Hiya guys, we have MLR Press and six of their brilliant authors stopping by today with the great series Storming Love: Earthquake. We have great excerpts, a fantastic giveaway and Cat’s reviews for a couple of the stories. So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Gabriel & Avery
Ann Anderson
Loneliness has been Gabriel’s companion for since his parents’ passing, growing with each sibling that leaves home to start their own life. When a big earthquake hits Alaska, Gabriel finds himself taking in Avery, his two daughters, and their grandmother and relishes not being so alone. Yet, Gabriel feels a spark of recognition he can’t explain about Avery, but more than that, he likes the company and wishes he could have a deeper relationship with the man. But when the small family has their new home, what could make Avery want to stay?
Derek and Hayden
Megan Linden
Derek Warden is certain his boss sent him to cover the conference in the middle of nowhere, Alaska, to punish him for something. After an unpleasant phone call from his father who tries to stop him from going, Derek is ready for the whole thing to be over before it even begins.
Hayden Shaw has been looking forward to this conference for months. The problem of fracking is very dear to his heart and he couldn’t wait to spend the long weekend with like-minded people.
Neither of them expected the big earthquake, but most importantly – they didn’t expect each other. Meeting again after over a decade may result in something even more surprising that the ground trembling under their feet.
Rhody & Brendan
Diana DeRicci
Rhody Witte is on his way to Alaska for two weeks of fishing and not much else. Mountains, clean air, and all the bait he can waste. What he gets is the largest earthquake to rock the Alaskan wilds in sixty-plus years.
Brendan Skorvarski isn’t the kind of man Rhody usually finds himself attracted to, much less want to know, but there’s something in the gentle giant that Rhody can’t seem to resist.
When they’re locked up in a cabin together for days in the Alaskan wilderness, resistance seems futile when survival takes precedence. Especially their survival when Rhody sees a bear outside their window.
Anders & Ujaruk
Caraway Carter
Geologist Anders Thorpe has sworn off relationships with colleagues, after his last one ended in a dirty little game of sabotage. Six months later and he’s preparing to camp and investigate a gold mine that might still be active. He’s joined by Ujaruk an archaeologist who fights an inner battle with the fact that he’s a native Aleut, and wondering if he’ll ever find the perfect man.
Will Anders break his vow? Will Ujaruk find the right guy? Will they survive whatever is thrown their way?
Xavier & Devin
Nicole Dennis
Tremors are a part of everyday life in big Alaska.
Bush pilot, Xavier Markovic, goes with nature’s flow and loves it. He guides guests through Denali National Park to show off his beloved state. Until health issues arise for his mentor, Daniel Chevalier, and Xavier flies him to the hospital.
An almost fatal tumble down a mountain ends Devin Chevalier’s professional mountain biking career and brings him to a crossroads. Learning his grandfather is ill, he makes a rash decision. Uprooting his life for a chance to meet Daniel, he crosses paths with a brash Alaskan.
Alaska throws them another surprise in the form of a huge earthquake. Differences put aside while they struggle to survive.
Asher and Emmett
Anna Lee
Celebrating their fifth anniversary, Asher and Emmett are on a romantic getaway in a cabin in Alaska. They have plans to adopt when they return home. But their paradise is destroyed when a huge earthquakes hits. Being a firefighter and a paramedic, both men put themselves at risk to save others when the tragedy strikes. Will they be able to make it home to start a family?
Storming Love: Earthquake series link
Gabriel & Avery Excerpt
Chapter One
Gabriel scowled, bracing himself against the door as another rolling wave tried to knock him off his feet. He was too tired for this. He should have called Ryder to come and collect the food rather than risk himself with the increase in tremors in the area while he was running on fumes. He knew it was stupid to be out when he wasn’t on top of things, but he’d needed to be away from the house. It was lonely living by himself now that his youngest brother, Ryder, had moved in with his roommates.
As if he knew he was being thought about, Ryder swung open the door, a wide grin stretching his bearded face when he took in the sight of Gabriel and one of the containers he’d dragged from the ATV.
“Is it my birthday?” Ryder teased, taking the container from his hands and opening the lid, inhaling a deep whiff of the raspberry muffins Gabriel had made that morning.
“No. Now help me with the rest,” Gabriel growled. He just wanted to sleep, but the silence was getting to him. Maybe he should get a dog. Or two.
