Thursday, September 26, 2013

Win a FREE copy of BASHED in Audiobook!

My ghost/love story revolving around a gay hate crime, Bashed, is now available in audiobook. I have five copies to give away to five lucky listeners.

Usually, I would just have you leave a comment below and I'd pick a winner at random from commenters. This time, though, I'm going to put you to a little test (no worries--it's not too hard). To win your audiobook copy of Bashed, follow the four steps below:

1. Go the Bashed ebook page on Amazon and click on the cover art to open the free preview. Answer the following questions:



  • A. What was the name of the bar Mark and Donald were at?
  • B. What kind of car did Donald drive?
  • C. What famous Chicago cemetery did they park nearby?

2. Send your answers to me at jimmyfels@gmail.com
3. Optional: Promise to write a fair and honest review on Amazon/Audible after you've listened to the book.

That's it! I'll take the first five entries I receive.

In the meantime, here's what Bashed is about and where you can get it.

BLURB
Three haters. Two lovers. And a collision course with tragedy.

That October night, Donald and Mark had no idea their lives and love were about to be shattered by fag bashers, intent on pain, and armed with ridicule, fists, and an aluminum baseball bat. Bashed charts the course of a journey that encompasses suspense, horror, and--ultimately--romance.

BUY
eBook
Amazon audiobook

Also available in paperback and from Audible.com.
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Even After a Year, CHASER is Still Getting Rave Reviews!

Loved this new review of CHASER, my chubby-chaser love story, at Insight Out!. The reviewer says, "In a world of twink-orexia and the Muscle Mary Mafia, Rick R. Reed explores what happens when your preference lies on the side of the meatier man. And what a job he does!" Read the whole review here.

BLURB
Caden DeSarro is what they call a chubby chaser. He likes his guys with a few extra pounds on them. So when he meets Kevin Dodge in a bar bathroom, he can’t help but stare, even if he does make an ass of himself. As far as Caden is concerned, Kevin is physically perfect: a stocky bearded blond with a dick that’s just right. (They met in the bathroom—of course he looked!) But Caden gets tongue-tied and misses his chance.

When Caden runs into Kevin one night on the El train, he figures it’s fate offering him a second shot. Caden manages to get invited back to Kevin's place for a one-night stand that turns into the kind of relationship he’s dreamed about.

But the course of true love never did run smooth, and Kevin and Caden’s romance is no exception. When Caden returns from a few weeks away on business, Kevin surprises him with a new and “improved” body—one that fits Caden’s shallow friend Bobby’s ideal, not Caden’s. Caden doesn’t know what to do, and his hesitation is just the opportunity Bobby was looking for. This isn’t the same Kevin he fell in love with… is it?

Buy CHASER
ebook
paperback
Kindle
Nook

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Me. Reading from Hungry for Love.

I hope you enjoy this little excerpt from my latest release. Point of interest: I am reading at the same desk and in the same room, and on the same computer where I originally wrote Hungry for Love.

 

Blurb
Nate Tippie and Brandon Wilde are gay, single, and both hoping to meet that special man, even though fate has not yet delivered him to their doorstep. Nate’s sister, Hannah, and her kooky best friend, Marilyn, are about to help fate with that task by creating a profile on the gay dating site, OpenHeartOpenMind. The two women are only exploring, but when they need a face and body for the persona they create, they use Nate as the model.

When Brandon comes across the false profile, he falls for the guy he sees online. Keeping up the charade, Hannah begins corresponding with him, posing as Nate. Real complications begin when Brandon wants to meet Nate, but Nate doesn’t even know he’s being used in the online dating ruse. Hannah and Marilyn concoct another story and send Nate out to let the guy down gently. But when Nate and Brandon meet, the two men feel an instant and powerful pull toward each other. Cupid seems to have shot his bow, but how do Nate and Brandon climb out from under a mountain of deceit without letting go of their chance at love?

Buy from Dreamspinner Press in ebook or in paperback
Amazon Kindle

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

HUNGRY FOR LOVE Gets Another Rave from The Novel Approach

I am thrilled and humbled by the great press my latest release is getting. Case in point: The Novel Approach. Reviewer Jackie MacKenzie says, "This book is another hit for Mr. Reed, and I just can’t say enough about how much I loved it. Nate and Brandon quickly grabbed my heart strings...If you haven’t read a book by Mr. Reed this is a great place to start and if you, like me, are a huge fan, you won’t be disappointed."

Read the rest of the review here.

Read an excerpt
Buy from Dreamspinner Press in ebook or in paperback
Amazon Kindle


Blurb
Nate Tippie and Brandon Wilde are gay, single, and both hoping to meet that special man, even though fate has not yet delivered him to their doorstep. Nate’s sister, Hannah, and her kooky best friend, Marilyn, are about to help fate with that task by creating a profile on the gay dating site, OpenHeartOpenMind. The two women are only exploring, but when they need a face and body for the persona they create, they use Nate as the model.

