8/14/2022 0 Comments Saving Sophie Blitz and GiveawayI’m so happy to be a part of Xpresso Book Tours blitz for the gripping and wonderful Saving Sophie by Debbie Schrack! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or one of five Kindle copies of Saving Sophie! Synopsis Seventeen-year-old Gabe Hunter knows he has a purpose in life. He has always strived to be the “best of the best,” but lately nothing has gone his way. Gabe was devastated six months earlier when his half-brother Josh had a drunk driving accident that killed four members of a family and left a sixteen-year-old girl named Sophie an orphan. Josh went to prison and Gabe struggles to forgive him because how can he forgive the unforgivable? When Gabe reluctantly agrees to do math tutoring for his senior service project, he discovers that the girl he will be tutoring is also named Sophie. But in a town of eighty thousand people, what are the odds it will be the same person? Astronomical, Gabe figures. Gabe soon discovers, though, that it is the same Sophie. A former National Merit Scholar finalist, Sophie had a severe brain injury in the accident. She has seizures, amnesia, and can barely read or write. When he meets her, Gabe realizes what his purpose in life must be—to help Sophie and make amends for his brother. His plan is to spend the rest of the school year tutoring Sophie, then say goodbye and go quietly off to college without ever telling her that his brother was the one who killed her family. What Gabe doesn’t count on is falling in love. Excerpt The door to the bakery opens and Sophie and Joe come in on a blast of cold air. I shiver. Cold has penetrated every cell in my body; not from the air, but from what Sophie’s uncle just told me. “Sophie set up a spot in the back where you guys can work,” Jim says, getting up from the table. “I’m going to make the dough for tomorrow. If you need anything just give a holler.” I stand up and take a deep breath. Now’s the time, I think. Now’s the time to tell Sophie and her uncle the truth about me. My brother killed her family. He’s the reason she has seizures and amnesia and has to learn how to read and write again. But they’re looking at me like I’m one of the superheroes from The Avengers. My mouth opens and this is what I say: “I’ll do my best, sir.” You chickenshit. Jim claps me on the back. “I know you will. And call me Jim.” Sophie waves to me. “Come on, Gabe.” I follow her to a table in the corner. She takes off her hoodie and drops it over a chair. She’s wearing a green long-sleeved shirt with Edgewater emblazoned across the front in white. It’s like a slap in the face. “I’m impressed you went to Edgewater,” I say. “I heard it’s harder to get in there than Harvard.” I have the sense that this is all an illusion, that I’m watching us play ourselves in a movie or a Netflix series. “Edison’s a good—school, too,” she says. “Uncle Jim talks about it—all the time.” She speaks with a slight hesitation—not a stutter, exactly, but more like her words can’t keep up with what her brain is trying to say. We sit down at the table. Joe parks himself on the floor next to Sophie. There’s nothing on the table except a folder and some pencils. I don’t see any books anywhere, although a backpack is sitting on one of the chairs. There’s an awkward silence as we stare at the folder. Then Sophie looks at me. There were so many times I wondered if her eyes were blue or gray. But I never imagined they were this shade of blue—like the sky on a June day. And I never would have guessed there were pinpoints of violet inside the blue. “I’m so sorry about what happened to you,” I blurt. As soon as the words are out, I want to take them back. She looks down at her hands in her lap. Her hair falls like a curtain around her face. When she looks up at me, her eyes have tears in them. My heart cracks open. I didn’t know anything could hurt this much. My face burns like I have a fever, while the rest of my body is frozen, like it’s encased in ice. I’d give anything right now to go back in time and talk to Josh about his drinking. Insist he get help. Maybe if Mom and I had paid more attention, I wouldn’t be sitting here with the innocent victim of this nightmare. Of everyone affected by the accident, Sophie’s the one who bears the heaviest burden. Her family is dead. Josh will be out of prison at some point. But Sophie—she’ll have to deal with this for the rest of her life. This teen romance was such a vulnerable, gripping and realistic story about finding forgiveness and your purpose in life. You can find my full review here: Saving Sophie by Debbie Schrack Although the character Sophie in her debut novel SAVING SOPHIE is fictional, she is a composite of many of the struggling learners Debbie has taught over the years.
