(Blog Tour & Author Interview) Autumn Fire, by Cameron D. James

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Dustin likes the closet. It’s warm, comfy, and dark. Who needs to be out when you can get all the anonymous sex you want via the internet? And, besides, coming out is messy and gets you nowhere—certainly not a relationship. Real gay love is fiction.

When Dustin meets CollegeJock22 for a quick blow-and-go in the university library men’s room, everything he thought he knew crumbles. He can’t get that man out of his head and will do almost anything to have him. The only problem? CollegeJock22 is even more in the closet than Dustin. He’s in so deep he can’t even see the crack of light under the door.




Damn.  I was all set to read some nice boy-boy porn-without-plot when THIS came along.  There's an actual story in here?  Huh.

And oh, what a story.  This is a short book—coming* in at under 150 pages—but the characters were well-hung developed and fleshed** out.  Most importantly, the characters were real.  At least, to this straight-woman-who's-never-had-to-come-out-of-the-closet reader.  Usually I would wonder if that's actually how a guy would act, but since this book was written BY a guy, I'm going to trust his words.

I did raise my eyebrows at the speed with which everything took place.  It's something that I see consistently in Young Adult and New Adult fiction: the timelines are short and it's all over prematurely***.


* see what I did there?
** and there?
*** I crack myself up


Let's Meet the Author!

When Cameron D. James isn’t writing gay erotic romance, he can be found studying for his Masters, working in his dull office job, or reading five books at once. But really, you’re most likely to find him writing. He loves crafting hot, sexy, sweaty, throbbing scenes, interwoven with lust and deep emotions for an orgasmic whole. He writes out of a love of characters, wherever those characters may lead.


Thank you so much for joining us here today!  Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about Autumn Fire?

First of all, thanks for having me here!  I appreciate the opportunity to come by and talk about my work.  My name, as I guess is apparently already, is Cameron D. James, and I live in Canada.  I currently work at a GLBT community resource centre by day and I’m pursuing my masters through online studies at night.  Somewhere in the midst of all of that I manage to fit in some time to write.

Autumn Fire is my first publication.  It’s a New Adult m/m erotic romance, released by Carnal Passions this past July 2nd.  It’s a love story between Dustin and Kyle, two young men at a Toronto university.  The only problem?  Both are in the closet and don’t want to come out, and thus can’t have a relationship.  Dustin tries to get over it by escaping into the world of anonymous hookup sex, in an effort to forget about Kyle’s loving touches, but no matter what he tries, he can’t get over the man.


Who does your book appeal to?  Who is your target audience?

It’s been classified by some people as a New Adult book, which means that it features characters in the 18-26 age range, which tends to be a crucial transitional period in life—and Dustin and Kyle are certainly in that stage.  As a New Adult book, part of its target audience is those in the new adult age range, 18-26.  But that’s like saying adults can’t read Harry Potter because it’s a children’s book, or adults can’t read Twilight because it’s a YA book.  I firmly believe that Autumn Fire can be enjoyed by all age ranges.  So far, the wonderful reviews I’ve received have been from people not in that age range (I’m trying my hardest not to call people old!).

And for gender?  Well, the biggest readership of m/m erotic romance titles are women, so definitely women would be my target audience.  Since this is a New Adult title, then another target audience would be young gay men, who might be going through some of the same experiences.


::nodding::  I can verify that straight women are big fans of m/m smexy times.  Tell us about the experience of writing this book.  What were the challenges?

My biggest challenge was figuring out what makes a plot.  Prior to this, I was writing Science Fiction, and in there, I have whole worlds at stake, massive political upheaval, and secret conspiracies.  Autumn Fire is about two young men at university who fall in love... I can’t blow things up to create dramatic tension.

So I took a step back.  When I write, no matter the genre, I start with developing solid characters and I find the story flows from there.  Once I followed my own advice, Autumn Fire began to piece together.  There was definitely a learning process in there, but in the end, I’m proud of what I created.  I really like Autumn Fire and I hope my readers do, too.


Tell us about your main character, Dustin, and some of the challenges he faces.

Dustin is a character that thinks he knows what he wants, but then finds out he’s completely wrong.  He’s built walls around himself: he’s closeted; he gets anonymous sex through online hookups when he needs it; and he doesn’t want a relationship.  He’s grown up believing that gay romance—true gay love—does not exist; that a gay couple is really nothing more than two roommates that sometimes have sex.

But when Dustin meets Kyle, everything Dustin thinks he knows shatters.  Suddenly, he’s confronted with deep feelings for another man and the way he used to live his life holds absolutely no appeal for him anymore.  He’s in major crisis mode where he doesn’t know what’s true or what’s real; he has to figure himself out all over again.


I love how Dustin and Kyle grow into themselves throughout the book.  How do your characters relate to your plot?  Are they separate from it or integral?

For my plot in Autumn Fire—and in anything I write—characters are everything.  If I didn’t have these characters, then my story would collapse like a house of cards.  The characters, their interactions, their issues, their feelings, their desires... everything about them is absolutely integral to the plot.  I love reading books like this, where the characters drive everything, so it’s no surprise I end up writing such books.


Do you want to leave your readers with any final thoughts or comments?

I think my only final comment would be that I truly appreciate the opportunity I’ve had to write and publish this book through Carnal Passions.  And so that means my number one job—above anything else—is to please my readers.  I want to make them happy they’ve picked up Autumn Fire.  I want to make them feel a range of emotions as they go through the story, to get involved with the characters and their lives, and to blush when it gets to the good parts.  I tried to make it steamy hot, and from what people have told me so far, it’s super steamy.