Ryder laughed, dumping the still open container on a nearby table and striding passed Gabriel. “You know, I think you’re spoiling us.”
Maybe so, but Gabriel didn’t mind spoiling Ryder and his three roommates, since the quartet had the same dangerous law enforcement job. He trailed after Ryder and scowled, shoving his brother out of the way as he opened another container, not bothering to remove it from the back of his ATV. “Shove it.”
“Aw…” Ryder wrapped himself around Gabriel, and Gabriel refused to admit that he sagged into the touch.
Raising his four younger siblings after their parents’ death had been hard, but he’d made sure to give each of them plenty of hugs, even if Brayden had regularly whined at the attention and claimed that he was only two years younger, a twenty year old at the time, not eleven like Ryder.
Gabriel collected half the containers, leaving the rest for Ryder, and watched his brother take the food, chatting about work, his roommates-Jeff, Justin, and Dustin-and anything else that seemed to come to mind. It soothed Gabriel, dragging a yawn he didn’t mean for Ryder to see from him.
“Come on, let’s get this inside and settled.”
Gabriel shook his head, even as his bones cried in weary relief at the prospect of a bed and the gentle sounds of others moving around.
“Gabriel!”
Derek & Hayden Excerpt
Chapter One
Derek Warden wouldn’t have called himself a city boy before, but now as he was driving through the Alaskan forest to a little resort in the middle of nowhere, he began to reconsider. He had nothing against nature and wilderness, but there was something spooky about the deserted road shadowed by the thick forest on both sides. Glancing up to the overcast sky, Derek almost wished he had somebody with him, until four crows suddenly flew from the trees on his left, screeching loudly, and he jolted in his seat.
Yeah, no. He was glad nobody was here to see that.
Derek wondered what he had done this time to piss off his boss so much, since he was sure sending him to this conference was her revenge for something. He had protested as soon as he heard the word “fracking”, knowing full well that his father would blow a gasket when he found out. Unfortunately, Jane had just rolled her eyes and told him to put on his big boy pants and stop worrying about his senator daddy. Derek had been tempted to tell her to shove it, but didn’t want to give her the satisfaction.
So here he was, on his way to waste most of his week listening to a bunch of environmentalists go on and on about the dangers of fracking. As if there was something new they could be saying that hadn’t been said a hundred times before or that he couldn’t pull from the web. Or from memory. God knew he had heard it all years ago.
A face he hadn’t thought about for years appeared in his mind and Derek tightened his grip on the wheel. Those were not memories he wanted to relive.
His phone started ringing and Derek was glad for the distraction until he glanced at the screen and saw his father’s ID. He considered not picking up, but that would only delay the inevitable and at least now no one would overhear it. Derek turned off the music and pressed the green button.
“Hello, Father.”
“Please tell me you are not on your way to that bullshit conference!” One thing Derek and his dad had in common was that they both preferred to get right to the point; although Derek liked to believe his approach was less hostile than that of his father.
“I thought we talked about you spying on me,” he said, straightening in his seat. He rolled his shoulders to relax, since he didn’t want to be stiff all day tomorrow. His hip was going to give him hell anyway and that was more than enough.
“I wouldn’t need to keep tabs on my own son if he was smart enough not to cause me problems.”
Rhody & Brendan Excerpt
Chapter One
Open highway. Blue skies. Lynyrd Skynyrd. It didn’t get much better than this. Rhody had both windows down on his rented pickup with the radio cranked so loud, the cargo window was keeping bass time and he was loving every minute of it. He’d been driving for three hours to get to Denali from Anchorage after a fugly early flight out of Spokane. Every mile under his tires put him that much closer to summer paradise. Green was a beautiful color, lining both sides of the two-lane highway he was on. AK-3 would take him right to where he wanted to go.
He had clothes for more than a week, his fishing reels, and not much else. He wasn’t even sure if he was going to bother to shave. Just let it all hang out. Who was going to see him? The eagles? A few herons? He had a rented cabin so his closest conversationalist was going to be a fir or pine of some sort. He was perfectly fine with that.
He was due this vacation. He hadn’t been out of the mechanic’s shop in three years, working a lot of overtime and extra jobs to cover the bills from his father’s passing, but those were done and gone and it was just him and clear blue sky now. A quick glance upward sent a warm thought to his father, wherever he may be.
