Guest Post & Giveaway: Boys in the Band Blog Tour

Here at Pants Off Reviews we're pleased to be the latest stop on the Boys in the Band blog tour, with authors L.A. Witt, Rowan Speedwell, Cecilia Tan, and Paula Coots! Each of these writers has brought a rock star to life in a recent romance release, so they got together to talk about music, musicians, love, and good old "sex, drugs, and rock and roll."

Today they answer the question: What music did you listen to while writing your book (if any), and is that the music you'd like readers to listen to while reading it? What song or songs would go on the "soundtrack album" for your book?

L.A. Witt: I listen to pretty much the same music with each book, which is mostly a mix of 30 Seconds to Mars (obviously), horrible pop music, country music (everything from Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins to Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert), dance music, trance, classical, rap... Seriously, I have such a bizarre mix of music, it's not even funny. I do distinctly remember writing a lot of WITH THE BAND while under the influence of a Garth Brooks binge, which is ridiculous since the book is about a hard rock band. While working on the book with Cat Grant, I listen to a lot of... brace yourselves for a shock... I know, this is going to be a HUGE SURPRISE... 30 Seconds to Mars.

Rowan Speedwell: I don’t listen to music when I write: I need absolute focus, so the most noise I can deal with is a fan going for white noise (and to keep me breathing). I can’t write anywhere but in my office. I’ve never been one who could multi-focus. But when I wasn’t writing, the following were what I was listening to, to get my brain in the mood: Paul Simon: Graceland. It is the perfect album, where I love every single song on it. There are songs on there that are so primal and true, and songs that are so complex and true, and songs that are so funny and true. I just love it completely. U2: Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum. Bono’s voice is what I imagine Adam sounds like, rough and sweet at the same time, unless he (Adam) is singing show tunes. Then his voice is just pure and perfect. Speaking of show tunes: The movie cast soundtrack album of Cabaret, of course.

Cecilia Tan: I needed to be in a "guitar" mood for Daron. But while I wanted to listen to a lot of guitar, while I'm actually writing I can't listen to words: it makes interference in my head. So I was looking for albums that really rocked but that didn't have a lot of lyrics. I love Apocalyptica's INQUISITION SYMPHONY. Four guys, four cellos, covering Metallica. These days it is hot for violinists, string quartets, etc... to cover rock and pop music but Apocalyptica really started it all. A great rocking guitar album is TRANSMUTATION by Praxis. (Bootsy Collins, Buckethead, Bill Laswell, and Bernie Worrell!) As for what the reader should hear? I titled every chapter with a song title from the 1980s, so that probably started some earworms for people, but I wanted to leave it a little open to interpretation what exactly Daron's band sounds like. I pictured them as something a little like Jane's Addiction, with touches of The Church and INXS.

Paula Coots: I rarely listen to music while I write, but I liked the soundtrack for The Social Network by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Because one of the main characters in ANOTHER ROCK STAR, Shane, loves The Cure, I listened to them quite a lot. Actually, most of the music referenced in the book got listened to at one time or another during the three years it took me to write it, and the list is extensive. A particular Bowie bootleg, called The Last Hero, probably got the most "spins." For the soundtrack? Here's a partial list: Bowie- Heroes, The Voyeur of Utter Destruction as Beauty, Rebel Rebel, Time, Wild is the Wind. The Cure- Underneath the Stars, Love Song, Just like Heaven, The Kiss. Porcupine Tree- Blackest Eyes, Trains. Queen-The Show Must Go On, Who Wants to Live Forever. NIN-Hurt, Closer to God. Adam Lambert- Broken Open, Running, Chokehold, Broken English, Nirvana. "The Gift" by Annie Lennox.

