Book Spotlight on Wide Open Spaces by Renee Stevens #GIVEAWAY @Renee_Stevens #malemale #romance

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WIDE OPEN SPACES
States of Love - Wyoming

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Maria Fanning

Genre: Contemporary
Length: 35,659 Words
Rating: Adult/Mature

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Blurb

Devon fled Wyoming as soon as he turned eighteen, leaving behind his high school love, Levi. After six years in the big city, Devon returns to his hometown. Not much has changed, except that Levi is no longer in the closet. He’s also single and living his dream—managing the local wild horse population. Both of them are very interested in picking up where they left off, but Devon is no more ready to reveal his orientation than he was as a teenager.

No one is going to shove Levi back in the closet—not even Devon. For a relationship to work, they’ll have to put the past behind them and find the courage to face the future as who they really are—a couple in love. But Devon doesn’t know if he’s strong enough. Maybe Levi would be better off without him—and his hang-ups.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

Excerpt

Devon sank down on his couch as exhaustion swamped him. Most of it was from moving in, but the change in elevation didn’t help. He’d gotten used to being closer to sea level, so going back to the dry air at over six thousand feet was going to take some getting used to.

Bloody noses had become the norm while he stayed with Blake. Devon didn’t want to deal with them repeatedly and considered getting a humidifier until he managed to acclimate.

He looked around his living room. Boxes were scattered everywhere, and he should be unpacking, but he was too tired. At least he hadn’t had to carry everything in himself. Blake, Travis, and Seth were waiting for him when he pulled into the apartment complex. They shrugged off his objections and insisted they had nothing better to do. Devon appreciated it, but he wasn’t comfortable around them anymore. He managed to be a proper host, but damn, he was glad they left after a couple beers each. They made noise about getting together again soon, but Devon had used getting settled in as an excuse to keep from committing to anything.

He stood and wandered into his small kitchen. He didn’t bother opening the fridge or any of the cupboards. He knew they were empty. His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten for a while. Devon dug his keys out of his pocket and headed for the door. He’d get something to eat and then maybe stop at the store to pick up a few staples. Paper plates, sandwich fixings, some chips, and he’d be good for a couple of days. At least it would give him time to get a few things—like pots and pans—unpacked. Then he could do a full grocery shop.

An hour later he was comfortably full from a greasy burger, fries, and a shake. He’d never eaten a lot of fast food, but he had few other options. He headed to Walmart, determined to stick to his list of sandwich stuff and maybe some eggs. Surely he could dig out some pans before the food expired. He headed to the chips first and scanned for the familiar bag of Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles. They were his all-time favorite, though he also knew he’d want something else after a day or two. So he grabbed a couple of other bags and headed for the eggs and then the freezer aisle.

Sandwiches and chips would get old fast. He found some frozen breakfast sandwiches he could microwave, tossed them in the cart, and moved on. Frozen lasagna quickly joined the few other items in his cart, followed by some potpies, a few TV dinners, and a bag of chimichangas. So what if he wasn’t sticking to his mental list?

He was more focused on getting groceries for the next few days than on the people around him.

“Devon.”

He froze when a familiar voice spoke his name. He closed his eyes briefly, ducked his head, and steeled himself. He knew it would happen eventually, when he found out Levi still lived there. He thought he’d have more time to prepare. He swallowed—hard—and turned to face the man who had at one time meant everything to him. The man he’d risked being found out for. He lifted his head and gazed into the moss-colored eyes.

“Levi.”

About the Author

Renee Stevens first started writing in her teens but didn’t get serious about being an author until her mid-twenties. Since then she’s written a number of contemporary stories, as well as delved into the paranormal. When not writing, or spending time in the outdoors, Renee can usually be found working on GayAuthors.org in her capacity of Admin, Blog Coordinator, and Anthology Coordinator.

Renee resides in Wyoming with her wonderfully supportive husband and a menagerie of four-legged critters. Making the most of the nearly constant negative temperatures and mounds of snow, Renee spends much of the winter months in hibernation with her laptop, the voices in her head keeping her company while her husband works.

When she needs a break from writing, Renee takes to the sewing machine to design, and make, beautiful quilts. When the snow finally disappears, usually around May or June, Renee can be found in the great-outdoors. She spends her time on the mountain, at the lake, and just anywhere that she can do some camping, take some photos, and ride the four-wheelers with her hubby. Once back at home, it’s back to writing.

