Showing posts with label gothic romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gothic romance. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Spotlight: THE MAN INSIDE ME by Sean Kerr



The Man Inside Me

Author: Sean Kerr

Publisher: SGK Publications
Cover Artist: SGK Publications
Release Date 31st September 2018
Genre/s: M/M Romance, M/M Historical, M/M Gothic Romance, M/M Paranormal Romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames 
Length: 202 Pages

It’s a standalone story.




  
Blurb

Victorian London is a difficult place to be when you are gay, as Henry and Gabriel know all too well.

When they were young at Oxford University, Henry and Gabriel’s love burned hot and bright, and they thought to change the world together until a devastating tragedy ripped them apart.

Now, as youth fades away, Henry can no longer stand to see his own reflection in the mirror. All he sees is a sad, tired old man whose body has betrayed him. He craves the touch of another, to feel attractive and vital once more but his obsession with finding a cure for insanity has stolen his life away, and now his work has taken on a dark and sinister dimension. How far will he go to recapture the passion of his lost youth?

Gabriel fears that Henry is losing his mind, and when a brutal killer invades their lives, they are thrust into the dark depths of Victorian London in a fight for their very lives.

As their friendship is tested to its limits, Gabriel cannot help but wonder if there is still a chance for love. Can they move beyond the friendship that has spanned over thirty years and find the love that once made their hearts beat as one?

You may never be too old to find love, but will you be able to survive it?


Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited





About the Author

Hi everyone, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Sean Kerr, and I am a 49-year-old gay man living in Cardiff, Wales with my husband of 28 years, Derek. We have two cats, Rita and Harry, and a host of tropical fish.

I worked on building sites for years, and I used the money earned from that to put myself through college, specialist paint techniques etc. I trained in fine art, and then I went out and painted murals on client’s walls, and created Roman Bathrooms and fantasy hand painted bedrooms, all the rage back in the late eighties and nineties. I then became an Interior Designer for a large DIY chain. For the past thirteen years I ran my own Interiors business, and while that is no longer in existence, I am now looking for my next challenge in life!

By night I am an Author, and I am very proud to be an author for Extasy Books. It took me some years to get to this point. I spent a very long time trying to get an agent because I thought it was the right thing to do, and after a heck of a lot of refusals, I nearly gave up. I came so close to hitting the delete button on Dead Camp 1 because I thought I did not stand a chance. At the very last moment, I decided to have a go at approaching a few publishers directly, and I sent the manuscript to six. Within two weeks, I had offers of publication from three! Let’s just say that there may have been tears lol. It was my chance, at last, to become a part of a world that I have always loved and admired from a distance, and it is one of the very best things to ever happened to me.

Dead Camp is the first series I ever wrote, and then there is my short novella called Hush Little Baby. Dead Camp is my take on the Vampire genre, an MM Paranormal Romance series that is set against a backdrop of World War 2. However, the series uses key moments from History to tell one enormous saga, and I have loved every single moment of writing it. There are five books in the Dead Camp series.

Hush is a pure horror story with more than a nod towards such classic programmes as The Twilight Zone and Tales of The Unexpected. The project happened just after I completed Dead Camp 3 and it is a story that I had to get out of my system. It’s definitely a different beast to my Vampire saga, and I hope it will make you go to bed with the lights on lol!

I recently ventured into the world of self-publishing, and as such, I have just released my first independent book series, The Last Child. The Last Child is a horror series that is in 3 parts dealing with the occult. It has a definite Dan Brown vibe in that I love conspiracy stories, so I have used religion and some intriguing legends as the backdrop to this contemporary supernatural thriller that tells the story of a female protagonist trying to protect her young student. Neither of them realises how their lives, and indeed their histories, are intertwined in the most horrific and tragic ways.

My latest book, ‘The Man Inside Me’ is an MM Victorian Gothic Romance, and I think it is the favourite thing I have written so far. It deals with two men in their fifties trying to find love again, a subject that is very close to my heart as I approach that milestone. It is a very important book to me, and while it has some very ‘KERR’ twists and turns, it is, at its heart, a very romantic tale that deals with middle age. I am particularly proud of this book, and it is a very different spin on the MM genre.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I look forward to meeting you on social media.