Debbie lives with her family in Fairfax, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Debbie finds personal fulfillment in creating new things, whether it be a novel, a painting, or a batch of croissants. She loves animals, and horses are her special passion. When she’s not writing or horseback riding, Debbie is a sucker for musicals, enjoys visiting art galleries, and desperately wants to travel more. She also loves hanging out with her three children, who she will always consider her most amazing creations. Connect with Debbie Schrack Webbsite • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads Get your own copy of Saving Sophie Amazon • B&N • Kobo Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card or one of five Kindle copies of Saving Sophie!
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Cover reveal! Today I’m excited to help reveal the cover of A Lust For Blood by K.C. Smith! Enter the Bookstagram Giveaway hosted by MTMC Tours to win a signed paperback! Furthermore, all ebook preorders of A Lust For Blood are eligible to receive an exclusive art print of Oriana and Garren, please see more info below! A gender bent reimagining of the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde meets the Witcher in K.C. Smith’s debut novel. A Lust For Blood is the first in an Adult Fantasy series and it will be published on November 1st, 2022 from Phantom House Press. See the stunning cover designed by TS95 Studios here: There is no escape when the monster is you. When Oriana awakens in a field of blood and bodies, she is devastated to realize the patchwork of death was caused by her own hand. A curse lingers in the air, and there is only one option to save herself from further bloodshed. Oriana uses her magic to create an enchanted forest imprisoning the monster responsible for the massacre–herself. Garren has built a career around slaying demons. When he learns of a centuries old creature locked away in the strange Phantom Wood, the opportunity is too great. He will stop at nothing to destroy the demon filth that lurks in those shadows if only to satisfy his own haunting memories. Oriana soon finds herself caught in a cat and mouse game, fighting to keep her identity secret. As the two grow closer, secrets unravel. But could they each be the answer the other has been searching for? Pre-order Incentive!
All ebook preorders of A Lust For Blood are eligible to receive an exclusive art print of Oriana and Garren. Email proof of purchase to kcsmithauthor@gmail.com to claim it! Buy A Lust For Blood Amazon Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Bookstagram Giveaway to win a signed paperback ARC of A Lust For Blood! Welcome to the Gay Book Promotions release blitz for Don’t Hold Back by Colette Davison, celebrating this sweet and adorable M/M sports romance with a grumpy gymnast who falls for his sunshiny rival. Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card! Can rivals gain Olympic glory and love? Blurb Garret has spent years training in gymnastics, but the pressure has taken its toll. Despite qualifying for the Olympics, failing to medal at the World Championships is all he can think about. Anger is taking control and strangling his ability to focus on training, when his main rival, Team USA gymnast, Ryder Anderson, arrives at the gym to train alongside him. Garrett wants to hate Ryder, but he can’t ignore his rival’s sunshine personality and handsome looks. Discovering Ryder is fighting a battle against himself, Garrett’s anger turns to admiration and then love. Dating his rival isn’t against the rules, but that doesn’t make it a good idea. Can they make a relationship work despite the pressure of the Olympics, or will they crack under the strain? Don’t Hold Back is an M/M sports romance with a grumpy gymnast who falls for his sunshiny rival. It has a slow-burn relationship and some hurt/comfort. Trigger warnings: Don’t Hold Back features a character who has anorexia. Excerpt “Ryder.” Lennie waved him across. “Good work. I’ve got two options for you.” Ryder raised his eyebrows as he waited. From the look on Lennie’s face, he wasn’t sure he’d like either of them. “You could go to Boulder and train alongside David Marshall.” David was a two-time Olympian. “Isn’t he trained by Isaiah Hobbs these days?” Ryder asked, trying hard not to scowl. “Yes.” “That’s not really an option, then is it?” “Hobbs said he’d have you.” Ryder shook his head and half turned away. “I don’t particularly care.” “I didn’t think you’d go for it. But Boulder’s closer to home than my next suggestion.” “There’s not much farther away than that.” “The other option is to come with me.” “To England?” Lennie nodded. “I’ve called in a favour at my old gym in Leeds. They’d be happy to have us. We could train around visiting hours. They’re pretty prescriptive. You’d get more training hours in if you went to Boulder.” “I’d rather take the week off than train under Isaiah again.” He folded his arms and dipped his