Making History Now… One Gay Romance at a Time Geoffrey Knight

Geoff Knight and Ethan Day

How often do we say to ourselves that generations from now, people will look back in shock and dismay that once upon a time gay rights weren’t equal rights? They’ll wonder why things were not balanced or fair or safe for some, why people were treated as second class citizens just because of their sexual orientation, and why so many of us—on both sides of the debate—got so angry. Which is probably why so many of us love gay romance. Because when it comes to the struggles of finding yourself and overcoming adversary, every romance novel has its hero or heroes, and every ending is a happy one.

To read the rest at Romance University, click on this link

http://romanceuniversity.org/2013/05/15/making-history-now-with-geoff-knight/

“City Knight begins with a lurch, grabs on tight and doesn’t let go until your eyes are burning and blurry from reading too fast to find out what’s on the next page, not wanting to put the story down until done…”

Read my entire review at Gay/Lesbian Book Reviews:

http://glfictionreviews.blogspot.com/…

Reviewed by Jon Michaelsen

The Blue Moon Cafe

by

Rick R. Reed

Review by Jon Michaelsen

I usually listen to audio books (the unabridged versions); via headphones traveling on hours long plane rides or driving long trips alone. So, when a book I had my eye on was released in audio book format, I decided to take a chance to listen while in my car – which proved to quite often as I found myself finding places to go, errands needing done so I could listen to Rick R. Reed’s suspenseful, romantic thriller, The Blue Moon Café.

Taken from the blurb for both print and audio format, “Someone–or something–is killing Seattle’s gay men.” Something moves in the dark night at full moon hunting and killing gay men in the places they gather. The protagonist is Thad Matthews, a young gay man done with relationships and certainly not ready–or even willing–to take yet another dive for his perfect dream that presents in the form of a sexy, super compassionate, masculine, hairy and handsome Caecilian restaurant owner and chef, Sam Lupino.

Reed begins The Blue Moon Café with his signature terror/horror prose he is well-known for delivering, quickly ensnaring the reader–or listener in my case–with heart-racing, pulsating suspense. Vivid detail and full-moon-lit scenery ratchets up anticipation pushing the listener forward, sans trepidation. Reed tempers the heightened elements of the novel with a strong romance that provides a little distraction from the bloody killings.

Thad Matthews is unemployed and without purpose. He is every guy’s friend, the boy-next-door type you’d introduce to mother, a best friend always there to support you, even if having to take a back seat. Along with his domineering Chihuahua, Edith (don’t let the docile name fool you!), Thad fills his days looking for a new job, taking care of his neurotic friend, and pining about lost love. Edith, however, comes to the rescue in more ways than one, quickly proving dogs are excellent judges of character and man’s best friend.

Thad treats himself to a night out, which he can’t afford of course, in hopes of finding someone to spend the night with. Thad dresses to notice and sets out for The Blue Moon Café, where he meets the manly, macho, Sam Lupino.
Not only the owner and chef of The Blue Moon Café, Sam happens to be a werewolf in a family of werewolves. He becomes seduced by Thad’s naive charm, but once drawn to the young man, trouble beings. After a night of hot and heavy love-making, Sam leaves a goodbye note and disappears from Thad’s life. But, not for long as Thad can’t seem to stay away from the mysterious man who tells lies and holds secrets that prey on his insecurities.

I can’t divulge more of the story without ruining the mystery behind the killers, the betraying Thad and Sam both feel at different times throughout their rocky relationship. What I can share, is listening to the audio book version, the voice of narrator Topher Samuels is soothing, calming when he needs to be and ratcheting up the suspense with inflection that makes the reader “feel” as if we’re there, staring down the beast with yellow eyes, or making love to a most compassionate man with a wounded soul.

The Blue Moon Café is a horror/mystery/thriller and gay romance that will pull you in, scare the crap out of you and have you rooting for the unlikely relationship between human and werewolf. Non-traditional in that it strays from the modern-day romantic epics and ends with a surprise that just might break your heart.

Excerpt:

Jase swallowed hard and counted to ten before taking a breath. Jesus Christ! He expected his subjugator to bust him over the head, take his wallet and bike, but nothing happened. “I…look, I’m sorry, man,” Jase said. “Just forget it, all right? I made a mistake.” He flinched as an arm slipped higher around his chest. “I really need to go now.”

His captor leaned in close to his ear, breathing against his neck. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? I’m horny as hell tonight and you’re precisely what I need. Lady Velvet has never disappointed me. Anonymity is as important to me as it is to you, she assured.”

