Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Concourse by Santino Hassell - Blog Tour with Top 10 and Giveaway



About Concourse

Ashton Townsend is the most famous celebutante of Manhattan’s glitterati. The black sheep of his wealthy family, he’s known for his club appearances, Instagram account, and sex tape. Most people can’t imagine him wanting for anything, but Ashton yearns for friendship, respect, and the love of his best friend—amateur boxer Valdrin Leka. 

Val’s relationship with Ashton is complicated. As the son of Ashton’s beloved nanny, Val has always bounced between resenting Ashton and regarding him as his best friend. And then there’s the sexual attraction between them that Val tries so hard to ignore.

When Ashton flees his glitzy lifestyle, he finds refuge with Val in the Bronx. Between Val’s training for an upcoming fight and dodging paparazzi, they succumb to their need for each other. But before they can figure out what it all means—and what they want to do about it—the world drags them out of their haven, revealing a secret Val has kept for years. Now, Ashton has to decide whether to once again envelop himself in his party-boy persona, or to trust in the only man who’s ever seen the real him.

Available now from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/concourse


Ten blogs/social media accounts Valdrin and Ashton would follow!

This list might be a little weighted in Ashton’s favor because while he is all over social media (for fun and for his brand), Valdrin couldn’t care less.

       1.  Ashton Townsend. Yes, I know this is corny, but Ashton is the main account Valdrin follows. Long before they were romantically involved, he had alerts for Ashton’s Instagram!

       2.  Thugkitchen.com. Ashton is really into food bloggers, and he really loves this one. Not only are the recipes amazing, but they say things like “let’s eat some motherfucking soup!”.

       3.  Joannethescammer – Ashton follows Joanne the Scammer on Instagram and Twitter. What can he say? He loves “messy bitches”.

      4.  alealimay.com – This fashion blog is everything Ashton aspires to be like. He loves Aleali’s mix of high end and thriftier pieces, and aspires to reach her level.

      5. thestylerookie.com – Ashton has been following this blog since he was a kid! It started with a 12-year-old girl blogging about her experience with fashion, and he fell in love with it.

      6. TMZ – Ashton has a bad habit of looking for stories on himself, so he follows this gossip blog religiously.

      7.  Page Six – Ashton was addicted to Page Six gossip before it was on social media. He can’t give it up.

      8.  Bradleysimmonds – Valdrin unofficially follows this Instagram account to get motivated on days when he’s not headed to Cadet’s Boxing Gym to workout. Ashton started following it as well because the guy is hot.

      9.  Workoutwithmuriqifit – Another Instagram account that Valdrin keeps an eye on. The owner is a former pro boxer turned fitness trainer who shares Val’s first name!

      10. Dog_rates – Who doesn’t follow dog_rates?


About the Five Boroughs Universe


New York City—home of soaring skyscrapers, concrete boulevards, and the hopes and dreams of millions. A city where opposites attract and romance is found in unlikely places. From the glittering penthouses of Manhattan to the blue collar neighborhoods of Queens, values get tested, cultures clash, and connections made. Men of diverse backgrounds examine their lives, test their sexual boundaries, and seek success in an unforgiving urban landscape that moves fast and stops for no one. Despite the odds, there’s love to be found in the five boroughs as long as they’re willing to work for it.

Check out the Five Boroughs Universe. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/universe/five-boroughs


About Santino Hassell

Santino was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed grunge kid, then a transient twentysomething, and eventually transformed into a guy who spends his days and nights writing romance with an edge.

Santino is a dedicated gamer, a former fanfic writer, an ASoIaF mega nerd, a Grindr enthusiast, but most of all he is a writer of LGBT fiction that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

Connect with Santino:



Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Concourse, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on May 6, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!


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Wake by K. Evan Coles & Brigham Vaughn - Release Blitz with Giveaway




Buy Links: Pride Publishing (Early Download) | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 Publisher: Pride Publishing

 Length: 96,517 words

 Blurb

 Book one in the Tidal series

 Carter Hamilton and Riley Porter-Wright room together as Harvard undergraduates. An immediate friendship forms, but as the years pass it deepens into something neither man understands. As attraction simmers under the surface, lines begin to blur. When they move back to Manhattan, they gradually slip into the lives their families have envisioned for them.

