Recent blog hops and winners of Stripped Bare.

Well, the TRR and Safari Heat blog hops are over now and I hope everyone had fun -until the next one at least. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented, your participation is really appreciated.

I wish everyone could be a winner of the e-book prize but unfortunately, that’s not possible. So without further ado, here are the winners randomly selected from the entries on the blogs.

Winning a copy of Stripped Bare – I decided to give two/three copies away as there was a great response.

The Romance Reviews Blog Hop

HB
Trix

Safari Heat Blog Hop

Jean
Catrina
Amanda A

I will be in touch by email to find out what format you’d like so I can send you the book.

In the meantime enjoy this very sexy picture and Happy Tuesday!

Guilty Indulgence Blog Hop

http://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogspot.com/p/blog-hops.html

Here’s the thing. My debut novel was called Cassandra by Starlight and it included a fairly controversial topic abut female on male rape. I did a huge amount of research for the female on male rape scene as it was something new and appeared to be a fairly contentious issue. I came across some real life experiences and men’s views and one of them that really impacted on me was a story and some views by a man called James A. Landrith who’d been subject to this very thing.
James was matter of fact, truthful and at the time of my research, he was openly active in helping promote the awareness of male rape and disprove the misconceptions out there. I used James’ views and the research and blogs etc he’d done as the basis for my rape scene for my leading man, Bennett Saville. At no time did I make actual contact with the man and his material went into my ‘research’ archive in my Google mail account.
As is the practice being a self promoting author, Tweeted , Facebooked, Google +’d and blogged the news about my book all over the place in the hope someone was listening to me. Imagine my surprise when James contacted me via Twitter over this past weekend and gave me the links to recent posts and some more information. He’d seen my promotion post on Twitter somehow and decided to get in touch. We chatted online, had a few messages pass between us and James then surprised me with the fact he’d written a blog about it on his own site and would I mind if he published it, together with links to my website and my book. I also gained a new reader as he downloaded the book to read.
There are two reasons I said a resounding ‘Yes’ to this. One of them is a purely a selfish one – my book was getting exposure to people I otherwise might not have reached. The second one, and honestly, the more important one to me, was it was getting publicity in a way that really mattered – in the context of a really social conundrum that lent itself to discussion and debate.

So, to see a really controversial subject that I used in my book promoted and written about in the way that James has done, lends credence to the fact that we can also use serious topics in our romance books and that sometimes our writing does have an impact on others. It’s awe inspiring for me as an author to see my book written about in this way and I am truly grateful to James for giving me the opportunity to do so.
You can view James’ blog and his comments on my book here – he is a self proclaimed ‘left libertarian blogger, publisher, Marine and civil liberties activist.

http://jameslandrith.com/content/view/3904/79/

The first in the Starlight series of books

I’m now writing M/M Romance books although my Starlight trilogy is still going strong. For this blog hop, I’m giving away a copy of my latest best selling release, Stripped Bare (e-book only -available in mobi, epub and pdf formats) via random draw. To qualify you need to leave a comment on this guest post -you must include your email so I can contact you if you win. If you’d prefer the first book in the Starlight series, ‘Cassandra by Starlight’ leave a note in your comment and I can certainly accommodate that request.

You can purchase the book here

Boroughs Publishing Group http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/stripped-bare
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/16j78uL
Amazon.co.uk http://amzn.to/19wW6oO
All Romance ebooks http://bit.ly/18MvZHK
Kobo http://bit.ly/1cnHE1X
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339469

If you want to gain extra entries into the Giveaway, then you can do any of the following. (These are not mandatory, it’s up to you. But each one will qualify you for an extra entry into the draw)

Leave a comment – Please tell me whether you are a reader, an author and where you live
Follow my blog at https://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
Follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
Follow me on Twitter @SusanMacnicol7

Example of posting comment and detail needed to qualify:
Name: Sue Mac Nicol
Email: susanmacnicol7@gmail.com
Comment: Great Post
Twitter: Followed
FaceBook: Followed
Blog: Followed
Are You a Reader or Author: Author
Country You Live In: United Kingdom

To enter in the Rafflecopter and follow the hop, click the link below

http://guiltyindulgencebookclub.blogspot.com/p/blog-hops.html

Talk to me!

