Posts Tagged ‘LGBTQ+’

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ The Geography Of Happiness by Jay Hogan

Posted: November 21, 2024 in Contemporary Romance, Excerpt, giveaways
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The Geography of Happiness

by Jay Hogan

 

(Mackenzie Country, #4)
Publication date: November 21st 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

One thing I know about Terry O’Connor—the man has complicated relationship written all over him, something I’ve avoided for pretty much forever. One thing I know about Terry’s hometown, Painted Bay—it’s a long, long way from my life as a Mackenzie Country veterinarian, and dedicated, carefree bachelor. All of which should be good news.

No reason to look twice at the gorgeous man currently staying at Miller Station with his daughter.

No reason to daydream about his soft lips, quirky sense of humour, sexy smile, or the way he blushes whenever he catches me staring which is far too often.

No reason to second guess my future plans or reconsider the no-strings lifestyle I’ve worked hard to perfect.

And absolutely no reason to feel disappointed that Terry is even less interested in a relationship than I am. I should be relieved.

Then why can’t I stop thinking about him and how right it feels when we’re together? Why does my heart spin at the very mention of his name? And why does the thought of moving on without Terry and his daughter in my life feel like the loneliest decision in the world?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“There’s the welcoming committee.” Luke indicated directly ahead, where three tiny figures stood next to a red-roofed hanger, a group of dogs sitting quietly to one side. “I’ll have you down in a jiffy.”

A minute or so later, the chopper’s skids set down gently on the grass, and I immediately recognised the dog trainer, Zach, from his website. He wore a green checked shirt and light-wash jeans tucked into leather cowboy boots—handsome and wholesomely country. I glanced at Luke who was wearing a broad grin, his attention locked on his husband. The other two men had to be the station owners, Gil and Holden, although I wasn’t sure who was who—one blond and one with a head of messy dark curls.

When the chopper powered down, Zach jogged across and opened Hannah’s door, wearing a dazzling smile that had me warming to him immediately. “Well, hello there, beautiful girl. You must be the one and only Hannah O’Connor.”

Hannah beamed. “I am. Nice to meet you, Mister Lane.”

Luke snorted. “Just call him Zach. We don’t want to give him any ideas.”

“Too late.” Zach threw his husband a cheeky grin. “I think I like the sound of Mister Lane.”

Luke laughed. “Yeah, right. In your dreams, sweetheart.”

“And you must be Terry.” Zach offered me his hand. His website photo had really done zero justice to those stunning green eyes.

“I am.” I shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Right, let’s get you out of there.” Zach offered Hannah a helping hand, which she accepted while I stared at my daughter in amazement. Hannah hated being helped to do anything if she could possibly avoid it.

Hannah turned to grab her elbow crutches and shot me a don’t-you-dare-say-anything look. Like hell. I wasn’t that brave. But it was a good start to the week if my daughter already trusted the trainer, so I took it as a win.

With Hannah on the ground, Gabby swept past my knees to join her while I grabbed our bags, Hannah’s canes which she used on her better days, and her wheelchair which she needed for longer distances.

“Here, let me take some of that.” Luke took our bags and popped the canes under his arms before making his way back toward the other two men.

“Well, hello there, girl.” Zach dangled his hand for Gabby to take a long sniff but made no move to touch her. The retriever eyed him suspiciously before finally nudging his hand with her wet nose in grudging approval. That done, she scoped out her surroundings, her gaze lingering uncertainly on the other dogs.

Zach instructed the group of three to stay where they were. “We’ll let Gabby settle in before they meet properly. Right now she’s understandably nervous. Was that her first flight?”

“First time in a chopper,” Hannah corrected. “She flew to Wellington with us last week and then down to Christchurch.”

Zach nodded. “Helicopters are scary beasts. Looks like she did well. But these surroundings and all the smells are new, and she won’t feel safe leaving your side for a while.”

Hannah nodded. “She’s a good dog.”

Zach smiled approvingly. “I can see that. Now come and meet the others.” He led us across to where Luke stood chatting and waved a hand at the curious canines as he passed. “Get away back.”

Every dog walked a good ten metres away and sat.

“This is a beautiful place you have here,” I commented as we reached the others.

“Not mine, unfortunately.” Zach nodded toward the two men. “Holden here is owner. I just have the privilege of living and working here.”

I kept my surprise under wraps as the younger of the two—mid-thirties at a push—stepped forward to shake my hand, his dark brown eyes scanning my face. “Nice to meet you, Terry. And you, Miss Hannah.” Holden shot Hannah a wink. “Call me Holden.”

Hannah smiled brightly. “Nice to meet you, Holden,”

“And this is my partner and much better half, Gil.” Holden extended his hand toward the blond man who was maybe in his forties with shrewd hazel eyes that seemed to look right through you. The man took it without hesitation, allowing himself to be pulled forward. “Gil manages everything around here that doesn’t have four legs. He’s also a psychologist and is responsible for the station’s wellness retreat programme.”

Gil chuckled. “Well, Holden’s right about the four-legged part, at least. Those critters are definitely not my superpower. Nice to meet you, Terry. You too, Hannah.” He shook hands with both of us.

