Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

September by Robert Winter: Exclusive Guest Post and Interview, Audiobook Tour, and Giveaway

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Join author Robert Winter and narrator Kale Williams in a wide-ranging interview that explores the process and art of producing an audiobook. The interview has been divided into five segments. Follow each stop on the blog tour to hear the entire discussion, and enter to have a chance to win a $25 Amazon giftcard.

Feb 19, 2018 – MM Good Book Reviews  Part 1—To kick off the interview, Kale describes how he got stated in audiobook narration.

Feb 20, 2018 – The Novel Approach  Part 2 – Kale discusses how his theater background informs his work as a narrator, how he got into narrating M/M romance, and what it’s like narrating those explicit sex scenes.

Feb 21, 2018 – Love Bytes Reviews  Part 3 – In this segment Kale describes his process for preparing to narrate a book.

Feb 22, 2018 – Joyfully Jay  Part 4 – Kale discusses how he makes each character unique, and lessons he took from voice actor Hank Azaria. Kale and Robert also discuss the development of voices for two characters, Brandon and Joe.

Feb 23, 2018 – Two Chicks Obsessed with Books and Eye Candy  Part 5 – In this final segment, Kale discusses the scenes in September that stood out to him as a narrator, and we discuss one character in particular who is very important in Robert’s next book, Asylum.

Title:  September

Format: Audiobook

Series: Pride and Joy, book 1

Narrator: Kale Williams

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher:  Robert Winter Books

Release Date: February 7th,  2018

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 10 Hours 01 Minutes

Genre: Romance, May December, hurt comfort, second chance

Goodreads

 

A May-December contemporary gay romance for lovers of second chances

David James is smart, successful, handsome… and alone. After the death of his lover, Kyle, from cancer, he buried himself in his law practice and the gym. At forty-eight, he is haunted by his memories and walled off from the world. When David injures himself working out, he’s assigned to Brandon Smith for physical therapy. The vibrant young therapist is attracted to David and realizes he needs a hand to get back into dating. What begins as a practice coffee date escalates to friendship, passion, and maybe something more, as they navigate a new relationship in Washington, DC, and the gay mecca of Provincetown.

But David remains trapped behind the barrier of fear and guilt. Will he remain loyal to Kyle’s memory if he moves on? Can he and Brandon manage a twenty-two-year age gap? Brandon thinks he understands David’s concerns, and for him, the answer to those questions is yes. He wants to be with David, and he believes he can overcome David’s barriers. But Brandon fails to account for the world’s reaction to a handsome young man attached to an older, wealthy lover.

David’s memories, Brandon’s pride, and an unexpected tragedy might cost them something very special…

 

Audible

Amazon

iTunes 

 

 

 

Robert Winter lives and writes in Provincetown. He is a recovering lawyer who prefers writing about hot men in love much more than drafting a legal brief. He left behind the (allegedly) glamorous world of an international law firm to sit in his home office and dream up ways to torment his characters until they realize they are perfect for each other. When he isn’t writing, Robert likes to cook Indian food and explore new restaurants.

Author Links

Website: www.robertwinterauthor.com

Facebook: facebook.com/robert.winter.921230

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/16068736.Robert_Winter

Twitter: twitter.com/@RWinterAuthor

Email: RobertWinterAuthor@comcast.net

 

Meet the Narrator

Kale Williams lends his voice to bring to life romance books of all stripes. Known for his distinct characterizations and natural intimate storytelling, he is as comfortable with the cowboys on the prairie as he is with the cops of the big city, from the slow burn to the hot steam to the HEA. Love is love is love.

 

 

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Survivor by TM Smith: Audiobook Tour, Sample and Giveaway

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Taylor Langford’s world is torn apart when he is only thirteen years old—his parents killed, leaving him alone and orphaned. With no living relatives, he’d certainly be another statistic if not for the intervention of the policeman who found Taylor in the crawl space where his mother hid him that fateful night. Despite the tragedy and resulting anguish in his life, Taylor knows how lucky he is.

Frank Moore is a rookie with the Dallas Police Department when he and his partner answer a call in Devonshire, one of the city’s more affluent neighborhoods. They think the young boy in various pictures throughout the home has been kidnapped until they find him, shaken but alive. Officer Moore recognizes the pain in the kid’s eyes, having lost his own mother to cancer when he was just a boy. He steps in, making sure Taylor is placed with a loving foster family. Over the years, Frank becomes a permanent fixture in Taylor’s life.