chin. “England, huh? I’ve always wanted to see Buckingham Palace.” Lennie laughed. “Leeds and London aren’t exactly next door.” “Oh.” “Seriously, what do you think?” Ryder drew in a breath. “Travelling’s always harder than being home, but I’d rather train with you in England than with Isaiah. But only if you’re sure.” “I am. We can stay at my parents’ house. Dad won’t mind if you take over the kitchen. Or if you prefer, we can rent somewhere.” “Sounds good.” It was easy to say, less easy to feel. Ryder always felt anxious about travelling, especially when it meant staying somewhere else for any length of time. But travelling was unavoidable at his level of gymnastics, so he dealt with it. “You’re sure?” Ryder smiled and nodded. He wouldn’t train under Isaiah again. He couldn’t. “You won’t be the only Olympian training at the gym we’ll be using,” Lennie said. “Oh?” “Two members of the British team train there. Reece Matthews and Garrett Kidd.” “They’re great gymnasts.” “Yes.” Ryder laughed. “Garrett’s the handsome scowling one, right?” Lennie gave him a stern look. “What? He is handsome, and he was very scowly at Worlds when I went to congratulate him.” “You beat him.” “So?” Lennie rolled his eyes. “He probably thought you were rubbing your win in his face.” “Me? Nah. Why would I do that?” Lennie raised an eyebrow. “I barely beat him in the all-around final. It was by point four or something.” “Point two.” “Oh. Even closer than I thought.” Ryder shrugged. “Either one of us could have won on the day. I was just luckier. See? Now I’m looking forward to a trip to England.” Lennie shook his head and sighed. “Let’s see your floor routine again.” Ryder grinned. “On it.” Don’t Hold Back was such a sweet grumpy/sunshine, M/M sports romance, but also a story about dealing with mental health issues and the constant fight that is required to find your way back after severe anorexia.
Read my full review here: Don’t Hold Back by Colette Davison About the author Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing. Connect with Colette Davison Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • BookBub • Newsletter Get your own copy of Don’t Hold Back Amazon Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card! I’m so happy to be a part of the Xpresso Book Tours blog tour celebrating the release of A Little Wilder by Serena Bell! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Synopsis: What happened in Vegas? Definitely didn’t stay in Vegas. Gabe’s the oldest. Brody’s the bad boy. Clark’s the strong, silent warrior. Amanda’s the girl. And Easton—well, Easton’s the panty melter. I’m Kane. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad job. But usually, I’m not the one people are talking about. That’s about to change. Because the woman I had a smoking hot one-night stand with in Vegas? The one I should have stayed far, far away from, since women like her are my kryptonite? She’s the same woman my brother just hired to redesign his fancy new glamping RVs. I haven’t seen her since Vegas, but the instant I lay eyes on her, I can tell my quiet role as the boy-next-door brother is about to change. She’s pregnant. And it’s mine. Excerpt There’s a knock on Bernadette’s door. It pulls me out of deep concentration on the trailer project and sends a small thrill of anticipation up my spine. Kane. It’s gotta be Kane. It’s not like I get visitors. I haul myself off the couch—an increasingly challenging undertaking. Even though I know it has to be him, I peep out. One of the awesome mods on Bernadette, courtesy of her previous owner, is a peephole, which is super useful when you’re a single woman on the road alone. And even though I know it has to be him, I still feel a surge of pleased surprise when I see his face. “Delivery,” he says, holding out a big, round Tupperware… cake holder? “Boston cream pie.” Holy shit, he found it. I yank open the door and have to stop myself from snatching the cake out of his hands. Or throwing my arms around him and hugging the crap out of him. “Where did you find it?” “I—” He stops, appearing to think better of whatever he was about to say, but it’s too late. I know where that sentence was going. “You made it?” “Amanda helped,” he says, like that’s going to take anything away from a six-foot-something built-like-a-God man who bakes Boston cream pies. “Aaaaahhhh!” I cry, overcome. “You are a saint and a genius.” He tries to bite back a smile. “I think you’re overstating things a little.” “No,” I say, shaking my head. I have been fantasizing about yellow custard, soft yellow cake, and chocolate ganache nonstop since before I knew Kane had planted this baby in me. “Come in. You have to have some, too.” “It’s all for you,” he says. “I wouldn’t take any of your special treat. Your presentation was fantastic. You deserve all the cake.” This guy. I swear. He was too much in Vegas, when all I knew about him was that he asked real questions and knew how to use his body for both good and