Showing posts with label Roan Parrish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roan Parrish. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Invitation To The Blues by Roan Parrish - Review and Release Day Blitz!


Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Publisher: Monster Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 28th, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): About 81,000 words

Subgenre: Contemporary romance

Content warning: depression, suicide, thoughts of worthlessness, food issues

Links:

Barnes & noble: http://bit.ly/2C9aiJP
Angus & robinson: http://bit.ly/2Cudrzz



Book blurb:

Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.

The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content warning: This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.


Review:

* * * * *

After reading Small Change I absolutely knew that Jude’s story was going to be difficult for me to read.  In the end I was surprisingly incorrect.  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s not all rainbows and unicorns.  Quite the contrary.  Jude suffers from severe depression.  End stop.  There is no magic dick in this story.  There is no magic cure at all.  Because that doesn’t exist in real life.  But that’s what makes this story extra special and extra beautiful.  


Watching Jude struggle with his self-worth and starting all over again in the cutthroat world of classical music was heartbreaking but never uncomfortable.  It just….was.  He is who he is and his struggles will always be there.  Somedays they will be better, other days they will be worse, but they will always be there.

I said there is no magic dick but it sure helps to have someone in your corner.  Jude has a lot of people who love him and support him 100%.  His brother, Chris.  Ginger.  His parents.  But Faron is the one that understands him.  The one that lets him be Jude.   Who hears what Jude needs and then makes it happen.  THAT is what makes Faron magic. 

 I hate saying sex scenes are hot when I review a book.  Simply because everyone has different ideas of what they think is hot.  But Roan Parrish writes erotic scenes like no one else.  I noticed this in Small Change as well.   Her books show readers just how diverse pleasure can be.  It’s truly beautiful.

This review is a bit choppy but I’m still recovering from all the emotions after reading this one.   It was beautiful and I can’t recommend it enough.   Guaranteed that it will be on the re-read list in the near future.

Nat


Excerpt:

“Hold this,” Faron murmured into my hair, and handed me the sketchbook. I held it so he could draw with his right hand as his left continued to explore my torso. He sketched our feet, his elegant and high-arched, and mine, bony and slender; his dark, mine pale. And all the while, his fingers sketched other shapes against my skin. He dipped into my navel and ran along my ribs, sending shivers down my spine. When he skimmed a fingertip over my nipple I gasped and tensed against him.

He traced my nipple until it was a hard peak, then squeezed it, and my hips jerked, making the sketchbook jump in my hand. Faron’s breath went rough and he nuzzled into my hair.

My heart was pounding and I knew he could feel it. I squirmed to try and take my shirt off, but I couldn’t quite get it. Faron stripped it off of me and ran sure fingers along my ribs. Then he traced the blue veins visible beneath my skin from my heart to where they disappeared under my waistband.

With my oversized shirt out of the way, the bulge of my erection in my jeans was obvious.

I drew my knee up, resting it against the back of the couch. He slid a hand up the inside of my thigh so slowly I held my breath, but he didn’t touch my hard cock and I shuddered with arousal.


“Jude,” Faron breathed, and I let the sketchbook fall between us as I went for the button on my jeans. I felt like I was made of pounding heart, flushed skin, raging need, and it felt like nothing I’d ever experienced. It didn’t even feel like sex; it felt like desire. It felt like what I knew sex was supposed to feel like but rarely had for me.



Enter to win 2 e-copies of any back catalog book by Roan Parrish:




About Roan Parrish:
Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Connect with Roan:


Thursday, March 8, 2018

Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish - COVER REVEAL


It's finally here!  The cover for Invitation to the Blues by Roan Parrish.  Look at all that angst and anger and sadness!   Seriously, this cover is everything I was expecting in Jude.  

We know you are looking forward to reading beyond the cover soon but in the meantime check out the excerpt below! 







Title: Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Series: Small Change series, book 2

Publisher: Monster Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 28th, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): About 81,000 words

Subgenre: Contemporary romance

Content warning: depression, suicide, thoughts of worthlessness, food issues

Includes: classical music, painting, tattooing, power exchange, edging, orgasm delay, discussions of race

Order from:
Barnes & noble: http://bit.ly/2C9aiJP
Angus & robinson: http://bit.ly/2Cudrzz

Book blurb:
Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.


The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content warning: This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.


Teaser:

My problem with Faron was that he was stunning.

He was tall and taut, with broad shoulders and an elegant neck. His tawny brown skin was flawless and he had dreamy, gray-brown eyes that always seemed to focus on something in a plane beyond this one. His riot of corkscrew curls was sometimes loose, but today was caught up in a topknot. It had been bleached nearly white when I first met him and was now growing out. His cheekbones were high and broad, casting shadows that made him look like he was candlelit from every angle. His mouth was lush and full, and his rare smiles turned his chiseled beauty to a warmth so engaging that you didn’t ever want him to look away from you.

