Category Archives: Amelia C Gormley

Blog Tour Stop, Interview & Contest: Amelia C. Gormley’s The Laird’s Forbidden Lover

Welcome to the blog tour for The Laird’s Forbidden Lover by Amelia C. Gormley! This hot Highland historical M/M romance is now available from Riptide Publishing. Our gracious tour host has been kind enough to interview me today, since I’m a new(er) Riptide author. If you have any questions for me, or just want to say hello, leave a comment below, and you’ll automatically be entered in a drawing to win $5 in store credit to Riptide Publishing! Just make sure you comment by 11:59 pm on 5/10/13 to be entered. Follow the complete tour schedule here.


Welcome, Amelia! Since this is your first time stopping by the site, tell us a little about yourself.

How do you come up with your book titles?

I agonize. And I curse a lot. And I whine loudly about how much I hate titles. You don’t even want to know what we went through trying to come up with a title for The Laird’s Forbidden Lover. That one is actually quite a departure for me, because there really isn’t any subtext to it. It’s purely descriptive. Most titles I really try to use plays on words and subtext to give them multiple meanings. Strain is a perfect example. Once you read that novel, you could look at the title and think of at least three different facets of the book that it refers to. Third Wave is very similar. Impulse, my novel in three parts, each have physics-themed titles—Inertia, Acceleration, and Velocity—each of which describes the state of Derrick and Gavin’s relationship at the phase they’re in at the time of the book. Unbeknownst to anyone but me, the reason I went with physics-themed titles is because Derrick, my contractor/handyman who never went to college, was actually quite good at physics in high school and if circumstances had been different, he might have ended up being an engineer.

Have you ever named a character in your book after someone you knew?

No, but gosh, if people who know me personally ever read Saugatuck Summer, they’re going to know exactly whom I’m writing about.

Have you ever had a book dedicated to you?

The lovely P.D. Singer mentioned me in the dedication of Return to the Mountain! I was thrilled!

When did you start the adventure of writing?

I think I began trying to write plays in the 4th grade and I published my first short story in the class newspaper in the 6th grade. By the 8th grade I was trying to write a novel.

Have you always loved romance writing?

Yes, always. From the time I decided that I was going to write a novel, I knew it would be a romance.

What are you reading now?

I just finished Damon Suede’s Hot Head this afternoon. I haven’t decided what I’m going to start on next.

Who are your favorite authors?

Jacqueline Carey, David Weber, Stephen King, Jude Deveraux, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. In the M/M genre, Leta Blake and Keira Andrews’ Tempting Tales fairy tale stories are delightful. I love P.D. Singer. The Rare Event was especially brilliant. Anne Tenino is hilarious and I’m salivating waiting for her upcoming books; I have loved the Cut & Run novels by Abi Roux, I very much enjoyed Angela Benedetti’s A Hidden Magic and Emerging Magic books and I am eagerly awaiting the next ones, I’ve enjoyed the Tucker Springs novels a great deal. I feel bad because I know there are a lot of names I am leaving off this list because I still haven’t read yet because my TBR keeps getting pushed back in favor of writing.


Amelia’s new release The Laird’s Forbidden Lover is available here from Riptide Publishing.

Title: The Laird’s Forbidden Lover by Amelia C. Gormley
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Genre: Historical, Erotic, M/M, Romance
Length: 86 pages/Word count: 20,700

Summary:

Farm lad Iain Munro knows his love affair with Tavish MacIntyre, future Laird of Creachann-Dubh, is dangerous—discovery could mean disgrace and death. But they’ve been in love since they were boys, and they’ve never been able to resist each other, dishonorable though it is to deceive their families.

Young men now, their sexual explorations have deepened and their love for each other has strengthened. But Iain’s father fears for his eldest son’s future, and Tavish faces dangers and duties of his own: his demanding mother would see him respectably wed, and his interfering sister knows too much—and has schemes of her own.

Facing a lifetime apart, Iain and Tavish must leave their childhoods behind for good as they choose between honor and love, innocence and happiness, and their vows before God and to each other.


