Leta Blake

author. human. working hard to become stellar at life.

Leta

A Willful Romantic (Ganymede Quartet Book 3) | Darrah Glass

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Love is everything, but sometimes it’s not enough.

At the dawn of 1901, Henry Blackwell is gathering the courage to share his feelings with his companion slave Martin. Henry is in love, and he’d do anything to make Martin love him in return. In anticipation of making such a declaration, Henry works to be a better person, the sort of man whose love is worth having.

But simply having love returned isn’t enough. Henry wants unreasonable things, impossible things. He wants his love for Martin to be accepted and acknowledged, even admired, by the world at large. He desperately wants there to be a place in the city where he can behave as he likes with the person he loves. Practical Martin doesn’t approve of Henry’s romantic notions and urges caution. Henry struggles between keeping Martin happy and pursuing his dream of acceptance.

This is the third of four installments in the Ganymede Quartet, continuing the story from A Proper Lover (Ganymede Quartet Book 2).

via A Willful Romantic (Ganymede Quartet Book 3) | Darrah Glass.

“This isn’t a book of whips, chains and punishments. It’s a very sweet and often tender story of blossoming young love.” Review of A Most Personal Property

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“If the idea of slaves puts you off, don’t let it. This isn’t a book of whips, chains and punishments. It’s a very sweet and often tender story of blossoming young love. It has a Downton Abbey or Gosford Park feel to it, rather than hard BDSM. Less like Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty books and more like an Upstairs, Downstairs comedy of manners with scorchingly hot sex. Of course if you like the idea of slaves, you should also read this because it’s such a different take on the master/slave relationship and will appeal to anyone interested in servitude in any aspect–giving or receiving.”

via Goodreads | jay-jay Nashville, TN’s review of A Most Personal Property.

5 Stars for A Willful Romantic by Darrah Glass #amreading #sogood

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A Willful Romantic (Ganymede Quartet Book 3)A Willful Romantic by Darrah Glass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My absolute favorite in the series so far. I grinned so much and so long while reading this that my face hurt for hours afterward. The pace of this book seems to pick up and it moves like a train on a track from one interesting event/circumstance to the next. I loved that as I read, I got more and more wrapped up, and that as we approached the climax of this book, I was so anxious and eager simultaneously that I felt a little light-headed. Henry and Martin just get to me. They get under my skin and make me so happy. Henry is a dork in the best way and Martin is his most perfect support. I love their adolescent EMOSHUNS and the sense that they are probably not entirely unique in their situation but are too dumb/scared to find out. The continued presence of Henry’s Uncle Reggie in this book gives us a breath of fresh air and hope, just like it does for Henry. I loved everything about this book and will read it again when I’m having a down day. It’s going to be the comfort-read of the series, I can tell that much! It just makes me so damn happy!

View all my reviews

“I didn’t want this story to end….beautifully written.” Mark D’s review of Smoky Mountain Dreams #gay #romance

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“I didn’t want this story to end….beautifully written. The dialogue between the main characters was so realistic and believable. Having grown up on the edge of Appalachia, I found Christopher’s struggle concerning his self worth to be very believable. 5 STARS to Ms. Blake!”

via Amazon.com: Mark D’s review of Smoky Mountain Dreams.

Sometimes holding on means letting go Christopher Ryder and Jesse Birch are two men hanging on to the past. While Christopher has let go of his failure as a country singer in Nashville, he's still trying to please his narrow-minded, non-accepting family. His beloved Gran loves him the way he is, but Christopher feels painfully invisible to everyone else. He’s happy enough performing at the Smoky Mountain Dreams theme park in Tennessee, but even when Christopher is center stage he aches for someone to see the real him. There's more than meets the eye when it comes to bisexual Jesse. He's raising two kids and fighting with family after a tragic accident took his children’s mother. There's no room in his life for dating, his kids are his priority, and he doesn't want more than an occasional hook-up. He sure as hell doesn't want to fall hard for his favorite local singer, but when Christopher walks into his jewelry studio, Jesse hears a new song in his heart.
Sometimes holding on means letting go
Christopher Ryder and Jesse Birch are two men hanging on to the past. While Christopher has let go of his failure as a country singer in Nashville, he’s still trying to please his narrow-minded, non-accepting family. His beloved Gran loves him the way he is, but Christopher feels painfully invisible to everyone else. He’s happy enough performing at the Smoky Mountain Dreams theme park in Tennessee, but even when Christopher is center stage he aches for someone to see the real him.
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to bisexual Jesse. He’s raising two kids and fighting with family after a tragic accident took his children’s mother. There’s no room in his life for dating, his kids are his priority, and he doesn’t want more than an occasional hook-up. He sure as hell doesn’t want to fall hard for his favorite local singer, but when Christopher walks into his jewelry studio, Jesse hears a new song in his heart.

Smoky Mountain Dreams is available now at:

AMAZON
B&N
SMASHWORDS
iTUNES
SCRIBD
OYSTER

And now at KOBO.

Maybe You Shouldn’t Put your Book on Amazon Pre-Order #sales #writingtips

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FIRST A DISCLAIMER: I have never used Amazon Pre-order because, honestly, if I have a book ready enough to make a pre-order page, then I’ve got a book ready enough to go on sale for realsies. So any discussion here is based on what I’ve witnessed from the experience of author friends who have used the pre-order system on Amazon and the research/reading I’ve done into it via author blogs and writing forums. And basically? I’ve realized that everything said by Renee Rose on her blog and quoted below via the Press This button appears to be 100% accurate. Most of my friends who have used pre-orders have seen zero help in their sales rankings on Amazon, no engagement of Amazon also-bought algorithms, and poor showing altogether for their books. In some cases, the worst showing of their careers.

Please read below to understand why the use of Amazon pre-orders may be linked to this potentially negative outcome, and then head on over to Renee Rose’s blog to see more. If you are having poor sales ever since you started using Amazon pre-orders, possibly consider not using the pre-orders for your next book. Amazon algorithm engagement is key to any sales success and if the pre-orders get effective algorithm engagement then the book is basically doomed.

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From Renee Rose’s blog:

“Amazon Pre-order

Don’t do it.  That’s my expert advice.  Here’s the scoop:  unless you are close to reaching New York Times or USA Today’s Best Seller lists, it will only hurt you. Why? Because if you’re like me, you rely largely on the Amazon algorithm to sell your books for you. That means, Amazon’s recommendations that come in the form of “Customers who bought this book also bought… ”.  No one but the programmers at Amazon know exactly what data goes into Amazon’s algorithm, but most of us agree it has to do with the number of sales you hit initially on your own.  It’s generally accepted that the first 72 hours your book hits Amazon are crucial for getting the Amazon wheel turning in your favor.

So what happens when you put your book on pre-order?  I had understood that the orders made in advance of the release date would count toward my opening day “ranking” on Amazon.  Not True.  I repeat: Not True.  What it does count toward is books sold if you’re trying to hit the New York Times or USA Today list.  While I wish I was in that camp, unfortunately, I am not.

So what happened when I set my latest book to pre-order?  Amazon rank started immediately.  So in the ten days before my book released I had some trickle sales (I think around 25 total) which gave me a lousy ranking, but I wasn’t worried, because I thought they would count on my opening day. Nope. On my opening day I had the worst ranking of my entire career.  Talk about supreme disappointment. I had split my usual opening sales in half with the pre-order thing, and Amazon’s algorithm made a decision on my book based on that ranking. It seemed like my “also bought” recommendations took a long time to come in and sucked. So far the mistake seems to be unrecoverable, not that I’m giving up on my book baby.

The only benefit, I found, was having my links ahead of time for promotional purposes, but considering all the promo I did didn’t help my book, I don’t think that little bonus is worth it. Also, if your book happened to be tagged “adult” (since we are all sex writers here) you would know it ahead of time.  But again, the clock has already begun ticking, so knowing it in the pre-order stage is hardly a boon unless, of course, you pull the book entirely and resubmit with a new title.”

via Why You Shouldn’t Put your Book on Amazon Pre-Order.

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Want to help prevent online bullying? Comment on Facebook

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“As I read hundreds of hideous comments, I suddenly realized I was being subjected to a tiny fraction of what Monica has experienced every day since she was 24 years old, essentially every day of her adult life. I can only begin to imagine how profoundly these hateful comments must have shaped her self-worth. We all find our self-esteem shaken when we feel insulted or disrespected. But to have the entire world insult you to your face — for 17 years straight? That’s abuse on another level.

When my boss asked me how the comments were going, I broke down in tears. That profound moment Monica had had with our live audience was shattered, and I was struggling to maintain her safe space.”

Powerful comments on a powerful talk.

