Book Trailer-Momentos: Mick's Journey

Now available at: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/products_new.php?osCsid=n96p584n0mh6l8acfimu0k1cv1

New Release

Before Mick Henley brought Paul Alcott and Tono Garat together in Loving Edits, it was simply Mick and Paul, two optimistic teenagers who began a love affair that would span twelve years—and leave an indelible mark in their lives.

The passionate young lovers shared a series of firsts before Paul’s harsh father drove a wedge between them, shattering their dreams and destroying everything Mick believed to be true about love. After Paul's defection, Mick met Tono, a closeted Spanish athlete, who helped heal his broken heart.

From passionate highs to heartbreaking lows, Mick inspires the two most important men in his life and brings them together with his impending death. They’ll learn that all their memories, even the most difficult to bear, are precious and that love is the most amazing journey of all.

Momentos: Mick's Journey is the final novel in the Basque trilogy and will release on July 18. Link to the Coming Soon page here:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/upcoming_products.php

I'll be posting excerpts and hosting a drawing for a free copy as we get closer to the date. Cover art by the amazing Reese Dante.

Taste Reviewed

I stumbled across this nice review for Taste by Amos Lassen, He had reviewed my first published novel Horizons two years ago and I was pleased to see that he enjoyed this spin-off. Link is here: http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=5773

Taste Excerpt

Grier barely made it home in time. Jillian was already standing in the driveway with Luca, glancing at her watch and looking irritated.

“Sorry,” Grier apologized as he navigated the V-rod into the garage. He shut down the powerful engine and pulled off his helmet, smiling at Luca who’d run up to greet him. “Hey, buddy, how’s it going?”

“Good,” Luca smiled widely. “Can I watch TV?”

“Sure. Take your stuff into the house and wait for me.”

“I’ve got twenty minutes to get to work,” Jillian fumed.

“You’re ten minutes away,” Grier pointed out, getting off the bike and sticking the helmet underneath his arm. “Who’s coming to get him?”

“Either Mom or Ali.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Since when does Ali babysit?”

“What does it matter?”

“He doesn’t know the first thing about it.”

“He’s going to have to learn if he wants to be in my life.”

Grier saw his chance to get more information. “When did you start dating him?”

“Why? Are you jealous?”

“It just seems so sudden.”

“Ali’s always had a thing for me.”

“How come I didn’t know about it?”

Jillian shrugged. “Maybe because I never paid much attention, and he didn’t want to look stupid in your eyes.”

“And all of a sudden you’re interested?”

“He’s a nice guy.”

“So is the mailman, Jillian, but you wouldn’t want to date him.”

“Why are you being a bitch?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“If the shoe fits...”

“You’re the one acting like a total cunt.”

“I should have known you’d get all pissy about this. Ali warned me that you’d be territorial.”

“Does Ali know I’m Luca’s father?”

“Of course not!”

“He needs to know.”

“I don’t agree.”

“We can’t keep this secret forever, Jillian. I was wrong to let you get away with this for so long. I want to be officially recognized as Luca’s dad.”

“Forget about it.”

“Why?” Grier couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice.

“I don’t want Luca to know you’re his dad.”

“He loves me as much as I love him.”

“That’s all well and good for now, but don’t you think his opinion of you will change when I tell him that you’d rather be with a guy than with me, his mother? You think he’ll still love you then?”

“Yes,” Grier said decisively, although he really didn’t know for sure. How would Luca react when faced with the knowledge that his father was a homosexual?

“I don’t want him to be ashamed of his gene pool.”

“He won’t be if it’s presented correctly, but he’ll be unduly influenced if you subject him to Ali and his rigid moral code. Right now Luca doesn’t even know what the word gay means.”

“Ali’s not the only person in the world who thinks it’s wrong.”

“You’ve never had a problem with me before now. Why the sudden switch?”

“Seeing you with that queer made me realize how truly gay you are.”

“And that’s the crux of the matter, isn’t it? You can’t accept that you fell for the wrong brother.”

“That’s not true.”

“The hell it’s not! Your damn pride won’t let you admit that you miscalculated and put all your eggs in the wrong basket. I never lied to you, Jillian. I told you I was gay as soon as I realized it myself.”

