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Sex is awkward! Gender is confusing!EXCERPT TWO:
Discovering his gender and sexual identities in the lonely dungeon of the pandemic, Echo Corby found an outlet through poetry. Graduating high school as everyone was thrust into isolation, friends were hard to find and love was even harder. Loneliness made him crave connection even more, but what did he like and who would love him?
Piecing together the queer world, Corby uses comedy and anecdote to express the uncomfortable ins and awkward outs of gender, sex, love and all outrage that comes with categorization. This collection of autobiographical poetry is a form of release and expression of the vibrant emotions that so many of the LGBTQIA+ community struggle with.
Corby prides himself as an open-book. The vulnerability enclosed within these pages proves as much.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.A match made in heaven? More like a match made in Norville and made to last.EXCERPT ONE:
Arthur Burton wants a lover and partner, but no man seems to want to be with the local insurance agent. He’s not the bland two-dimensional man on the billboards, but he hasn’t been given the chance to show his colors.
Summer Rain Davis embodies the bohemian lifestyle. He loves his arts and crafts. He’s always had a thing for the buttoned-up professional types and when he’s set up with Arthur, sparks fly.
Love is possible in a small town if Arthur and Summer Rain are willing to give their romance a try.
Can these two men, seemingly total opposites, find common ground and love to last a lifetime? Or will their differences keep them apart?
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.Hi, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Isabel Scheck and her new book, “Can’t Think Straight,” here on FAB!! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win ONE of TWO Autographed Copies of the featured book!! That’s right!! There will be TWO lucky winners!! Also, come back daily to interact with Isabel and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
Please note that this giveaway is only open to US residents. Sorry INTL – please check out the other giveaways on this blog!!
Can't Think Straight
by Isabel Scheck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Poetry / LGBTQIA / Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
A collection of 35 poems in which a poet thinks about women a little too much... (Sapphic poetry)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT TWO:
Poem no. 7: Scary, Isn’t It?
I
often think about how scary it is;
one
minute you’re fine and the next
you’re
yearning for a girl you’ve only just met. And the mere thought of her is enough
to give you violent butterflies.
The
more you get to know her
the
more she becomes everything you think about.
The
more you know her the funnier and prettier she becomes until the butterflies
aren’t
only
reserved for when she’s near;
they’re
there forevermore.
I
often think about how scary it is;
How
is it that a singular person has that much of an effect on you?
It’s scary because you know that you’re giving her the power to break your heart if she so chooses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Isabel is a self-published author and artist who comes from England, but lives in Switzerland. She works with children, which she adores, but she also loves to write; especially in the genres of fantasy, poetry and romance. She uses experiences and images as inspiration to create words. Isabel also loves to express herself by drawing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONNECT WITH ISABEL:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ThePoeticQueen97
Twitter:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/Isabels_artwork
Tumblr:
https://www.tumblr.com/Hues-of-Purple
Lulu Author Page:
https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/isabelscheck
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17868806.Isabel_Scheck
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60257080-can-t-think-straight
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon US Paperback:
Amazon CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Cant-Think-Straight-LGBTQ-poetry/dp/1387843052
Amazon UK Paperback:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Think-Straight-LGBTQ-poetry/dp/1387843052
Amazon AU Paperback:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Cant-Think-Straight-LGBTQ-poetry/dp/1387843052
Lulu Paperback:
https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/isabel-scheck/cant-think-straight/paperback/product-mv998q.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Isabel will be
awarding an autographed copy of the featured book, “Can’t Think Straight,” to TWO
randomly drawn winners (US Only) via Rafflecopter during the tour.
**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.Hi, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Chris Bedell and his new book, “Love Me, Please,” here on FAB!! For other stops on his Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Chris and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
Love Me, Please
by Chris Bedell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: YA LGBTQ Thriller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Colton should be like every other seventeen-year-old, hanging out with friends, procrastinating on homework, and dreaming about which colleges he should apply to, but Colton’s focus when he gets home every day is on how violent his alcoholic mother will be. Will he be her ashtray again or worse?
Tripp has the perfect life – handsome, from a wealthy family, and is the football player everyone wants to date. Tripp just wants to date one person – Colton, but he can’t seem to break through that tough exterior and get Colton to trust him.
A friend’s party opens the door for both to potentially get what they want, but it’s that same party ends with Colton’s best friend dead. Caught between wanting to finally find happiness with Tripp and discovering what happened to Declan, Colton discovers that he isn’t the only one who’s kept secrets. How well did he really know Declan and can he trust Tripp enough to let himself believe he’s worthy of being loved?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT ONE:
The door creaked. A guy with spiked hair stood by the bedroom’s entrance.
