Release Blitz for Haunted by Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt - Includes Giveaway

Title: Haunted

Authors: Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt
Series: Hours of the Night #2.5

Release Date: February 19, 2018

BLURB:

Noel Chandler had a good reason for leaving the L.A.P.D. for New Orleans, but when he walks into a burned out Garden District mansion, he discovers there are some things he can’t outrun. The spooks can find him anywhere.
As the resident historian for the cable show Haunts and Hoaxes, Professor Adam Morales keeps an open mind about the supernatural. Or that’s what he tells himself, until he meets a man who puts that principle to the test. Noel’s smart, sexy, and has killer cop instincts. One glance from his bedroom eyes has Adam ready to believe anything.
But is Noel haunted, crazy, or just another hoax? 

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EXCERPT

(This is in Noel’s POV, and if you’ve read the other Hours of the Night stories, you might recognize the house he’s exploring…)

He crossed to the door the other man had come through. It opened into a dining room. His mother’s voice cataloged the furnishings: Regency table and chairs, matching credenza with a large fish statue, and cream porcelain displayed in a glass-doored armoire. Classic, comfortable, and trashed. Clots of ceiling plaster obscured the chandelier, covered every flat surface, and mixed with mud on the wool floral rug. Cleaning up was going to take work.

The next door opened into a posh living room, the furniture the same vintage as the dining room and just as ruined. Underneath the muck, he saw the hand of someone with distinctive taste. Two men living together. Gay? Maybe, though one of his mother’s interior designers would have played with the furniture styles or mixed in some incongruous modern art. These rooms were more restrained.

He’d checked out the kitchen on his way in, so the only other room on the main floor turned out to be sort of a media room, with two oversized, leather-covered couches and a flat-screen TV on the wall. A well-worn wing chair sat next to an end table stacked with water-logged books. Everything had been chosen more for comfort than flash, and under different circumstances, Noel could have crashed on one of those couches and flipped on the TV.

The only jarring note was a small picture hanging right above the light switch. The gilt frame encased a graphic, bloody heart wrapped in a band of thorns and surrounded by a halo of gold. Catholics. Noel had been raised a Performance Anglican with good California-Agnostic values, but no one got far in NOLA without tripping over the Church of Rome.

Which pretty much ruled against this Thaddeus Dupont and Sarasija Mishra being boyfriends. Anybody Catholic enough to hang the bleeding heart of Jesus next to their big screen wouldn’t be out and proud.

But this observation did underline his initial question. Who was Sarasija Mishra, and how had he happened to be at the scene of an explosion right before his house burned down? Hoping he’d find something pertinent, he headed for the stairs.

On the second step, the quiet wrapped around his head like a boa constrictor, muffling the distant sounds of traffic, of life. On the fifth step, the air heated, and under the stench of old smoke, he smelled…gasoline.

On the eighth step, two from the top, the quiet gave way to an insidious crackling, and he almost turned back. “This is stupid,” he murmured. “The fire is out.”

And on the top step, a wave of flame swept around him.

“Shit.” He stumbled down the steps. Midway between floors, he stopped. Quiet pressed against his ears, and the air was clear of any smoke. No more flames. No more gasoline. Just heat, enough to draw beads of sweat down his temples and between his shoulder blades.

No. His mind rebelled, a fierce protest against the input from his senses. In the aftermath of that defiance, his will flagged, sucked down by exhaustion. He took another step, half-ready to head for the nearest bar, where there was a gin and tonic with his name on it.

Again a refusal, but this was accompanied by a surge of determination. There’s no fire, dumbass. He stormed back up, fighting through coils of smoke and the rising heat. Shadows flickered on the walls, sparks flew through the air, and smoke seeped from under the nearest door.

He reached for the knob, the crackling in his head louder than any thought. The knob glowed, red hot. He stretched. He straightened. He…

…couldn’t do it.

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About the Authors

Join Liv & Irene in their private reader group, After Hours!

About Irene Preston

Irene Preston has to write romances, after all she is living one. As a starving college student, she met her dream man who whisked her away on a romantic honeymoon across Europe. Today they live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin, Texas where Dream Man is still working hard to make sure she never has to take off her rose-colored glasses.

Where to find Irene:

IrenePreston.com

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About Liv Rancourt

I write romance: m/f, m/m, and v/h, where the h is for human and the v is for vampire … or sometimes demon … I lean more towards funny than angst. When I’m not writing I take care of tiny premature babies or teenagers, depending on whether I’m at work or at home. My husband is a soul of patience, my dog’s cuteness is legendary, and we share the homestead with three ferrets. Who steal things. Because they’re brats.

Where to find Liv

LivRancourt.com

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Open until March 3rd 2018

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Prerelease Review of Haunted by Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt.

On sale as of 19th February on Amazon.

Haunted (Hours of the Night #2.5) by Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt 3*
BLURB: Noel Chandler had a good reason for leaving the L.A.P.D. for New Orleans, but when he walks into a burned out Garden District mansion, he discovers there are some things he can’t outrun. The spooks can find him anywhere.
As the resident historian for the cable show Haunts and Hoaxes, Professor Adam Morales keeps an open mind about the supernatural. Or that’s what he tells himself, until he meets a man who puts that principle to the test. Noel’s smart, sexy, and has killer cop instincts. One glance from his bedroom eyes has Adam ready to believe anything.

My Review: I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review. I found this story to be a little too short for me because there was so much more I wanted to know about both these men. That aside it was a total win, giving us a brand new couple from the same world (with an occasional mention of previous events, Thaddeus and Sarasija) as the Hours of the Night series. I can only hope that this talented pair of authors decide that Adam and Noel deserve a series of their own. I know I'll be reading it if they do.

Reviewing Aqua Follies by Liv Rancourt.

Aqua Follies by Liv Rancourt 3*
BLURB: The 1950s. Postwar exuberance. Conformity. Rock and roll.
Homophobia.
Russell tells himself he’ll marry Susie because it’s the right thing to do. His summer job coaching her water ballet team will give him plenty of opportunity to give her a ring. But on the team’s trip to the annual Aqua Follies, the joyful glide of a trumpet player’s solo hits Russell like a torpedo, blowing apart his carefully constructed plans.
From the orchestra pit, Skip watches Poseidon’s younger brother stalk along the pool deck. It never hurts to smile at a man, because good things might happen, but the timing has to be right. Once the last note has been played, Skip gives it a shot.
The tenuous connection forged by a simple smile leads to events that dismantle both their lives. Has the damage been done, or can they pick up the pieces together?
My Review: I received a free copy from the author. I will start by saying that I told the author that reading any M/M set in the 50/60's is not really my cup of tea but I would read it as the blurb was interesting. I then gave this a three star rating because the writing was excellent. The characters were good, the background of the synchronised musical came across as accurate to the times it was set in, and the romance had just the right touch of tension to be expected from a time when Homosexual behaviour was illegal. However I just couldn't find myself immersed in the story and ended up reading/listening to 11 other books whilst perusing this one. That said I do recommend you to give it a try if you are into books set in near history, meanwhile I'll go back to reading more of Liv's vampires.

Release Day Promo, Guest Post, and Giveaway for Aqua Follies by Liv Rancourt

Title: Aqua Follies

Author: Liv Rancourt

Release Date: June 15, 2017

Blurb

The 1950s. Postwar exuberance. Conformity. Rock and roll.

 Homophobia.

Russell tells himself he’ll marry Susie becauseit’s the right thing to do. His summer job coaching her water ballet team will give him plenty of opportunity to give her a ring. But on the team’s trip to the annual Aqua Follies, the joyful glide of a trumpet player’s solo hits Russell like a torpedo, blowing apart his carefully constructed plans.

From the orchestra pit, Skip watches Poseidon’s younger brother stalk along the pool deck. It never hurts to smile at a man. Once the last note has been played, Skip gives it a shot. The tenuous connection forged by a simple smile leads to events that dismantle both their lives. Has the damage been done, or can they pick up the pieces together?

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Excerpt

University Street was crowded, but an old Buick with a blunt nose and bulging wheel wells pulled up to the curb and flashed its lights. Skip was driving, Annette called dibs on the front seat, and soon Russell, Susie, and Ryker were packed in the back.

