Blog Tour: The Guy With The Suitcase by Chris Ethan #Excerpt #Review #Giveaway

Title: The Guy With The Suitcase
Series: Once Upon a Guy, Book One
Author: Chris Ethan
Genre: Gay Romance, Contemporary, New Adult
Length: Novel

Synopsis

Pierce is homeless.
Young and strong-willed Pierce has been living in the streets of New York City for six months, since his parents kicked him out of their perfect, Christian, suburban house. Pierce is gay. And he is suffering the consequences for being true to himself.
Rafe is homeless.
He is also sick. Impressionable, but far from innocent, Rafe ran away from home almost a year ago. His sickness is slowly killing him. But Rafe is not a hopeless case. He has learned to get by. Nights of paid passion turn to sheltering warmth from the imminent New York winter.
And then there’s a suitcase. Pierce’s suitcase, which holds secrets from everyone including its owner.
When their worlds collide, their lives intertwine and when the world seems bent on bringing the two souls to their knees, fate has other plans for them.
Caution: Contains adult language, New York City streets, tough life choices, sexual tension, stubborn brutes and swoon-worthy romance.

Buy Links

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018RE9K7E/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018RE9K7E/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B018RE9K7E/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B018RE9K7E/

Excerpt

“Sure,” Rafe said and unhooked his rucksack from his back and loosened the string. Before he had any time to pull out his stash, Pierce pulled some bills out of his pocket and gave them to the receptionist. He paused before letting them go. “No, Pierce. You don’t have to do that. Really,” Rafe begged him, stopping the receptionist from putting the money away.

“It’s okay, Rafe,” Pierce said and walked out of the hostel. Rafe took the money off the receptionist’s hand and followed Pierce, excusing himself.

“Wait, up. Pierce!” he was standing outside when Rafe came out the door waiting for Rafe. “You don’t have to give your money to me. I can…” he started to say pressing the bills, and his hand, on Pierce’s chest, but Piece cut him off.

“Rafe, stop. I want to do this. I…I want you to be safe. Especially after such a stupid night,” Pierce said, staring at the traffic and pushing Rafe’s hand off his chest. The man was playing so tough — and he was, kicking everyone’s butt to prove as much — but ask him to talk about his feelings and he blushes like a little girl.

“Well,” Rafe said stepping in front of Pierce and his point of focus to force him once again to look him in the eyes and finish what he wanted to say. “Thank you. You…there’s a sweetheart under that brute after all,” he told him and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t be a stranger, stranger”.

Rafe disappeared back inside the hostel and got his keys from the receptionist.

“He your boyfriend?” he asked, giving him a purple keyring with a number written on it.

Rafe smiled. “I wish.” He grabbed the keys and went to bed.

*sigh* okay so this story really killed me. I now know what a block of cheese feels like after going through a grater. We have two homeless guys, Pierce & Rafe. Pierce is a huge hearted guy and protective of Rafe. Rafe is a small, ill, character. And you wonder kind of how he made it all this time without Pierce.

This is a story with so much heart break, sorrow, and utter pain. It’s enemies to love thing that Pierce and Rafe have is momentary almost, when they are together you are wrapped in hope.

But with every great thing that happens for them a bad, dark thing happens in its place.

This book had me in tears, clutching my Kindle so that I didn’t throw it across the room. It’s not an easy read for your heart.

I feel it’s necessary to tell you there is a HEA I have to tell you that because I don’t want you to not finish it thinking it’s hopeless for them.

And it feels that may like a million times. You can do it! PERSEVERE!

The only note I would give the author is to go back and make corrections to the errors throughout this story grammar and otherwise. I was able to move past it because the story is gripping but some shining wouldn’t hurt.

Giveaway

Prize Bundle: The Guy With The Suitcase Mug, Chris Ethan pen, and $5 Amazon Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Chris Ethan is a book whore. He enjoys selling his feelings for money and other pleasures and is blatantly unashamed to do so for as long as he breathes. Chris Ethan is also a persona for Rhys Christopher Ethan, author of fantasy and sci-fi. He uses Chris Ethan to share stories of adult queer romance with those who need it. Before you delve into his books however, be warned. He likes putting his characters through shitstorms and hates anything conventional. But then there’s that darned happy-ever-after. Also, he likes swearing. Deal with it!
Social links:
Website: http://www.rcethan.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Rhys_Ethan
Facebook: http://facebook.com/rcethan1

Promotional Post: Is This Desire? by R. Paone #Excerpt #Giveaway

Author: R. Paone
Series: Only If Series (Book 2)
Publication Date: February 27, 2016
Length: 129 Pages

He said, "Never stop."

I said, "Never will."

Devastated by the realization of Mitch’s misgivings, Robert has cast himself aside unable to process his current reality. Exposed to a love that is debilitating but also rewarding, he must now face the consequences of secrets, addiction, and desire if he is to continue forward with his heart and disregard his doubts.

Sooner or later, Mitch reappears in Robert’s life unable to break away from what he feels deep within as he questions the bond between them both. It is a domineering bond that could break at any moment by the forces meaning to keep them apart no matter what. 

“Is This Desire?” documents the continuing story of a flourishing love as it grows at an increasing speed. As Robert faces Mitch’s demons, Mitch himself must reclaim his independence and sanity if they are ever to be together. 

BUY ON AMAZON

EXCERPT

Where did the love go? 

Where did my common sense go? 

I wasn’t too sure, remember it was just a few months ago that everything fucked up. Sometimes things fuck up and you roll with the punches. I’m sure someone said that somewhere.

I didn’t know where my mind was headed right now at the particular moment. It was distracted by all this stimuli hitting me at every direction. I was paying attention because it took me a solid second to realize my phone had been buzzing for the last several. At first I thought it was one of those phantom texts you find yourself reaching for throughout the day finding that no one actually texted you. On this occasion I was wrong as I reached deep into my pocket feeling another text buzz. I thought it could have been anyone, wishing that these last few hours were not just a few random occurrences. One after another. I wanted the text to be from anyone else besides Mitch.

Except this time I was not right. It was in fact from Mitch. His text message was only two lines:

I need to see you.

Come over now, please.

Even though it was only a text message, I began to imagine the words coming out of his mouth, the tone of his voice. Almost like he was a couple inches in front of me or something, holding my hands and pleading with me to come to him. Grace him with my presence. It wasn’t only just the text that distracted me and upsetter my stomach only more, it was the way he wrote the message. The simplicity of the text, the punctuation for some reason drove me crazy like there was desperation looming. He wasn’t asking me to just come over, he was stating that I come. It was punctuated with a period. Full sentence, stop.

There was no room for interpreting, no more time to read into these things.

Was he in trouble? Was he going to hurt himself, I thought.

Even though I only had begun to experience a small amount of his faults, it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Mitch probably had a drinking problem. I knew that he liked going out and drinking at a party or whatever it may be as long as there was some booze around. It could just be some sort of self-medicating and that part scared me to death. I knew bad decisions could be made but there was no way I would question the severity of something like that. There would be no taking chances because my paranoia made me worried, seeing his texts messages as a cry for help that something was wrong. I began to imagine him sitting there alone in his apartment, a shell of his former self. There was a part of hime in my memory that delivered moments of closeness and warmth. These only drove the knife of worry deeper into my heart that made it ache and long for him. I closed my eyes again seeing him grabbing one of my hands, squeezing them hard to the point where all of the veins would pulse forcing the blood to rush to all of my digits. I opened back up my phone and decided to text him back.

Are you home? 

He responded almost immediately. Yes.

I wrote back even faster than before. I’m on my way. Don’t go anywhere.

I locked the phone screen and saw my life flash before my eyes ad if there was an oracle speaking to me about my future. Was my conscience already well aware of what was going to take place? I was in a position as usual that I didn’t want to force back into hiding nor fight. I wanted to see Mitch as much as I wanted to see why he requested that I come over “now.” Nothing frightened me more than the previous thoughts of him alone overcome with desperation. Ignoring what has been blooming between us didn’t do me any justice, the ideal of the love between us changed me. I saw a semblance of a new day in the future even though I pictured a hard road of recovery ahead. There was the Robert of yesterday, someone totally different and a little jaded before meeting Mitch. All past preconceived notions about me were out the window, I did want love. I wanted it here in this very room. Now my level of concern was heightened for Mitch in these precise moments. I needed to get out of here. He needed me now.

My feet took flight. 

***

Anguish has seized me.

Fear flooded my thoughts. Irrational thoughts I couldn’t control out of fear of my love for him.

A longing took hold. I looked to my heart for all the answers.I looked out in front of the me, the sidewalks and streets were empty. The wind moved in loud gushes as it pasted my ears threatening to sweep me up. I wasn’t sure how long I had been running but I was flying through the side streets trying to avoid the red lights that would slow me down. Slowing me down and keeping me from him. I held onto my phone for dear life as my heaving breath became jagged as the speed of my moving picked up. The hunger for food I felt was gone, I did not want to eat. I only wanted to be given the chance to comfort. In my haste I had dropped the small plastic bag of snacks I had picked up at the corner store. I didn’t give a shit thinking that maybe someone who was drunk enough would see inside and realize the food was untouched and still good to eat. 

There was a frost in the air that made my skin on my arms tighten and prickle underneath my hoodie. It was still too cold to be wearing what I had on but again there were other intentions to tend it. The subtle urge of thinking the worst was momentary picturing my lover in the most delicate but dangerous of positions. Was I prepared to deal with Mitch again if he was shit faced all over again? What sort of state of mind would he be in? Was this something that could be controlled and defeated? I would have to be able to endure all of it. I would suffer this bullshit in order to warm what shivers of dread that was hanging over me lately. Dread that created and harbored loneliness. Mitch stoked this feeling of adulation and devotion in me that was addictive. There it was between us. He took the right steps in contacting me, pulling me towards the inevitable reunion of one another. We had become more than just friends for he was not what I first thought of him. Now he is calling out to me again in light of the betrayal of my sudden devotion to him in the beginning.

“I’m coming, Mitch. I’ll be there before you know it.” I spoke to myself. No one else heard me for I was the only one listening.