 Both men marry, but in time, Riley realizes he’s ended up in a passionless relationship like his parents’ while his career takes center stage. Although he loves his wife, Carter misses the emotional and physical connection he shared with Riley.

 The weight of Riley’s feelings and his growing discontentment with his life eventually push him to tell Carter the truth about how he feels. Shocked and unable to face his own feelings, Carter rejects Riley.

 As each man comes to terms with the lies they’ve told themselves, each other and the people around them, they find their lives changing in ways they never imagined. They soon discover that the truths they’ve been longing to tell shake the foundations of their friendship.


Author Bios



K. Evan Coles is a mother and tech pirate by day and a writer by night. She is a dreamer who, with a little hard work and a lot of good coffee, coaxes words out of her head and onto paper.

 K. lives in the northeast United States, where she complains bitterly about the winters, but truly loves the region and its diverse, tenacious and deceptively compassionate people. You’ll usually find K. nerding out over books, movies and television with friends and family. She’s especially proud to be raising her son as part of a new generation of unabashed geeks.





Brigham Vaughn is starting the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga.  She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Email: brighamvaughn@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brigham.vaughn
Facebook Author Page:

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Monday, May 1, 2017

Starting From Scratch by Jay Northcote - Blog Tour with Review




Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

 Cover: Garrett Leigh

 Length: 57,000 words

 The Housemates Series is a collection of standalone stories set around a student house in Britain. Each book focuses on new characters, with themes of self-discovery and sexual awakening.

 Helping Hand (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Like A Lover (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Practice Makes Perfect (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Watching and Wanting (Book #4) Amazon US | Amazon UK

 Blurb

 Starting over isnít easy, but Ben is ready to live his life as the man he was always meant to be.

Ben is transgender and back at university after hormone treatment and chest surgery. His new housemates have no idea about his history and Ben would prefer to keep it that way. Heís starting from scratch and his life is finally on track, except in the romance department. The idea of dating guys as a guy is exhilarating but terrifying, because if Ben wants a boyfriend heíll have to disclose his secret.

Sid is drawn to Ben from the moment they meet. He normally gets what he wantsóin the short term at least. Benís guarded at first, and Sidís not used to guys rejecting his advances. He eventually charms his way through Benís defences and helps Ben on his journey of sexual awakening.

It doesnít matter to Sid that Ben is trans. Heís attracted to the whole person, and isnít worried about what isóor isnítóin Benís pants. Theyíre good together, and both of them are falling hard and fast, but Benís insecurities keep getting in the way. If Sid can convince Ben he's committed, will Ben finally be able to put his heart on the line?

Although this book is part of the Housemates series, it has new main characters, a satisfying happy ending, and can be read as a standalone.

4.75 out of 5 stars
Starting From Scratch is the 5th book in the Housemates series but could be read as a standalone. I recommend reading the entire series in order as the characters from the previous books are featured prominently in this book. 

Every once in a while a book comes along with characters that grab you and won't let go. This book hits that mark for me, especially Ben. Now the combination of Ben and Sid and their developing relationship, along with Ben's constant character growth, well that's the one-two punch that makes this book my favorite in this series. 

Ben is a university student who's come back after a long break during which he'd realized that he wasn't living his life the right way. He realized that the body and gender he was in wasn't who he was and made the decision to transition from female to male. Now he's chosen to go back to university to 'start over' both as Ben and with a different area of study. Ben lives in off campus housing with a group of LGBT friendly students. While he likes his flat mates, Ben is an introvert who is socially awkward. He keeps to himself and hasn't shared with the rest of the flat that he's transgender. Over the Christmas holiday he makes a decision that when he gets back to university, he's going to be more social with his flat mates, and on his first night out with them he meets Sid and they end up flirting with each other. 

Sid knows the flatmates because he's previously dated Jude. He's seriously attracted to  Ben but they get off to a rocky start. Until finally Ben decides that he should try a date with Sid, and he takes the major step of sharing that he's transgender with Sid. Sid handles Ben's revelation very well, and doesn't walk away or treat him any different then he'd done before. Sid's reaction overall both with Ben and then after when he decides to do some research of his own on what dating a transgender person might entail, is handled about as perfectly as you could get. 

