The Call of Home series – a little introduction, cover reveal and giveaway

The Call of Home series is set on the north east coast of Scotland, one of my favourite place. I’ve stayed there on holiday many times. The series begins with Choosing Home, out on general release 12^th July – there will be a book blast. It is up for preorder 31^st May from Pride Publishing. The MCs in this story are Zac McKenzie, a former international football player, who retired early to keep his sexuality a secret, not to mention his affair with another, even more famous player, and Seth Pritchard, a man seeking a hideaway from his past.
 

 

Six years after retiring, Zac owns a successful hotel. Seth, on the run from, his past rents a cottage in the grounds. Seth needs time and space to put himself together again, both physically and mentally. Having been seriously injured in a car crash that paralysed his girlfriend, and unable to stand living in the same city as his abusive and bullying step family, he decides to run rather than face his demons. However, meeting Zac changes everything. Zac is determined to find out the quiet Welshman’s secrets, and in doing so decides that perhaps it is time to air his own. The story also includes an interfering daughter, a grumpy brother, an older couple who seem to have everything worked out, and a ginger cat called Ron.

Now, on to the cover reveal for Returning Home.

In this story, we meet two new MCs who get a little mention in the first book. Other characters from Choosing Home do appear again. On the cover is Brice Drummond. I have to admit punching the air when I found this model. Brice has been living in a small village, a couple of miles away from the coast, for the last two years. He makes beautiful things – pottery, tiles, paintings, but remains mysterious. His only interaction is with the café owner down the road and the locals who buy his pottery until, one winter night his huge Norwegian Forest cat, brings home a tall, dark, handsome man. Darach McNaughton has returned to his home after twelve years working for the Glasgow police force. When he first meets Brice with his blond hair, shaved at the sides and tattoos, he wonders why the man is living in the arse end of nowhere, and even more how he ended up in a wheelchair. Curiosity peaked, he determines to find out what his can. Those investigations bring the two men together, but as Darach slowly unravels Brice’s past, he puts them all in danger. Can these two very different men find happiness, or will Brice’s shocking past come back to claim him? This story also contains a demonstration of pottery skills, a family glad to have the prodigal return, and a best friend owed an apology – oh, and of course, a spectacular cat called Princess.  

Both stories have plenty of angst and backstories which some readers may find distressing. I can, however, guarantee hard won, happy endings for all the main characters.

The third in the series will be Staying Home, but for now, the MCs will remain undisclosed – spoilers!

 

Both covers are by the wonderful Emmy Ellis. To celebrate this cover reveal, I’m going to offer a signed copy of either Sporting Chance or Comfort Zone for now and a signed copy of Choosing Home when it is published. Please comment on the blog post to enter.

 

 

 

Rainbow Snippet 7th/8th May

 

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook Group that invites authors to post six sentences of their work each weekend. It can be from anything you like, your current WIP, a recent release, the golden oldie that even you had forgotten you had written, or just a scrap of an idea (as long as it has six coherent sentences). Nothing of your own work worth mentioning? How about a six sentence review of your favourite LGBTQ+ story.

 This week’s snippet comes from A Bell Rings again. You can now get it on early download from Pride Publishing or pre-order from Amazon and it is out on general release from this Tuesday, 10^th May. More buying links below. This is the sequel to Not Every Time. Jack wakes up and has no memory of his partner Raziel, but when he finds a new person to share his flat, there is something familiar and unsettling about the man. And, I don’t know about anyone else but having cats in the bathroom is a familiar experience for me.

 

Familiar meowing penetrated the sound of water. Jack pulled back the curtain to find Fred and George sat waiting for him to finish.

“For goodness sake, you two. Can’t I have any privacy?” He drew back the curtain, washed himself, pushing down his half-hard cock. A few minutes later, he stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, wrapped it around himself then padded to his bedroom. He needed to eat, to watch something, to take his mind off those blue eyes.

 

Story Blurb

Raziel Slade and Jack Hastings have been best friends since Raz saved Jack’s life twelve years ago. Only Jack doesn’t remember Raz at all, and he certainly doesn’t remember falling in love with him. Jack has explicit dreams begin of a blue-eyed male stranger. Needing a new flatmate after his best friend moves out, Jack is introduced to Raziel Slade who has extraordinary blue eyes, and Jack has no idea how to cope with his attraction to the man.