The two men made a handsome couple, but when I shot a sideways glance to where Luke and Zach were sharing a quiet moment, I amended that thought—make that two handsome couples.

“And while we’re doing introductions . . .” Gil indicated the large huntaway sitting off to one side with the others, his gaze locked on Gil. “That’s Spider. You might say he’s my self-appointed and self-trained assistance dog. Where I go, he goes.”

Hannah’s eyes widened. “Self-trained?”

Gil winked. “I’ll tell you about it one day. The dog next to Spider is Batman, one of Holden’s dogs, and the girl at the end is Nina. She belongs to Zach.”

A car horn blasted, and I turned to see a ute, barrelling down the road beside the air strip, with Oakwood Veterinary Clinic stamped on the driver’s door. As it drew alongside, the ute slowed and the driver stuck his head out the window. “I’ll need to come back to finish the others later in the week. And I want to check that bull again if you can bring him in. I’ll let you know when.”

Holden nodded. “Sure. No problem.”

The driver’s gaze slid sideways to me and a warm smile stole over his face. “So, who do we have here?” He looked me up and down. “A set of fresh victims—oops, I mean guests.”

“Hardy har har,” Gil mocked. “You think you’re so funny.” He shot me an apologetic look. “Excuse our friend here. He’s off his medication.”

“Terry and Hannah, this is our vet, Spencer.” Holden swept a hand toward the ute.

Hannah gave the man a wave. “Hi, Spencer.”

“Hi to you too.” Spencer shot Hannah a sunny smile. “That’s a good-looking dog you’ve got there.”

Hannah practically glowed. “Thanks. Her name’s Gabby. She’s a golden retriever and she’s my service dog. I have juvenile idiopathic arthritis.”

I rested a gentle hand on Hannah’s shoulder. I loved that she was always so open.

“Is that right?” Spencer leaned out his window for a closer look at Gabby. “Well, she sure is a beauty. She must be a big help to you.”

“She is.” Hannah nodded enthusiastically. “But Dad calls her a lovable drain on our bank accounts.”

Everyone laughed, including Spencer.

“Wow, thanks for that, sweetheart.” I walked over to shake Spencer’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

The vet’s warm hand wrapped around mine. “The pleasure is all mine.” His gaze lingered and heat raced into my traitorous cheeks. I smiled faintly and quickly stepped away as he added, “Don’t let these guys boss you around. Before you know it, they’ll put you to work and have you thinking it was all your idea.”

“Ignore him.” Holden slapped the ute’s roof a couple of times. “Go on, get out of here. I’m not paying for your idle chit-chat.”

Spencer laughed. “You wish.” He shot me another quick smile and then disappeared in a cloud of dust.

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About Author Jay Hogan:

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She’s travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel

Website / Amazon / Goodreads / Facebook Page / Facebook Group / Instagram / TikTok / Bookbub

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Peek Inside And Giveaway ~ CINDER31LA by Freida Kilmari

Posted: September 2, 2024 in Excerpt, giveaways, steam punk
Tags: , , ,
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CINDER31LA

by Freida Kilmari

 

Publication date: August 31st 2024
Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+, Retelling, Steampunk

I have 22,280 days left to live.
She only has 31.

Here in Clepsydra, everyone knows when they’re going to die. Born with a life clock embedded into our wrists, the tick-tock of our heartbeat is a pulse we’ll forever hear. Steambotics rule number one? Never mess with a life clock. For 21 years of my life, I’ve followed the rules and walked in my late father’s footsteps, hoping to one day be as good an engineer as he was.

Until she walked into my life.

The princess is dying, and it’s up to me to break the law and do the impossible. To cure time.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

I had 22,280 days to live. That was all the time I would get, whether I liked it or not. The clock never lied. The brass and steel of my lifeclock embedded in my wrist ticked on despite my mental whirring and purring, and I yanked my blue coverall sleeve down to mask the annoying tick tock of my heartbeat.

Returning my attention to the engine in front of me, I asked, “What’ve you got today for me, then?” I popped the hood of the steamer open and watched the faulty lines cross where they shouldn’t and meet where they should, with nothing transferring. “Hmmm . . .” I rubbed sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. “Seems you’ve got yourself all twisted, little buddy. Don’t worry, we’ll have you fixed up in no time.” As if in answer, the steamer chugged and whined, puffing a dirty cloud of old, used air in my face—clearly on its last legs. But I couldn’t return it to Old Mags like this; it was the only way she could see her grandchildren over in Prago City.

I spent all afternoon untangling the steam lines, trying to put them back together in a way that resembled the older models, but this thing was built before I was born and I couldn’t figure out how to line everything up to the radiator.

“Liquid toffee, El,” a synthetic voice croaked out from my desk.

“Ah, sweet toffee.” The bitter and sweet mixture always got my heart pumping.

IoN’s rusted, bronze body no larger than my head whizzed through the air with his new thrusters, his arms dangling behind as he raced back to the kitchen.

“Careful, IoN! You’ll knock something off the shelves if you don’t watch those arms.”

“Well,” he said as he whizzed back out with a can of compressed air, “if you did not pack them full with so many”—he paused and pulled an old project I’d been trying to work on last month from the shelf—“doodads, then I would not have a problem.”