Patrick Darcy has a point of view shared by many. What the hell has happened to the art to conversation, of wooing a man with clever words, of making him feel sought after so at least when the kit does come off he feels a little as if there was a little verbal foreplay. Are we doomed to a generation where people have forgotten how to talk to each other, especially when it comes to getting jiggy with it….
Your thoughts, ladies and gents? Are you a conversationalist, a texter, a dumb struck ass in the flesh, an app geek or do you really pursue that booty call with vigour and passion…Speak now or for ever hold your peace…

Patrick Darcy

Damn it! Am I so old fashioned?

Am I asking for too much?

When did this all come to pass?

Why the hell can’t we do this anymore?

Yes, I’m ranting!

It should be as easy as sticking a dick in a hole.

We are Irish after all.

All I want is a bit of banter.

Real banter.

Not just tapping away at a computer.

But what seems so easy online, is dead in person.

Guys are obsessed with using apps to arrange hook-ups.

Which is fine.

But how about a bit of craic before we get down to it?

Sadly all that online bravado seems to disappear in the flesh.

Guys just seem to be losing the ability to chat and flirt.

It’s worse with the younger guys.

They’ve grown up in the era of Grindr and Gaydar.

Poor things.

They’re  feckin useless.

Almost……

Imagine a world in which…

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Excerpt for Abi …..she knows who she is :)

Waiting for Rain – Dreamspinners – Feb 2014
Quick intro – Rain has arrived at the Duck and Drake Hotel in Stamford with his friend Lucas.He’s about to begin work on a custom built bar for the hotel.

“Hi, Tammy. My name is Rain Engel and I’m here to start moving my gear into the Canterbury Bar Room. Is it okay if I go ahead? I know where it is.”
“Oh, Mr. Engel. Yes, we’ve been expecting you. Mr. Winslake said you’d be by.” Her eyes batted at me, and there was a sexy smile on her face. I smiled inwardly.
Sorry, sweetheart, I don’t bat for your team. But you are cute. Now my friend here on the other hand is definitely the right man for you….
“Please go ahead and do what you have to. I assume you know where the tradesman entrance is?”
I nodded. Nothing like coming in via the tradesman entrance. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
“If you need anything at all, let me know.” She batted her eyelashes again at me and I grinned. Lucas chuckled beside me but I ignored him. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”
We walked down the long corridor, through a set of double doors – more cherry wood from the look of them – down past a lounge that looked like it belonged in an exclusive man’s club, then a large library which was filled wall to wall with books. It looked incredible, like a bibliophile’s wet dream. I stopped to peer in and heard Lucas’ knowing sigh at my side.
“Rain, if you go in there, we’ll never see you again. Come on, let’s start getting the gear out.” He scowled. “And can you just leave the straight ladies to me? Christ, it’s no fun going anywhere with you. You give off sex pheromones like nobody’s business, man or woman.”
I raised my eyebrows at that comment and he blushed. “You know what I mean. I don’t mean I’m affected by them, it’s just-“ I was laughing now at his discomfort and he scowled. “Fuck off.”

He almost pushed me into the large room at the end of the corridor which spanned the whole end of the wing. The room itself was just over a hundred square metres, measuring about twelve by nine. It was a comfortable, intimate venue to put a bar. I felt the usual avaricious thrill as I surveyed the area that was at my mercy. I’d noticed the service entrance not too far away. The room was perfectly positioned to come and go without disturbing what I imagined were the privileged residents of this rather luxurious hotel too much. I thought drily that Simon Winslake had probably planned the whole thing to a tee. He struck me as a man that left nothing to chance.

