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Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway: Promises Part 4 by A.E. Via

March 14, 2018 by Katie, Back Porch Reader Leave a Comment

About the Book

Men found him attractive, interesting even. He was like a fascinating experiment gone wrong that men liked to investigate. He’d get a date – or two, if he was lucky – but it wasn’t long before Brian’s darkness showed, and the men were running from him.

Brian King was honorably discharged from the United States Navy five years ago. He’d left with the highest honors a man can receive in his country, but he’d paid the ultimate price to earn them. He was considered one of the best; an Intelligence Officer in a Joint Special Operations Delta team that’d been a twelve-man wrecking crew. They’d thought they were invincible… until they weren’t. Brian was the only member that survived the ambush. He survived ten months of pain, of torture, only to emerge on the other side a warrior. A POW survivor. He’d returned home with all his limbs, his right mind, and with his only brother Ford, at his side. But, one thing had been lost, maybe for good… his voice.

Now, being a bounty hunter is Brian’s only means to satisfy his need to calculate, track, and capture. His only outlet to the stress caused by his silence. He was good at what he did. But, all work and no play for a forty-four year old man was taking its toll. Brian wasn’t a faulty experiment. He missed companionship, he missed communicating. So, when he met Sway Hamilton – in the most unconventional means – he’d been surprised at his special way of understanding Brian’s every look… and touch.

Sway grew up in the rough part of ATL, trailing behind his twin brother Stanton and his best friend, Dana. He and his brother had a bond only twins could understand. So when Stanton’s life was taken during their sophomore year in college, Sway didn’t think he’d ever recover. He finally finished school, got his masters in nursing, worked hard, and focused on taking care of his mother. However, Sway knew there was more to life than heartache, and caring for others. There had to be. But he didn’t know what any of those things were until he met a dark hunter that blew his mind… and the intense man had never uttered a single word.

Brian and Sway can feel the powerful connection between them. It was there from the start—but both of them have battled with loss and anguish for so long, neither understand that love can ease all of it. Do they have the courage to battle through it together? Sway has to learn to trust in love, and Brian has to believe that Sway will always understand him even if he never speaks again.

Sway held him tight around his neck, “I don’t need you to talk, Brian. I can hear you just fine,” Sway whispered softly, kissing his throat.

This novel is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers.

Trigger Warning: This story contains acts of bond recovery agent violence. Mention of war zones and descriptions of war prisoners. This story DOES NOT contain overly-described acts of torture.

The Finer Details

Publication Date: March 9, 2018
Publisher: Via Star Wings Books
Editor: Sue Laybourn
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Length: Novel, 395 e-book pages

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Amazon US | Smashwords

Add the book to your goodreads shelf.

An Exclusive Excerpt

“Surprised to see you in here. Nothing better to do tonight or are you trying to make me fund your new Mustang by putting in all these hours?” Duke asked, on his way to his own office.

I haven’t even got the damn thing yet.

“It’s after midnight, Brian. Go home.” Duke turned off the light and closed his door. His boss looked around at the quiet office. The wide-open space was easier for them to work in and communicate with each other as they broke down cases. Each of them had an executive-style chair and large desk, with both a laptop and desktop computer and enough space to accommodate a big man. They had lots of cool devices and toys to play with, thanks to his brother and his retired military connections. It was the best Brian could ask for in his condition. Even with all his skills, background and Annapolis education, his mutism didn’t exactly make him employment marketable, so he was grateful for Duke.

When Duke left the office, Brian sat staring at his computer screen attempting to get a jump on their next case. His boss probably wouldn’t go after their new skip for a couple of weeks, but what else did he have to do? The car dealer had called to let him know his brand new 2018 Mustang was ready to be picked up, but he’d yet to make his way over there. Sure, he’d love to take it for a spin, but going by himself wasn’t exactly fun.

Brian leaned back as far as his chair would go and put his big boots up on the end of his desk. He pulled out his phone to see if he had any missed messages. Nope.

Dammit. What’s up with him? Brian couldn’t stop his mind from returning to the night he’d accepted an invitation to a seedy sex club where he’d met a man so exceptional and extraordinary that if it weren’t for the stains on his black pants, he would’ve sworn he never existed. But he did. Sway had existed. He’d made Brian hope again after only being in his company for an hour. In his own amazing way, he’d smoothed his way past Brian’s many defenses and seen what he really wanted. To communicate. A deep desire he thought he’d terminated.

About the Author

A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for four years now, but she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of LGBTQ Romance for over fifteen years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having published a couple great new up and coming MM authors.

