Guest Post & Giveaway: Can This Be Real by LE Franks

Mad Dogs and an Englishwoman named Sue…

What I’ve come to love about this community of authors—the ones writing gay romance, is that when we get together, there are no significant barriers between us. It might take a moment or two to rub away the shyness, but once that first step is taken and a connection is made…we run amuck.

If you looked for me today, you’d find me sitting perfectly relaxed at a lobby table in the Portland Courtyard with JP Barnaby, Sue Brown, and KC Wells all under an electric sign, all laptops unfurled, all fingers furiously typing. The ease of our association light years beyond that first fall foray into the unknown, even though KC was just a name on my social media feed up until a day ago.

But my first foray into the great unknown occurred at Gay Romance Literary Retreat in Albuquerque in 2012. It was October—one of the perfect months of desert living, and the Albuquerque Hard Rock Hotel was a jewel on the edge of town. I didn’t know anyone planning to attend and was a bit of a wallflower (stop laughing) and more than a little nervous by the prospect of meeting so many new people that I developed a two-prong strategy to cope:

1) Arrive early and meet people
2) Volunteer

Number two is self explanatory – giving yourself something to do by volunteering gives you something to do, an opportunity to meet like-minded people, and an anchor to cling to in the rough seas of the unknown.

It was a great experience, it was how I met Damon Suede and Heidi Cullen that year and able to dust off my old warehouse management skills for an evening. Number two works.

Number one was a little more controversial.

Strategy number one “Arrive Early” was actually an abbreviation for “Arrive Early So I Can Meet As Many GRL Attendees As Possible, As They Walk Through The Lobby” or simply the acronym: AESICMAMGAAPATWTTL.

I can hear the gulps from the collective wallflowers springing up across the country, from here. Yep. Former wallflower here, I went out of my way to walk up to anyone that looked remotely connected to GRL that first Tuesday. The first person that walked into my little web was Sue Brown. Have you met Sue Brown? Have you read any of Sue Brown’s stories?

It was a serious fangirl moment. I had a boob signed by her within five minutes. Seriously.

Stepping out of the box (in that example, waaaaaay out of the box) made a connection that will last a lifetime. I’m confident that will remain true. I brought her home with me after Tampa’s RainbowCon last week and she became part of the family in a very literal sense.

But Sue wasn’t the only connection I made that first GRL. There were so many kind and supportive authors, friendly bloggers, readers who shared a passion for the material that I can’t hope to list them all.

And on every subsequent convention or meet up, every chance encounter on social media, or in real life, these connections only become stronger. It may be a small community, but it’s a very strong one. Thank you Sue, we’ll definitely be missing you when you make your way back home. But you won’t be the only one.

Happy trails until we meet up again.

LE

Blurb:
Chef Christian De Guisse can't trust a man who doesn't love his food, while Detective Andrew Simmons won't let any man close who thinks he's broken---somewhere between these two points, love is possible, but only if they get real.

When Chef Christian De Guisse accidently outs Celebrity Chef Jordan Slayer during a fight in front of The Times entertainment reporter---it only gets Christian ex-boyfriend status and a one-way plane ticket to culinary exile in Oregon. But a fortuitous meeting with Detective Andrew Simmons at the Portland airport keeps Christian and his collection of exotic herbs out of the hands of Homeland Security, starting the chemistry simmering between them. Andy isn't much of a foodie and for a chef who communicates love through his cooking this may be one hurdle too high...until they're finally ready to get real.



Buy Links:
MLR Press: http://www.mlrbooks.com/Bookstore.php?bookid=LEF_CTBR

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00JXRCPDG

ARE: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-canthisbereal-1489668-149.html?referrer=509531de39c1c

AUTHOR BIO: 

LE Franks lives in the SF Bay Area, surrounded by inspiration everywhere. After years of ignoring the voices in her head, LE is finally taking off the filters and giving the stories free rein. These days, she can be found frequently writing about sexy men who desperately need a happily ever.


LE writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated. LE’s men are living in the margins--they're in the middle of their journey, doing the best they can while searching for a connection to something bigger than themselves. With a little effort and a lot of luck they may actually find their happily-ever-afters.


Published by MLR, DreamSpinner, and WildeCity Presses.

Web: http://www.lefranks.com 
Twitter: @Boxtersushi 
Blog: LEFranks.wordpress.com 
FB: LE Franks

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Giveaway:

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Short Review: Snow Globe by L.E. Franks

Reviewed by SinChan
Snow Globe (Heartwarming) by L.E Franks
Dreamspinner Press
Short story: 44pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Kris Hamilton escaped the rat race in LA to live his dream of owning an art studio and making snow globes in a Christmas-themed town in northern Minnesota. But life in a tiny town isn't as peaceful as advertised, and being treated like an outsider is making Kris’s Tourette's flare up. When he inadvertently offends Tyr Tollefson—a beautiful blond giant of a man—Kris is ready to chuck it all. But he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Tyr's cousin Bun, who shows them the magic of Christmas and gives them both a lesson in love and acceptance.


Short Review
The story is told with fragmented scenes in different POVs in chronological order. Usually, telling a story this way is too choppy and confusing but it works well for this short story. The boring parts are cut out and the story feels complete.

Kris moves into a small town and opens a shop where he makes and sells snow globes. He develops a crush on Tyr but due to a misunderstanding about his Tourette's, he thinks he'll never get a chance with Tyr.

I really love Kris' unique character and job of making snow globes. He's a cheery person and very upbeat about life. He moved from California to a small town that is stereotypical and close minded. He's made friends with Bun and has a crush on Tyr. His snow globe business brings more customers into other shops in his area as well. He is very much a part of and a member of the town. He has Tourette's but he's coping with it. All in all, he's a really strong character and his progress with Tyr as a couple is very enjoyable to read.

5 Pants Off

Review: Prodigal Wolf by LE Franks & Sara York

Reviewed by Whuppsy
Prodigal Wolf (Wolves and Waves #1) by LE Franks & Sara York
MLR Press
Novel: 199pgs
2 Pants Off

Blurb:
Carlo has a problem, after years away he's finally returned to his South Carolina roots - but instead of peace and quiet all he's found are nosy wolves, romancing twinks, an out of control roommate threatening to expose them all, and a demanding Alpha who just won't go away.

All his Alpha wants is to show Carlo who he really is, and where he belongs. But Carlo Montefiore is a man fighting his instincts, memories, and responsibilities. His beachside home was supposed to provide sanctuary, but pack politics, unruly roommates, and human neighbors at risk of discovering that shifters exist, are making life anything but peaceful. Twinks Kevin and Grady have their own problems. Two college freshmen are no match for a couple of hot wolves who like to play chase. If they don't stop playing games they'll miss the biggest thing to happen in their young lives---love.


Review
Carlo Montefiore comes home to South Carolina after being gone for four years of college. The problem is that when he left, he felt betrayed from the one whom he cared about the most, Angelo. Carlo’s father had passed away and Angelo took the reins of the Pack when Carlo was too young to take the reins. Angelo gave the reign to Carlo when he had to go into the military. He comes back and sends Carlo off to college as that was Constantine’s, Carlos’ father’s wish. Carlo didn’t’ want to go and he left hurt and angry. During his four years of college, he didn’t come home or spend any time with the Pack members who went to see him.

His 25th birthday is approaching and it’s now time for him to take back control of the Pack and become the Alpha that he’s been born to be. The problem, Carlo is still upset about what happened and even though he’s come home, he wants nothing to do with the Pack Leadership even though a Montefiore has always been Pack Alpha.

I can’t really tell you much about the story because; this is just a big ol’ jumble. There were sooo many characters being thrown into this story that I couldn’t even tell you what really is going on. I get that the authors wanted to get you excited about the new series, Wolves and Waves, but really this fell way short.

I tried to understand Carlo. I mean, I could understand to a point where he was coming from, but there was so much that was implied and not given. Again, to get you excited about reading the series, but really it was so very vague that I couldn’t even fathom what’s going on in his head. There was so much miscommunication and outright evasions. Still brooding over the past and not making an effort to get answers or even talk about it. He runs and evades even speaking to Angelo.

I get where Angelo was coming from, he was fulfilling the request of the man whom he loved and respected. He knows that Carlo is his mate, but won’t force the issue. He just wants to do the right thing, by everyone. Angelo I liked as I understood him. He was a developed character.

There were Carlos’ roommates, Joey and Ted, Joey who grew up with Carlo and Ted who met Carlo in California. Ted who has secrets of his own, that again they were vague about. Ted and Joey, I understood and liked. Kevin and Grady, the human twinks on vacation in the house next door. I even understood their characters; I’m just not sure why they were there. They actually didn’t bring anything to the plot.

Now, I will say that this was a sexy read. Kevin, Grady, Ted, Joey, Kevin and even Carlo got in on some action. That was fun. I’m all about some good sex and good sex with a plot is a plus.

If you want a confusing book that will keep you off your game, this is the book for you. It ended in a cliffhanger that I hope will be answered in the following books. I hope that the author’s next venture in this series will focus more on main characters. I don’t mind getting to know more than the two main characters, but I’d like to be able to at least connect with them in some way. I didn’t feel connected to anyone really.

I am cautiously hoping that the next book and those following will be better. I hope that they develop the characters and bring more of what the plot is and not be so angsty. I’d like to see where they are going with this series. I am intrigued enough to even want to read the next book. I want to see what happens. I’m funny that way. I am ever hopeful that the authors can bring this together and give their fans what they want a great story where we can connect to the characters that we’re reading. That we want and HEA for the main characters, that they are more focused and less giving all over the place. That’s what readers want. I truly hope that they give that to us. I want that. I want to read the next book and be drawn into the story and be sad when it’s over. I didn’t feel much for this one just confused.

2 Pants Off