“Hands down the best m/m romance I’ve read yet. Furthermore, one of the best romances I’ve ever read, period.” Review of Smoky Mountain Dreams #gay #romance

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“Hands down the best m/m romance I’ve read yet. Furthermore, one of the best romances I’ve ever read, period. The characterization was fantastic, the story well fleshed out, the motivations and obstacles believable. I was really rooting for Christopher and Jesse, and I felt every hurt and loss each of them suffered with an intensity reserved for only my favorite literary protagonists.”

via Goodreads | Katrina Passick Lumsden (Charlotte, MI)’s review of Smoky Mountain Dreams.

Sometimes holding on means letting go Christopher Ryder and Jesse Birch are two men hanging on to the past. While Christopher has let go of his failure as a country singer in Nashville, he's still trying to please his narrow-minded, non-accepting family. His beloved Gran loves him the way he is, but Christopher feels painfully invisible to everyone else. He’s happy enough performing at the Smoky Mountain Dreams theme park in Tennessee, but even when Christopher is center stage he aches for someone to see the real him. There's more than meets the eye when it comes to bisexual Jesse. He's raising two kids and fighting with family after a tragic accident took his children’s mother. There's no room in his life for dating, his kids are his priority, and he doesn't want more than an occasional hook-up. He sure as hell doesn't want to fall hard for his favorite local singer, but when Christopher walks into his jewelry studio, Jesse hears a new song in his heart.
Sometimes holding on means letting go
Christopher Ryder and Jesse Birch are two men hanging on to the past. While Christopher has let go of his failure as a country singer in Nashville, he’s still trying to please his narrow-minded, non-accepting family. His beloved Gran loves him the way he is, but Christopher feels painfully invisible to everyone else. He’s happy enough performing at the Smoky Mountain Dreams theme park in Tennessee, but even when Christopher is center stage he aches for someone to see the real him.
There’s more than meets the eye when it comes to bisexual Jesse. He’s raising two kids and fighting with family after a tragic accident took his children’s mother. There’s no room in his life for dating, his kids are his priority, and he doesn’t want more than an occasional hook-up. He sure as hell doesn’t want to fall hard for his favorite local singer, but when Christopher walks into his jewelry studio, Jesse hears a new song in his heart.

Smoky Mountain Dreams is available now at:

AMAZON
B&N
SMASHWORDS
iTUNES
SCRIBD
OYSTER

And now at KOBO.

“A beautifully crafted different kind of love story!” 5 Stars! | Review of The River Leith #gay #mmromance

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“This was a beautifully crafted different kind of love story. The relationship between Leith and Zach was extraordinary. This story was unique and captivating. I loved the structure of the whole story. It was true to the belief that true love can conquer anything. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!”

via Goodreads | Sue Madison, OH’s review of The River Leith.

The River Leith is available now at:

AMAZON
B&N
SMASHWORDS
iTUNES
SCRIBD
OYSTER

And now at KOBO.

Memory is everything. After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain. For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach's choices may come back to haunt him. Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.
Memory is everything.
After an injury in the ring, amateur boxer Leith Wenz wakes to discover his most recent memories are three years out of date. Unmoored and struggling to face his new reality, Leith must cope anew with painful revelations about his family. His brother is there to support him, but it’s the unfamiliar face of Zach, a man introduced as his best friend, that provides the calm he craves. Until Zach’s presence begins to stir up feelings Leith can’t explain.
For Zach, being forgotten by his lover is excruciating. He carefully hides the truth from Leith to protect them both from additional pain. His bottled-up turmoil finds release through vlogging, where he confesses his fears and grief to the faceless Internet. But after Leith begins to open up to him, Zach’s choices may come back to haunt him.
Ultimately, Leith must ask his heart the questions memory can no longer answer.

Rise: A Gay Fairy Tale by Keira Andrews and Leta Blake | MM Good Book Reviews

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Review: A unique retelling of the story Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack is looking to escape his life as it was and Rion just wants to protect his family from the cruel world. Their first encounter is intense. But they find a way to help each other out.