Author Bio:

About Amelia C. Gormley: Amelia C. Gormley may seem like anyone else. But the truth is she sings in the shower, dances doing laundry, and writes blisteringly hot M/M erotic romance while her five-year-old is in kindergarten. When she’s not writing, Amelia single-handedly juggles her husband, her son, their home, and the obstacles of life by turning into an everyday superhero. And that, she supposes, is just like anyone else.


Contest:

Leave a comment on today’s post by 11:59 pm on 5/10/13 for your chance to win $5 in store credit to Riptide Publishing. To enter today’s contest:

You must Do TWO of the Following:

1. Sign up for e-mail updates (upper left corner). One email daily with the day’s posts.

OR:

2. Be or become a fan of Book Reviews & More by Kathy Facebook page

OR:

3. Follow me on Twitter (@BookReviewsMore)

OR:

4. Friend Book Reviews & More by Kathy on Goodreads

Make sure you have filled out the contest entry form:

5. To be eligible to enter contests on Book Reviews and More by Kathy you MUST fill out the contest entry form (found HERE). This form only needs to be filled out ONCE. Your privacy is important to me, and I will not share your information.

And don’t forget to:

6. Leave a comment on today’s post by 11:59 pm on 5/10/13 for your chance to win $5 in store credit to Riptide Publishing.

Follow the rest of the tour HERE.

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Filed under Amelia C Gormley, Blog Tour, Contest, Interview, The Laird’s Forbidden Lover

Saturday Series Spotlight: Amelia C. Gormley’s Impulse & Contest

Title: Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley
Impulse Series Book One
Publisher: Amelia C. Gormley
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance
Word Count: 48,800

Summary:

An Object At Rest

Quiet, down-to-earth Detroit handyman Derrick Chance has had enough loss for a lifetime and he has no intention of ever risking his heart again. Living alone in the old house his grandparents left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he has written off the possibility of romance or even sex. He refuses to consider himself lonely, or wonder what he might be missing. His life is organized, predictable, and, best of all, risk-free.

Until the day he installs shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. With his contradictory combination of confidence and self-doubt, Gavin draws Derrick in with an intensity he’s never known. As undeniable as gravity, Derrick finds himself falling for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways. But Gavin carries wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a dangerous betrayal, his future is far from certain. Can Derrick choose passion over safety, and let himself believe that Gavin is worth the risk?

Read my review HERE.


Title: Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley
Impulse Series Book Two
Publisher: Amelia C. Gormley
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance, BDSM
Word Length: 45,600

Summary:

GAINING MOMENTUM

Gavin Hayes is everything Derrick could ask for in a lover. Gorgeous. Passionate. Great in bed. Derrick finds it very easy to just let himself go, to let Gavin guide him and teach him all the things he missed during a decade of celibacy. In the course of a single weekend, Derrick’s routine is transformed, his mornings and evenings filled with sex. Sweet, seductive, wild, or raunchy, Gavin offers Derrick all the pleasure he’s denied himself for so long.

But learning how to be a lover in bed is one thing. Learning to be one out of bed is another. For Derrick, being alone has become habit. Sharing his confidences doesn’t come nearly as readily as sharing his bed. After so many losses, the last thing Derrick wants is to become dependent upon another person who might not always be there.

And Gavin always being there is far from certain. With an ex-lover lurking in the background, and the question of Gavin’s future health still outstanding, neither Gavin nor Derrick feel capable of asking for anything more than right now. But Gavin won’t be kept on the fringes of Derrick’s life. Can Derrick let someone in before the opportunity passes him by?

Read my review HERE.


Title: Velocity by Amelia C. Gormley
Impulse Series Book Three
Publisher: Amelia C. Gormley
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance, BDSM
Length: 59,041 words

Summary:

REACHING OPTIMUM SPEED

For Detroit handyman Derrick Chance and his lover, Gavin Hayes, the holiday season is filled with the promise of new beginnings. Gavin’s officially moving in, and after the New Year, they’ll begin house hunting. But they both know all the talk of gift exchange, whose holiday ornaments go where, and what repairs and remodels will be needed to put Derrick’s house on the market is only a smoke screen.

