Waiting for Patrick by Brynn Stein: Release Day Review, Guest Post, Giveaway

Architect Elliot Graham has bought and restored dozens of historic homes to their original splendor. As in his personal life, he loves them and leaves them, selling them off without looking back. But there’s something about the old plantation house he finds in South Carolina—a connection he can’t explain. He feels as though he recognizes the house, as if within its crumbling walls he might find something he doesn’t even realize he’s lost.

Ben Myers promised his lover and soul mate, Patrick, that he would wait for his return—and Ben has kept his word, ever since Patrick brought him to the plantation house during the Civil War. For the first time in many long years, Ben is no longer alone, and he reaches out to Elliot in dreams. Elliot tries to convince Ben that Patrick isn’t coming back, and Ben’s devotion is about to change not only his lonely existence, but Elliot’s life as well.

Title: Waiting for Patrick
Author: Brynn Stein
Release Date: September 16, 2016
Category: Paranormal: Ghots/Spirits
Pages: 280

Amazon

ARe

Dreamspinner Press

 

I just finished a blog tour for Waiting for Patrick yesterday. I’m offering giveaways of one signed copy, one electronic copy, and a choice of one title from my backlist. It’s not too late to enter. I will choose and announce a winner at 5PM EST on September 16^th, the release day of my book. Feel free to go around and comment on as many blogs as you want. One comment, one entry.

Crossword Puzzle

So, I just finished my blog tour, and had a wonderful time. But I find I’m running out of blog post ideas. But, never fear. I was a teacher for thirty years before becoming a mental health counselor. So, I created a crossword. The information needed for the crossword is all in one or the other of my blog tour posts (listed below) or in the blurb.

Try your hand at the crossword here: http://crosswordlabs.com/view/waiting-for-patrick-2

If you prefer a little less of a challenge, go to the shorter version here: http://crosswordlabs.com/view/waiting-for-patrick

If you give up, “Patrick” is the password for both that will give you the answer key.

Have fun.

My favorite period of history, bar none, is the American Civil War. It has always fascinated me, and I have researched and read many different thing on it. So, when I read the words “Civil War” in the blurb, I knew I wanted to read it, and wanted a guest post on it. I wasn’t disappointed.

This book is a ghost story, along with some other little spots of surprise, but all in all its a love story. I don’t read ghost stories. Ever. Not in my comfort zone. Not something I even really want to read. Why? Because they don’t have happy endings. I need my HEA. That is why I read romance. You gotta give me a happy ending or I am out! So, I was nervous. But Waiting for Patrick was just what I needed. There was a beautiful HEA, which I won’t lie, left me BAWLING at the end of  the book. But I got what I was looking for, my HEA.

The love story of Ben and Patrick was told beautifully through the dreams that Elliott sees when he sleeps. Two men that never really questioned their love. And when Ben died after being injured in the Civil War, and Patrick left, Ben waited in that house for Patrick’s return. He was devoted to Patrick and would not deviate. He was waiting for Patrick without question.

Elliott meanwhile falls in love with the ghost of Ben, and Ben returns his feelings. A love triangle like none other. Yet you don’t feel angst, because you can feel the emotions, and you can see where this is heading. It doesn’t hurt any less as you get there, your heart will be ripped apart, but the love is so strong that you can’t help but feel joy as to what you know is coming.

This book was a bit longer than it needed to be, I think, with a few scenes that could have been cut, or reduced to just the necessary components. Although it didn’t detract from the story, those extra pieces did not add to the story as they should have.

All in all, though, I really loved this book. I loved the story, both past and present. I loved seeing how easily Elliott was able to find love when he’d felt uneasy about it his entire life. I will be re-reading this book at some point. Thank you to Brynn Stein for giving me a ghost story I could love. 🙂

4.5 pieces of eye candy

Brynn has always loved to write about strong male characters and their close friendships. When she found the world of m/m fiction, she fell in love. Finally, a way to bring those strong male characters together and let those emotional connections spill over into deeper relationships. Sometimes her characters go through the emotional wringer, but they always have each other.

Brynn lives in Virginia near her two grown daughters who support her writing and sometimes act as proof readers. Both of her daughters are also aspiring writers and hopefully it’ll just be a matter of time before they have their own author’s biography.

Brynn was a teacher by profession for thirty years. She worked in special education with children with emotional disabilities. She has recently changed careers and is now working as a mental health counselor to this same population and their families. When she is not working or writing, she loves to draw and paint. She also gets outside as often as she can, reads anything that doesn’t move out of the way, and is always looking for her next story.

Contact Brynn:

https://twitter.com/BrynnStein

http://brynnstein2.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/brynn.stein

 

Other Blog Stops

Date	Blog Name	Blog Owner	Blog Address
September 1st	Bike Book Reviews	Becky	http://bikebookreviews.blogspot.com/
September 2nd	Drops of Ink	Anne Barwell	http://anne-barwell.livejournal.com/
September 2nd	Snow’s Untangled Threads and Musings	Snow Tigra	http://snowtigra.blogspot.com/
September 3rd	Antonia Aquilante	Antonia Acquilante	www.antoniaaquilante.com/blog
September 3rd	The Story Struggle and Beyond	Ki Brightly	www.brightlybooks.wordpress.com
September 4th	Thianna Durston	Thianna Durston	Http://mm.thiannad.com
September 4th	Unconventional Love Stories	Charley Descoteaux	https://cdescoteauxwrites.com/
September 4th	Misadventures of the Heart	Heloise West	https://velvetpanic2.wordpress.com/
September 5th	Sandra Bard	Sandra Bard	http://sandrabard.tumblr.com
September 5th	Tempest O’Riley	Tempe O’Riley	http://tempesteoriley.com/
September 6th	Jackie Keswick	Jackie Keswick	http://www.jackiekeswick.co.uk
September 7th	Chaos in the Moonlight	K-lee Kline	http://chaosinthemoonlight.blogspot.ca/?m=1&zx=8a3ea5613ebace1d
September 8th	Grace R. Duncan	Grace Duncan	http://www.grace-duncan.com/graces-blog
September 8th	Brita Addams	Brita Addams	http://www.britaaddams.net/#!blog/c1zoe
September 8th	Cryselle’s Bookshelf	Chryselle	www.crysellesbookshelf.com
September 9th	Emotion in Motion	Elizabeth Noble	http://www.elizabeth-noble.com/my-blog
September 9th	MM Good Books Review		https://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/
September 10th	Jacob Z Flores	Jacob Flores	http://www.jacobzflores.com/
September 11th	Andrew’s Blog	Andrew Grey	http://andrewgreybooks.com/blog/
September 12th	Nicki J Marcus	Nicki Marcus	http://www.nickijmarkus.com
September 12th	Rainbow Gold Reviews	Marc Fleischhauer	rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress.com
September 13th	PD Singer	PD Singer	http://wp.me/puLP9-1bg
September 14th	Our Story LGBTQ Historical Fiction	Christopher  Moss	https://ourstoryglbtqhistoricalfiction.com
September 15th	Renee Stevens	Renee Stevens	http://reneestevens.net/blog-2/
September 15th	Purple Rose Tea House	Charlie Cochet	http://purpleroseteahouse.com
September 15th	Open Skye Book Reviews		http://openskyebookreviews.com/waiting-for-patrick-by-brynn-stein-book-tour-and-giveaway/
September 15th	The Novel Approach Reviews	Lisa (Novel Approach)	http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/
Throughout the tour	Book Trailer on You Tube	Lex Valentine	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCOua40uCJM