A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue-collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to her. Writing.

A.E.’s writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Stories that often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

Now that she’s gotten over her 10 books published hump, she’s kind of known now for her hardcore, play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring with different tropes, but she won’t push herself into a whole other genre. She’s head over heels for MM romance and has tons of more hot stories to tell.

Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date!

Connect:

Facebook Author Page | Via Star Wings Books Publishing

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Excerpt and Giveaway: The Preacher’s Son by Lisa Henry & JA Rock

January 19, 2018 by Katie, Back Porch Reader Leave a Comment

About the Book

Jason Banning is a wreck. His leg’s been blown to hell in Afghanistan, his boyfriend just left him and took the dog, and now he’s back in his hometown of Pinehurst, Washington, a place that holds nothing but wretched memories…and Nathan Tull. Nathan Tull, whose life Jason ruined. Nathan Tull, who will never believe Jason did what he did for a greater good. Nathan Tull, whose reverend father runs the gay conversion therapy camp that Jason once sought to bring down—at any cost.

Nathan Tull is trying to live a quiet life. Four years ago, when Nate was a prospective student visiting UW, his world collapsed when senior Jason Banning slept with him, filmed it, and put the footage online. A painful public outing and a crisis of faith later, Nate has finally begun to heal. Cured of the “phantoms” that plagued him for years, he now has a girlfriend, a counselor job at his dad’s camp, and the constant, loving support of his father.

But when he learns Jason is back in town, his carefully constructed identity begins to crumble. As desperate to reconcile his love for God with his attraction to men as Jason is to make sense of the damage he’s done, Nate finds himself walking a dangerous line. On one side lies the righteous life he committed himself to in the wake of his public humiliation. On the other is the sin he committed with Jason Banning, and the phantoms that won’t let him be. But is there a path that can bridge those two worlds—where his faith and his identity as a gay man aren’t mutually exclusive?

And can he walk that path with the man who betrayed him?

The Finer Details

Narrative Arc: Standalone

Publication Date: January 16, 2018
Publisher: Self-Published
Cover Artist: Ana J. Phoenix
Length: Novel, 269 e-book pages
POV: 3rd person
Tense: Past
Pairings: Male/Male
Identities: Gay
Age Range(s): 22 to 25, 26 to 29
Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult

Tropes and Tags: abusive elements, emotional agony, enemies to lovers, scars — psychological, sexual identity awakening, closeted, redemption, virgin, return to hometown
Settings & Locales: Pinehurst, WA
Ending: HEA

Trigger Warnings: Fundamentalist Christians, Conversion Therapy Camp, Suicide Attempts

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Amazon US

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An Excerpt

He leaned in, and Nate panicked for a moment, thinking Jason was going to kiss him and that he wasn’t ready yet. But Jason just brushed the hair from Nate’s eyes and pressed his forehead to Nate’s. Nate matched his breathing to Jason’s, so that each breath they took collided. Finally he nodded.

“We don’t have to do anything but sit here,” Jason said.

“I want to fuck,” Nate said harshly. He met Jason’s gaze. “I mean I seriously want to fuck. I want it to feel—like—like everything, and I want it to—to be real. I want to forget all the bad things I’ve ever done.”

“Me too.” Jason’s voice was thin and hushed.

Nate leaned back. Stretched out on the blanket and stared at the barely-distinguished black silhouettes of the tree branches. The blanket wasn’t quite long enough, and pine needles scraped his calves.

Jason pulled off his shirt. Tossed it aside. He looked down at Nate. “We’re gonna start slow, okay?”

Nate shifted. Imagined the dangers that lurked in the woods. Sharp-toothed animals and poisonous plants and all the fucking shadows that kept you from seeing where you were going, where you’d come from. He wanted this to go fast. He wanted to get out of here.

But Jason lifted his shirt, just enough to expose a few inches of Nate’s belly. He scooted back on the blanket and rolled onto his stomach, his head at Nate’s hip. He kissed Nate’s hip bone, his lips soft and slightly damp. Nate sighed and tried to relax.

What if someone sees?

Jason kissed his way across his stomach. Nate’s muscles flexed and released, and his breathing roughened into sharp gasps. Jason paused and licked a slow circle around his navel then pushed his tongue down the trail of light hair leading to Nate’s groin. He undid Nate’s fly, and Nate, shaking, lifted his hips so Jason could pull his jeans down.

The cool air made Nate’s exposed skin prickle. What if someone sees? The thought wouldn’t go away.

