Review: Secrets and Ink by Lou Harper

Reviewed by SinChan
Secrets and Ink by Lou Harper
Samhain Publishing
Novella: 128pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
When Karma writes you a ticket, pay up or else...

If life was like the movies, Jem Mitchell's wouldn't be such a mess. In LA's glittering world of dreams, he works an unglamorous job at a gourmet grocery store. His past is so deep and dark, the details are lost even to him. All he knows is he was once cursed by a meter maid, and ever since, his love life has sucked.

When Detective Nick Davies becomes a regular at the store, Jem dares to hope he's un-hexed at last. He should have known that sex with a remarkably normal guy, devoid of weird fetishes and fatal personality flaws, was too good to be true.

During a post-encounter cuddle, Nick recognizes the tattoo on Jem's back—and remembers him as a young hustler he arrested nine years past.

As Jem's memories come crashing back, he flees from Nick, but fate contrives to keep pushing them back together. And when Jem's old partner in crime is found murdered, the stakes are raised for life, for love, and a dangerous drama with no guarantee of a Hollywood ending.

Review
Jem meets Nick in a grocery store line. After some dates and sex, Nick recognizes Jem as an underage hustler he arrested years ago that have the same distinctive spider tattoo. They break up but someone is sending Jem naked photos of him when he used to hustle and murders his friend. Nick gets involved again in Jem's life to protect him and solve this mystery.

I absolutely love the mystery and how every puzzle piece comes together in the end to complete the picture. In contrast, the romance between Nick and Jem falls short and suffers while the mystery and intrigue builds up. How they reconcile romantically is not convincing for me.

Jem is actually a very mature and quirky. He believes he is cursed by karma, sees meaning in colors, and stays out of trouble after a building falls on him and puts him through speech and physical therapy. He can be impulsive but also have good instincts. His impulsiveness with crime scene evidence and suspects combined with Nick's exasperation with him makes this an exciting mystery that's unpredictable and fun.

Overall, I enjoy reading the story. All the characters have something unique and distinctive. The best part of the story is figuring out how Jem's spider tattoo fits in with the murder. Even though I would have like there to be more romance, the mystery definitely makes this book an enjoyable read for me.

4 Pants Off

Giveaway: Secrets and Ink by Lou Harper

Secrets and Ink by Lou Harper
Samhain Publishing

Blurb:
When Karma writes you a ticket, pay up or else…

If life was like the movies, Jem Mitchell’s wouldn’t be such a mess. In LA’s glittering world of dreams, he works an unglamorous job at a gourmet grocery store. His past is so deep and dark, the details are lost even to him. All he knows is he was once cursed by a meter maid, and ever since, his love life has sucked.

When Detective Nick Davies becomes a regular at the store, Jem dares to hope he’s un-hexed at last. He should have known that sex with a remarkably normal guy, devoid of weird fetishes and fatal personality flaws, was too good to be true.

During a post-encounter cuddle, Nick recognizes the tattoo on Jem’s back—and remembers him as a young hustler he arrested nine years past.

As Jem’s memories come crashing back, he flees from Nick, but fate contrives to keep pushing them back together. And when Jem’s old partner in crime is found murdered, the stakes are raised for life, for love, and a dangerous drama with no guarantee of a Hollywood ending.

Warning: Stars a mild-mannered store clerk with a shady past, a hunky cop whose passion in the bedroom is as big as his passion for justice, and celebrity sightings you won’t see on TMZ


Giveaway

• Must be 18yrs or older
• Leave a comment along with email
• Winner has 48hrs to reply to my email or another winner will be chosen
• Contest runs until December 16th 2013 11:59pm EST

Excerpt & Giveaway: Dead in the Dessert by Lou Harper

Blurb:
Jon Cooper used to think he wanted a life free of complications, but that was before he got involved with his roommate, Leander. Jon knows that the only thing he can't lose is what he doesn't have, but where does that leave him?

Leander Thorne, on the other hand, is an easygoing bookworm, with an addiction to books and cooking shows, and a soft spot for Jon, despite Jon's grumpiness. He also happens to be a psychic specializing in finding lost pets and—more recently—lost people. He's good at it. Too good if you ask Jon,

Unsolved crimes, missing people and bodies buried in the Mojave Desert make Jon's and Leander's lives anything but uncomplicated. Jon is forced to dig into his soul and find a way to let go of his past if he wants to keep Leander.

Buy Links:
Amazon
All Romance eBooks

Excerpt

Lipkin pulled up behind us. He wasn't alone—a woman climbed out of the passenger side. They made an interesting pair—a bulldog-faced white guy well into his forties and an attractive Latina at least a decade younger. She wore her curly, dark hair short, and her face serious, bordering on sour.

"My partner, Detective Cruz," Lipkin introduced her.