Jase didn’t answer with his lips as much as in the thickening of cock. Tendrils of lusciousness rose from the base of his balls and surged through his abdomen. He glanced down at the hand covering his left, at the thick fingers that clamped over his own. Lady Velvet had said the man was a cop, a S.W.A.T. officer at that. What luck!

Fighting off fear, Jase found his voice. “I-I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he said, still feeling uneasy. The man’s hand moved up to caress his chest, fingers tweaking his hard tits. Jase held his breath, ready to drop his load right there on the bike without shedding his clothes.

“My friends call me Cap.” The tip of a moist tongue slid up the base of Jase’s neck as the man’s hand settled on his crotch and squeezed hard. “I hear you’ve been a real dick lately and need some attitude adjustment.”

Those final words sealed the deal. Concern and fear evaporated in the hotness churning between them. Jase wanted nothing more than to lose himself in the arms of this beast, captain of a S.W.A.T team.

Jase dismounted his motorcycle and faced Cap. His heart skipped and his breath caught in his throat. The mustachioed face, more handsome than any professional athlete or model, stared back at him. The brown eyes seemed to draw him in, engulfing his vision. He couldn’t look away, didn’t want to look away. Cap’s torso seemed to explode out of his narrow waist. His T-shirt stretched across a huge muscular chest.

The gorgeous specter smiled and Jase’s legs nearly buckled.

“Let’s see what Lady Velvet has in store for us.” Cap draped an arm around Jase’s shoulders and led him to the elevator.

COMING April 19th, 2013 from loveyoudivine Men-4-Men – SWITCH HITTER, co-authored by Alex Morgan and Jon Michaelsen

Blurb:

In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.

Top ranked MLB player, Jase Dockery, was having a record-breaking year until a sluggish bat threatens to derail his streak. To the world, Jase is a national hero, but the handsome MVP has a deep secret.

To rid his inner turmoil, Jase agrees to a tryst with a dominant S.W.A.T captain in a discreet location arranged by an enigmatic madam. Despite his apprehension Jase releases himself to Cap for a night of unbridled revelry.

His mood elevated the next day at practice, all Jase can think of is another rendezvous with Cap, but a stalking fan derails the ball player’s anticipation and hides him in a lake cabin outside Atlanta.

Jase wakes gagged and bound with no idea what he’s in for. His captor, Daniel, has plans to keep the slugger that have nothing to do with money. Sure his handlers are out searching for him along with police, Jase hopes they are able to locate him in time.

Can the smitten S.W.A.T captain rescue Jase from humiliation via live webcam without risking coming out to his comrades? Or will Jase help breach that wall for him.

http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26

Last week I was tagged by the prolific author of (among many other genres) gay romance novels, Rick R. Reed Reality

Many, many writers are participating. I have tagged, Ryan Field, Kase J Reed Blog – Under Dragon’s Wing and David Sullivan (here next week via my blog Jon Michaelsen).  Just clink on their hyperlink and see what they are currently writing next Wednesday, January 2, 2013!

We all answer the same questions:

What is the working title of your book?

Prince of the Sea

Where did the idea come from for the book?

When in college years ago, I would travel to the closest beach with my friends near Savannah, Georgia, a little known island called Tybee Island, Georgia. It has one of the oldest, if not the oldest lighthouses in the U.S. Unspoiled by commercialism, I fell in love with the quaint little beachside town, the dark sandy beach, the lighthouse, the pier – not to mention the seafood. I have always wanted to write a story central to Tybee Island and for years, I played with various ideas. Considering the rich history of the island – and with a little artistic license.

What genre does your book fall under?

I created a speculative gay love story set in among the dunes of the island paradise with an expansion of old island lore of sea-folk.

Protogonist; Jonathan Lemke would be best played by gay actor, Steve Callahan.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Old Friend: Lucius; the sensual, alluring; childhood friend of Jonathan, played by Gilles Marini.

Conniving partner; Paul,would be played by gay actor, Cheyenne Jackson.