In a couple of blocks, the streets quieted, but instead of the rows of boxy houses, Russell’s attention was caught on Skip’s hair, slicked in place with pomade, the trim curls falling in rows to the back of his neck.

Waiting at a red light, Skip twisted around, catching Russell’s eye. “Doing okay?”

Caught. Russell’s guard went up. Ryker and Susie were hot in a conversation he’d long since given up trying to follow. “Sure. What year is this machine?”

“Nineteen forty-eight.” Skip looked him over, making Russell conscious of his rumpled trousers, open jacket, and loosened tie.

Surprise held Russell still for the extended appraisal. He told himself the way Skip chewed on his lower lip wasn’t meant to tease, and his slow smile couldn’t have been an invitation. He told himself the heat building in his groin would fade away.

The light turned green. Annette turned and bounced onto her knees to check out the back seat.

“Isn’t this swell?” she asked, showering them with bright-eyed excitement.

Swell. Russell sat straighter and shook his jacket closed. Ryker had an arm draped along the top of the seat, almost but not quite touching Susie, who was explaining the finer points of water ballet, tapping his knee with her index finger for emphasis. Russell shifted again, and the flask in his inner coat pocket rubbed against his ribs. He brought it out, and everyone took a hit, everyone except Skip, who kept his hands on the steering wheel and asked for a rain check.

Russell took a final hit from the flask and put it away, trying not to notice the man’s fingers pressing random patterns into the wheel.

“What’s your favorite record?” Skip asked, directing his comment to the group.

Susie jumped in first. “‘Unchained Melody.’”

“I like Pat Boone,” Annette said, which prompted Ryker to blow a raspberry. “What?” she yelped. “He’s a wonderful singer.”

Ryker mimed a yawn, leaned against the car door, and pretended to sleep.

“I prefer Frank,” Russell said. Skip raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

“He sings just like him,” Susie said, pointing to Russell.

Skip shot a glance over his shoulder. “You can sing?”

“He used to be in the Glee Club.”

Russell sighed from deep in his gut. “Shut up, Susie.”

“What do you mean? You’re a great singer.” She grabbed his hand and held it, as if by the warmth of her enthusiasm, she could force his secrets out. “He’s sung in bands before too, and in school musicals and everything.”

“Susie.” Russell wrenched his hand away, embarrassment ratcheting another twist to his bowels.

“Maybe we’ll see if you can sit in with the band tonight,” Ryker said, with just enough of a challenge to set Russell’s teeth on edge.

Russell waved him off. “I don’t think so.” He could carry a tune and find his way around the piano keyboard, but nothing close to what these guys were capable of.

“We’ve got a little combo,” Skip said, putting on the turn signal, his attention on the road. “You could come jam with us one night while you’re here.”

Both Annette and Susie got so excited about the idea of a jam session that Russell had to concede defeat. “Sure. Some night I’ll sing ‘Misty’ for you.”

“It’s a date.” Skip pulled the car into a parking spot next to a worn-out old building, on a street full of worn-out buildings. “Time to slide on in.”

The sly grin accompanying Skip’s invitation went straight to Russell’s balls. To cover, he made a production out of helping the girls from the car.

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Guest Post

Aqua Follies Playlist!!

Thanks so much for having me back, Ilona. I’m really excited to be sharing Aqua Follies with your readers!

Aqua Follies is an m/m romance set in 1950s Seattle. From the beginning, it’s pretty much been a labor of love. The ‘50s were such a complicated time. Society was recovering from WWII, and there was economic growth and a new sense of excitement, of possibility. Kids were dancing to rock and roll, and everybody was having a good time.

Well, almost everybody. The 50s was also the era of McCarthyism, where a high value was placed on conformity. Segregation was part of everyday life, and being gay could get you locked up, lobotomized, or worse.

It was pretty much impossible to capture all of that, so one element I focused on was the music. There’s so much more than Rock Around the Clock! I used to sing with bands, so I know quite a few jazz standards, and you know what? Many of them turned up in Aqua Follies. (LOL!)