Read their rock-themed romances:

WITH THE BAND by L.A. Witt
Hard rock band Schadenfreude is finally on the verge of the success that’s eluded them for the last several years. With Aaron McClure as their new lead singer, nothing’s going to stop them…except maybe a steamy, secret relationship between Aaron and bassist Bastian Koehler. Aaron knows all too well what can happen when band members get involved with each other. After all, his last band was a casualty of his last relationship, and Schadenfreude forbids band members from dating for that very reason. But Bastian is too hot to resist, and besides, it’s just sex, so what’s the harm? Their passion in the bedroom is rivaled only by their ambition as musicians, though, and pretty soon, it's going to tear them, and Schadenfreude apart, if they can't get back to playing with the band.
Amazon

ANOTHER ROCK STAR by Paula Coots
Music is the driving force in Reed Lang's life and he's hit the jackpot when it comes to signing a major label deal and scoring a hit single or two. It's never an easy task and certainly not for an out and proud gay man, even in this day and age. Now, it's time to hire the backing band, shoot the videos, do all the promotion work and get out on the road. But what happens onstage is only half the show. When the wild energy onstage can't be contained some become more than just hired hands. Friends. Mentors. Tormenters. Lovers. Surviving the circus of the music business, the rigors of the road, staying true to your art and discovering your heart show Reed that maybe there is more to life than being just another rock star.

Amazon

DARON'S GUITAR CHRONICLES by Cecilia Tan
It's the 1980s, the era of MTV, AIDS, and Just Say No. Daron Marks is trying to make it as a guitar player in an industry where the whole world is the closet. Keeping his sexuality a secret would be a lot easier if he hadn't developed a huge crush on his band's lead singer, Ziggy Ferias. In fact, everything would be a lot easier without his crush on Ziggy... except for fame itself. In the latest volume of Daron's Guitar Chronicles (volume 5), Moondog 3 are on the road. Is the tour bus the pressure cooker that will meld them together or will the pressure blow them apart? Vol. 5 on Amazon

(Vol. 1 free on Kindle right now: http://amzn.com/B004EHZUA0)

ILLUMINATION by Rowan Speedwell
Adam Craig is burned out. Lead singer of the hard rock band Black Varen, he’s tired of the empty life of groupies, paparazzi, and hotel rooms. Worse, a life in the closet. Miles Caldwell is a brilliant artist, tied by agoraphobia and social anxiety to his family’s lodge. Alone but for his parrot, he spends his days illuminating manuscripts and hiding from the complexities of life. Somehow, the man who’s never home and the man who never leaves it must find the strength to fight for a future together. Publisher website:

http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/illumination 

Amazon buy link:  http://amzn.com/B00FIO47PW

About the Authors:

Paula Coots: After seeing David Bowie and his lead guitarist, Mick Ronson, when she was eleven, Paula knew what she wanted to do with her life. Her plan was to play lead guitar in a band and hopefully make it big, and then after that focus on writing. Well, she didn't "make it big" as a rock star, but she has had her share of traveling band adventures as a lead guitarist over the past twenty five years. And now she writes! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulaCootsBooks Twitter: @PaulaRCoots

Rowan Speedwell lives in a tarpaper shack in the North Woods, without so much as cable TV to keep her warm. She is allergic to publicity and loathes marketing, so her books only sell one or two copies. If you have one, she thanks you, as your purchase enables her to buy cat food for her diabetic feline companion, Kimball O’Hara. Webite: www.rowanspeedwell.com Twitter: @RowanSpeedwell

Cecilia Tan mostly writes erotica and science fiction/fantasy, but she started writing Daron's Guitar Chronicles back in the eighties and is still writing it today. She is the author of Slow Surrender, The Prince's Boy, the Magic University books, and many other novels and stories. She was inducted into the Saints & Sinners GLBT Writers Hall of Fame in 2010 and is currently a nominee for the RT Magazine Career Achievement Award in erotic fiction. She lives in the fantasy utopia of Cambridge, Massachusetts with her three cats and her partner of 23 years. Daron serial website: http://daron.ceciliatan.com Blog: http://blog.ceciliatan.com Twitter: @ceciliatan Facebook: thececiliatan

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer currently living in the glamorous and ultra-futuristic metropolis of Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a disembodied penguin brain that communicates with her telepathically. In addition to writing smut and disturbing the locals, L.A. is said to be working with the US government to perfect a genetic modification that will allow humans to survive indefinitely on Corn Pops and beef jerky. This is all a cover, though, as her primary leisure activity is hunting down her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who is also said to be lurking somewhere in Omaha. Website: http://www.loriawitt.com Blog: http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com Twitter: @GallagherWitt

Enter this Rafflecopter giveaway to win a package of all four romances!

