Hi guys, we have Brigham Vaughn popping in with her newest release Partners, Brigham lets us have a peek at an excerpt and there is a fantastic giveaway! I will leave you to enjoy the post and don’t forget to leave a comment and click the Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Partners
(Equals 02)
by
Brigham Vaughn
After a rocky first few months, Stephen Parker and Russ Bishop’s relationship is at a crossroads when the death of Stephen’s father forces them to visit Stephen’s hometown in southern Georgia.
Estranged from his family, Stephen must find a way to come to terms with his past and say goodbye to the father whose expectations he could never live up to. The small, conservative town provides its own challenges as Russ realizes providing emotional support is one part of being a true partner for Stephen.
Excerpt
Miss Esther lived on the edge of downtown in an old brick home on the main thoroughfare. It had changed little over the years. There were still cheerful red geraniums blooming in pots on the porch and old wicker chairs that looked like they might shatter under his weight if he attempted to sit on them. There was a porch swing on the other end that he remembered sitting on when he came into town to arrange for his father’s stay at the nursing home, years ago. He could hear the creak of the metal chain and feel the soothing, gentle sway. Then, he’d sat in the dark listening to the quiet town as it closed up for the night, wanting nothing more than to have someone next to him to mend the lonely hole in his heart.
He glanced over at Russ as he knocked on the old wooden door, the brass knocker worn from years of use. “I love you,” he said quietly, but Russ didn’t have time to answer before the door opened.
Miss Esther looked the same as she always had. Her short curls, thin and nearly white, haloed her face. Her dark skin hid the wrinkles well, but there were still lines around her eyes and mouth from years of smiling. Her dark eyes shone brightly behind her thin, gold-rimmed glasses, and Stephen smiled back as she cried out in pleasure. “Why, Stephen Parker as I live an’ breathe.” He leaned in and was engulfed in a hug from the small woman. She felt frailer than she had the last time, although her hug was strong.
“Hello, Miss Esther.”
She let go of him but grabbed his hand as he straightened. Her hands were cool and soft in his, the joints slightly bent with arthritis. “Handsome as ever, I see.” He smiled down at her and watched as her expression sobered. “I am so sorry I didn’t call about your daddy, Stephen. I was visiting my children in Alabama when he passed. I only got home this afternoon.”
“That’s all right,” he reassured her.
She turned to Russ, who had been hovering behind Stephen. “And who might this handsome young man be?”
Stephen drew in an apprehensive breath. Esther Wilson had known he was gay for years, but she’d never met any of his partners. She was a sweet woman who’d assured him that Jesus loved everybody, and Stephen loving men didn’t change her feelings about him either, but it still made him anxious. “Miss Esther, this is Russ Bishop, my partner. We live together.” Somehow that seemed wholly inadequate, but how else could he explain to her how much Russ meant to him? He wanted her to know this wasn’t some man he kept around because it was convenient, but the man who filled a place in Stephen’s life that no one else had.
She let go of Stephen’s hand as she looked between the two of them, and Russ shifted so his shoulder brushed Stephen’s as if seeking reassurance. “Well, I don’t know as I think much of the age difference between you,” she said briskly, “but you wouldn’t have brought him with you if you didn’t care for him. You’re welcome here, Russ.”
About Brigham
Brigham Vaughn has always been a voracious reader with her own stories to tell. After many years of abandoned plots, something finally clicked. Now she’s eating, sleeping, and breathing writing and is excited to have finally figured out what she wants to be when she grows up. In the little time that isn’t spent writing or reading, she loves cooking, yoga, photography, and remodeling her ninety-year-old home. Brigham lives in Michigan with her four cats and an amazing husband who has always been her biggest champion.
Giveaway!
1 commenter at each stop will win their choice of backlist title from Brigham Vaughn (excludes Dr. Feelgood).
(Just leave a comment to enter)
In addition one commenter in all of the tour will win a $10 Giftcard from Amazon. Grand Prize giveaway ends 4 October 2014 @ 11:59pm CDT. Winner will be drawn by random drawing among all entrants on 5 October.
