5 Questions For Author Josephine Myles

Today I’m very pleased and honored to have one of my favorite m/m authors as a guest, Josephine Myles! A collection of her short stories - Blooming Marvellous - has been released recently and later this month a new novel will come out at Samhain Publishing, called Junk. And I’m happy to have the opportunity to ask her a few questions about those, and other things related, like the UK Meet. So here are the 5 questions and answers!

Hi Janna, thanks for having me over today!

Welcome Jo, here we go! :) 

1) Your most recent release, Blooming Marvellous, is a self-pubbed anthology of m/m short stories. Is this your first self-published title? What can you tell us about self-publishing?

I’ve self-published a few short stories and anthologies before, as well as one novella, Boats in the Night, so I think I can now talk about this with a little bit of authority.

Sharon meets author Abigail Roux (and asks her everything about FBI agents and lovers Ty & Zane)

We’re very honored and happy to have Abigail Roux as our guest today here at Rarely Dusty Books. Our reviewer Sharon met this fabulous author of the Cut & Run series (among others) nearly two weeks ago and got the chance to ask her all of her, and your, questions about one of the most fascinating gay couples ever created in m/m romance: Ty and Zane. To celebrate this special occasion with our readers both Sharon and I have a gift for a few lucky commenters on this post. And I must say that Sharon’s giveaway gifts are the cutest I’ve ever seen! Read more about them at the end of this (very, very long) post. Let’s first give the stage to Sharon and Abigail!

Sharon & Abigail at Panera Bread

What would you like to ask Abigail Roux about Ty & Zane?

Our reviewer Sharon recently found out that she lives only about 10 minutes away from author Abigail Roux (you know, from the Cut & Run series, among other amazing books)! Isn’t that just fan-freaking-tastic!?

I must admit when I heard about that I was slightly jealous. And what’s even making me see more green of envy is that Abigail agreed to meet up with Sharon for coffee! And while they’re at it, Sharon is going to interview her. Awesome, isn’t it!?

I’m sure Sharon has plenty of questions to ask her, given that she’s such a huge fan of Ty and Zane, but she also wants to give you the chance to ask anything you want to know.

So, we would love it if you put your questions for Abigail in a comment below, or send us an email at rarelydustybooks [at] gmail [dot] com with your questions.

We hope to hear from you!
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Interview with Kele Moon & Giveaway Finding/Beyond Eden

Today we have the wonderful and talented author Kele Moon as our guest. Last year her debut novel Beyond Eden made quite an impact in erotic romance land. The reviews and ratings on Goodreads were very positive and I personally loved this dark, deviant ménage (about Danny, Paul and Eve) very much as well. Therefore I’m honored that Kele Moon is here today to celebrate her latest release, the prequel to her debut novel: Finding Eden. In this second book in the Eden series she goes back in time, and tells how Danny and Paul’s love started before Eve entered their relationship and they all became part of the threesome that’s the core of Beyond Eden.
Find out what Kele says about the difficulty of writing a prequel and go backwards, about her love for character driven plots and about other books in the Eden series.

Also, at the end of the interview she will give away an e-copy of Finding Eden or Beyond Eden to one lucky commenter!

Welcome to Rarely Dusty Books, Kele!


I met Danny and Paul, the heroes of Finding Eden, last year October when I read Beyond Eden and they made a huge impression on me. So much so that now, almost one year later, I can still vividly remember them. What do you think is it about these guys that make them so memorable? Or, in other words, how would you introduce Paul and Danny to my readers?

I think what makes them memorable is that Danny and Paul are both deeply flawed characters. They have issues that makes them less than perfect, but they both have things about them that make them extremely redeeming. Danny’s is his ability to love Paul and Eve so deeply he would say, do and be anything for them. And Paul’s a hard person not to love. He’s a nice guy. He has a big heart and like Danny, he loves deeply, but his life has been difficult and left him somewhat scarred.

Plus, Paul and Danny are this amazing contrast to each other. . . Danny is a natural rebel, a bad boy who hates rules and has a complete disregard for what anyone thinks about him. But, there is this small thread of softness in him when it comes to relationships. Danny is a romantic. He wants the love and the beauty. Where as Paul is this all around great guy who thrives off rules. He’s nice as can be. He volunteers for good causes. A real Boy Scout type, but when it comes to sex Paul is such a deviant. He’s easily the kinkiest between the two and his tastes are SO dark. The combination between the romantic bad boy and the kinky boyscout is different and lots of fun to write. Hopefully it’s equally fun to read!

Finding Eden is the prequel to Beyond Eden. How difficult was it to write a prequel after Beyond Eden was already written/published? Did the fact that the prequel is an M/M and Beyond Eden a ménage story have any influence on that?

It was insanely difficult to write a prequel and go backwards. It would have been easier if I’d KNOWN I was going to do it and made the crumb trail a little easier. . . But, I didn’t make the decision until later. I wanted to revisit the Eden universe and a sequel is a hard sell when using the same characters because you have to mess up the HEA in order to add conflict. Between you and me and the lamp post, I do have a sequel partially written and I’m sorta madly in love with it. . . But, I had to shelf it for the time being. Rather than sulk over not being able to sell the sequel, I simply started a prequel.

It wasn’t until after I’d committed to it that I realized just how hard it was going to be to write backwards. . . The fact that it was M/M wasn’t really a big deal. I love M/M. I have several WIPs that are just M/M so it wasn’t the lack of girly parts. It was more trying to get to a happy for now ending knowing that these boys have such a long road ahead of them before Beyond Eden.

Plus, it was emotionally draining. . . I put a lot of the grittier details in this book that were glazed over in Beyond Eden. Paul’s abuse. Danny’s issues with his alcoholic father. It’s a dark book, I won’t lie about that. But, I think the love Danny and Paul have for each other sorta redeems the darkness.

Do you use pictures of models or movie stars as inspiration for (the looks of) your characters? If so, which pictures did inspire you for Paul and for Danny?

You know, I don’t. . . I don’t have one picture for each boy showing what they look like. . . In Claiming Eden (that’s not done yet) I actually show Danny from an outsider’s perspective who describes him as a walking Versace ad. Tall, dark, angular, intense. . . One of those handsome young men you see posing in black and white for jeans or men’s suit ads. That pretty much describes Danny. . . Oddly enough an image of him is easy for me to find if I start looking at dark, handsome models.