Before the month is over, Gavin will have the final verdict on whether or not his dangerously delusional ex, Lukas, infected him with HIV. No matter how good Gavin’s chances appear with the three-month hurdle already passed, neither he nor Derrick knows what the future holds for them.

The holidays have always been a time of loss and mourning for Derrick, but now he has to stay strong as Gavin’s own fears and doubts assail him relentlessly. And when Lukas returns, unexpectedly penitent amid troubling revelations, Gavin has to ask himself whether he can offer Derrick the future he deserves, or whether these first few months of happiness are the best they will ever get.

Read my review HERE.


Ms. Gormley is giving away one eBook from the Impulse series-WINNER’S CHOICE. Here’s how to enter the Saturday Series Spotlight contest:

You must Do TWO of the Following:

1. Sign up for e-mail updates (upper left corner). One email daily with the day’s posts.

OR:

2. Be or become a fan of Book Reviews & More by Kathy Facebook page

OR:

3. Follow me on Twitter (@BookReviewsMore)
OR:

4. Friend Book Reviews & More by Kathy on Goodreads

Make sure you have filled out the contest entry form:

5. To be eligible to enter contests on Book Reviews and More by Kathy you MUST fill out the contest entry form (found HERE). This form only needs to be filled out ONCE. Your privacy is important to me, and I will not share your information.

And don’t forget to:

6. Leave a comment on this post telling me WHICH book you would like to win by 5 PM Mountain Time Monday afternoon.

It’s that easy! The winner will be selected using random.org. Ms. Gormley will e-mail one lucky winner the eBook of their choice in their preferred format. The winner will be posted HERE on Tuesday.

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Filed under Amelia C Gormley, Contest, Impulse Series, Saturday Series Spotlight

Review: Velocity by Amelia C. Gormley

Title: Velocity by Amelia C. Gormley
Impulse Series Book Three
Publisher: Amelia C. Gormley
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic, M/M, Romance, BDSM
Length: 59,041 words
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author

Summary:

REACHING OPTIMUM SPEED

For Detroit handyman Derrick Chance and his lover, Gavin Hayes, the holiday season is filled with the promise of new beginnings. Gavin’s officially moving in, and after the New Year, they’ll begin house hunting. But they both know all the talk of gift exchange, whose holiday ornaments go where, and what repairs and remodels will be needed to put Derrick’s house on the market is only a smoke screen.

Before the month is over, Gavin will have the final verdict on whether or not his dangerously delusional ex, Lukas, infected him with HIV. No matter how good Gavin’s chances appear with the three-month hurdle already passed, neither he nor Derrick knows what the future holds for them.

The holidays have always been a time of loss and mourning for Derrick, but now he has to stay strong as Gavin’s own fears and doubts assail him relentlessly. And when Lukas returns, unexpectedly penitent amid troubling revelations, Gavin has to ask himself whether he can offer Derrick the future he deserves, or whether these first few months of happiness are the best they will ever get.

The Review:

Amelia C. Gormley has a few surprises up her sleeve in Velocity, the final installment of her wonderful Impulse series. While the first two books in the series focused mainly on Derrick and his issues, it is finally Gavin’s turn to come to terms with the various problems he is facing.

The biggest problem for Gavin is the unresolved issue of whether or not he is HIV positive. Although his first HIV test was negative, it is now time for the three month test which will reveal for sure whether or not he is infected. New information about Lukas raises questions for Gavin and he is finally ready to confront his abusive ex-lover.

In Velocity, Derrick is rock solid and steady. The results of Gavin’s HIV test really do not matter to him, because he is in this relationship for the long haul. Gavin, on the other hand, is a bundle of nerves, not just about the test results, but the far reaching implications a positive result could have on their relationship. Adding to his stress is a shocking revelation from Derrick about Lukas. When he demands answers from Lukas, Gavin is further manipulated by Lukas and Lukas insinuates himself back in Gavin’s life.