She greeted us with tight-lipped civility. I had an impression searching for dead bodies in the middle of nowhere with a psychic was not her idea of either detective work or a fun way to spend a Saturday. I understood the sentiment, but I wasn't happy to see her either. What the hell was Lipkin thinking? Was he gonna bring along the whole damn department next time?

Naturally, none of that ruffled Andy. He jammed a wide-brimmed straw hat on his head. "Do you have the…thing?" he asked Lipkin, after introductions.

The detective nodded and fetched a brown paper bag out of his car. From it he pulled out a gold watch, the kind nobody wore just to know the time. Too thick and heavy for anything but showing off.

Andy took the watch and just held it, eyes closed and head bowed, for several long seconds. At last, he spun on his heels and started walking, straight out into the landscape. There was nothing but dirt, sagebrush, and the occasional Joshua tree, as far as the eye could see, except for the line of mountains far off in the distance.

I took my place at Andy's side. He didn't pay much attention to his surroundings when he got into the zone. He'd walk into a den of rattlesnakes without noticing it. So I stayed next to him and I kept my eyes on the ground. The coppers trailed behind. They were arguing under their breaths. I couldn't make out the words, but caught the irritated pitch of Detective Cruz's tone and the low rumble of Lipkin's.

We were about a hundred yards from the road when Andy's steps faltered and he started ambling left and right. He stopped and a frown of indecision took over his face. I expected him to take his shoes off, like he had in a similar situation before, but instead he sat on the ground. After taking his hat off he lay back. The earth here was coarse: rocky sand, baked hard by the sun, but he paid no mind. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers onto the dirt.

For minutes nothing happened. I positioned myself to cast a shadow over Andy's face. Lipkin had seen Andy at work before, so he waited stoically, but Cruz kept fidgeting and giving Lipkin the hairy eyeball. Once she opened her lips to say something but Lipkin gave her a look and she closed them again. She scowled at him something fierce but not a peep escaped her lips. We were all sweating like horses but we kept waiting.

At long last Andy opened his eyes and pushed himself into a sitting position. I saw right away he'd gotten wobbly so I helped him up. He leaned on me for a moment, before tottering away another twenty feet. The rest of us followed. He stopped and kicked the ground. "Right here."

I took off my backpack and first took out a bottle of water. Andy gratefully took it. Next I pulled out a camping shovel, unfolded it and handed it to Lipkin. He pulled a face but began to dig while the rest of us watched.

Andy downed half his water in one go. "Lots of bones in the ground," he said.

Cruz snickered. "In the middle of nowhere halfway between Vegas and L.A.? You don't say." Her expression said she wasn't about to be bamboozled by a couple of shysters.

I ignored her and patted the dirt off Andy's back. He kept chugging his water, and Lipkin kept digging.

"Hey, there's something here." Lipkin stopped and dropped onto his knees.

To her credit, Cruz immediately crouched next to him, and the two of them used their hands to carefully clear away enough soil to make sure the blue piece of fabric was attached to an actual body.

She straightened up, glared at the ground, at us, and finally at her partner. Her eyes narrowed. "Damn you, Gary!"

Lipkin stood too, the shovel dangling in his hand. "What did I do?" Traces of a smug smile showed on his usually inexpressive face. I got an inkling they had a habit of ribbing each other, like people working close together often did.

Cruz put her hands on her hips. "You crazy cracker. You must be the only cop ever to know a bona fide psychic to find a goddamn dead body in the middle of goddamn nowhere."

Lipkin's lips twitched. I thought he might have been smiling. "I love you too, Cruz."

"There goes our weekend." She sighed and cast her eyes around, taking in the vast, scorching nothingness.

She turned toward us. "So, kid, can you tell us how he died?"

"Violently, I assume, or you wouldn't be looking for him. Am I right?"

"Don't be a smartass, kid," she said in her cop tone.

"The name is Leander, but you can call me Mr. Thorne, Detective. And your guy has a bullet in his skull. That might have something to do with the cause of death, but it's not my area of expertise." He smiled sweetly and innocently but didn't fool anyone, least of all Detective Cruz, who glowered at him for a few seconds.

In the end she shook her head and turned to Lipkin. "We might as well call this in."

"Oh, you can have this back." Andy handed her the gold watch, which she took with resignation. Unfortunately for her, Andy had more bad news. "There's another one, over there, left of that Joshua tree. Body, I mean." He pointed toward the direction of the mountains. "It's been there longer though. Years."

Lipkin was instantly alert, like a dog spotting a squirrel. "How old?"

"Not sure. It's only bones. Not like him." Andy cast his eyes at the patch of human visible in the dirt.

Cruz narrowed her eyes. "No fucking way. We could be digging from here to Vegas and find a dozen bodies." She fixed Lipkin in her sights. "It could be any old gangster from God knows when."