Must be 18 or older to enter. Void where prohibited.
(Just click the link below)
Brigham Vaughn Rafflecopter giveaway!
(Ends 5th October 2014)
Review
Series: Equals 02
Author: Brigham Vaughn
Genre: Contemporary, May December relationship
Length: Novella (121pgs)
ISBN: B00MYJHK12
Publisher: Brigham Vaughn (19th September 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ – 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: After a rocky first few months, Stephen Parker and Russ Bishop’s relationship is at a crossroads when the death of Stephen’s father forces them to visit Stephen’s hometown in southern Georgia.
Estranged from his family, Stephen must find a way to come to terms with his past and say goodbye to the father whose expectations he could never live up to. The small, conservative town provides its own challenges as Russ realizes providing emotional support is one part of being a true partner for Stephen.
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Partners-Equals-Book-Brigham-Vaughn-ebook/dp/B00MYJHK12
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-partners-1625072-149.html
Review: This book is part of a series and must be read in order. Stephen and Russ head to Stephen’s hometown when Stephen gets news of his father’s, death, it’s down to Stephen to pack up his father’s life and lay the man to rest, even though they had an estranged relationship. Stephen has to face his past and come to terms with the difficult relationship he had with his father, Beau, while facing the conservative townsfolk but with Russ’s continued presence and support they can face anything together.
This is a wonderful story of laying the past to rest and letting go of regrets and accepting that sometimes life just is what it is. Stephen’s relationship with his father has been strained for many years, not just because he wanted off the farm but because he was gay, so returning to his hometown because his father died has Stephen mulling over everything that happened between them and also dreading the reaction from the townsfolk. Russ recognises the importance of his own role in Stephen’s life as he supports Stephen through the emotional upheaval Stephen’s father’s death wrought on his lover, and the continued support he shows as some townsfolk show their small-minded views.
I really like the way that Brigham Vaughn has continued the story of Stephen and Russ, we see their relationship still growing and becoming more stable between them and Russ truly begins to see just what he has to offer the older man. We see the emotional growth between them, not just love but the understanding and support, as Stephen picks through his past and regrets. While there are still some hot moments between them we see the more evolved deeper feelings between them, the need to be there through thick and thin, the shoulder to cry on and to take some of the weight, it shows us how far they have come together and the depth of their emotions.
I recommend this to those who love continued love stories that develop and evolve into something stronger, where regrets for the past are finally laid to rest, where acceptance can give you peace and where love is strong when you are together facing down the past.
Check out the other blogs on the tour
9/19/2014 – Prism Book Alliance http://www.prismbookalliance.com
9/20/2014 – GGR Review http://www.ggr-review.com/
9/21/2014 – MM Good Book Reviews http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
9/23/2014 – Smoocher’s Voice http://www.smoochersvoice.com/
9/25/2014 – Diverse Reader http://diversereader.blogspot.com/
9/27/2014 – Love Bytes Reviews http://lovebytesreviews.com
9/28/2014 – The Novel Approach http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/
9/30/2014 – Padme’s Library http://padmeslibrary.blogspot.com/
10/1/2014 – JP Barnaby http://www.jpbarnaby.com/
10/3/2014 – Rainbow Gold Reviews http://rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the review. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
I enjoying reading the review and excerpt. I can’t wait to read the book.
I have never read a book by this author and this one looks amazing. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Great post & giveaway!
Great review. This is a new author for me and sounds like my cup of tea. Thanks for an opportunity to win.
I really enjoyed Equals and look forward to reading Partners. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks so much for the review and giveaway!
Thank you for the review, excerpt and giveaway!
Great review! I will be adding this to my wishlist! Thanks for the chance to win!
I enjoyed Equals and look forward to reading Partners!
Please count me in for the giveaway! 🙂
Thanks for the excerpt – really looking forward to reading the sequel to Equals 🙂
I enjoyed reading this review and I love sequels, especially series, so this book suits me fine 🙂 I also really love the cover of the book and it shows them together, hand in hand, Russ supporting Stephen in return to home and parental rejection.
Thank you for a chance to win a book by Brigham 🙂