He was always like this, moaning and complaining about the state of the garage these days. But with Dad gone, I had to step up and take over the business—my stepmother wouldn’t want to ruin her perfect new manicure my earnings paid for—and that meant there was no one to help clean up. The shelves on the metal and wood walls had stopped floating some time ago. I had since given up fixing their thrusters and nailed them to the walls the old-fashioned way.

“Just be careful,” I chuckled.

His small, hemispherical body whizzed around the garage, picking up all the tools I’d left lying about this morning after fixing my neighbor’s Instacaff mug. Business had been a bit slow recently—or, as my stepmother liked to remind me, nonexistent. The garage used to shine in the middle of downtown’s business park on level zero; even some of the rich would come to use Dad’s services. “He’s the best in the business,” they’d say, and I’d coo and wonder at his magnificence. Now, it was nothing but a scrappy old building with a broken sign the sun didn’t even reach since they’d built the city’s new level twenty-one a couple of years ago. We’d barely had any sunlight reaching us before, but twenty-one’s entertainment center blocked out the meager shaft of light that used to flicker our way from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. every day. Besides, its white marble and old cog design was an eyesore I could do without. I hated the damn sight of it every time I stepped outside.

“Mom to Cinderella,” the radio echoed across the garage, dispelling my thoughts.

I cringed. I hated that name and she knew it, but I was reminded of the warning my stepmother gave me this morning before leaving our apartment: “Cinderella, darling, don’t forget to make some actual money today, or I’ll be forced to resort to grounding you.” She booped my nose, smiled that cruel, frustrating smile at me, and walked to the local spa for her morning massage.

As if grounding me would help pay the bills. I was the only one working!

“Cinderella!”

I snapped out of the daymare that was her plastered-on face and ran to the radio receiver. “Yes, Phyllis?”

“Cinderella!” the radio crackled again, forcing her voice into octaves even higher than her fake personality would usually reach. “How many times must I tell you to call me ‘Mom’ or ‘Mother.’” She sighed over the receiver. “Really, Cinderella, I simply cannot keep telling you.”

“Sorry, Mother.” My voice retained its usual nondescript tone, hiding anything and everything she might use as leverage over my life. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, now that you’ve actually asked.” She coughed to clear her throat. “I may have a job for you. Someone sent us a letter requesting your assistance at the Dome on level eighteen.”

Level eighteen? I’d never even left level zero. Most commoners didn’t venture farther than level ten, and even that was only if you had a well-paying job or an invitation to take you there. Level eighteen? I bet I could see the sun from up there. Not the small slithers we occasionally got when you found the right street corner at the right time of day, but real, actual sunlight.

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About Author Freida Kilmari:

Freida Kilmari, an author, writer, and editor from south-west England, has a passion for unique fantasy, one that started with the likes of Philip Pullman, Derek Landy, and Darren Shan. With their fantastical words, she spent her childhood and young adult life vying to create her own world of words one day. Eventually, after finishing her degree and settling into being a business owner, she started writing fantasy romance with LGBT+ twists, and from there, she’s kept twisting tropes, retelling fairy tales and legends, and seeing just how far you can push the boundaries of sexuality and gender.

Living in south-west England, she owns and runs Penmanship Editing, a fiction editing business that strives to make the most out of each author’s unique story, words, and heart. “Every writer is different, and it’s those differences that make our work a part of who we are.” She’s worked on over 100 books in the last two years and has received praise from authors and other editors alike for her encouraging and togetherness approach in a field that is lacking uniqueness and empathy.

Website / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Cover Reveal And Giveaway ~ Cordelia Manor by Adam J. Ridley

Posted: August 2, 2024 in Cover Reveal, giveaways, Paranormal or fantasy, Romance
Tags: , ,
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 His inheritance may lead to his death, unless a magical caretaker can save them both.

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Cordelia Manor

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A Haunted Hearts Series Book

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by Adam J. Ridley

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Genre: LGBTQ M/M Paranormal Romance

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His inheritance may lead to his death, unless a magical caretaker can
save them both.

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Evan inherits a mysterious manor house that’s filled with restless spirits and Cary is the
manor’s magical caretaker charged with managing them.

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When the two meet, they unwittingly become the target of one of the manor’s most vengeful
ghosts.

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Despite the dangers, a passionate and deep love blossoms between them. Will that love be
enough to protect them as they unravel Cordelia Manor’s secrets, or
will the past repeat itself, destroying them and all they’ve built
together?

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Cordelia Manor is part of the Haunted Hearts series.

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Haunted Hearts is an Own-Voices Paranormal Romance
Series about love and the things go boo in the night. Join us on our
romantic journeys over 10 books from some of your favorite authors!
Be sure to read the entire series so you don’t miss a moment of
falling in love, or sometimes falling into a happily ever after-life!
Each book is a standalone but why not read them all? Everyone
deserves the HEA!

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Amazon
* Goodreads

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**Check out the rest of the Haunted Hearts Series!**

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Find them on Amazon! 

