Hi guys we have Debbie McGowan & Raine O’Tierney popping in today with the blog tour for their newest release Leaving Flowers, they answer a couple of questions for us, there’s a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Zane’s review for you to check out. So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link

Leaving Flowers

Debbie McGowan and Raine O’Tierney

Shy and awkward since childhood, Aidan Degas is now a man lost. His twin—Aidan’s other half, Nadia—died tragically young, leaving him with nothing to get him through his days but his job at the prestigious Grand Heights Luxury Apartments and the flowers he lays upon her grave. When Aidan is assaulted on the job by a tenant, it’s the graveyard he turns to for strength and solace.

Patrick loves being assistant groundskeeper at the sprawling cemetery where he tends graves and offers a bit of comfort to mourners. When he sees a sad young man lingering over an old grave, his curiosity is strangely piqued for reasons he doesn’t understand. He’s never done this—struck up a friendship with a mourner. But soon that friendship blossoms into a romance.

It’s not going to be easy for the pair. Aidan is so damaged, like petals crushed in an angry fist, and even with Patrick’s warm heart and Irish charm, it might not be enough to bring him back from the edge.

Raine & Debbie

• Tell us about your book.

Aidan has lost his twin sister, Nadia, and seeks solace at her gravesite…

Patrick tends the cemetery where Aidan daily lays his flowers…

Their relationship is gentle and kind…

Leaving Flowers is about love and healing, forgiveness and growth.

• How difficult was it to get into the main character’s head?

Ah, poor Aidan… Actually, it wasn’t difficult to get into his head at all. He feels pain deeply and mourns for an extended period of time—I’m similar in many ways. (Funny how that happens!)

• Is this book a standalone or do you plan on visiting it again?

Almost certainly standalone—we gave these boys their beautiful, hopeful ending and so much healing. If we do “pop in” it will probably only be to check on them and see how they are doing.

• Why did you choose to write M/M stories?

Because we can! 🙂

• Where do you find your inspiration?

Absolutely everywhere—in the weather, in music, in the colors and feelings of the day. In the good things and the bad things, in dreams… Life is pretty much one big ball of inspiration.

Excerpt

“Quit then. It sounds a horrible place.”

“I can’t quit.” Aidan closed his eyes and left them closed, letting out a long, low breath. “The Grand Heights is all I have.”

He felt Patrick move, felt as he shifted across the center console, close into Aidan’s space, but he did not open his eyes. He was expecting the hug—longed for it even—and as Patrick’s arms wrapped around him, Aidan melted into the feel and warmth and smell of Patrick. Then he felt Patrick’s lips on his neck, so gentle he almost wasn’t certain he felt it at all. He was tenderly kissing the spot where Mrs. Wright had left such an ugly mark.

“I wish I could make it disappear.” Patrick’s voice was hypnotizing, the sound of rain on a tin roof. Aidan turned his face, just a little, so that Patrick’s lips caressed his cheek.

“The hickey?”

“All of it.”

Their lips met and Aidan died a little, right there, in the parking garage. It was nothing at all like when he’d awkwardly kissed his prom date goodnight, his teeth knocking against hers. Nor was it like Ms. Ashmore and her almost suffocating kisses. And it sure as hell wasn’t Mrs. Wright clawing into him, sucking on his neck like a vampire with a blood-soaked appetizer.

“I’m sorry,” Patrick murmured against his lips. “I don’t know what I’m thinkin’, kissing you like this. I just can’t stand to see you sufferin’, Aidan Degas.”

“Oh.” Idiot, Aidan berated himself as he pulled back. He inhaled deeply and let it out on a chuckle he hoped sounded natural and not hurt. He’s feeling sorry for you. God, you always read so much into everything. “Well, I am feeling much better now.”

Patrick didn’t look convinced.

“I promise,” Aidan said, way too brightly, and turned back to the window. “I wonder if we’re ever getting out of this garage.”