"It's a child," Andy said.

She turned back and scrutinized Andy's expression. A moment later she snatched the shovel from Lipkin and marched off to the tree. "Here?"

Andy nodded. "Yup, right there. A couple of feet down."

I zipped up the backpack and hoisted it on my shoulders. I also picked up the straw hat and shoved it back on Andy's head. "Nice job. Now let's get out of here before we bake. You're already half-done."

"Where do you think you're going?" Lipkin barked.

"Back to L.A. We're done here. This is all police work now; you don't need us. Oh, you can return the shovel later. Happy digging!"

He gave me a dirty look, which filled me with glee.

Andy leaned into me as we made our way back to the road. "You all right?" I asked.

"Tired, but it'll pass. I don't envy them. They'll have a long weekend." He tipped his head in the general direction of the detectives.

"They dug their own beds, now they can sleep in them."

He chuckled. "The king of mixed metaphors strikes again. You know Gary's not a bad guy. Why are you always so aggro on him?"

"He's bossy, keeps dragging you into his old murder cases. What's not to dislike? You almost got yourself killed last time."

"First of all, my life wasn't really in danger…" He ignored my derisive snort. "Secondly, that had nothing to do with Gary."

He had me there, but it wouldn't have done to admit it. "Exactly. You have plenty of talent getting yourself into trouble without his help. Is he even paying you?"

Andy's silence was an answer enough.

"Oh great," I grumbled on. "You're giving him a freebie. Very generous of you."

He wound his arm around my waist. "You're an old grouch, but I love you anyway."

Now, that shut me up.

Giveaway

• Must be 18yrs or older
• Leave a comment along with email
• Winner has 48hrs to reply to my email or another winner will be chosen
• Contest runs until October 5th 2013 11:59pm EST

Review: Dead Man and the Restless Spirits by Lou Harper

Dead Man and the Restless Spirits (Dead Man #1) by Lou Harper
Self-Published
Novel
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Dying sucks hairy monkey balls, even when you're not the stiff.

Denton Mills has a secret: he can see dead people. Or rather, how they died. It's quite a drag in a city like Chicago, teeming with the echoes of the no-longer living. Rather than whine about it, Denton has learned to live with his troublesome talent. His adaptability comes in handy when he meets his enigmatic new neighbor.

Bran Maurell catches Denton's eye right away, but unfortunately Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious is as standoffish as he is alluring. However, after an unexpected introduction from Bran's cat brings the two men together, Denton discovers they have a mutual interest in the spirit world. Herbalist by day, Bran moonlights as a witch, performing house cleansings for a fee.

From Bran, Denton learns that his knack for interacting with the dead qualifies him as a necromancer. It makes good business sense for them to team up and rid Chicago of its pesky spirits one grateful client at a time. Amongst ghostly adventures the attraction between the men is impossible to ignore. They seem like perfect partners—unless Bran's not-so-little secret comes between them.

Review:
I am so in love with Lou Harper's Paranormal romances, it’s freaking insane. With Dead Man and the Restless Spirits following the same set up as Spirit Sanguine, it was all a freaking delight. And to see a character I previously enjoyed get his HEA was a real joy to read.

Denton Mills can see dead people and sometimes it sucks a whole lot. He's learnt to care with his episodes, but just like death they can come on all unexpected like. So he tries to live as normal as possible, by holding down a job and hope echoes of the dead don't intrude on his day. When a friend shares that there is an apartment up for rent, Denton jumps at the opportunity to move into a nicer place. But of course there is no such thing as perfection, because Denton is warned about the next door neighbour who may or may not be a serial killer. One thing is for sure that sourly neighbour isn't into making friends, but Denton is no quitter.

Becoming fast friends with his neighbour Bran Maurell is easier said than done, because damn is the man a bit antisocial. Though, he did manage to get into his cat's good graces. Denton has to decided to kill him with sugar and before he knows it he's finding out that Bran is a witch and Denton is about to accompany him to a cleansing. Seems Bran gets rid of ghosts for a living, he's not exactly loving what he does but he does it anyways (or else mommy will get him). Denton finds himself smack dab in the middle of the very things he's been trying to avoid, but he does get to spend more time with Bran and that is a plus.

Their sexual chemistry is off the chain and they work well together, but Denton can't help feel like Bran is holding something back. They have incredible sex but Bran seems to always be wearing all his clothes, and Denton has had enough of that. What he uncovers is a surprise and all types of awesome, and I don't want to give anything away but let’s just say I got all types of Hell Boy feels.

Denton and Bran are entertaining, sexy, and so hilarious. Follow them as they cleanse a restaurant from a troublesome ghost, rid a girl from a possession, and reunite lovers in the afterlife while battling a meddling mom. I love the characters that Lou Harper has created, and Dead Man and the Restless Spirits has now made her a must read author for me. I was just blisssed out while reading this and I can't wait for more (keep em coming Miss Harper).