The next couple of hours were spent dragging equipment from the van into the bar room. Lucas and I were sweating like the condensation on an ice cold Coke by the time we’d finished. I’d just finished straining to put down a particularly big saw blade. As I let it drop to the floor, there was a loud ripping sound and I felt a cool breeze where no breeze should blow. Lucas broke into peals of laughter as he pointed at my back.
“Fuck, Rain, you’re showing your skin, mate. Your bloody shirt has just ripped in two right down the middle!” His hilarity was not only off putting it was also really not on. I was standing in the middle of a swanky hotel with a shirt on my back that was ripped in half, flapping like wings on my back.
“Christ, what do I do now?” This denim shirt had definitely had its day. “I don’t have anything else to bloody change into.” I looked at Lucas in dismay. He was laughing so hard now the tears fell down his ruddy cheeks. I was going to get no help from him.
I growled at him. “I suppose I’d better see if I can find the manager or someone and see if they have a lost property section. Maybe they can loan me a shirt or it’ll mean driving home to go get one. I don’t fancy that much.”
I walked to the door and down the corridor, shrugging my shirt off as I did so. I rolled it up into a ball, about to throw it in a rubbish cart in the corridor on my way to the reception when I heard a soft cough behind me. I turned to find a man about my age staring at me. His right eyebrow was raised questioningly and his face was very polite. He was well dressed, in a suit and tie, his mid length dark blonde hair artfully mussed and gelled. He was lean and wiry and very bloody sexy. My groin twitched in interest. I gazed at him and he gazed back warily
“Sir, we don’t generally allow people to wander around the hotel shirtless. It’s hotel policy. May I ask what’s wrong?” His voice was quite deep, a mix of Cambridge posh and something else. I scowled.
“I don’t usually make a habit of walking around half naked. Not in public in hotels anyway.” The other man’s eyes narrowed slightly and his nostrils flared as I continued.
“I can assure you that if I had a choice, I’d still be wearing a shirt. It ripped in half so it was no bloody good to man or beast. I was going to ask the management staff if they had an overall or something I could put on. Maybe something from lost property- I assume you have one of those?” I raised an enquiring eyebrow at him. He licked his lips. He had very nice ones, I noticed distractedly. Full and pouty, definitely good for kissing.
Christ, Rain, get a grip, man! Stop ogling the staff. I was twenty eight years old but I was acting like an adolescent kid.
“I see.” He moved forward and extended a hand. “Toby Prentiss. I’m the General Manager here. I’m sure we can find you something to wear, Mr?” He raised his eyebrows again, looking very alluring and I gave a mental groan.
It had definitely been too long since I’d gotten laid.
“Rain Engel. I’m here to build the new bar you guys ordered.” I shook his hand. An electric current run through my palm as he shook it. He pulled his hand away quickly. He tried hard not to stare but his gaze seemed hypnotically drawn to my hairy, bare chest. I suppressed a grin. This could be fun. I felt the thrill of the chase. My instincts at spotting other gay men were normally spot on.
“Rain? That’s an unusual name.” He swallowed as I moved a little closer to him. I wanted to test my theory.
“It’s a long story. My name is Reinhardt, it was shortened to Rhine mostly. But my last boyfriend didn’t like it. He said it was too Germanic. So he called me Rain and the name stuck. ”
I knew I smelt rank but his pupils dilated slightly. He nodded. He’d definitely noticed the word ‘boyfriend’.
“You have a slight accent too. Where’s that from?”
I moved a little closer, watching his lips. He seemed mesmerised by my slow dance forward. “South Africa. I was born in Durban then moved over here when I was ten. Eighteen years ago. I never seem to have lost some of the accent though.” I cocked my head at him. “Are we done with the inquisition? I’m getting a little cold.” I looked down pointedly at my nipples which were indeed hardening- but not from the cold. He cleared his throat as his eyes were drawn them and his pale cheeks grew rosy. He looked absolutely fucking adorable. I felt the stirring in my groin and smiled slightly.
Chalk one up to me.