“Sorry. Thought this was the bathroom.” Tripp tugged at the sides of his varsity jacket.
“No worries,” I mumbled.
Tripp furrowed an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”
“I’m fine.” I grabbed my Margarita, then chugged the rest of it. The tequila’s distinct taste burned my throat while I licked my lips, savoring the sweet and lime flavors. I squashed my cup, letting it fall onto the ground.
Tripp’s jaw twitched. “You don’t seem fine.”
“The bathroom is down the hall.” I shuffled towards the bed before sitting on it.
The door clinked after Tripp locked it. He joined me on the bed.
Tripp chuckled. “Something happen?”
I looked away. “It’s a long story.”
“I’m a good listener.”
“Thanks.”
Tripp placed his hands on his lap. “We lost the football game, and I’m still in a good mood. So, I’m sure your problem can’t be that bad.”
Most people might have been pissed at Tripp for making an assumption if they were me. But I wasn’t. Tripp was taking an interest in my life, and that was more than could be said for most people.
Tripp met my gaze. “I promise I won’t judge.”
“I believe you.”
“This is the most we’ve ever talked.”
“So?”
“I just meant you never speak up in class.”
“I don’t have anything important to say,” I said.
He winked. “You’re wrong.”
“Huh?”
“The quiet ones are the most insightful people.” He patted my shoulder.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUEST POST:
Five Reasons You Should Read My Book
The first reason you should read my book is because it has a happy ending. I can’t tell you the how and what of the happy ending, but I promise that Colton gets a happily ever after, which includes his relationship with Tripp. A book having a happy ending isn’t cliché, trite, or corny. The world can be a dark and overwhelming place, and it’s nice to offer readers hope.
Romance is the next reason you should read LOVE ME, PLEASE. It’s fine not to like romance, but romance usually gives you something to root for. Anyway, the main romance in the book is Colton and Tripp’s relationship. Their relationship might seem unconventional—Colton is the closeted, abused, bisexual guy and Tripp is the out and proud jock. But their relationship is important to depict. Too often, pop culture pushes the idea that only “perfect” people deserve to be loved. And that idea couldn’t be further from the truth. Damaged/emotionally wounded people deserve love too.
The mystery element is another reason why people should read LOVE ME, PLEASE. The mystery is a slow-burn, but I promise you that you’ll know who killed Declan by the end of the novel. A mystery being solved might sound obvious, but it’s important to know there will be a payoff. Books and TV shows don’t always have a payoff, and that can be disappointing.
The villain (Colton’s mom) is defeated by the end of the novel. I can’t tell you the how or what of how Colton’s mom meets her demise, but it does happen. This isn’t one of those gritty stories where the message of “crime does pay” is reinforced. It’s important for someone who is evil as Colton’s mother to get what’s coming to her. Both Colton and readers deserve justice.
An awesome BFF is the final reason you should read this book. At the beginning of the novel, Colton and his BFF (Gina) are no longer in touch, but they reconnect very early on in the book. A cool BFF is a reason to read LOVE ME, PLEASE because friendships are just as important as romantic relationships. Gina is also another outlet for Colton to escape his abusive home life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Chris Bedell's previous publishing credits include Thought Catalog, Entropy Magazine, Chicago Literati, and Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, among others. His 2019 books include his NA Thriller BURNING BRIDGES (BLKDOG Publishing), YA Paranormal Romance DEATHLY DESIRES (Deep Hearts YA), and YA Thriller COUSIN DEAREST (BLKDOG Publishing). In addition to his YA Thriller BETWEEN LOVE AND MURDER, his 2020 books include his YA Contemporary I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN (Deep Hearts YA), YA Thriller THE FABULIST (BLKDOG Publishing), YA Thriller I KNOW WHERE THE BODIES ARE BURIED (BLKDOG Publishing), and YA SciFi DYING BEFORE LIVING (Deep Hearts YA). Besides his YA Thriller LOVE HIM/HATE HIM, Chris’s 2021 books include his YA Fantasy CROSSING DESIRES (Spectrum Books) and rerelease of his YA Fantasy IN THE NAME OF MAGIC from JMS Books. Furthermore, Chris graduated with a BA in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2016.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONNECT WITH CHRIS:
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/ChrisBedell
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/CJohnBedell
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13360516.Chris_Bedell
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60133527-love-me-please
Author's Amazon page:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AMAZON BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon US Kindle eBook:
Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09R9LDFKX
Amazon UK Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09R9LDFKX
Amazon AU Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B09R9LDFKX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Chris will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.Hello, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Megan Slayer and her new book, “Stoking the Fire,” here on FAB!! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a Special Prize Pack which includes a Beautiful Necklace handmade by the author!! See below for more details. Also, come back daily to interact with Megan and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
Please note that this giveaway is only open to US residents. Sorry INTL – please check out the other giveaways on this blog!!
