Virtual Release Day Book Blast: Barrier

Please welcome author D.C. Renfroe, here to talk about her new release, Barrier. She will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

Barrier

by D.C. Renfroe

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romance Thriller

RELEASE DATE OF THE BOOK:  October 10th, 2016.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

When Claire Luna is kidnapped and taken to a remote island, her predictable life is torn to shreds. She thought she understood grief, loss and loneliness. But nothing prepared her for the island.

Tucker Knight had his world turned upside down when he was a young teen. He’d known love, security and normality. But things changed, and somehow he lost his innocence along the way.

Barrier takes you on a compelling, thrilling and sometimes brutal journey of Claire and Tucker, who in a bid to control their destiny, must learn about trust and submission. And also about love.

The island is under the control of Dr. Stephen Bell, a scientist obsessed with the secrets of humanity through genetic engineering. Claire is part of his obsession, and quickly comprehends Bell’s twisted intentions. She is forced to decide between submission and life-altering consequences. In her desperate attempt to survive, Claire surprises Bell and Tucker with her strength to fight.

But, can she trust Tucker? Is he her enemy or her savior? Claire understands that to surrender means to survive, but can she endure? Tucker can’t help but be enamored by the spirited and determined Claire, but to survive, he must face and overcome his haunting past. Up until Claire’s arrival on the island, he had never thought himself capable, or deserving, but perhaps this was his chance to finally do the right thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I began writing many years ago and put it aside to raise a family. I put myself through college working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, which I have almost completed. I took every writing class that was offered and finally put pen to paper after dreaming of completing a novel for almost twenty years. In the meantime, I worked as a freelance journalist for a local newspaper briefly and wrote a personal blog while living in south Florida. I currently work as an Instructional Designer based in Austin, Texas. I am a mother of four and truly believe they are my greatest creation! Two of my children inherited my love of writing and I encourage them to write every chance they get!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust Anthology Releases today!

I am proud to announce that I have a story in Wayward Ink's new anthology, Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust, which released today! This is my first, and certainly not last, collaboration with Wayward Ink, so let's celebrate together, while I talk a little bit about writing for an anthology.

Being part of an anthology is different than other writing. Being part of an anthology is a group effort, of which the sum is greater than the whole. I am proud to announce my first story for Wayward Ink Publishing, “His Prince Wore Pink Stilettos”, which is part of the Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust anthology. I am also very proud to say that I am an editor with Wayward Ink, and helped to edit some of these stories.

Sometimes you don’t want to read something heavy, you just want to take little nibbles of fiction. Stories you can stop and start at your leisure. Well, consider this book to be a smorgasbord for  your reading pleasure.

As the title implies, there will be love, loss, laughter & lust. Mostly I think you’ll come away with a smile on  your face, and perhaps a tear in your eye for what  you’ve seen in these pages.

My story, “His Prince Wore Pink Stilettos” takes place in the 1970s, and is one young man’s journey to sexual awareness. Being gay then wasn’t very easy, and Michael is clueless when it comes to boys, because he’s sure he’s the only one like him. And how can he tell the boy who’s the object of his wet dreams how he feels?

Here’s an excerpt from my story:

I WAS eighteen and gay at a time when it wasn't very well accepted, as compared to the grudging acceptance we garner nowadays, but this is 2006 and that was the 70s, a different story altogether. And St. Louis wasn't Los Angeles, and it certainly wasn't San Francisco, tending to be on the conservative side, existing as it does in the Bible belt. Puberty is hard enough to go through on its own merits, but when one comes to realize that what seems natural to you is considered an abomination by others—well, you sort of learn to keep your natural inclinations to yourself. And then you hope that you’re not the only one that feels that way.

I first came to understand that it was men that tripped my trigger, so to speak, and not women, when I was about thirteen. I have an older sister, Brenda, who used to read movie magazines like they were gospel. She was always raving about this that or the other handsome actor. And dragging me to the movie theater to see her current favorites, whether I was willing to go or not. I usually was—willing, I mean. After all, a free film is a free film. Even if I pretended to fuss about it. But it wasn't until we went to see A Man Called Horse that I got my first clue about my true sexual orientation.

There's a scene at the beginning of the film where Richard Harris, the rich Englishman who’s the hero of the movie, is bathing in a river when the other members of his hunting party are set upon and murdered by Native Americans. This same group then happens upon Richard as well, and they chase him from the water, at which point there is a fantastic view of his bare posterior. Well, when I caught a glimpse of those firm buttocks, so unmistakably enlarged upon the screen, I found myself riveted to the sight, unable—and unwilling—to look away. On top of that, I had a definite reaction—a very physical one—that caught me very much off guard. I think I even squeaked, embarrassing as that is to relate, because I remember my sister nudging me to be quiet, while she too feasted her eyes upon the screen. At her nudge, I spilled my cup of soda into my lap, which turned out to be fortunate, for it relieved my engorged situation, and I didn't have to explain anything to anyone. Other than myself, that is. And napkins took care of the rest.