A decade later, the case remains unsolved and the once gangly, uncertain teenager is now a college graduate who knows exactly what he wants. He’s coming home to the man that helped mold and shape his life, the man he’s loved for as long as he can remember, Frank Moore. But Taylor isn’t the only person returning to Dallas, and while Frank is distracted by his own conflicting feelings and the new bond growing between the two, the past creeps up on them, determined to finish what was started ten years earlier.

Amazon

Audible

 

A note from the author…

I hope you enjoy Frank and Taylor’s story. It’s been a long road to get them settled, but I’m happy with where this story has taken them. When I started this book, the intent was to write a stand-alone story, but that has changed. Characters continually evolve throughout the writing process, and there are several characters in the book that want to tell their story. I’ve grown especially fond of Rory and I can’t wait to write his book, which will take us back to when he first joined the Bureau, and continue on to his happy ever after.

Please be advised: This is a May/December romance, and as in life, there are sexual situations that take place prior to the main characters finding their way to one another. This is not gratuitous; it is meant to show character growth and self-realization. There is absolutely no cheating.

 

Listen to a 5 minute sample >> here <<

 

What reviewers think of Nick J Russo’s narration… 

 

Wow!  AWESOME story! Gripped me from the very start. Loved the premise. Nick J Russo did a fantastic job with the characters. Highly recommend!

May-december, Friends to Lovers, touch of suspense. Nick J Russo is a favorite narrator of mine and I can never tire of him. His voice is smooth and his pacing s more like telling a story not reading it. I love his voices for both Taylor and Frank and how distinctive they are. This is on my to listen to again list!

 

A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel.

Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!

Website: www.authortmsmith.com

Blog: www.ttcbooksandmore.com

Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTMSmith

Facebook All Cocks series: https://www.facebook.com/AllCocksStories

Twitter – https://twitter.com/TTCBooksandmore
GoodReads: https://goo.gl/XQugse

Pinterest: https://goo.gl/cq9R9t

Youtube: https://goo.gl/Rpq5gX

Head over to Pinterest to see the Survivor album.

Head over to Youtube to listen to the Survivor playlist.

 

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Daddy, Daddy, and Me by Sean Michael: Exclusive Guest Post and Release Day Review

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When Jeff agreed to be the sperm donor to his best friend Beth, he never expected a tragedy to leave his newborn and three-year-old motherless. Beth’s loss has totally thrown his life into chaos: his lover has left him, his house isn’t anywhere near childproof, and his boss feels the restaurant has been patient enough with Jeff’s time off.

Donny has always known he wanted to work with kids, and he just finished his degree in early childhood education. He didn’t count on the prejudice he’d face as not only a male nanny, but a gay one at that. Job-hunting has been frustrating to say the least, so when he knocks on Jeff’s door and is greeted by the sounds of things breaking and a pair of screaming children, he thinks maybe he can begin this particular interview with a trial by fire.

Becoming the nanny to Jeff’s children might be a dream come true for Danny and exactly what Jeff needs, but are either of them ready to really be a family?

Title: Daddy, Daddy, and Me
Author: Sean Michael
Release Date: February 23, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 162

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

 

Thank you to Two Chicks Obsessed for hosting me today.

As Daddy, Daddy and Me features a couple of kids, I thought I’d share my top five favorite kids’ books growing up. I read all the following multiple times as a kid. And yes, I adored series because that meant I got to stay in the world I loved.

 

Top Five Favourite Kid’s books

  1. Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My copies of these were dog-eared. It was fascinating reading about this little girl who grew up a long time ago.

 

  1. The Hobbit by JJR Tokien – I read the Lord of the Rings books in my early teens, but this book in my childhood and it helped form my lifelong love of fantasy/sci-fi

 

  1. Z is for Zachariah by Robert C O’Brien – I remember taking this one out of the library (more than once.) If The Hobbit turned me onto fantasy, this book turned me onto post-apocalyptic fiction.

 

  1. Anne Of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne taught me that it was good to use my imagination and that being ‘normal’ and ‘just like everyone else’ were not the be all and end all.

 

  1. Famous Five series by Enid Blyton – I was first introduced to these at the English bookstore in Heidelberg and loved them beyond reason. We would go back every week and get a new one until I had them all 21 of them. Then I re-read them.