I loved the way these characters stories were told. I really felt for both Rion and Jack and was glad they found each other when they needed to the most. Wonderfully written.

via Rise: A Gay Fairy Tale by Keira Andrews and Leta Blake | MM Good Book Reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Rise-A-Gay-Fairy-Tale-ebook/dp/B00UF9EBJ2

“It’s a slave-master story unlike any other in publication.” #gay #slave

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“It’s a slave-master story unlike any other in publication. Its premise is of Victorian era 1900 America where slavery is the norm at least in their region. In this alternate-reality America, slavery isn’t based on race, though. The strangest, and even somewhat disturbing aspect, is that being a slave isn’t portrayed as something horrible or dehumanizing, but as servitude rich with meaning and personal accomplishment; it’s utterly mind bending.Personally, I rather enjoy slave-master romances because of the forbidden Romeo and Juliet like aspect, but there’s always this little underlying abhorrence, too. This book was challenging in that I could sympathize, even admire, Martin’s firm, unwavering joy of not only being a slave-companion, but the very best offered by House Ganymede.”

via A Most Personal Property Ganymede Quartet Book 1 – Kindle edition by Darrah Glass. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com..

Serials Are Killing My Wallet: What a Way to Go!

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I’ve been toying with a serialization idea for awhile and the advent of KU is the only thing that makes it seem possibly a good idea. I have probably another six months before I have to decide for sure, but I think I won’t be going the serialization route and will, instead, drop all four books in the series at once and see what madness that turns out to be. But hmm…. *ponders*

Gratitude: Thank you, thank you, always thank you.

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Gratitude. I’ve got so much to be grateful for in my life.

First and foremost, I want to acknowledge that I’ve got an incredibly supportive family. I’ve got a husband who enthusiastically makes it possible for me to write books and did so even before there was any monetary reason for him to think it was a good idea.

I’ve got a mother who not only cheerleads my writing but reads the books and offers up plot bunnies for me to write for her.

I’ve got a father who thinks what I write is very weird but is proud of me all the same and makes it as easy as he can for me to write by giving me a flexible work schedule. (Yes, I work for my father as his assistant in his financial firm.)

I’ve got a child who wants to hear (very sanitized) versions of the plots and who is invested in everything to do with getting books out. “Mommy, have you finished that Pictures of You series yet? You need to finish that.”

I’ve got an accountant sister-in-law who (sometimes) reads my books and eagerly supports me by agreeing to help me with the accounting side of things–making spreadsheets, etc–for free.

I’ve got so many friends who support me and love me, who listen to my writing stories and read the books, and cheer for me when things go well, and give me hugs and “next time, my friend” when things don’t.

I’ve got co-writers and colleagues who share information willingly and readily, who want us all to succeed, because they know there enough for all of us.

I’ve got beta readers who give up their time and energy to read and improve the books.

And, oh my gosh, you guys…you guys…I have READERS who buy the books and give their time and energy to letting the characters live awhile in their head. What a blessing. What a gift.

Thank you to everyone out there who has given me so much to be grateful for in my life. I hope that I give back half of what you give me.

You’re my heart and my joy. Blessings on all of you.

I’ve got money in my pocket
I like the color of my hair
I’ve got a friend who loves me
Got a house, I’ve got a car
I’ve got a good mother
and her voice is what keeps me here
I’ve got a good father
And his strength is what makes me cry
Feet on ground
Heart in hand
Facing forward
Be yourself
I’ve never wanted anything
No I’ve, no I’ve, I’ve never wanted anything
so bad…so bad

 

Rise: A Gay Fairy Tale – Kindle edition by Keira Andrews, Leta Blake #mmromance #kindleunlimited

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What happens when Jack meets a sexy man atop that beanstalk?

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Rumors of treasure have long sent fortune hunters clambering up a magic beanstalk to a mysterious castle in the clouds. Survivors told of an evil giant who guards the gold and glittering jewels with savage strength. No sane man would dare risk the climb—but Jack has nothing left to lose. Shunned for his evil red hair and abandoned by his cruel lover, he’s desperate to escape his life.

Rion isn’t a giant, only a man bearing the burden of protecting his family’s legacy. It’s a lonely existence, but he’s duty bound. Then Jack appears, and Rion’s world is turned upside down. After a blazing confrontation, undeniable lust sparks. Isolated in the clouds, Jack and Rion give in to their desire and growing connection. But do they have the courage to let go of the past and follow their dreams?

Soon they must protect the treasure—and each other—from a new threat. And they have everything to lose.

This is a retold fairy tale with a twist. Previously published as Ascending Hearts; this version has been revised and expanded.

via Rise: A Gay Fairy Tale – Kindle edition by Keira Andrews, Leta Blake. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com..

 

AVAILABLE ON KINDLE UNLIMITED