Jorgensen is a quirky genius. He’s made a fortune in the competitive high tech field with his quick mind and attention to detail. He believes in hard work and trusting his gut. And he believes in karma. It’s the only thing that makes sense. People are difficult, but numbers never lie. In the disastrous wake of a broken engagement to an investor’s daughter, Nick is more certain than ever he isn’t relationship material. 

Wes Conrad owns a thriving winery in Napa Valley. The relaxed atmosphere is a welcome departure from his former career as a high-rolling businessman. Wes’s laid-back nature is laced with a fierceness that appeals to Nick. In spite of his best intention to steer clear of complications, Nick can’t fight his growing attraction to the sexy older man who seems to understand him. Even the broken parts he doesn’t get himself. However, when Wes’s past collides with Nick’s present, both men will have to have to decide if they’re ready to lean into theultimate fall. 

ISBN: B06XK4DFCD

Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Leaning-Into-Fall-Book-ebook/dp/B06XK4DFCD

Reviewer: Shorty 

Review: Nick is a numbers guy. Always has been. That makes him come off as a bit calculated at times. In this story he meets older guy Wes. Laid back, successful and pretty a good guy. The sparks flew between these two from the start. I thought they were a good mix together and meshed well. 

The chemistry was great. I loved how Wes figured Nick out and began to reel him in so to speak without spooking him. I understood how Nick thought but also realized that sometimes numbers aren’t everything and you have to take a chance when the opportunity presents itself.

Wes was awesome. I completely fell for him. He was so smart, patient and understanding to a degree. I was cheering both of these characters on the further I read.

Really good read.

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