Title: Moment Of Silence
Series: Moments In Time
Author: Karen Stivali
Publication Date: December 18, 2015
ISBN-13978-1-62380-968-3
Pages 230 (76,000 words)
Cover Artist Anna Sikorska

GMR 5 STAR REVIEW-PAUL

Growing up, Jason Stern led a charmed life complete with devoted sisters, a father who was one of Brooklyn’s most respected rabbis, and a mother who made the world's best babka. He headed to NYU ready for anything—except falling for the wrong guy, coming out, and getting disowned by his once-loving family. In spite of that, Jason managed to graduate with honors. He's got friends who treat him like family, and he's proudly running the largest LGBTQ teen shelter in Manhattan. Life is good, but he's still falling for the wrong men.

When charming, sexy Quinn Fitzpatrick begins work at the shelter, Jason falls hard and fast. Quinn is tall, blond, funny—damn near perfect. Only if Quinn’s gay, even he doesn't seem to know it. If he does, he's not telling anyone. And he's about one ceremony away from becoming a Catholic priest.

Long hours of work turn to long nights of talking and laughter, and Jason dares to hope this time he's falling for the right guy. But Quinn's got a past to deal with and major decisions to make about his future. When Quinn leaves for a silent retreat, Jason knows the silence may change everything.

MOMENT OF SILENCE-MOMENTS IN TIME BOOK 4 BY KAREN STIVALI!!!

Jason lead a very privileged life and came from a very good Jewish family. Its Jason's time to be on his own, away at college and he never expected to fall in love with the wrong guy, come out and basically get disowned by his loving family. He was able to graduate in the top of his class, have amazing friends and is now falling for a good guy so everything seems to be looking good for Jason.

Quinn this sexy guy starts employment in an LGBTQ Shelter is where he meets Jason. This is the man Jason is falling for but the only catch is he's not sure if Quinn is gay so he's not sure how to proceed. These boys are spending a lot of time together at work and Jason is already falling for him but Quinn has some baggage that he must work out and also make a huge life decision that could affect them both.

I felt connected to Jason for everything he had to endure by coming out and I gave him all the courage as this is not an easy thing to do especially in such a religious Jewish family. Growing up in such a loving family and then to have it ripped away just for being gay is one of the most cruelest things a gay guy can endure. Then for him to find the inner strength to live his own truth is quite amazing and with his new family support he becomes very prominent in the New Home shelter. He's always been attracted to men he shouldn't be and that includes Quinn whose almost a priest. Now Quinn must choose between the church and Jason and he knows the decision he has will be the toughest of his life. Can he let go of the dream to be a priest? Is his interest in Jason enough? Will these boys be able to be together with everything they have to face?

I just completely fell in love with Jason considering all he's gone through but he still had the desire to love and then to meet the most unattainable man but still fight for love. This fourth installment was just brilliant and I loved it and it fits so well into the series. Karen did a remarkable job with MOMENT OF SILENCE. The way she created these amazing characters of Jason and Quinn and how she brought their love to life even with the dramatic twist of Quinn about to enter the priesthood. Karen's writing is addictive and I for one will always read her work. I highly and I mean highly recommend this novel and the series MOMENTS IN TIME by Karen Stivali for everyone who loves a beautifully written MM romance novel.

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I had no idea how long my heart could continue beating at the fever pitch it had reached. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know either. All I wanted was for Quinn to keep talking.

That’s a lie. All I really wanted was for Quinn to kiss me again. He’s been thinking about guys that way since he was a kid. It wasn’t just tonight.

An instant replay flashed in my mind. Lips. Tongue. Heat. More, please.

My hands ached to touch him, but I didn’t dare. I did scoot closer. He stayed so still. Like he was afraid to do anything. “So tonight, when you kissed me….”

“I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks. I just didn’t have the nerve. I was afraid… of everything.”

“You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

I inched even closer. His breathing sped up. I reached up and put my hand on his shoulder, letting my fingers move along the tight muscles of his neck. He’s not pulling away. Fuck it. I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

A strangled sigh escaped him as he kept his lips pressed to mine. It simultaneously broke my heart and lifted it up. We’re kissing. Again.

I broke the kiss, keeping my face close, and he rested his forehead against mine. It took some effort, but I kept my hand from shaking as I continued to slowly stroke his neck. “Tell me.”

“What?” he whispered.

“Anything. Anything you’ve ever thought about doing.”

His heart pounded hard enough that I could feel it. I kneaded a knot in his shoulder until he exhaled in a warm rush, but there were still no words.

Leaning closer, I let my lips hover near his ear, then placed a kiss on his neck.

His head turned slowly until his eyes met mine. The normally bright hue was dark, stormy, almost eclipsed by the black expanse of his pupils.

“Tell me. I won’t judge. And we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want. I just want to know. What have you thought about trying?”

I held my breath, praying he’d answer. For once, God heard me.

Quinn shuddered, then whispered, “Everything.” 

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies, and fictional British men. She's also the multiple award-winning author of contemporary and erotic romances. She writes novels about love...like real life, only hotter.

Karen's lifelong fascination with people has led her to careers ranging from hand-drawn animator, to party planner, to marriage and family counselor, but writing has always been her passion. Karen enjoys nothing more than following her characters on their journey toward love. Whether the couples are m/f or m/m, it’s guaranteed that Karen's novels are filled with food, friendship, love, and smoking hot sex—all the best things in life.

When Karen isn’t writing (and often when she is), she can be found on Twitter attempting witty banter and detailing the antics of her fruit-loving cat, BadKitteh. She loves to hear from readers (and other writers), so don't hesitate to contact/follow/like

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenStivaliAuthor/ 
Website: http://karenstivali.com/ 
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karenstivali/ 
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E-mail: karenstivali@gmail.com

Title: Game Of Rome
Series: Dominus-Book 2
Author: JP Kenwood
Release Date: November 21, 2015
Pages: 339

GMR 5 STAR REVIEW-PAUL

In this sequel to Dominus, Gaius Fabius Rufus, the victorious general of Rome’s brutal Dacian Wars, finds his loyalties and his affections pulled in different directions. Should he return to Rome and secure his claim to the imperial throne, or remain at his seaside villa and protect his pleasure slave, the fierce Dacian prince, Allerix? Retaliation for the murder of his beloved friend beckons him home, but his desire for justice could put both him and Allerix in mortal danger. As Gaius’s deceptions multiply, another tragedy strikes. Will the Lion of the Lucky IV Legion be forced to sacrifice his besotted heart to achieve his aspirations for supreme power?


Every moment since Allerix’s violent capture has tested the young prince’s fortitude and cunning. If he can kill the triumphant emperor who decimated his Dacian nation, revenge and immortality will be his glorious, everlasting rewards. But to realize his scheme for vengeance, he must deceive the Roman master whose body he lusts, the handsome, arrogant man whom he has grown to adore and admire. Can two former enemies—the conqueror and the conquered—find trust and true love, or are the consequences of war destined to tear them apart? Can Gaius and Allerix survive the perilous games of Rome?


Dominus is a plot-packed erotic m/m fantasy set in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Trajan (AD 98-117). Games of Rome is the second book in this alternative history saga—a tumultuous journey of forbidden love, humor, sex, friendship, political intrigue, deception, and murder.

GAMES OF ROME (DOMINUS BOOK 2) BY JP KENWOOD!!!

In the second instalment, Rome's heroic general, Gaius Rufus finds his life on and off the battlefields in a tug-of-war with his emotions and his ambitions. He must make a very important and possibly life altering decision to either return to Rome for his well-deserved accolades or stay with his beloved slave, Prince Allerix. Another tragedy occurs and makes his decision even more difficult. What will Gaius do? Can he save and protect his precious Allerix?

Gaius the beautiful, powerful, strong commander and ex-lover of Lucius. Lucius murder becomes the center point in this instalment and Gaius is completely shocked by his former lovers death and it sends him on a road of grief and revenge. Gaius marriage comes into the story a bit more and of course the act of sex with men which is common in this time even though it is not in the history books. As long as men did not have gay sex with men of their social stature as it has to be with men who are lower than their social standing as this way it's not looked at having a relationship but more of just pure sex.

I thought it would be impossible to top Dominus but apparently no as the author has another huge hit on her hands with Games of Rome. The character of Gaius keeps getting more intense and we learn more about him. I love this guy and he's such an interesting character to read about. The authors knowledge of the Romans is completely remarkable and how she makes you feel like you're actually in this time goes to her brilliant writing. The great twist in the series is that the author writes these books in both past and present Rome and it was so unique that I really love this kind of format.