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Blog Tour Schedule - More chances to win!!!! 

August 24th: M.A. Church - Nic starr

August 25th: Grace Duncan

August 26th: Anna Butler

August 27th: David Dawson

August 28th: Alicia Nordwell

August 29th: Anne Barwell

August 30th: Antonia Aquilante

August 31st *RELEASE DAY*: Mann Ramblings - Michael Mandrake

September 1st: Julie Hayes - Elyzabeth M. VaLey

September 2nd: Caraway Carter

September 3rd: JC Wallace

September 4th: Caz Pedroso

September 5th: Brynn Stein

September 6th: Lila Leigh Hunter

September 7th: Morticia Knight

September 8th: Charley Descoteaux

September 9th: Cheryl Headford

September 10th: Heloise West

September 12th: Foster Bridget Cassidy

#TNTConfidential Character Interview with Reed and Taz from Be My Human by Julie Lynn Hayes and M.A. Church #mmromance #aliens

 Morning, lovelies! Today I have some wonderful guests popping in to visit! In the first place, two lovely authors, Julie Lynn Hayes and M.A. Church. In the second place, a human and an alien... please give, Reed and Taz and their story, Be My Human a warm welcome!

Reed and Taz are still adjusting to their new lives together when a medical emergency sends them flying down to Florida on short notice. Not quite the way Reed pictured introducing Taz to his family. Reed’s sister, Rene, welcomes the outgoing Taz with open arms, and the kittenish alien charms Reed’s parents.

 But someone isn’t quite so enamored of Reed’s boyfriend—his homophobic older brother Jacob seems determined to be as unpleasant as possible, and he’s making their visit very uncomfortable. The sudden appearance of Reed’s controlling ex releases a flood of insecurity and bad memories. 

Reed begins to doubt himself, and his ability to love and be loved in return. When strange items begin appearing as if out of nowhere, he wonders if he’s being stalked, or is he just paranoid? What can Taz do to prove to Reed that he’s more than enough man for this alien?

 Available at Dreamspinner Press

A door opens and two men enter the room. One has inquisitive green eyes and calico hair, an unusual color on Earth, but common on his home planet of Trygos.

Taz: My Reed, why have those two sent us out again? I do not understand.

Reed: Time for another book, that's why.  *looks at Julie and Michelle* Am I right?

Julie: Gosh, Michelle, guess we can’t pull the wool over these guys’ eyes, can we? 

Taz: I don’t understand, why would you wish to do that? Then we could not see.

Michelle: *Groans. Gotta find a book that explains this stuff!* And here we go.

Reed: I'll explain later, kitten. *looks out at everybody* Hello out there. I'm Reed, and this is my boyfriend, Taz. Taz is an alien. Yes, I mean he's an honest-to-goodness alien. He's from the planet Trygos. We met at the Empire State Building when Taz was left behind by a dumbass alien called Vorlod. The no-good ass dumped Taz. Just left him at the ESB with no money or anything. It still makes me crazy when I think about that.

Taz: No, my Reed, do not let him make you crazy, he is not worth it. *He purrs and wraps himself around Reed* Just think, if not for him, I would not have you now. 

Julie: *rolls eyes* Michelle, isn’t this the part where they usually tell us to get out? And mind our own business or something?

Michelle: Yes, usually. *grins* I'm not going anywhere, so...

Reed. Right. *untangles Taz* Okay, kitten, back in your seat. No, no, your seat, not mine. *Shakes head* So, what do you guys want to ask us? 

Julie: You know, the usual. What’s new, what have you been up to? Seen any good plays. That kind of thing. 

Taz: *trying to be helpful* Well, Reed has been talking about getting a swing, and I think it sounds—”

Michelle: *snort*grin*giggle*

Reed: *turns red* Speaking of sounds. Did you hear that? No? Huh. Wonder what that was. Now, I, ah... okay, what's been going on, right? Well, Taz and I ended up going down to see the folks as a spur of the moment thing. My dad had a health scare. Turns out it was not a major thing, but it was scary. Taz got to meet my parents and siblings, though. 

Taz: Your sister Renee is wonderful, and I love both the Herb and Jeanette. But Jacob... *frowns* He is not a nice man. I wish we could have removed that stick you told me he has up his ass. 