A deep breath of cool Alaskan air was like medicine for his soul. The CD finished and he popped it out, flipping open his travel case to slide it into a sleeve. Sneaking glances from the road, he worked the case by feel. A quick finger tug and he found the next one. Bob Seger. Yeah, he had some interesting music tastes, but he could fully blame his father for them. He waited for the player to cue up and started keeping time on the steering wheel with his fingertips.
Another hour passed and he was almost there. Denali was on the left, and more wilderness and rivers were on the right. Pure nature. Exactly what the doctor prescribed. It took a little time to get checked in at the main office, get the map to his cabin and continuously nod his head as he was given driving instructions no less than three times–so he didn’t get lost on the narrow, winding roads.
Late afternoon found him coming to a halt in front of his wooden abode. The cabin was a small, duplex-style building with a decent sized porch and a two-chair and table set. The best part? The creek right outside his front door. The quiet song of the birds and summer breezes playing through the trees was too good to not listen for a few minutes, as he sat in his truck with his eyes closed, taking it all in. Nothing like it anywhere.
Time to get his vacation started.
Anders & Ujaruk Excerpt
Prologue
When Anders got out of bed, Bill’s eyes still had that groggy, late-night sex look. He tried to pull Anders back into bed, but Anders resisted. Bill’s arms weren’t the rest of his life; the luggage in the hallway was-the suitcase, the messenger bag, and the battered leather zipper case with his notes and dissertation. It had been his grandfather’s, and one of the few things he’d managed to rescue from the wreck of his mother’s apartment back in 1989. He stored everything that meant something to him within its brown leather form.
“Babe, it’s still three hours,” Bill whispered. “Just come have breakfast with me, and then we’ll kiss each other good-bye for now. You’ll be back in six months-it’s not a going-away party.”
Anders smiled, nodded his head, walked to the bathroom, and turned on the shower to let it warm up. While it did, he stood in the doorway and smiled as Bill lay there drowsing, so that if he woke up he’d still see Anders standing there smiling. If he saw Anders looking anything but happy, Bill would think something was up. And something was.
Two minutes later Anders was washing the tension away, hair plastered to his head, the anxious sweat of the morning sluicing off him and down the drain. But then the shower door slid open, and Anders felt Bill behind him, pressing his body against the shower wall until Anders’ lips rested at that familiar spot against the tile.
As usual, Bill’s legs spread Anders’ legs apart, thumb pressing inward and slicked with shower water. Anders fought not to clench or push back as Bill slid himself in-without asking, of course; he would never think to ask-and bit his lip to keep his mind from falling back into the same morning routine. Sure, he still had to act it out for Bill, but his heart wasn’t in it anymore.
He endured it by reminding himself that he would not be back in six months. Bill didn’t know that, and Bill didn’t need to. While Anders concentrated on this being the last time, Bill pumped into him a few times, panting.
Xavier & Devin Excerpt
Chapter One
Sitting in an uncomfortable chair in the hotel lobby, Xavier Markovic made the phone call he’d been dreading all morning. This wasn’t something he wanted to do, but with Daniel Chevalier in the hospital, connected to all kinds of lines, it was up to him to meet the so-called grandson coming out of the woodwork. Or at least, this grandson left Colorado on a spontaneous decision to be with Daniel. Going from Colorado to Alaska, Xavier snorted, unable to believe what was happening. Yeah, there was a dramatic change. He heard ringing in his Bluetooth as he looked out the wall of windows overlooking Anchorage.
“Hello?” The grandson’s voice was tentative, but rich as honey and dangerous as a good shot of bourbon. The top-shelf kind of stuff, aged in centuries charred oak barrels.
Something he wasn’t comfortable with tugged and rolled deep in his lower body. His cock was letting him know the tone was interesting and attractive. Xavier tried to ignore his body’s wayward response to only a voice. He adjusted his position in the chair. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Is this Daniel’s grandson?”
“Yes, I’m Devin Chevalier. Who is this?”
Obviously the kid didn’t do all of his research. Xavier had been part of Daniel’s life since he turned sixteen and accepted a part-time job at Midnight Sun Adventures & Outfitters. “I’m his second-in-charge at the Lodge. Something his grandson would have known.” He couldn’t resist the extra dig of information.