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After years of writing romance under the pen name Blake Allwood, I decided
to pursue my other genre passion, fantasy and science fiction. Adam
J. Ridley is the reality of that pursuit.
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My husband of 28 years and I have had an adventurous life. We’ve had many businesses, we’ve
raised over twelve foster children, two of which we adopted, and had
at least two professional careers.

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To say we are people who seek experiences is an understatement.

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As I’ve grown older, my passions seem to be better reflected in my imagination. Fantasy,
urban fantasy, and science fiction all allow me to escape into
worlds that transcend life. I’ve always been a major lover of
fantasy writing and started reading it at a rather young age.

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My husband and I travel full-time now in our RV (caravan for those not in the United States.)
We’ve been doing this since 2017 and y’all, we love it.

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Please join me on Facebook, and other social media sites. I work hard to be easily accessible to my
readers, cause you all are the reason for all the lovely work!

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Website
* Facebook
* Instagram *
Bookbub *
Amazon
* Goodreads

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Follow the reveal HERE  for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Science Of Attraction by Jay Hogan

Posted: February 26, 2024 in Contemporary Romance
Tags: ,
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The Science of Attraction
Jay Hogan
(A Mackenzie Country Story, #3)
Publication date: February 22nd 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

I am Mackenzie Country born and bred. Farming the high country runs in my blood, like my father, and his father, and my great grandfather before him. My future has been mapped out for me since the day I was born. Or at least it was, until Liam Skelton walks onto Lane Station, lights a fire in my heart, and turns my whole world upside down.

Bossy, tatted, and out and proud, Liam is everything my father abhors.
And I want him.
Badly.

But having a chance with Liam means risking everything. My family. My future. And my life in these mountains that I love.
Still, the heart wants what it wants, and mine wants Liam.

With so many things against us, maybe we don’t have a chance.
Maybe we’ll crash and burn.
Or maybe we’ll find a way to have it all.

Goodreads / Amazon

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

Julian Lane unsettled me in a way not many men did, and it was troubling, to say the least. I’d had a couple of long-term relationships in my life, but I’d never lived with anyone or wanted more. Being a fairly self-contained person, I liked my own company. I spent most days working intimately with people’s complex needs. It was intense, challenging work, and at the end of the day or the finish of a contract, my home was my sanctuary, and I guarded it with my life.

The idea of a man cluttering up that space with their things, inconvenient demands, or just the mere fact of their presence sent horrifying chills racing down my spine. I rarely got flustered by a guy, and certainly not the way Julian unnerved me with his capable air, glittering grey eyes, and that profound sense of knowing his place in the world.

Julian had the air of a man who knew who he was and where he belonged. You wouldn’t need to jolly a man like Jules along to make him feel wanted, soothe an ego bent out of shape, or play down your success so as not to threaten his by comparison. Men like that were rare and held an intoxicating allure for someone like me.

But Jules was also my client’s son, and that alone should’ve made him forbidden fruit even for a bit of harmless crushing. Should’ve. But there’d been something about his smile that first day. Something about the way I’d caught him looking at me when he didn’t think I was watching. And maybe the way I felt when he looked at me, as well.

The whole thing was fucking with my head.

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About Author Jay Hogan:

Heart, humour and keeping it real.

Jay is a 2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance and her book Off Balance was the 2021 New Zealand Romance Book of the Year.

She is a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense, primarily set in New Zealand. She writes character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality and a splash of angst. She’s travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life she was a critical care nurse, nurse educator and counsellor. Jay is owned by a huge Maine Coon cat and a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel

Find Jay in all the places: https://www.jayhoganauthor.com/landingpage

 

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Honey Moon Murder by Dahlia Donovan~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: February 7, 2024 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways
Tags: , , ,
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Honey, Romance, and Danger…

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Honey Moon Murder

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Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 3

by Dahlia Donovan

Genre: LGBTQ MM Romance, Cozy Mystery

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Honey, Romance, and Danger…

As August winds down, George Sheth and Murphy Baird are ready to put months of murder mysteries behind them. They hope for calmer days as they move in together. But it’s all for nought when his pug, Bumble, stumbles on the body of a new bride in the middle of the lane.

It’s clear Bumble didn’t kill anyone, but someone did—and they may have set their sights on George.

With a wedding party full of potential suspects, they find themselves caught between the police and angry family members. Can they make it safely through the end of summer alive?

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Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

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“Moon’s out.” Margo lazily raised her arm to point up into the midnight sky. “Days are finally starting to get shorter again. We’re ready for the steep descent into autumn.”

“Yes, that’s what happens in August.” George smothered a yawn into his shoulder, unable to move his hands since his elderly pug, Bumble, and Margo’s Chihuahua, Treacle, had taken up possession of them and his lap in general. The two pups were the best of friends. “I’m glad. It’s been a bizarre summer. Dead bodies practically falling out of the sky.”

“There were two murders. A month apart. And neither body fell out of the sky.” Margo poked a hole in his dramatic retelling. “It hasn’t been all bad. You’ve finally admitted to being in love with Murphy Baird. You’re moving in together. I’ve started dating Teagan. We’ve had good things this summer. Don’t let your mind trick you into focusing on the bad.”

“My mind is not always my best friend.” George accepted and appreciated all the quirks that made up who he was. But there were times when being autistic added additional hurdles to his life. “It does make things interesting, though.”