Stoking the Fire
by Megan Slayer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Contemporary LGBTQ Erotic Paranormal Romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Men Wanted—because sometimes love matches need a little magic.
Andrew ‘Duff’ Wagner goes straight to the gods to get his love match made. He relies on Men Wanted, the matchmaking service run by Apollo, Artemis, and Eros to find his perfect match. He’s in love with a certain lawyer, but there can’t be enough magic in the cosmos to get them together, right?
Christian Foley knows exactly who he wants as his match, but he works with Men Wanted to find the perfect partner. He’s got a thing for Duff Wagner and won’t rest until he gets a date. Christian and Duff might have a chance if only Duff’s ex would stop butting in. When he finally hooks up with the sexy shop owner, they have to decide if their passion will go up in flames or start the fire to last forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT ONE:
©Megan Slayer, All Rights Reserved
“You look happy.” Mary, his secretary, arranged the files on her desk, then rolled away from her computer. “Hot date?”
“Actually, yes. I’m heading to the baseball game.”
“You?” She folded her hands on her lap. “You aren’t into sports.”
“I love baseball.” He normally kept his private life to himself, so he didn’t discuss that he’d gone to the game the night before.
“Since when?”
“Since I went to my first game when I was six. My dad took me and it was bat day. I still have the bat, too. I fell in love with the sport, and I’m a devoted Cincy fan. Good or bad, I’m a fan.” He checked the stack of his messages. “I’m out. I need an evening with no law and lots of relaxation.”
“Why do I have the feeling you get emotionally involved in your sports? Are you going to see the Grinders game?” she asked.
“I do get invested.” The tips of his ears burned. “But I’m finally going on a date, so there’s that.”
“You are?” She applauded. “Good. I hope it works out and leads to something great.”
“Me, too.” He winked. “See you in the morning.” He strolled out of the main office to the parking lot. The firm wasn’t big and was rarely full. That’s what he loved about Mooresville―it wasn’t a big city. Everyone knew everyone else. Within hours of him going out, everyone would know he’d chosen Duff. Good. He wanted them to know. He wanted to shout to the whole world he’d picked this man.
He unlocked his car and slid behind the wheel. He should go home and change before attending the game, but he didn’t have time. He drove across town to the park. The Grinders weren’t a major league team, but they were popular in Mooresville. Their ballfield was part of the city park, meaning there was a lot of parking and seating. He wanted to be visible, so he parked under one of the lights and waited for Duff. A few people were already there, and the teams were on the manicured turf, stretching.
“You made it.” Duff strolled along the sidewalk. “I thought you’d change your mind.”
“Me? Nah.” Not a chance he’d forget to be here for this. “You’re here.”
“Did you think I’d leave you without a word?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:
Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONNECT WITH MEGAN:
Website:
http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm
Blog:
https://wendizwaduk.wordpress.com
Newsletter:
Email:
theauthormeganslayer@gmail.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/wendizwaduk.meganslayer
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/MeganSlayer
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wendizwaduk
BookBub Author Page:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/megan-slayer
Goodreads Author
Page:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5330530.Megan_Slayer
All Author Page:
https://allauthor.com/profile/meganslayer
Amazon Author Page:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon US Kindle
eBook:
Amazon CA Kindle
eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Stoking-Fire-Men-Wanted-Book-ebook/dp/B09JGM2JNP
Amazon UK Kindle
eBook:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stoking-Fire-Men-Wanted-Book-ebook/dp/B09JGM2JNP
Amazon AU Kindle
eBook:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Stoking-Fire-Men-Wanted-Book-ebook/dp/B09JGM2JNP
Apple Books eBook:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/stoking-the-fire/id1590360670
Barnes and Noble
NOOK eBook:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stoking-the-fire-megan-slayer/1140365049
Kobo US eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/stoking-the-fire-3
Kobo CA eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/stoking-the-fire-3
Evernight Publishing
eBook:
https://www.evernightpublishing.com/stoking-the-fire-by-megan-slayer
Smashwords eBook:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1109616
Universal – Books2Read
eBook/Paperback:
https://books2read.com/u/bMwvaG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFO:
Megan will be awarding a Special Prize Pack (US Only) including a Beautiful Necklace made by the author to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.