There were many more of course, we started going to the library as early as I can remember and my mother stuck a book in my crib to keep me company in the mornings from six months on, but those are five that stick out in my mind.

 

Sean Michael

Smut fixes everything

This one is such a sweet read with really cute kids and an awesome Uncle/manny love story.

Jeff agrees to be a sperm donor for his best friend in the world, thinking he could be a totally awesome uncle and nothing else. Until tragedy strikes and he is left raising two little people who miss their mom while trying prove life goes on without a best friend and now an absentee boyfriend.

Donny has recently graduated with a degree in early childhood education but is having a tough time finding a job. Once people find out he’s gay they can’t get rid of him fast enough. Praying this next interview is his last, Donny is surprised to find Jeff might need him just as much as Donny needs this job.

Trial by fire doesn’t even begin to cover it. Jeff is in way over his head, overworked and running on no sleep doesn’t help when dealing with grieving kids. Donny steps in to help and Jeff can see a noticeable difference in the kids in such a short time. It seems Donny has been good for all of them. Jeff just needs to stop the inappropriate thoughts he’s having about Donny before he scares him right out of their lives. Little does he know, Donny is fighting his own attraction.

When Jeff’s ex returns to cause trouble for the new couple, Jeff and Donny will need to decide if they’re stronger together or apart and what’s best for their little family.

The story is really entertaining , but I love that all the drama in the story revolves around outside characters. Donny and Jeff are pretty chill, letting the love evolve naturally. It felt so real, never forced. The was they come together as a family is so beautiful.

If ever I have wanted to throat punch a character Jeff’s ex would be number one on that list. What a tool! But his resurfacing just proves how blind a person can be and what they thought was love was just mere lust because true love makes everything else dull.

Great read. I couldn’t put it down.

4 pieces of eye candy

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com

BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/

TWITTER: seanmichael09

INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/

Monthly Guest Post: Victoria Sue – Exclusive Excerpt from Joshua’s Rainbow

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As always, we love it when Victoria Sue drops by for her monthly blog post. She brings something fun, exciting, maybe a little on the the dirty side, but we are glad to have her! So check out the exclusive excerpt she brought to TCO this month from her book that is just out today, and on KU! Welcome Victoria!

Rainbow Key – an idyllic island retreat off the west coast of Florida. Think wedding destination, white sandy beaches, lurve… except at the moment Joshua is struggling to pay the electricity bill, they’ve no paying customers, and even if they did they can’t afford the repairs from the devastating hurricane that struck three years ago – and to top it off they have to take in Daniel, a grumpy businessman who has been ordered by his doctor to take some time off before he has a heart attack from too much stress.

Funnily enough, Daniel owns a very expensive hotel chain that has been trying to buy the island for the past two years. Not that Joshua knows that yet, and boy are sparks gonna fly when he thinks he’s been set up.

Of course, sparks of a different kind are also soon flying between them.

Then there’s Matt who just got let out of prison, Charlie who ran away from home, and Ben, a famous model until a devastating house fire destroyed his face.

Welcome to Rainbow Key – held together by love, family, and sticky tape.

“Joshua?” Daniel reached out and gently pulled his face around to look at him. “I’m so sorry for what I said last night. It was a culmination of a month’s worth of stress, and I’m afraid I took it out on you.”

Joshua shook his head. “Not your fault. You were right, and”—he took a breath—“I haven’t had much luck with relationships.” He paused and Daniel’s heart went out to him.

“I find that very difficult to believe,” Daniel said lightly and nudged his arm.

Joshua looked incredulously at Daniel and waved a hand at himself. “Then you’re blind,” he said shortly.

“Do you know what I see when I look at you? It’s your eyes first,” Daniel mused. “They have been pulling me in since the first time I laid my own on you.”

“I’m huge,” Joshua said flatly.

“Well, your heart is, certainly.” His lips parted and Daniel knew he wanted to tell him something, but they closed on silence. “Joshua, Josh, you are trying to provide a home for people that don’t seem to have one, with barely any facilities and no money to do so. I am in awe at your generosity of spirit.” He nudged him. “You’re also sexy as all hell and I’m struggling to keep my hands of you.”

Joshua stared in astonishment and opened his mouth again, but just then they heard a shout from the hotel and turned to see Susie waving at them trying to get their attention. Daniel sighed to himself and offered his hand to pull him upright. He ignored the tingly warmth as Joshua placed his hand in Daniel’s and let himself be pulled up.