Paul is much harder. I spent some time obsessing over finding an image for him, someone masculine, but somewhat angelic. Big and buff, but approachable and unassuming. The closest I can find and I’ve LOOKED is Bradley Cooper. Him in Valentine’s Day, in a business suit and being darling. . . That’s the closest I can find to older (Post Beyond Eden) Paul. . . Younger Paul, forget about it. . . I ought to make a contest for people to find an image of him in his football days. . . Because I’d love to find one!!

I have spent an INSANE amount of time watching this final scene from Valentine’s Day thinking of Danny and Paul. . . But, watch with caution unless you want the movie Valentine’s Day spoiled. . . ‘Cause this is the ending. It was a largely MEH movie with the exception of this one scene (In my opinion, anyway):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EAjrENSoSA&feature=related 

(sadly, embedding the clip isn’t possible, so you’ll have to use the link instead for some Bradley Cooper and Eric Dane sweetness)

Younger Bradley Cooper getting his guy action on isn’t quite Paul but still nice nonetheless:

(or use this link)

Thus ends my tour of naughty Bradley Cooper scenes ::cough:: Weren’t we talking about some book I wrote or something?

*dreamy eyes* Oh… uhm…yes… Is Finding Eden as deliciously deviant as Beyond Eden? Or did you choose a different angle?

Yes, it’s absolutely as deviant as Beyond Eden. In some ways I think it’s MORE deviant.

Though the progression is different. In Beyond Eden it was them coming out of the darkness. . . It ended on a light note. . . In Finding Eden, it’s them falling into the darkness. It starts out innocent to an extent (as innocent as Danny and Paul can get, anyhow) and then gets progressively darker. No question, this book is Danny’s journey. It’s his fall into the dark world of BDSM and it’s not a simple or easy journey for him.

Beyond Eden is deeply emotional and highly character driven. Does Finding Eden have the same focus on character development or will this one be more plot-oriented? Does one or the other have your preference? And if so, why?

I’d say this one is character driven. . . I lean towards that. It’s my strength as a writer. All my books are character driven. The one difference is that Beyond Eden was condensed to the three main characters. We didn’t even SEE anyone else in that book except Eve’s parents in the beginning and Paul’s fiancée. . . In Finding Eden, there are secondary characters. We see a bit more of their world outside the relationship. . . And in Claiming Eden, the next book in the series, I expand their outside world even more. Since this is their fall into BDSM I had to show the people and places that played into that dark seduction.

How would you describe your own writing style? Which aspects of your style do you pay special attention to?

Like I said before. . .I think my writing style is character driven. It’s emotional. It can certainly be dark. In this book it’s dark, in Beyond Eden it was dark. But, oddly enough I can write light too. I wrote a quick one shot titled A Kiss for Luck that was light and sweet and everything Beyond Eden wasn’t. I’m sure it gave some people whiplash. LOL! But, I do need the balance. I work on several stories at once, some dark, some light. . . But, all of them are character driven and laced with deep emotions. I have this passion for love. I adore watching it unfold in my characters. However it happens, dark, light, deviant or sweet, I enjoy the journey. . . It’s all about the love ::grins::

On your website we can read that there’s a third book in progress, Claiming Eden. Can you already tell us something about it? Will it feature only Paul and Danny again or will Eve be in it as well? What is its place on the timeline?

Claiming Eden takes place directly after Finding Eden, so no. . . Eve’s not in it. It was supposed to be part of Finding Eden until I realized the feel of it was completely different once we moved into the next step of Danny’s life. A new character, Circe, is introduced and her voice was SO strong and her perceptions of Danny and Paul were so different from what we’ve seen before, it had to be its own story.

And I like it as two stories. . . Finding Eden is JUST Danny and Paul. It’s their love story. It shows the evolution of these two injured, broken young men finding love in friendship at a time with both of them would have literally crash and burned without it.


Thanks so much, Kele, for the insight into a writer’s mind! I’m excited that there will be more books in the Eden series: it seems that we not only have a sequel to the prequel to look forward to, but also a sequel to Beyond Eden itself.
 

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Giveaway:

Kele Moon is generously offering a copy of her ebook Finding Eden (M/M) or Beyond Eden (M/M/F) to one lucky commenter. To enter leave a comment telling us which of the two books you’d like to win.

The giveaway is international, and we will announce the winner on Saturday, August 27, so be sure to leave your comment before then and don’t forget to check back or leave a way for us to contact you in your comment or profile.

Good luck to you all!

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Linking:
Author’s website | Facebook | on Twitter | on Goodreads
Buy Finding Eden here
Buy Beyond Eden here
Read an excerpt from Finding Eden here
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International Giveaway & Interview with L.A. Witt

“I’ve written in airports, waiting rooms, planes (including on the floor of a cargo jet)… even in the emergency room.” - Interview with L.A. Witt

We’re very happy to have M/M author L.A. Witt (Lori) as our guest today! Both Sharon and I are a fan of her writing, so we bundled up our questions to ask her a few things about her books. Lori is the author of the sweet romance series Changing Plans; Getting off the Ground, Infinity Pools and the third one coming out this Sunday, On The List. And this is only the tip of the iceberg with this versatile author. She covers contemporary, paranormal, ménage, erotica and now BDSM romances. As if that wasn’t enough, she also writes M/F erotica and romance under the name Lauren Gallagher.

Check out what Lori has to say about fan input, why she shifts between so many different genres/subgenres and who her favorite musical band is. Stick around to the end because Lori is giving away any ebook from her backlist – winner’s pick!

Hello Lori and welcome to Rarely Dusty Books!

Janna: Your upcoming release On The List is the third book of a series and at your website you write about sequels: "It's always a possibility, but not every book will have a sequel." At what point in the writing process do you decide if a book gets a sequel/ turns into a series? Do requests from readers for sequels play any part in that decision?

It depends on the books. With the Changing Plans series (of which On The List is book #3), I knew before I finished outlining Getting off the Ground that there would be a sequel. I didn’t actually plan on writing the third book until after Infinity Pools was published, and a reviewer commented that she was sad to see their story end, even if they did get a HEA. So I gave it some thought, and realized I’d left room for one more small story thanks to some comments Derek made in Infinity Pools.