His beauty was a problem because it made me want him and I hated wanting anything. Desire was the beginning of disappointment.

It wasn’t just his looks, though. I could’ve handled that. I’d known a lot of beautiful people.

No, it was everything.

He was graceful and forceful at the same time. His focus was intense, whether it was on the things that only he saw or on whoever he was listening to. And he made me feel calm—as if he held the whole world in his hands and slowed it down or sped it up to whatever speed I was going.

It was intoxicating: a promise of peace as long as I was in his presence.

A hope.

And hope was even worse than desire.


Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.


Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish - Blog Tour

About The Remaking of Corbin Wale


Last month, Alex Barrow’s whole life imploded—partner, home, job, all gone in forty-eight hours. But sometimes when everything falls apart, better things appear almost like magic. Now, he’s back in his Michigan hometown, finally opening the bakery he’s always dreamed of. But the pleasure of opening day is nothing compared to the lonely and beautiful man who bewitches Alex before he even orders.


Corbin Wale is a weirdo. At least, that’s what he’s heard his whole life. He knows he’s often in a fantasy world, but the things he feels are very real. And so is the reason why he can never, ever be with Alex Barrow. Even if Alex is everything he’s always fantasized about. Even if maybe, just maybe, Corbin is Alex’s fantasy too.


When Corbin begins working at the bakery, he and Alex can’t deny their connection any longer. As the holiday season works its magic, Alex yearns for the man who seems out of reach. But to be with Alex, Corbin will have to challenge every truth he’s ever known. If his holiday risk pays off, two men from different worlds will get the love they’ve always longed for.





About the 2017 Holiday Charity Collection


20% of all proceeds from this title will be donated to the Russian LGBT Network.


Each year, Riptide Publishing releases a holiday collection in support of an LGBTQ charity. Twenty percent of the proceeds from this year’s collection will be donated to the Russian LGBT Network.


The Russian LGBT network was founded in April 2006. It is an interregional, non-governmental human rights organization that promotes equal rights and respect for human dignity, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. They unite and develop regional initiatives, advocacy groups (at both national and international levels), and provide social and legal services.


To learn more about this charity or to donate directly, please visit their website: https://lgbtnet.org/en.


This collection would not be possible without the talent and generosity of its authors, who have brought us the following holiday stories:




Buy all three in the collection and save!f


About Roan Parrish


Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.


When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.


She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.


Connect with Roan:


Review

Otherworldly.
Intense.
Magical.
Consuming.

That’s all I’m capable of right now because I’m having a hard time putting my feelings about this book into coherent sentences. 

Otherworldly…Corbin is so fey-like in both looks and demeanor that there is no other way to describe him.  He’s eerily beautiful.  And his complete oneness with nature is mesmerizing.  He made me want to disappear into the woods and never come back.

Intense…Alex’s instant attraction to Corbin (but not instant love which made this book even more beautiful) is like a punch in the gut. And Corbin’s single minded attention to Alex was overwhelming and had me holding my breath more than once.  Particularly since Corbin’s attention isn’t easily.

Magical…Just that.  Magical.  If I say more I’ll give away too much.

Consuming….Alex and Corbin’s attraction and growing love is full of so much energy that there is no middle ground.  Neither one of these men do anything halfway.

I’m still reeling from this amazing holiday book.  The way the celebration of Chanukah helps Corbin realize the possibilities in life was absolutely beautiful.  And the (I think) promise of a future story featuring two secondary characters in the book has me hopeful.  Hopefully I’ll have time to emotionally recover from The Remaking of Corbin Whale before my next holiday read.

Seriously, though.  Buy this book.  What an excellent and beautiful addition to your holiday romance collection.

Nat

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Small Change by Roan Parrish - Spotlight with Excerpt & Review




“He was love, and hope, and appreciation. I was yearning, and trepidation, and the fear of grasping at nothing.”




Small Change (Small Change #1) by Roan Parrish
Release Date: 6/1/2017
Publisher: Self-published
Pages: 429

Book blurb:

Ginger Holtzman has fought for everything she’s ever had—the success of her tattoo shop, respect in the industry, her upcoming art show. Tough and independent, she has taking-no-crap down to an art form. Good thing too, since keeping her shop afloat, taking care of her friends, and scrambling to finish her paintings doesn’t leave time for anything else. Which … is for the best, because then she doesn’t notice how lonely she is. She’ll get through it all on her own, just like she always does.

Christopher Lucen opened a coffee and sandwich joint in South Philly because he wanted to be part of a community after years of running from place to place, searching for something he could never quite name. Now, he relishes the familiarity of knowing what his customers want, and giving it to them. But what he really wants now is love.