Jason ran his tongue along the edge of the waistband of Nate’s briefs. Nate’s stomach contracted, and then he exhaled, some of the tension leaving his body.

Jason pressed his nose against the front of his briefs and let out a warm, damp breath Nate could feel through the fabric.

“Oh, shit,” Nate whispered as Jason nosed his swollen balls. Kissed the outline of his dick. Took the cotton in his teeth and tugged, until the head of Nate’s cock poked through the slit. Jason released the fabric then slowly leaned forward. Nate knew what was about to happen, and his lower body clenched, his hands forming fists as Jason pressed the tip of his tongue to the slit of his dick.

Nate jolted, one knee bending. His head snapped back, his eyes closed, and he gripped the blanket, willing himself not to end this too fast. Jason’s tongue remained where it was, and after a moment, Nate forced himself to open his eyes. Jason was watching him. Jason grinned, then placed his lips around the head of Nate’s dick. Slowly sucked the fluid that was beading at the slit.

“Jason…Jason…” Nate panted. He bent both knees, his legs falling open. He wanted to kick his jeans off. Wanted to lie here spread open for Jason, and who the fuck cared if anyone saw?

“Take these down,” Jason whispered, hooking his finger under the elastic of the briefs. He moved his finger back and forth, tickling Nate’s hip.

Nate hesitated, then lifted again and slid his briefs to his knees, squirming as his bare ass made contact with the blanket.

Jason traced the crease between Nate’s hip and groin. “You look freaked out.” Nate could hear the smile in his voice.

“Maybe I’ll always look like this when I’m having sex. Would that be hot?”

Jason laughed. “You always look hot. But you should definitely relax.”

“Okay.” Nate took a deep breath, then let it out. Gave himself a moment to study the stars before turning his gaze back to Jason. Jason looked so fucking gorgeous that for a second Nate was stunned. He’s mine. Even if it’s just for tonight. His breath caught and his back arched slightly, and he smiled at Jason. “Better?”

About the Authors

Lisa Henry

Lisa Henry likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters. Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn’t know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she’s too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape. She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied history and English, neither of them very thoroughly. She shares her house with too many cats, a dog, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

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J.A. Rock

J.A. Rock is the author of over twenty LGBTQ romance and suspense novels, as well as an occasional contributor to HuffPo Queer Voices. J.A.’s books have received Lambda Literary, INDIE, and EPIC Award nominations, and 24/7 was named one of the best books of 2016 by Kirkus Reviews. J.A. lives in Chicago with an extremely judgmental dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

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Review from the Back Porch coming soon.

Guest Post: Liz Jacobs

December 31, 2017 by Katie, Back Porch Reader 1 Comment

I’d like to extend a warm and hearty welcome on this chilly New Years Eve to Liz Jacobs, who’s joining us on the Back Porch to talk about the characters in ABROAD. Thanks for popping in Liz!

I asked Liz the following:

Knowing that the Abroad duology is deeply personal to you and, to some degree, based on real-life experience, were there any aspects of the story or characters that took you by surprise and led the story in directions you didn’t originally plan or foresee? If so, do you embrace character takeovers to see where they might lead, or do you fight them? Without getting spoilery, which story arc or character surprised you the most? What do you have to say to them about highjacking their scene(s) or storylines? Were they ultimately right, or did they need to be reined in?

This is really interesting to think about. The parts that were based on my own experiences (Nick, obviously) led the story exactly where it was headed. That had been pre-ordained, let’s say, and not much surprised me. Dex also did not throw me for a loop – his story and the way it intertwined with Nick’s was solid from the beginning and stayed that way throughout. The toughest part of writing them both was what I had expected – the nuance; the history. Nick was the most difficult to write because he was the most personal. I think there’s a bit of a taboo on discussing how personal a character is, and partly, I understand that. Nobody wants to be accused of not knowing how to write an original character. But I’ve never made a secret of just how personal Nick’s story is, and everything surrounding that – Russia in the news, its place in the current world, etc – made the book really tough to write. Dex was hard to write because I needed to get him right, and make sure it was a respectful portrayal of an experience I have no personal history with.

But the thing that completely ran away from me and stalled me out for weeks, if not months, was Izzy’s story. She absolutely surprised me – first, with how prominent she would become in Abroad: Book One (so prominent, in fact, she begged for a voice of her own), and then with where her story went in Abroad: Book Two. Without getting into too much detail, or too many spoilers, it went…not where I had planned it to, at ALL. I was stalled out, having no idea how to make her storyline work. I was tearing my damn hair out. Something about it just felt completely impossible to me, and the weeks of trying to write and throwing scene after scene after scene out were ridiculous.

