I’d like to extend a warm welcome on a hot day to Harper Miller who’s stopping by the Back Porch to chat about her new book Complexity with a Guest Post, Exerpt, AND an offer a chance to participate in a Giveaway…plus other cool stuff!

Blurb:

Fairy tale endings weren’t made for people like me. Happy for now usually ain’t in the cards, either.

The dents on my wall from where my headboard kept knockin’ against the same spot was the first clue that I needed to calm my ass down. At the rate I was racking up notches and plowing through hookups, I wasn’t ever gonna find nothing real. Guess I kinda jinxed myself. I created my circumstances. You can’t get what you want if you keep falling back into the same pattern of bad habits. But then things changed. I stumbled onto somethin’ I never in a million years expected to happen. You gotta understand, I’m never the guy who wins. It was supposed to be just sex, but that shifty, rhyming and scheming bastard, Cupid, pulled a fast one.

I may have changed some stuff to protect a couple of people. But before you go believing the tabloids, make sure you understand that you’re gettin’ the lowdown straight from the source.

I needed to get this off my chest and it’s only fair that you at least get my side of it all. At some point, I might regret telling you any of this, but for now, you need to know.

*Disclaimer* This is a novella. Not a short story, novelette, or novel. This tale features an M/M pairing. If gay erotica/erotic romance is not your cup of tea and you are offended by same-sex relationships or crass language, you should bypass this story. Content is intended for a mature audience, 18+.

Complexity is the fourth installment in The Kinky Connect Chronicles. The Kinky Connect Chronicles are short erotic stories/novelettes all wrapped up in neat little bows. These stories are standalones. No cliffhangers in the lot!

Stats:

Guest Post:

The Protagonist and the Consul

When doing a blog tour, you quickly run out of original ideas to post as content. Well, with the help of my editor, she suggested I take a personality test as Chris and Manny from my new release Complexity. Let me say that this little experiment was interesting! Results and interpretations all courtesy of 16personalities.com

Sidenote: I will totally go back and take this test as myself. LOL, it was incredibly insightful!

What should you know before reading further? Complexity is the fourth installment in the Kinky Connect Chronicles series. You don’t need to read previous installments to get the gist of this story. Our story focuses on two opposites, Chris, and Manny. Manny originally hails from the Bronx. Chris is originally from California but has been living in NYC since becoming an actor. The gents meet on a steamy website and hijinks ensue. The best part of this exercise was seeing how much they have in common and whether or not the answers I selected for them were related to their character traits.

Without further ado, here are the results!

Chris is “The Protagonist” (ENFJ-T)

Individual traits: Extraverted – 86%, Intuitive – 56%, Feeling – 63%, Judging – 75%, Turbulent – 53%.

Role: Diplomat

Strategy: Social Engagement

Manny is “The Consul” (ESFJ-A)

Individual traits: Extraverted – 76%, Observant – 65%, Feeling – 64%, Judging – 64%, Assertive – 68%.

Role: Sentinel

Strategy: People Mastery

What’s cool about this test is based on the results, both Chris and Manny are defined as natural born leaders. I’d have to agree! Their personality types are known to radiate authenticity. LOL, this is particularly the case when it comes to Manny. I will dispute the 53% allocated to him being turbulent. That number should be higher. Muuuuuch higher. The guy has no filter. He thinks it, and it flies out his mouth without him caring much about repercussions. He’s the hero you have to reel in every now again. Abrasive yet lovable.

Individuals who fit the description of The Consul are usually social butterflies. They were the kids who were popular in high school. You know, your jocks and cheerleaders.

What I found most telling about Manny was listed in the weaknesses portion of the test.

“ESFJ personalities can become very defensive and hurt if someone, especially a person close to them, criticizes their habits, beliefs or traditions.”  