It had been a busy summer for George Bernard Sheth. Maybe the most active since he’d moved from Edinburgh to a little cottage in Dufftown, where he’d created his perfect wild garden, complete with multiple beehives. They were his greatest passion.

The swarming had died down at the end of July. He’d spend August harvesting honey and preparing his colonies for the onset of the cooler months. It was a routine he knew well after several years of tending to his bees.

Closing his eyes momentarily, George allowed himself to enjoy the calm of Margo’s garden. His cousin didn’t go beyond their cosy little corner of the village often and rarely got into a car, still struggling with post-traumatic stress brought on by an accident during her time as a paramedic. They visited each other daily since he lived just down the lane.

They shared their love of gardens and calm, along with the thick black hair and deep brown eyes inherited from their fathers. The Sheth brothers had moved from Udaipur to Edinburgh with their parents years ago, but his uncle had been the one to move to Dufftown. His mum and dad had remained in the larger city, preferring it to quiet village life.

“You’re due a cut.” Margo interrupted his thoughts.

George reached up to clasp the end of his ponytail. “Back, demon.”

“I’m serious. It’s longer than you usually let it get.” Margo laughed when he tried to fend her off with a made-up prayer. “George.”

“Margo.” He hated having his hair trimmed, often going years between cuts to avoid the experience. He occasionally tried to do it himself. “My heart weeps for your lack of empathy.”

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**Don’t miss the rest of the Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries!**

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Honey Mead Murder

Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 1

https://books2read.com/honeybearmurder1

Honey Bee Murder

Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 2

https://books2read.com/honeybearmurder2

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Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

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Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Newsletter

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

The Vet’s Shelter Surprise by Elle Douglas ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: October 26, 2023 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: , ,
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The Vet’s Shelter Surprise

by Elle Douglas

 

Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Publication date: October 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

An unlikely volunteer…

Saving more than the shelter!

When Georgia O’Neill bursts into the Sunset County Animal Shelter, wary veterinarian Mel Carter doesn’t know what’s hit her. But soon, Georgia’s California rays of sunshine are lighting up even the darkest parts of Mel’s heart, still raw after a heart-wrenching betrayal. Still, PR pro Georgia is set only on rehabbing her image while cleaning out her beloved aunt’s cottage. Mel’s life in rural Canada can’t possibly compete with LA glamour…can it?

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

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Enjoy this peek inside:

“Alright. Follow me,” Mel said, leading Georgia down the bright hallway toward the back room. Time to see how she’d do with their resident reptiles. “Right in here,” she said, motioning to the open door at the end of the hall. “After you.”

Heels clicking against the linoleum, Georgia breezed by, leaving the floral scent of her shampoo in her wake and causing Mel to take a deep breath before following her into the room. How was it that something as inane as hair soap could make her heartbeat rev up to double time, and make her palms sweat like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day? It really had been too long.

Mel surveyed Georgia’s reactions as she walked between the reptile tanks, silently peering into each one with a curious expression.

“Who’s this one? What’s his name?” she asked, pointing to the iguana.

“That’s Sherbet. And she’s a she,” Mel said.

“Okay. Cute. And who’s this?” Georgia pointed to the turtle.

“That’s Pixie. Careful with that one. She almost took my finger off last time I fed her,” she said. She followed Georgia to the gecko tank. “Lollipop is the brown-and-white one, and Gummy Bear is the yellow one.” She waited for Georgia to approach the final tank, which housed a ball python snake named Slinky. Slinky was mellow and gentle, as well as nonvenomous, but Mel knew very few people who liked being in the presence of his sort. Time to see how much Georgia really wanted to volunteer at the shelter.

To Mel’s surprise, Georgia scanned the tank and tapped quietly on the glass. “A snake,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Slinky,” said Mel. Georgia was full of surprises, she was starting to realize. “Most people don’t want to go near him with a ten-foot pole.”

“I lived outside the desert for a few years as a kid. Place was teeming with snakes,” she said. “Okay, next stop?” Her sparkling hazel eyes ratcheted up Mel’s heartbeat from double time to a full-on Ginger Rogers tap dance.

Next stop was the bunny room. Mel was doomed.

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Author Elle Douglas:

Elle Douglas writes small-town contemporary romance for lovers of warm, feel-good stories that are on the sweeter side. Elle’s novels feature strong, relatable characters living in tight-knit communities, with a backdrop of stunning Canadian wilderness.

Elle is a lover of 90’s alternative music, a wannabe chef specializing in comfort food and a sometimes reluctant but usually dedicated gym-goer who lives in Toronto with her romance muse partner and their cat Lucy (or Lucifer, depending on the day). Between writing romance novels and working as a high school guidance counsellor, Elle works exclusively in helping others find their happily-ever-afters.

She is a graduate of TMU’s Radio and Television Arts program, OISE at U of T, and the U of T Creative Writing program, and is a member of Toronto Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers.

Visit her website at elledouglas.com or find her on Instagram at @elledouglaswriter

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Honey Mead Murder by Dahlia Donovan ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: October 6, 2023 in Cozy Mystery, giveaways, Romance
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Get ready for a charmingly quirky romance with a twist of murder mystery in Honey Mead Murder!