REVIEW TOUR SCHEDULE






Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Excerpt & Giveaway: THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA by R.C. Matthews

The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Tour Graphic
THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA
R.C. Matthews
Genre: Gothic Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 2018
A grisly murder leaves a haunted estate without an heir, and a powerful medium scrambles to find answers from beyond the grave.
Determined to escape the nightmarish memories of her childhood, heiress and psychic Maribeth Sommerset pursues the adventurous life of a psychic investigator, beginning with a murder and the spirits who hover behind at the haunted Chateau Swansea
Meanwhile, devoted steward of the chateau Arthur Dunn plays a dangerous game of deception to shield his employer's good name, landing himself at the top of Maribeth's suspect list.
Amid scandalous secrets and destructive lies, will Maribeth uncover the secrets of Chateau Swansea before the killer strikes again?
Don't miss out on this thrilling Victorian gothic romance!
Purchase Links

Excerpt

“The newspaper article mentioned other witnesses,” she said as she strolled through the chamber. “Who spoke of eerie wails and creaking floors?” 

“Mrs. Hawkins, the housekeeper, as well as Mrs. Pickering, the cook.”

He folded his arms as she ran her lithe fingers across every available surface, occasionally closing her eyes and breathing deep. A sense of calm serenity surrounded her. Her steps were cautious, her focus absolute. He may as well have not existed for all the attention she afforded him. 

“Would you care to inspect the balcony?” he asked, unlocking the double glass-paned doors. 

She nodded and followed him outside. A lounging chair covered in a bold, floral pattern filled one corner. The short ledge around the perimeter, which barely reached Arthur’s shins, held several potted plants.  

Maribeth sat on the ledge, exactly in the spot where Mrs. Turner fell, and she peered over the edge to the pond below. After bracing her palms on the ledge, she met his gaze. “This is where she tumbled, is it not?” 

“Yes, indeed.” He dipped his head in acknowledgment. A lucky guess for a cunning lady. Let the show commence. “Is Mrs. Turner here with us?” 

Turning her face skyward, she breathed in and out with long, measured breaths, closing her eyes, no doubt for dramatic effect. At least the woman was not predisposed to talking to the dead out loud. He found such one-sided conversations laughable.

“I’m afraid not,” she finally said on a sigh. 

Why didn’t she leap at the opportunity to demonstrate her skills? This was the murder scene. If any connection was to be found, surely it was here. Confounding. He had no other word for the woman. Except inexperienced. She was green and had yet to hone her skills of deception. 

“What did Mr. Turner say when questioned?” she asked, pulling him from his musings.

“Nothing.” Arthur lowered himself on the foot of the chaise longue and stretched out his legs. “By the time his solicitor arrived to attend the interrogation, Mr. Turner’s mind had slipped into oblivion.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Do you think he knows what occurred?”

Arthur shrugged. “He resides across the hallway, and the incident occurred shortly before the scheduled Thursday tour. As such, Mr. Turner would’ve taken to his quarters to avoid the throng of visitors.” He focused his gaze on the doorway into Caroline’s chamber, away from Maribeth’s prying eyes. “I venture he must’ve heard something, at the very least.”

“Perhaps creaking floors or the wails of a malevolent ghost?” A hint of humor tinged her words. “Why do you suppose the rumors of the ghost of Madame Brown persist?”

The corners of Arthur’s lips curled up. “Well, for one, where is the sense in touring the séance chamber if it isn’t haunted by the infamous clairvoyant who resided here?”

“I see.” Maribeth folded her legs at the ankle, tapping her booted heels against the stone ledge. “So your employer is an opportunist?”

A gruff laugh escaped him. “By no means. The tours were his wife’s idea. She held a macabre fascination with the dead.” Among other things. “Even more so, I believe she enjoyed torturing Mr. Turner. He visited Chateau Swansea for a séance a few years before he met and married Caroline. When the former mistress died in childbirth, Mr. Turner acquired the estate and accepted guardianship of Madame Brown’s daughter. I believe Mr. Turner held an enduring love for the clairvoyant. Some say Arabella was jealous of Caroline living in her home and raising her daughter.”   

The tap, tap, tap of Maribeth’s boots against the ledge stopped, and she shook her head. “The Turners were married ages ago. Why would the ghost attack now?”

“Because Mrs. Turner held a ceremony with her sister in the séance chamber only a week before the incident. This is why Mrs. Marsh worries the ghost may have murdered her sister.”

Her mouth formed a little O and her brow lifted with interest. “That’s right. You mentioned this at the inn. A first attempt?”

Book Tour Schedule

Follow the book tour from October 1 - 14, 2018.
Visit each tour stop daily and discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more!
To check the latest tour schedule, visit the The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Book Page at Book Unleashed.

About R.C. Matthews

R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and three sons. During her free time you'll find her watching The Walking Dead, reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.

Giveaway!

WIN FREE EBOOK BY R.C. MATTHEWS
The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Giveaway Graphic
Winner's Prize:
Devil's Core by R.C. Matthews (eBook) - The first book in a related series in which we first meet the heroine of The Secrets of Chateau Swansea when she is a little girl.
Contest runs from October 1 - 14, 2018.

In partnership with
Book Unleashed Logo

Monday, October 1, 2018

New Release & Giveaway: THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA by R.C. Matthews

The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Tour Graphic
THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA
R.C. Matthews
Genre: Gothic Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 2018
A grisly murder leaves a haunted estate without an heir, and a powerful medium scrambles to find answers from beyond the grave.
Determined to escape the nightmarish memories of her childhood, heiress and psychic Maribeth Sommerset pursues the adventurous life of a psychic investigator, beginning with a murder and the spirits who hover behind at the haunted Chateau Swansea
Meanwhile, devoted steward of the chateau Arthur Dunn plays a dangerous game of deception to shield his employer's good name, landing himself at the top of Maribeth's suspect list.
Amid scandalous secrets and destructive lies, will Maribeth uncover the secrets of Chateau Swansea before the killer strikes again?
Don't miss out on this thrilling Victorian gothic romance!
Purchase Links

Book Tour Schedule

Follow the book tour from October 1 - 14, 2018.
Visit each tour stop daily and discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more!
To check the latest tour schedule, visit the The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Book Page at Book Unleashed.

About R.C. Matthews

R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and three sons. During her free time you'll find her watching The Walking Dead, reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.

Giveaway!

WIN FREE EBOOK BY R.C. MATTHEWS
The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Giveaway Graphic
Winner's Prize:
Devil's Core by R.C. Matthews (eBook) - The first book in a related series in which we first meet the heroine of The Secrets of Chateau Swansea when she is a little girl.
Contest runs from October 1 - 14, 2018.

In partnership with
Book Unleashed Logo

Monday, April 17, 2017

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: CRY WOLF by Greta Stone (An Underwood District Novel)



CRY WOLF
by Greta Stone



M/M Paranormal Gothic Romance
Date Published: March 1 2017
Publisher: Skeleton Key Publishing


Peter is a kitsune. It means that chaos follows him wherever he goes. Good intentions, bad intentions---it doesn’t matter. Even mimicking the howl of a friend he hasn’t seen in over a decade turns out to have disastrous consequences.

The wolf doesn’t have a name. For now, he goes by Luca. He has no past, and as a slave who’s only just managed to escape the clutches of a cruel master, if he can’t stay hidden in the shadows, he’ll have no future.

When he hears his own howl come from the mouth of another, he’s drawn to investigate, and ends up saddled with a mouthy fox who insists they used to be friends once upon a time.

Petty problems and a dubious reunion are pushed aside the longer they're stranded together.

The Underwood is a dangerous place. If they want to survive, they have to work together.


The alternative is death.


Buy Links



Excerpt

“What do you want to do to me?”
The question seemed to shock Luca somehow, the top of his sharp cheeks taking on the barest hint of cherry red. He seemed to give it some thought in the darkness of the dripping tunnel, “This time, when we do whatever we’re going to do, can you pretend…to love me.”
Peter halted. “What?”
“Don’t make it weird.”
Peter latched on to Luca’s arm and halted his purposeful march through the main chamber. “I’m not trying to make it weird. What did you say?”
“Pretend to love me this time. Despite being a sh*tty liar, you’re good at pretending. It shouldn’t be that hard for you to make me believe it.”
Peter squeezed his shoulder and turned him around so he could see his face, his stark features illuminated by the glowing blue pool of liquid. “You want to believe that I love you?”
“I want to know what it feels like…” His eyebrows knitted. “I keep thinking about Avaline. How much she must’ve loved him to turn her afterlife into this forest. A tree for every tear. I want to know what she was crying over.” Something about Peter’s expression triggered Luca’s defenses, and he spun around. “Forget it.”
“Stop,” Peter snapped with a vehemence that left his voice echoing in surrounding caverns.
Luca halted, but didn’t face him, head tilted to the side. “What?”
“Didn’t Lydia love you? Didn’t Chief love you?”
“I don’t think that’s the right kind of love.”
“What you asked for…” I don’t have to pretend. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”
 “Where are you going?”
“To get rope.”