Julie: *works hard not to laugh aloud* Gosh, anyone have a drink? Where’s a drink when you need one?

Michelle: *looks at Julie* Maybe we should've put an 'on' button on that stick. Might have loosened him up, lol. 

Reed: Doubt it.

Michelle: *dies laughing* Okay, maybe not. I didn't care for him, either. I did like Renee. She’s cool. I'd love to kick back at her bar. That was a cool place.

Julie: I know, right? And watching these two *jerks a thumb toward Reed and Taz* was priceless. Except when you-know-who showed up. 

Taz: *frowns* Please do not bring him up. He is evil, and a very bad man.

Michelle: Yeah, well, he is a bad man. And you didn’t let him get away with anything either.

Reed: I have to say, Peyton certainly met his match in Taz. But I’m glad Peyton pushed his way back into my life. I mean, I didn’t enjoy the things he did this time, but I had many unresolved issues concerning him. Seeing Peyton again forced me to handle those. Having Taz there with me, helping me, was very important. I’m not sure I would have been able to face Peyton without Taz’s love behind me.

Julie: Well, it’s cheaper than therapy, you gotta admit. Hey Michelle, think we can go to Renee’s bar? We can make these guys take us and pick up the tab?

Taz: *looks around on the floor* I don’t see the tab, Reed, what color is it?

Reed: *Looks at Julie, then at Taz* It’s green, kitten. As in the color of money green. I’ll be paying for the drinks for all of us.

Michelle: *LOL* Good one, Reed. By the way, Reed, how’s your dad doing?

Reed: Still griping about all the things that are bad for him that he can’t eat now. But he’s exercising more now, and he’s cut back on his favorite treat—ice cream. His health scare really got his attention. I do think he splurges now and then, and Mom turns a blind eye. Got to keep the old man happy or who knows what he’d run out and eat. I love my parents, but I have to say I’m glad to be home. I missed New York.

Taz: Me too. Very much. It’s hard to be quiet all the time. New York is a noisy place. Nobody notices a little sound. *He grins in a very pleased manner*

Julie: *tries not to burst into laughter and almost chokes* Do we want to know more about that, Michelle, or should we let sleeping kitties lie?

Taz: *confused* But I am not sleeping. That is silly.

Michelle: Let sleeping kitties lie lol. *waves* Thanks for stopping by, everyone! Here is the blurb and excerpt for Be My Human.

Excerpt:

They’d been living together for a month now, ever since the fateful day Taz had literally fallen on Reed at the Empire State Building. One of the first things Reed had done after the adorable alien had moved in with him was buy Taz a cell phone, then teach him how to use it. Even though Taz was from another planet, one that was much more advanced than Earth, he was unfamiliar with Earth’s comparatively primitive technology. Reed swore after Taz had been kidnapped by the creature he’d dubbed the Evil Alien, he’d always have a way to call for help, thus the phone. That first week after they’d been reunited, Taz had talked Reed into letting him stay home alone while Reed worked at the boutique. Bad idea. Very bad idea. Taz had called Reed around lunchtime, nearly in tears.

When Reed arrived home, he’d been greeted with a nightmare of a mess. Even before he got to his apartment, he could hear the TV blasting in the living room. Which was bad enough, but Taz had somehow figured out how to turn the surround sound on. When Reed opened the door, the noise nearly blew him out of his shoes. It was like sitting in the front row at a movie theater. That, it turned out, was the easiest problem to rectify. Reed had shut the TV off, then looked around the apartment, stunned and slightly horrified.

He’d forgotten about Taz’s natural curiosity. What a mistake that was, and the proof of his error in judgment was spread out all over the kitchen. Flour had been strewn across the floor, a few eggs lay broken on the counter, every covered container in the refrigerator had been taken out and opened… then tasted. Taz had found the blender, dumped some sort of liquid in and turned it on, without putting the top on the machine. There was unrecognizable goo all over the counters, the cabinets, the floors. Plus, Taz had found the sugar. From the looks of it, he’d eaten half the bag.

And that was just the kitchen.

The bathroom had been thoroughly explored as well, as evidenced by the streams of shredded toilet paper spread throughout the place, toothpaste smeared all over the counters in minty globules, and so on.

What was that old saying about curiosity killing the cat?