The recluse; Frances “Fannie” Madrigal would be played by the iconic, Maggie Smith

The villain, Billy Wayne Koots, would be cast as Billy Bob Thornton.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Can a broken heart find love in the depths of the ocean?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I do not have an agency; but I do have a publisher in mind.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Combined, about five-six months. I began working on the story a couple years ago, but got distracted when the novel wasn’t coming together and moved on to writing my current gay sexy thriller, False Evidence: Murder Most Deadly 1. I returned to Prince of the Sea a couple months ago.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

None come to mind. I personally feel each writer has his own voice, so it’s hard to compare.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Being a native of Georgia, the unspoiled beauty of Tybee Island, Georgia has always called to me to write a story set in the small island town. Its loveliness and tranquility commanded an unconventional gay love story.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

I’ll leave you with this brief excerpt:

That feeling again.

Goosebumps spread across Jonathan’s chest and snaked along his arms.

“The stars shine bright tonight, no?”

Startled by a voice, deep and melodic to his ears, Jonathan turned, but the dunes stood bare. A sudden awareness, perhaps a sense of déjà vu engulfed him. The hair on his arms stood on end as he searched around. Seeing nobody, he shrugged off the feeling as having too much scotch. He turned and headed back toward the cottage.

“Jonathan.”

He spun around like a frightened squirrel. Syllables drifted through his mind forming words like inner thoughts, only the sound not his, but the voice of a long lost childhood friend.

Jonathan saw no one on the beach with him. “Who’s there?”

“It is I, your old friend, Lucius.”

The voice caused his heart to flutter, a flush to his cheeks. “Lucius, is that really you?” Jonathan called out. “Where are you? I can hear your voice, but I don’t see you.”

Please visit the many other writer’s participating in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop posting currently and authors I’ve tagged for positing January 2, 13. And stay turned for more excerpts and the release date of Prince Of The Sea in earlyer 2013!!!

False Evidence continues to do well, thank you so much to the awesome readers!

Amazon.com Best Seller: 7 weeks running!
Gay Murder Mystery – Top 5
Gay Thriller – Top 25

Amazon Purchase Link:
http://tinyurl.com/FalseEvidence-AmazonKindle

All Romance eBooks – 7 weeks running!
Gay Mystery – Top 15
Thriller/Suspense – Top 25

ARE Purchase link:
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-murdermostdeadly1falseevidence-792605-145.html

This is the second novel I’m reading as juror for the 2012 GLBT Rainbow Awards

http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/tag/rainbow%20awards%202012

One Last Lie

Blurb:
Philip and Jonathan have had the perfect life together for ten years – fulfilling every dream except that of having a child. Along comes Angela, Philip’s college friend who apparently conquered her old demons of obesity and manic-depression.

After reacquainting and becoming good friends, the three decide to have a child together through artificial insemination of Jonathan’s sperm.

From that point, Philip and Jonathan’s idyllic life begins to unravel. Angela’s mask of deceit gradually slips as her pregnancy awakens psychological and physical problems, leaving Philip and Jonathan regretting ever allowing her into their lives.

Told from an elderly Jonathan’s hospital bed, Angela’s tangled web unwinds into heartbreak, deception, legal battles, and finally murder – with a surprise ending no one could have ever imagined

Ink by Isabelle Rowan

Dominic is tired, old and alone; weary of his existence to the point of withdrawing from any human contact…except to feed.
It’s been a while since he’s had a lover, one that touched him as much as the one from his past. For a reason not entirely clear to the reader, Dominic finds himself watching Ink every night, a tattoo shop emanating smells of blood and sweat that draw him and where he spots Michael, a young tattoo artist that stirs something in the ancient man that he has not enjoyed in a long time – something he has attempted to avoid over the many decades.

Michael is a young tattoo artist at Ink. He’s handsome, witty and insightful, yet somewhat aloof in his youthful grace. When a mysterious and alluring man comes into the tattoo shop one evening as it’s ready to close and asks for a tattoo, Michael quickly volunteers to “ink” the man. He is intrigued by the mysterious, brooding man.

But Dominic – the customer – erases the experience from Michael’s memory. However, Dominic returns several nights later for a tattoo that disappears by the next day.

Michael feels drawn to the mysterious man for reasons he cannot explain, or understand. He stalks Dominic, spying on him, inexplicably drawn to the man – a pull beyond his understanding. But Dominic will have none of Michael. He discourages Michael, even pushes the young man away with powerful impulses of his mind.

Dominic chooses to end his “life”, not wanting to bring any harm Michael. Michael still feels compelled to look for the man he’s feels drawn to, romantically and physically – to seek the man out, to understand his feelings, determine once and for all if there is any possibly of a relationship with Dominic.

Michael locates Dominic and excitement turns to fear as he realizes Dominic is dying, possibly dead. In a desperate attempt to revive the vampire, Michael shares his blood with the man and curls beside him in bed.