So yes, reader requests definitely come into play. Numerous readers commented that they wanted to see more of Brandon and Dustin from Rules of Engagement, so I wrote Rain. Similarly, a lot of readers wanted Kieran from The Distance Between Us get his own story, so I wrote The Closer You Get, which will be out in November. If enough readers tell me they want to see a sequel to a particular book, I listen. I mean, sometimes the story is over and there simply isn’t a sequel. But most of the time, when multiple readers want one, they’re seeing something I’m not, so I take heed, and they’re usually right. So yes, reader feedback absolutely plays a role in whether or not a book gets a sequel.

As for ongoing series, it just depends. The Given & The Taken was definitely the start of a series. It was almost too much story to fit into one book, and there’s so much more ground I want to cover with those characters, so it was a foregone conclusion before I ever started writing it that there would be more books. On the other hand, both Cover Me and Light Switch were written and submitted/sold when I realized they were the perfect preludes to Trust Me and Reconstructing Meredith, respectively. Both of those sequels were written and sold before the third books, Search Me and Meredith Reclaimed, came to mind. I’m pretty sure those series will each conclude as trilogies, but who knows?

Sharon: Can you tell us about your writing space/environment?

At the moment, I write in a spare bedroom in our apartment, but whenever I can, I like to get out of the house and write on the beach, in restaurants, in parks, etc. Ideally, I like to be completely alone (except my cat and a select few chat buddies with whom I can instant message even while I’m writing) with music playing. That said, I can—and have—written in all kinds of less than ideal places. I’ve written in airports, waiting rooms, planes (including on the floor of a cargo jet)… even in the emergency room. I’ve told that story a few times: I actually asked the staff to put the IV in my right arm so I could still write with my left hand. So while I do have an ideal, preferred atmosphere for writing, I can and do write anywhere.

Janna: Do you have a preference when it comes to writing M/M or M/F?

Probably M/M. I love writing M/F, but for some reason, it takes a lot for an M/F story to grab me by the hair the way an M/M story does. Which is kind of funny, since I started out writing hetero romances, and didn’t branch out into writing M/M until I’d written about half a dozen M/F novels. Go figure.

Sharon: Do you have a muse and if so, tell us about her/him?

Nope. I just have an itch to write, and once I get a pair or trio of characters into my head, they don’t shut up until I write their story. That’s one reason I write as fast as I do: There’s only so long I can tolerate a particular band of characters poking at the inside of my skull before I lose my mind.

That said, I am occasionally the unsuspecting victim of random acts of plot bunny violence. They come out of nowhere sometimes, the bastards.

Janna: What is the difference between writing a stand alone book and a series? Do you use a different approach?

I write every story like it’s a standalone, but if I know there’s going to be a sequel, I’ll keep it in mind. I’ll make notes about the sequel as I write the first one, but otherwise, it’s not much different from writing a standalone. For example, when I wrote Getting off the Ground, I knew Derek lived on Maui, but I didn’t yet know what he did for a living, what kind of house he lived in, what kind of car he drove. I didn’t want to know yet…I wanted him to be just as much of a mystery to me as he was to Elliott. Then as I outlined Infinity Pools, I started learning more about Derek, and the story unfolded organically from there.

Really, the only time a series changes the way I write is when the prequel is already done and published. The Distance Between Us and Cover Me were both done, sold, and on the shelves when I started their sequels, so I had to make sure I didn’t screw up any details that were already set in stone in the first books. That’s a non-issue with standalones, obviously.

Sharon: What authors/genre do you like to read for pleasure and what was the last book you read?

I read mostly fantasy and sci-fi, believe it or not, but I really read anything that sounds interesting, regardless of genre or author. I just finished reading Lolita for like the fifth time because I like drooling all over Nabokov’s prose.

Janna: What is your modus operandi in deciding whether your next novel will be M//F or M/M?

The characters usually decide for me. If I start with the characters, then…well, they’re either all male or one’s a female. If I start with the plot, sometimes it only works with M/M (involves someone being closeted, DADT, etc) or M/F (a single mother, for example), sometimes it can go either way, in which case…I don’t really know how it happens, it just…happens. LOL That said, one of my M/M novels started out as M/F, but was later rewritten as M/M and worked much better. There’s really no rhyme or reason to it, though.


Sharon: If I got in your car and turned on the radio, what would I hear before the cops came and took me away ?
(if you don’t have a car…what would I find on your iPod? )

Most likely? 30 Seconds to Mars. My fangirl adoration of that band is well-known. If not them, probably Breaking Benjamin (my dear minion Andy has recently introduced me to them), Erasure, Adam Lambert, or…more 30 Seconds to Mars. Can never have enough 30 Seconds to Mars. Mmm, 30 Seconds to Mars…nom nom nom…

Wait. Sorry. What was the question?
<g>

Janna: With Out Of Focus you expanded into the genre of BDSM. Is this genre more difficult or easier to write for you? Why is that?

BDSM is definitely different. I don’t know if it’s necessarily more difficult, it’s just…different. There’s a whole different dynamic there when you start playing around with dominance, submission, pain play, etc. I find everything about it fascinating, so I love writing it, but it’s definitely challenging.


Janna: Can we expect more BDSM stories in the future?

Abso-freaking-lutely. As we speak, I’m plotting an M/M BDSM, and I have another that’s written but just needs a serious overhaul before I sell it. Trust me, there will be plenty of kink in the near future.


Sharon: I read on your website you are also planning an Urban Fantasy (squee!) I am a big UF fan. Can you give us any details about this yet? Are we talking vampires, shifter or Fey…Oh, myyyyyyy! ;) and would this be M/M or M/F?

I already have one shapeshifter fantasy out, which is Static, available from Amber Allure. This is a story of a shapeshifter who can shift genders at will, and loses that ability. In January, the first book in the Tooth & Claw series, The Given & The Taken, will be available from Samhain. This is a vamp/were ménage story, and is kind of half-thriller half-romance. Both are M/M (well, M/M/M in the latter case), but I suspect I’ll be writing some hetero UF too.

As far as what types of UF I’ll get into in the future? Impossible to say. A year ago, I’d only written contemporary stories. Now I have vamp/were, gender shifters, cyberpunk (A Chip In His Shoulder; Riptide Publishing, Oct ’11), and steampunk (Noble Metals; Carnal Passions, Jan ’12) under my belt. What’s next? No idea.


Sharon: Do you have a “type” of story you like writing more than the others? I love my M/M stories to be so sweet my teeth rot out and I like my M/F romances to be dark.

I like to shift gears between stories. If I’m writing something dark, I need to write something light afterward. If it’s something fairly light, then I want something darker and deeper afterward. Lately I’ve also been shifting between heat levels: sometimes it’ll be super hot, other times it’s light on sex scenes. I usually can’t write more than one kink story in a row, same with thrillers. Keeping it mixed up keeps me from getting into a rut, but it also means I never quite settle on any kind of type.


Sharon: Is there anything you would like to add before you go?

If the cops call, I’ve been here the entire time.
Sharon: We got your back. ;)


Wow, I don’t know about all you guys, but I think Lori is pretty amazing. No matter what kind of romance you like, she has something for everyone. Head to her website or Goodreads page and check out her backlist. Because she is offering one lucky commenter an ebook of their choice!


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Giveaway:

To enter leave a comment telling us you want in, for a chance to win your pick of any book of Lori's backlist. And we’re curious what kind of romance you like? Sweet, dark, erotica, paranormal, BDSM, Ménage, forbidden, Gay for you…all of the above?

The giveaway is open to readers worldwide, and we will announce the winner on Sunday, August 21 (the release day of On The List), so be sure to leave your comment before Sunday and don’t forget to check back then or leave a way for us to contact you in your comment or profile.

Good luck to you all!

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Linking:
Author’s website | weblog | on Twitter | on Goodreads
Read Sharon’s review of Getting of the Ground here
Read Sharon’s review of Infinity Pools here
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"PNR readers aren't ready for male/male couples" - Interview & Giveaway with Jennifer Turner

I’m pleased to have author Jennifer Turner here at my blog today. Her second Darkness Within novel Eternal Hearts is recently released and today Jennifer is here to talk about the series and the first two books that are released so far.

*And don’t miss your chance to win both books she’s giving away at the end of this post!*

Hi Jennifer, welcome to my place. Let’s start with an easy question *g*. Eternal Hearts is the second book in your Darkness Within series. The first is Eternal Seduction. Can you try to tell in two sentences what these books are about, for those who haven’t read them (yet)?

Holy smokes, Janna! I can barely write a back cover blurb in under 500 words, and all you’re giving me is one sentence per book!? ;) Well, here goes nothing…

Eternal Seduction: Logan Ellis has lived most of her life alone on the unforgiving streets of New York City, and she’s convinced she’ll die there…until she comes face to face with an Ancient vampire, who unexpectedly becomes her last chance to regain one of the most important things she’s ever lost – her humanity.

Eternal Hearts: Toni Tutoro just wants to go home – to the city where she died, to where her human family was murdered, and to a dangerous man she’s never met…who will love her in ways she thought were lost the day her heart stopped beating.

Okay, so I may have stretched the one sentence rule by using creative punctuation…but it’s the best I could do! ;)

Can readers read Eternal Hearts without reading Eternal Seduction first? 

I think someone could read Eternal Hearts without reading Eternal Seduction first, but as much as it pains me to say this…I wouldn’t recommend it. I tried extremely hard to go light on some of the world building explanations in Eternal Hearts, partially because the hero and heroine are already supernatural when the story begins, but mostly because I’ve read a lot of reader complaints about how authors tend to rehash the same back story over and over in series books. Unfortunately, I may have made a mistake with my decision, because I think I went too light…to the point that someone coming into the series with Eternal Hearts might feel a little lost without having read Eternal Seduction first.

I have received some good feedback from readers who found Eternal Hearts first though, who said they were confused in the beginning, but there was just enough info throughout the book to stop them from feeling lost…so that gives me hope!

I’ve learned a good lesson from this situation though, and am striving for a much better blend of world building explanations in book 3. I certainly don’t want a new reader to feel lost, but at the same time, I don’t want to drown my “regulars” with information they already know.


Will fans of Logan and Kerestyan (the couple from the first book) see them again in this second book?

Unfortunately, Kerestyan and Logan don’t make an appearance in the second book, mainly because Eternal Hearts actually picks up just a few days after Eternal Seduction ends, and it didn’t seem right to check-in with them so soon. However, you might see them in Ascension: The Revelation, which is the first novella in Vouclade’s trilogy, and you’ll definitely see them again in Eternal Embers, which is Odin’s book.

Early reviews of Eternal Hearts show that some readers who loved Eternal Seduction are less enthusiastic about Eternal Hearts. Do you think this has something to do with the heroines of the books, Logan and Toni, who aren’t much alike?

I do think the somewhat opposing reactions have a lot to do with the how different the heroines of the two books are. Logan is a 30 year old, detached and unrepentant, take-me-as-I-am-or-don’t-take-me-at-all kind of woman, whereas Toni is only 22, and is still desperately searching for a place she fits in.
Toni’s everything that Logan isn’t, she’s caring, compassionate, and she never ignores an opportunity to tell someone how much they mean to her. But on the flip side, Logan has this cool, calculating…almost unshakable façade, that when you compare the two heroines, kind of makes Toni seem a little meek and even whiney on occasion. However, even with all that said, I think both characters have a wide range of strengths and flaws that are uniquely their own.

To be honest, I’m not sure I could’ve created two heroines that are more opposite than Logan and Toni if I’d actually tried. And I’m also not surprised that readers who absolutely loved Logan don’t like Toni as much, or vice versa. If forced into a scene together, Logan and Toni probably wouldn’t like each other very much either. ;)

What other differences are there between the two books that could explain the opposite reactions?

I think there are a few possible causes. First, Eternal Seduction has a very character driven, non-traditional storyline, whereas Eternal Hearts is more traditional as well as more plot driven overall. Second, in my opinion, the two books have very different pacing. Eternal Seduction tends to mover slower for the majority of the book, and then ramps up at the end because some young vampire (and I won’t name names), makes a less than intelligent and rather split-second decision. :) Eternal Hearts, on the other hand, has a steadier pace and is always moving forward. But again, at least in this instance, I think the different pacing is reflective of the heroines. Logan is older, she’s never in a rush because she knows she has to pick and choose her battles, and as her world begins to change, she watches situations develop and doesn’t commit to action until she’s either sure of herself – or is forced to react. Toni is young, she’s lost her family and her home, and she’s constantly struggling to pull the fractured pieces of her life back together, which means she’s always fighting to move forward in an effort to regain some of the stability and security she feels so unbelievably lost without. And third, the heros from the two books are pretty different too. Kerestyan is an Ancient vampire Lord, he’s staunch in his beliefs, regal in bearing, and while he definitely has a sometimes unyielding and very alpha-male personality, he also knows he has all the time in the world to let a situation unfold. But Drake, well…Drake’s young, brash, charmingly arrogant in his own ways, and while he too has a strong and sometimes overly protective alpha-male personality, he also has a humility and humor about him that makes him truly unique.