Buy Links: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5554

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5636

Meet the Authors:

Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and her cat Ramesses, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. She enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, knitting and needlepoint, and loves to cook. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all.  Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, Wayward Ink Publishing Amber Quill Press, MuseitUp Publishing, Torquere Press, and eXtasy Books. She has also begun to self-publish and is an editor at Wayward Ink and MuseitUp.  

You can find her on her blog at http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com, and you can contact her at tothemax.wolf@gmail.com.

My links:

Blog

Twitter @Shelley_runyon

Facebook

My Goodreads

Dreamspinner

eXtasy Books

Torquere Press

M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.

She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013.

Blog

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon page

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#TNTConfidential Author Spotlight on MA Church ( @nomoretears00 ) & Priceless (Inestimable) #French Translation #gayromance

Speak French? Parlez-vous français?  

Then you´re going to love today´s guest and her novel.

M.A Church drops in to present the French translation of her novel Priceless.

Voulez-Vous lire un grand livre? 

(available at) Disponible à: 

French translation link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5340

Sur le livre:

Des étincelles jaillissent quand Cupidon vise deux mortels à Las Vegas : Randy Jones, un homme ordinaire, en voyage d’affaires, croise le regard de Garrett Shiffler à une table de craps et le temps s’arrête alors. Rejetant tout ce en quoi il croit, Randy se lance dans une aventure torride de deux nuits avec lui, avant de paniquer en réalisant qu’il est tombé amoureux. 

Le milliardaire cynique Garrett Shiffler a tout ce que l’argent peut acheter, et la plupart des hommes avec qui il sort, n’arrivent pas à voir plus loin que son portefeuille. La vie lui a appris que l’innocence et l’amour ne sont que le fruit d’une imagination collective. Mais quand Randy disparaît, emportant avec lui des sentiments que Garrett n’imaginait même pas avoir, il s’engage dans la bataille la plus importante de sa vie pour gagner son amour. Mais cette fois-ci, il se bat avec son cœur, et non son compte en banque. 

Pendant ce temps, Cupidon se demande ce qui s’est passé. Ses flèches dorées ne ratent jamais leur cible habituellement, sauf quand le Destin intervient. Si Garrett veut récupérer Randy, il va devoir le faire seul, car le Destin a d’autres plans en réserve pour Cupidon.

Extrait:

APRÈS S’ÊTRE encore fait demander sa carte d’identité, l’homme à l’allure juvénile entra dans le casino. Ses yeux brillaient d’une lueur espiègle alors qu’il scrutait la foule de gens. Il écarta quelques mèches blondes et bouclées de son front, cherchant cette fois un certain type d’individu. Il avait maintenant juste besoin d’inspiration pour frapper, et ses flèches loyales étaient prêtes à l’emploi. Se déplaçant dans la foule, il regarda autour de lui. Il avait le choix parmi tant d'hommes solitaires qui avaient besoin d'amour dans leur vie.

Il était connu sous bien des noms, mais il préférait Cupidon, le nom que sa mère lui avait donné. Mythologie grecque, mythologie romaine… Il haussa les épaules. Les humains ne savaient pas à quel point ils avaient massacré le panthéon, non pas que cela importe de toute manière. Il connaissait la vérité, tout comme ceux de son espèce la connaissaient.

Ses yeux scrutèrent à nouveau le casino… là ! Il avait trouvé ce qu’il cherchait. Cet homme. Avec un large sourire, il se fraya un chemin à travers la foule.

GARRETT REGARDAIT la foule du casino ‘Palms’ de Las Vegas d’un air ennuyé et nonchalant, ses yeux ne voyant rien de ce qui se passait autour de lui. Il était agité, et même l’excitation habituelle du jeu n’arrivait pas à piquer son intérêt. Il fit négligemment sauter le dé dans sa main, ne s’intéressant pas aux montants élevés des mises de la partie de craps qu’il était en train de jouer. La foule autour de lui eut le souffle coupé en voyant que sa chance avait tourné, et qu’il venait de perdre plus d’argent en un seul coup de dé que ce que certaines personnes gagnaient en un an. Mais même cela ne parvint pas à le tirer de son humeur morose. Soudain, la chance lui sourit de nouveau avec le coup de dés suivant.