To give you a taste, I put together a youtube playlist that I’ll hope you’ll check out. There are 16 songs that either appear in the story or are performed by someone who gets a mention. You can listen while you’re reading an excerpt from the story and I hope you’ll enter the giveaway for a $25 gift card. Thanks very much!!

Here’s the list:

 

Author Bio

I write romance: m/f, m/m, and v/h, where the h is for human and the v is for vampire … or sometimes demon … I lean more towards funny than angst. When I’m not writing I take care of tiny premature babies or teenagers, depending on whether I’m at home or at work. My husband is a soul of patience, my dog’s cuteness is legendary, and we share the homestead with three ferrets. Who steal things. Because they’re brats.

Where to find Liv

LivRancourt.com

Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List | Goodreads

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Reviewing Bonfire by Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt.

Bonfire (Hours of the Night #1.5) by Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt 4*
BLURB: Silent night, holy hell.
Thaddeus and Sarasija are spending the holidays on the bayou, and while the vampire’s idea of Christmas cheer doesn't quite match his assistant’s, they’re working on a compromise. Before they can get the tree trimmed, they’re interrupted by the appearance of the feu follet. The ghostly lights appear in the swamp at random and lead even the locals astray.
When the townsfolk link the phenomenon to the return of their most reclusive neighbor, suspicion falls on Thaddeus. These lights aren't bringing glad tidings, and if Thad and Sara can't find their source, the feu follet might herald a holiday tragedy for the whole town.

My Review: Having read book one of this series and enjoyed it, I was expecting to do the same here, I was not disappointed. Liv and Irene have a way of combining their words to produce an enjoyable, action-packed, suspenseful read that I couldn't put down. I am so looking forward to reading many more books about Sara and Thad and truly hope Liv and Irene continue to give me hours of pleasure with this series.

Guest Post by Liv Rancourt, co-author of 'Bonfire -The Hours of the Night book 1.5' (Psst there's a giveaway too!)

Irene and I are so happy to be back here on Bonkers About Books! Last time we were here, it was the day before the release of our m/m paranormal romance, Vespers – Book 1 in the Hours of the Night. And coincidentally, tomorrow is the release of Bonfire – the Hours of the Night book 1.5.

So yay! Happy release day to us!

It might not seem quite logical to plunk a holiday story in the middle of a series about vampires and demons, but that’s what we did. We wanted to focus more on the relationship between Thaddeus and Sarasija, and the way they negotiate their Christmas celebration turned into a handy short-hand for how they work through other issues.

But because Thaddeus is a vampire, and he lives in the middle of the Louisiana bayou, there’s a definite spook-factor to the proceedings. Thad and Sara have a mystery to solve, although this story doesn’t have nearly as much bloodshed as Vespers did. Hardly any bloodshed at all, actually.  Except, you know, when the vampire needs to feed…

In addition to the creepiness associated with a story set in the swamp, the setting gave us a whole lot of other stuff to work with. When we were brainstorming early story ideas, we spent time researching the folktales associated with the area. We read stories about the rougarou and the loup garou, about M’su Diable and the gris gris, and also, the feu follet, or fifolet.

The feu follet are swamp lights, which might not sound very threatening – until you’re following one alone in the dark. It didn’t take us long to decide the feu follet legend was a perfect choice for a vampire’s holiday story. I mean, most people put up lights in there house at this time of year, and there’s a special star, so why not weird flames in the swamp? Here’s a brief snippet from Bonfire, where Sara learns why the lights are bad news…

“Okay,” Sara said, “humor me, Bren. Tell me the legend.”

“Not just one legend,” Jeremiah said. “There are tons of them. The feu follet are guarding a treasure. The feu follet appear when there’s been a murder.”

“They’re the soul of a child who died before being baptized,” Thad added. “Although I do not think the Good Lord would consign a child to such torment.”

Jeremiah nodded. “Hadn’t heard that one. Can’t say I like it either. My mom’s cousin over in Grosse Tete used to talk about them like vampires. Ghosts that sucked blood.”