Just as a final thought on the question, regardless of my examples above, I think the main reason for the differing opinions is simply reader perception. I don’t think every couple or character in a series will ever strike the same cords with each reader. For example, take the first ten books from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series. If you asked me if I loved all ten, I would easily tell you no. I ran to the bookstore to buy all ten as they released. :) I very much enjoyed reading all ten and was always sad when I flipped the last page. But Seize the Night (Tabby & Val) and Night Play (Bride & Vane) will forever stand above the others for me. I absolutely loved those two books, and to this day…I swear the only way I’d part with them is if you pried them from my cold, dead hands. :) So I definitely understand where my readers are coming from when they say they loved one book in my series more than another. And I think as long as my readers still enjoy the story, even if they don’t love every character, then I’m still moving in the right direction.

What do you love about writing? And what do you hate?

What I love about writing is the challenge of bringing out realistic character personalities in a world that’s anything but. Creating complex characters that range from just-turned-eighteen to thousands upon thousands of years old, who’ve not only triumphed in their lives, but failed just as spectacularly, is probably what keeps me going when I swear I’ll never write another word. :)

As for what I hate…I hate writing sex scenes. ;) I can write five chapters full of gut wrenching emotional scenes in the time it takes me to write three pages of sex. No matter how hard I try, when I reread the scene it always sounds cheesy to me. So now when I finish writing one, I let my hubby, my Mom, and a beta reader or two look it over, and if they say it’s good – I won’t read the scene again unless my agent wants a change. And even then…I might argue! ;)

FYI – My Mom has been an avid romance reader all her life, so if she doesn’t find a problem with one of my sex scenes, I know it can’t be too terrible. :)


Whose story is next? And when can we expect Odin’s book?

Eternal Embrace (book 3) belongs to Oktober and Lydia, which I’m working to secure a late October 2011 release date for. Book 4, Eternal Desires, will then follow in May of 2012. And if I get everything I want (fingers crossed!), Odin’s book, Eternal Embers, will release in October of 2012. Actually, if I really get everything I want…I’ll be at the Romantic Times convention in Chicago in April of 2012, and I’ll have ARCs of Odin’s book with me. :D


Can we perhaps look forward to a male/male couple in one of the future Darkness Within novels?

Hmmm. Let me see if I can summon the grace necessary to answer this question properly. ;)

Will you see a male/male couple as one of the main series books? Probably not. Will you see a male/male couple in one of the novellas? I sure hope so.

Explanation: Much to my dismay, I don’t think the majority of paranormal romance readers are ready for a male/male or even a female/female couple yet. And if I made a M/M or F/F pairing one of the main books in the Darkness Within series, it would mean that particular story has to contain pertinent details that would drive following books in the series. Basically, what I’m trying to say is, I wouldn’t want to force those who aren’t comfortable reading a M/M or F/F story into reading one solely because that book contains plot hooks and pieces necessary to understand or follow the overall story arc.

I have great respect for all of my readers, whether they’re gay, straight, black, white, catholic, or atheist, and the last thing I want to do is alienate anyone in any way. So, at least in my opinion, it seems like the best way to give my M/M loving readers what they’re looking for is to do it in a novella. I have a small handful of novellas planned that will run parallel to the series books, but don’t actually connect to the major plot arc driving the series. Meaning, the novellas will have all kinds of insights and info in them, but the important details won’t be anything that isn’t also touched upon in the main series.

Long story short – the novellas are how I intend on getting away with writing stories set in the Darkness Within world that aren’t necessarily “mainstream” friendly. ;) I’ve brainstormed a M/M story, a F/F story, a story that deals with a barely legal 18 year old who’s the victim of human trafficking, and a story that revolves around a serial killer turned vampire. The novellas are where I plan to get darker, dirtier, and turn the horror switch up a few notches. :D

How many Darkness Within novels will there be in total?

Right now, I have roughly 15 books planned for the series. I’ve left openings for more books to be added though, just in case readers gravitate towards a character that isn’t included in those 15. I’m all about giving my readers what they want, so if they start to love a character I haven’t planned for over the course of the series – I definitely want to be able to satisfy their demands. ;)

Thanks so much for your time and insightful answers, Jennifer! I’m really looking forward to the other 13 or more books that are coming our way, especially to Odin’s story. :)

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Linking:
Jennifer Turner’s website | weblog | on Twitter | on Goodreads
Buy Eternal Seduction here | Buy Eternal Hearts here
Read my review of Eternal Seduction here
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Giveaway:

Jennifer Turner has generously offered to give away (to one winner) a print copy of both Darkness Within novels - Eternal Seduction and Eternal Hearts - and some promo goodies.
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post that says you want in, for a chance to win.
Jennifer will also try to come by today to answer any questions you might want to ask her.

The giveaway is open to readers worldwide, and I will announce the winner on Tuesday, June 7, so be sure to leave your comment before that and don’t forget to check back then or leave a way for me to contact you in your comment or profile.

