Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: THE WEEKEND BUCKET LIST by Mia Kerick

The Weekend Bucket List

Author: Mia Kerick

Release Date: April 19th 2018

Genre: Young Adult, LGBT

BLURB

High school seniors Cady LaBrie and Cooper Murphy have yet to set one toe out of line—they’ve never stayed out all night or snuck into a movie, never gotten drunk or gone skinny-dipping. But they have each other, forty-eight hours before graduation, and a Weekend Bucket List.

There’s a lot riding on this one weekend, especially since Cady and Cooper have yet to admit, much less resolve, their confounding feelings for one another—feelings that prove even more difficult to discern when genial high school dropout Eli Stanley joins their epic adventure. But as the trio ticks through their bucket list, the questions they face shift toward something new: Must friendship play second fiddle to romance? Or can it be the ultimate prize?

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Interlude Press

Find The Weekend Bucket List on Goodreads

EXCERPT

She acts as if this was my big idea, but The Weekend Bucket List has got Cady LaBrie’s name written all over it. She’s persuasive, though—the girl has almost got me believing I came up with the idea to do everything we never did that “normal” kids do in high school, all in the forty-eight hours before graduation. We have a lot of lost time to make up for.

“These fries are so good.” Cady’s eyes are closed like she’s in goddamned ecstasy. I’m not sure why, but I look away.

“How can you eat so freaking much and stay so freaking skinny?” I ask, as Cady starts in on her second large order of french fries. And these are just appetizers.

“I’m petite, Cooper. Not skinny... and you’re skinny, too.”

I shrug and suck futilely on the straw that stands straight in my vanilla shake.

“Whatever.” It doesn’t matter how thick the shake is; I’m in no rush to suck it down. Cady’s the talker in this relationship, so all I’ve got to do is sit here and listen.

Carra's Review

So, I have very mixed feelings about this book.  Usually that means a pros/cons type review works best for me, so here goes…

Pros:

-The idea of a bucket list—regardless of the reason behind why Cady and Cooper created the list, the idea of setting goals and being able to check them off appeals to my OCD side.  The list they start out the story with may seem silly, but the idea of setting goals and achieving them together with one’s best friend is alluring.

-Eli—I absolutely fell in love with Eli.  He is so sweet, open and ready to be friends, and his innocence is refreshing especially in the face of what his life has been like.  And once that first weekend is over, and Cady and Cooper’s graduation is done, I was both heartbroken and furious…not to mention in tears for Eli (and I’m doing it again right now as I’m typing this…sorry for the tease, but urrrggghhh!).  

-This story is about the journey, coming of age, and realizing the importance of real friendship.

Cons:

-Granted, my high school senior year days are pretty far behind me, but I don’t ever remember others my age then acting so immaturely…maybe it was just the people with whom I was friends, but even today when I see younger family members or children of friends, they don’t come across like these characters did.

-Cady—her attitude and complete turnaround towards Eli one that first weekend was done, then her ongoing spiral…she took the word selfish to new levels, and frankly from the end of that first weekend through the end of the book I could not see her the same again, even with the last weekend.  And while Cooper does bear a part of the blame, he at least sees the wrong of it and makes amends (but him so blatantly blowing off number two on his valedictorian speech’s bucket list pissed me off as well).

-When things got sappy—this was more toward the end of the story when Cady was trying to pull things back together.

Overall, I’m staying in the middle of the road on this one, but I can unequivocally state the Eli is the best part of this story for me…so I’m laying claim to him and giving him the 3.5 stars because he more than deserves them.  He actually deserves a whole lot more.

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About the Author

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories.

Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.

Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com. Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.

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Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: SOUND OF SILENCE by Mia Kerick & Raine O'Tierney

Sound of Silence

Authors: Mia Kerick and Raine O’Tierney

Release Date: January 23rd 2018

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

BLURB

Renzy Callen exists on the periphery of life, and not just because of the horrific childhood event that robbed him of the ability to speak. Walling himself off from the rest of the world as a means of protection, he occupies his time with art, music, and an obsession with self-help groups—whether he needs them or not. His isolation protects him, and he’s immune to drama and emotional games… or so he believes. Everything changes when he meets Seven and Morning Moreaux-Maddox, the wealthy, jet-setting siblings who move from a life of sophistication in Europe to humdrum Redcliff Hills, Missouri.

Both Seven and his sister are impossibly beautiful and elegant, like the stars in magazines and high-fashion models on the runway. When Renzy is pulled into their push-and-pull of affection and rejection, he realizes there is more to both haunted Morning and cold, diamond-sharp Seven than meets the eye.

The three teens embark on a quest to learn the reason behind Renzy’s selective mutism, and something more than friendship blossoms between Renzy and Seven. It’s during this trip of a lifetime that the three realize the truth they seek might be found in the sound of silence.

Buy Links: 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Harmony Ink | iBooks

Find Sound of Silence on Goodreads

EXCERPT

Seven

I don’t go straight to class. First off , I don’t give a sh*t if I’m late to Physics for the Curious, which actually is the class’s laughable name. More importantly, though, is this: I dropped the ball with Morning last year in Paris, and she’s paid a high price for my lax behavior. I’ve sworn on all things holy and unholy that I will not drop the ball again. Therefore, I’m required to lurk in the hallways when I’m supposed to be in class, sizing up our new environment so that I will be ready to protect her.

This is what I’m doing when I notice him—the very same dark- haired imp I saw running out of the Take Back Our Power meeting. I’m not comfortable with this—catching sight of the same boy two times in one day in such close proximity to my sister. I consider it my duty to study him, to memorize his face, to do what I should have done for Morning last year, at which I failed so miserably.

So I scrutinize each feature as if my plan is to sculpt his face out of clay, with no reference point but my memory. Despite the rage that scorches my eyelids with every goddamned blink, I like what I see.