Romance Matters – Making the genre more credible.

This is a direct appeal from Barbara Vey at Publishers Weekly

If you love Romance, then read along…

Dear Friends in Publishing,

Over the past 6 1/2 years, I have listened carefully to what you’ve had to say. The one thing I heard over and over again was how romance never received any respect. Many of you were thrilled when I started writing my blog because it seemed to make your genre more credible in PW’s eyes.

Well, I finally have managed to get a PW Romance Webcast off the ground. In the past, PW has done every other genre and even webcasts on Faith and Yarn that were highly successful.

The time has come for everyone to help support the romance genre. I really need everybody to sign up for the webcast (Sept. 17th Noon EST). Signing up does not obligate you to listen to the webcast. You can either listen live or later on iTunes if you’d like. It is absolutely free and listeners have a chance to win giveaways (because Romance is best at that!).

As you all know, everything is a numbers game, so we need the numbers. I’m attaching the logo with all the information in case anyone wants to use it on their websites, blogs or social media.

Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/13M3XeT

Please help me show everyone why romance is number one by registering for webcast and feel free to forward this email. It’s kind of like an election. Every single registration counts.

Thanks so much for your support over the years and please let me know if you have any questions.

Barbara

Barbara Vey
Contributing Editor, Publishers Weekly
Beyond Her Book blog
PO Box 438, South Milwaukee, WI 53172
Twitter
Facebook
Barbara Vey Reader Appreciation Luncheon
Barbara Vey Website

Stripped Bare

A List – Up All Night Satisfaction
What a wonderful review for Stripped Bare from Gay List Books Reviews. And these ladies know their stuff… thanks so much to Nina for reading and providing such a thoughtful and detailed review. You ladies rock.

GayListBookReviews

Title:  Stripped Bare

Author:  Susan Mac Nicol

Publisher:  Boroughs Publishing Group

Rating:  A List

Blurb: Now that Shane Templar has stripped the armour from Matt Langer’s heart, will either of them ever be safe again?

Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armour, Matthew finds…

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TRR Blog Hop – Sept 13 -21st

I’m showcasing two books on this Blog Hop , all books that I’ve really enjoyed and will definitely read again. They are Sarah Madison’s ‘The Boys of Summer’ and Lou Harper’s ‘Spirit Sanguine’

THE BOYS OF SUMMER BY SARAH MADISON

Sarah Madison writes a wonderful story of romance and love and the two MC’s, David and Rick are just beautiful together. One of the things I love about this story (and there were many) was the humour between the men. I really enjoy a reading journey that makes me laugh as well as cry. And I did weep, but I’m not telling you why. You’ll have to find out for yourself by reading it.

It was a sensual read and when the sex does happen, it’s intimate, wondrous and emotional. I loved the two stories twining together in this one to make a whole and you get a real feel for the developing relationship between these two men.

I reviewed this book for TRR and you can find my full review and the details on this book at the link below.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=9567

And now for Lou’s book…

SPIRIT SANGUINE BY LOU HARPER

Funny, often irreverent, sometimes tongue in cheek and damn sexy read is how I’d list this one. The story of Gabe , a vampire slayer, who meets Harvey, a rather camp but oh so sexy vampire. The two meet, the proverbial stakes fly, they work together to defeat a common enemy and in the process, have hot, raunchy sex, get to know each other and realise that yes, they were meant to be together.

There were places when I chuckled out loud and my husband growled at me to ‘Shut the hell up, no book could be that bloody funny’ -well it was after midnight 🙂 But yes, I did find myself with a few more laugh lines after reading this.

It was warm, sexy, pure fun and another book I will read again. I reviewed this book too and this is the link to follow if you want to find out more.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8969

All the rules and how the hop will work it listed on TRR site. Follow the link below.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/hop.php
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Giveaway – I’m giving away a copy of my latest best selling release, Stripped Bare (e-book only -available in mobi, epub and pdf formats) to a random winner who comments on this post. Please make sure you leave me an email address to contact you.

You can also buy the book here-

Boroughs Publishing Group http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/stripped-bare
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/16j78uL
Amazon.co.uk http://amzn.to/19wW6oO
All Romance ebooks http://bit.ly/18MvZHK
Kobo http://bit.ly/1cnHE1X
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339469

If you want to gain extra entries into the Giveaway, then you can do any of the following. (These are not mandatory, it’s up to you. But each one will qualify you for an extra entry into the draw)

Follow my blog at https://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
Follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
Follow me on Twitter @SusanMacnicol7

Example of posting comment and detail needed to qualify:
Name: Sue Mac Nicol
Email: susanmacnicol7@gmail.com
Comment: Great Post
Twitter: Followed
FaceBook: Followed
Blog: Followed

To keep hopping follow the link below.
http://www.theromancereviews.com/hop.php

Safari Heat Blog Hop Sept 11-16th

All the rules and how the hop will work it listed on the Safari Heat site. Follow the link below.
http://safariheatbooktoursandauthorservices.blogspot.com

I wanted to do something a little humorous for this blog hop. So I thought maybe a quick text conversation between my two characters, Shane Templar and Matthew Langer might fit the bill. Shane is a cheeky hacker, whose favourite tool (apart from his own) is a laptop called Bushwhacker and Matthew is a more reserved, responsible lawyer with OCD tendencies. He likes neat and tidy.

Please note there are some sexual innuendos and chat in this conversation so if you offend easily, please move on …:)

Shane Morning, lover. Hope you made it to work okay after this morning. You totally spiked my traffic this morning. I love morning sex.
Matthew Hell, you are dreadful, Shay. Where the hell do you find these sayings?
Shane I have my ways and means. About this morning – I love playing on your laptop, you know that.
Matthew Sex with you is always a pleasure. I can’t think of anything clever to say like you, I’ll have to Google something. But you have this of mine ♥
Shane Love you too, babe. Fancy doing a little peer-to-peer saliva swapping later? I’ll buy wine. Oh by the way don’t freak out when you get home. I didn’t line up the towels the way you like them. I left them on the bathroom floor, all wet and scrumpled.
Matthew Ha bloody ha. You wouldn’t do that. You know how much I hate it.
Five minutes pass
Matthew Shay, you were kidding, right?
Five minutes later.
Matthew. Bastard. I’m going into a meeting now, so switching off the phone. See you tonight x
Shane Actually I was wondering if you’d like to go back to My-Space, so I can Twitter with your Yahoo, until I Google all over your Facebook?
Matthew –OMG. You are insatiable. I love it. See you later, and then I’ll hack your kernel..
Shane Found the cheesy pick up line site did you? Have a good meeting. Love you x Oh and I was kidding about the towels. But I did mix up the tins in the cupboard…:)♥

Pick up lines and jokes courtesy of http://www.pickuplinesgalore.com/computer.html
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Giveaway – I’m giving away a copy of my latest best selling release, Stripped Bare (e-book only -available in mobi, epub and pdf formats) via random draw. To qualify you need to leave a comment on this guest post -you must include your email so I can contact you if you win.

You can purchase the book here

Boroughs Publishing Group http://www.boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/stripped-bare
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/16j78uL
Amazon.co.uk http://amzn.to/19wW6oO
All Romance ebooks http://bit.ly/18MvZHK
Kobo http://bit.ly/1cnHE1X
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339469

BLOG HOP PRIZES

The GRAND PRIZE is a Kindle Fire HD 7″. Second prize is $100 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble. However smaller prizes will be given away daily. See the Safari Heat blog hop link at the start/ end of this post for further details.

Please note that bloggers are not eligible to win prizes- this wouldn’t be fair and is one of the rules of the competition.