Good luck to you all!

~~~~~

PS I’m curious. Jennifer said when I asked her about a possible future male/male couple that she doesn’t think the majority of paranormal romance readers are ready for a male/male or even a female/female couple yet (see her explanation above).
What’s your opinion on this topic? Can male/male couples be introduced into PNR series soon (with their own novel, not just a novella) or will the majority of the PNR readers never be ready for them?

~

Interview & Giveaway with Lorie O’Clare

I’m pleased to have author Lorie O’Clare here at my blog today! Her latest book Strong, Sleek and Sinful was released at St. Martin’s on March 30 and in April her Men In Danger Anthology and in June The Bodyguard Anthology will become available.
Lorie is the author of many different books and series in all kinds of genre. At her website you can check out the first chapters of her books to get a little taste of her writing. Today I like to learn a little bit more about her and about her new fund raiser she launched: Keep the HEA in our lives.


Hi Lorie, let’s start with what do we absolutely need to know about you?

Well, let me think. I’m a really nice person, a mother of three incredible teenage boys, and friends to very good people who love me in return. But I think the best thing to know is how blessed I am to share my stories and have so many people be able to read them. I’m truly a very lucky lady.


Your latest release is Strong, Sleek and Sinful. Can you tell us something about the series that it’s part of?

Sure. Strong Sleek and Sinful is the third, and last book in the FBI Sex Crimes Series. These books are all about FBI agents who work undercover and become involved in the community where they’re trying to solve a case. In each book we have two law enforcement agents who meet, work together to find the perp, and wind up in a torrential love affair. There is passion, a spine-tingling adventure, and a good mystery involved in each book.


Can we read the three books in this series as standalones?

Tall, Dark and Deadly, Long, Lean and Lethal and Strong, Sleek and Sinful are all books that stand alone. You don’t need to read one before reading the other. In fact, the only connection between these books is that a minor character’s story is told in the following book. Otherwise, each of these books are stories on their own. My publisher referred to them as a series because they are all FBI stories.


What was your favorite scene to write in Strong, Sleek and Sinful?

I think my favorite was the scene where they catch the bad guy. I was right there on the edge of my seat typing away as fast as I could to learn if I was right. (Yes, my books tend to take off in a different direction than where I thought they would go.) With Perry growing angrier and angrier because his woman is facing a killer, and Kylie’s heart pounding a mile a minute while she faces a man so evil she can see the cruel coldness in his eyes, until the moment when she takes him down, it’s definitely a scene I’ll never forget.


You’ve written a variety of genres. Is there a genre you would like to write but haven’t yet?

I don’t think so. I can’t get enough of historical romances, but I’m not sure I could write them. I think there are some books I should just enjoy reading. And I do love to read!


What is your favorite genre/book as a reader?

As a reader, historical are probably my favorites right now. Not the ton. I lean more toward lords and ladies of the castles of Scotland, Ireland and England. Although I’m reading one right now that takes place in the new colony of Massachusetts. I’m really enjoying it. Although, you can’t go wrong with Hannah Howell. :)
I do love a good contemporary romantic suspense as well. I think there is enough of a student always in me that I get off on a book that teaches me something. There is the story of man and woman falling in love, but learning what it’s like to own and run a candy store, or be a firefighter, or a rancher—and the stories that really get in to the details of that characters line of work—that appeals to me most.

Does everybody know you write erotic romance?

Everybody? If you mean my family, then yes. My boys know. All of my friends know. My Mom and Dad know. They are all proud of me. I tried for so many years to get published so they are all very proud of me today. I’ve got a wonderful family though. None of us are perfect but all of us support each other in whatever it is we want to do with our lives.


Which one of your books/series would you like to see turned into a movie?

Honestly, I’d love to see either the Nuworld Series in a movie or the Lunewulf Series. The Nuworld books have always been my favorites and in my mind I’ve always seen these books on the big screen.


Is the Nuworld series one of your paranormal series? What is it about this series that makes it perfect for the big screen?

First of all I have to say the Nuworld Series is not currently in print. Unless you can find one of the first two books of that series used somewhere, you can’t buy them. Although, I do offer the entire series for sale on ebay.
With that said, the Nuworld Series is hard to label into one genre. It was labeled as science fiction romance by one publisher, although the entire series takes place on earth. It has been called futuristic romance. There are some slight paranormal elements in the books but nothing strong.
The Nuworld Series has always been more vivid in my head than any other series I’ve ever written. There are those who say an author has one great masterpiece. So far, I would have to say the Nuworld books are it. I’ve been offered contracts on them several times but each time with the editor wanting some changes made. I just can’t change how the series is right now. So for now, I sell them on my own. But, I think the series would make such a great movie because of the romance, the intense action, and the rather taboo topics touched on throughout the series.

Any actors in mind?

No…lol. I don’t know enough about actors. I don’t watch enough tv or movies.


If you could be any of your heroines, who would it be, and why?

That is a tough one. Honestly, I’ve fallen in love with all of my characters and while writing their story have felt their happiness, their pain, their daring and their fears. I keep struggling, trying to find an answer for you. There are many heroines I respect so much because of their strength and willingness to take that extra step a lot of us would be afraid to take. I would love spending more time with them but not sure I would want to be them. They have a lot more guts than I have. :) I guess if I could be one of my heroines and have all the strength and convictions they have, I would probably choose to be Kylie in Strong, Sleek and Sinful. First of all, she gets Perry, and he’s so perfectly yummy! But as well, she willingly goes after monsters who pretend to be teenage boys in order to get teenage girls to meet them. She’s brave, aggressive, honest and pretty. And she’s a super FBI undercover agent, too.

Who’s your perfect hero?

Oh man, all of my heroes are perfect…LOL. You’ll never know how many nights I lie in bed and get lost in a scene I’m working on with one of my heroes. I change and alter it, replay it and have these gorgeous hunks right by my side the entire time. Did I mention how incredibly blessed I am?? :)


What quality is a must for a hero but one you don’t want to see in a real life partner?

I tend to write characters who are very “real”. What I mean by that is that they aren’t perfect. As gorgeous and powerful and intelligent and caring as each of them is, they also have their weaknesses. I’ve never been able to write a larger than life character. So I guess what I’m saying is I would love to have a real life partner who is just like any of my heroes.


Can you tell us something about your fund raiser Keep the HEA in our lives?

I instigated the launching of HEA because of a situation that happened and came very close to my heart. I haven’t disclosed all the details yet. If and when I do it will be on my HEA site. But my point is I learned how frustrating and challenging it is to come seriously close to losing your home. I also learned that the humiliation and guilt are so overwhelming it is harder to ask for help than any other predicament a person can find themselves in.
HEA is an effort to raise money to turn over to individuals who need help in keeping their home. I want to find those willing to donate items we can sell or auction to raise money. Of course cash donations are also accepted. As much as we need to raise money we’re also interested in any candidates who are in need of help. The money we raised would be given to them. You can learn more about HEA at my website.

What book(s) of yours can we look forward to?

I am in two anthologies coming out soon, Men Of Danger at the end of April and The Bodyguard Anthology, which comes out in June. The last book in my owl series with Ellora’s Cave, Feather Torn, comes out April 9. This fall my brand new bounty series begins. The first book, Play Dirty releases in October. Also, my brand new black jaguar series is coming soon from Ellora’s Cave. Black Seduction releases early this summer. There should be a total of five books in that series, I think.


Wow! You’re quite a busy bee! How can you keep up with this speed? Do you ever sleep?

I sleep every night. LOL. I try to get about 7 hours of sleep but sometimes it’s only 3 hours. If I can, I’ll take a couple of hours during the day after I’ve finished a chapter.


But seriously, why do you want to write? What’s so fun about it?

I’ve never thought about “wanting” to write, I just always “did” write. For me, a writer is who I am, not what I do. And what is fun about it? Well I get to stay home all day and play and get paid to do it. I have so much fun creating worlds then stepping into them and existing among my characters. There really is no better life—at least not for me.


That sounds wonderful! Thank you very much for visiting my place today, Lorie! I look forward to all of your new books! They are certainly going to keep me busy for a while!


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Giveaway:

Lorie O’Clare has generously offered a paperback copy of her romance Strong, Sleek and Sinful for giveaway.

This giveaway is open to everyone, I will announce the winner on April 13.

To enter the giveaway, follow my blog, leave a comment on this post and tell me what you think of a FBI agent being the hero(ine) of a romance.

Good luck to you all!