I love how Gaius treats sex and he looks at it more of a sport to display his beautiful and powerful attributes. That is until his slave, Allerix actually gets into Gaius heart. The relationship comes with many troubles that need to be handled or both men have so much to lose. I hope they can weather what's coming their way and not sacrifice each other. Gaius is a man you don't want to cross and no one is his complete match but Allerix comes very close. Will these men find their HEA with each other? If you ever wanted to know what life was for a gay Roman then you MUST read Games of Rome as I couldn't highly recommended it enough and if I could give it more than five stars trust me I would!

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Excerpt

Stretched out under a blanket on one of the couches, Allerix rubbed his eyes and yawned, his body and mind refreshed from a deep, restful sleep. The first rays of the sunrise peered over the edge of the cliffs, coloring the ocean’s surface with an entrancing, yellow-rose hue. He sat up and surveyed the dimly lit cave, only to discover he was unshackled and alone.

After drinking a cup of cool water and relieving himself in the silver chamber pot, Alle scanned the isolated cove as he strolled to the water’s edge. Gaius’s red tunic lay crumpled on the white sand, discarded close to a smoldering fire pit. Underneath the cloth Alle discovered a folded blanket and an opened travel satchel; the edges of papyrus scrolls peeped out from between the worn leather flaps. Nearby, sat a pile of kindling and a jug of crimson wine.

A pair of footsteps in the sand led to the water.

Shielding his eyes, Allerix stared at the ocean’s expanse until Gaius emerged naked from beneath the gentle surf. His skin glistened in the sunlight like the bronze of a divine statue. Poseidon himself had come alive before Alle’s eyes.

Memories of the previous night’s delicious lovemaking feast flooded Alle’s heart. After they’d finished the rest of the dinner courses, Gaius drizzled a mixture of honey and cream over Alle’s cock and balls and teasingly sucked off every sweet sticky drop. Afterwards, he rolled him over and poured more honey balm over his arse. Once Gaius had licked his cheeks and crack clean, he turned him over once more, wrapping Allerix’s long legs around his waist, and impaled him. Gaius smothered his mouth with his lips until they both surrendered to eruptions of exquisite pleasure.

No one had ever kissed Alle in that manner; no one had ever cherished him so completely and selflessly. His confused heart fell deeper into a toxic swirl of love and resentment. Damn the gorgeous bastard!

 Allerix waved from the beach as Gaius trudged through the waves towards the shore. Sopping wet, he kissed Alle’s mouth and took the garment from his outstretched hand.

“Greetings, căţel. How did you sleep?” Gaius asked as he wiped his face and patted his dripping copper curls.

“Extremely well, Dominus. Have you been awake long?”

“You’ll learn I rarely sleep more than four or five hours at most. But I’ve found there’s no better way to start a new day than with a good book and a vigorous swim. By Neptune’s shriveled balls, that water’s damn cold. Come sit with me. I’ll relight the fire, and we’ll watch the sunrise.”

After he’d pulled on his tunic, Gaius threw a handful of twigs and two larger pieces of wood onto the embers. The blaze grew quickly, its flames twirling up into the breezy morning air. They settled down on the blanket when Gaius grabbed the wine jug and enjoyed a long, satisfying gulp. Wiping his mouth, he said, “Swimming in the ocean is a source of immense comfort. She soothes my soul because she’s in my blood. My family has always owned seaside property; my great-grandfather, Servius Cornelius Scipio, spent much of his life in ships traversing her waters.”

“He was a sailor?”

“An admiral in the navy.”

Allerix snickered. “Of course—an admiral. I take it that’s an important job.”

Gaius merely smiled and guzzled down another swallow of wine.

“This cove is wonderfully serene, Dominus. May we stay here for the rest of the day?”

“Sadly, no. The boat to bring us back to the villa should arrive soon. I need to check on Bryaxis’ progress, and you need to saddle that damn stallion.”

Allerix pulled in his legs, resting his cheek on his knees, chewing on his thumbnail. It was time, perhaps his only chance to address the key to all his plans. He had to know.

“Am I your favorite, Rufus?”

Gaius narrowed his eyes at Alle’s audacity. “My favorite?”

“Nic explained how it works, the hierarchy and special privileges and all.”

“Did he, then? Gods, I despise the daft gossip that flitters about the stable house. Listen, I adore all of my boys. Some nights I prefer to fuck one lad more than I do the others. Other times, I want to play with my girls. And then there are those wicked evenings when I enjoy all of my pets at the same time. You do remember the enormous bed in the playroom?” Gaius laughed and waggled his eyebrows.

Blushing, Allerix confessed, “Yes, I remember.”

“Don’t listen to Nicomedes. I suspect our dear lamb is worried I won’t take him to any more dinner parties in Neapolis, the insecure prat.”

“I suppose that’s possible, sir. But Nic’s a good sort.”

“Yes, he is.” Gaius rubbed his face and exhaled. “So you want to be the favorite, whatever the fuck that means? Well, you can’t be the favorite because only slaves can be promoted to that mythical status. But you claim you’re not a slave, Alle. You’ve declared on several occasions that you consider yourself a prisoner of war, yes?”

 Lifting his head, Alle glared defiantly. “I am a prisoner.”

Gaius leaned over and kissed Allerix’s nose. “Let me know when you’ve come to your senses and finally accept the wars are over.”

1-Who is JP Kenwood and what is she all about?
A girly nerd who loves to research and write stories about men, love, and lust, especially tales set in the distant past. And I love to cook and laugh and drink wine.

2-What was it that made you want to write about gay characters and MM novels in the Roman setting?
Like so many other readers and writers, I discovered the world of m/m fiction through slash fanfic. Fan fiction is a fantastic way to cut one’s writing teeth, but I wanted to craft my own story filled with original characters and insane story arcs set in a quasi-realistic historical timeframe. Historical fiction often gets a bad rap for being boring or complicated or arcane in terms of dialogue and description. To me, ancient Romans were familiar and fascinating people. Like most humans, they loved, lied, swore, and dreamed.

Rome’s dominion over most of Europe and the Mediterranean lasted roughly a thousand years. I set my saga in the early second century AD because that was the “Golden Age,” a relatively peaceful time of transition when lad-loving emperors such as Trajan and Hadrian ruled a prosperous and powerful empire. It’s also fun because it’s an overlooked period in Roman historical fiction, and the reliable sources for events are meager. There’s lots of room to play.

3-How do you come up with such interesting Roman gay storylines and hot characters such as in the Dominus Saga?
As is the case with most folks who dabble in alternate history, I’m a tad obsessed with the “What if…” scenario. What if the Roman emperor Trajan had been the guardian of two boys rather than just one? What if his successor, Hadrian, had had a rival for the imperial throne? What if a Roman general had fallen in love with his Dacian slave? Of course, none of this is true (as far as I know), but that’s the fantasy element I’m playing with in this tale. I try to insert memorable fictional characters into a bizarre but disturbingly familiar historical setting. 

For Hadrian’s fictional ‘ward’ brother, I dreamt up an arrogant but charming red-haired soldier named Gaius Fabius Rufus. Unlike Trajan and Hadrian, Gaius Fabius is a patrician; he’s one of a handful of blue-blooded Roman aristocrats still alive in 107 AD, and he can trace his roots back to the earliest days of Rome. While he’s a pompous prick about his illustrious ancestry, he’s also fiercely devoted to his extended family, including his slaves, as well as his friends. The Lion of the Lucky Fourth Legion has adopted a hard, often ugly shell to protect his soft, damaged heart. Gaius believes in the traditional Roman values of duty and honor and justice, but he doesn’t always follow the law. Members of the imperial family like Gaius often acted with little regard to the rules governing most of Roman society.

The other MC is Allerix, a Dacian prince turned captive sex slave. He’s an intriguing and elusive lad. I’m still wrestling in some ways with his layers. The Dacian people (also known as the Getae) aren’t generally well known today; they ruled territories now part of modern Romania and Moldova from the first century BC to the early second century AD. The kingdom of Dacian was essentially wiped out by Roman legions during two wars from 101-102 and 105-106 AD. Prior to his capture, Allerix had fled the Roman invasion with a few thousand of his countrymen to the more rugged areas of the Carpathian Mountains. These Dacians were free but displaced from their homeland and their livelihoods. As a result of Roman conquest, Dacian culture, history, and the Dacian language were eventually eliminated and for the most part forgotten. Rome settled veteran Roman soldiers in newly built cities in Dacia, and Dacians gradually adopted Roman culture. What’s left of this once prominent and wealthy independent kingdom are basically archaeological remains, images of Dacians and scenes of the Dacian wars in art, and references in Latin and Greek texts. Basically, it’s a Roman boy meets a Dacian boy story. J

4-Your fans love your characters so much, what do these characters mean to you? How close to your heart do you keep them?
Dominus has a large cast of male and female characters, and each one is unique and close to my heart. One secondary character very dear to me is Lucius Petronius: Gaius’s occasional lover, his former schoolmate and fuck buddy, and his best friend among his Roman peers. Luc’s an ambitious plebian who rose to senatorial rank because of his brains and legal talents; he’s a lawyer who writes poetry and doodles in his scrolls, but mostly he laughs and drinks and fucks. He tolerates his wife and loves his Caledonian slave, Bryaxis. Events at the end of Dominus involving Lucius’s fate propel the story forward in Games of Rome. 