Physical books can only be shipped within the US and Canada, so please don’t enter for these prizes if you reside outside of these countries. E-books will be sent worldwide, of course!

If you want to gain extra entries into the Grand Prize Giveaway, then you can do any of the following. (These are not mandatory, it’s up to you. But each one will qualify you for an extra entry into the draw)

Leave a comment – Please tell me whether you are a reader, an author and where you live
Follow my blog at https://susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
Follow me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/susiemax77
Follow me on Twitter @SusanMacnicol7

Example of posting comment and detail needed to qualify:
Name: Sue Mac Nicol
Email: susanmacnicol7@gmail.com
Comment: Great Post
Twitter: Followed
FaceBook: Followed
Blog: Followed
Are You a Reader or Author: Author
Country You Live In: United Kingdom

To keep hopping follow the link below.
http://safariheatbooktoursandauthorservices.blogspot.com

Morning

Yet another wonderful picture courtesy of Rhys Ford…*sighs* I wish I was there on the beach with a Tequila Sunrise and this view…

Yet another wonderful picture courtesy of Rhys Ford…*sighs* I wish I was there on the beach with a Tequila Sunrise and this view…

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Things to do when you’re dead

This is a repeat of a post I did a very long ago on my web blog and I thought I’d drag it out again…

This is not a particularly cheery post so if you don’t like talking about death and dead bodies, don’t read it. Or if you have any very religious views. Again, I suggest you leave now.

My family and I had the most entertaining dinner time conversation the other day. It started off with us all sat around the dinner table deciding how we wanted to go out into Never Never land when we were dead.

I have this predilection to have a Viking funeral. I want to be laid on a wooden pyre, set on fire and pushed out to sea/The Thames/or wherever they’ll allow this to happen. I really do. I don’t want to be buried as I have an aversion to things eating me. I have a dislike of people coming to visit me at my grave when I can’t talk back. I have a horror of people visiting me in Perpetua with sickly smelling flowers, when they should be getting on with their lives.

Cremation is good, but ever one for a bit of flair, I like the Viking idea very much. Naked or clothed, I don’t really mind, just lay me down on the wooden thingy, light a match and let me go. I’d love someone to build a proper Viking boat and fill it around me with chocolate and crisps, just to put me in the right frame of mind when I get to Valhalla, but I doubt that’s going to happen. So my family have been given their orders and I hope they manage to pull it off –somehow.

My seventy eight year old mother wasn’t too sure. Cremation was definitely her choice, but it was the old ‘ ooh, just shove me in a cardboard box, burn me and then scatter my ashes over Table Mountain in Cape Town, that’ll do me’ conversation that led us in a different direction.

My son came up with the idea of making her into a diamond. (He was short of money at the time and I have a feeling he might have pawned her the minute she was ‘diamondised’ for want of a better word.)
She thought this wasn’t too bad an idea (being diamondised not pawned) but then things spiralled out of control and suddenly, we were running a Mafia like family empire made rich by the bodies of dead people being stolen from morgues and crematoriums, being converted to precious gems and sold on the black market.

One of these could be my mother…

My family can sometimes go to extremes when we talk about stuff, going from the sublime to the total ridiculous in five seconds flat. I think it’s the writer in me coming out in them.
Of course, there’s always one in every family. Another member of the troupe decided they wanted a Parsee ceremony where the dead body is placed in a place known as ‘The Tower of Silence’ which is open to the air in a high place, there to be consumed by vultures as they slowly decomposed.

Just in case you’re interested in any of these scintillating possibilities as how to dispose of your dead body, take a look at the links below. You might get some ideas.

Me? I’ll stick with the old heave ho down the Thames, warm and toasty in my very own funeral pyre.
http://www.heart-in-diamond.co.uk/diamonds/what-is-heart-in-diamond.html
http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/difficulties/ancestors/Burial_Cremation
http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/