Through the first half of the novel, Dominic seems to do everything
he can to push Michael away, but the pull is too strong and soon, Dominic gives into his desires, only to attract the attention of his “maker”.

And all is not well when Dominic’s maker senses a chance to reclaim
his “son”, and interfere with Michael’s newfound love affair – the man’s very existence and that of his close friends, is suddenly in danger.

Ink is a dark, at times gothic, at times mushy, romantic tale of angst, fear and discovery, of an ancient vampire’s loss of hope and desire – a m/m romance with strong characters and plot; the writing is very good, save for a few references to modern pop culture that appeared odd. The novel builds very slow and deliberate until Dominic and Michael are finally joined as lovers, only to meet a fate stronger than either of them could have imagined.

Isabelle Rowan has created a very gratifying m/m love story – and thriller (the part I loved most toward the end!); a novel between opposite men, unlikely lovers – men destined to meet in this lifetime (or perhaps the next.)

The story drags at some points in the beginning, but pushing forth to the thriller portion of the last fifty pages or so are well worth the wait.

A very enjoyable read indeed!



View all my reviews

False Evidence by Jon Michaelsen

False Evidence
Excerpt:

Seized by the moment, Kevin thrust his laptop aside and rushed to get the binoculars. In his bedroom, he peered through the slats of the mini-blinds and watched as the stranger moved away from the window, only to emerge moments later onto his rooftop terrace with a towel in hand. The guy glanced up at the sky as though measuring the sun’s intensity or the right angle to position his body to catch the best rays. After spreading the towel across a chaise lounge, he set a bottle of tanning oil atop a short table next to the chair. Reaching over his head with one hand, he tugged the shirt off with a quick jerk before tossing it onto an adjoining chair. Both thumbs hooked beneath his waistband of his shorts, and he slid them down over muscular thighs, revealing little more than a patch of baby-blue cloth concealing his manhood. He sat with his back turned to Kevin, and removed each leg from the garment like he had all the time in the world.

Kevin’s heart pounded in his chest and his mouth went dry. The man in the scopes pivoted his frame and straddled the chaise. The binoculars revealed every ridge and cord of muscle as the stud began lathering his body, from the tops of his wide, football-player shoulders, to his lightly feathered chest, and further down to a washboard stomach few young men managed these days. Each twist and turn, indeed, every movement, revealed sculpted lines and curves that caused Kevin’s breath to catch.
The guy poured oil on his hands and began covering his lower legs, working up to his calves and thighs with precision. Kevin licked his lips and tried to swallow without blinking. He watched the guy’s big hands slip inside smooth thighs and up to his crotch, one of his hands darting beneath the Lycra fabric for a quick adjustment.

Kevin’s cock strained beneath his shorts, begging for release.

Are you insane?

He didn’t avert his eyes, regardless how much he chastised himself. Had his life become so lonely and desperate he’d reduced himself to spying on unsuspecting, male sunbathers?

Whatever the case, Kevin couldn’t seem to pull himself away from the window. The feeling he sensed was akin to asking a child to hand over chocolate ice-cream, or an aging siren to forego another round of Botox. He remained fascinated with his idol who leaned back against the chaise to apply oil to his face and neck, across his wide chest, and finally, to his abdomen.

For the next couple hours, Kevin stared through the blinds, his arms growing tired and weak. He strained to keep the lenses steady and his view unobstructed as he watched beads of sweat build on the man’s chest in the valley of muscle and across his abs. Kevin took a break when his subject took time out of the sun. He lunched when the stranger grabbed a bite to eat. Only when the guy left the terrace for the day did Kevin finally relax his shoulders, hoping, praying the stud would reappear naked in the bedroom.

He didn’t have to wait long. Some minutes later, the object of his affection entered his bedroom wearing a white towel riding low across his waist. Kevin focused the scopes, willing his arms to fight against the strain in order to make out the thick oblique muscles that framed his perfect “V” shape above the cloth.

Oh, what I wouldn’t give.

Amazon Purchase Link:

http://tinyurl.com/FalseEvidence-AmazonKindle

Loveyoudivine Purchase Link:

http://tinyurl.com/False-Evidence

ARE :

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-murdermostdeadly1falseevidence-792605-145.html

Barnes & Noble purchase link :

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jon-michaelsen?keyword=jon+michaelsen&store=ebook

Rainbow eBooks

http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7121