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Guest Post & Giveaway: Something New Under The Sun by L.A Witt

Welcome to the Riptide Publishing/L. A. Witt blog tour for Something New Under the Sun, the sequel to my vampire/cyberpunk novella, A Chip In His Shoulder!

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice of two eBooks off my backlist (excluding Something New Under the Sun) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 27th, and winners will be announced on January 28th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.

An exclusive little nibble of Something New Under the Sun… 

Wearing a borrowed duster, I followed Liam out of his apartment and into a hallway lit by a buzzing half-burned out bulb. As he locked the door behind us, he said over his shoulder, “I know you don’t like the idea, but this is going to get dangerous. You need—”

“No mods.”

“Daniel—”

“I’m not getting modified.” I waved the idea away. “It’s out of the question.”

Liam shoved his keys into his pocket. “You want to see this to the end? You do what you have to do to stay alive.”

“I understand that, but I want to stay human.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed; mine flicked toward the camouflaged mod on his temple.

“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “You know it isn’t.”

He set his jaw and brushed past me down the hall. “Let’s go.”

“Liam, I didn’t—”

“I know what you meant.”

Mouthing a silent string of profanity, I started after him. “Goddammit, you can’t honestly expect me to let go of my issues with mods overnight.”

He spun around and stabbed a finger into my chest. “I can, and I do. Don’t think for a second your pretty little principles are going to keep you alive anymore. People want you dead, Daniel.”

“Yes, I know they do,” I said through my teeth.

“Which means you get to make hard choices and sacrifices, just like—”

“Don’t fucking talk to me about making sacrifices.” I batted his hand away and stepped closer until our faces were nearly touching. “Just because I’m not a fan of mods, don’t you dare stand there and assume I haven’t had to sacrifice anything. You know nothing about how much I’ve sacrificed the last few years.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ve made sacrifices,” he growled. “Wasting away in luxury—”

Liam caught my fist before I even realized I’d thrown the punch. He didn’t blink, didn’t break eye contact, just kept on looking right at me as his fingers dug into the back of my

hand. “You done?”

“Don’t you dare lecture me about sacrifices, you son of a bitch. You have no idea.”

His lips pulled back over clenched teeth, revealing the edges of his unnaturally sharp canines. “Enlighten me.”

I jerked my hand free from his grip, but the sudden ache in my throat stopped the words from coming. I managed to snarl, “Fuck you,” and then shoved past him and kept walking.

* * *

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer currently living in the glamorous and ultra-futuristic metropolis of Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband, two cats, and a disembodied penguin brain that communicates with her telepathically. In addition to writing smut and disturbing the locals, L.A. is said to be working with the US government to perfect a genetic modification that will allow humans to survive indefinitely on Corn Pops and beef jerky. This is all a cover, though, as her primary leisure activity is hunting down her arch nemesis, erotica author Lauren Gallagher, who is also said to be lurking somewhere in Omaha. 

L. A.’s backlist is available on her website, and updates (as well as random thoughts and the odd snarky comment) can be found on her blog or on Twitter (@GallagherWitt).

Blurb:

Liam Lansing is heir to a prominent family of bio-modified vampires. That is, until he chooses the wrong lover and is cast down to the Gutter to scrape for his life.

Daniel Harding is heir to Cybernetix and a prince of the corporate Sky. That is, until his ideology drives his father to put a price on his head, forcing him into the Gutter.

But Daniel and Liam won’t vanish meekly into the smog. Together, they plan to rip open the hidden corruption that runs the Sky—for vengeance, for justice, and for hope. They strike against the corporations in a daring raid. When everything goes wrong, Daniel must betray his core beliefs to save the man he loves and protect his dangerous secret. Only through courage in the face of death—or worse—might he and Liam change the world they live in and create something new under the sun.