5-What genre of writing would you classify yourself with?
Um, erotic m/m historical fantasy with layers of love, cruelty, humor, mystery, and supernatural. And gobs of swearing. Is that a genre?

6-What do your readers mean to you and how interactive are you with them?
Like any author, I’m thrilled that people read my stories. Feedback from the fans of the Dominus saga helps me through those shitty days when the words are tough to wrangle. I connect with readers on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. My favorite sites, however, are my Wordpress author blog, LiveJournal, and Archive of Our Own. I post draft chapters of a significant portion of each book on the latter two sites prior to final publication, and discussions are always lively and fun. Who would have expected that two secondary characters, Lucius and Bryaxis, would garner such a devoted following? And Maximus has his own passionate fans. Don’t worry about Max; I’ll take good care of him. (Sshhh… I don’t think they believe me, Paul).

7-Do you have a Philosophy by which you live?
16. Be kind to everyone, try not to sweat the small stuff, and remember that fortune favors the bold. 

8-What is your favourite curse word?
Assflap. Comes in handy when driving.

9-What was the last book you read and your thoughts on it?
I haven’t finished it yet, but Brandon Shire’s The Love of Wicked Men (Vol. 1) has me hooked at the moment. I’ve been a huge Shire fan since I read The Value of Rain. Beautiful, visceral writing and punch-in-the-gut imagery.

10-Lastly, any hints on your next book that you might be working on?
I’m currently penning another free short story for the Dominus Calendar Series. This bit focuses on the Saturnalia festival held in December, and features Lucius and Bryaxis. Then I’m on to Book 3. Oh, the insane romp I have planned for the next full-length novel in this series. Gaius and the gang travel from Rome to Dacia. More tears, more tragedies, and more clues are revealed. *rubs hands together* There will be five books total in the Dominus series, and I know exactly how the story ends. Just thinking about the last scene makes me smile like a loon wiping away a bittersweet tear.

Sarcastic, sassy and over-educated writer of deliciously smutty, plot-packed stories that celebrate men loving men, often. My stories, often dark and always erotic, focus on master/slave power dynamics. My passion is ancient Rome.

My current five book series, Dominus, is an m/m alternative history fantasy series set in ancient Rome during the reign of the Emperor Trajan (AD 98-117). What if Trajan had been the custodian of two boys instead of only one? What if Hadrian had been privy to secrets that could damage the political authority of his older and more successful fellow imperial ward, Gaius Fabius? What if a Roman general had fallen in love with his captive Dacian slave? Could a powerful Roman aristocrat of noble ancestry have been deliberately erased from history?

Gaius Fabius, a lusty, ambitious Roman general and potential heir to the imperial throne, acquires a new pleasure slave—a recently-captured, feisty Dacian prince named Allerix Dominus is the slow-buring saga of two sworn enemies who both take risks and make sacrifices—it is about the unforeseen consequences of seeking vengeance, earning trust and falling in love.

While most details are historically accurate and tied to major historical events and prevailing cultural attitudes, the tale is entirely fictional and the dialogue is deliberately modern in flavor. There is very little Latin and there are no gratuitous gladiators.

The complete first two books of the series are now available on Smashwords, Amazon and B&N. Visit my Smashwords Author Page to download a FREE Dominus mini-story written back when I was working on the characterization of Gaius's lover, Lucius Petronius. A second FREE short story will be published in December 2015/

Author Wordpress blog: http://jpkenwood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jp.kenwood
LiveJournal: http://dominusfiction.livejournal.com
Archive of Our Own: http://archiveofourown.org/users/JPKenwood
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JPKenwood
Tumblr: http://dominusjpk.tumblr.com

​Author: S.M. May
Title: SECRET FUNDING
Editor: SelfPub
Genre: MM Romance / Contemporary / BDSM
Release date: 15th October 2015
Pages: 154
Words: 54.000

​Young, handsome, sometimes cruel. Noah Kress is a hardened broker, skilled enough to bring success to his company and determined to face the ever-growing challenges of the venture capital market. In his private life he is Master Noah, a very popular dominator at the Circle, one of the most exclusive private clubs in Boston. For him, at work as well as in the dungeon, people and events are just variables to be interpreted, numbers to be broken down, combinations to consider and evaluate.
But when the latest, most difficult deal threatens to make his company sink without trace, his only chance seems to be the large investment fund managed by the mysterious Martin Scheer. And in order to provide credit, Martin demands a very special guarantee.
For both of them it's just business. Yet, what was supposed to be a mere contract might just shatter the perfect surface of their lives.
And will talented player Noah be willing to gamble following brand new rules?
 
Due to m/m mature content, this book is recommended for an adult audience.

This is a new author to Gay Media Reviews, and I was really looking forward to reading this book - and it didn't disappoint.

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to make of Noah to begin with. He was a financial wizrd, but outside of work he seemed like a loner. The only place he frequented after work was the private club called The Circle, where he was Master Noah - a dominant who had an aversion to being touched.

When a business deal was going sour, he was thrown a lifeline from Martin Scheer - who was also known as Master M.  All Noah had to do was to be at Martins beck and call any time of the day or night for six weeks, and doing everything he asked of him... was this even possible?  But nobody was to know the details of their contract.

Parker is Noah's best friend as well as his company lawyer, and Noah doesn't tell him what he has agreed, and this upsets Parker quite a lot, and their relationship shows signs of being rather strained. 

Noah is used to being in control, and when Martin starts to take control, Noah at first rebels, then slowly Martin manages to peel pack the layers and starts to see a different Noah, even a Noah that he himself doesn't recognise.

Halfway through their contract, Noah realises that he no longer feels resentment for Martin.  He even submits to Martin in the bedroom, which he has never done before.  Then slowly realises that he is actually starting to have deep feelings for Martin, but as soon as Martin realises this, he terminates their contract.

Now is the time that Noah experiences feelings that are alien to him, and he just doesn't know what to do or how to act.  He seems to walk around in a total daze.  He then tries to speak to his best friend, but Parker is nowhere to be found.... 

Was it love that Noah was feeling?  Can he ever reconcile with Martin, or are he and Martin too alike?  Will he be able to find Parker and salvage their friendship?

This book had me hooked from the beginning, I think as it wasn't your typical romance, bed and marriage read!  It had a great storyline of Noah being a financial wizard and building his company, but he kept up a facade of being cold and at times heartless.  

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. 

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But I've already clarified that I don't need an escort. You'll be surprised to know that I never pay to fuck people. On the contrary, people usually beg me to fuck them.” 
 “You can't say that.” Noah was filled with a profound anger. This time, he leaned forward and wasn't afraid to look the man in the eye. “It's my line, the one I always tell clients when they hire me. Are you making fun of me?” 
 “Kress, my little dominator still wet behind the ears. I was speaking those words to my submissives even before founding Boston's Circle.” Martin's tone was haughty and indulgent.  
Now, Noah understood why that night at the Circle he hadn't been able to pinpoint the color of his eyes. They could have been anything from green to murky brown, but they were still evenly dark. Lifeless. 
 “I think I've been more than clear,” Martin added. “You'll give me six weeks of your life and your freedom during that time, and I'll give you the sixty million you need. I'll finance Kress Investments' deal without any other expense on your part and, once it's done, I won't complain if the profits are low. Let's just say that I consider it a non-refundable investment.” His voice softened, but there was no light in his eyes. “I'll give you my phone number. Why don't you take a few hours to think about it? After all, you've got three options: save yourself, even though I think it's the least likely; sink, saving your pride but ruining yourself financially; or, accept my proposal and put yourself on the line.” 
 Noah hoped Martin couldn't tell his throat was parchment-dry and that it hurt even to swallow a little spit. “Well, before coming here I'd already decided to go relax at the club for a while. I could use that time to think about your... proposal.” 
 “Finally some common sense. By all means, go.” Martin's dismissal was a saving grace. “In the meantime I'll get back to work – a rather boring and taxing task, I should say.” He elegantly held back a yawn. “That's why I enjoy distractions so much.” 
 It was difficult to catch Noah Kress unawares. It was hard to provoke him and he very rarely got scared. Yet Martin Scheer had managed to do all three. 
And Noah wanted to get out of that office as soon as possible and hide until midnight in the muffled silence of the Circle. 
 Maybe the Titanic still hadn't appeared on the horizon, like that gutless coward Miguel was afraid of, but Noah could picture his cocktail's colorful umbrella floating among the icebergs, as a comfortable vision. 
 Precious comfort in that gray, leaden autumn. 