“Why would they suddenly appear, though?” Sara asked. “I mean, this is something new, right? What do the legends have in common?”

Thad and Jeremiah exchanged a troubled glance. Sara could tell they both had the same thought.

“Murder and treasure,” Jeremiah said. “There are a lot of legends, but the most common ones involve murder or treasure or both. Sometimes it was murder over money. Sometimes the spirit was bound to the treasure to protect it. Murder and treasure.”

Murder and treasure. Yeah, sounds kind of heavy for a holiday story, but I promise, everything works out in the end. We also pilfered liberally from Bayou holiday traditions, even going to far as to name the novella after the bonfires that burn on the levee on Christmas Eve. The fires are meant to light the way for Pere Noel, and the image of flames against the night sky captures what this book is about, the passion of two men for each other.

Bonfire’s a little bit lighter than Vespers, but it carries over some important elements, namely how our two heroes relate to each other and how their beliefs influence their behavior. There’s heat, and there’s humor, and there’s eight tiny alligators pulling Santa’s sleigh!

And you know, Thaddeus and Sara might have defeated the Big Bad in book 1, but Weyer’s Praestigiis Daemonum is still out there somewhere, and depending on who gets ahold of it, all hell could very well break loose. You’ll have to wait a few months for book 2, to see how that works out.

Keep reading for an excerpt, and make sure you enter our giveaway.

BONFIRE

By Irene Preston & Liv Rancourt

Release Date: November 15, 2016

Contact: Irene Preston (irenepreston@gmail.com)

   Liv Rancourt (livrancourt@yahoo.com)

ISBN: 978-0-9968099-4-8
BLURB

Silent night, holy hell.

Thaddeus and Sarasija are spending the holidays on the bayou, and while the vampire's idea of Christmas cheer doesn't quite match his assistant's, they're working on a compromise. Before they can get the tree trimmed, they're interrupted by the appearance of the feu follet. The ghostly lights appear in the swamp at random and lead even the locals astray.

When the townsfolk link the phenomenon to the return of their most reclusive neighbor, suspicion falls on Thaddeus. These lights aren't bringing glad tidings, and if Thad and Sara can't find their source, the feu follet might herald a holiday tragedy for the whole town.

This holiday novella can be enjoyed alone or as book 1.5 of the Hours of the Night Series. Bonfiretakes place the December after the events in Vespers.

Excerpt

Pinky’s was surprisingly busy for a winter night. A lot of their business came from people who had vacation camps along the Amite. According to Bren, the winter months were slow. It was Friday night, though. The bar, at least, looked hopping with local customers. Sara noticed several faces he had seen in the store before, and Chase sat at the end of the bar nursing a drink. When Bren finally broke away and came to the table, Sara gave her his order and waved her off. “Take care of your other customers. Come talk to me when you get a minute.”

“Might not get a chance. We’ve got a band tonight. I can probably get a few words in if you want to come up to the bar. Otherwise, text me after we close.”
After she left, Sara turned back to his companion. They had never dined out together, he realized. He had always assumed dining in public would be awkward when only one person could eat. Sitting across from him, Thad looked totally relaxed. Not awkward at all.

“Christmas tree shopping and dinner.” Sara grinned across the table. “Thank you, Thaddeus. It’s a proper date.”

A tinge of pink flitted across Thad’s cheekbones, a sign he was both embarrassed and pleased.

Sara decided he had been wrong. Getting Thad out in public was totally worth delaying their tree plans for a few hours. Maybe they could even stay for some of the music. He looked into Thad’s beautiful, stormy-gray eyes and felt his heart expand. He was just an ordinary guy. How had he wound up sitting across from the cutest vampire in the world? Thad’s blush deepened a little, and Sara wished he dared touch his hand on the table. Back in Seattle with any of his past boyfriends, he wouldn’t have hesitated. Thaddeus would be uncomfortable with the gesture, though, just as he had been uncomfortable when Sara had pressed too close to him at the Christmas tree lot.

He searched around for some conversation instead. He didn’t want to think about the lights right now. He wanted to appreciate this moment with Thaddeus.