~~~~~~~~~~

Back blurb Strong, Sleek and Sinful:

Special Agent Kylie Donovan knows the evil that men do. After her sister’s murders went unsolved, she decided to work undercover for the FBI. Now, posing as a college student, she hopes to track down an Internet predator who is murdering teenage girls. Using herself as bait, Kylie is sure she can lure the killer out of the shadows…until her fascination with a drop-dead gorgeous cop threatens to blow her whole case.
With a rock-hard body and seductive smile, Lt. Perry Flynn is a hard man to ignore. He makes it very clear that Kylie’s fierce attraction is mutual. But Kylie can’t afford to let Perry cloud her judgment, especially when she begins to suspect that his dark obsession with the case runs deeper than it should. Then, when disturbing new evidence points to a cop, Kylie wonders if her sinful thoughts about Perry have thrust her into the strong, sleek arms of a killer…

Click here to read an excerpt from Strong Sleek and Sinful.

Interview & Giveaway with Mia Watts

I’m pleased to have author Mia Watts here at my blog. Today her new ebook Freeze Frame will release at Resplendence publishing and next Monday Dangerous Distraction at Total E-bound.

Hey everyone! Thanks for letting me on your blog, Janna.

Let's start with telling me 5 things we don’t know about you, Mia.

Shit. Five? That’s the number after four, right? There’s like, I dunno, math in this interview. Um, okay… five… 1. I hate math. 2. When I eat Skittles or M&Ms, I separate them by color first and eat the red ones last. 3. Which reminds me, I eat the topping off of pizza first, then the crust because I don’t want to fill up on bread. 4. (I could tell you anything right now, and you’d have to believe me, because ain’t none of you ever met me.) I can wiggle my ears. Um, okay, AN ear. The other one doesn’t cooperate. 5. This is my fourth incarnation in the writing world.


How interesting! Hmmm, sounds like you want to stay mysterious ;), we better start talking about your books then. Freeze Frame is the third book in your Faerily Imperfect series. What is this series about? And can we read the books as stand-alones?

The mom is a wholly faery, but she’s kind of a ditz. Since she married a mortal and dared to have five kids, the faery world gave each child a curse/gift in the form of one faery ability. The catch is, it only works as well as their mother is smart. Basically, it’s unreliable. Each book covers the story of one sibling.

The books are stand-alones. I didn’t want to pressure m/m readers into reading a new genre or m/f readers into reading something which makes them uncomfortable. The books are about siblings so they pop up from time to time in each other’s books. Still, no cross-over. Or cross-dressing. I swear. That’s in She’s Got Balls (RP). :)


Can you tell us a little about the two heroes from Freeze Frame?

Yes. I can.


LOL, okay let me rephrase that: What can you tell us about them?

Aw, shucks. I figured that last one for short and sweet. ;) LOL. The heroes are Dill and Mason. Dill is the faery sibling who freezes time. He’s got the hots for his mark which is a really bad idea since his mark shouldn’t know he’s being followed and now there’s someone out to kill him. Dill has a soft spot for the guy.

Mason doesn’t trust easily. He’s a product of the foster care system gone wrong. No family that cares, no consistent upbringing, just a lot of hard living and now there’s this dude lurking in the shadows who literally freezes him in his tracks. How do you trust someone like that when you can’t trust your own body to move on command? The interesting part is that typically when Dill freezes time (always accidentally) no one knows it’s been frozen unless he moves something…not even his family. Mason, however, does. He is completely cognizant in the frozen moments, he simply can’t answer.
To make matters more interesting, when Dill touches Mason, they switch places. Now Dill is frozen by his own ability and Mason has free reign to move and, well, you’ll have to read the book.


Now, that last tidbit of information makes my mind go places... *ahem* Next week another book of yours will be released, Dangerous Distraction. Is it going to compete with Freeze Frame for attention or is it going to be a totally different story?

It’s completely different. Freeze Frame has that paranormal element to it. Dill, quiet and sultry, falls for hard-assed and jaded Mason. Mason has trouble trusting people since he’s been ripped off in the family department. With Dangerous Distraction, the issue is more about uncloseting your feelings and taking a chance on love. I guess both kind of deal with internal fears, yet they approach them in completely different ways.

I can rarely stay serious for long. Levity is always among the pages. Someone said “hilariously poignant”. I LOVED that phrase and kinda aim that direction with each book.


Only last month another one of your books, FU, did come out. Your writing schedule must be killing you. What do you do to recharge your batteries?

It’s seriously messing me up. I’ve recently pushed a couple of releases. All the Faery books and every TEB book are coming out as scheduled, but the rest are to be determined. I had to break the pace. I work full time, too, so you can imagine what this kind of a load does to someone. I also think I’m out-pacing the market with monthly releases.

But that wasn’t your full question, was it? I do random shit just for fun. Like, last spring, I held a pizza party in an empty parking lot. My friends and I ordered for delivery (took some FAST sexy talking to get the driver to agree. *wink*), we cranked up the volume, and danced. There were some party crashers, but who cares! I think I’m due for another.


