Love Unlocked Anthology Blog Tour, Interviews, Excerpt & Giveaway!

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Hi guys we have the anthology Love Unlocked and it’s authors popping in for a quick visit today, we have short interviews with Al Stewart and Ofelia Gränd, a great excerpt and a brilliant giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

Anthology - Love Unlocked Cover

Love Unlocked

by

Claire Davis and Al Stewart, Victoria Milne, Dawn Sister, J.P. Walker, Caraway Carter, Ofelia Gränd, Debbie McGowan

Love Unlocked is a collection of seven short stories and novellas – unique LGBTQ romances inspired by the Love Lock Bridge.

THE STORIES:

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THE TRAP by CLAIRE DAVIS AND AL STEWART

New job – sexy boss – fate – Art…

When Sal attends an open exam for an apprentice artist to work alongside the infamous Matthew Picard, the last thing he expects is to be the winner. But then his role is revealed and nothing is ever the same again. As he toils day and night on the unique sculpture, strange sensations begin to affect both him and the watching master artist.

Matthew Picard thought he was through with men and love. What he wanted was for Sal to help him create one final monstrous masterpiece – The Trap.

But as he observes his young apprentice, his focus shifts, and so do the very walls of the gallery.

Is it the beauty of art, or something more magical at work?

As the sculpture is created, a power is unlocked.

Can love save them, or will they be trapped forever?

Beaten Track Publishing

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WRITER’S LOCK by VICTORIA MILNE

Spending a month in Paris to write his romance novel had seemed like the perfect plan, but one week in, Phil Pearson is suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. With barely a word written, he’s fed up and ready to cut his trip short.

When Laurent Marceau sees Phil in his café, it sends him hurtling into the past, opening old wounds and reminding him of the love he lost. But, after watching the aspiring writer struggle for inspiration, he surprises himself by offering to show him Paris through the eyes of a true Parisian.

Finally bursting with ideas, Phil is delighted to put pen to paper, albeit badly at first. As the writer finds himself falling in love for the first time, Laurent knows he needs to decide quickly if he’s strong enough to return his affections, or whether it would be better for them both if he walked away. He knows he may not have a choice, once Phil finds out the truth.

Beaten Track Publishing

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LOCKED IN THE MOMENT by DAWN SISTER

Due to a misunderstanding, the troll that lives underneath one of the most romantic bridges in Paris inadvertently unlocks every single padlock lovers have left there over the years. L’Authoritié de Fée Folklorique are up in arms. He has no idea what all the fuss is about. The noise was driving him mad. He just wanted a bit of peace and quiet.

A spell is cast, leaving the troll in a bit of a predicament. He is charged with the seemingly impossible task of fixing the locks before the spell can be reversed and he is allowed to return to his home. There are other complications, the least of which is the insistence and persistence of a fairy who is determined to help him against the wishes of his own people.

Now the troll has a dilemma. What is more important to him? The only home he has known for two thousand years, or a fairy he has just met?

Beaten Track Publishing

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THE WEEKEND by J P WALKER

Nat’s been through a rough breakup and trust does not come easily. When she accompanies a group of friends to Paris for a hen weekend, she finds a connection she wasn’t looking for, in the form of beautiful, passionate Morgan. They quickly fall into a wonderful weekend fling and even engrave their initials into a lock and attach it to the most romantic bridge in the world, Love Lock Bridge.

But was that weekend fling all there was, or will news of the bridge being taken down lead to something more?

Beaten Track Publishing

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THE SCARLET LOCK by CARAWAY CARTER

Brandon Marshall, in Paris for his twin sister’s wedding, has a fling before the big day. At the end of a whirlwind week of discovering each other, Brandon and his lover place a scarlet lock on the Love Lock Bridge.

Follow Brandon through six years of letters – to the citizens of Paris, on everything from how to make love, to eating passionate fruit – and to the lover, who is now his brother-in-law.

The locks are being removed, the bridge refitted… What will be the fate to The Scarlet Lock?