“Did you really never have a Christmas tree?” It seemed odd. Christmas was a Christian holiday after all. “I didn’t think Christmas trees were a modern invention. Were your parents really strict or…” He trailed off as the most obvious explanation occurred to him. “Oh, jeez. I’m sorry. Were you too poor?”

Thad didn’t look disturbed, though. “We were not rich,” he said. “I suppose we might have had a tree. My grandparents in New Orleans had one every year. But many of our neighbors here in the country could not have afforded one. My mother would not allow us the indulgence when the other children would be without.”

“Oh. That’s…” Was it nice? He didn’t know. Except for a few weeks between graduation and when he had started work for Thaddeus, he had never been poor. The comparison was hardly valid. Would the other children have envied them the tree? Or would they have enjoyed seeing it?

“Did you ever want one?”

“I cannot remember. The tradition was not as strong as it is now. I don’t think I gave it much thought. I was more concerned if I would find a hard candy with the orange in my stocking on Christmas morning.”

A candy? Sara started to make a mental note to add Godiva to his Christmas list, then realized Thaddeus couldn’t eat it and was twice as horrified.

“Stop whatever you are thinking. I was not deprived as a child.” Thaddeus sounded amused.

“But you’re Catholic.”

“And?”

“It’s a Christian holiday, I thought you would do all kinds of celebrations.”

“We went to Mass,” Thad said. “We celebrated the birth of Our Lord. And on Christmas morning, we each received a present in honor of his birth.”

Sara thought of the mounds of presents under the Mishra tree every year. His family had definitely not done Mass, but if it was important to Thad…

“Mass?”

“I miss the majesty of ‘Adeste Fidelis’— ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful,’ cher, at the opening of the Mass. That is my Christmas tradition, or it was.”

“When is that?” Sara asked. “Is it something you do out here? Or do we go to the monastery? Do I need special clothes? Do I need to memorize a chant or something?” He broke off as Thad’s last words penetrated. “What do you mean was? We can still do it, right?”

Thad stared at him across the table, face impassive but eyes bleeding emotion. “We can go if you wish. The monks will not turn us away, or even the parish priest, but we will not be offered communion. Now they invite me, but they do not invite me in.”

“Even on Christmas?” The monks used Thad as their weapon and commanded his obedience at every turn, and they couldn’t offer him this small comfort?

Before he could work up an argument, Thad changed the subject.

“And is your family not Hindu?” he asked. “How is it that you celebrate a Christian holiday?”

“Oh. That was Dad’s idea,” Sara said. “He was atheist.”

Thad’s brow furrowed.

“Well, but he and my mom were immigrants, you know? Dad wanted us kids to fit in, and Christmas is such a big holiday. So he said we didn’t have to be Christian to do Santa, we just had to be American. He loved decorating every year, and we threw this big Christmas party for everyone we knew…” He trailed off. “Last Christmas was the first time Dad wasn’t around to put up the lights. Dev and I did it, but…” Suddenly, he felt like tears, right there in Pinky’s.

“I am glad we got the tree,” Thad said. “And you must put up whatever decorations you wish.”

“Thank you, Thaddeus.” He tried to smile.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

About Irene Preston

Irene Preston has to write romances, after all she is living one.  As a starving college student, she met her dream man who whisked her away on a romantic honeymoon across Europe.  Today they live in the beautiful hill country outside of Austin, Texas where Dream Man is still working hard to make sure she never has to take off her rose-colored glasses.

Where to find Irene

IrenePreston.com

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Mailing List | Goodreads

About Liv Rancourt

I write romance: m/f, m/m, and v/h, where the h is for human and the v is for vampire … or sometimes demon … I lean more towards funny than angst. When I’m not writing I take care of tiny premature babies or teenagers, depending on whether I’m at home or at work. My husband is a soul of patience, my dog’s cuteness is legendary, and we share the homestead with three ferrets. Who steal things. Because they’re brats.

Where to find Liv

LivRancourt.com

Facebook | Twitter | Mailing List | Goodreads

Buy Links

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Giveaway
To celebrate Bonfire’s release, we’ve got a $20 gift card for some lucky person. Happy Holidays!

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