evil. Now… “Well, come in anyway.” He hesitates again, then follows me in, setting the cake on the counter. I wash my hands and take two small plates down from the cabinets. I grab two forks from the utensil drawer and two mugs from the overhead hooks. “I don’t have coffee—” I gesture at my belly, “—but I have tea, milk, or water.” “Water would be great,” he says. “And no cake. I’m serious. It’s yours.” I wrestle the cake carrier open and cut into my prize. My mouth waters as I do. It’s so-- Not gonna say moist, but holy shit, it soooo is. We sit at Bernadette’s little pink dinette table. I’d forgotten how small this table is with two people at it. Or maybe it’s how big Kane is; his knees touch mine, and his arms cover so much territory, even with his hands folded. I force myself to look away because staring at close range is both rude and dangerous. His eyes are very, very blue. I dig in. “Oh, wow,” I say. “Wow.” It’s soft. Moist (again, sorry!). Tender, springy. The custard is cool and smooth on my tongue, the ganache dark and flavorful. “Mmm. Just. Thank you.” Kane grins at me, like he’s pleased, though there’s something else in his expression I can’t quite read. “I did good?” “You did amazing. So good I could kiss you.” One eyebrow goes up, but he only says, “How does it rate among the Boston cream pies of the world?” “It’s up there. Although pregnancy might be biasing me.” I lick a bite that’s mostly custard from my fork, and catch a glimpse of Kane’s face. His eyes are… interested. I lick again, for good measure, and notice the muscle in his jaw tense. A ripple of tension slides down the lower slope of my belly and lodges itself in my internal muscles. In their constantly primed state, they… quiver dangerously. The next time I look at him, Kane’s eyes are on my chest. I’m wearing a flowy green maternity dress with a low scoop neck, and, why, yes, it does show off my newly ridiculously huge boobs to excellent advan-- “You have—“ He reaches out. “Some cake—” His finger almost touches the upper curve of my breast, and, oh, whoops, yes, that is cake on my boob. I use my own finger to scoop it up, then lick it clean. I hear the moment the breath leaves Kane’s lungs. I see the moment his gaze travels from my chest to my mouth, when it fixes on my finger, sliding between my lips. The moment it sticks, and stays, right there on my mouth, even as my hand drops away. “Mari—” His voice is hoarse. “Do it. Just—do it,” I order him. Then he’s leaning over the table, setting his mouth over mine, hot and unhesitating and so, so good. This was such a fun, sweet and heartwarming romcom with complex and relatable characters, hilarious banter, and just the right amount of spice and heartbreak! And so bingeable – I read it in just a couple of hours! Read my full review here: A Little Wilder by Serena Bell A former journalist, Serena has always believed that everyone has an amazing story to tell if you listen carefully, and you can often find her scribbling in her tiny garret office, mainlining chocolate and bringing to life the tales in her head.
Serena’s books have earned many honors, including an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, Apple Books Best Book of the Month, and Amazon Best Book of the Year for Romance. When not writing, Serena loves to spend time with her college-sweetheart husband and two hilarious kiddos—all of whom are incredibly tolerant not just of Serena’s imaginary friends but also of how often she changes her hobbies and how passionately she embraces the new ones. These days, it’s stand-up paddle boarding, board-gaming, meditation, and long walks with good friends. Connect with Serena Bell Webbsite • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Newsletter Get your own copy of A Little Wilder Amazon • B&N • iBooks • Kobo Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! 6/17/2022 1 Comment Strut Cover Reveal and GiveawayCover reveal! I’m so happy to be a part of Xpresso Book Tours cover reveal blitz for Strut by Jay Hogan. Enter the Bookstagram Giveaway to win an ecopy of the first book in the series, Flare! A dream within reach. A chance at love. A man who threatens everything. New Zealand farm boy turns New York fashion model. Fairy tale? Maybe. But it hasn’t been easy. A year in this crazy city, working my tail off just to survive in a ruthless industry where sex sells and boundaries are too readily crossed. A year and a reassuring ocean away from Hunter Donovan—a sexy, humiliating mistake that I’m not about to repeat. Distance is good. Distance is safe. But now Hunter is back. In New York. In my life. In all those treacherous feelings that haven’t gone anywhere. But when my world suddenly crashes and I have to piece myself back together and fight for my career, will Hunter be there when I need him? Will we have what it takes to make it through this, together? Note: This book contains themes of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Strut will be released on July 14th 2022!