And, once again, thank you for hosting me here on your blog.  I’m very grateful for the
opportunity.


Ahem...yes...well...the steamy parts were more than sufficient.  Thank you again for stopping by, Cameron D. James.  It was great speaking with you today.

Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11), by J.R. Ward

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Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.


Lover At Last is definitely the most appropriate title for this book.  How long has it taken for Blay and Qhuinn to finally get together?  Too long, my friends.  Too long.

When they finally come (*snicker*) together, it's HOT.

The male took three strides forward, reached up . . . and kissed the ever-loving crap out of Blay.
 

My only complaint about their relationship?  Not enough lovin'.  Who cares about other story lines?  It should have been 591 pages of smexy times.  (Though I do admit to loving the Xcor-Layla 'ship.)

So why am I only giving the book 3.5 stars?  You know, besides the fact that Ward deigned to discuss other characters...  The end was so incredibly cheesy and overdone that it nearly ruined the whole book for me.  That part really should have been saved for the next book; it happened too fast to be true to the BDB world, no matter how long the two males were in love with each other.

I leave you with one more Qhuay image.  Sweet dreams!

DED

Is it hot in here?

Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful Bastard #1), by Christina Lauren

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An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.



The Office is one of my favorite Twilight fanfics. And I'm a total hypocrite for reading it in its published form when I've been decrying FSoG.

Beautiful Bastard is well-written, but it still reads like fanfic. I imagined the characters as Edward, Bella, and the others, since I didn't see the type of character development that I usually read in original fiction.

The sex scenes were hot (whew!) and plentiful: most chapters have at least one sexcapade. A little over the top with simultaneous orgasms each and every time they bump uglies, but it is fiction. While the book isn't completely porn-without-plot, it's pretty clear that the sex is the focal point. If you're looking for a deep, meaningful novel, look elsewhere. But if you want to read some smutty goodness, this book fits the bill.

The ending was pretty abrupt: the first 3/4 of the book cover a period of one month; the last quarter spans three months. Some sort of transition would have been helpful. At the very least, the events should have been spread out into several chapters.

Would I have paid to read this? No, I wouldn't have. Not when I could go find a copy of the original fic online. The authors may have reworked the story--and thanked Stephenie Meyer and the fandom at the start of the book--but it's still very much a Twilight derivative.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Drums of Autumn (Outlander #4), by Diana Gabaldon

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It began at an ancient Scottish stone circle. There, a doorway, open to a select few, leads into the past--or the grave. Dr. Claire Randall survived the extraordinary passage, not once but twice. Her first trip swept her into the arms of Jamie Fraser, an eighteenth-century Scot whose love for her became a legend--a tale of tragic passion that ended with her return to the present to bear his child. Her second journey, two decades later, brought them together again in the American colonies. But Claire had left someone behind in the twentieth century. Their daughter, Brianna...

Now Brianna has made a disturbing discovery that sends her to the circle of stones and terrifying leap into the unknown. In search of her mother and father she has never met, she is risking her own future to try to change history...and to save their lives. But as Brianna plunges into an uncharted wilderness, a heartbreaking encounter may strand her forever in the past...or root her in the place she should be, where her heart and soul belong...



An excellent next book in the Outlander series. I love Jamie & Claire; Gabaldon writes them with such witty repartee that it's hard not to see them as people I would love to hang out with, flaws and all.

Speaking of flaws... I couldn't give this book five stars for one reason: Roger. 

Spoilers after the jump.

Voyager (Outlander #3), by Diana Gabaldon

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Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love.


I must have read this one too quickly because I had all sorts of "wait, what just happened?" moments. I was so keyed up and wanted to know exactly what happened next that I didn't let everything sink in. Big mistake. I'll need to do a re-read of this book at some point. Assuming I ever get through my TBR list, of course!

I do need to take a break before delving into Drums of Autumn. I love the world that Gabaldon has created, but I need to read something short before I read another of her tomes.

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2), by Diana Gabaldon

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For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....


Oh my holy hell.

I hated how this book started. As soon as I finished Outlander, I opened the next in the series. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Claire was back in the present time and no longer with Jamie. WTF, Diana Gabaldon?!?!?

I'm a bit irked at the heartfail this caused; Pepcid, however, received a great boost in sales. And my kids learned some new words.

Thankfully, I have book #3 ready to go on my Kindle. I NEED to know where the story goes from here. 

Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6), by J.R. Ward

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Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is obligated to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive, and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished.

As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body, but his heart for herself. She is drawn to the noble responsibility behind the emotionally scarred male. But Phury has never allowed himself to know pleasure or joy. As the war with the Lessening Society grows grim, tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, and Phury must decide between duty and love....


Another amazing read in Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This one focused less on the romance between Phury and Cormia and more on what was going on around them, with the Brotherhood as a whole. A lot happens in this book in regards to the war between the vampires and the lessers. I liked the change of pace, since the Romance genre isn't really my thing. 

Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood #4), by J.R. Ward

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Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world-to engage in the turf war with the lessers.



I probably shouldn't be reading this series back-to-back-to-back; they are all starting to blend together. Thankfully, I am completely in love with the world that J.R. Ward has created.

I have never been a fan of the romance genre, and some of the passages border on the absurd. Seriously, how is it that all male protagonists have huge penises? It also drives me crazy when an author -- especially a WOMAN -- gets the details of losing one's virginity completely wrong. There is no "barrier" halfway inside the vaginal canal. The hymen is on the OUTSIDE of the vagina. GAH. How hard is it to Google such a simple fact of human anatomy?

With the exception of the romance ridiculousness, I have yet to come across another paranormal series that has captured my attention like this.