Should You Read It? Hell Yes!! A wonderfully written paranormal with great characters, and non-stop entertainment. Denton will steal a bit of your heart and Bran will just capture all of it. It should be on everyone's must read radar.

4.5 Pants Off

Excerpt & Giveaway: Dead Man and the Restless Spirits by Lou Harper

Dead Man and the Restless Spirits by Lou Harper
Buy Link

Blurb:
Dying sucks hairy monkey balls, even when you're not the stiff.

Denton Mills has a secret: he can see dead people. Or rather, how they died. It's quite a drag in a city like Chicago, teeming with the echoes of the no-longer living. Rather than whine about it, Denton has learned to live with his troublesome talent. His adaptability comes in handy when he meets his enigmatic new neighbor.

Bran Maurell catches Denton's eye right away, but unfortunately Mr. Tall, Dark, and Mysterious is as standoffish as he is alluring. However, after an unexpected introduction from Bran's cat brings the two men together, Denton discovers they have a mutual interest in the spirit world. Herbalist by day, Bran moonlights as a witch, performing house cleansings for a fee.

From Bran, Denton learns that his knack for interacting with the dead qualifies him as a necromancer. It makes good business sense for them to team up and rid Chicago of its pesky spirits one grateful client at a time. Amongst ghostly adventures the attraction between the men is impossible to ignore. They seem like perfect partners—unless Bran's not-so-little secret comes between them.

Warning: men loving men, ghosts with attitudes, and a portly feline with hidden talents.

Note: Denton also plays a small but important role in Spirit Sanguine.

Excerpt

This excerpt show Denton talking to his new neighbor for the first time:

The man opening the door radiated a presence more intense than a triple-chocolate fudge cake. Seeing him up close, Denton decided B. Maurell couldn’t be called traditionally handsome—all his features were too strongly drawn for it—yet it was hard not to be engrossed by his face. Sharp cheekbones and a prominent nose contrasted with sensuously full lips. The heavy brows and shoulder-length black hair lent him a somber air, but his eyes made the biggest impression on Denton. They were as dark as the deepest trenches of the ocean where the sun doesn’t penetrate and strange creatures dwell. They also seemed to accuse Denton of unspeakable crimes. Catnapping, to begin with.

Eager to prove his innocence, Denton held Murry in front of him. “I have your cat. He must have jumped from your balcony to my fire escape. I found him sitting on my feet when I woke up.”

Murry, a furry peace offering, hung between them for a beat before his owner reached out and took him. Those eyes focused on the cat for a moment, then back on Denton. “You fed him.”

For absolutely no reason, a shiver ran through Denton, but he heroically ignored it. “It seemed a polite thing to do, and it’s well before midnight. I didn’t let him get wet.”

B. Maurell either hadn’t seen Gremlins or had no sense of humor. “He’s on a diet.” The warm baritone of his voice undermined the gruffness of the words.

“What kind? If it’s Atkins, all’s fine—I only gave him tuna, no carbs.” Denton meant it as a joke and grinned like an idiot to bring the point home, but all he received in return was stony silence. Tough crowd. It was the point to turn around and leave, but he couldn’t—the other man’s eyes pulled him in with the force of magnets. He had to draw out the encounter any way he could. “I’m Denton. Denton Mills. Just moved in a few days ago. Renting the place from Miranda—she had to leave town in a hurry. Nothing to do with the mob, I’ve been assured. She said nice things about you, but not your name.”

Another tick of measured silence hovered between them; then the sensuous lips parted. “Bran. Bran Maurell.”

Such an unexpectedly normal name. Bran Maurell was a man of puzzling contradictions, and Denton loved puzzles. He wanted to know more. Murry, on the other hand, had clearly become bored with the whole affair. He twisted, and a second later, he was on the floor, trotting into the apartment, tail held high.

“Bye, Murry!” Denton shouted after him.

For the first time since the door had opened, the hint of an actual emotion, possibly surprise, registered on Bran’s face. “What did you call him?”

“Murry. Not like Bill Murray. Without the ‘A.’ I asked him his name, and he made kind of a murr sound, so I figured I’d call him Murry. Cat is too impersonal, don’t you think?”

The inner corners of Bran’s eyebrows twitched up. “His name is Murmur, but if he didn’t object to being called Murry, it’s fine.”

“Object?”

“He would’ve let you know.” The words were as solemn as the man uttering them.

“Umm. Okay.”

Bran stepped forward. “Thank you, Denton, for bringing Murmur home.” He held out a hand, and Denton automatically met it with his own.

Bran Maurell had a confident grip. In Denton’s experience, hands were usually just hands, but not in this case. The fleshy pads of Bran’s palms awakened in Denton a sudden desire to feel them on other parts of his body. Sadly, Bran gave one last squeeze and let go. As he pulled back, a tendril of strange scent brushed against Denton’s face—smoke and something fragrant but not flowery. The door closed with a click.

Giveaway:

• Leave email along with a comment
• Must be 18yrs or older
• Winner has 48rs to reply to my email or another winner will be chosen
• Contest runs until June 30th 11:59pm EST

Review: Spirit Sanguine by Lou Harper

Spirit Sanguine by Lou Harper
Samhain Publishing
Novel: 298pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Is that a wooden stake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

After five years in eastern Europe using his unique, inborn skills to slay bloodsuckers, Gabe is back in his hometown Chicago and feeling adrift. Until he’s kidnapped by a young, sexy vampire who seems more interested in getting into his pants than biting into his neck.

Harvey Feng is one-half Chinese, one-hundred-percent vampire. He warns Gabe to stay out of the Windy City, but somehow he isn’t surprised when the young slayer winds up on his doorstep. And why shouldn’t Gabe be curious? A vegetarian vampire isn’t something one sees every day.

Against their better judgment, slayer and vampire succumb to temptation. But their affair attracts unexpected attention.

When Chicago’s Vampire Boss makes Gabe an offer he can’t refuse, the unlikely lovers are thrust into peril and mystery in the dark heart of the Windy City. Together they hunt for kidnappers, a killer preying on young humans, and vicious vampire junkies.

However, dealing with murderous humans and vampires alike is easy compared to figuring out if there’s more to their relationship than hot, kinky sex.

Review:
I've read some Lou Harper before but this is by far my fave book by the author. Spirit Sanguine follows a similar style to that of her last release Dead in L.A by introducing us to two characters that closely have to work with each other while building a loving relationship. But this one was such an eclectic mix of themes that it really brought the "wow" factor, and Harvey and Gabe are now two of my favest characters.

Gabe is back in America after spending 5 years in Eastern Europe hunting vampires, yep he's been staking the crap out of bloodsuckers. His uncle who trained him and open his eyes to a brand new scary world after the death of his parents, and when the man died he decided a change was in order. He doesn't feel like vampire hunting is his niche anymore, and maybe being back in Chicago will bring some things into perspective. Only thing now is that, he knows there are vampires, and Chicago has them too. A night at a club, and suddenly Gabe's vampire senses are prickling, and he hones in on a very attractive blood sucker. Obviously Gabe is losing his mind if he's finding vampires attractive, but 5 years of killing doesn't just leave you and Gabe begins to stalk his prey. Too bad said prey is on to his game, and Gabe gets a dart in the backside and off to unconscious land he goes.

Gabe should be around dead right now but somehow he's still alive and having a faceoff with the attractive vampire. Seems there's a code of conduct on the undead streets of Chicago and attractive vampire won't be killing him. But as soon as Gabe is free he's planning on staking the son of a bitch and going full stealth mode to do it. Well...Gabe seems to be off his game and he's once again taking on the vamp who's named Harvey Feng (a cosmic cruel joke) and the fight has gone out of Gabe. Instead of wanting to kill Harvey, he actually would rather bed him, and as they say the rest becomes history. Gabe's got to meet the big boss, land himself a job, and get caught up in the lives of vampires (who knew?).

This book seriously has bit of everything for everyone. There's snark, sexy vampire man love, and action (with entertaining bits of sexy role-play). Gabe becomes a somewhat investigator for the vampire world, and with Harvey by his side its never a dull moment. The style of the book is something that isn't done very often in M/M with Megan Derr doing it before with her Dance with the Devil series, and Lou Harper also with her Dead in L.A. Each segment is a case, and in the end it all comes together beautifully. It’s like a set of mini stories, each adding something to the plot, and then *boom* it reaches it peaks.

I love the relationship between Harvey and Gabe, not in any way perfect but very believable in how they come together. They create this balance for each other and somehow knew each other better than they knew themselves. It all gets reflected in the storytelling, and there is so much character chemistry it’s insane in the membrane. I am like a serious fan of Gabe and Harvey, and with Harvey being half Chinese there is just no contest. Vampires, Asian character, and a Vampire hunter (with addict vampires) this book had me at 'hello'.

Should You Read It? I don't even know why you haven't gone out and bought it yet O_O. There is a lot of fun packed in these pages and Lou Harper did it big in this one, I am now huge fan. I can't wait to read more!

4.5 Pants Off

Interview & Giveaway with Lou Harper

~I am so happy to have Lou Harper stopping by the blog today! She's talking about her newest releases and even brought you guys a giveaway. Lets give out a warm welcome.~

Hi Lou and Welcome to Pants Off.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how long you've been writing?