Carra's Review

Though the main characters of this story are in high school and technically teens (18 & 19), don’t think you’ll be reading a young adult story.  Sound of Silence is really a coming of age tale primarily following Renzy’s journey to discover the reason behind his selective mutism, at the prodding of his new maybe-more-than-friend Seven, and accompanied also by Seven’s sister Morning.  There is also the touch of romance with the relationship that develops between Renzy and Seven, as well as some bits of drama from Morning’s past that involve Seven as well.  So if you’re looking for drama, angst and heartbreaking emotion…you’re definitely going to find it here.

I absolutely adored Renzy.  I can’t even begin to imagine being in his place, especially once I was done reading the entire story.  He’s an incredibly strong character, and wildly creative—not only through his artwork, but also in how he communicates with others.  It was easy to understand his frustrations, and to empathize with the pain he cannot give a voice to, or even recall.  He makes you think outside the box, and I felt challenged to understand his situation right along with Seven.  Morning had a much easier time comprehending Renzy and identifying with him due to her own painful past.

Seven is a fixer.  He sees people he cares about in pain, and wants to make things better for them—in particular his sister and Renzy.  Renzy is quite a challenge for Seven, but slowly and surely Seven starts to understand and interpret the things Renzy does and shows him as their connection grows and their relationship evolves to more than just friends.  When Seven can’t figure out what to do or say to help, it is frustrating to him, and he takes it personally…sometimes letting his emotions and anger start to get the best of him.

This story concentrates heavily on the journey to find out why Renzy can’t talk, what terrible thing could have happened in his past to lead to such an extreme reaction.  It can get quite emotional at times, putting strain on all of the characters not just individually but also between Renzy and Seven as well as Seven and Morning.  The romance that develops between Renzy and Seven is peppered in along the way, and is a wonderful complement to the heavier topics featured in the story.  While reference is made to physical feelings and wants, the intimate scenes are fade to black or off-page.  This actually suits this story quite well since the primary focus is on the journey and healing.

I really loved Sound of Silence, and I’m giving it the full 5 stars.  It’s a story I do highly recommend for any M/M romance fan, and though the physical intimacy is not focused on in the book, this one is still for readers 18+ due to the difficult subject matter, adult language, and topics that may be a trigger for some readers.

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About the Authors

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories.

Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.

Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com. Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.

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Raine O'Tierney loves writing about first loves and friendship. She believes the best thing we can do in this life is be kind to one another, and hopes her stories always reflect that. Raine loves encouraging people to write and has been known to repeat the phrase "I believe everyone has a story to tell" endlessly, until she breaks down even the most stubborn non-writer!

Raine lives outside of Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, fellow M/M author Siôn O'Tierney. When she's not writing, she's either playing video games or fighting the good fight for intellectual freedom at her library day job.

Contact her if you're interested in talking about point-and-click adventure games or about which dachshunds are the best kinds of dachshunds!

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New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: IT COULD HAPPEN by Mia Kerick

It Could Happen

Author: Mia Kerick

Release Date: June 5th 2017

Genre: New Adult, M/M/M Romance

BLURB

Three misfits, mismatched in every way—Henry Perkins, Brody Decker, and Danny Denisco—have been friends throughout high school. Now in their senior year, the boys realize their relationship is changing, that they’re falling in love. But they face opposition at every turn—from outside and from within themselves. Moving to the next level will take all the courage, understanding, and commitment they can muster. But it could happen.

Henry is a star athlete and the son of religious parents who have little concern for the future he wants. Brody is a quirky dreamer and adrenaline junkie, and Danny is an emo artist and the target of bullies. Despite their differences they’ve always had each other’s backs, and with each of them facing a new and unique set of challenges, that support is more important than ever. Is it worth risking the friendship they all depend on for the physical and romantic relationship they all desire?

In this unconventional new adult romance, three gay teens brave societal backlash—as well as the chance that they might lose their treasured friendship—to embark on a committed polyamorous relationship.

Purchase: 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | DSP (ebook) | DSP (paperback)

Find It Could Happen on Goodreads

EXCERPT

That was when Henry forgot all about keeping quiet, jerked at the door handle like a madman, and yelled, “Let us in! Let us in!”

It was like a miracle when the door slowly swung open. Danny stood in front of us wearing this strange, old-fashioned, white-nightgown thing he must have found at a thrift shop, because they sure don’t sell them at the outlet mall where I shop. If he were clutching a candleholder, he would have looked like an orphan in a Dickens’ novel. Danny’s fine black hair was rumpled and stuck to his head, and, like Henry said, his eyes were both blackened and swollen. His bottom lip was puffy too.

“What the f*ck?” Henry didn’t shout it. He just asked. Then he rushed to Danny and hugged him. I couldn’t see Danny at all because he was swallowed up in Henry’s embrace, so I used the time to collect myself. I’m the one who’s supposed to keep my act together. I swallowed over and over until the lump in my throat went away, and when Henry finally let Danny go, I closed the door and told them to sit down on the bed.

Danny was oddly obedient. He took Henry’s arm and led him to the bed. While they pushed back the rumpled sheet and blankets and sat down, I stood in front of them and asked, “What happened to you, Danny?”

He said, “Nothing,” flopped back on the bed, and pulled a pillow over his head.

So I asked again, “What happened to your face?”

The pillow muffled Danny’s voice, but it sounded like he said, “It’s not just my face.” Henry reached down and pulled the nightgown up to Danny’s knees. His legs were covered in cuts and bruises, as though he’d been kicked in the shins too many times to count.

“I’m gonna f*ckin’ kill him.” I think Henry was the one to say this, but it could as easily have been me.

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About the Author

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories.

Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.

Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com. Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.

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