And then, I was driving to work one day, thinking about a recent scene I’d written, and it clicked. Izzy’s story wasn’t working because the story didn’t fit Izzy. And that’s when I let her lead me. I don’t normally do that, but I absolutely believe that stories tell themselves sometimes. Once I had that crucial piece, it all fell into place. It’s really remarkable how that works! When I first came up with her story – back when she was just a background character, a sort of foil to Dex – it seemed very easy and straightforward. Once she got her voice, though, it all went belly up. And it was exactly where it needed to go. Izzy’s scenes became some of my absolute favorite – and easiest! – to write. That Izzy – she knows what she needs and what she wants.

So, there you have it – we are in control of our stories, until we are not. And not being able to write will always signal that something needs to change, that it hasn’t clicked. When it clicks, though, that is the best feeling in the world.

About the Book

The heartwarming and romantic conclusion to the duology celebrated by Teen Vogue as “a nuanced and sexy take on growing up and learning to accept who you are.”

Nick Melnikov has finally done it — he’s come out.

To himself. To his sister. And to Dex, who listens, hears him, and understands. To Dex, who kisses him and shows him all that they could be, if Nick could only find the courage. It’s one thing to let yourself be open thousands of miles away from your family, but exchange student Nick is uncomfortably aware that his time with Dex is running out. Who will he be when he goes home again?

Dex Cartwell is as happy with Nick as he’s ever been, but he can’t ignore the shadow of Nick’s inevitable departure from London, back to his life in Michigan. Is it worth it for Dex to expose his heart to another doomed relationship with a predetermined expiration date? What does Dex really want for the beginning of the next chapter in his life, post-graduation?

Dex wants to turn to his best friend in the struggle to find a way forward, but Izzy Jones has her own problems. She’s got one friend in love with her, and when she turns to another for help things get twice as complicated. Izzy never wanted complicated, but life just keeps getting in the way — and sweeping her off her feet.

Then Nick’s mom and sister come for a visit, and he is forced to decide between living his truth and protecting himself from fear and change. It’s going to take a lot of courage and a few leaps in the dark if Nick, Dex, and Izzy are to find a way to live and love on their own terms.

The Finer Details

Narrative Arc: Series

Series Detail: Abroad, book 2

Series Arc: ensemble of relationships

Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: Brain Mill Press

Cover: Design by Ampersand Book Design, Illustration by Megan J. Smith
Length: Novel, 425 e-book pages
POV: 3rd person, limited to 3 or more main characters
Tense: Past
Pairings: Male/Male, Female/Female, Male/Female
Identities: Gay, Demisexual, Bisexual, Transgender
Age Range(s): 18 to 21, 22 to 25
Genre(s): Contemporary, New Adult

Tropes and Tags: ensemble cast, sexual identity awakening, closeted, friends to lovers, virgin
Settings & Locales: London, England
Ending: HEA

Find and Buy

Brain Mill Press | Amazon US

Add the book to your goodreads shelf.

About the Cover Artist:

Abroad: Book Two features the original work of artist Megan J. Smith of the Repeal Hyde Art Project.
Megan is an artist, activist, and social worker. They founded the Project in 2011 to raise awareness and create dialogue about the Hyde Amendment. Since then, they have collected 400 birds, created over 100 shareable graphics, and facilitated 30 university-based Repeal Hyde Art Project installations. Megan has also designed artwork and materials for numerous reproductive health and rights organizations. Megan is the recipient of the 2015 Arts and Healing Network Award for Arts and Social Change and on the Board of Directors for the Abortion Care Network. They reside in Boston with their partner and their 13 year-old cat, Boxer.

About the Author

Liz Jacobs came over with her family from Russia at the age of 11, as a Jewish refugee. All in all, her life has gotten steadily better since that moment. They settled in an ultra-liberal haven in the middle of New York State, which sort of helped her with the whole “grappling with her sexuality” business. She has spent a lot of her time flitting from passion project to passion project, but writing remains her constant. She has flown planes, drawn, made jewelry, had an improbable internet encounter before it was cool, and successfully wooed the love of her life in a military-style campaign. She has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for her essay on her family’s experience with immigration. She currently lives with her wife in Massachusetts, splitting her time between her day job, writing, and watching a veritable boatload of British murder mysteries.

Connect:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

Thanks, readers for stopping in. Remember, Abroad, book 2 releases on January 2nd and is the perfect way to kick off the New Year. Swing back around tomorrow to check out my review!