Why do you want to write? What’s so fun about it?

The characters excite me. Not gutter-type excitement although that is definitely in there, but core excitement. My brain gets a little orgasmic about the dudes. I get enjoy encounters. Especially first impressions. When a plot revs into action and the guys are clicking, oh baby, their ain’t nuthin’ better.


I agree, there is nothing better to read about too! Do you still have time to read? What is your favorite genre/book as a reader?

Sometimes. I’ve been reading some m/m genre stuff just to make sure I’m not repeating things I’ve written or over used phrases. I’m also reading a helluva lot of marketing stuff. Curse of the day job, but Rich Dad, Poor Dad… yeah, I must be an idiot because I wanted the Rich Dad to give the poor nine year old his freakin’ raise. Can you say, child labor laws??

I read a lot of everything. My love has always been romance. If it’s romantic, it qualifies as a favorite genre, no matter what else it adds.


Do you ever base your characters on real life actors or people you know? Or how do you see your characters in your head?

Never. They just are. It’s tough to explain how they come to be. One day, I’m thinking about a scenario that would be fun and the next the guys are just there taking up head space (pun!). I’m thinking I need to charge rent. Maybe I’ll let them stay for sexual favors. Backrubs!! Yeah, that!


Rofl! Your books have really hot scenes in them. Do you find it hard to write love scenes?

First off—Cool! Thanks! Then: Yes and no. I don’t have the parts my boys have, but I ask a LOT of sexual questions to complete strangers. No shit. Funny thing about that though…they think I’m coming on to them. Go fig…

I love sex. Yep, big surprise. I also really love the cock (pardon me while I take a moment to shiver with pleasure). Writing sex with two cocks is, well, difficult (says, Mia, trying not to use the word “hard” while discussing cocks and sex). It’s like a puzzle plot that I have a lot of logistical things to think through. I’ve had my editor write me back a couple of times with, “Um. No, Mia. You cannot have a standing three man love-chain with a fourth guy underneath them licking all their balls.” I still say you can. Where there’s a will, there’s a Mia with lube.


LOL! Do you tell everyone that you write erotic romance?

Hell no. No one in my real life knows. Let me rephrase that. Critical individuals in my real life know and they keep that secret very, very well for large sums of money on a quarterly payment cycle. Did I mention I’m broke?

Seriously? My boss would have twenty cows simultaneously and boy howdy would that give him a hemorrhoid or two. I bet you twenty to one, he’d make me apply the damn cream.


We can't have that *grin*. Is readers feedback important for you? (How) does it affect your writing?

More than anything. I love knowing what works for people. What turns you on, what flipped your switch, what makes you run for the vibrator even when your kids are home from school? I want to know because I’m going to give you more of it.

It affects my writing a lot. I’m writing a couple of sequels BECAUSE readers wrote my publisher and asked. That is incredibly flattering. I find myself getting sappy-eyed over those letters. Unworthy. Also, I try harder when I know there are readers waiting. BUT GOD I love to make you LAUGH! It’s even better than knowing you think the sex is hot.


You certainly succeed in making me laugh! Your writing is dripping with humor imo :). What’s the secret of writing funny scenes?

Um. Wow. If I knew that one, I’d be rich and on TV. I don’t know. I think it has to do with timing and looking for humor in everything you see around you. I hate drama and tears and shit. I laugh instead of crying most of the time. Not a great trait at, say, funerals, but for everything else, it relieves tension and serves me pretty well. An ex of mine told me I should do stand-up. I disagree. I don’t think I could carry a stage because you talk AT people instead of feeding off their experiences. On stage, it’s about you. In life, in books, in conversation, it’s about the other person and hopefully, digging on yourself. So if that’s funny, GREAT! Hopefully it will always just be seen as fun with a chuckle.

Thank you for telling me that, by the way. I get such a charge out of knowing people laughed. I think it’s the best compliment you can get.


You're welcome! How can readers send you their compliments and feedback or contact you? (Website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Please, write me! I would love it. I actually have a folder of letters from fans because this job we do is tough. We get ripped off by ePirates, we get slammed in the reviews, we hardly get paid to make it financially beneficial, so the perks come down to hearing from you. You can find me at,

• wattsmia@aol.com
• MiaWatts on Twitter and Mia Watts on Facebook
• http://www.miawatts.blogspot.com/
• http://www.miawatts.com/  (currently being revamped)

What are your next projects?

My next project is Reasonable Doubt for TEB. It’s a sequel to Bad Boys, Bad Boys (by popular reader demand for more). I’m also working on Boiling Point which is Fauna Harper’s story in the Faerily Imperfect series. She’s the one who keeps disappearing at random intervals. Makes dating kinda tough on the poor girl.

The next books out are, Boiling Point and Melting Melinda. Both are m/f.


Thank you very much for visiting my place today, Mia! I’m really looking forward to your new books. And there are certainly many to look out for!

Thank YOU for having me!! I’m so glad to be here!


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Giveaway:

Mia Watts has generously offered an ebook copy of either her romance Freeze Frame or Dangerous Distraction for giveaway. Both are M/M romances.

Giveaway is open to everyone, I will announce the winner on March 30.

To enter the giveaway, follow my blog, leave a comment on this post and tell me, which of the two books you would like to win and why.

Good luck to you all!

Backblurb Freeze Frame:
Dill Harper can freeze time. It’s a faery gift which only works at the most inopportune times. Now he’s on a case for Harper Security, watching the very delectable ass of Mason Haliday, a man worth having, who doesn’t want to be had. When an unknown enemy puts a hit on Mason, the client and Dill are worried about the outcome. But how can Mason trust his heart to the man who’s been spying on him, despite the way Dill makes him feel under and over the covers?

Backblurb Dangerous Distraction:
An afterhour’s dare has Detective David Rook kissing the sexiest pair of lips he’s seen in a long time. He doesn’t expect it will shake his closeted lifestyle to the core. Now ATF Agent Nate Giamanti is working with him on a case, Rook can’t avoid his forbidden desires.
Nate challenges Rook with every encounter, but when Rook backs off, Nate doesn’t want the drama that goes with hiding his sexuality, even if it means he could have a lot more of the detective in his bed. When their suspect trains his sights on Nate, will Rook finally get queened or lose the game to a killer?