“Look, there’s bad blood between my father and grandfather. I know it’s decades old, before I was even born,” Devin said, pausing to take a breath or consider his words. “I’m sure you have to know this.”
“Hell, yeah, I’ve seen what it did and is still doing to Daniel. Why did you wait until now to meet him?”
“I didn’t know until a few days ago about what happened to him. My dad got a message from someone at the hospital. He refused to go anywhere near Alaska. I decided to take his place and come to Alaska.”
Asher & Emmett Excerpt
Chapter One
Asher stretched languidly as the morning light streamed in. Something had woken him, a sudden bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Like every time Emmett went running into a burning building. He shook his head and propped himself up on his elbow. There was no reason to worry here in this paradise. They had rented a cabin located between Denali and Fairbanks, off Parks Highway. He and his husband had been here for four days and planned to stay another three. They’d taken a road trip up to Chena Hot Springs Resort to see the Ice Museum, taken a run on a dog sled, and enjoyed the geothermal pools. They’d also spent a day hiking in the Denali National Park.
He gazed at his husband, who was still sleeping soundly. The sunlight streaming in through the window highlighted his tanned skin. His dark brown hair was mussed; Asher had run his fingers through the thick locks late last night when they had made love after gazing up at the night sky. It had been clear, and the beauty of the heavens had been breathtaking. He had stayed up with Emmett until three a.m., gazing in awe at the stars and sharing sweet kisses, curled up together. They were here to celebrate their fifth anniversary, and were splurging on a romantic getaway, knowing despite their hectic lives, they wanted to adopt and had already started the process. Having completed all the paperwork and home study, they were hoping for a match when they got home.
Emmett was a firefighter on a rescue squad. And Asher was a paramedic in the same firehouse. That was where he and Emmett had met, fallen in love, and even gotten engaged. Asher would never forget Emmett getting down on one knee in front of the entire firehouse and popping the question. Now, he had made the decision to go to med school and study to be a doctor. He knew residency would have him putting in insane hours, but he and Emmett had talked about it, and Asher was confident he could be there for their child despite it. It would be a balancing act, but he was up for the challenge. He enjoyed being a paramedic, but he wanted to be a doctor. It wouldn’t be easy, he knew, but he had Emmett’s support and love, so he could handle it. He grinned and leaned down to brush his lips against his husband’s.
About the Ann, Megan, Diana, Carter, Nicole and Anna
Ann Anderson
Born and raised in Illinois, Ann spends her time reading, writing, working, and playing video games whenever the cats, and her family, don’t demand her attention. The second born of four, Ann has learned to listen and observe, a skill she’s honed because the simplest words or gestures can be the next big story idea, and she’s always on the lookout for ideas.
Contact Info:
E-mail: author_ann_anderson@yahoo.com | Blog
Megan Linden
Megan is one of those people who dreamed of being a writer since they were a little kid and then didn’t do anything about it for years. Then as a teenager she was introduced to fandom and… well. She fell head first into it and never looked back. At some point she decided to try writing her own characters in her own stories. And that’s where she is today.
Megan is also a psychologist and continues to learn the hard way that she can’t give all her clients their happy ending (she truly believes everyone can save themselves, though). That’s why she makes sure to give it to her characters, always.
Contact Info:
Email: meganlindencom@gmail.com | Facebook | Website/Blog | Goodreads
Diana DeRicci
Diana DeRicci is the sexy, flirty pen name of Diana Castilleja. A romance author at heart, DeRicci’s writing takes you into a saucier spectrum of sensuality and sexual adventure, where a happily-ever-after is still the key to any story. Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal. You can catch the latest news on all of Diana DeRicci’s writing and books on her website. Feel free to drop Diana an email. She’d love to hear from you.
Contact Info:
Caraway Carter
Caraway Carter has worn numerous hats. He’s been a furniture salesman, a dresser, a costumer, an actor/waiter, a rabble rouser, a poet and most recently a writer. He married his husband on Halloween and they are the loving parents of two rambunctious cats. He loves words and stringing them together, he loves sex and sexy men, he loves seeing how far his muse will take him and he’s looking forward to entertaining you.
