Blog Tour: Behind the Eight Ball by M.A. Church

Behind the Eight Ball (Fur, Fangs, and Felines 2) by M.A. Church
Paperback: 214 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (October 30, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634766962
ISBN-13: 978-1634766968
Amazon: Behind the Eight Ball (Fur, Fangs, and Felines 2)
Amazon Kindle: Behind the Eight Ball (Fur, Fangs, and Felines 2)

Blurb: A cool morning, a yard full of birds, and a kitty on a mission. What more could a werecat want? Beta Heller Wirth has it all, except a mate—a shifter mate, that is. The last thing he wants is one of those dangerous humans who kill without remorse. Heller knows about that firsthand. So what does the goddess Bast do? She gives Heller exactly what he does not want—a human: business owner Lawson Dupre.
Lawson hasn’t a clue what just happened in his car detail shop. One minute a cute client is about to pass out, then he perks up and starts flirting. Next thing, he runs out the door like the hounds of hell are after him. Learning that Heller is a werecat doesn’t freak out Lawson. He happens to be one of those rare humans who knows paranormals exists. He even lives with one. Watch the fur fly as Heller and Lawson battle hurt feelings, misguided beliefs, and a power shift in Heller’s clowder.

( Excerpt )

Meet the author: M.A. Church is a true Southern belle who spent many years in the elementary education sector. Now she spends her days lost in fantasy worlds, arguing with hardheaded aliens on far-off planets, herding her numerous shifters, or trying to tempt her country boys away from their fishing poles. It’s a full time job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it!

When not writing, she’s exploring the latest M/M novel to hit the market, watching her beloved Steelers, or sitting glued to HGTV. That’s if she’s not on the back porch tending to the demanding wildlife around the pond in the backyard. The ducks are very outspoken. She’s married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two children.

She was a finalist in the Rainbow awards for 2013 and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Rainbow Romance Writers, and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

1) How do you feel about e-books vs print books?
Boy, that’s fast becoming an age-old question, lol. I have been reading and buying books since I was old enough to understand the written word. I have donated laundry baskets full of paperbacks and hardbacks to my library over the years.
I still even have some paperbacks from my favorite mainstream authors and several M/M authors. I have copies of my paperback books. Nothing tops the feeling of seeing your work in book form and being able to hold it. Except maybe signing it!
The thing is, I bought a Surface here recently, solely for the purpose of reading epub. I thought about getting a Kindle, but I’ve got hundreds of ebooks. Can you imagine how much space I would need if all of those were actual books? And that right there is the reason I’ve decided to go with e-books.

2) What process did you go through to get your first book published?
The first book I had published was probably different than how most folks go about it. I was writing on a free site, and on the advice of a friend I met there, I started putting my work at another free site. A publisher saw me, and contacted me wanting the story I was working on. I did some checking around and subbed with that publisher.

3) How do you find or make time to write?
I no longer work, so making time to write really isn’t an issue as far as having a job outside of the home. Writing is my job now, so I don’t ‘make’ time for it. The problem, of course, is that I’m at home. So I tend to get distracted by household chores, like vacuuming or watering the plants.

4) Name one person who you feel supported you outside of your family members?
I would have to say Tali Spencer. I met her while writing at that free website under the name of nomoretears00. It’s kind of a funny story. I had sent her a PM encouraging her not to let a nasty comment get to her. LOL.
Little did I know just how much experience she had as an author. We became friends, and then I found out she’d read some of my stories and liked them. I had questions and she had answers, lol. Boy, did I have questions.
So she was the one who supported a struggling newbie in the beginning of her fledgling writing career, lol. We’ve since become very good friends.

5) Tell us about a book you’re reading now.
I have an ARC of Chris T. Kat’s Battle Stations I can’t wait to read.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ma.church3
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MA-Church/173797619379487
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nomoretears00
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nomoretears00/
Other: Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007A8JA4C
Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5141393.M_A_Church



( Tour Dates & Stops )

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2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Dinner at Fiorello's by Rick R. Reed

Dinner at Fiorello's by Rick R. Reed
Gay Contemporary Romance
Paperback: 210 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (May 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1634760751
ISBN-13: 978-1634760751
Amazon: Dinner at Fiorello's
Amazon Kindle: Dinner at Fiorello's

Henry Appleby has an appetite for life. As a recent high school graduate and the son of a wealthy family in one of Chicago’s affluent North Shore suburbs, his life is laid out for him. Unfortunately, though, he’s being forced to follow in the footsteps of his successful attorney father instead of living his dream of being a chef. When an opportunity comes his way to work in a real kitchen the summer after graduation, at a little Italian joint called Fiorello’s, Henry jumps at the chance, putting his future in jeopardy.