That was when I had a long hard look at myself and the world around me, borrowing Brenda’s movie magazines for a comparison test. Yes, it was true, without a shadow of a doubt. It was the male of the species that turned me on. While I liked the women well enough, they did nothing for me in any romantic or sexual sense, and I had no desire to kiss any of them. Richard Harris, on the other hand... well, I was more than willing to be ‘ravished’ by him. Sort of like a reverse bodice-ripper, those popular romance novels where the heroine was ‘unwilling’, back when that meant she wanted it and didn’t know it. Well, I knew it, and I dreamed that someday that hunky Irishman might come and take me away.

That never happened.

This story was originally published by Dreamspinner Press a few years ago. It has been re-edited and the title slightly changed. I’m proud to have had it accepted by Wayward Ink for their Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust anthology. As the title implies, there is something for everyone in this book.

Wayward Ink is having a giveaway to celebrate the anthology’s release! Just enter your name in the rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust

We’ve all loved.

We’ve all laughed.

Sadly, we’ve also probably all known loss in one form or another.

And, yes, we at Wayward Ink are sure we’ve all experienced lust!

In Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust, you'll experience one or more of the "L"s as we take you on a roller coaster of emotions.

Whether you like to sigh over the sweet, cry for the broken-hearted, enjoy a good laugh, or get a little hot and bothered; there's something for everyone in this collection. 

Buy link for Love, Loss, Laughter & Lust at Wayward Ink:  http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/love-loss-laughter-lust/

MINI BLURB FOR EACH STORY

His Prince Wore Pink Stilettos

Julie Lynn Hayes

Wanted: one prince, ball optional…

Invisible

Taylin Clavelli

What do you do when you become invisible to the love of your life?

Hearts

Anyta Sunday

What if your fate is to lose the one you love and be doomed to live in a city of lost hearts?
Is it possible two dead hearts can see life again?

A Closed Door

Andrew Q. Gordon

Sometimes when you leave to find yourself, you've left the answer behind. 

Sleepwalking

Taylin Clavelli

Devastated by loss, Matthew sleepwalks through life, existing but not living.

Can someone rescue him from his waking nightmare and help him to live again?

Life According to Buddy

Lily Velden

Buddy is a penis on a mission...

Mission Objective: The Love Tunnel

Service with a Smile

Lily G. Blunt

Terry visits a men’s designer boutique, and Ash gives him service with a smile…

Hunter or Hunted?

Lily Velden

Any hunter worth his salt will tell you that in order to capture your prey, there are few simple rules you must follow…

Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. She enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, knitting and needlepoint and loves to cook. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all.  Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, Amber Quill Press, MuseitUp Publishing, Torquere Press, and eXtasy Books, and coming soon to Wayward Ink Publishing and Prizm Publishing. She has also begun to self-publish and is an editor at MuseitUp.  

You can find her on her blog at http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com, and you can contact her at tothemax.wolf@gmail.com.

My links:

Blog:  http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com

Twitter @Shelley_runyon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.l.hayes.7

My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes

Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire Day!

Today is the day! The release day of Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire at Silver Publishing!

I want to share with you my visual inspirations for my main characters

Fisher Roberts

Hunter Long















Mmmm mmmmm good!

In case you haven't heard my story of how I was inspired to write Leo, I'll tell it again.  Pull up a chair. Here, let me make some tea or coffee for you.  Comfortable?  Good.

It was last year and my daughter Sarah wanted to see Inception. I wasn't sure that I wanted to, but since she'd gone to see Sorceror's Apprentice with me, twice, I gave in and agreed to go. Which led me to thinking about Leonardo di Caprio and other films we'd seen him in (such as Shutter Island, which was really good). When we were in the theater, I heard a voice in my head tell me that Leo must be a vampire, because he never ages! "Did you know Leonardo di Caprio is a vampire?" he said.

I realized it was a new character speaking to me, but I had no way of writing down his words inside a darkened theater. So I repeated them to myself throughout the film, so that I'd remember them. Inception was a really good film, and I kept thinking about it on the drive home. I knew I needed names for my couple (I already realized that it would be a m/m romance story). Cillian Murphy's character in the film is Robert Fisher, a name you hear quite often, being a pivotal character. I flipped that and voila! Fisher Roberts. Now I needed a name for his cohort. Driving home, I devoured all the billboards and ads I could see. There was one that had to do with hunting, which I am not particularly in favor of, and it hit me - not hunting, but Hunter. A strong name and a good one. So Hunter Long was born. It was his voice which had spoken to me in the theater. When I got home, I started writing about Fisher and Hunter. It didn't occur to me til some time later that their names paralleled one another - a hunter and a fisher. It wasn't intentional, it just happened.