About Debbie and Raine

DEBBIE MCGOWAN is an author and publisher based in a semi-rural corner of Lancashire, England. She writes character-driven, realist fiction, celebrating life, love and relationships. A working class girl, she ‘ran away’ to London at 17, was homeless, unemployed and then homeless again, interspersed with animal rights activism (all legal, honest ;)) and volunteer work as a mental health advocate. At 25, she went back to college to study social science— tough with two toddlers, but they had a ‘stay at home’ dad, so it worked itself out. These days, the toddlers are young women (much to their chagrin), and Debbie teaches undergraduate students, writes novels and runs an independent publishing company, occasionally grabbing an hour of sleep where she can!

 Raine

RAINE O’TIERNEY lives outside of Kansas City with her husband, fellow author, Siôn O’Tierney. When she’s not writing, she’s either playing video games or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job. Raine believes the best thing we can do in life is be kind to one another, and she enjoys encouraging fellow writers! Writing for 20+ years (with the last 10 spent on gay romance) Raine changes sub-genres to suit her mood and believes all good stories end sweetly. Contact her if you’re interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!

Giveaway!

Win a $20 Amazon gift card!

Debbie McGowan and Raine O’Tierney Rafflecopter giveaway!

Review

Title: Leaving Flowers

Author: Debbie McGowan and Raine O’Tierney

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novel (250 pages)

ASIN: B00UY86QUG

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing (1st May 2015)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥  3 Hearts

Reviewer: Zane

Blurb: Shy and awkward since childhood, Aidan Degas is now a man lost. His twin—Aidan’s other half, Nadia—died tragically young, leaving him with nothing to get him through his days but his job at the prestigious Grand Heights Luxury Apartments and the flowers he lays upon her grave. When Aidan is assaulted on the job by a tenant, it’s the graveyard he turns to for strength and solace.

Patrick loves being assistant groundskeeper at the sprawling cemetery where he tends graves and offers a bit of comfort to mourners. When he sees a sad young man lingering over an old grave, his curiosity is strangely piqued for reasons he doesn’t understand. He’s never done this—struck up a friendship with a mourner. But soon that friendship blossoms into a romance.

It’s not going to be easy for the pair. Aidan is so damaged, like petals crushed in an angry fist, and even with Patrick’s warm heart and Irish charm, it might not be enough to bring him back from the edge.

Purchase Link: Beaten Track: http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/?n1=publications&id=151

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Flowers-Debbie-McGowan-ebook/dp/B00UY86QUG

Review: “Leaving Flowers” is a bittersweet and moving story, a snapshot of life. With Patrick and Aiden, while I do see some of the traits I’ve seen in other MCs of these two authors, this is neither the sweet romance I’m used to from Raine O’Tierney nor the quirky/funny love story I associate with Debbie McGowan.

This is the tale of a broken young man and the steps he takes to put himself back together, and the courage and love he finds in the unlikeliest of places. Aiden for me was walking sadness. My heart broke for him, every word he spoke, and his every thought. Patrick succeeded where others failed. He brought a very welcome shining light into that darkness, that light at the end of the very long tunnel, a much needed balance to Aiden’s despair, loneliness and anger.

Slow paced and thorough, this is not your normal m/m romance. This is no racy affair, no wild and crazy sex. This is just a story of loss and love, in that order. There are very difficult and courageous subjects tackled here, and realistic portrayals of such. Be warned, this is no easy read. It is however, strong, with multifaceted characters that have a lot of healing to do and a lot of love to give. While I did enjoy the book, for me this was a little bit too sad and a little bit too sweet, and while my heart hurt for Aiden, I found myself needing a little more lightness.

Well written and different from just about any story I’ve read thus far, “Leaving Flowers” brings forth the emotion with two characters that will tug at your heartstrings, and yes, a happy ending for Aiden and Patrick, much to the joy of this reader.

Check out the other blogs on the blog tour