I loved watching these two interact on the page, both as a couple, and then with their friends. Watching Ben come out of his shell with his flatmates and putting himself out there with Sid just made my heart melt. That's not to say that everything is sunshine and roses. Ben still suffers from moments of dysphoria and struggles with being 'enough' for Sid, and enough for himself. It gives Ben and Sid some conflict in their relationship because there are times that Ben gets really quiet and won't share himself with Sid. Most of this comes down to Ben feeling that he's not cis enough for Sid. Which when he does talk to Sid, he reminds Ben that he IS enough for Sid and he's who Sid wants to be in a relationship with. 

Starting from Scratch really is a book that you need to pick up and read for yourself. It's well written, with fantastic main characters and fantastic supporting characters. The story will tug on your emotions but will also give you many smiles and laugh out loud moments, along with some sexy times between Sid and Ben. 

I highly recommend picking this book up for your next read, just make sure you have some time to read it in one sitting. You will not want to put this one down. 




Author Bio

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short storyójust to see if he couldóand found it rather addictive. He hasnít stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. He has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

www.jaynorthcote.com
Twitter
Facebook profile
Facebook Author Page
Newsletter
Jayís books


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Risky Behavior by L.A. Witt and Cari Z. - Blog Tour with Giveaway

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Nate And The New Yorker by Kevin Klehr - Release Day Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway


Title:  Nate and the New Yorker
Series: Nate and Cameron, Book 1
Author: Kevin Klehr
Publisher:  NineStar Press
Release Date: May 1, 2017
Heat Level: 1 - No Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 23300
Genre: Contemporary, cisgender, contemporary, cross-dressing, depression, gay, grief, long distance relationship, non-explicit, paranormal, reunited, romance, vacation

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34807744-nate-and-the-new-yorker


Synopsis

Cameron has it all. He’s rich, lives in Manhattan, and even has a cross-dressing butler. But then he meets Nate, an Australian who’s bitter about love. Cameron is determined to turn this realist into a dreamer by sharing his world of classy restaurants, Broadway shows, and fabulous parties. And while Nate’s friends see the makings of a fantasy romance, it’s Nate who has to learn that in order to open his heart, he has to face a painful secret.



Excerpt

Nate and the New Yorker
Kevin Klehr © 2017
All Rights Reserved


Both Cameron and I had Hawaiian shirts to wear, while Rowena sported a tie-dyed sarong and an afro wig. And around us, interesting guests wore chic little skirts, James Dean–style jackets, hippie gear, and mod wear.

“You haven’t introduced me yet,” said a middle-aged woman to Cameron. Her rust-colored coat had a masculine cut. Yet she elegantly held a long-stemmed cigarette holder with something that smelled very much like a joint burning on the end.

“Sorry,” said my charming American. “This is my friend, Nathan. And this well-dressed lady is my aunt Beverley.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said.

She took my hand and kissed it. “I hope you don’t think me too forward; it’s just that you’ve got such fascinating features.”

“My aunt likes to flirt.”

“It runs in the family,” she replied. She gave me a measured wink. “Now, nephew, where have you been hiding this handsome Englishman?”

“I’m Australian.”

“It’s your accent. I never can tell the difference.”

“I need you!” yelled a girl in a flower necklace. She was the drummer of the band and was addressing our host.

“It’s time,” Cameron said.

“Time for what?” I asked.

He kissed me on the cheek and then headed for the microphone stand.

“You’re in for a treat,” whispered Aunt Beverley, her voice raspy from years of smoking.

“He sings?” I asked.

“He sings,” she replied.

A laid-back strum of the bass guitar started the song, followed by a drum beat. Then the vocal. And before I knew it, I was being serenaded in front of a room full of acquaintances. But, wow! What a unique experience.

“I’ve never seen him go out on a limb for someone like this before,” said his aunt.

I smiled politely, then closed my eyes. He was crooning. His honey voice made my soul rise out of my body and search for a dream. And in the hip nightclub that appeared in my mind, he wore a gray suit with a crimson tie, standing tall in front of the trumpet section who were waiting for their cue. And I was the only one in the club.

“Where are you?” asked Aunt Beverley in a low tone.