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Honey Mead Murder

Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 1

by Dahlia Donovan

Genre: LGBTQ MM Romance, Cozy Mystery

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Get ready for a charmingly quirky romance with a twist of murder mystery in Honey Mead Murder!

Follow the heart-warming story of George Bernard Sheth, a devoted pug and bee lover, who has been secretly crushing on a local mead brewer. But when a customer dies during a mead tasting, Murphy Baird, the brewer, finds himself at the centre of a police investigation.

As the two navigate the murder mystery, they find themselves falling deeper in love, all while trying to stay alive long enough for their first date. With meddling friends and unexpected plot twists, “Honey Mead Murder” is a must-read for anyone who loves a good MM romance and a thrilling mystery.

Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

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“Oi. Mister Grump? Your carthorse has arrived.”

Murphy stood up from where he was crouched down to inspect the latest delivery. “Carthorse? Hardly. I’ve already brought the delivery inside. And for the millionth time, Tea. I am not a grump.”

“No, you just hate mornings, afternoons, people, sunlight, basically everyone but your lovely George.” Teagen was, as always, immune to his glowering at them. “Well?”

“Hate is a strong word. I don’t hate you.” Murphy wasn’t entirely sure he liked his best friend every day, but he didn’t hate them. “Come on then, Tea. We’ve got a fresh batch of honey delivered yesterday. We also need to check on the two-year casks. Probably want another year on them just to get them where we want the flavour.”

For six years, Murphy had run Honey Bear Brewery. It had been a play on his nickname of Paddington, earned during his brief stint in the military, owing to his surname of Baird and his tall, stocky build. His dark brown hair and scruffy beard certainly didn’t help put people off the comparison.

His grumbly stubbornness came from both his Irish and Scottish sides. His ma had always claimed he bore more than a passing resemblance to his great-granddad Murphy. She’d been so proud when he’d decided to continue the family tradition of running a brewery.

For the first two years, Murphy had gone with simple ales. But then, he’d developed a close friendship with a local beekeeper, George Sheth. The younger man had been struggling to sell his honey.

His pride and joy.

Inspired by George, Murphy had decided to begin experimenting with family recipes. Something from his Scottish side. His da had a collection of mead ones that dated back a century or more. It had taken some trial and error to get everything right, but his brewery and the small pub attached to it were doing well six years later.

“Well? Did you finally ask our playwright out?”

“Tea.” Murphy shook his head at their teasing grin. “It’s George Bernard Sheth. Not Shaw. Plus his ma’s Scottish, not Irish, and his dad’s from India, so I highly doubt either of them are related to a famed Irish playwright.”

“Must you take all the joy out of my play on names and words? Besides if they didn’t want anyone to make the connection, why name him George Bernard? Fine, fine. Well? Did you ask him out?”

“He’s named for his ma, Georgie, and I think a great-uncle. And no, I… couldn’t ask him out.”

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Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads * Newsletter

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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The Covenant Sacrifice by Lee Allen Howard ~ Excerpt And Giveaway

Posted: July 9, 2023 in giveaways, horror, Romance
Tags: , , ,
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When the dead return to abduct the living, the living turn into monsters…

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The Covenant Sacrifice

by Lee Allen Howard

Genre: LGBTQ Horror Romance

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When the dead return to abduct the living, the living turn into monsters…

Jarod Huntingdon wants more than anything to start a family, yet he’s unable to commit to his girlfriend and isn’t sure why. When the father of his childhood best friend, Scotty, passes away, Jarod takes the opportunity to return home to the remote rural community of Annastasis Creek for a season of soul-searching.

But overnight, a violent rainstorm traps everyone in the valley, blocking roads and severing communication with the outside world. And one by one, the residents of Annastasis Creek go missing.

While helping with the search efforts, Jarod learns of a curse as old as he is, one tied to the reappearance of the cicadas, first placed on the community after five young people perished in a house fire decades before. To temporarily appease the curse, defrocked Pentecostal pastor Uriah Zalmon must find a sinner to sacrifice.

The dead are returning to Annastasis Creek…

Can Jarod break the curse for good, save the innocent from the homophobic Covenant Trustees, and vanquish what the screaming cicadas have awoken?

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**Releases July 14!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Bookbub * Goodreads

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An Excerpt from Chapter 4

by Lee Allen Howard

 

Agatha Abbott led the young goat into the shack behind her house, which lay hidden deep in the woods of north-central Pennsylvania. Bats chittered overhead in the darkened rafters as the old woman fixed the rope to a gore-crusted post planted in the hardpacked earth. The animal bleated, and Agatha yanked the rope, hard. She had no heart for animals. No heart for anyone but her Master.

At Baphomet’s bidding, she had mated her chosen Samael and Lilith, and their unholy union had produced the beast—the new god that would break the oppressive grip of Christianity off the world.

Agatha withdrew items necessary for the ceremony from her dress pocket and arranged them on the dirt floor.