S.M. May is mom of three / lawyer / blogger and she lives in North-East Italy trying to find the right balance between work, family, reading and writing.
She's good at some things, a bit less at others. But she does them all with passion.
She writes F/M romance, M/M romance, epic fantasy.
Secret Funding is her first book in English version.
For any questions you can write here: sm.may.books@gmail.com

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​Author Names: K.C. Wells & Parker Williams
Book Name: Dom of Ages
Series: Collars & Cuffs
Book: Seven
Release Date: December 21, 2015 
Pages or Words:  92,000 words
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Paul Richmond
Photo Credits: Joey Flyfoto, Model: Dirk Caber
 
Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, May-December Romance
​

If you have not read the Collars and Cuffs series, you really should. Although this is the first of the series I have reviewed, I do have all the other books, but I think this one is right up with the best of the series. 

When I started reading Dom Of Ages, I will confess I was near tears, it was so sad for Jarod. Then he met Eli and I thought oh yes will be better for him now.... but oh dear how wrong was I.  Eli came across to me as someone so selfish and self absorbed.  I really wanted to reach into the book and shout at him, plus slap him too! 

Jarod is not really living, he is just existing.  He has lost his Sir to a tragic accident, and he seems totally lost, and I don't think he knows how to pull himself back out of the low spot.  Jarod is so sad and low, that he doesn't seem to realise how badly Eli is treating him, he is just happy to be wanted by a "Sir" again. 

You also meet most of the characters from the earlier books in this series, and it is Ben who finally opens Eli's eyes as to what he is doing, and how he is in effect mistreating Jarod.  Eli then endeavours to change things, but made things worse by taking Jarod to a BDSM club who actually ridicule him, and before Eli can act,  Jarod has disappeared.

This is when you really see a change in Eli, and he starts to redeem himself in my eyes!  Ben is devastated when he can't find Jarod, and then feels even worse when he realises he has no idea of where to even look for him.  Jarod is now even lower than before (and to be honest I feared for what he would do), but he finally calls Eli..... who goes to find him.

Eli then proceeds to do things as he should have done in the first place, and Jarod seems to flourish under his attention.  Jarod also checks out the Collars and Cuffs club - before taking Jarod there, which was his way of protecting him.  However, once they do go there, rather than being an outcast for being an older Sub, Jarod is welcomed with open arms, and then proceeds to make the best of friends with the other Subs.

Just when you think things are going well for Eli and Jarod, something major happens to Jarod, and his reaction was quite the eye opener for me.  Rather than leave Jarod, Eli realises how deep his feelings for Jarod are, and he is determined to stay with him.  Is this what Jarod wants or even needs??................

I love that Jarod is not the typical young sub, but is in fact older than his Dom Eli.  I especially loved the other subs treating him as one of them, and actually looking up to him, plus in the case of Scott seeing him as a father figure.  This is the first book I have read with a Sub older than the Dom, but I really did enjoy it so much, it was great to be able to relate more to the older person.

I cannot recommend this series highly enough - I was sceptical at first with this series being BDSM, but somehow the author(s) have a way of writing that keeps you coming back for more.  I have read some BDSM books previously and not enjoyed them, but this series is in a league of it own.

Four years ago.
Jarod
It was finally time to say good-bye. I’d gone as far as I could without a boarding pass, and we were standing at the entrance to Manchester International Airport Security. Beyond us, passengers were queuing up to load their carry-ons and personal belongings onto the conveyor belts, taking off boots and shoes, belts, coats, taking out laptops—the usual hustle and bustle of getting through security.
Master Phillip turned to me and pulled me into his grip.
“I expect you to be on your best behavior while I’m gone, boy,” he said sternly. Then I saw the twinkle in his eye, and he smiled down at me.
“I’ll do my best to make you proud,” I replied.
I hated that he had to go away. It didn’t happen often, but being alone in the house left me unfocused. I needed his guidance and his love. For him, though, I would be strong.
“When do you come back, Master?” I whispered.
“I’ll be gone four nights. The board wants to show me some new designs they’ve been working on. I told them this could be done just as easily in a conference call, but no, they were insistent I wouldn’t get the whole picture unless I saw it in action.” He sighed. “It was easier to give in than it was to protest. It’s just such a long way to go for such a short stay.”
I looked down at the floor, quickly losing my resolve to stay strong. I had to agree. I’d never been to New York, but I knew how long his flight would be. He tucked a knuckle under my chin and made me meet his eyes. “You know I would take you with me if I could.”
“Yes, I know.”
And it was true. If he could, he would never leave my side. Since the day we met, I hadn’t been away from him unless it was something business related. He bent down and whispered in my ear, “I’m going to miss you very much, you know. When I come home, we’ll go on holiday. What do you say to Montpellier? It’s lovely in late spring.”
The thought of spending two weeks in the south of France with Sir would have had me dancing if he hadn’t insisted on decorum when we were in public. “Yes, please,” I replied breathlessly.
“Very well. When you get home, pack bags for both of us. I should be home on Monday, so make sure you book the flight and hotel room.” He smiled. “We can stay in that hotel you liked so much last time, the Royal. And we’ll eat in the Place de la Comédie again, looking out at the fountains.”
I couldn’t resist. “Will we get to visit that gay bar again? The one with the cute waiters?” I grinned. He knew I only had eyes for him.
Master Phillip chuckled. “Any more talk of cute waiters, and your arse will have a date with my paddle when I get back.”
“Ooh, promises, promises.” After so many years together, I loved our banter, so easygoing and natural in moments like this. But of course he saw through my attempts at humor.
“Jarod.” It always made me warm when he used my name. He put his arms around me, and my heart swelled for this unexpected display of affection. He didn’t give a shit who saw us or what they thought. We were solid. He leaned in and brushed his lips over mine. “It won’t be long. Then we’ll be together again.” His breath wafted against my ear. “Love you, boy.”
Peace flooded through me at his words. “Love you too, Master.”
He stepped back and glanced at the growing queues with a sigh. “Oh well, no use putting it off any longer.” With one final smile, he turned and walked away, pausing when he reached the official who directed him to join a line of passengers. He raised his hand, and I copied the gesture, watching until he was out of sight.
Then it was a case of heading home to our empty house to await his return. I breathed in deeply, squared my shoulders and set off through the terminal with a purposeful stride that revealed nothing of my inner sadness.

Five days would fly by.

Dreamspinner Press eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7217
 
Dreamspinner Press Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=7218
 
E-BOOKS 1 – 6 are on sale at Dreamspinner for $1.00 each! http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=907

K.C. Wells: 
Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. Wells always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way.
 
K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, where the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter....
 
K.C. now writes full time and is loving every minute of her new career.
 
The laptop still has no idea of what hit it... it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.
 

Parker Williams: 
Parker Williams began to write as a teen, but never showed his work to anyone. As he grew older, he drifted away from writing, but his love of the written word moved him to reading. A chance encounter with an author changed the course of his life as she encouraged him to never give up on a dream. With the help of some amazing friends, he rediscovered the joy of writing, thanks to a community of writers who have become his family.
 
Parker firmly believes in love, but is also of the opinion that anything worth having requires work and sacrifice (plus a little hurt and angst, too). The course of love is never a smooth one, and Happily Ever After always has a price tag.

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I love anthologies, as I find them a great way to find new to me authors, and this one is just so - I have found some new authors which I love.   It is a nice change too, that they are short stories so ideal for coffee time read (then again, if you are like me, coffee time read ends up being all day).

This anthology is Men In Uniform, and is full of men from all different worlds.  As usual with an anthology you will find that there are some stories that you will totally love (as I did find, but not going to say which ones, as that is not fair to the others), and some which didn't hit the spot (although I have to say this was only the odd one or two).