Beaten Track Publishing

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HE MELTED US by OFELIA GRÄND

All Delron wants is to live his life with Phillipe, but when their love lock is stolen from Pont des Art, their relationship is in jeopardy. Without the lock holding them together, Delron is convinced they’ll crash and burn. The only way he can save their relationship is to find the stolen lock, and that is just what he plans to do, no matter what.

Phillipe loves Delron, he really does, but it’s driving him insane that Delron can’t see that a padlock is simply a piece of metal. The lock has nothing to do with them, not really. Up until the night the lock was stolen, their life was great, but Del’s crazy behaviour has Phillipe wondering if he has ever really known his boyfriend.

Delron’s search leads him through art-filled Paris, but will a symbol of love ever be enough to soothe the mistrust his quest has planted in Phillipe? Phillipe always thought he’d spend the rest of his life with Del, but who can live with anyone willing to break the law just to find a padlock when they can buy a new one in just about any shop?

Beaten Track Publishing

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CHAIN OF SECRETS by DEBBIE MCGOWAN

Josh and George have always shared the special bond of friendship. From days in primary school, to holidays spent riding their bikes along the canal, theirs is a promise to remain best friends forever.

But can that promise withstand the trials of adolescence, and the changes in their feelings towards each other?

Beaten Track Publishing

Continue reading “Love Unlocked Anthology Blog Tour, Interviews, Excerpt & Giveaway!”

Where The Grass Is Greener by Raine O'Tierney & Debbie McGowan Blog Tour, Interview, Excerpt & Giveaway!

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Hi peeps, we have Raine O’Tierney & Debbie McGowan visiting today with their newest release Where The Grass Is Greener, we have a brief chat with Raine & Debbie, there’s a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so enjoy the post and click that rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~

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Where The Grass Is Greener

(Seeds of Tyrone 02)
by

Raine O’Tierney & Debbie McGowan

Mistakes were made, that’s for sure. But was it the night of passion? Or walking away afterward?

That’s the question Seamus Williams must face when he gets a late night phone call from someone he never expects to hear from again.

“I miss you, Shay.”

Chancey Bo Clearwater is a cowboy through and through. He spends his days finding work on whatever ranch will take him and his nights at the pool hall. He’s always done what needed doing and never thought much about what he wanted. ’Til that drunken night with Seamus.

A world of problems now stand between Seamus and Chancey exploring what might have been, the least of which being the Atlantic Ocean. On one side there’s Chancey’s daughter who mood swings from angel to demon in two seconds flat; on the other there’s the new lodger, hogging Shay’s telly and his cornflakes, and making private Skype time hard to come by. 

Is this relationship doomed before it ever begins? Or can a surprise announcement from Seamus’s brother be enough to help the two find their second chance?

Where the Grass is Greener features Seamus Williams – the older brother of Patrick from Leaving Flowers.

Continue reading “Where The Grass Is Greener by Raine O'Tierney & Debbie McGowan Blog Tour, Interview, Excerpt & Giveaway!”

Leaving Flowers by Debbie McGowan and Raine O'Tierney Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!

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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

Attractive young man sitting against brick wall and plant leaves, looking away
Attractive young man sitting against brick wall and plant leaves, looking away

Leaving Flowers

by

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.

Continue reading “Leaving Flowers by Debbie McGowan and Raine O'Tierney Blog Tour, Excerpt, Review & Giveaway!”

Checking Him Out for the Holidays by Debbie McGowan

91voXSsMv4L._SL1500_Title: Checking Him Out For the Holidays
Series: Checking Him Out
Author: Debbie McGowan
Genre: Contemporary/Holiday
Length: Novella (75 pages)
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing (December 21st, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Freelance engineer Sol Brooks doesn’t do the festive season. He thinks it’s boring and overly sentimental. With the rest of the household laid up with ‘the flu’, Sol’s planned to use the time to crack on with some work.

His mother, however, has other ideas.

And so does Sol’s husband, Adam.

A stand-alone holiday special featuring Sol and Adam from Checking Him Out.