My first stories were published in 2011, so not very long. I'd always been an avid reader, though. I even had a serious book addiction for a time—I was one of those kids who read under the blanket with a flashlight till three in the morning.

Was gay fiction something you always wanted to write? Or did you develop it as an interest over time? 

I fell into gay romance by accident. I had no idea it even existed, and it was a very happy discovery, like finding something I didn't know I was missing.

You have a few releases that are upcoming. Can you talk a bit about them, and you future plans in writing?

Dead Man and the Restless Spirits is an offshoot of Spirit Sanguine, picking up the adventures of one of the supporting characters, Denton Mills, aka Dead Man. Denton meets an interesting new neighbor with a portly feline. The book is coming out June 25.

In November I'm publishing a book with Samhain—it takes place in the shadows of the Hollywood Hills, and centers on old secrets, sin, and a distinctive tattoo. The title is Secrets and Ink.

Between the two I hope to put out a sequel to Dead in L.A.

Would you say that you prefer writing books with a Supernatural element than say...just regular ole Contemporary? And is the Supernatural something you believe in?

I like mixing contemporary with paranormal. Spirit Sanguine was the first paranormal story I wrote, unless you count and old short. I originally planned only for a novelette, but the characters took over and during writing I realized that I absolutely love the opportunities for mischief that the genre provides. 

I don't particularly believe in the supernatural, but I like to believe in the possibility of it.  Keeping that door open to a crack makes life more interesting. I experienced ESP twice in my life and that's the sum total of my history with the supernatural.

I've been loving all you fantastic covers you've been producing. Has this always been a hobby, or just a recent talent discovered?

I was doing graphic design long before I started writing. In college I studied photography, but got busy with Photoshop when it was in its infancy. Oops, did I just date myself?

Out of all the characters you've written, who is most likely to survive the zombie apocalypse?

Mm…tough question. I want them all to survive. Gabe is a seasoned vampire slayer, so those slow moving brain-munchers wouldn't be much of a challenge to him. Plus, his boyfriend, Harvey wouldn't let anyone take a bite out of him. Harvey, on the other hand, is a vampire. Do zombies even attack vamps? Is a vampire brain more or less appetizing than regular brain? These are serious questions.

What book/books are you currently reading, and is it causing a pants losing? 

I recently beta-read books for Josephine Myles and Anne Tenino, and I can tell you, they'll set your pants on fire.

Pants is it better to write with them on or off?

The best part is the process of taking them off—slowly, teasingly, and maybe not even all the way. I'm also a huge fan of kilts. 

Can you share a little something/something from Spirit Sanguine? (Small excerpt or sexy snippet)

Hm, okay. How about some phone sex? J

Gabe was still fuming when he arrived back to the apartment. “I can’t believe you dated that putz,” he grumbled. He threw his jacket across a chair and slid next to Harvey on the sofa.

Harvey gave him a saucer-eyed, not-you-too look. The phone stuck to his ear like a barnacle. “No, Dill, I’m absolutely sure that’s not what he meant,” he said.

Unbuttoning his shirt, Gabe bristled with his unspoken grievances. Frank had rubbed him the wrong way many times over, and he couldn’t even gripe about it because Harvey’s ears were already occupied—one of them, anyway. Gabe started to realize he didn’t like sharing either. So he decided to lay claim to Harvey’s free ear, but his lips weren’t talking—not with words. At the same time, he slipped a hand under Harvey’s shirt, tracing his fingers to a nipple that immediately perked up under his touch. Harvey stifled a moan.

He kept on talking into the phone, though. “You’re whipping yourself into a f-fit again for no reason. Ugh.”

Gabe toyed with the nipple a bit more roughly. He also attempted to squeeze his other hand into the back of Harvey’s jeans, but it was a tight fit. Harvey arched off the sofa and undid his fly one-handed.

“Yess,” Harvey said as Gabe pushed his shirt up and employed his lips—and a bit of teeth—at Harvey’s up till then ignored other nipple. “I mean, yes, it’s perfectly reasonable for the guys to go out without you, every once in a while, and you don’t even like the opera.”

Pushing the coffee table aside, Gabe lowered himself between Harvey’s legs. Harvey lifted his hips so Gabe could tug his jeans down. A low moan escaped his throat as Gabe swallowed him down. He scrambled to cover it up with a cough.

“Didn’t Stan take you for a weekend getaway recently—only the two of you? Did Ray act like a jealous dimwit afterwards? Yes, it is exactly the same thing. Ooof!”

Gabe yanked Harvey forward so his ass was practically hanging off the sofa.

“Nothing, Dill. I stubbed my toe.” Pulling his knees up, he angled his ass for better access. “Go on.”