Something New Under the Sun is available January 21st from Riptide Publishing. Also available: the prequel, A Chip In His Shoulder.

The Closer You Get

The Closer You Get (The Distance Between Us, #2) by L.A Witt
Samhain Publishing

Novel: 163pages

4 out of 5

Blurb:
The virgin isn’t the only one with something to lose...
Self-described manwhore Kieran Frost is loving the single life. Two years after moving to Seattle, he still has his friends with benefits, Rhett and Ethan, plus a never-ending supply of gorgeous, available men wandering through the bar where he works. A relationship? Spare him the drama and heartbreak. He’s got no complaints about his unattached lifestyle.

When Rhett’s daughter introduces him to newly-out-of-the-closet Alex Corbin, Kieran’s interest perks up. After all, the quiet ones are always the freaks in bed. But Alex isn’t just shy and reserved. He’s a virgin in every sense of the word, having never even kissed anyone else.


Kieran is no one’s teacher, and his first instinct is to run like hell in the other direction. But his conscience won’t let him throw the naïve kid to the wolves for someone else to take advantage of. The plan is to introduce Alex to his own sexuality, pull him out of his shell, then go their separate ways.

It’s the perfect, foolproof plan…assuming no one falls in love.


Warning: This sequel to The Distance Between Us contains a curious virgin, a shameless slut, a trip to a sex shop, and one stubborn heart. Oh, and a dildo.

Review: 
I will start by saying that Kiernan was not a fave character of mine. Nothing to do with him being a self-proclaimed slut, and in a somewhat relationship with Rhett&Ethan (read first book). My dislike came from, he got terribly upset when he figured out he was being used by both men (no shit Sherlock). I just couldn’t wrap my mind around how he thought it was all about him when it came to the relationship he shared with both men. Moving on, because this review is not about the first book. I am not the type to read books in a series back-to-back, but I felt the urge to this time. I can say folks I am not disappointed.

So Kiernan ‘the slut’ is a nice guy, he makes no apologies about who is and what he likes to do. He doesn’t do relationships but he can handle the casual hook-up. He lives a life of sex and fun, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. He still does the ménage thing with both Rhett and Ethan and it seems to be on solid ground.  You can tell that all three men are friends. When Sabrina the daughter of Rhett asks Kiernan for a favour, he blows off a night of hot sex with her father to be guide to a recently out gay kid. The upside is that Alex is gorgeous, and Kiernan is expecting his hot night of sex.

Well Alex comes with a few surprises. His complete lack of sexual experience, and his shy and sweet personality. Definitely not what Kiernan is use to but he is willing to give it a try. Kiernan fears he might be the wrong person to explore things with Alex, never wanting to be the person who introduces anyone to sex.  Both men set the rule that it’s all about sex, and nothing more will ever come of it. Kiernan fears that no one else will take the time to make it good for Alex, and he knows personally what its like to go into something and being hurt.  He becomes teacher to a shy boy with the gorgeous eyes and a mouth made for cocksucking (yep I just wrote that).

What unfolds is pure awesmazingness. I am a fan of Kiernan’s honesty, he makes no apologies for who he is and doesn’t try to be someone he’s not. Alex gets the genuine Kiernan. Alex is so believable in his innocence and shyness, yet so very eager to learn. He’s a lost boy on the road to self-discovery and he found the right man to help him along. I loved finding out about Kiernan and why he doesn’t trust relationships, I would have felt the same if I were him. The sex was written wonderfully with the right amount of pacing and when it happened ‘it happened’.

I am happy with this offering by L.A, she wrote a beautiful story about a slut and his virgin. How finding the right person to love can change your outlook on many things. I am glad Kiernan got his story cus I would have disliked him to the end. He is everything you never get to see in the first book. He is sweet, caring, and offers so much more than ‘I am a great lay’. I loved him and Alex together they deserve their happiness and so much more. I recommend this read, it will cause a pants losing and leave candy cane feelings in your heart.