“I know and I’m sorry it’s come to this, but I want a better life for my boy.”

“Gay men are just as successful as the next guy. Who says I can’t give Luca a good life?”

“Look around you, Grier. You’re twenty-five, stuck in a dead-end job, and don’t even have your own place. Simply put, you’re a loser.”

“I’m here because I wanted to be closer to Luca,” Grier spat out, getting right in Jillian’s face. “You fucking well know that.”

“I want him to have a good role model, someone successful that he can look up to and admire, like Ali.”

“Tell me you’re not seriously thinking about marrying him.”

“He’s offered to adopt Luca. At least he’ll be a Dilorio, Grier. Your surname will be on the amended birth certificate, even though you won’t be listed as the father.”

“No!”

“Come on. It’s the next best thing.”

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this. You’re supposed to be on my side, Jillian.”

“I’m on Luca’s side.”

“Don’t you think he has the right to know that his real father loves him with all his heart and would rather die than see someone else make that claim?”

“You’re going all drama queen on me, Grier.”

He gripped her arms and shook her soundly. “I’m not going to give him up without a fight.”

“Let go of me,” Jillian shrieked. “Touch me one more time and I’ll call the cops on you.”

Grier released her immediately and stepped back. His eyes narrowed and he hissed, “Who are you?”

“Who the fuck are you!”

“I’m Luca’s father,” Grier said, “and it’s about time everyone finds out."

Book Trailer for Taste

Presenting the book trailer for Taste which was created by my talented and very generous friend, Marita, aka qafmaniac. I think she's outdone herself this time.

What Inspires a Story

Last July I had a craving. Don't some of the best things in life start that way? I had ice cream on my mind, never suspecting that a brief stop at my favorite store, Oberweis, would be the spark to ignite my muse. The guy who attended to me was all smiles and quite gorgeous. Being an m/m writer, I'm not ashamed to admit I'm always checking out faces and bodies of men and transferring them to my writing. There was something about this young man that spoke to me. I suppose if I were a guy, certain body parts would have twitched. In any case, he served up my Heath Bar Frostbite with a smile and told me to come back any time. I left with five hundred calories in my hand and the seeds of a story planted firmly in my brain. The next day, I attended the Taste of Chicago, and my idea for this novel started running rampant in my head. How I was inspired while sweat rolled down my back, due to the insufferable humidity levels, is beyond me, but I was. Instead of letting the discomfort bring out my internal bitch, I imagined I was Lil and took in the sights through his perspective. I'd been meaning to give this much loved character from my novel Horizons his own story, and after two years I would finally have an opportunity to do it. That night I went home and poked my head into the m/m group over at Goodreads. Their erotic picture threads have been a source of inspiration in the past, and I clicked on the link that said "Ink". I have this thing for tattoos on men. I saw a photo that blew my mind, and my character Grier was born. There were several other photos that caught my attention, and fired up the muse, but I won't embellish as it would be a major spoiler. I wrote this novel in about five weeks. I was inspired. Wouldn't you be looking at this guy? I still have him up as my screensaver! This is how Taste was born. Stay for a bit and read an excerpt or two. The novel is now available in e-book or paperback format at http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com. I'm celebrating my second year anniversary with Dreamspinner and handing out free bookmarks to anyone who buys one of my paperbacks in the month of April. It's my small way of saying "Thank You" to all my wonderful readers.

Taste a Horizons Spin-off

What should have been a brief interlude turns into something deeper when Lil Lampert meets Grier Dilorio at the Taste of Chicago. Lil is in town visiting good friends Jody Williams and Clark Stevens, and he didn’t plan to hook up with a younger man and discover a mutual love for architecture, interior design, and a unique sexual kink that keeps Lil coming back for more.


By all appearances, Grier is the quintessential bad boy who loves speed, tattoos, and leather, but Lil slowly uncovers another side: selfless, responsible, and tender, especially for Luca, the son he’s had to deny. With Lil’s love and support, Grier will make a decision key to opening the door to a possible future together, one that includes fatherhood, something Lil has dreamed of but has never dared to explore.