Argh, I was ready to strangle Gavin when he allows Lukas to doubt himself. Like many abuse victims, Gavin needed to know how and why he found himself in an abusive relationship. Like many abusers, Lukas knows Gavin’s vulnerabilities and he expertly exploits them. It is not until Lukas overplays his hand that Gavin finally stands up to him. The showdown between them makes all of the frustration with Gavin worthwhile and it is so incredibly gratifying to see Lukas get what he deserves.

There is much less emphasis on sex in Velocity. The sexual chemistry between Derrick and Gavin is still there, but their sex life definitely feels the impact of the external turmoil surrounding them. The BDSM element is more intense and the scenes they do have are incredibly hot and strengthen their emotional connection.

Of the three installments of the Impulse series, Velocity is the most angst-ridden, but it is also the most emotionally rewarding. Both characters continue to grow and step outside their comfort zones which has a positive effect on their overall relationship.

The Impulse series is one of the best I have read and I highly recommend it to fans of m/m contemporary romance. Amelia C. Gormley is an amazingly talented author and I cannot wait for her next novel.

Read my reviews of the other books in the series HERE.

1 Comment

Filed under Amelia C Gormley, BDSM, Contemporary, Erotic, Impulse Series, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Velocity

Review: Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley

Title: Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley
Impulse Series Book Two
Publisher: Amelia C. Gormley
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance, BDSM
Word Length: 45,600
Book Rating: B+

Review Copy Obtained from Author

Summary:

GAINING MOMENTUM

Gavin Hayes is everything Derrick could ask for in a lover. Gorgeous. Passionate. Great in bed. Derrick finds it very easy to just let himself go, to let Gavin guide him and teach him all the things he missed during a decade of celibacy. In the course of a single weekend, Derrick’s routine is transformed, his mornings and evenings filled with sex. Sweet, seductive, wild, or raunchy, Gavin offers Derrick all the pleasure he’s denied himself for so long.

But learning how to be a lover in bed is one thing. Learning to be one out of bed is another. For Derrick, being alone has become habit. Sharing his confidences doesn’t come nearly as readily as sharing his bed. After so many losses, the last thing Derrick wants is to become dependent upon another person who might not always be there.

And Gavin always being there is far from certain. With an ex-lover lurking in the background, and the question of Gavin’s future health still outstanding, neither Gavin nor Derrick feel capable of asking for anything more than right now. But Gavin won’t be kept on the fringes of Derrick’s life. Can Derrick let someone in before the opportunity passes him by?

The Review:

Acceleration is the second installment in Amelia C. Gormley’s absolutely fabulous Impulse series. Picking up right where Inertia leaves off, Gavin and Derrick are still in the early days of their romance. Both men bring more than their fair share of emotional baggage with them and sometimes their relationship is practically smothered by the weight of it. But as the title promises, there is forward motion as these two men work to overcome the residual damage and insecurities from their respective pasts.

On the surface, everything seems to be working in Derrick and Gavin’s relationship. But a deeper look shows that while Derrick is pulling Gavin closer with one hand, he is pushing him away with the other. Derrick continues to keep everything tightly locked up inside, and he is unable to confide in Gavin about both his past and his fears for the future. Derrick’s attempts to protect himself are understandable, but his actions are triggering unpleasant memories from Gavin’s previous abusive relationship.

The one area where there are no problems for either men is the bedroom. There is a slight BDSM angle to the explosive sex between Gavin and Derrick. Gavin is the more dominant of the two and Derrick revels in submitting to his commands. The resulting sex is aggressive and rough with an edge of pain that Gavin and Derrick find completely satisfying.

Throughout Acceleration, both men are gaining a better understanding of themselves. Lack of communication continues to plague the couple and threatens the future of their relationship. There is a particularly heartwarming and emotional scene where Derrick is finally able to reveal his past to Gavin. Following his revelation, Derrick must decide if he ready to risk his heart on an uncertain future.