I wanted to say I was in love but stopped myself. I realized it was rude to have my eyes closed during Cam’s song. I opened them. He had me in his sights. I wanted to jump into the waves on his Hawaiian shirt and end up on a deserted island with just him and me.

“Would you like a toke of my cigarette, Nathan?”

“No, thank you. I think the fumes have already hit me.”

Purchase Links

NineStar Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/nate-and-the-new-yorker/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DCJCSJ
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/718625
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nate-and-the-new-yorker-kevin-klehr/1123561331
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/nate-and-the-new-yorker-1


Meet the Author

Kevin lives with his long-term partner, Warren, in their humble apartment (affectionately named Sabrina), in Australia’s own ‘Emerald City,’ Sydney.

From an early age, Kevin had a passion for writing, jotting down stories and plays until it came time to confront puberty. After dealing with pimple creams and facial hair, Kevin didn’t pick up a pen again until he was in his thirties. His handwritten manuscript was being committed to paper when his work commitments changed, giving him no time to write. Concerned, his partner, Warren, secretly passed the notebook to a friend who in turn came back and demanded Kevin finish his story. It wasn’t long before Kevin’s active imagination was let loose again.

His first novel spawned a secondary character named Guy, an insecure gay angel, but many readers argue that he is the star of the Actors and Angels book series. Guy’s popularity surprised the author.

So with his fictional guardian angel guiding him, Kevin hopes to bring more whimsical tales of love, life and friendship to his readers.

Author Links

Website: http://www.kevinklehr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DramaQueensWithLoveScenes/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kevinklehr
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4298144.Kevin_Klehr
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJrnpZjgSjbpCiBp-pA3Jw/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/companionmedia/

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive an ebook of their choice from NineStar Press


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While You See A Chance by Alexa Milne - Release Blitz with Excerpt and Giveaway




Buy Links: Manifold | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 Publisher: Manifold Press

 Length: 58,000 words

 Blurb

As children growing up in South Wales, Sion, Phil and Helen were known as the Three Musketeers, always together and never apart - but time moves on. Sion left to lecture in history at Yale. Phil married Helen because it seemed the obvious thing to do, and they settled down to life in Manchester.

Now all three are approaching sixty. After the death of his partner, and wanting to solve a family mystery, Sion returns to his childhood home to start again. When Helen announces she wants a divorce, Phil also returns home, to a new teaching job, and to renovate the ruin of a house he and Sion once dreamed of living in.

Neither man knows the other is back. Neither man knows how the other feels. With so much unsaid, and so many years apart, can Sion and Phil finally face the truth and take a chance on finding happiness together?

 Excerpt

“D’you want help with packing your shopping, sir?” the girl on the till asked in a sing-song voice typical of the area.

“No, thanks, I haven’t got much.” He pulled off a few plastic bags, a difference from the usual brown paper of American supermarkets. In a hurry, he didn’t pay much attention to the people around until a voice, that came from so long ago, distracted him. He lifted his head.

“You have to pay five pence each for those, sir. New rules.”

Sion turned his attention back to the girl. “That’s fine. Don’t worry.”

“You could get a bag for life, sir.”

“Whatever’s easiest.”

He glanced over to the other till in the direction of the voice where a large man stood stuffing his purchases into a bag. He stood well over six feet, with broad shoulders, which Sion supposed tapered down to narrower hips. A heavy suede coat covered the man’s rear, making it hard to tell. His luxuriant salt and pepper locks reflected the many shades that older ginger-haired men often had when mixed with grey. Strands curled over the fur collar of his coat. Something familiar about the man made Sion’s senses tingle.

The assistant at the other till spoke to the customer. “That’ll be eighteen seventy-four please, Mr Price, and I’ll see you at parents’ evening tonight. I hope Jamie’s been behaving himself this term.”

Sion’s breath hitched, and the girl on his till gave him a puzzled look as he turned away. The noise he’d made must have been more audible than he’d intended. Now he was absolutely certain of the man’s identity, even if he hadn’t seen his face. He leaned on the counter and took a deep breath, hoping to slow his racing pulse.

“Are you all right, sir?” the girl asked. “I guess with that accent you’re not from around here. On holiday, is it? It’s a lovely part of Wales, even at this time of year. Lots to do.”