Bio: R. Paone is the author of LGBT fiction, coming of age, and contemporary romance including the ongoing “ONLY IF…” Series. Writing is his passion as his stories stem from real life experiences and real moments of love. A writer for the last fifteen years, he started working on his first full length novel in June, 2014. That novel slowly transformed into “Love is Found,” Part One in the “ONLY IF…” Series. He currently resides in New York City. When he isn’t writing, you can find him getting lost in bookstores, a movie theater, or jamming out to music of the 90’s.

AUTHOR LINKS 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/rpaoneauthor

Website:  http://hellorocco.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/roccosaidhi

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/hi_rocco/

Other books in this series

Love is Found (Only If Series: Book 1)

US:  http://amzn.to/1MmXb1D

UK:  http://amzn.to/1NIKnqL

GOODREADS LINK:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27210568-love-is-found

A Prologue (Only If: Beginnings Book 1)

US:  http://amzn.to/1RMznYF

UK:  http://amzn.to/1GVWFLh

Days Before You Came (Only If: Beginnings Book 2)

US:  http://amzn.to/1MmXrh0

UK:  http://amzn.to/1Qto7ls

Giveaway

E-Book Bundle of all my releases! (4 Books total!) (MOBI or EPUB)

Contest will run until March  9th! Winner will be contacted via

email so please check your spam!

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Release Day Post: Stealing Dragon's Heart by Susan Laine #Review #excerpt #Giveaway

Author: Susan Laine
Publisher: Dreamsoinner Press
Publication Date: March 2, 2016
Length: 240 pages
Series: Lifting the Veil (book 6)


A Lifting the Veil Story

Notorious master thief Finn Grayson is hired to break into a high-class skyscraper in New Shanghai and steal a priceless artifact known as the Shard. But someone’s gotten to the Shard first—and the penthouse suite turns out to be a dragon’s lair.

Cameron Feilong, Guardian of the Earth Shard, is ancient enough to realize that he and his unbidden guest are being used like puppets on a string. Forming a shaky alliance is the only way for them to survive and to stop their ruthless foes.

Unfortunately, Finn and Cam seem to be forever one step behind. To learn more about their clandestine enemy, they travel together from walled Asian cities, barren tundras, and underwater temples to secret paranormal clubs and legendary elvish cities rising high in the trees or buried deep under glaciers. Finn and Cam must learn to trust each other before it’s too late, for bringing together the five Elemental Shards will spell the end of the world.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Exclusive Excerpt

When Chi Wen let out a surprised gasp, I understood perhaps Cameron’s approach had been a wise one after all. “Whose murder?” The tension in his voice grew thick in the room.

“Mine,” I supplied, wanting to contribute to the discussion even to a small degree and perhaps to show him I was better than him by rising above his snide remarks.

“The Earth Shard has been taken,” Cameron said. His voice quivered ever so slightly with regret and self-recrimination. That annoyed me since there’d been nothing he could have done differently. We’d both been betrayed. It wasn’t his fault. If anything, it was mine. I’d distracted him from his solemn duty and made it possible for the Shard to disappear. It was my turn to get wrapped up in remorse and guilt.

This time when Chi Wen growled, I recognized the sympathy and righteous fury there. “Griffin?” he asked for confirmation. I heard no response from Cameron, but he moved a bit, so I assumed he’d nodded in agreement. “My brothers and I would never harbor human criminals in our establishment. A theft from a dragon is bad enough; stealing an Elemental Shard is an unforgivable offense. No one here would be that stupid, reckless, or evil.”

“Nonetheless my sources tell me he’s here,” Cameron said smoothly, casually hiding my role in all this. “You know as well as I that the Shard must be recovered. What harm is there in having a look around?”

I could sense Chi Wen’s hesitation, his conflict within. Since I couldn’t see anything in the tavern, I assumed this place did cater to the seedy underbelly of the mythical world. And the proprietors wanted to ensure their safety and anonymity.

Still, every second we wasted arguing was a second we wouldn’t get back without a time machine, and I started to get antsy.

Someone, or something, sniffed behind me. I went stiff in a sudden burst of fear and adrenaline. I’d never realized how much I depended on my sight until now I had none.

“What’s behind me?”

Review

The main characters of this story are thief extraordinaire Finn and Cameron, a rare breed of half dragon half elf.

This was an enemies to lovers book. And then it was so much more. Finn comes to Cameron's lair to steal something important. Cameron isn't thrilled and of course shows Finn a bit of karma. In the midst of all that the thing Finn came to take, gets stolen. 

Cameron and Finn have a slow burn romance. But what a romance they have. Their intimacy was poetic and filled with breathtaking emotion. They were like a dance. Sex scenes become monotonous at times but Susan really kept them engaging. No I never wanted to skim. I was very much involved in their moments. 

This is also a very suspenseful book, nail biting at times. The characters really were flawless. Finn with his strong will and determination made him just as magical as Cameron.

Susan took this paranormal romance to new and genius levels. The creativity behind these characters and plot were amazing.

Giveaway

Want to win a copy of Stealing Dragon's Heart? All you have to do is enter the rafflecopter below.

Contest will end on March 8th. Winner will be contacted via email so please check your spam!

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