What I particularly like about the Impulse series is the unhurried pacing of the developing storylines. Gavin and Derrick have real problems that are not going to fixed overnight. Love does not magically make everything all right. True healing takes hard work and I love that Amelia C. Gormley is keeping this part of the plot so realistic. Is it frustrating at times? You better believe it! But that is what makes their progress so rewarding and believable and leaves readers anxiously awaiting Velocity, the final installment of Derrick and Gavin’s turbulent romance.

Read my review of Inertia HERE.

2 Comments

Filed under Acceleration, Amelia C Gormley, BDSM, Contemporary, Erotic, Impulse Series, M/M, Rated B+, Review, Romance

Review: Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley

Title: Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley
Impulse Series Book One
Publisher: Amelia C. Gormley
Genre: Contemporary, M/M, Erotic, Romance
Word Count: 48,800
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Author

Summary:

An Object At Rest

Quiet, down-to-earth Detroit handyman Derrick Chance has had enough loss for a lifetime and he has no intention of ever risking his heart again. Living alone in the old house his grandparents left him, with only his dog and a few close friends for companionship, he has written off the possibility of romance or even sex. He refuses to consider himself lonely, or wonder what he might be missing. His life is organized, predictable, and, best of all, risk-free.

Until the day he installs shelves for accountant Gavin Hayes. With his contradictory combination of confidence and self-doubt, Gavin draws Derrick in with an intensity he’s never known. As undeniable as gravity, Derrick finds himself falling for Gavin in defiance of all his usual slow and methodical ways. But Gavin carries wounds of his own. Fresh from an emotionally abusive relationship that ended with a dangerous betrayal, his future is far from certain. Can Derrick choose passion over safety, and let himself believe that Gavin is worth the risk?

The Review:

Inertia by Amelia C. Gormley is a sweet romance that slowly builds between two men who are afraid to risk their hearts.

Derrick Chance leads a lonely an solitary existence. He has a few close friends but he does not date nor does he indulge in casual hook ups. Gavin Hayes has just ended an abusive year long relationship and he is not ready for a new relationship. But when the two men meet, their attraction to one another proves impossible to resist. When an explosive secret is revealed, will Gavin and Derrick give their fledgling relationship a chance?

Since Inertia is told from Derrick’s perspective, we are privy to all his doubts and insecurities and we know exactly what caused him to shut down emotionally. He is the epitome of the strong silent type. He carefully weighs his options and he rarely makes impulsive decisions. While Derrick has long been content with the safe life he has created for himself, recent discussions leave him wondering whether he is truly happy or merely content. His attraction to Gavin proves to be the impetus Derrick needs to rethink his past decisions and consider making some changes in his life. But Gavin is giving off mixed signals, and along with Derrick’s inexperience, his tendency to overthink, well everything, leaves him questioning Gavin’s actions and motives.

In the beginning, Gavin is light-hearted, carefree and flirty. He does not hide his attraction to Derrick and he comes up with some pretty inventive ploys to see Derrick. On some of their subsequent meetings, though, Gavin’s playfulness is absent, leaving Derrick confused about the future of a relationship between them.

Of the two men, Gavin is more dominant but surprisingly, it is Derrick who finally makes the first move. They tread carefully around one another, and they back away from serious discussions. Just when things are heating up between them, Gavin makes a confession that stops them in their tracks and leads both men to some serious introspection as they try to decide the fate of their relationship.

Inertia one of those stories that is slow building, yet it is completely captivating. The pacing is unhurried and the plot unfolds at a realistic pace. The ending is more of a happy for now than happily ever after and I am looking forward to seeing where Amelia C. Gormley takes Derrick and Gavin in the Acceleration, the next book of the Impulse series.

Read my review of Acceleration HERE.

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Filed under Amelia C Gormley, Contemporary, Erotic, Impulse Series, Inertia, M/M, Rated B, Review, Romance