“Yes, sorry, and no, I’ve just moved here,” he said, raising his head to meet her concerned gaze, but keeping his face down. “How much do I owe?”

The girl told him and he handed over the money in a hurry, not wanting to lose sight of the other man. Sion followed his childhood friend until he stopped behind a Land Rover near the entrance. Shaking slightly, Sion moved nearer.

“Phil?” he asked quietly, not wanting to make the man jump.

“What the – ?” Phil stared at him then rubbed his eyes as if he couldn’t quite believe them.

The shock on his friend’s face made Sion step back for a moment. He took in the figure in front of him. Phil had turned into a huge bear of a man, complete with beard. He’d always had the height, but now he had the breadth as well. Sion imagined his size might intimidate the small children in his charge. Now, Phil simply stared, his eyes wide with shock, then took a step backwards as if he’d seen a ghost.

“It’s me, Phil,” Sion said. He supposed he’d also changed over the last thirty years. His hair, now grey, was cut short at the sides but longer on top. He’d put on a few pounds since his teens, but remained lean and wiry, although more through luck and genetics, than diet and exercise.

“Bloody hell.” Phil continued staring, then put out his hand. Sion took it, and they stood shaking and saying nothing for an awkward moment. “My God, Sion, hmm, I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting … What on earth are you doing here? Are you here for Christmas?”

“I’ve just bought a house locally. I’m back to stay. I guess I’m the last person you expected to find out shopping. Mind you, I could say the same for you. I thought you lived up north.”

“I’ve been back four years. I’m head at a local primary school. When Helen and I got divorced, I decided to come home to Wales. So, why on earth are you here of all places?”

Sion had to collect his thoughts and process that information. Phil and Helen had split up? Come on, get your act together. “I decided to move back after … It doesn’t matter for now, it’s a long story. Look, why don’t you and I have dinner tonight and catch up? There must be a decent local restaurant – unless you’re busy, of course. Sorry, that was presumptuous of me.”

Phil lifted the bag into his car then slammed the boot closed. “No … I mean yes. I’m sorry, I can’t do tonight. I’ve got to get going. I slipped out at lunchtime to get a few bits and pieces for parents’ evening.”

Sion heard the shake in his old friend’s voice, but resisted the temptation to reach out and touch him again. “It’s okay,” Sion said, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. He took out a change-of-address card. “I live here now. Call me any time.”

Sion waited while Phil parked the trolley in the bay to the front of the building and returned to his car.

“I will, but I’m not sure when. It’s a busy time of year, leading up to the holidays.” Phil glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go.”

Sion moved closer and this time touched the other man’s arm. “It’s so good to see you again.”

Phil continued to stare at the ground, obviously unable to look him in the eye. “You too, but I must get off. I’ll call as soon as I can.” Phil jumped into his car without looking back.

Sion watched the Land Rover pull out of the car park before returning to his SUV. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he reached for his wallet again. Tucked away inside, he found the photo he’d carried with him for over thirty years, taken the day before he went off on his own to Oxford University. Everyone had called them the Three Musketeers, himself, Phil and Helen, always together, sharing everything except their deepest darkest secrets. Sion had loved Phil with a passion, but had never told him. Phil and Helen had gone off together to Manchester University, and had married not long after they’d graduated. Not wanting to stay, Sion had emigrated to America to lecture in history at Yale.

Leaning back in his seat, he thought back to the conversation he’d had with Helen the day before he’d left for Oxford. He’d often wondered if she ever told Phil about his confession that, being gay, he could never feel that way about her. Sion hoped she hadn’t. He’d been surprised to hear of their engagement, but hoped she’d come to love Phil. For the truth and tragedy of Sion’s life was that he’d only ever been in love with one person, and he’d just watched him drive away.

Author Bio

Originally from South Wales, Alexa has lived for over thirty years in the North West of England. Now retired, after a long career in teaching, she devotes her time to her obsessions. Alexa began writing when her favourite character was killed in her favourite show. After producing a lot of fanfiction she ventured into original writing. She is currently owned by a mad cat and spends her time writing about the men in her head, watching her favourite television programmes and usually crying over her favourite football team.



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