Raziel Slade has a secret—he used to be an angel. He fell in love with Jack Hastings many years ago, and happily became human, but the angels aren’t prepared to let him go. All Raz wants to do is return to his lover any way he can, but there are rules.

When a film brings back Jack’s memories, the question is will he feel the same, especially when he finds out what Raz gave up for him? And are the angels finally ready to let Raziel, the Keeper of Secrets, go? 

Buying Links

Publisher

Amazon UK

Amazon US

B&N

Kobo

Rainbow Snippet 30th April/1st May

 

 

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook Group that invites authors to post six sentences of their work each weekend. It can be from anything you like, your current WIP, a recent release, the golden oldie that even you had forgotten you had written, or just a scrap of an idea (as long as it has six coherent sentences). Nothing of your own work worth mentioning? How about a six sentence review of your favourite LGBTQ+ story.

 This week’s snippet comes from A Bell Rings again. You can now get it on early download from Pride Publishing or pre-order from Amazon and it is out on general release from 10^th May. This is the sequel to Not Every Time. Jack wakes up and has no memory of his partner Raziel, but when he finds a new person to share his flat, there is something familiar and unsettling about the man. This scene follows last week’s snippet.

 

Half a dozen times that night, he nearly told Kay what had happened. But every time he opened his mouth, nothing came out. He had no idea what to say. ‘Oh, by the way, I snogged Raz last night, and this morning, I stared at his cock and imagined myself down on my knees. Oh, and yes, I’ve been dreaming about having sex with a man with blue eyes, and now I’m ninety-nine percent certain it’s Raz.’ Kay wouldn’t think he’d lost his marbles, would she? That sounded sane now, didn’t it?

 

 Story Blurb

 

Raziel Slade and Jack Hastings have been best friends since Raz saved Jack’s life twelve years ago. Only Jack doesn’t remember Raz at all, and he certainly doesn’t remember falling in love with him. Jack has explicit dreams begin of a blue-eyed male stranger. Needing a new flatmate after his best friend moves out, Jack is introduced to Raziel Slade who has extraordinary blue eyes, and Jack has no idea how to cope with his attraction to the man.

Raziel Slade has a secret—he used to be an angel. He fell in love with Jack Hastings many years ago, and happily became human, but the angels aren’t prepared to let him go. All Raz wants to do is return to his lover any way he can, but there are rules.

When a film brings back Jack’s memories, the question is will he feel the same, especially when he finds out what Raz gave up for him? And are the angels finally ready to let Raziel, the Keeper of Secrets, go? 

Publisher's Note: This book is a sequel to Not Every Time.

 

 

 

Rainbow Snippet 23rd/24th April

 

 

 

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook Group that invites authors to post six sentences of their work each weekend. It can be from anything you like, your current WIP, a recent release, the golden oldie that even you had forgotten you had written, or just a scrap of an idea (as long as it has six coherent sentences). Nothing of your own work worth mentioning? How about a six sentence review of your favourite LGBTQ+ story.

 

This week’s snippet comes from A Bell Rings again. You can now get it on early download from Pride Publishing or pre-order from Amazon. This is the sequel to Not Every Time. Jack wakes up and has no memory of his partner Raziel, but when he finds a new person to share his flat, there is something familiar and unsettling about the man.

 

 

Raz’s blue eyes shone like the waters around the Cornish coast on a sunny day. Jack swayed, feeling light-headed, as if he were going to topple into the clear blue water and lose himself. The warmth of Raz’s hand on his arm pulled him back.

“Jack, are you all right?”

Jack nodded. “Just dizzy. I need caffeine and sugar.” Eyes wide, he stared ahead, not able to do anything else. His hand itched to reach out and touch a droplet of water which had fallen from Raz’s head and was making its way down his chest.

 

 

 

Rainbow Snippets - 16/17th April

 

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook Group that invites authors to post six sentences of their work each weekend. It can be from anything you like, your current WIP, a recent release, the golden oldie that even you had forgotten you had written, or just a scrap of an idea (as long as it has six coherent sentences). Nothing of your own work worth mentioning? How about a six sentence review of your favourite LGBTQ+ story.

 

 

Thanks for all the lovely comments last week. Here is another snippet from Choosing Home out in July. Abby is Zac’s teenage daughter.

 

“I couldn’t help noticing he kept sneaking glances at you. D’you think he might be gay?”

Zac leaned against the counter, hoping to achieve a nonchalant pose. “I don’t know, Abby, and I don’t think you should speculate. Anyway, even if he was, just because two gay men exist within a mile of each other doesn’t mean they have to fancy each other. Soap operas are not real life, you know.”