“So, you’re staying to help me feed fifty people?” Josh’s tone was doubtful, but the question seemed loaded with other things. Daniel threw away caution and every sensible thought he had ever had. In the same pile, he buried his guilt at the deception and told himself if he was going to try and buy the island he was being very altruistic by helping them first. Though, he admitted to himself, if he was really the savvy business man he had been accused of being—and not always politely—then helping Joshua should be the last thing he was doing.

“Not just that,” he said with meaning, and let his eyes trail suggestively over Josh’s body.

Josh stiffened and Daniel knew instantly he’d made a huge mistake.

“Hey.” He snagged Josh’s hand, incredibly relieved when he didn’t pull away. “That came out wrong. For a marketing consultant, I seem to be doing a bad job of communicating my feelings.” He took a deep breath, gratified that Josh hadn’t told him to get lost.

“I am incredibly attracted to you. I think that much is obvious.” Daniel laughed awkwardly when he didn’t get a reaction. “But this is business. After twenty jaded years I get a kick out of helping someone start up, running with an idea.” He nudged Joshua. “How about when the wedding’s a tremendous success and you have bookings flooding in, we talk again and see what we both want? No expectations or promises.”

Josh regarded him quizzically for a second then took a step nearer. He whispered because Susie was nearly within hearing distance. “I like expectations,” he said throatily, and Daniel made a soft noise in the back of his throat that might have been a whimper. Damn.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Victoria Sue fell in love with love stories as a child when she would hide away with her mom’s library books and dream of the dashing hero coming to rescue her from math homework. She never mastered math but managed to dream up quite a few heroes. Loves reading and writing about gorgeous boys loving each other the best—especially with a paranormal twist—but always with a happy ending.

Is an English northern lass currently serving twenty to life in Florida—unfortunately, she spends more time chained to her computer than on a beach.

Loves to hear from her readers and can be found most days lurking on Facebook where she doesn’t need factor 1000 sun-cream to hide her freckles.
Amazon Author Page

Facebook Group

www.victoriasue.com

@vickysuewrites

Joshua’s Rainbow – https://goo.gl/VaFELb

Leave a comment on Victoria Sue’s monthly blog stop, and you are entered to win an ebook of one of her backlist books.

Hard To Let Go by Jaclyn Quinn: Release Day Review

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Owen Richards lives a quiet life in his small hometown of Haven’s Cove. He has a rewarding life consisting of three very supportive—not to mention feisty—women, and a successful bakery that he owns and absolutely loves. Yet, Owen can’t seem to shake this emptiness inside or the intense feeling that something is missing. A sudden encounter with a man from his past, one he despises, turns his entire world upside down. When Owen finds himself attracted to that sexy man, he questions everything, including his sanity. After all, only an incredibly disturbed person would find that he can’t stop thinking about his high school bully.

Brody Walker never expected to return to Haven’s Cove. He’s made a life for himself in Boston where he can truly be the person he was always meant to be. But an unexpected call has Brody facing all the demons he’d left behind so long ago. Now, he’s faced with not only a difficult goodbye, but one long overdue apology to a man who is no longer that lanky kid from high school. The challenge is to convince the guy he’s changed—and also prove he’s worth taking a chance on.

When passions ignite, truths are exposed, changing beliefs these men have held on to for years. Faced with the knowledge that things aren’t always what they seem, will they choose to hold on to the incredible thing they’ve found…or is it easier to give in to the fear and let go?

Hard To Let Go

Jaclyn Quinn

Release Date: Feb 19th

Genre: M/M Romance

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

 

I don’t do love triangles so I was a little bit worried about this one in the beginning. See, Owen and his boyfriend Jonah were best friends that turned into more, Jonah was there for Owen when he needed him the most and he’d always have love for him…. Unfortunately, as of lately, they both knew that things weren’t that way with them anymore. They had all the love in the world for each other, but they weren’t in love with each other. I respected how maturely they handed everything and was glad that there wasn’t a bad guy in the situation; they were both very likeable characters.