Son corps fut parcouru d’un frisson et ses cheveux se dressèrent sur sa nuque. Quelque chose, un changement dans l’atmosphère peut-être, attira son attention. Une fois encore, il examina la foule autour de la table de craps, cherchant… quelque chose. Il plissa les yeux et se concentra sur l’homme en face de lui, de l’autre côté de la table. Le temps sembla ralentir, et se figer. Le brouhaha agaçant du casino devint un simple bruit de fond jusqu’à ce qu’il n’entende ni ne voie plus rien… à part, lui.


Le cœur de Garrett rata un battement et augmenta rapidement, accélérant soudain, puis prit une courte pause avant de battre à un rythme effréné. Son esprit imagina une série de scènes en Technicolor qui exigeait que l’homme en face de lui prenne la pose, se penche et s’étire dans un nombre de positions érotiques et explicites. Les yeux de Garrett le scrutèrent jusqu’à ce qu’ils rencontrent des prunelles surprises, de couleur gris acier, et un autre frisson traversa rapidement son corps.


Ces yeux brillaient d’une douce lueur innocente comme Garrett en avait rarement vue et qu’il ne croyait pas exister encore aujourd’hui. Son esprit restait incrédule. Personne ne pouvait être aussi innocent, personne. Mais une partie de son âme longuement réprimée chuchota… ‘Et si’ ? Et si cet homme n’était pas un simulateur et qu’il était réellement ce qu’il semblait être ? Surpris par la réaction de son corps, il décida d’en avoir le cœur net. Il fixa l’homme de l’autre côté de la table de son regard glacé. Un petit sourire en coin flotta sur les lèvres de Garrett alors qu’il faisait signe à l’homme de venir à ses côtés.

M.A. Church

M.A. Church lives in the southern United States and spent many years in the elementary education sector. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have two children. Her hobbies are gardening, walking, attending flea markets, watching professional football, racing, and spending time with her family on the lake.

But her most beloved hobby is reading. From an early age, she can remember hunting for books at the library. Later nonhuman and science fiction genres captured her attention and drew her into the worlds the authors had created. But always at the back of her mind was the thought that one day, when the kids were older and she had more time, she would write a book.

By sheer chance she stumbled across a gay male romance story on the web and was hooked. A new world opened up and she fell in love. Thus the journey started. When not writing or researching, she enjoys reading the latest erotic and mainstream romance novels.

My links:

Blog http://machurch00.blogspot.com

Twitter @nomoretears00

Facebook: http://goo.gl/k4SbBI

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5141393.M_A_Church

#TNTConfidential Author Interview with Angel Martinez ( @AngelMartinezrr ) & Gravitational Attraction

You know the kind of books where you read the blurb and you think, damn, this sounds like one hell of an adventure, and you just can’t walk away from it? Well, Angel Martinez brings in that type of novel today with Gravitational Attraction.

Now, I could have sworn Angel had come for a visit some other day, but since I can’t find the post *grumbles* and dreams do change, I’ll ask anyway:

Angel, what is your dream?

My dreams are small, modest things. Right now, I want to make an actual living writing. I’m not talking about being rich and buying a mansion outside Los Angeles. I’m older. I worked hard at icky corporate jobs for many years so our little house is paid for and so are the cars, the kid’s finished his Bachelor’s and our expenses aren’t that much. But if I can make enough as an author to pay the bills and put food on the table, I’ll call that a success.

When did you start writing? Why?

I started writing because of trauma caused by reaching for an ice cream cone and being stung by a wasp seventeen times. No, wait, it was when I was transported to an alien jelly-eel farm and made to work slopping the eels. They ate a strange mixture of graphite and kiwi-lime shampoo. Wait, no, that’s wrong, too. It was during a rare desert tsunami when the RV I was in was picked up and flung several miles into the Grand Canyon.

OK, fine. None of those things are true, but writers get asked this question so much, I wish I have something interesting as an answer. I’ve always written. Maybe it’s in the genetic coding, some mutant recessive allele. I started writing with publication in mind after 2001, after coworkers said I was an idiot not to.

Why male/male romance?

That’s a complicated and sometimes loaded question. I enjoy it and I think it’s important to have stories where the heroes are gay and don’t die horrible deaths and even *gasp* have happy endings.

What do you envision happening in the MM genre in the next five to ten years? Do you think it’s just a fashion?