About Jay Hogan Heart, humour and keeping it real. Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year. She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She's travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel. Connect with Jay Hogan Author links Get your own copy of Strut Pre-order Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Bookstagram Giveaway for a chance to win an ecopy of the first book in the series, Flare! 6/15/2022 0 Comments Rescue Cover Reveal and GiveawayCover reveal! Today I’m excited to help reveal the cover of Rescue, the third book in the City of Kaus series by Dani Hoot. Enter the Bookstagram Giveaway hosted by MTMC Tours to win one of three digital copies of the first book in this series, Revenge! This is the third book in the City of Kaus series, a swashbuckling upper YA/NA LGBTQ+ sci-fi western full of humor, romance, adventure and plenty of bad luck as Cor, Ellie, Zach, and Gabe step foot on land and get arrested for a new crime they didn’t commit, and there’s only one person who would have the resources to turn another town against them. Out on October 18th, 2022 from FoxTales Press. See the beautiful cover design by Mona Finden & Biserka Designs here: Rescue is a swashbuckling upper YA/NA LGBTQ+ sci-fi western you don’t want to miss! Cor, Ellie, Zach, and Gabe thought they were in the clear, but their bad luck said otherwise. As soon as they stepped foot on land, the four were arrested for a new crime they didn’t commit, and there was only one person who would have the resources to turn another town against them. As they wait for Byron to retrieve them from the town’s prison, the group comes up with a plan to escape. But what happens when one of them doesn’t make it out? Do they risk their lives to go back for that person, or do they save their own skin? About the author
Dani Hoots Buy the City of Kaus books Books2read Amazon Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Bookstagram Giveaway to win one of three digital copies of Revenge, the first book in the series! Welcome to the Gay Book Promotions book blast for this beach read that will melt the hearts of all ice queens! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win one of three paperback copies of The Fire Island Ice Queen by B.J. Irons! “A Fire Island beach read that will melt the hearts of all ice queens” Blurb College law student, Connor, is a bit pretentious, high-strung and what some might describe as being cold as ice. After catching his boyfriend cheating on him and then being dumped, Connor decides to take his best friend Byron up on his offer for a summer gaycation experience to Fire Island. While at Fire Island, Connor reevaluates his identity and goes through a deep soul searching experience to truly understand himself. While on vacation, he befriends a stranger named Lawrence, who encourages Connor to open up more and become lively. Lawrence proposes that Connor completes a series of wild, fun tasks, which he dubs as the Fire Island Ice Queen Challenge to get Connor to come out of his shell more. Will this frivolous and boisterous vacation at Fire Island be enough to melt the heart of this Ice Queen? Excerpt Chapter 1 “Ewwwww!” I exclaimed, noticing the skinny, shirtless guy dancing on the box out of the corner of my eye. He had two older men standing below holding dollar bills up at him. Pathetic! The whole scene gave me an unsettling feeling in my stomach. The boy reeked of desperation for attention and the old men reeked of desperation for the pale and frail twink. I was expecting to see his skin glisten like diamonds when the strobe lights moved on top of him. He was decidedly vampiric-looking, but lacked the hot features of Edward Cullen. I rolled my eyes and diverted my focus back to my boyfriend, Derrick, who was beside me at the bar, ordering us another round of drinks. “What are you ewww-ing about now?” he asked. “Just that dirty ginger up on the box.” I pointed in the direction of him, now bending over on the box, getting the money tucked into his waistband by the two tragic geriatrics. “Ugh! Why do you care about him anyway, Connor?” Derrick questioned me with a vexed tone in his voice. He was right. I did care too much about how other people behaved, dressed, acted, etc. I was a very judgmental person and I could recognize that in myself. However, I wouldn’t dare to let other people think that of me. As much as I cared about how others presented themselves, I cared even more about how I looked and how I was judged. I went to the gym every day, made sure I was the top student in all of my college classes, and wanted everyone to know that I was beyond mature for my age. I wouldn’t have them think any less of me. But, I’d be out of my mind to admit this to my boyfriend. “I don’t really care about him at all. It’s just an observation,” I confessed. Derrick handed me my drink that the bartender gave him. “Yeah. But just let him be. He’s a young guy just trying to have fun. Clearly, he doesn’t care what other people think of him. If anything, you’re giving him the attention he wants by even making thatcomment.” My boyfriend had a point here. I was giving him more attention than I should. And now, by having this conversation with Derrick, I was donating way too much of my time and energy in talking about him. Derrick then reached for my empty hand. “Do you want to dance?” I shook my head, recoiling from him. “Nah. I’m good. You can go ahead. I’ll chill out here at the bar for a bit. I wouldn’t be caught dead dancing out there.” He simply shrugged and chugged his drink before turning around to head out to the dance floor. I decided to take the now empty seat at the bar he left open. I glanced down at my phone and began scrolling through a few social media posts. This place was getting boring. Yawning, I checked the time to realize it wasn’t even midnight yet. What a snooze-fest tonight had turned out to be. Our usual friends had other plans and couldn’t make it out tonight, which left Derrick and me stuck alone with ourselves. I turned back around to try and