Now… on his way to work one morning, Owen runs into an old high school bully, Brody. Brody and his friends weren’t just bullies, they were BULLIES… especially the ring leader, Chuck, and it’s heartbreaking what they put Owen through…. What’s even worse though, is the heartbreaking, terrible life that Brody was hiding from. I couldn’t stomach the way his father treated him and I’m really bummed that he didn’t get the karmic justice that he deserved. Somethin akin to ripping his flesh off the bones and keeping him alive for days to be tortured…. Too much? Meh, doubtful….

Anyway, although Owen is angry at seeing Brody and very mistrusting of him, he didn’t know that Jonah had already hired him to some remodeling work at Owen’s house. It starts off terribly, but, once Owen knows why Brody is back in town and finds out the way he suffered alongside Owen all those years ago, just in a different way… things change for the pair.

I love how jealous both men get in regards to the other man while they try to hide their feelings for each other. I love Owen’s family and Brody’s best friend Gabe, I really hope he gets a story with Nate, as well as Jonah gets his happy with someone perfect. I love that Owen cared so much about Brody and was there with him every step of the way when tragedy strikes and Brody needed him.

These two had the best chemistry, and not even just during sexy times….this author done an awesome job expressing such deep feelings of confusion, lust, anger, regret, guilt, sadness and overall love. This is my first by this author, but it for sure won’t be my last!!

4 heartbreaking and hopeful stars from me.

The Artist’s Touch by E.J. Russell: Blog Tour, New Release Review and Giveaway

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Two men haunted by more than the past.

Painter Stefan Cobbe was homeless and debt-ridden after the death of his wealthy partner, but the worst loss of all was his artistic inspiration. After two years of nothing, he’s offered patronage by an eccentric gallery owner and starts to produce again, canvas after canvas. The only problem? He can’t remember painting any of them—not one single brushstroke.

Luke Morganstern’s reputation as an art-fraud investigator is in tatters. He can’t afford to turn down any job, even a lousy one for an anonymous client who sends him after an unidentified forger in a remote cabin in Oregon. When the alleged forger turns out to be Stefan, the man he never stopped loving, Luke’s professional ethics are stretched beyond the breaking point.

As the two men take tentative steps toward reconciliation, evidence begins to mount that they’re not alone in the woods. Someone—or something—is watching. Something with sinister plans for them both. To escape, Luke must overcome his suspicions and Stefan must trust Luke with his deepest fears. Otherwise they could forfeit their relationship, their sanity—and their lives.

Publisher’s note: This is a heavily revised and significantly expanded reprint of Northern Light. The second book in the Art Medium series, Tested In Fire, is a first edition. Both are sold together in both ebook and print collections.

Thank you Two Chicks Obsessed for inviting me to stop by today! Hello, intrepid internet adventurers, and welcome to the blog tour for The Artist’s Touch, the first book in my Art Medium series. After the release of book two, Tested in Fire, in April, I’ll be giving away a $40 Riptide gift card, so please leave a comment for a chance to win.

Amazon

Riptide Publishing

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this novella, but I got more than I bargained for, in a good way. A second chance at love for these two men, a ton of history behind them, both when they were together, and afterwards, and some supernatural elements thrown in (notice what’s behind the MC on the cover????).

Well, it was definitely intriguing, and I had no idea that little tiny plot points in the story along the way, would transcend into what was a huge crescendo at the end. I really enjoyed those final scenes, knowing how the small touches had helped to build to such a huge ending (the kind where you cringe a little at what the MC’s are going through, love it!).

Small spoiler ahead! This novella isn’t long, but definitely packs a punch, with two second chance love stories, the one you expect, and the one you don’t.

Definitely recommend this one! 4 pieces of eye candy

 

About the Art Medium Series

Artists use all manner of materials to express their vision, to interpret the world around them, to affect the hearts and minds of their audience.

But what if the artist himself were the medium? And what if artistic inspiration weren’t the only force at work?

If painter Stefan Cobbe and art investigator Luke Morganstern don’t answer those questions fast, they stand to lose their reputations, their relationship—and their lives.

Check out the Art Medium series now!

E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.

E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

Connect with E.J.:

Website: ejrussell.com

Blog: ejrussell.com/bloggery/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/E.J.Russell.author

Twitter: twitter.com/ej_russell

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ejrussell/

To celebrate the release of both books in the Art Medium series, one lucky winner will receive a $40 Riptide credit! Winner will be pulled from entries to both blog tours. Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Contest closes at midnight, Eastern time, on April 7, 2017 and is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following The Artist’s Touch tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!