When they meet, Christopher is smitten, but Ginger … isn’t quite so sure. Christopher’s gorgeous, and kind, and their opposites-attract chemistry is off the charts. But hot sex is one thing—truly falling for someone? Terrifying. When her world starts to crumble around her, Ginger has to face the fact that this fight can only be won by being vulnerable—this fight, she can’t win on her own.

Small Change is the first book in a series that will include M/F and M/M romances.

Buy links:





Author Bio:

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.





Praise for Small Change:
“Small Change is a gem. A beautifully written, deeply emotional story with tons of life bursting out of it’s pages. I loved this story! Can’t wait for more.” --Molly O’Keefe, USA Today Bestselling Author
“I can always count on Roan Parrish to deliver emotional truths and gritty realism. Like many readers, I was waiting for Ginger's story. And what a story it was!" -- Sarina Bowen, USA Today Bestselling author of Goodbye Paradise
"It sounds anemic to say, 'You will fall in love with Ginger,' but you will! This tattoo artist heroine manages to be both a delight and a total badass at the same time. Parrish makes her characters work for their happily ever after, which means Small Change has it all: vulnerability and great big leaps of faith, broken hearts and patched-together hearts the stronger for that patching. (Also: smashing the patriarchy and amazing sandwiches.)” --Jenny Holiday, USA Today Bestselling author

Excerpt:

Christopher broke into a smile. He put my coffee on the counter between us and held up the bagel for a long moment, assessing me. Instead of putting it in a bag, he put it on a plate with a napkin. His raised his eyebrows over eyes sparkling with mischief, and bit his lip, like he was waiting to see if I’d call his bluff. He looked like a kid reaching for a second cookie when he’d been told he could have one.

Warmth bloomed in my chest at the idea that he was actively angling to have me stay here and talk with him as I ate. “Wow, you’re not subtle, huh?” I said.

“Nope.”

His p popped, and his grin was sunny and boyish. I liked his lack of subtlety. That he was clear about wanting me to stay.

I narrowed my eyes at him, just in case he was joking, but I left the bagel where it was. I shrugged out of my jacket and draped it over the stool, then I sat down across the counter from him. He squeezed his hands into fists and grinned.


“Yay,” he said softly, and I felt another trickle of warmth flow through me that had nothing to do with the coffee.

Review: 

I fell a little in love with Ginger Holtzman when I first read In the Middle of Somewhere.  She was Daniel Mulligan’s feisty friend which he abandoned when he moved to Michigan.  Her scenes were full of biting humor and I about fell over when I found out she got her own book.  A book all about her and that guy she showed off to Daniel after the funeral.  I won’t say whose funeral in case you haven’t read it, because spoilers.

Ginger Holtzman is a force of nature.  She’s full of fire and passion and determination.  Her artistic brilliance, her focus on building her business, her ability to function on little sleep and quad shot espressos….honestly, can we all admit that we all strive to be like this?  Or is it really just me?  But no one is perfect and behind all the passion is an introvert that sometimes gets overwhelmed with it all and is maybe not the most functional at times.   

Enter the business owner down the street. Ah, Christopher Lucen.  Remember back in the day when we started this blog and I was completely in love with Peeta Mellark (still am BTW) and coined the term “forever boy?”  I don’t think I’ve had a book crush like this since Peeta.  Christopher is the ultimate nice guy.  He’s charming without trying.  He genuinely just wants to love everyone around him and maybe get a little bit of that love in return.  He also has a bit of reckless past which contrasts nicely with all that kindness.   Surprisingly though his biggest flaw is his biggest asset.  Get your mind out of the gutter.  I meant that his biggest flaw/asset is his kindness.  And Christopher would like you to stop thinking about what’s in his pants, thankyouverymuch.

The problem is that when one person in a relationship gives and gives and gives and the other person gives a lot less, not because they don’t want to but because they just don’t know how, it’s hard for a relationship to keep momentum.  But these two are pretty determined individuals and they just might be up to the task. 

As always with Roan Parrish books, the secondary characters are just as vibrant as the main characters.  I felt like I had worked with everyone at Gingers tattoo parlor by the end of the book.  And I loved them all. And then there was Jude, Christopher’s brother.  I’m crossing all my fingers and toes that he gets his own story.  He desperately needs a happy ever after.

And can we talk about the sex real quick here?  Yes, it was hot.  But what was really amazing was how Parrish refused to box her characters into the traditional m/f sex scenes you find in romance.  The sex in this book was hot, it was creative, but best of all, it was REAL. 

Obviously I loved this one and I can’t recommend it enough.  It comes out tomorrow so buy it now!

Nat





Sunday, December 6, 2015

A Peek In The BiblioBin #177


Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.