Hi guys, we have Garrett Leigh stopping by today to show off her audiobook of Rare, we have a great excerpt from the Rare ecopy, we have a fantastic giveaway and we have Tams review of both Slide & Rare and she was blown away with the audiobooks! So enjoy the post and then click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Rare
(Roads 02)
by
Garrett Leigh
Paramedic Pete Adams lived through the year from hell watching his lover, Ash, fall apart, and the precarious balance between work and home is becoming more strained. His heart is always home, with Ash, but the dark side to his job is weighing him down.
Tattoo artist Ash Fagin is recovering from a nervous breakdown triggered by revelations about his traumatic childhood. His battle with mental illness is far from over, but with Pete by his side, he’s feeling good again, so good he doesn’t notice something missing until it walks right into his living room.
Ash believes he’s had enough coincidence in his life, but when a voice from the past comes looking for him, it takes the devastating injuries of the one he loves most to convince him to let a ghost become the family he never knew he wanted.
Hey peeps, we have Garrett Leigh popping in now with her latest release My Mate Jack, we have a tasty teaser and a brilliant giveaway and I’ve also chucked in Aerin’s review in for you to check out. So enjoy the post and Click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
My Mate Jack
(Heated Beat 01)
by
Garrett Leigh
Will Barter’s been in love with his best mate Jack for as long as he can remember. They’ve shared everything: love, life, laughs, even Will’s first kiss. But Jack’s straight, and Will’s long-buried infatuation means nothing until their last summer together draws to a close.
Then one night, everything changes, but with Will bound for university in Leeds, and Jack for his dream DJ job in Ibiza, there’s no time to explore their blurred lines. Before long all that’s left are secrets, lies, and misunderstandings.
In the months that follow, anger and hurt overshadow fifteen years of friendship, and Will must dig deep to remember Jack is his mate… his best mate, and nothing matters more than that, right?
Blurb: Will Barter’s been in love with his best mate Jack for as long as he can remember. They’ve shared everything: love, life, laughs, even Will’s first kiss. But Jack’s straight, and Will’s long-buried infatuation means nothing until their last summer together draws to a close.
Then one night, everything changes, but with Will bound for university in Leeds, and Jack for his dream DJ job in Ibiza, there’s no time to explore their blurred lines. Before long all that’s left are secrets, lies, and misunderstandings.
In the months that follow, anger, and hurt overshadow fifteen years of friendship, and Will must dig deep, to remember Jack is his mate… his best mate, and nothing matters more than that, right?
Review: Despite of the few issues I’ve had with this book, I couldn’t put it down. I adore Garrett Leigh. I liked every single book she’s written so far. My Mate Jack is no different, the friends to lovers team is my favorite by far. Add to that the British terms and phrases and I was sold.
Will and Jack have known each other before their teen years, have always been best mates and had each others’ backs. Jack is the first person Will came out to and he supported him unconditionally. Will has a secret crush on Jack that he will never admit to for fear of destroying their precious friendship. Will and Jack experiment together a few times, first a kiss, then something more, but Jack is not gay and never will be.
Fast forward a few years and Will and Jack each go their own way in life: Will to Uni and Jack to Ibiza to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a famous D.J. They keep in touch through sporadic emails and text messages but their relationship has cooled a lot. It frustrated me to no end because you could tell they still care about each other, but I guess when life gets in the way, there’s nothing to do but live it.
Eventually Jack and Will get together again, they visit each other but things between them are tense. Will is still very much in love with Jack and Jack is still as clueless as ever. And if you think that’s not dramatic enough, there is family drama, unresolved issues, and jealous boyfriends as well.
The guys do get their happy ending (at least for now) but Jack is still not gay; he’s not straight either. Jack simply likes Will and nobody else will do, and I absolutely loved that about him.
What annoyed me was the lack of communication between characters. All the drama and heartbreak could’ve been avoided if Will and Jack talked through their confusion and mixed feelings. And the length of time between their emails got me very mad. I do understand they were busy but you should still make time to exchange emails with your best mate. They were both acting twatish and I wanted to whack them upside the head.
I can’t wait for the next book because we’re going to see how they handle their relationship now that they live together. Recommended for those who love friends-to-lovers and gay-for-you stories.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hey peeps, we have Garrett Leigh visiting with Slide, Garrett lets us have a look at a tempting excerpt and there’s a great giveaway. So peeps enjoy the post and Tams review and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Slide
(Roads 01)
by
Garrett Leigh
Don’t look back. Don’t you ever look back…
Shy tattoo artist Ash has a troubled past. Years of neglect, drug abuse, and life on the streets have taken their toll, and sometimes it seems the deep, unspoken bond with his lover is the only balm for wounds he doesn’t quite understand.
Chicago paramedic Pete is warmth, love, and strength—things Ash never knew he could have, and never even knew he wanted until Pete showed him. But fate is a cruel, cruel mistress, and when nightmares collide with the present, their tentatively built world comes crashing down.
Traumatic events in Pete’s work life distance him from home, and he doesn’t realize until it’s too late that Ash has slipped away. Betrayal, secrets, and lies unfold, and when a devastating coincidence takes hold, Pete must fight with all he has to save the love of his life.
Hey guys, a bunch of us bloggers have got together to show our support for T.J. Klune and Eric Arvin by joining up for the Grand Adventures blog tour. This blog tour is to bring to attention the wonderful authors who donated a story and Dreamspinners Press who are donating 100% of the income from the sale to Eric & T.J. and there’s even a great giveaway for you to enjoy! I know the people in this genre are just incredible! So check out what the authors have to say, visit Dreamspinners Press and have a look at the great Grand Adventures goodies and click our Rafflecopter link to win some of those great goodies 🙂 ~Pixie~ p.s. I’d like to give a shout out to Brandilyn from Prism Book Alliance for pulling us bloggers together and organizing our roles in this tour 😉
Description:
On September 1, 2011, TJ Klune wrote, “…it’s not about the ending, it’s about the journey…” in a review of Eric Arvin’s Woke Up in a Strange Place. With those words, two men began a journey of love and invited us to ride along. TJ and Eric have shared so much with us: their wonderful books, their smiles, their humor, their lives, and their inspiring devotion to each other. In December of 2013, their journey took a detour when Eric was taken to the emergency room. He survived the surgery to remove a cavernous hemangioma from his brain stem, but the challenges TJ and Eric face are far from over.
The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eric’s continued recovery, to help bring strength to TJ, and to show both of them just how much love surrounds them. Grand Adventures is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love. We’re going on some grand adventures for a great cause. Thank you for joining us.
One hundred percent of the income from this volume goes directly to TJ and Eric.
Foreword by S.A. McAuley
An Unexpected Thing by John Amory (Sequel to Protection)
The Twinkie Ignition by J.E. Birk
When Friendship Becomes More by Sophie Bonaste
Isle of Waiting by Sue Brown (A Missing Moment from Isle of Waves)
The Jogger by KC Burn
Holding Court by Cardeno C.
For Dear Life by Mary Calmes
Under the Full Moon by Ellis Carrington
Stripped by Shae Connor (2nd Edition)
That Place Across the Hall by C.C. Dado
Mistaken MD by Phoenix Emrys
Cops and Comix by Rhys Ford
Last First Kiss by LE Franks
Tomorrow by John Goode
From Fantasy to Friends by CR Guiliano (A Companion to For You)
Hello everyone! My name is John Amory, and my contribution to the Grand Adventures anthology is titled “An Unexpected Thing.” This short is actually a sequel to a story that Dreamspinner published last June in its Daily Dose compilation called “Protection.” The new story picks up about two years after Jamie and Ben met; both are back from London and traveling the West Coast. Jamie is en route to a shooting competition with Ben in tow, but when their plane is diverted, they are forced to find their own way through the Cascades to Seattle. They, of course, find something else along the way.
I have never met TJ or Eric, but I was struck by their struggle like everyone else. We are all a family of authors and readers in this genre, and it felt like someone in our family had suddenly fallen ill. I wanted to help, especially since TJ’s book Into This River I Drown had such an effect on me. When “Protection” was accepted for publication last year, it was the first book I chose from Dreamspinner’s catalog to read, so that I could get a feel for their audience, their authors, the style of stories they publish, etc. I was blown away by River, which is, in so many ways, a really atypical (but still brilliant) M/M romance. There was so much else going on: grief, redemption, faith, closure, all of these things played into the book’s themes, and they’re all things I think TJ handled beautifully. So I began “An Unexpected Thing” as a sequel to “Protection” that contained a guest appearance by two of TJ’s characters from Roseland, which seemed only appropriate given its ties to River. I eventually re-edited the story to not include TJ’s characters (since, if all the authors did that, it would be taxing on TJ to edit and approve each story), but the essence that those characters brought to the story is still there, as well as some other Easter eggs for fans of TJ’s book. “An Unexpected Thing” is about finding love in places you never thought you would, with people you never thought you would. That’s something I got from Into This River I Drown and from TJ and Eric’s personal story, and I think it’s something universal: keep your eyes and heart open, because The One might be someone you’d never notice otherwise.
Thanks for reading and for supporting Grand Adventures! You can find me on Twitter (@JohnAmory) or on GoodReads. Feel free to drop a line! Happy reading!
About John Amory:
John Amory is and always will be a hopeless romantic, which he blames on watching too many episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 growing up. He began writing stories and poems as a child, continuing through high school. He put writing on the backburner for a number of years, during which time he finished both Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English, and is thrilled to be creating again now that he knows what “free time” means.
In another life, John is a newly minted college professor, as well as an actor/director/choreographer/playwright whose work has been performed in New York City and elsewhere. He is also obsessed with television and keeps two blogs on the subject: one for general reviews and comments (faketvcritic.blogspot.com), and one devoted solely to So You Think You Can Dance (cuttingsytycd.blogspot.com).
Feel free to drop a message here or on Twitter to say hi!
1. Tell us about your contribution to the anthology.
My short story is called When Friendship Becomes More.
Here’s the official blurb, because it explains the story better than I could:
Despite their differences, Jamie and Roy are not only college roommates, but best friends. What Jamie doesn’t know is that Roy has had a crush on him for years. When Jamie realizes Roy’s feelings during a camping trip with friends, the attraction will either prove mutual, or it will tear their friendship apart.
I’m really proud of this short story. It has moments that will make you laugh and cry. I hope everyone out there loves it as much as I do.
2. What is your favorite TJ and Eric memory?
Well, I haven’t been lucky enough to meet TJ or Eric in person. But I remember reading the news of TJ’s proposal in October of last year. I was instantly touched by the obvious love between the two men. It may not have been a showy proposal like that Home Depot one that went viral a few months ago, but it was one of the most love-filled proposals I’ve ever seen. And isn’t that what’s really important?
3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?
When I heard about the anthology it was a no-brainer. I knew I had to help TJ and Eric in any way I could. And since writing is one of my favorite things to do anyway, it was a win-win.
4. Do you have anything to say to TJ and Eric?
I just wanted to say that you two are both some of the strongest people I’ve ever known. I wish you only the best as you go forward. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!!!!!
About Sophie Bonaste:
Sophie Bonaste is a novelist who never set out to be a novelist. As a child, she wanted to be a Broadway actress and spent her childhood in numerous productions. But when adulthood set in and reality took over, Sophie chose to up the theater for a steady paycheck and instead turned to writing as a creative outlet. She stumbled into the M/M genre through fanfiction and never looked back. Sophie is quite happy with her change in artistic expression and doesn’t plan to stop writing for a long time.
A self-proclaimed nerd, Sophie is an avid fan of all things Star Wars and Harry Potter. (Sophie is a member of the Slytherin house, for those who were wondering.) Sophie also spends many hours watching and re-watching nerdy television shows. When she is not obsessing over the latest and greatest in nerdy entertainment, Sophie can be found screaming at her television during American football games. (Go Pack Go!) Sophie currently lives in Pennsylvania, about twenty minutes from her childhood town of The Middle of Nowhere.
If you don’t want to talk, but you want to read more about my works, please use these links.
Harmony Ink – Sophie Bonaste
Dreamspinner Press – Sophie Bonaste
GIVEAWAY!
20″ x 26″ (image size: 16″ x 24″) signed & matted print of the Grand Adventures cover Grand Adventures Paperback $30 Dreamspinner Press Giftcard
Starts: 12:01 AM EDT on 29 Mar 2014 End: 11:59pm EDT on 8 April 2014
Crazy events in the recent past have convinced Ash to take yet another step forward with Pete. He picks a special moment and a special place: the roof garden of their new home. Ash sees it as the final piece of their puzzle, but he’s not prepared for the feelings it invokes. Peace, belonging, and for the first time in his life, freedom.
Review: Short, Sexy and Steamy… Why yes, yes those are my three favorite colors!
Ash and Pete are consistently moving forward in their ever-evolving relationship. Ash has never been willing to use the term “gay” when describing his sexuality. But everything that has happened with him and Pete this last year coupled with the love he feels for him and some deep self-exploration, he finally admits that gay is exactly what he is. And he couldn’t be happier. To prove to Pete just how content he is with their relationship he offers his lover a piece of himself he’s kept guarded, until now.
Pete realizes the depth of what Ash is giving him and he doesn’t take it lightly, in fact, it takes a couple of weeks before Pete agrees. The result is some wickedly fantastic, toe curling, spine tingling sex on their roof top garden.
This novella is the perfect ending for this series. It brings the rough, sometimes ragged, and sometimes beautiful journey of Ash and Pete full circle, as Ash finally fully gives himself to Pete. With just a few words, Leigh was able to convey so much emotion from these characters. The descriptive of sight, sound, and touch were splendid.
These books read similar to the relationship of the main characters. Started out rocky and grew more solid with time and energy. Definitely worth the read! If you feel like you’re missing something after the first book, keep going, it comes full circle and makes complete sense in the end.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for MM Good Book Reviews*
Blurb: Levi Ramone entered the gay porn market for one reason, and one reason only: he needed the cash to pay his momma’s spiraling gambling debts. Seven years later, he’s a veteran with a reputation as one of Blue Boy Studio’s most ruthless tops, and when his boss suggests it’s time for a change, he finds himself staring down the barrel of a gun. Figuratively speaking, at least.
Enter Sonny Valentine, a go-go dancer at Blue’s sister club, Silver’s. Levi has secretly admired Sonny from afar for years, but there’s a problem. He can’t stand Sonny and the feeling is entirely mutual. When Levi learns Sonny is to play the third part in a scene he already considers his worst nightmare, he figures things can’t get any worse.
But when preparations for the scene from hell collide with tragic events in his personal life, he finds his fast-growing, red-hot attraction to Sonny just might be the only thing left between him and a bullet.
Review: There are many who believe that those in the porn industry are inherently broken people. This remains a hotly debated topic. This book focuses on a broken man, Eli, who’s found himself in porn as a way to make money. The most connecting human experience is for him often devoid of emotion. Levi literally detaches himself from his sexual experiences as a porn star and doesn’t seem to enjoy the experience much. For him the sex trade is really a means to an end. A financial end. He has learned to straddle the world of his life and being a porn star.
Sonny enters the story to help give Levi a conscience and to allow him to heal from his brokenness. Every single one of their encounters moves Levi from his current place to a place where he can begin to begin to live rather than just exist. The story focuses on Sonny helping Levi prepare for what is to become the most challenging experience of his porn career. Sonny is Levi’s catalyst for change. However, while Levi must manage this professional challenge, his personal life and demons are also causing him angst. The collision of these two realities creates the crisis in the story, which both Levi and Sonny must overcome.
The story is about the porn industry so there are a number of very racy and explicit scenes if the reader is looking for heat. However, the scenes between Levi and Sonny are transported to being more because sex between these characters is more about them needing a human connection even in the midst of their sex trade. The overriding theme, however, is about delving into Levi’s psyche and how Sonny can help him achieve a sadly lacking balance. Sonny’s presence and his growing connection to Levi is what will allow Levi to dodge the bullet so to speak. This is not your typical love story, but then set in the porn industry – how could it be?
Shy tattoo artist Ash has a troubled past. Years of neglect, drug abuse, and life on the streets have taken their toll, and sometimes it seems the deep, unspoken bond with his lover is the only balm for wounds he doesn’t quite understand.
Chicago paramedic Pete is warmth, love, and strength—things Ash never knew he could have, and never even knew he wanted until Pete showed him. But fate is a cruel, cruel mistress, and when nightmares collide with the present, their tentatively built world comes crashing down.
Traumatic events in Pete’s work life distance him from home, and he doesn’t realize until it’s too late that Ash has slipped away. Betrayal, secrets, and lies unfold, and when a devastating coincidence takes hold, Pete must fight with all he has to save the love of his life.
Review: Pete is a paramedic working the mean streets of Chicago. Long and unpredictable shifts coupled with dangerous calls that sometimes leave him battered and bruised leave his boyfriend anxious and jittery. He met the super shy street artist, Ash, through their mutual friend Ellie. What started out as a roommate arrangement quickly grows into more based on an intense mutual attraction. But Ash’s past is shrouded in darkness and mystery that threatens their already volatile relationship.
What is perceived as secrets and lies slowly unravels as a darkness in Ash’s past that he’s tried hard to bury. This secret has caused something within Ash to break, mentally, sort of like self-preservation. He can’t really remember the memory, only the voice, and the same voice that sends him spiraling out of control for no apparent reason. Can Pete piece together the seemingly random clues and help Ash not only face his past, but also come to terms with it, before he loses him inside his warped mind forever.
I had high hopes for this book and anxiously awaited its release for weeks. The story started out on a high note, and I enjoyed getting to know Pete and Ash at the start. I soon became frustrated with Pete constantly assuming things, but never really talking to Ash, they’d just fall into bed every five minutes as if that were the answer to everything. Don’t get me wrong, these two had some serious steam, but at times, it weighed down the story. I thought I could see where the author was going with Ash’s story early on, and in the end, I was partially right. It was so aggravating and long-winded that by the time what should have been an “oh my god” moment came along; it was more like “it’s about damn time you clued me in.”
This is a rare novel that should have been a novella. I could have done with the condensed version or the footnotes. Sorry guys, I tried really hard to like this one, but it just fell flat in the end for me.
It’s been six months since Ash shuffled into Pete’s life and turned his world upside down, and six months since they sat in an all-night diner plotting Ash’s theoretical solution for Pete’s faded, botched tattoo. Pete has just about given up hope of Ash ever fulfilling his promise when one day the end of a long shift finds Ash waiting for him.
Tonight is the night.
Ash is ready, and it seems the time has come for him to leave his mark on Pete in more ways than he ever imagined.
Review: Short, Sexy and Steamy!! This is an extended scene from Slide; book one in the Roads series.
Although Slide left a little something to be desired for me, this novella was kind of fantastic. Set somewhere along the way within Slide, Ash is finally going to ink Pete. The session quickly turns erotic and passionate as Ash’s mere touch sends Pete spiraling into hormonal combustion every time! And I learned a lot more about these characters in just a few short pages.
Getting marked hurts like hell, but the pain becomes passion and desire soon enough for Pete. With the ink still sore and fresh, Pete shows a rare vulnerable side to his lover. And it was nice to see Ash take charge for a change. The descriptives of how Ash felt inside Pete were what made this novella more erotic and downright sexy. AND it’s a free read, bonus!