LOL, no. If it were a fad, it would have died out years ago. No, M/M Romance fills an obvious need and just keeps growing every year. What I see happening, and what’s already happening are three things:

Men are becoming braver and finding encouragement in writing romance

Writers are becoming braver and tackling a wider variety of topics and issues, moving away from the same, well-trodden plot lines and character combos

The genre itself is expanding into more sub-genres all the time – and sometimes even leaning toward the literary side of fiction rather than romance.

Gravitational Attraction sounds like quite the sci-fi novel. Did you have to do any research for it? What was it like?

Research for science fiction can be a little odd. For this one, the “research” was all world building. I had a new universe to create, to populate, for which to build a history. Planets, tech, government structures – all the stuff you need.

But the big piece of research for this story was the GEM drive, one of the central thematic elements of the piece, which I worked out with my son (who had come up with the idea for an RPG that he never put in place. Me: Can I have it? Him: Sure.) There’s a whole document not included in the work that details the discovery of Lumanium and the development of GEM tech. I also drew a sketch of the Hermes, just to cement where things had to be for the drive to work. It was a terrible sketch. You don’t get to see it.

What was the hardest part about writing it? And the easiest?

The hardest part, and probably the most fun for me, was creating pieces of language for the Drak’tar. Non-human mouth. Big teeth. There are just some consonants that wouldn’t come naturally.

The easiest? Oh. Hmm. I’m not sure there is an easiest for me. Alien landscapes? That would probably be the easiest part for me.

Tell us a dirty secret about the novel that we won’t find on the blurb or an excerpt.

Um…the Corzin had some pretty kinky underwear.

Summer Loving…

Summer is here! What’s your best summer memory?

I really hate summer. Really. Hate it. But I think my best memories are from when I was a kid and we’d rent a house for a week at the beach. It’s a long time ago and the world is different now, but I’d go alone with some bread in the morning and feed the gulls. The fog, the crash of the waves, the crying of the sea birds, the feeling of being the only person around was magical.

Any recommendations to stave off this heat?

Stay the heck inside with the air on.

For women (or for yourself): bikini, trikini, full body bathing suit, other?

I like a tankini, personally. Something practical I can still swim in that doesn’t necessarily show all the, ah, wonders of the muffin top.

Favorite summer destination?

Canada. Someplace not as hot as here.

Any plans for this summer?

This looks to be a pretty quiet summer. We have a Nick Cave concert to go to, maybe a couple of day trips, but nothing big or extended. Otherwise? Write, write, write.

 

Gravitational Attraction

An ESTO Universe novel

Release date 7/21/14Preorder:

Dreamspinner Press || All Romance

 

A mysterious distress call draws the crew of courier ship Hermes to what appears to be an empty, drifting troop vessel--empty except for the blood and gore spattered corridors and a lone survivor locked in a holding cell. Drawn to the handsome, traumatized man, the crew’s comm officer, Isaac Ozawa, makes Turk his personal responsibility, offering him the kindness and warmth he needs after the horror he experienced.

Isaac knows firsthand what it’s like to be different and an outcast, and this cements their bond. Once a promising pilot, Isaac was left with a damaged body when his brain didn't meld with the high-tech implant needed to fly fighter ships. Turk’s brain is no better. The result of a military experiment gone wrong, his natural abilities have been augmented to a dangerous degree.