SideNote- I recommend reading the first book so you can fall in love with Kiernan in this book. Check it out HERE
 

4 Pants Off

Go Ahead Take Those Pants Off

 

Nine-Tenths of the Law

Nine Tenths of the Law by L.A Witt
Samhain Publishing

Novella

3 out of 5

3.5/5 PL Scale

Blurb:

Without trust, common ground can get pretty shaky…

“I believe you have something of mine, Zach.”

Zach Owens doesn’t even know who this angry stranger is, let alone what the man is talking about—until he learns what they have in common. Their boyfriend, Jake. Once Jake’s out of the picture, Zach’s apology to Nathan Forrester leads to a long conversation, a kiss, and a chemistry that goes far beyond revenge sex.

Nathan can’t help but fall for the sexy movie theater owner, but it’s a long way from sheet-tearing sex to mutual trust. And a series of “coincidences” that throws Zach into Jake’s company leaves him unconvinced Zach was the complete innocent in their previous love triangle.

Zach can’t seem to make Nathan believe that Jake is up to something. But protesting his innocence isn’t working, and Jake’s carefully orchestrated campaign to destroy their love could leave them both with nothing…



Review:
This book was awfully frustrating to me, at points I was so in love and then I would find myself getting equally pissed off. The subject matter was serious, how is one able to trust again after being cheated on, and can you come to care for the person who was the one your boyfriend was cheating with. Some reader might be appalled at the way both our main characters were quick to jump into bed, I on the other hand found it kind of refreshing, it sort of like sticking it to the man. They both made a sad situation very sexy.

The story begins with Zach in a bar meeting with his boyfriend, he is all happy because he knows its going to be a goodnight. All of a sudden a stranger interrupts and confronts Zach, seems his boyfriend doesn’t only belong to him. Well they both get rid of the cheating bastard who goes by the name of Jake, well Zach is feeling guilty and he decides to explain that he had no idea Jake was seeing someone else. He introduces himself and finds out the name of the other man, Nathan has been with Jake for four years, and that is like a knife to Zach’s chest. With the intent to talk things over, Zach invites Nathan to have a beer, with the betrayal fresh they decide to get back at Jake, with hot sex.

From there things become all sorts of complicated, when a one night stand between two guys who had been hurt by one man, turns to something more. The hooking up part was easy, it’s the feelings that start to happen that makes things hard. Told in first person we experience everything Zach is feeling, his doubts, happiness and his growing feelings for Nathan. From the very first scene between Nathan and Zach we get the idea, that Zach will fall hard. That one hook up leads to many nights together, and it is all about sex, the relationship was built off someone else’s deceit and trust is a hard thing come by especially on Nathan’s side of things. Not the best way to build a relationship, and trying to make things work overshadows every aspect of the book.

The characters are likable, but that all depends on the connection the reader will have with the book. Nathan’s worries became annoying, yet it is understandable the reasons behind his paranoia, he has been cheated on by someone he loved, and he happens to be in a relationship with the person, who was the other man. Very likely there would be lots of confusion. I found their inability to talk really had me grinding my teeth. It’s like they know a conversation is needed but they avoid it for a few hours of hot sex, and then they have days of worries.

Overall it was an alright read for me, the premise had potential but the constant bickering between Zach and Nathan really irked me, and at the end there was never any solutions. They at some point expressed themselves but never to the fullest, a whole lot needed to be said and it just never happened. The ending was just that, an ending, I am still feeling incomplete. I don’t know if this was done purposely, for maybe a sequel I just personally needed a little more. Once again this book is one of those that might be perceived differently from every reader, you have to call this one on your own. I just could not wrap my mind around Zach and Nathan, I liked them but they annoyed me more than anything. I will say this I did like the writing style, and there was some really sexy scenes, to be expected cus all they did was have sex. I am intrigued enough, to go and check out the author's other works.

Reviewed for Three Dollar Bill Reviews