“I know, but he seemed lonely, and you must be lonely as well, Dad. Mum’s getting married, and I want you to be happy. You buried yourself away up here and finished with Uncle Jed, or he finished with you. I thought you might have talked to Seth last night when you went over to the cottage with him, you know, to find out. Maybe I should do a bit of digging.”

 

Choosing Home Blurb

You can never escape from yourself.

Zac McKenzie is an ex-professional footballer with a secret he gave up his career to protect. Several years ago, he fled to his home in the North East of Scotland to avoid being outed as gay. Now, he owns a successful hotel and restaurant, but is it time to finally come out into the open?

 Seth Pritchard feels he’s damaged goods. He comes to Scotland to escape memories of the accident that left him injured, his bullying stepbrothers and a life of lies.

 For their whole lives, Zac and Seth have denied who they truly are to themselves as well as others. When they meet, each man is forced to confront his fears and tear them down one by one.

 

 

In the meantime, A Bell Rings is available for preorder on Amazon and Pride Publishing. This is the sequel to my Christmas story, Not Every Time, and features Jack and Raz. It is nine months later and Jack has no memory of Raziel. Link via the cover on main page.

 

 

 

 

Cover reveal and Rainbow Snippet 9/10th April

 

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook Group that invites authors to post six sentences of their work each weekend. It can be from anything you like, your current WIP, a recent release, the golden oldie that even you had forgotten you had written, or just a scrap of an idea (as long as it has six coherent sentences). Nothing of your own work worth mentioning? How about a six sentence review of your favourite LGBTQ+ story.

 

I thought I’d do something extra today so as well as the snippet, so I’m going to reveal the cover of Choosing Home along with the snippet. This is the first book in The Call of Home series set in Scotland, and out for general release in July. This scene comes after the conversation and kiss. Zac has left and Seth is talking to Ron, a local cat, who has weaseled his way into the house. Zac is shown on the cover.

 

“Is it easier when you’ve had your bits removed, Ron? I came up here to get away from everything and… What the hell am I going to do about him? Don’t stare at me like that, you know who I mean—Mister Tall, Dark and Handsome who kissed me. Yes, all right, I know I didn’t exactly fight him off, but he caught me by surprise and…”

Ron raised his head and mewed again.

“Sorry, am I disturbing your beauty sleep? You’ll have to get used to it. I’m Welsh—we talk a lot.” Except I don’t. I never talk to anyone.



Choosing Home Blurb

You can never escape from yourself.

Zac McKenzie is an ex-professional footballer with a secret he gave up his career to protect. Several years ago, he fled to his home in the North East of Scotland to avoid being outed as gay. Now, he owns a successful hotel and restaurant, but is it time to finally come out into the open?

 Seth Pritchard feels he’s damaged goods. He comes to Scotland to escape memories of the accident that left him injured, his bullying stepbrothers and a life of lies.

 For their whole lives, Zac and Seth have denied who they truly are to themselves as well as others. When they meet, each man is forced to confront his fears and tear them down one by one.

 

 

In the meantime, A Bell Rings is available for preorder on Amazon and Pride Publishing. This is the sequel to my Christmas story, Not Every Time and features Jack and Raz. It is nine months later and Jack has no memory of Raziel. Link via the cover on main page.

 

Rainbow Snippet 2nd/3rd April

 

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook Group that invites authors to post six sentences of their work each weekend. It can be from anything you like, your current WIP, a recent release, the golden oldie that even you had forgotten you had written, or just a scrap of an idea (as long as it has six coherent sentences). Nothing of your own work worth mentioning? How about a six sentence review of your favourite LGBTQ+ story.

 

Here’s my little snippet for today. This one comes from the first book in my first series of books. The series is called The Call of Home and is set in North East Scotland. The first book is Choosing Home. The main characters are Zac McKenzie, a hotel owner and Seth Pritchard – a man who has come to hide but finds the one person you can’t hide from is yourself. This is the theme of the series.

 

“You kissed me.”

“I did,” Zac replied.

“You’re gay.”

“Yes, I am.”

“But you played football,” Seth replied, scrambling for something to say.

“I think you’ll find the two aren’t mutually exclusive, no matter what people might claim.”

 

 

Choosing Home will be out on general release in July with Pride Publishing. I haven’t revealed the cover yet. Maybe I’ll do it on here in the future.