Saturday, September 10, 2016

CONNECTION ERROR-Guest Post with Author Annabeth Albert Plus Review & Giveaway!

Title: Connection Error

Author: Annabeth Albert

Series Title and Number: #Gaymers, Book 3, but stands alone well too

Publisher: CARINA PRESS

Cover Artist: CARINA PRESS

Release Date: September 5, 2016

Heat Level: 4 (explicit m/m sex, but lots and lots of plot too!)

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: approx. 66,000 words

Genre/Tags: Romance, M/M Romance, contemporary romance, military romance

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Synopsis

It's typical of video game programmer Josiah Simmons to be the last one on the plane on the way to the biggest meeting of his career. Though he's (mostly) coping with his ADHD, he can't handle another distraction. But he also can't ignore his rugged seatmate—especially once he learns the military man's a fan of his game.

Ryan Orson refuses to let his severe injuries pause his career as a navy SEAL. He's got hours of grueling physical therapy ahead of him, and no time for anything that might get in the way of his return to active duty. But that doesn't mean he's above a little first-class flirtation with geeky-cute Josiah.

When a delay strands the pair in St. Louis, they agree to share a hotel room and a night of gaming. Neither expects their new connection to move to the next level in the light of day. Opposites may attract, but is this game over before it's even begun?

Book Three of the #gaymers series

Purchase

Carina Press | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo Books

We're honored to have a guest post today from author Annabeth Albert! She's got a fantastic recipe for you...we can't wait to try it out!

Woo Me With Waffles

My books always have a lot of food in them, and I frequently have my characters cooking for each other. CONNECTION ERROR, my latest book, is no exception. It features a computer game developer, Josiah, and an injured Navy SEAL, Ryan, he meets while on a cross-country flight. Later in the book, when Ryan wants to take care of Josiah, he makes him breakfast. This move marks a turn in their relationship as they move from tentative friendship to something more, and it is one of my favorite scenes in the book.

Breakfast is my personal favorite meal, and there is nothing I love more than whipping up a big brunch for my family. I think Josiah and Ryan would enjoy this recipe. It’s perfect for early Fall when you want a hint of fall flavors without too much fuss. For a full meal, serve with some bacon or maple sausage. You can do the traditional syrup with the waffles, but applesauce or stewed apples is a really nice alternative. And if your garden is still going strong, try replacing the pumpkin with grated zucchini.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp. each cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg with a pinch of cloves)

1 pinch salt

2 eggs

1/4 cup honey or agave

1 cup canned pumpkin puree

2 cups buttermilk

4 tablespoons oil

DIRECTIONS

Mix together dry ingredients in large bowl.

In a second bowl, add eggs, honey, pumpkin, milk, and butter; beat well.

Gently fold in the flour mixture.

Cook according to your waffle iron directions. Serves 4.

***

What is your favorite breakfast to make for those you love?

Carra's Review of Connection Error

I'm having a problem choosing which book in this series is my favorite. It's a great problem to have-Connection Error is book three of the series, and is just as strong-if not stronger-than books one and two. One of the things I really liked about this story is that the relationship between Josiah and Ryan develops over time. No insta-love here...we get to watch as things slowly evolve between them. I loved reading their emails back and forth, and how they go from absolute strangers to friends, to friends with benefits, to a couple-even if both of them weren't planning on anything serious with...well...anyone.

Josiah can be impulsive in his actions and words without realizing it, but that also means he often says exactly what he means...while also sometimes placing his foot firmly in his mouth. Ryan really complements Josiah, acting as an anchor and someone who can give Josiah direction (often in a very...interesting way). The two gradually become comfortable with each other to the point where when they are apart, they each feel the hole left behind by the other. They are really good for each other, wonderfully matched and plenty hot together too.

Sweet is balanced with a bit of naughtiness, resulting in a well balanced story of two men who come together at random, then develop into a couple you can't imagine being apart. Adding some strain is Josiah's pressures from work in his first project lead role, and Ryan's difficulties dealing with his injuries from his last deployment and the setbacks he encounters. But throughout it all, they each are their to support each other-though whether that's enough to make it all work (especially when they are far apart from each other much of the time)...well, it's the uncertainty and worry over them that is part of what had me stuck to the pages.

This story tackles not just one but two complicated conditions with its characters (ADHD for Josiah and the severe injuries Ryan suffered as a Navy SEAL), which results in a bit more angst and drama. The author does a great job in handling these topics, and the result is a couple that winds up stronger together than apart--even when they are physically apart--and a story that can be emotional and rewarding.

We do get to see characters from the first two books in this story, but Connection Error can still definitely be read as a standalone. I truly enjoyed reading this book, and hope there will be more to come in this series. Connection Error gets 4.5 stars from me, and I highly recommend it (as well as the whole series) to M/M romance fans. It's for readers 18+ due to adult language and M/M sexual content. You might even discover a new game to play...pardon me while I go educate the hubby about Naked Twister... ;-)

Meet the Author

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency