Blog Tour & Excerpt:
Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology, Volume 4
A Paranormal Collection Supporting LGBT Charity
This collection will be available for only 90 days before it’s gone forever.Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered...
Why should Heart2Heart - the phenomenally successful dating app - only work its magic in the human world when lonely lycans, dejected dragons, and jilted jackalopes need love, too?
In this new paranormal universe, mages and shifters, vampires, psychics, and even humans, will reach out to Heart2Heart podcast host Gene E. Del’Amp for help finding a magical match… and they just might find that talking about their woes helps their wishes come true.
Eighteen of your favorite gay romance authors have come together to bring you brand-new paranormal and urban fantasy stories inspired by reader suggestions!
Once again, all proceeds from this collection will go to the authors’ favorite LGBTQ charities, to ensure that love in all its forms will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!
H2H is a passion project that began as nothing more than a “what if” said among friends. Since then, across three volumes and with the involvement of twenty-six incredible authors of gay romance, the Heart2Heart anthologies have raised over $80k for LGBTQ charities around the world.
Because Heart2Heart is a charity project, all of the work involved in creating and promoting each volume is donated. From the author's creative work, to the editing and formatting, to cover design and promotion, all donation efforts by the Heart2Heart team contribute to the project's ability to donate as much as possible to the chosen charities for each volume.
Heart2Heart is a unique anthology project in the way each story is brand new content that’s inspired by reader suggestions and fits within an overall theme. H2H volume 4 is no exception. In December 2019 we received more than 350 suggestions from readers that our authors then used to inspire their characters and the wishes that would come true thanks to the Heart2Heart podcast.
To shake things up with this new collection, the decision was made to bring together some of the best and brightest authors of paranormal and urban fantasy gay romance for an alternate reality experience. Working within the classic elements of shifters, vampires, mages, and more, we’re excited to present sixteen brand new stories with all of the humor, feels, and spice you would expect from Heart2Heart.
Because Heart2Heart is a charity project, all of the work involved in creating and promoting each volume is donated. From the author's creative work, to the editing and formatting, to cover design and promotion, all donation efforts by the Heart2Heart team contribute to the project's ability to donate as much as possible to the chosen charities for each volume.
Heart2Heart is a unique anthology project in the way each story is brand new content that’s inspired by reader suggestions and fits within an overall theme. H2H volume 4 is no exception. In December 2019 we received more than 350 suggestions from readers that our authors then used to inspire their characters and the wishes that would come true thanks to the Heart2Heart podcast.
To shake things up with this new collection, the decision was made to bring together some of the best and brightest authors of paranormal and urban fantasy gay romance for an alternate reality experience. Working within the classic elements of shifters, vampires, mages, and more, we’re excited to present sixteen brand new stories with all of the humor, feels, and spice you would expect from Heart2Heart.
A Special Excerpt from Hailey Turner's Heart2Heart Story "A Caller From San Francisco":
A brief description of your story: As a selkie, Ethan knows to keep his seal skin safe and never give it away. With his clan on the other side of the country, he’s lonely and wishes constantly for someone to come home to. Everything changes when a fire ravages through his home, and he has to put his trust in a complete stranger.
~~~
Excerpt:
Life would be easier if he’d chosen an apartment in Berkeley, but the San Francisco Bay was a heavily trafficked body of water, and Ethan hadn’t wanted to deal with all the boats. Plus, many of the shoreline parks closed overnight, and Ethan preferred swimming at night where no one could see him change form. Living in San Francisco meant easier access to the beach, even if he didn’t go as often as he’d like.
Ethan was willing to make the sacrifice for the good of his clan, but sometimes it was isolating, even with what friends he’d managed to make in the Bay Area. Sighing, he unzipped his jacket a little while he waited on the underground platform. It was warmer in the station than up on the street, and he was feeling a bit overheated suddenly.
March was cool in parts of the Bay Area, but it got chilly during the night. Usually, Ethan could regulate his body temperature better than his human friends simply because he was a selkie. Tonight though, he stayed a little too warm even when he finally got on the first train. He thought it was a car where the heating was broken and perpetually on, but even when he switched cars, Ethan still found himself sweating.
He tried to ignore how uncomfortable he was on the trek home. He turned up the music a little and zoned out, trying not to fidget so much. He was definitely going to change forms and sleep in the tub tonight. Soaking in water would make him feel a lot better.
Then he made it home and realized nothing would be right again.
The flashing lights of multiple firetrucks up ahead on Sutter Street caught Ethan’s attention. The bus braked to a stop on the wrong side of the intersection since two police cars were blocking the way forward. Ethan turned off his music as the bus driver opened the doors.
“If you’re getting off, you need to get off here,” she said.
Ethan scrambled off the bus, heart pounding in his chest as he rushed across the street, barely cognizant of the lights changing. A police barricade had been set across the sidewalk, and Ethan’s sneakers skidded over wet cement. Smoke hung heavy on the air, stinging his nose as he finally caught sight of the devastation that used to be his apartment building—and where he’d left his seal skin, as he always did when venturing out into the world.
Ethan didn’t know he was crying until he tasted tears on his lips.
~~~
What are your thoughts on being part of Heart2Heart volume 4?
I’ve loved being part of this volume! Getting to play with magic this time around was so much fun, and the company of my fellow authors was stellar as always. I was happy and honored to be invited back. Heart2Heart is such a fun community effort, and I had a blast.
Where can readers find you online:
You can follow me on other social media platforms, join my Facebook readers group, and sign up for my newsletter right over here: linktr.ee/haileyturnerwrites
More information on the Charities chosen for Volume 4:
As with previous editions of the anthology, we’re honored to be donating our net profits to three deserving charities.
🌈 - Camp fYrefly (multiple locations, summer camp)
“Camp fYrefly is a summer camp and leadership retreat designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, and questioning youth, (LGBTQ2S+) and planned in part by a committee of the same youth it seeks to serve. Founded in 2004 by Dr. André P. Grace and Dr. Kristopher Wells, Camp fYrefly is designed to help youth develop the leadership skills and personal resiliency necessary for them to become agents for positive change in their schools, families, and communities.”
https://www.ualberta.ca/camp-fyrefly
🌈 - Project 10 (youth services and advocacy, Quebec)
“Project 10 works to promote the personal, social, sexual and mental well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersexed and questioning youth and adults 14-25.
Through advocacy and education, using a harm reduction approach, Project 10 aims to facilitate the empowerment of youth at individual, community, and institutional levels with a particular emphasis on supporting individuals and groups who experience multiple and intersecting oppressions.
Services are free of charge, confidential and anonymous, and are offered in English and French.”
http://p10.qc.ca/
🌈 - QMUNITY (local services, BC)
“A non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. We provide a safer space for LGBTQ/2S people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included. Our building serves as a catalyst for community initiatives and collective strength.”
https://qmunity.ca/about/
These are all great Charities and we need to take care of our youth and the next generation. Love is Love. Be safe and kind. No one should have to suffer for who they are or who they love!!
Authors and their stories:
Jeff Adams & Will Knauss - A Caller from Grand Rapids (intro/outro story)Charlie Cochet - A Caller from Windermere
Hailey Turner - A Caller from San Francisco
J.D. Light - A Caller from Springfield
Jenn Burke - A Caller from Ottawa
Kiki Burrelli - A Caller from Portland
Lisa Oliver - A Caller from New Orleans
Macy Blake - A Caller from Knoxville
Maz Maddox - A Caller from New York
Morgan Brice - A Caller from Pittsburgh
Pandora Pine - A Caller from Boston
Piper Scott - A Caller from Chicago
Sam Burns & W.M. Fawkes - A Caller from Seattle
Silvia Violet - A Caller from Savannah
SJ Himes - A Caller from Montreal
Susi Hawke - A Caller from Austin
Carra's Review
Grand Rapids Part 1
This first tale sets up the impetus behind the stories, plus lets us see the spark of Marc and Noah’s own connection…I can’t wait to see where their relationship goes, and I’m reserving my rating for them until part 2 of their story at the end.
Windermere
Salem is a mage with a frankly ridiculous power where he can only conjure lasagna. Laughable? Definitely. What’s not amusing is his feeling of worthlessness compared to the rest of his talented mage family. Izzie is a dog shifter and is Salem’s brother’s best friend, plus Salem’s bodyguard. I loved the multiple tropes, and let’s not forget both Salem and Izzie have wanted each other from the moment they met...but of course neither have said anything.
LOVED this one—my attention was riveted to the pages, even with the absurdity of Salem’s power...or is it? While that mechanism for the drama of his family’s party is admittedly “out there”, the events still had my rapt attention. 5 stars!
San Francisco
Awww...just...awww. Oh my goodness, Ethan is so sweet. I felt so bad for him, but was beyond relieved at Jacob’s honest behavior. Jacob is truly one of the good ones, the epitome of what a true partner should be. While they did move quickly in their relationship, I can’t find it in me to object at all, that’s how much I loved these two together. 4.5 stars!
Springfield
Aside from a strange predilection Jonas has initiating close physical contact with Raphael when they aren’t even a couple at the start of the story, everything else about this matchup hit the right buttons for me. It was easy for me to identify with Jonas from a body image standpoint, so that helped me insert myself more into the story. 4 stars!
Ottawa
Poor Ro seems like a misfit wherever he goes, so he’s continually searching for somewhere to belong. He’s actually a great guy, kind and giving...but until he finds that place where he fits just right, everyone around him is uncomfortable. Then he comes to Miller’s home. There Ro finds a mix-and-match group of roommates, and once he and Miller become comfortable around each other, Ro is able to find out exactly what his own issue is. He and Miller also find they fit together quite well ;-). 4 stars!
Portland
While it’s a silly mission on which Lobo’s been sent to find a pony for the pack leader’s daughter for her birthday, it does set the stage for an unexpected encounter with another pack member who is very close to the pack leader. Not that Lobo knows that...and Lloyd isn’t in any hurry to tell him who he is either. Their misadventures are cute, their naughtiness definitely hot, and in the end it all works out—even if at one point you might be concerned for Lobo’s well-being once back in front of the pack leader. 4 stars!
New Orleans
Everything about a hedgehog shifter makes me go “Awwww...”, and Bailey fits the bill perfectly. His fated mate, Sin, has a reputation of one-and-done, at least until he meets Bailey and Sin’s wolf recognizes his mate. With a murder in the middle of everything and Bailey being in no small amount of danger, this story does get a touch of excitement and suspense. And when things reach their climax and Bailey shifts...just awwww. 4 stars!
Knoxville
Oliver is an ultimate bookworm nerd, relying on what he finds in books to the nth degree (yes, many readers will easily identify with him, though he’s truly on a different level). That definitely could never prepare him for what Roan is, or what happens once they come together. My fellow bookworms are going to love the exchange between Oliver and Roan when Oliver sees Roan’s personal library. And you’ll love the two of them together as well...4.5 stars!
New York
I’ve never read any story of any kind with a jackalope in it. Well, until now. Lars is very matter-of-fact about what he does in “waste management”, and he gets just as lonely as the next guy. Arlo and his hedgehog (a real one and not a shifter) are pretty cute, and I love the photo shoots that Arlo does with him. Arlo and Lars definitely make an odd couple, but this is a fun start to a relationship. 3.5 stars!
Pittsburgh
Okay, Madden is just adorable as a squirrel. He’s so eager and hopeful—and he’s exactly the same when he’s human. Elias might be freaked out with the squirrel, but the same cannot be said of the man. I really liked how the author used fandom and fan fiction as a way to bring Elias and Madden together. This was an all around fun story, and a great way to start a budding romance. 4.5 stars!
Boston
Zion and Porter are far, far, far beyond insta-lovey, and their story is incredibly sappy. But it does fill that tiny need I get once in a very long while for a love at first sight story. Okay, in this case “second” sight...you’ll see what I mean. Since I can only take just so much of stories of this type (which is totally a “me” thing), this one gets 3 stars.
Chicago
Okay, Dylan and Jackson is your totally odd story of the bunch. Dylan as an Innocent, that totally fits him (he’s sweet and adorable). Jackson as what basically equates to a demon in our dimension...yeah, that fits too. They’re very much opposites, and Jackson being assigned to protect Dylan sets up our two guys perfectly. As for how they get out of an attack on Dylan? A bit crazy, yes. 3.5 stars for this one.
Seattle
Classic setup—Michael, vampire; Timothy, dying human. Add Timothy’s wish that winds up bringing them together. Given the setup, I know everyone can guess the outcome, but even so this one was still perfectly satisfying. 4.5 stars!
Savannah
See, now I want cake. Besides crafting an excellent story with a whimsical romance that was also filled with heat, the author also described the baked goods in such a way that makes me want cake LOL. But seriously, Kai and Nate are wonderful together and yes, their relationship is definitely a bit magical. 5 stars!
Montreal
I’m going to sum this one up pretty easily—I NEED MORE! More Tarquin, more Alaric, just MORE. So much hurt/comfort with protective vibes going on, and everything about these two together just screams perfect match. The writing makes it easy to feel the connection between the two men without any hint of it being insta-love. It’s more a fated feel, and I absolutely loved it…my favorite story of the anthology. 5 stars!
Austin
This one is for all the people who had a parent (or other person in their life) who was way too open for your liking when it came to talking about sex. I think poor Darcy is just resigned to the fact that he’s never going to escape that with his mother. Thankfully for him he has Storm to distract him now. An interesting take on the existence of supernatural creatures coming to light in the public eye, the fallout of that, and the situation that brought Storm and his sister to Darcy’s doorstep. While that situation may not be fully resolved, this story does still provide a good start to a relationship between Storm and Darcy. 4 stars!
Grand Rapids Part 2
And now we get to see that Noah and Marc do get to be more than just co-workers, and find out just what is and isn’t behind the magic of the show. A nice, sweet way to wrap up the anthology, and 4 stars
Overall
Every story in this anthology has something to offer pretty much every reader out there, and I love that this edition was all paranormal since it’s my favorite. The organizers have another hit on their hands, and for an overall rating I’d give this 4.5 stars. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, and most stories have sexual content as well.
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