pinpoint his location on the crowded dance floor, but had no luck. I let out a heavy sigh, tapping my right leg up and down on the foot of the barstool. I had to really take a piss, and couldn’t hold it in much longer. But, at the same time, I didn’t want Derrick to come back and think I had disappeared. However, I would only be gone for a minute or so. Oh well. I stood up and walked across the dance floor towards the bathroom. “Nice ass!” I heard a man behind me say as he grabbed my butt as I scooted by him. Dirty fucker! He was lucky I had to use the bathroom so badly. Otherwise, I would have turned back around and made a whole scene in front of everyone. I pushed my way through the random guys chilling in the hallway leading to the bathroom, who were either gossiping or making out with one another. I opened the bathroom door and saw that the four urinals were occupied. One of the two stalls had the door halfway open, so I slightly kicked it to make sure no one was in there before I claimed it. Locking the door behind me, I dropped my pants and released myself, letting out a light sigh of relief. I glanced down at the floor and could see a rather large shadow coming from the next stall over. There was definitely more than one person there. I could then hear a few wet and sloppy kiss-like noises coming from next door as well. Like seriously!? Get a fucking room! I flushed the toilet and walked out of the stall, shaking my head in disdain. Moving towards the sink, I checked myself out in the mirror as I proceeded to wash my hands. I rubbed my hand through my hair, making sure it was swept back nicely. My mouth gaped open at what I saw next. The door to the stall that was next to mine opened and the two guys emerged from it. The first was some random, cute guy who had a similarly toned body to me, except he had bright bleach blonde hair. Then, behind him, was Derrick. Derrick was with that stranger in the stall!? What the fuck!? I immediately turned around to face them both. “Derrick! What the fuck!? Are you shitting me right now!?” I yelled.
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Website • Instagram • Goodreads Buy The Fire Island Ice Queen Amazon • Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win one of three ebook copies of The Fire Island Ice Queen or one of three paperback copies (U.S. only)! I’m so happy and honored to be a part of the Xpresso Book Tours blitz celebrating the release of this adorable and gripping contemporary teen gay romance! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Synopsis Noah aka NOS2321: Gamer. Weeb. Up-and-coming rock star. And gay. Encouraged by his anonymous pen pal, XES6969, Noah takes the leap and comes out of the closet—no instructions needed—accidentally sending his father to the hospital during his reveal. Despite his horrible dating track record which included two girls (because it was required that he at least try) and one boy (because he had to start somewhere), Noah believes in happily ever after. That belief gets tested when he falls for Evan Santiago. Evan aka XES6969, believes in sacrificing yourself for those you love. Learning NOS’s identity hadn’t been his fault. Except he carries the lie which begins to fester, trapping him into silence. When a stray football brings them together, Evan no longer wants to keep silent. And when he learns that Noah is interested too, he takes a chance at love, risking everyone he’s tried to protect, including himself. Excerpt Noah As if the cosmos decided to force me to drool, Evan Santiago rode into the lot on his motorcycle. He wore a helmet with the visor down, hiding his face, but I didn’t need to see to know. The guy was all tight muscles and badness. He parked two spots away from my light blue jalopy with the word WEEBS 2 on the license plates and stickers of Kirito, Asuna, and Zero Two on the windows around my car. He dropped the kickstand and gracefully swung one powerful leg over the seat as he got off the bike. He pulled off his helmet and shook his deep black hair to perfection and crouched to get his satchel out of one of the saddlebags on the bike. His tee lifted, revealing a sliver of pale skin at his back. Damn. When had I started looking at Evan Santiago this way? I blinked away the moment and turned to the empty seat beside me. I caught sight of Sasha approaching the secret love of my life, having silently crept out of my car. I hadn’t even heard her close the door! Her little skort swayed over toned legs. The slut. Was I really thinking she was competition? Was I competition? Evan acknowledged her and she said something to him. He lifted his eyes in my direction—the color of green flames—forcing me to lose my breath. No. Evan couldn’t see me through the glare of the windshield. Nope. But that look still held me in some sort of trance. As if an invisible line had jettisoned out of his eyeballs and wrapped around my chest, crushing me. Yeah, too much anime for me. Then he suddenly looked away, and the crushing sensation lifted. I inhaled sharply, filling my lungs with much-needed oxygen. Man-whore. Why was I thinking of someone else when I had Carlos? That was not a good sign. Sasha took Evan’s arm, and they walked into the school together as if they were a couple. Were they a couple? The idea of them together left me confused. Nothing new, really. Just another normal day in the life of me. Evan was not interested in me. Despite the burning looks he gave me. Certainly, I was misinterpreting them. Maybe the guy had a bad case of acid indigestion. Or I had a bad case of TMI—too much imagination. With an audible sigh, I headed into the school alone. If I had to draw an abstract version of my high school, it would be a prism of varying stars and stripes. I was a stripe, while people like Evan Santiago were stars. Before she started writing, Elizabeth got her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She then went on to work in foster care programs, mental health facilities, and youth organizations within the Latinx Community, providing services to youth and families.