ISBN: 978-1-910635-25-4

Product Link: http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/?n1=publications&id=137

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Even though this is marketed as a standalone holiday sequel to Checking Him Out, it would probably be best to read book one. The background in the first book really does help explain Adam’s behaviour while he is sick in this one.

This is a quite charming story of a couple trying to get their separate beliefs together for the holiday seas. Sol is Jewish and Adam is Christian. They’ve been together for a while now, they’re also married and life is good since they have relocated to England.

We also learn a lot more about their families, particularly Adam’s brother Noah and friend/ex-boyfriend Matty. In fact, Matty is a sweetheart and I want to hug him and make it all better. Actually, I wouldn’t mind learning more about Noah and Matty.

I think this book actually makes me think on Checking Him Out in a much better light. This one has a fairly simple plot and a few sick family members (and a bitchy move from Sol’s sister). It’s easy enough to enjoy and easy enough to understand the insanity of families.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Crying in the Rain by Debbie McGowan

814r5nBC0oL._SL1500_Title: Crying in the Rain
Author: Debbie McGowan
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (182 pages)
Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing (November 12th, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4.5Hearts
Blurb: For many years, Ade Simmons has been an outsider, trapped in an abusive relationship, seeking sanctuary in his job as a radio producer, and in the checklists he makes in an attempt to regain control of his sorry excuse of a life.

Actor Kris Johansson is patient, gentle and passionate – everything that Ade’s ex-boyfriend is not. When Kris takes a role in one of Ade’s plays, the attraction is mutual and instant. It is the turning point for Ade. Either he can stay on the same path, with Fergus – the bully, who has repressed, used and isolated him from his friends and family – or he can look in the other direction, towards Kris – the handsome actor with family and friends who readily accept him.

But, Fergus will not give up his punching bag so easily – can Ade finally find the strength to fight back?

ISBN: 978-1-909192-60-7

Product Link: http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com/?n1=publications&id=132

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Crying in the Rain is the first book I’ve read by Debbie McGowan. This is one of those books that are both sweet between the MCs, but intense when it comes to their lives and the drama. It’s also one of those books that left me thinking about the characters after finishing the novel.

This story focuses on character’s Ade, a radio producer who is experiencing problems with his abusive ex, and Kris, an actor who is everything that is kind and compassionate and has an amazing array of friends. Another theme of this book is that of healing and coming to terms. Interestingly, what I really enjoyed was that despite his initial appearance of carefree and happy, there is also something that Kris needs to heal about, which is obviously completely aside from Ade’s issues with his ex, Fergus.

When Kris works on a radio play that Ade is producing the two become friends, and to some extent confidants. It’s clear that they both want more to happen, too, and slowly we see their relationship evolve. The emotions had me tossing back and forth between sadness, anger, happiness and laughter. I also liked the fact that Kris was more complicated than he initially appeared and was really interesting.

A secondary character that was by far my favourite was Shaunna, Kris’s ex-wife but the two are also best friends. They’ve been through a lot together and are each other’s confidants. They have a lovely relationship and I laughed when she became cheer squad for Kris and Ade’s fledgling relationship. There are a number of other minor characters who are more than interesting, including two of Ade’s more elderly neighbours and a friend that is trying to help him get Fergus out of his life.

This leads me to Fergus, throughout the book he is portrayed as a typical abusive villain that as readers, we encounter in countless books. I really enjoyed the epilogue for this book because here, we are presented with very much the typical solution to such a destructive and abusive character, except there is a twist and it makes it so much better. We are given a more tragic figure that actually had me feeling empathy for the man; especially after all he had done to Ade.

If it was written in the usual way and had an epilogue, I think I would have felt cheated out of words for Ade and Kris’s story. On the other hand, like many stories, this ending could have been a footnote. I can’t say too much, obviously, but all you need to know is that it is a great twist on something we’ve seen many times (actually, I think I’ve complained ever so slightly about an almost identical solution in another book recently).

All I can say is this a fantastic book. Read it and I hope you enjoy it! The characters and the plot are all great and interesting.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *