Hiya guys, Mia Kerick pops in today with the blog tour for her new release The Art of Hero Worship, Mia chats with us about the song that inspired her as she wrote the book, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and Lisa’s review, so check out the post and then click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~

The Art of Hero Worship

Mia Kerick

Trembling on the floor, pressed beneath a row of seats in a dark theater, college freshman Jason Tripp listens to the terrifying sound of gunshots, as an unknown shooter moves methodically through the theater, randomly murdering men, women, and children attending a student performance of Hamlet. Junior Liam Norcross drapes his massive body on top of Jason, sheltering the younger man from the deathly hail of bullets, risking his life willingly and maybe even eagerly.

As a result of the shared horror, an extraordinary bond forms between the two young men, which causes discomfort for family and friends, as well as for Jason and Liam, themselves. And added to the challenge of two previously “straight” men falling into a same-sex love, are the complications that arise from the abundance of secrets Liam holds with regard to a past family tragedy. The fledgling passion between the men seems bound to fade away into the darkness from which it emerged.

Jason, however, is inexplicably called to rescue his hero in return, by delving into Liam’s shady past and uncovering the mystery that compels the older man to act as the college town’s selfless savior.

The Art of Hero Worship takes the reader on a voyage from the dark and chilling chaos that accompanies a mass shooting to the thrill of an unexpected and sensual romance.

Listen to The Art of Hero Worship Playlist

Guest Post

Hi. I’m so happy to be here today to promote the release of my new release from Mia Kerick Adult, The Art of Hero Worship, an LGBTQ Contemporary New Adult Romance. I would like to talk about a song that inspired me as I wrote this novel.

“Hallelujah” performed by Jeff Buckley, written by Leonard Cohen

I chose “Hallelujah” because of its raw intensity. When I listen to Jeff Buckley sing this haunting tune, I hear genuine anguish. When I watch the video I see a man struggling to express feelings of temptation, rejection, frustration, and exhilaration in a love relationship. In short, as I watch and listen to this video I understand that love is hardship.  Both Jason and Liam experience true anguish in The Art of Hero Worship, with regard to their feelings for each other and the events that have led to their bond. They must fight through a wide range of fears and anxieties to get to a place where they can be together.

Well I’ve heard there was a secret chord

That David played and it pleased the Lord

But you don’t really care for music, do you?

Well it goes like this:

The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift

The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof

You saw her bathing on the roof

Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya

She tied you to her kitchen chair

And she broke your throne and she cut your hair

And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

But baby I’ve been here before

I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor

You know, I used to live alone before I knew ya

And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch

And love is not a victory march

It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Well there was a time when you let me know

What’s really going on below

But now you never show that to me do ya

But remember when I moved in you

And the holy dove was moving too

And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above

But all I’ve ever learned from love

Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya

And it’s not a cry that you hear at night

It’s not somebody who’s seen the light

It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah 

About Mia

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young men and their relationships, and she believes that sex has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to CoolDudes Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press for providing her with an alternate place to stash her stories.

Mia is proud of her involvement with the Human Rights Campaign and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of marital equality. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Where to find the author:

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook | Clean Facebook Page | Mia Kerick Author Facebook Page | Newsletter Sign Up

Giveaway!

Win a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card and one ebook of your choice from Mia’s backlist (Kindle only)!

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Review

Title: The Art of Hero Worship

Author: Mia Kerick

Genre: New Adult/ Romantic Suspense

Length: 181 pages

ISBN: 9781311511614

Publisher: Cool Dudes Publishing (February 14, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Reviewer: Lisa

Blurb: Trembling on the floor, pressed beneath a row of seats in a dark theater, college freshman Jason Tripp listens to the terrifying sound of gunshots, as an unknown shooter moves methodically through the theater, randomly murdering men, women, and children attending a student performance of Hamlet. Junior Liam Norcross drapes his massive body on top of Jason, sheltering the younger man from the deathly hail of bullets, risking his life willingly, and maybe even eagerly.

As a result of the shared horror, an extraordinary bond forms between the two young men, which causes discomfort for family and friends, as well as for Jason and Liam, themselves. And added to the challenge of two previously “straight” men falling into a same-sex love, are the complications that arise from the abundance of secrets Liam holds with regard to a past family tragedy. The fledgling passion between the men seems bound to fade away into the darkness from which it emerged.

Jason, however, is inexplicably called to rescue his hero in return, by delving into Liam’s shady past and uncovering the mystery that compels the older man to act as the college town’s selfless savior.

Product Link(s): http://www.cooldudespublishing.com/tb-books/coming-your-way-in-january-2016/the-art-of-hero-worship/ | https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/606912 | http://amzn.to/1QeHC3l

Review: I have only read one or two books by this author and I must say that she has a blare about her stories. Although I am not one for teenagers or even college students in stories because they just don’t seem to come off the way many stories should. I also don’t like characters who are not gay then all of a sudden they are having sexual relations. It just doesn’t come off like what would happen in real life so for me this story was a mixture of many feelings.

Jason is watching a play with his girlfriend when some nut case student starts shooting. Jason was saved by Liam but his girlfriend didn’t make it. They form a bond that strengthens through time but Jason is still having a bit of troubles with it all. He had never had any plans or ideas of being with another guy but Liam is his hero.

Liam has such a horrible past and it leads him into his hero ways. He feels like he is making up for past mistakes by saving Jason. However he also has feelings growing for Jason and he wants to follow through with it all. The problem is he keeps trying to save others and it makes things difficult for them both.

Now with this Liam comes off more as a stalker and kind of creepy in a way. Whereas Jason comes off a bit of a wimp and off. Now the shooting was horrible and Mia wrote it with such a perfect direction that one would feel like they were right there. It was amazing the way it came off. I also loved how the guys dealt with the backlash of negative feelings from friends and family. Other than my problems with it the story was well written and fully developed. It was a good story and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

It caught my attention from the start but unfortunately my attention wavered quite a bit so for me it wasn’t a win for me. I would like to say though that you can tell right off the bat that this author put her heart into her story and I would definitely recommend it.

However it really wasn’t for me.