Love Bytes says hello and welcome to Z. Allora joining us today to talk about new release “The Librarian’s Rake”.
Welcome Z 🙂
Greetings! Thank you, Love Bytes for giving me the opportunity to tell people about my latest release: The Librarian’s Rake and to share an excerpt, and the chance to win one of the 3 e-books of Secured and Free, (Book #2 of Entwined Dreams) and a $20 gift card to Dreamspinner Press. Details below.
The librarian in The Librarian’s Rake is running a movie night at his library. I thought a lot about which older movie would Tristan play for the mostly teen crowd. Benny & Joon came to mind. It is sweet and filled with love but also there’s a message of just because someone has issues doesn’t make them unlovable and with enough support people can live happy and fulfilling lives.
Pre-Z. Allora I worked many years with individuals with developmental disabilities and folks with mental health issues. My job wasn’t about curing them but about setting up an environment and a support system so they could reach their fullest potential as independently as possible.
Tristan would identify with Joon because he never quite fit. Though he fantasizes about being someone cool like Benny, while Benny didn’t always blend well with others he was appreciated and found love without changing anything about himself.
Exclusive Excerpt from The Librarian’s Rake
As the movie progressed, he tried to pay attention. Had the distance between their chairs been altered? They seemed too close, but to push away would disturb the others. Though the proximity to this gorgeous man was too enticing to expect his libido wouldn’t make a wish list. A checklist of all the sensuous things Tristan wanted to do, as if he’d ever be given the opportunity.
He’d cuddle Phillip close. Maybe kiss the man’s eyelids and lick his extralong eyelashes. Maybe he’d rub his feet, his back… his whatever.
Tristan tried not to stare at Phillip, but his gaze kept straying from the movie. Twice within five minutes, Phillip caught him gawking, and a dimple came out in his cheek.
Had Phillip moved closer? Their knees almost touched. God, did Tristan imagine the heat coming off Phillip? So close, so warm, so everything. If he parted his legs a bit farther, they’d be touching.
The sex scene… he didn’t care if the sex scene was heterosexual or not. If done well, the intensity of emotion could transcend orientation. Johnny Depp looked so—Tristan could never hope to be that erotic and loving at the same time.
Phillip leaned into his side, and the words he whispered tickled Tristan’s ear. “Oh God, it’s so sweet but searing hot.”
Never had the fade to black taken away his breath the way it did this time around. Their knees inched closer. Why on earth did he crave contact with Phillip and with this intensity?
Did it matter? For once in his life, he’d do what he wanted. He gave in and opened his legs just enough to make his knee rest against Phillip’s. The small sigh from Phillip said Tristan hadn’t been the only one affected by the touch.
Phillip’s face lingered close to Tristan’s. If he turned his head, their lips would graze. However, to move his head was a risk he couldn’t take. Maybe Frederick had been right about Tristan’s timid nature. But following his animal instincts without control would make Tristan no better than his father, and he wasn’t his father. Plus, he was at work.
After a moment, Phillip nuzzled his cheek, making Tristan ache for so much more. When he remained frozen, Phillip fell back into his seat with a long, drawn-out sigh.
To enter the Giveaway: Leave a comment telling us your favorite movie. Winners will be contacted Nov 8th.
Hugs, Z. Allora
The Librarian’s Rake Blurb
Opposites might attract, but is acting on that attraction wise?
Librarian Tristan Cooper can’t steer clear of sexy, motorcycle-riding bad boy Phillip—the man is hot—but Phillip is bound to and quiet, bookish Tristan boring, like all Tristan’s boyfriends. Tristan yearns to explore his wild side, the part of himself he’s only allowed into his fantasies, and maybe rakish Phillip is just what he needs to feel free.
Sexperienced hairdresser Phillip is more of a believer in happy endings than happily ever afters. Experience has taught him not to hope for more— until he meets sweet, vulnerable Tristan, who seems genuinely interested in his heart. But Phillip can’t trust enough to see himself as a man Tristan might want for more than a night.
With the help of a pair of matchmaking grandfathers, Tristan and Phillip might and the courage to step beyond their comfort zones and discover what has been missing from their lives….
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Z.Allora believes in happily ever afters for everyone. She met her own true love through the personals and has traveled to over thirty countries with him. She’s lived in Singapore, Israel and China. Now back home to the USA she’s an active member of PFLAG and a strong supporter of those on the rainbow in her community. She wants to promote understanding and acceptance through her actions and words. Writing rainbow romance allows her the opportunity to open hearts and change minds.
To contact Z. Allora:
E-mail: Z.AlloraHappyEndings@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: Z Allora Allora
Website: www.zallorabooks.com
Twitter: @ZAllora
Blog: http://zallora.blogspot.com
Queer Romance Ink: www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/z-allora
Dreamspinner: www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/z-allora-637-a
Congrats on your new book release, Z. My favorite movie – I love rom com movie, btw – is While You Were Sleeping. And Love, Actually. I don’t have to mention only one title, do I? 😉
Looking forward to read this book!
Congratulations on the release, Z, I cannot choose just one fav film, I have a lot of them. My favourite romantic one is Ladyhawke, my favourit sci-fi is Blade Runner, my fav LGTB is Priest by Antonia Bird… And I can go on! 😉
Love the excerpt! One of my favorite movies is The Proposal. It always leaves me feeling happy!
Congrats on the book. I have many favorite movies, but one of my all time favs would have to be A Star is Born.
Sigh, I have so many! But for our purposes I’ll go with Thom Fitzgerald’s BEEFCAKE, about photographer Bob Mizer and his Athletic Model Guild. It’s a crazy combo of documentary, screwball comedy, melodrama, and musical (seriously). You really learn about homophobic censorship laws over the decades, and how much the guy had to go through just because he wanted to photograph naked men. (And there’s a TON of glorious full-frontal in this, with very handsome guys who often weren’t pros; I like to say it’s everything MAGIC MIKE should have been.) It’s fantastic, and the DVD extras are worth watching, too.
Congrats on the new release! There are so many movies that I would classify as a favorite but I’ll go with While You Were Sleeping.
I think back to when I first saw ‘Pirate Radio’ and loved the music as much as the movie. I wish Philip Seymour Hoffman was still around making us smile.
Congrats on the new book. My fav film will always be Dirty Dancing.
Congrats on your new release! My favorite movie is Howl’s Moving Castle.
Congrats on your new book release! Probably Pride and Prejudice
my favourite movie is Gladiator with Russell Crowe
Man, I haven’t been to a movie in ages! All time favorite is All About Eve. But While You Were Sleeping is up there too.
Looking forward to this one – love librarians:)
I really like Jurassic Park.
Congrats, Z. Nice excerpt and old movies nights. Along those lines, I’ve got a few different ones. Musical: Singing in the Rain (like a lot of folks, but I saw it in HS before all the lists came out). Best non-musical/drama; Ordinary People (hit home). Best glbtq: between The Single Man (just the opening scene had me in tears) and Brokeback Mountain (it was robbed of best pic).
I don’t watch a lot of movies but my favourite has to be “Maurice” with Hugh Gant and James Wilby.
Hey everyone! I’ve had some computer and phone issues so I’ve not answered each of you directly but know I’ve read each of your comments (& you made my movie list grow with your favorites!) Big hugs, Z.