Years ago, life was a plentiful buffet for Vito Carelli. But a tragic turn of events now keeps the young chef at Fiorello’s quiet and secretive, preferring to let his amazing Italian peasant cuisine do his talking. When the two cooks meet over an open flame, sparks fly. Both need a taste of something more―something real, something true―to separate the good from the bad and find the love―and the hope―that just might be their salvation.


I really enjoyed this story by Mr. Reed.  The characters are the type that pull you into their story from the very beginning, especially Henry.  The way he had to sneak around in the beginning made me want to give him a hug and let him know that following his dream was okay.  This is a great book for someone interested in giving Mr. Reed’s story a try.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Tied Together by Z. Allora

Tied Together (The Dark Angels Book 2) by Z. Allora
Gay Erotic Romance
Series: The Dark Angels
Paperback: 274 pages
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books; 2 edition (December 9, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1626220174
ISBN-13: 978-1626220171
Amazon: Tied Together (The Dark Angels Book 2)
Amazon Kindle: Tied Together (The Dark Angels Book 2)

Josh has loved Robin since the day they met, although he never dared to follow his heart. After the two are kicked out of their house, a night of despair turns into a night of discovery, forever changing them both. One taste of his dream leaves Josh hungry for more, but Robin’s fear of abandonment forces him to pull back, denying them both. Their fortunes changed. Josh and Robin are now in the limelight with legendary megaband The Dark Angels, but Robin is still the scared little boy inside the rock star who isn't convinced he won't be left behind. He clings tightly to the word "brother" because stepbrothers can't leave, right? There's only one way for Josh to prove to Robin, now and forever, that the love tying them together can never be broken.


This is a second edition of the book and fans who have already read it may want to give this new edition a try as the author has added to it.  The main characters and storyline are just as gripping as ever.  Every time I read this book I can’t help falling for Robin and Josh all over again.

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Charmed and Dangerous by Jordan Castillo Price

Charmed and Dangerous: Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy by Jordan Castillo Price
Gay Anthology / Collection / Paranormal Romance
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: JCP Books (August 19, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935540793
ISBN-13: 978-1935540793
Amazon: Charmed and Dangerous: Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy
Amazon Kindle: Charmed and Dangerous: Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy

Magic takes many forms. From malignant hexes to love charms gone amok, you'll find a vast array of spells and curses, creatures and conjurings in this massive collection-not to mention a steamy dose of man-on-man action. Charmed and Dangerous features all-new stories of gay paranormal romance, supernatural fiction and urban fantasy by ten top m/m paranormal authors.


Each story stands on its own, but also combine to make this anthology stand out to me.

Delightful variety, solid writing, one of the best of this year's lot – a real surprise since it's not a genre I read often.  Well done!

2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: The Butcher’s Sons by Scott Alexander Hess

The Butcher’s Sons by Scott Alexander Hess
Gay Historical Fiction
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Lethe Press (April 18, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590210743
ISBN-13: 978-1590210741
Amazon: The Butcher’s Sons
Amazon Kindle: The Butcher’s Sons

This darkly lyrical and violent family saga set in a butcher shop in New York circa 1930 tells the story about three Irish brothers, each struggling to find their role--to define their lives and express their dreams--amid the poverty of a broken home, alcoholic father, and the violent society of Hell's Kitchen. Dickie is guided by an almost animal desire to get what he wants and, as a fighter, is fearless in his pursuit of being respected by mobsters. Walt, the middle brother, romances a woman whose educated father sees the lad as gutter trash. Then there is frail Adlai, who finds himself on the most perilous path, an illicit affair with his oldest brother's best friend. The Butcher's Boys is an engaging read about desperate young men determined to do whatever they can to find something gilded amid the grime of old New York.


Dark, beautiful writing (sometimes a bit too overwhelming), great well described setting; compelling, draws you in.

A gorgeous and sparse rendering of the treasons of the heart and armed robberies of the soul, this page-turner of a novel should see the silver screen—it’s that good. Hess’s style is disarmingly complex in its simplicity. No words are wasted, and every character is larger than mere dialog could impart. Hess has created a masterpiece re-telling of the old Irish family curses and blessings that seem to course through the Irish DNA so strongly that not even a blip of gene disruption can offset the double helix of fate, destiny and bloodlines. Hess’s story is reminiscent of Dennis Lahane territory but with more heart.