Overall, I really did enjoy this anthology, especially as each story was so different - the only recurring theme was Men In Uniform.   I spent a wonderful time with the men in blue, fire-fighters and also in space, and other places too,  which was great for a wet bleak winter day.  If you love men in uniform, or any kind of uniform, then this is the anthology for you. I can promise you that you will be taken on lots of journeys through both time and space, with men from all walks of life, and will also wishing that the story didn't have to end. 

A Spark in the Shadows by Kassandra Lea  
Warden drove the motorcycle up on the sidewalk, parking it close to a brick building that looked indistinguishable from all the others. He killed the engine, letting the silence sweep in. Tonight the streets were truly deserted. Warden placed his helmet on the seat, then passed his hand over a sigil, uttering a single word. The charm was another gift from the necromancer; nobody would even see the bike now, as the charm had masked it. Knowing he hadn’t been followed, Warden glanced back nonetheless. If his fellow boys in blue knew where he was and why, he’d be thrown out on his ass so fast. He had worked too hard to break the cycle….  

And yet here he was skulking around in the dark.  

“Suppose the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he grumbled. The pack, his so-called family, were vagabonds, low-rung thieves, and two-bit criminals. Professions he swore to get away from, a way he refused to live his life. The day he graduated the academy, with flying colors of course, he became a disgrace, no longer the esteemed pack leader’s son. A traitor, especially since he wouldn’t play dirty for their sake. 

Oh, but if they could only see him now. The unquenchable thirst of love drew Warden to the God-forsaken place.   
Rusted hinges protested as he forced an old steel door open. There was no telling the identity of the business that used to call the space home, a mess left behind. Broken bits of furniture; long dead leaves, never mind the absence of a tree outside; and other pieces of trash, some the likes of which Warden tried not to think about, littered the floor. He wasn’t sure if the lowliness people could sink to disgusted him or made him sad. Either way, he loathed the stench and barely cared that all these things served their purpose; to keep the unwanted away. 

Author Name: Sean Michael ​
Book Name: Combine, a Hammer Novel (Sequel to ‘Blended Family’)
Release Date: December 9, 2015
​Pages or Words: 51,100 words
Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: Anne Squires

Dom and sub couples Peter and Devon, and Max and Swan, are joining their lives together. After a week at The Briar Rose, they know there’s a lot of work to do, and they’re all committed to making sure what they have together succeeds.

Peter is the easygoing sub, while Max needs discipline and rules to keep from falling back into bad habits, so both Masters worry about making sure that each boy gets what he needs without making either sub feel neglected. It’s a balancing act that winds up taking some fancy footwork and the stress takes its toll.

As they learn to live and bond together, they discover things about each other that makes them fall more deeply in love, helping to cement their relationships.
​
Then an unexpected attack on Peter and Max threatens to upset the balance they’ve created, and Swan and Devon must join forces to give their subs what they need to push through and thrive. Will this stumbling block break apart their hard-won new family, or will it forge a stronger foursome?

Torquere Books

​Peter loved Maxie’s house. It was this crazy old Victorian mansion, tons of room, tons of space. It needed organization and some sense of style, areas for all four of them—him, Maxie, and their masters, but it had solid bones and he could definitely see himself living here, fixing it up, and making it theirs. All four of theirs.
 
Because they were going to do it. Move in together. All four of them. Two couples merging.
 
They had spent a week at a B&B training for this. He wasn’t even going home right now. They were going straight to Maxie’s house. Swan’s house. All their house. Whatever.
 
Devon turned around in the front seat and smiled at him and Max. “Almost there. Are you excited?”
 
Peter and Max looked at each other, and then Max nodded. “I am, very much.” If Max was excited and not worried, then it was good.
 
Devon’s smile was warm and happy. “Good, good.”
 
“Where will we sleep, Maxie?” They usually used the green suite when they stayed over, which happened on occasion.
 
“Your rooms? Are you going to want those permanently?” Max asked, eyes wide.
 
“We’re going to need to talk about that, about how exactly we want everything to work.” Devon tilted his head. “I’d like to sleep together tonight, if that’s good with everyone.”
 
“Our bed should fit us just fine.” Swan stretched, rolling his shoulders. “Everyone okay with ordering in for supper?”
 
“I could whip us up something, but I have to admit, I’d rather do you guys, not supper.” Devon’s grin looked rather wicked.
 
“Master, we can order Greek. We all like it and it’s super easy to clean up.” Max smiled at Swan in the rearview.
 
Peter’s mind, though, was on the kitchen, on what his master needed in a home kitchen.
 
“Greek sounds great. We have this place around the corner,” Swan told Devon.
 
“I’m in.”
 
“I love Greek food.”
 
Maxie grinned at him, red hair wild from riding with the window down. “You should. It’s El Grec. We used to order from there all the time.”
 
“Oh, I’ve heard stories about this place.” Devon chuckled. “I’ve been trying to live up to Peter’s memories of their Greek potatoes for years.”
 
“It’s a good place. Lots of finger foods and they deliver.”
 
“Finger foods work really well for Max.” Swan pulled the car up into his and Max’s driveway.
 
Peter took a deep breath. He was going to get to redo this house. Him. It was going to be their house. He’d been dreaming of the things he could do with this place ever since Swan and Max had bought it.
 
Turning off the engine, Swan turned to the back and smiled. “Welcome home.”

​Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
 
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
 
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
 

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Parker Williams, The Hat Party, BFD Book Blog, Jessie G. Books, Bayou Book Junkie, Dawn’s Reading Nook, 3 Chicks After Dark, Gay Media Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Happily Ever Chapter, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Alpha Book Club, Kimi-Chan, Kirsty Loves Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Inked Rainbow Reads, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Molly Lolly, The Jena Wade
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Angels Of Mercy
Volume Two-Marco
SA Collins
Released: November 28, 2015
730 Pages

GMR 5 STAR REVIEW-PAUL

“Elliot Donahey is the love of my life.”

Those words become a lightning rod for Marco Sforza, the man who seemed to have it all – looks, charm, money, a certain degree of local fame as the star quarterback of Mercy High – but when his teammates beat his boyfriend to the brink of death, Marco will have to learn what “standing by your man” truly means.

Angels of Mercy – Volume Two: Marco, picks up the timeline from the climatic ending of Volume One. How will these boys cope with Elliot's recuperation as well as find a way to bring justice for the heinous crime committed against him? Deception, lies and intrigue begin to thread their way into the boys lives as they struggle to just hold onto one another. All is not quite what it seems as we reach yet another climatic ending that will turn their whole world upside-down. The hate crime Elliot suffered was just the beginning of their woes. Is Marco and Elliot’s love for one another strong enough to see them through? Read Angels of Mercy – Volume Two: Marco to find out.

Angels of Mercy: Volume Two-Marco by SA Collins

Marco Sforza the star quarterback of Mercy High and this guy seems to have it all, hot as hell, popular, financial freedom and fame. His beloved boyfriend is almost beaten to death by Marco's own teammates and now he must decide how much he's willing to fight for his boyfriend and what true love actually means.

This installment picks right up where volume one leaves off and I love that as it's like reading one entire long novel. Marco and his boyfriend Elliot are so in love and setting out on the new chapter of their beautiful relationship. This novel is more about Marco where volume one was more about Elliot's story. Marco has a different type of family but he never questions their love for him and they play a larger role in this novel. Marco is on his way home to celebrate something special with Elliot but what he encounters at home will change everything in Marco's life and this was truly such a dramatic and heart-wrenching scene. Elliot has been beaten almost to the point of death and who the culprits are will send Marco spiraling into a nightmare of hate. Marco goes from favourite athlete to coming out as a gay man in a not so gay friendly environment to finding true love to having his world rocked in such a devastating way.

I love this installment very much as the story is told through Marco's eyes and what he endures is some of the most dramatic writing that I've come across in a while. Marco by far is one of the most favourite characters that I have read in a while. His love for Elliott was beautiful and he fought for his man as he knows what he wants and its Elliot and nothing will get in his way of true happiness.

This was my second novel by SA Collins and I truly loved it. This is one of my favorite genres and the author was so spot on with his writing of the football world and he captured the most amazing characters. Be prepared to cry while reading this love story between Marco and Elliot. You will simply love the self-discovery, love, lust, heart wrenching scenes and the hot and I mean hot male on male sex. I couldn't recommend Marco Volume Two – Angels of Mercy by SA Collins enough and you won't be disappointed in the least.