The time had come. The song of the cicadas had begun, heralding another long-awaited opportunity to reclaim what she and her now-dead grandsons had toiled for years to produce. They had tried and tried again to breed so many girls who’d either killed themselves or otherwise failed to carry the ceremonial seed to full term. Finally, the Abbotts had succeeded, only to have the offspring stolen from them. Snatched away and hidden for over three decades.

The captor of the beast-child had kept it secretly confined. Coerced it somehow into an unnatural state of hibernation. But the infernal progenitor was meant to awaken forevermore and enact the Master’s plan: to fill the skies with winged death. It was time to set her beast-child free.

As she’d done years before, Agatha unfolded a lace handkerchief and picked out a few dark hairs and some fingernail parings she’d saved for thirty-four years. She scraped some flaky material from the clippings and brushed it all from her gnarled hands into a shard of broken crockery on the floor.

From the belt of her tattered dress, she pulled her kitchen knife and tested the blade with her thumb. Sharp as a razor. She sucked salty blood away.

The old woman grasped the kid by the nub of a horn and, with a deft motion, slashed its throat. The goat jumped once and then collapsed.

Agatha caught the hot, coppery blood in her withered hand and drizzled the dish’s contents with it. Outside, the wind moaned through the trees and buffeted the shack as if in answer.

“O wise Baphomet, I bring thee the hair of the woman, the skin of the man. Solve et coagula…” Agatha incanted the ancient spell, spilling three handfuls of blood upon the shard. She lifted a final draught to her lips, willing the darkness to be released once more.

“Come forth,” she croaked. “Come forth!”

Agatha licked her bloody hand, then raised it overhead.

“I command thee to come forth,” she cried, “and sing!”

 

Copyright 2023 Lee Allen Howard. All rights reserved.

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Lee Allen Howard writes dark fiction: horror, LGBTQ+ horror, supernatural crime, dark crime, dark mysteries, and psychological thrillers. And technical manuals. All terribly horrifying.

I’ve been a technical writer and publishing system administrator in the software industry since 1985. (Why do fiction writers pretend like they don’t have day jobs? I like to eat just like everyone else!) I also edit dark fiction and non-fiction projects. I’ve done book layout and publishing consultancy.

A long time ago I earned a bachelor’s in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I also earned a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from CI School of Theology and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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$40 Amazon giftcard,

A copy of my short fiction collection Perpetual Nightmares,

A copy of my supernatural thriller Death Perception

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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This Will Hurt Part II by Cara Dee ~ Peek Inside And Giveaway

Posted: June 4, 2023 in Contemporary Romance, giveaways
Tags: , , ,
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This Will Hurt II

by Cara Dee

 

(June 2nd 2023)
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Part II of II Angst Awakening Friends to Lovers Family

Buckle in. Roe and Jake have mountains to climb, walls to tear down, and countless private moments to bring them even closer in this final part of their journey.

The ground beneath me had finally settled. I was content. I was all right. I could move forward and live with my choices.

Then I found Jake’s damn journal from… therapy. That was right. My best friend, who defined “man of few words,” was in therapy. The ground started shaking again. I got desperate. I got angry. I…almost lost him on the job when he saved my life.

Nothing was settled anymore.

Goodreads / Amazon

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Enjoy this peek inside:

What the fuck did you wear to a country concert?

I grabbed a pair of jeans and boxer briefs from the closet, then walked back into the bedroom and picked up my phone from my nightstand. I sent Jake a message.

I’m fresh out of chaps and cowboy hats. What should I wear, hoss?

While I waited for his response, I removed the towel around my hips and put on the boxers and jeans.

“Dada, I’m-wa no baff!”

I glanced over at the door as my boy ran in, with Sandra hot on his tail.

I grinned faintly and swooped him up. “Look out, we got a runner ova’ hea’.” I peppered his face with smooches, and he giggled up a storm. “You can’t escape bath time, baby boy. But you know what comes after, don’t you? Mommy’s gonna read you a story.”

“Nooo,” he complained.

“Yeees,” I mimicked.

Sandra sighed and smiled ruefully. “Let’s go, sweetie. We’ll get extra bubbles and everything.”

“Hear that? We love those bubbles.” I handed over the clinging monkey to her and pressed a kiss to the side of his head.

“I don’t wannaaa,” he whined.

Sandra carried him out, only to stop in the doorway and turn back to me. “You sure you don’t wanna cancel?”

Positive—and I wasn’t fighting with her about it again.

“I won’t be late,” was all I said.

The teasing glint in her eyes faded, and she walked out.

I released a breath.

My phone dinged on the nightstand, and I walked over and read Jake’s text.

I’ll tell you you’re pretty no matter what you wear, sugar.

I laughed silently and shook my head.

Helpful.

Whatever. I returned to the closet and dug out a long-sleeved tee that made my biceps look good. We were going to an outdoor place up in Griffith Park, so it was bound to get chilly. But I liked that it wasn’t a huge concert. Only some five thousand people. It beat going to the Staples Center.

Jake picked me up downstairs fifteen minutes later, and the most country thing about him continued to be his truck. It made no sense to drive a truck in LA. But he loved it, and I really had no room to argue choices of vehicles. I was still a laughingstock after buying a sports car before Casper was born. Worst deal ever. I’d probably lost twenty grand when I’d traded it in for a family-friendly SUV.