Contact Info:
Email: carawaycarter@gmail.com | Facebook Group | Website/Blog | Goodreads: Group
Nicole Dennis
A quiet one growing up, Nicole Dennis left reality for the comfort of books, filling a personal library over the years. Characters started talking about their own stories. Writing them down whether during or after class, she continues to this day. She lets others meet her characters, walk through her worlds, and sigh as a romance overcomes all obstacles. All of her romances include delightful twists of GLBT, paranormal, fantasy, and erotica and always have their Happily Ever Afters.
She lives and works in Central Florida. Thanks to a quiet working environment, she can escape into her stories. At home, a semi-demonic tortie calico, affectionately known as Fat Cat on social media, rules their home.
Contact Info:
Email: nicoledennis.author@gmail.com | Facebook Group | Website/Blog | Goodreads: Member
Anna Lee
Anna Lee graduated from the University of California Riverside with a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing. Living with a disability, she has overcome many challenges and puts her passion for life and love into her writing. She lives with her family and dogs and enjoys writing late into the night. When she isn’t writing, Anna enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephew or chatting with her friends about her favorite books and TV shows.
Contact Info:
Email: annalee509@gmail.com | @annalee59 | Facebook Group | Website/Blog
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Reviews
Title: Gabriel & Avery
Series: Storming Love, Earthquake 01
Author: Ann Anderson
Genre: Contemporary, Natural Disaster, Earthquake
Length: Short (55pgs)
ISBN: MLR-1-02015-0425
Publisher: MLR Press (3rd July 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Loneliness has been Gabriel’s companion since his parents’ passing, growing with each sibling that leaves home to start their own life. When a big earthquake hits Alaska, Gabriel finds himself taking in Avery, his two daughters, and their grandmother and relishes not being so alone. Yet, Gabriel feels a spark of recognition he can’t explain about Avery, but more than that, he likes the company and wishes he could have a deeper relationship with the man. But when the small family has their new home, what could make Avery want to stay?
Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=SLS4__AA
Review: Avery, Gabriel’s brother’s boss, finds himself homeless after an earthquake. Gabriel is alone and lonely and offers Avery and his family a place to stay until insurance comes through and they can rebuild or find a new home.
Gabriel is attracted to Avery but unaware that Avery is gay.
The premise of this story is good. It is all in Gabriel’s viewpoint and thoughts. I found a few things missing I would have like more details on Avery’s split up, Gabriel’s parent’s death, how each man attend his physical needs beforehand. I would have liked more interaction between Gabriel and Avery.
Having said that the sex scene when they come together was pretty hot.
If you like natural disasters, troopers, caring men, cute kids and some sweet sensual man-sex this is for you!
Title: Derek & Hayden
Series: Storming Love, Earthquake 02
Author: Megan Linden
Genre: Contemporary, Earthquakes, Natural Disaster
Length: Short (54pgs)
ISBN: MLR-1-02015-0427
Publisher: MLR Press (10th July 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Derek Warden is certain his boss sent him to cover the conference in the middle of nowhere, Alaska, to punish him for something. After an unpleasant phone call from his father who tries to stop him from going, Derek is ready for the whole thing to be over before it even begins.
Hayden Shaw has been looking forward to this conference for months. The problem of fracking is very dear to his heart and he couldn’t wait to spend the long weekend with like-minded people.
Neither of them expected the big earthquake, but most importantly – they didn’t expect each other. Meeting again after over a decade may result in something even more surprising that the ground trembling under their feet.
Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=SLS4__ML
Review: When a powerful senators son and an environmentalist meet in college sparks flew and not the good kind. Whenever Derek and Haydon were together they argued, then one day things seemed different when Derek agreed to cover a story for the school paper, Then for some unknown reason to Hayden Derek buried the story and their feelings as well..12 years later the sparks are still there.
This story had a great premise as a second chance story. I was a bit disappointed to find out that their meeting in college wasn’t romantic. Where the story had lots of good points I would have liked more focus on the Earthquake. Also it was mentioned a few times that Derek once was a fireman he had a scar but then nothing was told as to what happened.
It is a good story with a quick pace. I wanted to keep reading to see if Derek and Hayden got together and what their backstory was. The paragraph of their first kiss had me weak in the knees.
If you like stories about Natural disasters, Earthquakes, reporters, environmentalists and a pretty sweet romance with some moderate man-sex this is for you.
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Congrats on the anthology. Hope it does well
I love disaster stories – I have to read this! 🙂 Congrats!