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Mercy-Marco-Fall-Sforzas-ebook/dp/B018PWEWJO/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
AllRomance -https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-angelsofmercyvolumetwomarco-1937614-149.html
BarnesAndNoble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-of-mercy-sa-collins/1123117766?ean=2940152509489
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/596765

Upcoming Releases  

Angels of Mercy - Phoenix In The Fire  - due Winter 2015  (Companion Book to Angels of Mercy – Volume 2: Marco. Told from Elliot’s POV)
Angels of Mercy - Diary of a Quarterback Part 1 - due Mid-Winter 2016
Angels of Mercy - Diary of a Quarterback Part 2 - due late Winter/early spring 2016
Angels of Mercy - Volume 3: Pietro (The Sins of the Solstice) - due mid-to-late Spring 2016

1-Who is SA Collins and what is he all about?  
 
SA Collins is a nom de plume. He was born from a book series I’ve yet to finish (Fae Wars – Fear the Feigr) where I thought it would be sort of “cute” if the main character actually authored his own story. So Sebastian (Baz) Alexander Collins was the impetus for SA Collins, the author. But then I thought, why not have “him” author all my works? It was a small gimmick but once I committed to it I was “all in” with his being my voice to the world. I am distinctly of two worlds. One is purely artistic. I am a professional classical singer/actor union actor (though I’ve pretty much resigned from the stage at this point in my life – been there/done that sort of thing). I can waltz out in front of a crowd of thousands (and have) and it doesn’t faze me in the least. All of my singing/acting are under my given name. So that, coupled with my current venture in writing, are the thrust of my artistic endeavors. The other side of me, the Clark Kent gig as it were, is steeped in the world of networks and computers. I am a straight up nerd/geeky gayboy. 
 
By the way, I refer, as does my main character in Angels of Mercy, Elliot, to a gay young man as a “gayboy” with this coined descriptive noun. This is intentional. To my, and by extension, Elliot’s, way of thinking, we are renaming ourselves collectively as a new term – one that accurately embraces who we are as queer young men, as vibrantly or somberly colored as the rainbow that represents us – setting us apart as the fabulous, and varied, creatures we are.
 
2-What was it that made you want to write about gay characters and gay novels?
 
Short answer? To pay it forward. To carry the torch started by other gay men writing about ourselves, free of rules and heterosexist norms and/or values. Proud to be defiantly QUEER and embracing the very essence of that word, reclaiming it for ourselves. This was born out of my experience as a young sixteen-year-old gayboy who was literally starved for something that reflected how I felt, and how I wanted to move in the world.
 
Two authors, two glorious gay men, molded me and, quite literally (with their words), saved my young gayboy life: Gordon Merrick (who filled my heart) and John Rechy (who satiated my lust). Both of these brave men and their works were my guiding light when I was a teenager in the heady disco days of the 70s. There was no internet. There was very little in the way of a young teen gayboy (even in liberal California) to find other young boys like me.
 
So I lived vicariously through these men’s words. I discovered John Rechy’s sexually salacious The Sexual Outlaw as the first work of gay lit fic that opened my eyes and (let’s be honest) loins, to the possibilities that not only were there other men out there like me, but what they did when they got together. My mind and body reeled with the possibilities Rechy’s work opened up for me.
 
The greatest part to all of this? Since it was literally dripping with full-on man-on-man body action, I could do it in my head as I was reading. It was a very safe way for me to explore what appealed to me in Rechy’s carnal worlds. But I found I needed something more. It was about a month later that I found a copy of The Lord Won’t Mind and my heart equally sang and was crushed in the pages of that book. My sixteen-year-old self was reborn by these men and their courageous words. And these were NYT best-sellers WELL before the current advent of M/M Romance (which, to my way of thinking as a queer man, often borders on cultural appropriation in that many of the readers hold the genre to hetero tropes and standards/expectations – which takes the Gay/Queer out of who we are as men). But more on this in a bit (see philosophical question below).
 
3-How do you come up with such interesting gay storylines and hot characters such as in Angels of Mercy Series?
 
Ah, thanks for this one. The funny thing is, I really didn’t plan Angels at all when it happened. I was writing my Fae Wars book (still a work in progress) when I found myself sitting on a freeway overpass (listening to out queer artist, Jay Brannan – my musical muse) waiting for the signal to change when a vision of the end of Angels appeared to me in my head. I instantly knew where it was (the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur). One boy had leapt from the bridge (presumably to his death) and two other boys were on the bridge clinging to one another. There were cop cars on both ends of the bridge. The boy falling to his death through heavy fog left trails behind him like the wings of an angel. That was the tableau I had in my head. So I began to ask myself who were these boys and what was their story that ended so climatically?
 
By the time I got off of the freeway (I only needed to travel one exit down to return home), I ran in and told my husband I had a new series to write that dealt with homophobia in a fictitious high school football team. Angels was born that quickly. The two lovers, Elliot Donahey, and his star quarterback boyfriend, Marco Sforza, are loosely based on me and my husband (who played for Clemson U back in the day), obviously not the actual plot lines, but rather how we processed our worlds as young gay men.
 
To a great extent, the works are influenced heavily by Jay Brannan’s works. I consider him a modern day queer bard. Each of his works tells a very concise and powerfully written story. I aspire to his command of language and depth of expression. After a concert he gave where I live in San Francisco, I had the balls to ask him if I could quote a line from one of his songs (Ever After Happily). He patiently listened to what my story was about and how I wanted to use his words to underscore what I was trying to do.
 
He said, “You know what? Go for it. I trust you.”
 
I was flummoxed and bewildered by his generosity. One queer artist supporting another. That’s what I try to do with the author/storytelling podcast I co-host  – pay that generosity forward to other authors and storytellers.
 
Generally speaking, whether it be my Norse Fae trilogy (Fae Wars), my Mohawk Indian sci-fi romp (Cove Chronicles), or my magical shifting werewolves of West Virginia (Sparrow’s Hollow), the characters I craft are all about their headspace. This is born out of years of being a paid actor on the stage. It wasn’t enough to just say the lines and cross the stage when a director said so to supply some action, you had to come up with the subtext of WHY. All of my characters have complete subtext to their lives before they ever enter the page of my literary works.
 
I specialize in character studies. It is far more interesting to write about headspace (which we all deal with but often isn’t explored in literary works – almost an over indulgence of SHOW, SHOW, SHOW – which is equally criminal in my mind, and very little tell – I prefer a balance). I want readers to know the inner mechanisms of who they are. That is almost more important than the situation they find themselves in.

4- Was it difficult researching your amazing sex scenes and the sports storyline as they’re spot on? 
 
Let me start this one off with: I LOVE THIS QUESTION! The sex scenes – as a gay man past the half centennial mark, I have YEARS of research and in as many scenes as you can possibly imagine (wink, wink)! (You may insert a wry smirk here.)
 
As for the sports aspect of the storyline, that’s my husband. As I stated earlier, he played high school football in Massillon, Ohio (the nationally recognized heart of American football as we know it today), and then college ball at Clemson. But the story doesn’t deep dive into the sport of football itself. It is more about the men of competitive sports. Really, it could be any male-dominated competitive sport. I just happened to choose American football. But to be more precise, the mythos surrounding male competitive sports and what defines masculinity is what Angels strives to examine.
 
I recognize that the tide is turning. Athletes in high school are finding the courage to come out to their coaches and teammates. Visibility is key. Not all are met with acceptance, but enough of them are. It gives me hope that one day we will get there.
 
5-Your fans love your characters so much, what do these characters mean to you? How close to your heart do you keep them?
 
Elliot, for all intents and purposes, is built squarely on me as a young gayboy. I have letters and writings I did back then that document how I thought and what was going on in my head at the time. My experiences and viewpoints are deeply ingrained in what makes up Elliot. He sometimes makes choices I wouldn’t make, but that’s part of what makes him unique.
 
All of my characters mean a great deal to me. This is probably true for all authors. Giving birth to a novel, or any length of story really, if done well, takes a lot out of you as a writer. You are deeply invested (or should be to really make it work) in the lives you create. They follow you and speak to you when you least expect it. They have complete lives. I know their histories and their life experiences. With my (forthcoming) Mohawk series, The Cove Chronicles, this is particularly true. Being Native myself, I want to write a series of stories where the Native characters are the super heroes. Giving back to my own Native community, creating powerfully drawn and role model type characters that some Native kid might find and think – “Holy shit! These guys are fucking amazing and they’re like me!” Paying it forward.
 
6-When did you first realize that you were a writer? 
 
Early on in life. I’ve been creating stories all along. I’ve only recently started to publish them under my own imprint – Akwekon Media (which is a Mohawk word that means, “All of us, together”). It wasn’t until I crossed over the half-centennial mark that I had the need to properly organize, and publish, my works. I am currently working on seven different titles right now. Next year ought to be epic for me with new releases.
 