She now spends her time writing romance, binge watching anime, and spending time with her family. Elizabeth currently resides in Chicago. Connect with Elizabeth Arroyo Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads Buy My NOT So Anonymous Best Friend Amazon • B&N • Kobo • iBooks Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! 4/20/2022 0 Comments StrangeLove Blog Tour and GiveawayI’m so happy and honored to be a part of the Xpresso Book Tours blog tour celebrating the release of StrangeLove, the third book in The Young Americans series by T.L. Bradford! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Synopsis Archer The year began great for me. Became the starting quarterback for an NFL team – check. Secured a multi-million-dollar contract – check. Moved to LA and lived the glamorous life – check. What could possibly cause me any issues? Oh yeah, one more thing. I’m gay. I was outed a couple of years ago to my former team and my family, but it hasn’t been made public knowledge yet. Well, that is, until now. I’ll be known as the first LGBTQ+ active player in the league’s history. And if I stick to the conditions of my contract, it won’t be a problem. The thing is, I’m not really a guy known for playing by the rules. Most people think of my personality as the three B’s: bold, brash, and blunt. My mouth has gotten me into more predicaments than I can count. Even my best friends have told me I’m stubborn as a mule and have the delicacy of a bull in a china shop. This presents a big problem for me because I have my eyes set on winning over the guy who stole my heart years ago, only he doesn’t know it yet. Getting his attention is going to be challenging. It’s a good thing I’m tenacious. Unfortunately, it’s not great timing and could get me into a whole mess of trouble. Why does falling for a guy need to be anyone’s business but mine? Kai The past couple of years were a whirlwind of activity. My career took off after my guest shot appearance in Americana. I appeared in a few indie features and finally got a shot at my first major motion picture release. The work came as a great distraction from my personal life, which took a further nosedive after I found out the guy I was falling for had already fallen for someone else. Why should I be surprised? He was another in a string of failed relationship attempts. I swore I wouldn’t get involved with anyone else, choosing to stay focused on my career instead. That is, until the force of nature known as Archer McMillan came storming into my life. To be the pursued instead of the pursuer was not in the cards. To top it off, he’s everything I’m not. Yet, there’s something to be said for a guy who can make you laugh when it’s the last thing you want to be doing. I’ll admit he’s got a playful and determined spirit. Archer also has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I’ve ever known. Not the mention the cute way he… Hold on. What am I doing? We cannot be a thing. Nope. Not gonna happen. Ever. Right? ** Follow Kai and Archer as they cross the lines as friends, partners-in-crime, and confidants, to discover a love beyond boundaries that needs no definition. StrangeLove is a funny, heartwarming, slow-burn love story. It contains a cast of fully developed characters that encounter romance, laughter, and life lessons. It contains adult language, mature themes, and is best enjoyed by those over the age of 18. It can be read as a standalone; however, if you would like to know the backstories of some characters, check out the prior books in the series. This is the third book in The Young Americans series following the cast on a Hollywood TV show and their friends and it just keeps getting better by each book! This is my favorite one yet!