It wasn’t long before Harvey had to cover the receiver with his hand to block out his heavy breathing. Too bad it didn’t leave a hand free for his cock. Gabe snickered catching a glimpse at Harvey’s frustrated expression. He gave the neglected appendage a long, wet lick before returning to stretching Harvey’s hole with his tongue and fingers.

“Mmmaybe you should ass…sume he meant what he s-said. What? No! Gabe has definitely not been sexing me up while we were talking. I wouldn’t…” Harvey’s eyes opened wide as Gabe undid his own belt and flies and pushed his jeans down. His cock sprang forward between his shirttails, ready for action. Gabe dug the tiny bottle of lube out of his pocket and drizzled a small amount on his cockhead.

“Oh fuck. Sorry, Dill, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.” The phone tumbled off into the cushions.

Thank you Lou for being here today!! If fans want to keep in touch, how can they get in contact?

I'm on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lou.harper.14), Goodreads, and blogger (http://louharper.blogspot.com).  My website (http://louharper.com) has my email address right on the front page.

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Review: Dead in L.A by Lou Harper

Dead in L.A by Lou Harper
Self-Published
Novella: 109pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Trouble comes in deceptive packages

Still recovering from an accident that left him emotionally and physically battered, Jon's goal is to lead a simple life, free of complications and attachments. His new roommate—a happy-go-lucky bookworm—seems to fit into his plans fine at first. He doesn't find out till later that Leander's also a psychic, specializing in finding lost pets. Jon's a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural, so he's convinced Leander's a nut job.

Jon's beliefs are challenged when Leander has to track down a missing teenager and he ropes Jon into assisting him. Soon the two of them are knee-deep in a decades-old murder case. The hills and valleys of the City of Angels hold many buried secrets, and Leander has a knack for finding them.

Jon's hopes for a trouble-free life go out the window as he's drawn deeper into Leander's psychic sleuthing. Digging into the past poses many dangers, but the biggest risk Jon faces is putting his bruised heart on the line.

Warning: Men loving men, skeletons, and an unlucky Chihuahua.

Review:
Dead in L.A consists of two short stories, all leading the men to an exciting investigation, with a little twist. Jon is in search for a roommate, he's starting over after the loss of his wife and now making his way as a student. His roommate comes in the form of Lea who he thought was female but that’s gets blown out of the water by the young man at the door. Jon just wanted someone who was quiet, easy to get along with, and would pay his or her share of the rent on time. What he never expected was to start caring for Lea (which is short for Leander and which later Jon starts to call him Andy) and taking care of him. Initially he assumed Andy was a student, but when he finds out what he does for a living Jon is a skeptic. There is no way the boy is a Psychic, that's until he gets proven wrong.

The two shorts, Dead in the Hills & Dead in the Valley deals with two separate mystery investigations. Both cases are more than 20yrs old, so really the focus is on the relationship that is being formed between the men. Jon finds himself opening up to Andy, and the surprise is that he understands exactly how he feels. Meanwhile, he's still trying to fight the attraction between them while trying to maintain some sort of emotional distance.

I am excited about where this series is going, and how the relationship between the men will evolve. Together, they are so cute and compliment each other well. Lea is determined, but tends to get lost in the clouds sometimes when dealing with his psychic abilities, yet he isn't jaded and has a great heart. Jon is trying to keep himself protected but he is a caretaker at heart. So it's non-stop entertainment when they are together.

I must say that I really enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to more in this series. I am just guessing their investigations will get more extravagant and real time. This was just a setting stone in showing Lea gifts, and I am looking forward to more of their adventures.

Should You Read It? Yes, this one should be checked out for the unusual paranormal throwback. It's like watching a mystery TV show but with a paranormal twist. Very excited for more.

4 Pants Off

Last Stop by Lou Harper

Last Stop by Lou Harper
Samhain Publishing

Novel: 200pgs

4 Pants Off

Blurb:
When love drifts into his life, danger isn’t far behind.

Sam Mayne’s life is as dull as the dishwater in his small-town Montana diner, and that’s just how he wants it. Quiet, uneventful, safe from his shadowy past. The breezy young drifter who answers his help-wanted ad makes him uneasy in ways he dare not examine too closely. Except he can’t help but be pulled in by Jay Colby’s spunky attitude, endless stories, and undeniable sex appeal.

Fresh off yet another romantic disaster, Jay doesn’t understand his attraction to the taciturn line cook, but there’s no fighting the chemistry that lands them in bed together. Where Sam’s subtly dominant streak takes command, and Jay delights in discovering the pleasures of his submissive side.

Safe in the assumption their relationship is temporary, neither lover holds back when the heat is on. Until Sam’s deadly past catches up with them with a vengeance, forcing him to drop the life he’s built, pick up his lover, and run. As danger cuts closer to the bone, Sam and Jay are forced to face the truth. About themselves, about the depth of their love—and the newly forged bonds that are about to be tested to the limit. 