Here's the cover for Leo, designed by the gloriously talented Reese Dante. She did an amazing job, I can hardly keep from staring at it!

Blurb: Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire

“Tis the night before Halloween, and Fisher Roberts wishes it was over, not being a fan of this or any other holiday.  But he tolerates it because his roommate/best friend Hunter Long takes a childish glee in all things Halloween.  And Fisher has a vested interest in keeping Hunter happy.  If only he could find the nerve to tell his childhood friend that he loves him, and has for a very long time.

Fisher thinks Hunter is carrying things a bit far this year, though.  First Hunter claims to be a vampire, and he just won’t let the silly joke go.  Then he forces Fisher to go to a costumed Halloween party which Fisher would rather avoid, especially when he realizes where it’s being held, and whose house it is. Things at Fisher’s job might just be going south, too, when he receives a mysterious summons to report to the editor’s office the next morning.  And then Fisher goes and does something stupid—like kissing Hunter!

Bad leads to worse when Fisher ends up at the Halloween party from Hell, and he learns something that threatens to destroy his and Hunter’s relationship forever.  Running from his fears, Fisher encounters a strange young man with an unusual resemblance to Leonardo di Caprio, who shows him things he never realized before, truths about his life and the people in it.

Can Fisher find his way back to Hunter, and can he find the courage to do what his heart wishes?

Excerpt:  Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire

 “Did you know that Leonardo di Caprio is a vampire?”

            Fisher Roberts stopped in mid-chew of a mouthful of fibered cereal to cast a wary, disbelieving glance at his best friend and roommate Hunter Long on the other side of the table.  Wary, because he wondered what in the world Hunter was going on about so early in the morning.  Disbelieving, because he only had so much time for breakfast before he had to get going to work, and he had a bad feeling that Hunter was trying to eat into that time.  Why he wanted to do that was beyond Fisher.  Of course, a lot of things about his roommate were beyond Fisher, despite the fact that they’d been friends since they were—well, too young to actually remember how long they’d known each other.  But for as long as Fisher could remember, he and Hunter had been best buddies.  And he’d learned over the years that, with Hunter, longevity did not equate to knowledge-ability, far from it.

            Now, Fisher could react in one of two ways.  He could ignore his roommate and keep eating.  Pretend he’d heard nothing.  But from past experience, that would only cause Hunter’s performance to escalate.  Which would entail taking more time to decipher what he was saying, and in the process make Fisher even later to work.   Or he could simply bow down to the inevitable and give in by asking him the question he was doubtless waiting to hear.  Even if it brought about that smug smirk he was so fond of wearing.

            Fisher finished chewing, swallowed, and managed not to roll his eyes as he reached for his juice to kill off what was left in the glass.  Waste not, want not.  “What do you mean?”

            Hunter Long might be six foot two and possessed of a body that many a male model would kill for—at least that’s what Fisher heard the girls who flocked around him say—with the palest of blue eyes that twinkled all the time, and a smile that could and did light up a room.  But honestly, he had the capacity to be an overgrown child at times, and this was one of those times.  Fisher chalked it up to it being that time of year.

            “Well,” Hunter replied, “look at him, going on forty, and he looks just like he did what, fifteen years ago?  It only stands to reason he must be a vampire.  They never age, you know.  I mean take a look at us.  We’re almost his age, but over the years we’ll grow up to be little old men and he’ll still be playing sweet baby-faced guys even when he’s collecting social security, know what I mean?”

            “There are no such things as vampires,” Fisher made his typical logical reply, “and just because it’s Halloween tomorrow night, and you’ve got the house all decorated for it, doesn’t mean you have to bring it to the table.  Know what I mean?”  He arched a no-nonsense brow at the other man.  This was not Fisher’s favorite time of year.  Neither was Christmas, come to think of it.  Or any other holiday.  Ironic that he should write articles for a living that meant he was forced to expound on such seasonal topics for Midwest Home and Fantasy, a regional online magazine with a growing fan-base, when he had no real interest in them himself, being a practical, no-nonsense kind of a guy.

            “I’m a vampire.” Hunter smiled, leaning across the table toward Fisher.  “Want to see my fangs?”

I hope you enjoy Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire! I look forward to your comments! Feel free to ask questions!