“Hey, pretty.” Jake pulled out from the curb. “I see you found clothes.”

“No thanks to you.” I smiled and buckled my seat belt. “Will I see a lot of chaps tonight?”

“If I drop you off in West Hollywood instead, I’m sure there’s a club for you.”

I laughed. Funny.

“Oh, this is a good one.” He cranked up the volume on the stereo. “He’ll probably play this tonight.”

I side-eyed him, more interested in studying Jake than hearing a song. There was something inherently sexy about how he drove. He made life look easy when he was on the road. One arm along the edge of the window, the sleeves of his open flannel shirt rolled up—some serious forearm porn going on—two fingers gripping the wheel loosely at the bottom. He tapped his foot to the rocky beat, and his lips moved subtly to the singer’s voice.

Ratty USMC ball cap on the dash. Since he always wore it backward, he took it off when a headrest was in the way.

Fitting lyrics, about holding on to things you believed in.

Of course, it being a country rock song, the topic was the singer’s truck.

“It’s the miles that make a man.”

How many miles till I fell out of love with him?

“I’d be nothing without you, so I’m holding on.”

Surprisingly, a line not about the truck.

“I’m not the openin’ act,” he chuckled. “Quit starin’.”

That was the fucking problem, wasn’t it? He was the headliner.

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Author Cara Dee

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I’m a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

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Kidnapped Killer by Nina R. Schluntz ~ Interview And Giveaway

Posted: October 20, 2022 in giveaways, Interview, Romance
Tags: , ,
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Kidnapped Killer

by Nina R Schluntz

Genre: LGBTQ Dark M/M Paranormal Romance

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One brief encounter and Jimena is determined to make Nic his at all costs. He wants him to be completely and utterly at his mercy. But, popular, gorgeous Nic doesn’t see Jimena. He is background material at best.
Until Jimena drugs him at a bar and ties him up in his basement.
If that didn’t get Nic’s attention, then the dozen or so bodies buried in the basement he’s tied up in does.
Nic feeds on souls. They taste better if they are flavored by strong emotion, usually fear or pain.
Jimena tastes different. His soul is flavored in obsessive love, focused on Nic. He’s never been loved by someone before, even if it is an unhealthy love and Jimena wants him dead. Not in a hateful way, but in a, I don’t want anyone else to have you, kind of way.
If only Nic could convince him to try being a normal boyfriend, he might be able to feed off Jimena’s soul for a few decades.
A deadly dance begins. A demon wanting to be loved and a serial killer wanting to kill his lover.
If they can find a balance, they might just find they’re perfect for each other.

**Get it FREE!!**

Amazon * Goodreads

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Interview with Author Nina R. Schluntz

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When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

 

I was holding a pen and scribbling gibberish from the start. Before I even knew how to write words, I was jotting down tales in a notebook I carried around. My earliest memories are of me in the backseat of the car, writing away, then getting annoyed later when I couldn’t read my notes, because it was just scribbles.

 

What is your favorite writing quirk (about yourself)?

 

I can stop writing in the middle of a sentence, then come back weeks or months later and pick right up where I’d stopped. My brain just has a pause button. I don’t take notes or anything either. The stories do change if I wait too long, but I can still pick up the paragraph or sentence from right where I left off.

 

What do you do when you are not writing?

 

The things most people do, watch tv or movies, read a good book. Recently I got into hydrangeas—I do not recommend them. They are up their with orchids in the care department, at least for us non-green thumb folks.

 

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

 

The brainstorming process is my favorite. When the stories and characters are just in my head. Once I start putting them on the pages, it turns into work. All that editing and such.

 

How do you know when a book is “the one” to write?

 

When I think of a scene that gives me a physical response. Whether crying or butterflies, if the idea makes me feel something, then I know it will for the readers too.

 

What do you think makes a good story?

 

The ones that give you that emotional kick in the gut. You need to get invested to the point you are hurting or cheering right along with the characters.

 

What comes first, for you, character or plot?

 

Scenes. There will usually be one scene that I think of, and then the whole story is written around bringing that pivotal moment to life.

 

What was the spark or inspiration for this story?

 

I have a friend who is a beta reader and he has always wanted me to write a vampire story. He loves vampires. I decided to make a reluctant pairing. A vampire who doesn’t want a mate, he has been scorned to many times. And a human man, who, like many of us, doesn’t think he can get pregnant. His attraction to the vampires actually repulses him and makes him want to fight them even more, giving people just cause to think he’s a vampire slayer.

 

The story includes three love stories. All three are reluctant pairings. One is a man who gets turned into a vampire, despite trying to avoid such a thing all his life. And the last is a woman who has not tested positive as someone who can be a surrogate, yet fate has other ideas.

 

How did you decide on the title of your book?

At first it was Vampire Dairi, but I figured no one would know what a Dairi is. Dairi is a substitute, proxy or agent. I went with Surrogate for a Vampire, so the readers would understand better.

 

Describe your book in five words (or less), and why?

 

Vampires need humans for reproduction.

 

And not in the traditional sense! The men can get the human women pregnant! You’ll have to read it to find out more.

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Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.

Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl from the stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so called “calming kitten.”

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

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