You can find my full review of it and the other books in the series here: The Young Americans series by T.L. Bradford About the author T.L. always hated math, so it was a good thing she had a way with words. Since she was a shy and quirky kid; words were her best friends. She would imagine entire worlds in her head and talk to herself endlessly. Her mother wondered if she was speaking with ghosts for a while. Her older sister was a voracious reader of trashy romance novels and would pass them down to her after she had finished them. T.L. was the only 10-year-old kid sitting in class reading “The Stud” by Jackie Collins during reading time. Oddly enough, she never got called out on it. As she grew older, her tastes evolved, but one thing held fast; her undying attachment to love stories. One day out of the blue, she decided to write the love stories she always wanted to read instead of searching for her story. Since then, writing has been a dream fulfilled for her and she could not be happier. She enjoys writing about love, regardless of gender and is a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community. T.L. calls the Pacific Northwest her home and enjoys the quiet rural life of her little oceanside home with her playful/crazy husband and their giant dog Noah. Connect with T.L. Bradford Website • Instagram • Twitter • Goodreads • BookBub Buy StrangeLove Amazon • Add on Goodreads Giveaway Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Follow the tour The tour is hosted by Xpresso Tours, see all participants and links to their posts here: StrangeLove Tour Happy Book Birthday to First Comes Love by Rachael Brownell! I’m so happy and honored to be a part of the Xpresso Book Tours blitz celebrating the release of this adorable read for lovers of second chances, small town romances, and happily ever afters! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Blurb For lovers of second chances, small town romances, and happily ever afters… Chloe They say everyone has one true love, one person who was made just for them. A person they were meant to spend the rest of their life with. Who souls are intertwined. For me, that person was Wyatt. Our love was perfect. When we were together, nothing else mattered. Not college. Not our parents. Because our relationship wasn’t about anyone else. We had big plans for our future together. The thing about life… it doesn’t always go as planned. It’s been five years since I’ve been home. Since I’ve laid eyes on the only man I’ll love in this lifetime. And in a town this small, there’s no chance I’ll be able to avoid him for long. Or anyone else from my past. Addison From the moment I first laid eyes on Adam, I knew I was in trouble. There was a tension between us, chemistry I couldn’t deny. The way he was looking at me, as if he could see straight into my soul, sent my heart into overdrive. After an hour together, I knew. He was the one. The one who would make me want to change everything. Who could make me believe in love again. In the idea of happily ever afters. And he did. His love and two tiny pink lines were about to change my entire life. The thing about life… it doesn’t always go as planned. I’ve been here before. It was the worst experience of my life and I’m not sure I’ll survive this time. Excerpt Flipping my light on, I lift my window and slide out onto the roof of the porch. Looking over the edge, my eyes meet Wyatt’s and realize how real his fear is. His eyes are wide, and his hands are shaking as he grips the sides of the ladder, his foot poised on the bottom rung. “I’m right here. You can do this. I promise,” I say with confidence. Nodding, Wyatt slowly climbs the ladder, his eyes never leaving mine. Once he’s safely on the roof, he scrambles through my window, sitting on the floor inside my window. Climbing in behind him, I find him panting heavily, a panic attack on the horizon. Holding him in my arms until he calms down, I rub my hand up and down his back and kiss the top of his head. I’ve had one panic attack in my life, and it wasn’t pleasant. If I had known that this would send him spiraling into one, I never would have asked him to do it. I would have found another way. “I’m sorry,” I say when his breathing finally returns to normal. “There’s nothing to be sorry about.” “Um, yes there is. I pushed you to climb that ladder. If I had known—” “It’s not something I’m proud of, but heights scare the shit out of me. They always have. I don’t know why but there was going to come a time I was going to have to face that fear, and tonight turned out to be the night. At least it was for a good reason,” he replies, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “Oh yeah? I’m a good reason.” “The best reason. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Chloe. You have to know that by now. I love you.” And just like that, my world turned upside down. All it took were three little words. He’d never said them before, but I knew how he felt. I felt the same. Falling in love with Wyatt had been easy. We’d been together for four months and I’d fallen for him a little more each day. It was the little things like the way he looked at me or how he showed me he cared. Tonight, on the floor of my bedroom, I fell the rest of the way. I knew he was the one. We were meant to meet, to find each other. One night changed everything for both of us. “I love you too,” I reply, pressing my lips to his. About the author Rachael Brownell is an Amazon bestselling author of contemporary, New Adult, and YA romance. She lives in Michigan with her husband, son, snuggly dog, and hateful cat. She moonlights as a bartender a few days a week (her excuse to get out of the house and socialize) and writes full time. She published her first novel in 2013 and since she’s released more than 30 additional titles.
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