Taste will be available in paperback or e-book format on Monday, April 4, 2011 at Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, and All Romance ebooks.

Tono

Sequel to Loving Edits


In the aftermath of Mick Henley’s death, his two lovers, Paul Alcott and Tono Garat, find themselves at odds. Tono has rejected Paul on the pretext that the public will find out about their love affair, thus tarnishing Mick’s memory; the reality is that Tono fears Paul will lose interest in him because they’re not intellectual equals. Tono’s fear is compounded when Mick’s final novel, Momentos, is presented to Paul posthumously with a request to start a trust from the proceeds to aid artists and writers suffering from ALS. Mick’s only stipulation is that Tono spearhead the organization.



Paul is energized by Mick’s request, but Tono is angry and conflicted about the challenge. After a five-month separation, they reunite, rekindling their strong physical attraction—and illuminating their many differences. As always, Mick’s presence lingers, intruding at unexpected times. Are their memories preventing Paul and Tono from finding true happiness as a couple? Can there be a life for two vibrant alphas without the gentle Mick to buffer the discord?

Loving Edits

When bestselling novelist Mick Henley contacts his editor and former lover, Paul Alcott, after a seven-year absence, hearing Mick’s voice reinforces what Paul has known all along―he still loves Mick. The possible reunion entices Paul into considering a dinner invitation, but his hopes are dashed when he learns Mick is in a loving relationship with Spanish Jai alai player Tono Garat.

Paul still accepts the invitation, and Mick asks Paul to help Tono through the final revision of a love story he’s written, inspired by his affair with Mick. When Paul refuses, Mick reveals he’s been diagnosed with a fatal disease, and the novel is Tono’s only means of coping with the eventual outcome.

Paul and Tono resent each other, but they can't deny the strong sexual attraction between them. Can the past blend with the present to ease the way for Mick’s inevitable future? Will they overcome their differences to provide the loving support necessary to sustain the man they love or will their collision destroy Mick's final days?


Best Gay Contemporary Romance - Honorable Mention

Sequel to Impacted!

Getting to know each other hasn’t been an easy journey for Scott Gregory and Robin "Red" Kennedy. Falling in love and exploring their kinkier sides revealed a perfect match, and Scott is a devoted sub to Red’s headstrong and often impulsive Dominant personality.

Scott, Robin, and their friend, Susie, open a new dental practice a short distance from the old office but miles away from Scott’s former boss and his Promise Keeper mentality. But the move doesn’t guarantee a happy ending. Robin’s mother is in a medical crisis. Scott’s grandfather makes an unexpected appearance. Ongoing interference from Jenna, Ron’s needy assistant, stirs up trouble. And Susie, having completed her training as a Dominatrix, is on a quest for the perfect male submissive.

Then there's one more threat to their relationship: Robin’s desire for a public collaring, something the shy and formerly closeted Scott is having a really hard time accepting. Is a strong and binding love―albeit a kinky one―enough to keep Scott and Robin together?

Cutting Cords

When Sloan Driscoll and Cole Fujiwara become reluctant roommates, neither man is willing to share too much. Sloan is instantly attracted to Cole but knows it's a hopeless cause; Cole has a steady girlfriend. But one night they share a joint, and Cole opens a window neither anticipated.

A relationship may be impossible—both men are living with heart-breaking secrets. While Sloan is smart, sassy, and a brilliant graphic artist, he’s also a pothead with severe body image problems. Cole, a former major league pitcher, has his own personal crisis: he's going blind. Sloan and Cole are suffering on so many levels, they might not realize that the ultimate salvation could be within each other’s arms.


Best Gay Contemporary Romance - Honorable Mention



While it is easy for the reader to see that these two need each other, it is not that easy for the characters and therefore a battle of wills always ensues. However, as these two come to terms with their problems and learn to trust themselves and each other, they soon learn that the love they have is one worth fighting for. 5 of 5 nymphs Critter Nymph @ Literary Nymphs



Sloan and Cole are both very damaged boys in completely different ways that come together and really heal each other. 4.5 of 5 stars xbmbgrl @ Rainbow Reviews