Carra's Review

Some books I have to slow down my reading, as they take longer to digest and I have to concentrate more on the words—usually due to more detailed descriptions, unfamiliar world building and characters that are complicated and more unusual than I’m used to encountering.  For me, Cry Wolf is one of those books.  There’s a lot to be explained, and multiple fables that have their pieces woven into this tale, so I had to block out the everyday distractions so I could really delve into this story and understand everything going on.

The world building for New Gotham, particularly what goes on in the Underwood, is intricate and complex.  There’s a wide range of characters, pulling from ancient tales and fantasy—all with distinctly individual personalities and nuances.  I was particularly intrigued by Luca, and my heart went out to him with all he has gone through in his life—though he doesn’t remember a big chunk of it.  Peter’s character takes complexity to a new level with his fascinating abilities.  Though the two knew each other when they were younger, this is not a second chance romance; it is more of a second chance friendship, with the intimacy growing out of Peter and Luca’s relationship this time around as the two grow together training and learning.

The suspense and action are constantly present, and fair warning to those with weak stomachs—this story does get a bit bloody and gory at times.  But it is just a part of the character’s natures to be this way, and the more you learn about them and the world they live in, the easier it is to accept the rawness of their internal makeup.  The ongoing drama makes for some exciting scenes, plenty to keep your heart pounding as you read.


There’s so much more that can come from this story and in this world, and as far as Peter and Luca go, their tale feels like it’s not finished yet—there’s plenty that you’ll find left open-ended once you’re done reading.  My curiosity has been aroused for this series, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes this world and these characters.  4 solid stars for Cry Wolf, and I would recommend this story to M/M Gothic paranormal romance/urban fantasy fans.  This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, M/M sexual content, and several stomach-roiling descriptions.


About the Author

Greta Stone writes paranormal gothic romance.  She likes to say her characters develop in darkness, but real people are a mixture of good deeds, bad habits, and dark secrets. More than anything, she strives to write compelling characters with layered struggles and the strength to overcome them. A diverse cast, dark humor, and passionate romance are the only constant elements in any of her stories, and she's always on the lookout for interesting mythology and folklore to explore.

When Greta isn’t writing, she enjoys thrift shopping, drinking expensive, foo-foo tea, and playing chess with her friends. Greta loves to hear from readers! (Hi, Mom.) So if there's something on your mind, feel free to leave a message after the scream. (Mom, you can just call me. Seriously.) 



Giveaway!

How to Win a Free e-Book Copy of Cry Wolf
The first 5 people to comment on one of Greta Stone’s tour post will automatically win a free e-book copy of Cry Wolf. Available formats include: mobi, pdf, epub, and prc. Interested parties should email newgotham1@gmail.com with their e-book format preference for their prizes. Greta will keep tally and submit prizes at the end of each tour day.

Take a trip to New Gotham!
A paid vacation to New Gotham is an expensive affair. I found a witch who specializes in crafting gatestones. These magical pendants are used for traveling between dimensions. The bauble offered as a contest prize should take the winner to Avaline’s Trees. Keep in mind, gatestones are touchy things. It might not do anything at all. Or you might up in oblivion. Good luck with that. We’ll read about it in the papers, no doubt. 

Elderstone Keys – What’s the big deal?
There is a house in New Gotham that is rumored to be haunted. No one has lived in it since the Great Depression, and no one can recall what its last occupants looked like, what they did for a living or where they went. Only one is fated to enter and learn its secrets. Anytime I host a contest, I give away keys to Elderstone. The person who collects ten of them is fated to own the house. Among their keys, they’ll have the mystical key that opens the door. (More information)