My autism fact for Autism Awareness Month – Dogs have been shown to improve autistic children’s quality of life, independence, and safety. The presence of a trained dog can reduce aggressive behaviour, calm the child, and serve as a link to the child’s community.
As a parent I loved cooking with my kid when he was growing up, cookies and cakes were the order of the day as a preteen, and once he was a teen we moved on to meals. He enjoyed it so much that he took it as an exam subject and I spent two years spending far too much money on weird and wonderful chillies, since the focus of his cooking was often Mexican food.
But what if my child had autism, would I still have been able to enjoy the chaos that was teaching him to cook. The simple answer is... yes.
Food can be an issue for some autistic children, so having a hand in making their meal can encourage them to eat it. Motor skill limitations, following directions, sensory aversions, and strong likes and dislikes of certain foods can all be challenges that will need to be overcome with patience, creativity, and possibly a detailed list of instructions. But the rewards can be much farther reaching than getting them to eat a meal. Learning to cook provides confidence, independence, an opportunity to get involved with family and community, maybe even the chance of a job.
Many of my books involve food as flirtation. I planned to run a giveaway of one of those but then I realised I can't think of a single one where food isn't offered up in some significant way. So winners choice of a book from my backlist.
A Vigil in the Mourning by Hailey Turner Series: Soulbound IV Publisher: Self-Published Release Date (Print & Ebook): April 6, 2020 Length (Print & Ebook): 102,951 Subgenre: LGBTQ Urban Fantasy Warnings: None All buy links or pre-order links:
The devil you know is never the one you should trust.
Special Agent Patrick Collins is dispatched to Chicago, chasing a lead on the Morrígan’s staff for the joint task force. Needing a cover for his presence in the Windy City, Patrick is ordered to investigate a politician running for mayor. In the lead up to election day, not everything is what it seems in a city where playing to win means appeasing the gods first and the electorate second.
But Chicago brings its own set of problems outside the case: a stand-offish local god pack, a missing immortal, and Patrick’s twin sister. Fighting Hannah and the Dominion Sect provides Patrick with a sinister reminder that some blood ties can never be cut.
Left behind in New York City, Jonothon de Vere finds himself targeted by hunters who will go through anyone to kill him—including the packs under his protection. With a bounty on his head, Jono is forced to make a choice that Patrick would never approve of. Doing so risks breaking the trust he’s built with the man he loves, but not acting will give the rival New York City god pack leverage Jono can’t afford to give up.
When Patrick and Jono reunite in Chicago, Patrick must confront the fraying of a relationship he’s come to rely on for his own sanity. But fixing their personal problems will have to wait—because Niflheim is clawing at the shores of Lake Michigan and the dead are hungry.
A Vigil in the Mourning is a 102k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot and a HFN ending. It is a direct sequel to A Crown of Iron & Silver. Reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one.
Praise for A Vigil in the Mourning (Soulbound #4):
Patrick and Jono fight for their lives, tangling with Norse gods and monsters, while their relationship is strained by secrets and separation, in another exciting, deliciously angsty ride from Turner's Soulbound series. — Layla Reyne, author of the Fog City Trilogy
VIGIL IN MOURNING takes the Soulbound series a step further into stellar story crafting. A change in scenery for Patrick and a separation from his soulmate raises the stakes, and cliches are deftly avoided and expectations shattered as the central love story becomes fraught with tension. Each plot twist leaves the reader gasping and clinging to the pages, and I was not expecting that ending. Jono and Patrick lead an ensemble cast of characters that includes a snack obsessed dragon, a seer with a sarcasm problem, and gods that can't help but meddle. Patrick's snarktastic attitude leaves me laughing and terrified at the trouble he calls down. — SJ Himes, bestselling author
Teaser for Blog and Review Tour:
Patrick shoved the TSA badge, a set of janitor keys, someone’s paper boarding pass, and a lanyard with LaGuardia printed on it into his jacket pocket, fingertips glowing from a look-away ward. Sparks of his magic twisted through the air in their immediate area as the ward directed everyone’s attention away from them.
“I told you to keep your hands to yourself when we went through security,” Patrick hissed.
“Maybe people shouldn’t leave stuff lying around waiting for someone to take it,” Wade muttered.
“They were wearing the damn things!”
Wade shrugged, gaze darting around as they walked through O’Hare, apparently unrepentant of his thieving ways. “I want a hot dog.”
Patrick rolled his eyes and kept walking. “I spent fifty dollars on the plane feeding you. Can we get out of O’Hare first?”
“But Chicago Style Hot Dogs is right there.”
About Hailey Turner:
Hailey Turner is big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She's been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.
Connect with Hailey:
Newsletter: You can keep up with Hailey's future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download several free short stories: http://bit.ly/HaileyTurnerNews
Celebrate this exciting new installment in the SOULBOUND series with a giveaway! Two winners will receive any e-copy of a Hailey Turner book. Must be 18 to enter and win. Open Internationally. Enter here!
Is the world ready for an openly gay king and his prince consort?
Blurb
Joel is happy, confident and working class.
Eric is shy, insecure and a member of one of the oldest aristocratic families in Europe.
When they meet in university sparks fly.
They say opposites attract, but when Joel discovers that Eric is the crown prince and future king of Doggerland, he starts having doubts.
They want to get married. They think their greatest battle will be convincing the King and the Prime Minister to give their consent. But estranged relatives coming out of the woodwork, intrusive tabloid press, and the traditional, stifling lifestyle of the aristocracy conspire against them.
Are Joel and Eric secure enough in themselves and each other to overcome a world which is not as tolerant as they thought?
Excerpt
I got up early that morning. I entered the breakfast room five minutes after it opened. I wanted to beat Eric to it. I wanted to be the one to tell him to fuck off when he pulled up a chair at my table. I sat at my table at five past, sipping coffee and nibbling on a croissant. I was engrossed by that croissant. How did they make them so delicious? I was busy dissecting the different pastry layers when a voice suddenly spoke to me.
"Mother never taught you not to play with your food?"
It was Eric, towering over me. His rosy face looked freshly scrubbed, his hair tightly combed, his white silk shirt freshly ironed, his beige chinos pressed. Before I could do anything to prevent it, he pulled up a chair and sat down before me.
"Where is Petra?" I asked.
"She’s gone to her friend’s hen do. Probably won’t see her again till Christmas."
He lifted his arm and clicked his fingers at the waiter. "Coffee, please. Black. And... um... eggs. Scrambled." Then he shooed the waiter away with his hand.
How rude, I thought. This was a side of Eric I hadn’t seen before.
"How was your little drive yesterday?" I made no attempt at hiding the bitterness in my voice.
"It was good. We drove along the coast and had a long good chat."
"What about?"
"About you, as it happens."
"Me?"
He sat up and cleared his throat. "I... um... I want to ask you a question. I wanted to ask you last night in your room. But you were sleeping."
"What do you want to ask?"
He hesitated for a few beats. Then he blurted it out. "Would you like to marry me?"
Well! I don’t need to tell you that I was shocked. I gaped at him silently. Perplexed..
"This isn’t a proposal, you understand,” he added hurriedly. “I’m not asking you to marry me. Not yet. I can’t without the permission of my father and my government. But I’m asking you whether marrying me is something you would consider."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I had a long chat about it with Petra. She said she talked to you last night. She likes you. She said you’d make a good partner for me."
"But we only talked for about ten minutes."
"Well, she’s a good judge of character. She saw the same good qualities in you as I did."
"What good qualities?"
"Your confidence. Your self-assuredness."
"But I have no confidence."
"Of course you do. I mean, look at you. You’re poor, you’re Welsh, you’re not particularly good looking, and yet you’re sitting here in the smartest hotel in Brighton as if you had every right to do so."
"Wow! You really know how to sweep a boy off his feet!"
"No, you don’t understand. These are things that I like about you."
"That I’m not particularly good looking?"
"What I meant was..." He shook his head. "This conversation isn’t going at all the way I planned it. What I mean was that you’re grounded. You’re down to earth. You don’t care what people think of you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be wearing that."
"What?"
"That hoodie. This is the Pavillion Hotel, not a hip-hop bar in Brooklyn."
"Do you want me take it off?"
"No. You don’t understand. I like that about you. I like that you snubbed the nice clothes I bought for you and chose to wear your council estate gear instead. I like that you come down for breakfast without even bothering to comb your hair. I like your ordinariness. Your earthiness. You’re a working class kid with the balls and intelligence to break out of your environment and compete with us rich kids. And you outshine us. Not with your clothes, or your wit, or your family name, but by being yourself. That’s what I like about you. And that’s what I want standing beside me when I’m king. Petra thinks so too, and she’s an excellent judge of character."