When an amoral, power-hungry admiral kidnaps Isaac and uses him to convince Turk to become the cataclysmic weapon he’s hungered for, it will take Turk’s strength, the ingenuity of the Hermes crew, the help of the enigmatic Drak’tar, and Isaac’s own stubborn will to save them.

~~~~ Excerpt ~~~~

A terrible jolt yanked him from the dark. Shchfteru. Agonized screams. Rage coursing through every nerve. The white… blinding white… imploding suns… the terrible silence…

He had no wish to open his eyes again. There had been a face, a beautiful face, but he must have dreamt it in his madness. The silence remained. If he opened his eyes, he would see the cell again, the blood drenched walls, the gray horror of his floating tomb. No. Better to keep his eyes closed and see again those dark eyes set against flawless golden skin.

Wait. Sound. The soft sound of even breaths drawn. Not alone. Sweet spirits, I'm not alone.

His eyes flew open to find a miracle staring at him from across the room, the same lovely face from his vision. It must have been true. His body felt warmer and no longer as if he might go mad from thirst. Rescue… perhaps. But he needed to be cautious.

"Hey." The beautiful, golden-skinned man spoke, his smile reaching his raindrop-shaped eyes. "You recognize me?"

He could only stare, hesitant to believe the evidence of his senses. They had lied to him before in recent days.

"You have a name?" The voice rivaled the face in beauty, soft and warm, caressing his exhausted mind. "All right, we'll start with mine. I'm Isaac Ozawa. And I guess I could just call you the Marduk Rescuee, or maybe Ishmael—"

"Ishmael?" The word caught in his dry throat, barely a rasp.

"Yeah, you know, the sole survivor? And I alone survived to tell the tale? Oh, never mind. But it would be nicer to have a name."

He swallowed against the rawness, trying for more of a voice. "Turk."

"That's your name? Turk?"

He nodded and watched in fascination as Isaac shook his head, dark hair fanning his cheeks.

"Of course it is. No soft sibilants or lingual sounds for you. Oh, no. Nothing but hard, strong sounds. You probably have a last name that would hurt to say."

Turk drew a slow breath, trying to keep up with events. His head ached. "Always… talk so much?"

"Only when I'm nervous or pissed off."

"Which?"

"Which is it now? Oh, nervous, definitely." Isaac shifted, head cocked to one side. "Not that strange men usually make me this nervous."

"But… I do." He forced his attention away from the captivating face. Isaac was in uniform, burgundy with gold piping. He couldn't match the colors with any unit he knew. Whose hands had he fallen into? "Water?"

"Oh, shit." The beautiful smile fell. "Of course you want water. Damn. Hang on."

Turk eased his head back to the bed, waiting. Something pinned his hands and feet. In his weakened condition, he had little hope of breaking a magnetic or even a physical barrier. Isaac came back into view, water bottle in hand. A sharp, electric jolt ran down Turk's spine when an elegant, golden hand slipped behind his head to help him drink. He had no business thinking about those hands.

"Better?"

"Thank you." Why did he have to be so kind? It would make what he had to do so much harder. He closed his eyes on a sigh, gauging the remaining strength in his wasted body. "Back hurts. Need to…"

"Stupid restraints," Isaac muttered. "They should've at least left you one hand free so you could shift a little."

He chewed on a sensuously full lower lip, considering, as Turk watched in helpless fascination. Isaac's jaw clenched as he seemed to come to a decision. He reached over and pressed the pad to unlock Turk's left wrist.

The moment he regained movement, Turk lunged. He seized Isaac by the throat, applying enough pressure to constrict his airway.

"What unit? What battle group? Whom do you serve?"

Isaac's fingers scrabbled at his hand, his eyes wide and desperate. "Don't… please…"

"Who are you?"

"Not… military," Isaac choked out, his coloring edging up from pink to crimson.

"Liar," Turk growled. "Implant. Fighter pilot. Behind your ear."

"Ex-Altairian… fleet…" Isaac gasped, struggling to pull away. He was strong but not large enough to break Turk's grip. "Bad… implant. Discharged… this is… commercial ship… courier…"

His eyes rolled back and his body went limp as if someone had stolen his bones. Turk let him slide to the floor, his heart racing. With his free hand, he unlocked the rest of his restraints and rolled to peer over the edge of his bed. Isaac lay crumpled on the decking, the shadows of his thick, black lashes caressing his cheeks.

No insignia, no rank designation, a courier ship… what have I done?

 

About Angel:

Angel Martinez, the unlikely black sheep of an ivory tower intellectual family, has managed to make her way through life reasonably unscathed. Despite a wildly misspent youth, she snagged a degree in English Lit, married once and did it right the first time, (same husband for over twenty-five years) and gave birth to one amazing son (now in college.) While Angel has worked, in no particular order, as a state park employee, retail worker, medic, LPN, call center zombie, banker, and corporate drone, none of these occupations quite fit.

She now writes full time because she finally can, and has been happily astonished to have her work place consistently in the annual Rainbow Awards. Angel currently lives in Delaware in a drinking town with a college problem and writes Science Fiction and Fantasy centered around gay heroes.

 

Website: http://angelmartinezauthor.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amartinez2
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Twitter: @AngelMartinezrr
E-mail: ravenesperanza@yahoo.com