Review:
Sam Mayne runs a diner in a small town, he’s the mysterious man who keeps to himself and doesn’t go flaunting his personal life to his customers. It’s work and a little bit a play on the side. He gets his play by leaving the town he lives in because he doesn’t want to flaunt his homosexuality and draw attention to himself. When his waitress skips town with a trucker, Sam is just looking for a little extra help in the kitchen. When Jay Colby knocks on his door, Sam knows the boy is trouble but he’s bloody tempting as sin.

Jay is young and has been hitchhiking his way across towns; he makes no apologies about giving up the love for a ride. Because sometimes you gotta bend over or get on your knees to get what you want. He get’s lucky by finding a job at Sam’s diner, and Sam giving him a place to stay. Jay is thinking he might have a bed partner while he’s passing through the small town Montana, but Sam isn’t making a move ‘what up with that!’.

Just when things are going well for Sam and Jay, something big shakes their foundation. Seems Sam’s mob past has caught up with him, and hiding in a small town no longer offers him protection. Sam is facing down the craziest of the mob bosses and Jay is caught in the crossfire, and Sam is willing to let him go to protect him.

I loved Sam and Jay, I’m a big fan of characters who make no apologies about their past. Jay was cute, and I just enjoyed his frankness when he spoke of his past, though somewhat of a crazy past I still liked it. I loved Sam, his moustache and his sideburns. Reminded of a just handsome everyday kinda guy, who can kick ass and take names. Together they complimented each other and had some hot man love.

Sometimes I was of thrown out of the story by the speed that it was moving, but then the author would throw me right back in and it was like I never missed a beat. It has action, a bit of suspense, humour, and serious sexy time.

Overall, I enjoyed it more for the characters than the actual plot. There is a BDSM theme that’s very tame and spiced up the love scenes. I look forward to more from Lou Harper and I hope she gives another little story about Jay and Sam. I would really love to read about their life after running. 

4 Pants Off

Academic Pursuits by Lou Harper

Academic Pursuits by Lou Harper

Amber Allure

Novella: 101pages

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Blurb:

Jamie Brennan is putting “cad” back into academia!

The son of a well-to-do family and blessed with both dark good looks and buckets of confidence, Jamie lives for the chase. He has a well-deserved reputation around college as a seducer of straight frat boys. No man is off-limits to Jamie—he’s happy to help fellow gay students out of the closet, too. He even has lustful designs on his oblivious English professor, so it’s no surprise that his amorous pursuits often land him in sticky situations.

There's just one flaw in Jamie's perfect world—Roger Hunt. The hunky grad student, who dresses more like a lumberjack than the talented artist he is, gives Jamie hostile looks every time their paths cross. Jamie tries to ignore Roger, but they can't seem to stop running into each other, and Jamie's beginning to wonder if it’s more than chance that continues to steer them down the same halls... 

Review:                                                                                                        

Jaime is a 22 year old college student. He is smart, good looking, and is all about a good time. He has a reputation around campus as being a seducer of straights, he loves the thrill it gives him when he' s blowing some jock in the washroom. No feelings are hurt because hes giving them a new experience and a good time without all the complications of a relationship.

His charms are completely lost on Roger Hunt, the lumberjack looking hottie. Roger doesn't seem really impressed with his playboy attitude or his good looks. Though Jaime is attracted to Roger it seems the attraction might be just one sided because if Roger's scowl is an indication, it's saying 'nope I'm not looking for a good time'.

I can't really call this one a romance, because Jaime doesn't get with Roger until very late in the book. It does centre around their growing relationship, but this book is pretty much the Jaime show and the men in his life until he finally gets with Roger. I am not sure I like Jaime very much and it has nothing to do with him being a little slutty, I just could not bring myself to love him. Ultimately Jaime is a nice guy, who sometimes goes over board with the whole seduction thing but in the end he always ends up alone.

We follow him through many hook-ups with the straight boys, the gay boys, and the closet cases. While he sprouts philosophical ideas on sexuality which I found to be the most enjoyable part of the book. When he goes off on a tangent with his cousin Jo, explaining to her the finesse on he lands his conquest and that it's all a little experimenting on their part and in no way does it make them gay. I don't read many books that explain that it's a lot more than sex that makes a  gay man, and just because you like something in your ass now and again doesn't mean a damn thing.

Overall, I liked the story but something was missing for me. In all honesty I think it has a lot to do with Jaime because I don't really like him all that much. His narrative is humorous but at often times seemed overly obnoxious. I do enjoy Lou Harpers writing style it's crisp and fun, I just had a real hard time connecting to the story and the characters.

3 1/2 Pants Off