7-What genre of writing would you classify yourself with? 
 
This one is rather easy for me to answer: but it harkens back to the Violet Quill days of the 80s and 90s. I write Gay Literature Fiction. They may have romantic elements in them – because I don’t pull punches with my character’s queer factor – but they are not romance reads. They are what they are. Authors like Rechy, Merrick along with Armistead Maupin, Felice Picano, Andrew Holleran, Paul Monette, Edmund White, Robert Ferro and all the way back to EM Forester’s Maurice and (the recently released original unabridged “decidedly queer” version of) Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Grey.
 
The emphasis for me is on literature. Make no mistake, I do not write for the quick sell or what’s hot. I write for the art of writing. I publish in the chance that others will find it of interest. But I am NOT one of those authors who are hell-bent on being the next 50 Shades of, or Games of … yeah, so not of that lot. I will continue to write what I want to write for the sake of writing it. If others find it to their liking, that’s icing on the cake, but the work itself is the cake. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate my readership, because I do. And I respect them tremendously. I am deeply indebted for their generosity of time and passion for what I do. But it isn’t the why of what I write.
 
There are two works that artistically guide me as a writer – One is Maurice by EM Forster. Never have I read a more beautifully concise work of fiction with an economy of words that perfectly nails each and every sentence. That’s not just artistry there, that’s master craftsmanship. The second is Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward Angel. The prose of Wolfe is a masterful expression of the human mind. There are sentences I re-read over and over in that work that completely slay me. The eloquence that rolls off that page emotively shreds me to my core. I have a notebook with phrases that Wolfe wrote that blow me away. Just to practice writing them – hoping some wisp of him from those pages will rub off. Both are literary works and not general fiction – sensing a theme here?
 
8-What's the most difficult element of being an author today?
 
The sheer plethora of what’s out there. You can get easily lost in the mass of publications that self-pubbing has brought on. To be honest, a great deal of it is shit. There is a reason that the gatekeepers rejected so much from the potential offerings. But it’s a double-edged sword for me to say that. Those same gatekeepers have stymied queer content creators with a ready-made stamp of – that doesn’t sell – when a queer character-driven manuscript is presented. And if one does sell particularly well, they aren’t so keen to grab another – as if to say – yeah, we’ve done that already. As if you only get one “winner” queer story a year and to be happy that we got at least one.
 
So on one hand, they’ve helped keep up standards in publishing that have made the industry what it is. On the other hand, how many queer content creators simply gave up because they couldn’t find that one champion of their worlds and their characters? Likewise, how many queer storytellers (and readers) did we lose to the horrific days of HIV/AIDS? I inwardly lament at all the stories we’ve lost to those creative people who succumbed to that horrible disease. I lost many, many brothers (and sisters) during that era. I write to remember them as well.
 
So to circle back, the toughest part is to be seen, to find an audience. But as I said, personally, I am not in it for the speedy sale. I am in it for the long haul, to put my stamp out there that my works will exist long after I take my last breath. And every fucking one of those words is mine (my husband who has a deep knowledge of the English language and literature is my editor). I can go to my grave knowing my voice was not compromised (other than the oft times heated debates between my husband and me over the characters and worlds I create – he’s just as invested in them as I am). My stories are what they are: unfettered, uncompromised, and wholly of my creation (this includes the printed editions which I create as well).
 
9-What advice would you give an author, just starting out, who wants to write gay fiction? 
 
Find what speaks to you passionately. I found that what I write is not as important as WHY I write. The why is your passion. That is the seed that your writing must spring from. Characters and worlds will reveal themselves, but it is that seed of why that will see you through those very lonely nights where it is just you and the keyboard whacking away at the tale you’ve got spinning in your head. Many authors make the mistake that you’re going to be the “next big thing” – as with acting, kid, you’re a dime a dozen.
 
Even if you do possess the talent to write like the next Tom Clancy or EM Forster (talk about opposites), gaining attention is daunting. Getting noticed is daunting. Shit, writing the damned manuscript is as daunting as hell. This is not a craft for the faint of heart. Perseverance is key. You must have the will to see it through. As with all art – there is no shortage of rejection – so be sure to cultivate a thick skin so you can continue to work beyond that last drive-by review that gave you a one star because they have a stick up their ass about something in your story.
 
Another one of my literary heroes – Gore Vidal – said: “Style is saying what you want, and not giving a damn.”
 
That pretty much sums up my approach to writing.
 
I will write even if no one else finds it of interest, because the why of what I am writing is what drives it – not sales, not “oh, like me, like me, like me!” I’ve lived on the stage for far too long to let that drive why I do what I do. I’ve just come to a place artistically that I’ll do what I want to do whether it finds its audience or not. I hope people like what I do, but will continue to write either way.
 
10-Where would you like to see your career in 10 years from now?
 
Provided I am still alive and kicking (remember, no one is promised a tomorrow in this life, so make each moment count), I’d like it if any of my stories would be optioned for a film or series – not because I need the adulation, but because I love cinema almost as much as writing/telling stories. I’d just want to see what someone else did with the work to realize it in another form/medium. My daughter graduated with honors from SFSU film school and I edited a great deal of her student work, so we’ll see.
 
11-If a reader hasn't read any of your books yet, which one would you
recommend?
 
That’s out now? Angels of Mercy – Volume One: Elliot – because it’s the work closest to me.
 
Of all the works in my stable of Works in Progress (WIPs)? – The Cove Chronicles – it is my forthcoming Lord of the Rings type story, only with Mohawk Indians at its core. It is most definitely an ensemble piece, but with a solid queer romance threaded throughout the series.
 
12-What is it that you believe draws a large amount of female readers to MM novels?
 
Simple – they love men. Period. And I’ve discovered they aren’t comfortable with the weepy females with weak ankles that constantly fall down in the forest and need a big strong man to feel whole and valued that are often portrayed in hetero romance tales. They are bewitched by the male mystique and want to read about them. And this isn’t just idle speculation on my part. This comes from deep dive discussions I’ve had with others in the industry on the podcast (Wrotepodcast.com) that I co-host where we’ve talked about this very thing. I really think it is akin to why men like lesbian porn. A lot of straight women are into guy-on-guy action, too. The issue I take with it is that they want to apply “Disney Princess” ethics and HEAs to our stories. It isn’t close to who we are as a community. That’s where I think cultural appropriation becomes a dangerous issue. It would be akin to me writing about the black community but taking away what defines them as a community for something I want to see in them and then making money on that. There’s very little difference in that to my way of thinking. It’s just something I can’t do or be a part of. So I write Queer Romance – closer to the bone of who we are as gay men living our often messed up queer lives.
 
13-What is something that you would like your readers to know about you?
 
That I am up for talk/debate on ANY subject. My parents reared us (for the record: it’s reared, kids – NOT raised. You raise corn. You rear kids) to be active debaters and discussion oriented from the time we could speak. Our dinner table was the setting of some very lively debates and discussions on a wide range of topics. My parents didn’t want us to shrink from making our point and defending it (but being gracious enough in knowing when to concede if new information colors your previously held position).
 
But that is not to say I am not approachable. I come from the world of theatre. I have no fear of meeting new people and engaging them from the very start – as if to say – Oh, there you are! Where have you been? We were just saying … and pulling you into the conversation as if we were long lost friends. I am very approachable in that regard. Many authors on my show say they are social introverts. I am at, like the depth of the Laurentian Abyss, the opposite end of the social spectrum. I’ll get up in your grill if needs be, and not bat an eye doing it. But I try my damnedest not to be rude. My mom would wear me like a slipper if I did that. She’s in her seventies now, but I am sure she could still do it.
 
14-What do you want to be remembered for most?
 
That I am a very passionate man who has a great deal of compassion for my fellow human being and the animals that inhabit this world, even if, in the case of humans, they don’t often deserve it. As my husband reminds me that Mark Twain said: “Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.”
 
15-What do your readers mean to you and how interactive are you with them?
 
I love readers who like my works – well, let me rephrase that so it doesn’t sound so me, me, me, shall I? I love readers, period. I wish more men did it. But men are very visually stimulated. In this day of digital everything that can be had on your phone or smart device at the drop of a hat, I fear that more men are choosing that over reading and exploring what words in a book say to them.
 
As for me, I do what I can to stay connected to the readers I do have. To be honest, I have no idea how many are out there.
 
16-Do you have a Philosophy by which you live?
 
As cliché as it sounds: I try to leave the world better than I found it. This is because I am also a family man – children and GRANDchildren are in the mix. I want them to have amazing and adventure-filled lives. So I do everything with that in mind.
 