When Brandon comes across the false profile, he falls for the guy he sees online. Keeping up the charade, Hannah begins corresponding with him, posing as Nate. Real complications begin when Brandon wants to meet Nate, but Nate doesn’t even know he’s being used in the online dating ruse. Hannah and Marilyn concoct another story and send Nate out to let the guy down gently. But when Nate and Brandon meet, the two men feel an instant and powerful pull toward each other. Cupid seems to have shot his bow, but how do Nate and Brandon climb out from under a mountain of deceit without letting go of their chance at love?

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Friday, September 13, 2013

New Book Release: Are You HUNGRY FOR LOVE? Get It Today!

It is with great pleasure that I give you Hungry for Love, my latest contemporary romance.

And we have a winner! Congrats to Jim Evans! I will be in touch with you via e-mail to see how to get your copy to you. As has always been my tradition on this blog, I am giving away one free paperback signed copy of Hungry for Love to a person that comments below (please leave an e-mail address so I can contact you, should you win). Winner will be announced next Friday, September 20.

BLURB

Nate Tippie and Brandon Wilde are gay, single, and both hoping to meet that special man, even though fate has not yet delivered him to their doorstep. Nate's sister, Hannah, and her kooky best friend, Marilyn, are about to help fate with that task by creating a profile on the gay dating site, OpenHeartOpenMind. The two women are only exploring, but when they need a face and body for the persona they create, they use Nate as the model.

When Brandon comes across the false profile, he falls for the guy he sees online. Keeping up the charade, Hannah begins corresponding with him, posing as Nate. Real complications begin when Brandon wants to meet Nate, but Nate doesn’t even know he’s being used in the online dating ruse. Hannah and Marilyn concoct another story and send Nate out to let the guy down gently. But when Nate and Brandon meet, the two men feel an instant and powerful pull toward each other. Cupid seems to have shot his bow, but how do Nate and Brandon climb out from under a mountain of deceit without letting go of their chance at love?

REVIEWS
From LIVE YOUR LIFE, BUY THE BOOK
“I loved his writing style, I loved the flow of the book, I didn’t feel like there was anything missing by the time the end of the story came around and I was really able to love Brandon and Nate very easily...this story had romance, love, friendship, deception, jealousy, heartbreak.... Read the review.
From ON TOP DOWN UNDER BOOK REVIEW
“...overall, I really enjoyed this book...it was perfect...” Read the review.
From MRS. CONDIT AND FRIENDS READ BOOKS
“...written beautifully with humor, and love, and intelligence. Rick Reed has done a wonderful, wonderful job with this story!!" Read the review.
From AMOS LASSEN REVIEWS
“Reed has never been afraid to tackle the important issues of the LGBT community and here he looks at friendship, love, lies, heartbreak and jealousy while creating characters that we can identify with and grow to love.” Read the review.

Read an excerpt
BUY from Dreamspinner Press in ebook or in paperback
Amazon Kindle

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Monday, September 9, 2013

NEW in Audiobook: TRICKS, my Stripper/Nerd Love Story

Tricks can mean many things: sex partners, deceptions - even magic. In Rick R. Reed's searing love story, it means all three. 

Arliss is a gorgeous young dancer at Tricks, the hottest club in Chicago's Boystown. Sean is the classic nerd, out of place in Tricks, but nursing his wounds from a recent break-up. 

When the two spy each other, magic blooms. But this opposites-attract tale does not run smooth. 

What happens when Arliss is approached by one of the biggest porn producers in the business? Can he make his dreams of stardom come true without throwing away the only real love he's ever known? And will this question even matter if the mysterious producers realize their dark intentions?

Cover by Lex Valentine. Narrated by Taavi Mark.

Listen to a sample and buy from Amazon or Audible (also available on iTunes).

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Letting Go: A New Guest Blog at Reviews by Jessewave

Today, I'm blogging at Reviews by JesseWave about the way readers figure so vitally into bringing a book to life.

Here's how the column starts out:

It takes two to tango. And it takes at least two to make a book. Just like a play needs an audience to fully come alive, a book needs a reader for precisely the same reason. 

One thing I have to constantly remind myself as a writer is that, once I have written the words, ‘the end’ to a story is that I must let go. As much as I labored over the book, dreamed about it, had conversations with myself about it, agonized over word choice, character hair color, continuity, repetitive words and phrasing, the time comes when the book meets the public which signals that it’s time for me to step aside.

A book is a conspiracy between a reader and a writer. The reader has to bring it to life through his or her imagination. The wonderful thing about that whole process is that my story can become so many different stories when filtered through each reader’s unique frame of reference. I have no doubt that no matter the care I take in describing characters and setting, each reader sees them differently because each of them come to the table with different experiences, biases, and memories. All of those things have a bearing on the triggers my words pull in a reader’s mind.

Continue reading.