Hi guys, we have Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae visiting with their newest release Midsummer, we have a great excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Prime’s review, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~

Midsummer

Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae

John Lyonel, a long-time theater professional and teacher, heads to Virginia to play Oberon in the Theater in the Woods’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, intending to focus on his work. John is recovering from the tragic loss of his family and needs a break. The last thing he expects is to become captivated by Michael Hilliard, the professional actor playing Puck, especially since John has never been attracted to men, let alone one so much younger.

They rush headlong into an affair which falls apart dramatically over secrets that John and Michael are keeping from each other. A steep learning curve, the gossipy cast of the show, and the sometimes sinister magic of the woods conspire to keep them apart. But stage lights and stars might work their magic and help them define a new future.

Excerpt

Michael breaks off from a conversation and wanders back over, then drops into John’s lap as easily as he had the night before. It’s comforting, the way a cat would be, and John gladly wraps his arms around Michael’s waist again and decides not to worry about figuring any of this out right now.

“You can stop staring now,” Michael declares to the fire at large, when they start attracting eyes. “Or I can give you all individual recommendations for who you should be staring at. And some of you might not be entirely happy with what I tell.”

He gets a couple of whoops for that, a lot of laughter, and not a few glares. John chuckles, and dips his head to kiss Michael on the shoulder before he even thinks about it.

Michael turns his head. For a moment John thinks Michael’s going to kiss him. And while that is far more ridiculous than John has ever had any intention of being in public, he’s not sure he wouldn’t welcome and return anything Michael did.

Michael just smiles, though, small and unexpectedly intimate, before he leans up to whisper in John’s ear. “Follow me in five minutes.”

About Racheline and Erin

Racheline Maltese is a queer writer living a big life from a small space. She flies planes, sails boats, and rides horses, but as a native New Yorker, has no idea how to drive a car. 

A performer and storyteller focused on themes of celebrity, gender, desire and mourning, Racheline has a journalism degree from The George Washington University; studied acting and directing at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School (New York City) and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Sydney, Australia); and is a proud SAG-AFTRA member.

She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and their two cats.

Erin McRae is a queer writer and blogger based in Washington, D.C. She owns several pieces of paper from distinguished universities, including a Master’s degree in International Affairs from American University, which qualify her to have lengthy and passionate discussions about the microeconomics of Tunisia. She also engages in lengthy and passionate discussions about military history. She likes trenches.

Erin is a cofounder of Avian 30, a literary collective dedicated to narratives with magical and sexual realism. She delights in applying her knowledge of international relations theory to her fiction and screen-based projects, because conflict drives narrative.

She lives in Washington, D.C. with her partner and their two cats.

Where to find the authors:

Giveaway!

Win an e-copy of ‘Midsummer’ by Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae!

Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae Rafflecopter giveaway!

Review

Title: Midsummer

Series: Love’s Labours 01

Author: Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (89 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-63216-984-6

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (20 May 2015)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: John Lyonel, a long-time theater professional and teacher, heads to Virginia to play Oberon in the Theater in the Woods’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, intending to focus on his work. John is recovering from the tragic loss of his family and needs a break. The last thing he expects is to become captivated by Michael Hilliard, the professional actor playing Puck, especially since John has never been attracted to men, let alone one so much younger.

They rush headlong into an affair which falls apart dramatically over secrets that John and Michael are keeping from each other. A steep learning curve, the gossipy cast of the show, and the sometimes sinister magic of the woods conspire to keep them apart. But stage lights and stars might work their magic and help them define a new future.

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6285

Review: I may not have fallen deeply for the plot of this book but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless. This is about John and Michael, where most of the POV work is from John. John is forty-two and divorced and Michael is a twenty-five year old who is out and proud. They are attending a sort of adult summer camp where they perform theatre – in this case it is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (I think I must be tired, I had visions of Dead Poet’s Society and the Doctor Who episode where David Tennant meets Shakespeare stuck in my head. In my own defence, the latter was rerun on TV just the other night and it was about Love’s Labours Lost).

This story , however, is a sort of fun plot that is filled with the drama (forgive the pun) of being in a play and rehearsing, with additional drama coming from all directions in life outside of the theatre camp. John is questioning and exploring his sexuality on top of the personal issues he had going on and has kept close to his chest which has some detrimental consequences. I have to admit the multiple Shakespeare references that had nothing to do with the show the characters were involved in were somewhat amusing.

There is only one problem, however, for me. The writing style feels a bit detached so I felt as though I was missing out on a whole lot of emotion despite the characters being very easily relatable. At some parts I also thought that I was missing some important details, too. Yet in saying that, the writing style really lent for vivid descriptions of the “scene” that it was like little was left to the imagination. I suppose writing style is a personal preference and while it did take away from my enjoyment a little, I am curious as to what happens next.

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