I’d say this is a highly accurate depiction of Manny, which we see played out in Complexity. When it comes to romantic relationships, The Consul needs to feel supported. According to 16personalities.com, “If they feel like this support isn’t there, such as when their partners deliver criticism, ESFJs can feel extremely hurt. ESFJs can be surprisingly tough and tireless in the face of hardship, but they need to know without a doubt that their partners are behind them 100%.”

In romantic relationships, Chris’s personality type, also known as the Protagonist has, “a tendency to avoid any kind of conflict, sometimes even sacrificing their own principles to keep the peace, can lead to long-term problems if these efforts never fully resolve the underlying issues that they mask.”

This test was eerie! I know I’m ridiculously attached to my characters, but the accuracy of these results kind of freaked me out a bit, LOL. I’d say this test hit the nail on the head and actually gave some insight as to why Manny and Chris went through such an emotional time. I want to say I tapped into these aspects of their relationship, but that’s up to readers to decide.

If you’re looking for a steamy read with a hothead and a love interest that completely throws him off balance, give Complexity a whirl! It’s the perfect quick and dirty read.

Excerpt:

“Ain’t no easy way to say this, so I’m just gonna say it. You can ask me whatever you want after. Cool?”

Marisol looks up from the phone, and Juan shifts her on his lap, asking, “What’s up, Emmanuel?”

I take a deep breath and let ’er rip.

“I wasn’t seeing a girl, a woman. I was um . . . dating a guy. His name is Chris. I’m bisexual, and we were involved for a bit before things got too serious and I . . . we . . . called it off.”

Both Marisol and Juan stare at me, stunned. Juan’s mouth is parted in an O, but he quickly closes it.

He scratches the back of his head with this goofy-ass look on his face, and Marisol looks down at the tablecloth, her cheeks flushing. Moms and Lucia are quiet.

“Now’s the time to speak up if you got some shit to say, Juan. Let it out.”

Moms frowns at me. She hates when I curse.

“I-I had no idea you were gay, um, bi.”

“Not something I go around shouting since who I fu . . . uh, have sex with is nobody’s business.”

“Moms, you and Titi Lucia are quiet. Too quiet. You knew?” he asks.

Moms nods at Juan. “Sí.”

My mother grabs my brother’s hand and gives it a little squeeze. “Juan, I love you both no matter what. Manny is an adult and he’s living his life. He knows I care about him protecting himself and being safe more than anything. Doesn’t matter if he’s with a woman or a man. A mi no me corresponde, ni es mi derecho, juzgar a alguien a base de su orientación sexual.”

Moms is saying that judging me, or anybody, on the grounds of their sexual orientation isn’t her business nor her right. I’ve never loved my mother more than I do in this moment. She let everyone in the room know that her job is to love me, and never judge. Moms displayed exactly what unconditional love is.

Titi Lucia chimes in, “He’s your brother. Nothing about him has changed. He’s the same guy you grew up with. The one who made you breakfast, helped you with your homework when your mother was working, washed your pissy sheets when you wet the bed, taught you how to fight and how to shoot a basketball. He was the father you should’ve had if yours wasn’t a deadbeat loser. Manny loves you no matter what, and you’d better feel the same, Juan.” Lucia’s voice is threatening as she wags a finger at my brother.

“Okay, okay, let’s chill out and let Juan process this for a sec. We cool or what?” I ask, staring at him. Marisol lifts off his lap and excuses herself. Lucia follows her and Moms takes a seat at the table.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | ARe

Other Books in the Series:

Tour Stops:

July 11 – Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter
July 12 – Cryselle’s Bookshelf
July 13 – Back Porch Reader
July 14 – Prism Book Alliance
July 14 – 3 Chicks After Dark
July 15 – Gay Guy Reading
July 16 – Love Bytes Reviews
July 17 – Dirk Greyson’s Blog
July 18 – Romance in Color
July 19 – Boy Meets Boy Reviews
July 20 – Andrew Grey’s Blog
July 21 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Minds
July 22 – Attention is Arbitrary
July 23 – Alpha Book Club
July 24 – Bayou Book Junkie

Tour brought to you by:

BackPorchReview of Complexity