There is a precept in Haudenosaunee culture (Mohawks being just one member nation of that confederacy) that reminds us: Unto the seventh generation … which tells us that like ripples in a pond, every decision and action we take in life must be accorded that that action will have a ripple effect seven generations out. So we must give it our respectful and thoughtful diligence before we act. It lays the foundation to be responsible citizens. What we do remains connected beyond our last breath. That’s how I try to live my life, so that my children and grandchildren and those who come after will have a planet and a lifestyle that not only sustains them, but gives them room to blossom into who they want to be.
 
As for my writing, I am on a staunch campaign as of late to remake romance for the queer community. It started from a conversation I had with fellow queer authors Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae on the podcast. We came to coin the phrase Queer Romance which up-ends the tropes of hetero romance that gave rise to M/M as it is today. I blogged on their site about this very topic as an extension of that conversation. M/M, as I see it, borrows heavily from hetero romantic tropes of old but doesn’t allow for the queer in gay men/women’s lives and loves. Happy endings should, according to the way we live our lives, be a moving target. We are NOT the hetero normative; we never were. We subvert and re-write rules to suit our needs and to eke out our slice of happiness – whatever that may be. We can emulate the mainstream hetero world, but it’s not a given. I want to do the same thing with romance: remake it in our image. Queer the fuck out of it.
 
The line I quote from Jay Brannan’s song Ever After Happily in Angels of Mercy is at the very heart of Queer Romance.

     He precedes the final powerful line I quote with this chorus (which sort of sets the context of what constitutes an EAH (as opposed to an HEA) for queer people):
Well that's the way the fairy tale goes
Boy meets girl and they wed with roses
But that's not the way it seems to be
And I'm pissed that they lied to me
Cuz boy meets boy, and boy runs away
Or girl meets girl, and she's afraid to stay
We end up home alone watching Court TV
Not living ever after happily

But it is this final line that is at the heart of my Queer Romance campaign – it is the line that Elliot sings to Marco after they go through some major shit in their relationship: 

Starting today, I’ll tell the story my way. The King of Imperfections takes back his Prince of Mistakes.
 
#QueerRomance ß it’s a thing.
 
17-What is your favourite curse word?
 
Fuck. (Fuck, fuckery, fucked-upness, fucktard, #PrincessMuthaFuckingInstagram (yeah, that’s in one of my Angel’s books as a real thing) – ‘nuff said.)
 
18-What was the last book you read and your thoughts on it?
 
I read quite a bit due to the podcast. Let me say the last work I read that had a profound impact on me was TJ Klune’s Into This River I Drown. That book is a well-spring of inspiration. I read it aloud to my husband. We are both atheists but loved the tale Mr. Klune wove in that novel. That was masterful storytelling. I am DYING to get him on our show!
 
19-If you could come back as any animal or mammal, what would it be and why?
 
I would say one of the hunter cats – Snow Leopard, perhaps. But they are so endangered I am not sure that is such a wise a choice as much as it is a heartfelt one.
 
Perhaps an Eagle. A bit more protected and high up on the food chain.
 
20-Lastly, any hints on your next book that you might be working on? 
 
The Cove Chronicles and Fae Wars are up next – both will hopefully reset the bar on queer sci-fi as they are magical in appearance before you realize that it is actually based on Quantum Mechanics concepts (the hubby is a retired quantum mechanics physicist that worked for JPL and NASA).

Angels of Mercy V2 - Extract (R-Rated)***********************************


I remembered his retelling of how he realized he was gay – how the big reveal had happened for him. Not in when he’d told his parents or when he’d asked Stephen Lowry to be his first boyfriend. But when he actually put it together himself.


“It’s Ian Somerhalder’s fault, you know. I was sort of waffling in whether or not guys did it for me. Not that girls ever did anything for me, really.” He mumbled that last part, thereby completely throwing in the towel that he ever was anything but gay. I think he knew that, but I didn’t comment on it. I wanted to see where he was going to go with it all. I loved this part about him: his randomness.
“What the hell does he have to do with it?” I sighed softly, allowing him to ramble on.
Elliot brought his head up from my stomach, his eyes wide with disbelief. 
“You’re kidding me, right? Didn’t you see him dance semi-naked that first season in ’Vampire Diaries‘? That was some hella hot moves there. Sprung a woody with the first swivel of his hips. Not to mention those dreamy eyes and brooding dark looks. He still sorta does it for me. After I saw that, I was a full on Damon-bater.” He put his head back down on my stomach as his tongue flicked along the tip of my softening cock, no doubt trying to rouse it to action again.
“Oh, really?” Doing my best not to mask the pang of celebrity jealousy that sorta sprang up, copping to the fact at how foolish it was.
He suddenly sucked in the foreskin from my cock into his mouth and nipped lightly at it with his teeth. I yelped, swatted at his head and he jerked his head tersely just once, yanking on my dick just enough – satisfied that I got his point. He released me. His eyes turned to me, the look of lust in them coursed through my body and my cock sprang into full attention. Somerhalder be damned. Elliot was mine! Not that I thought I really had competition. He’d only answered my question, after all.
“But I’ll tell ya this much,” he said as he climbed up the length of me, nipping me along my neck and up along my jaw as he did so, “you’re still my favorite vampire. Even if you still haven’t figured out how to draw blood. Oh, wait! I get it! You’re not a Somerhalder vamp! You’re one of those disco Meyer toothless Twilight vamps! NOW, I get it …”
“I’ll get you all right!” I said as I rolled him underneath me, the backseat creaking as it usually did when I pulled myself from it allowing him his usual spot. The old girl seemed to prefer Elliot’s lithe frame resting on her than my hunky ass.
He giggled darkly. “That’s JUST what I am counting on! Ravish me, you big vampy lug!” His giggles goaded me further.
And ravish him, I did …

SA “Baz” Collins hails from the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives with his husband, their daughter and wonder of all wonders, a whirlwind of a granddaughter and two exotic looking cats. A classically trained singer/actor (under a different name), Baz knows a good yarn when he sees it. Based on years of his work as an actor, Baz specializes in character study pieces. It is more important for him as an author that the reader comes away with a greater understanding of the characters, and the reasons they make the decisions they do, rather than the situations they are in. It is this deep dive into their manners, their experiences and how they process the world around them that make up the body of Mr. Collins' work. 

SA “Baz” Collins
Author of Gay Literature Fiction across multiple sub-genres

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Check out my podcast  [WROTE (WRitten On The Edge) Podcast]

COVER PRINT EDITION
ANGELS OF MERCY-VOLUME TWO-MARCO

Angels of Mercy: Volume Two – Marco picks up the same day as the climax of Volume One, only told from Marco Sforza's (Elliot's boyfriend) point of view. This is a character study series where each man in the tale takes the reader on an introspective journey of coming to grips with the horrors of homophobia in competitive sports and the consequences when those scenarios become violent. Part two of a three part series. “L'amore della mia vita, Elliot Donahey, tu sei tutto per me; morirei se mi lasciassi. I’d simply wither away. You are my life; you are my love. Tu sei le mie stelle, la mia luna, l’aria che respiro, eternamente.”

Those words become a lightning rod for Marco Sforza, the man who seemed to have it all – looks, intelligence, charm, money, a certain degree of local fame as the star quarterback of Mercy High. But when his teammates beat his boyfriend to the brink of death, Marco will have to learn what “standing by your man” truly means.

How will these boys cope with Elliot's recuperation as well as find a way to bring justice for the heinous crime committed against him? Deception, lies and intrigue begin to thread their way into the boys’ lives as they struggle to just hold onto one another. All is not quite what it seems as we reach yet another climatic ending that will turn their whole world upside-down. The hate crime Elliot suffered was just the beginning of their woes. Is Marco and Elliot’s love for one another strong enough to see them through?

Get the AUTOGRAPHED EBOOK of volumes 1 and 2  for the low price of $7.50 through Christmas? 

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Grand Prize -  ONE WINNER 
(1) $25 Amazon Gift Card
USA– Autographed Hard Copy – V1 AND V2 (with autographed ecopies (kindle or epub) OR  choice of international offering (all 6 ebooks autographed in lieu of physical books)
Outside of USA – Autographed Ebook of ENTIRE series (as they are released – six in all – AoMv1, v2, v3; Diary of a Quarterback Part 1 and Part 2 (Marco’s Backstory); AoM – Phoenix In The Fire (Elliot’s Companion to V2))

1st Runner Up – TWO WINNERS
Autographed Ebook of V1 AND V2

2nd Runner Up – THREE WINNERS
Autographed Ebook of V2