I was flabbergasted. Never had I felt so insulted and complimented at the same time! I’d read Petra wrong.
"Well?" Eric asked.
"What?" I’d long forgotten what the original question was. I was still reeling from his speech. You outshine us. That was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me.
"Would you consider marrying me?" he said. "Or rather, what I’m asking is whether you’d be willing to be my right hand man. We’d be the first gay royal couple in history. We’d do all those things that you talked about in the car. Be ambassadors to gay rights and so forth. But it won’t be easy. We’ll be hated by many. There’ll be insults, ridicule, maybe even death threats. And that’s only if our marriage is approved by King and parliament, which will be a whole battle in itself. But one I’m willing to fight if you are by my side. So what do you think? Will you consider it? Will you be the next Prince Consort of Doggerland? Will you be my husband?"
About the Author
Born to Dutch parents and raised in Colombia and England, I am a rootless wanderer with itchy feet. I've spent the last few years living and working in The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Sudan and Bulgaria, but I have every confidence that I will now finally be able to settle down among the olive groves of Andalucia.
I am an avid reader and film fan (in fact, my study is overflowing with my various dvd collections!)
I did an MA in creative writing for film and television at the University of Sheffield. After a failed attempt at making a career as a screenwriter, I turned to the theater and wrote and produced a play called ´Death Takes a Lover´ (which has since been turned into the first D.S.Billings Victorian Mystery). The play was performed on the London Fringe to great critical acclaim.
I am currently living in Spain where I make ends meet by teaching English.
James Redbourn, Viscount of Crofton, enjoys all the pleasures King Charles II’s Restoration court affords him. His encounter with the enigmatic Chivalrous Highwayman in Epping Forest, sets the court aflame. Tales of the charming rogue treating his latest victim with his usual gentle hand has ladies’ fans quivering with every whisper.
While the Chivalrous Highwayman is a delicious fantasy, it is the intriguing Adam Dowson, the son of one of the greatest Cavalier generals, who is firing James’s daytime desires. Their friendship might be growing stronger, but Adam seems to be one of the few men who is impervious to James’s charms, no matter how hard James tries.
When James’s father become deathly ill, James races home. He is ill-prepared to become the 4th Earl of Crofton, and his father’s vague but dire warnings on his deathbed only make matters worse. Now the earl, James must discover what is happening at Crofton Hall that had troubled his father so deeply.
James turns to Adam for help. Despite Adam’s own secrets, James trusts him. James hopes he’s not making a mistake, risking his family estate, and his already bruised heart. Together, they need to work to clear out the rotten core at Crofton Hall, and along the way secure a happy future for them both.
A sneaky snippet of what’s in store…
Adam picked up his coffee. “But as I have said before, I am not a man who is of much interest.”
“That I do not believe. You have travelled widely and spent time in the company of many different people. All these things shape a man.” Adam was shaped very nicely, but James kept that comment to himself.
“Then think how terribly dull I would have been without my experiences. My interests lie in reading and debate, not dancing or drinking. The whims of court are interesting to me as an observer, not as a participant.”
“You sound as if you might be one of those Fellows from the Royal Society—constant research.”
Adam scoffed. “Yet it is you who was educated at Cambridge.”
James warmed inwardly to the fact that Adam must have taken some pains to get the measure of him. “My father has no concern for my actions at court, but if I had not attended Trinity at Cambridge, like him, his father, and his father before him, I would not be so easily forgiven. I know it is not necessarily the case for many in my position to indulge in a university education, but after returning from the continent and all the upheaval, I found the time there very… restorative.”
Meet Rebecca
REBECCA COHEN spends her days dreaming of a living in a Tudor manor house, or a Georgian mansion. Alas, the closest she comes to this is through her characters in her historical romance novels. She also dreams of intergalactic adventures and fantasy realms, but because she’s not yet got her space or dimensional travel plans finalised, she lives happily in leafy Hertfordshire, England, with her husband and young son. She can often be found with a pen in one hand and sloe gin with lemon tonic in the other.
For the last decade, successful restaurant owner and chef, Ash Ariti, has worked to make amends for the career-ending mistake he made when he was young and allowed anger to consume him. Driven to be worthy of the second chance he’s been afforded, Ash built a life centered around giving back to his community, all while maintaining a low profile. When he finds himself thrust into the spotlight of a bachelor auction to help one of his favorite causes, he never expects to come face-to-face with the sexy man who’s career he destroyed.
Isaiah Blake has spent a lifetime proving he’s deserving of what he has. After a hit on the ice prematurely ended his NHL career, he committed to becoming a better version of himself. Now, he’s living an open and honest life. So, when he has an opportunity to interview bachelors participating in the Hockey Allies auction for the Hockey Network, the only thing he’s hoping to gain is exposure for his non-profit. That is, until his former rival Ash, steps onto the auction block. Isaiah sees an opportunity to make amends for the suffering he caused ten years ago. Unfortunately, Ash is wary of Isaiah’s motives, and soon Isaiah realizes there is more to Ash’s cautiousness than the history that binds them.
Attraction takes hold as Ash and Isaiah begin to build a new professional alliance and friendship. They must learn to forgive each other, and most importantly, themselves. With outside forces and public opinion hawking, will their relationship be over before it begins? Or will they discover joy and redemption in each other, and find their happily ever after?
Author Bio
Chantal Mer is an author and optimist. Her stories explore relationships and what it means to be family. When she’s not writing about strong women, strong men, and strong love, she can be found walking her adorable dog, volunteering at her kids’ school (in the library, of course), teaching at the local university, and reading.
Chantal lives outside of Philadelphia (home of the Super Bowl LII champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, woot, woot!) with her husband, kids, Toffee the Wonder Dog, and vicious cat, Gracie.
Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity.
Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.
Slater Knox is known around the league as the tough enforcer for the Buffalo Bedlam. His popular social media accounts and open relationship with the fans have made him one of the most beloved players in hockey. They've also earned him a spot in the All Star game, and an invitation to be a bachelor at a charity auction. For all his living in the spotlight, he's hiding a secret... He's in love with his best friend and keeping quiet grows harder each day.
Noah Alzado is the newest addition to the team, and has spent the last few months joined at the hip with his best friend Slater. Slater is everything Noah wants, but won't let himself have. They are best friends, roommates, and teammates, that's three complications too many. Plus, Noah guards his private life as fiercely as Slater shares his own. His best option is to keep his head down, help his team win, and not do anything stupid... like kissing Slater again.
Everything comes to a head during All Star weekend, where the best in the league compete for ultimate bragging rights, and at the auction, where temptation is hot enough to melt the ice. The chemistry between Slater and Noah is scorching, but can they lower their defenses enough to make a play for love?
Author Bio
USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Scott Shelley writes stories with heat and heart, where love always wins. Her romances give readers lighthearted and emotionally satisfying escapes into happily ever after. In addition to crafting stories, she is also a professional voiceover artist and enjoys lending her voice to a wide range of projects. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and is an avid fan of her hometown sports teams. Her favorite things include running (honestly, it's more like jogging), sports (especially hockey), hard rock (but will listen to anything from heavy metal to show tunes), and things with elements of whimsy. Get in touch with her at http://www.susanscottshelley.com.
Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity.
Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.
I can’t believe I let my best friend talk me into being auctioned off for charity. But when I get a look at the guy who placed the winning bid, I feel like I’m the one who snagged the top prize.
AUSTIN
I didn’t get to where I am by letting opportunities slip through my fingers. When I learn that Kyle Pressgrove will be part of the bachelor auction taking place during All-Star weekend, that’s the kind of chance that you grab ahold of, and I have no intention of letting go.
With my career on the line and the possibility of Kyle being traded to a team half-way across the country, things between us might be over before they’ve even begun. I’d give anything to keep Kyle in my life, but everything might not be enough.
Jeff Adams has written stories since he was in middle school and became a published author in 2009 when his first short stories were published. He writes both gay romance and LGBTQ+ young adult fiction…and there’s usually a hockey player at the center of the story.
Jeff lives in central California with his husband of more than twenty years, Will. Some of his favorite things include the musical "Rent" and, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey teams, and the reality TV competition "So You Think You Can Dance." He, of course, loves to read, but there isn’t enough space to list his favorite books.
Jeff and Will are also podcasters. The "Big Gay Fiction Podcast" is a weekly show devoted to gay romance as well as pop culture. New episodes come out every Monday at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. The "Big Gay Author Podcast" chronicles their journey to become full time authors. New episodes drop Saturdays at BigGayAuthorPodcast.com.
Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity.
Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.
