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Great news! Island Paradise should be available in e-book format beginning April 12th!
Whispers, Rumors and Lies should be available in e-book format beginning April 20th!

Here it is the beautiful cover of

 Island Paradise

Release date April 12, 2016

Cover by Kelly Abell at Select-O-Grafix, LLC

Previously released as His Island Paradise in the Hot Summer Nights Anthology Book 1. Expanded with a new ending.

Don't forget to check out the give-a-way at the bottom of the post! Good Luck to everyone.

Title: Mix ‘N’ Match
Authors: Layla Dorine, Eddy LeFey, Eric Gober, Asta Idonea, Kevin Caucher, Alina Popescu, A Lusch, Lily Velden, Kassandra Lea, Dale Cameron Lowry
Genre: Gay Romance, Interracial, LGBT
Length: Anthology/Novel-length
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing

Synopsis

The heart wants what the heart wants.
Race…
Culture…
Creed…
Become little more than words in the dictionary when the heart sets its sights on its desire.
Join our authors as they explore interracial themes ranging from the challenges of loving someone from another culture to fighting for the right to love at all.

MIX ‘N’ MATCH
Celebrate diversity with us.

Buy Links

Don’t miss the March Sale! All Wayward Ink Titles titles are 35% off on the WIP website and 30% off on AllRomance, and 30% off on Amazon.
WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/mix-n-match-a-wayward-ink-publishing-anthology/
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CYM24GE/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CYM24GE/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01CYM24GE/
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B01CYM24GE/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mix039n039matchawaywardinkpublishinganthology-2000013-166.html

Book trailer

Stories Included

Forbidden
LAYLA DORINE
Sage never imagined a trip down south would lead to so many discoveries.
He also never expected to meet Eugene, who is as different from Sage as north from south.
Two young men from different backgrounds.
Can they find friendship and love while surrounded by those who consider their desires to be forbidden?
Through The Front Door
EDDY LEFEY
A front door could be many things:
Hope, fear, a fresh start, a cold expanse of nothingness.
What will Thomas Ng’s front door mean for Daniel Grimm?
Deceptive Histories
ERIC GOBER
When Miguel falls for Van, he gets caught in the crosshairs of an angry spirit.
A spirit who cursed Van’s family long ago.
Can Miguel and Van break the curse?
Or will their lives end in ruin?
Meschianza Meetings
ASTA IDONEA
Philadelphia, 1778
Lieutenant Penton has two problems: dealing with society functions and hiding his passion for Isaac, a slave.
When invited to assist with preparations for the Meschianza, he sees it as a brief escape from both.
However, the night will prove to have more to offer than he ever would have dreamed possible.
A Hopeless Mirage
KEVIN CAUCHER
After hearing “no rice” enough times, Guy decided to swear off dating apps and men, only to find himself falling for his best friend’s boyfriend.
A Touch of Paradise
ALINA POPESCU
Hauled to work in Hawaii, Tudor has little time to enjoy the island paradise.
His obnoxious friend Radu has it much easier, using his free time to set Tudor up, dangling a willing Hawaiian beauty in front of him.
Having been burned by long-distance relationships before, Tudor stubbornly resists Kahoni’s advances.
But can Tudor be worn down enough to enjoy a touch of paradise?

A Surprising Service
A LUSCH
It’s another frustrating chore in Nick’s day: getting the boiler serviced.
But when Prince walks through the door, it’s not just the heating that gets hot.
Belong
LILY VELDEN
Sent by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to curb an outbreak of influenza in an Australian outback aboriginal community, Dr. Dan is ready for anything.
Except Tommy…
A half-caste aboriginal who feels he doesn’t belong…
Anywhere.
Kiss of the South
KASSANDRA LEA
The north and south have been divided by war. But love has other plans for Joseph Calder and Ephraim Pickett.
Home
DALE CAMERON LOWRY
What if the man you thought you could never have was waiting for you all along?

Giveaway

Prize: $10 WIP Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review by C.J. Baty

It is often difficult to review an anthology, because of the different authors styles and stories. The only way I can think to do justice to the stories included in the Mix 'N' Match Anthology is to try to say something about each story. All of these stories have the main theme running through them that there are many prejudices in the world. Black and white. Gay and straight. Christian or sinner. But when it comes down to it, love is the thing that binds us and completes us. Love is love. Overall, I would give the entire anthology a 4.5 stars with a heat rating of 3. 

Forbidden by Layla Dorine
This story is a true mix of worlds where bigotry abounds. However, it is told in such a way that you become wrapped up in Eugene's desire to be true to his heritage but needing to be who he truly was. I young gay black man in the deep south. Along comes Sage Carter and suddenly, Eugene sees there are all kinds of bigotry in the world. As tough as this topic is to read, it was a well written story about two men who didn't fit in, for very different reasons, who bounded because of those differences and found something special.  5 stars 

Deceptive Histories by Eric Gober
Though I enjoyed the concept of this story, I found the interjection of German and Spanish difficult to read. It sort of through me out of the story when I would come across them. However, for some readers that might not be a problem at all. Mike and Van were very likable characters and I enjoyed the interaction between them.The story plots jump from thing into another which I think would have served a full length novel better than a short story. I would love to see this expanded into a longer read with more time to work through the plot points as they happen. 4 stars 

Meschianza Meetings by Asta Idonea
I love this author's stories. Under the deception of planning a regal party for one of his superior's, Ned Penton was repeatedly thrown together with a house servant, Issac, whom he found irresistible. The feeling was returned by Issac. With Issac's gentle touch, Ned comes to discover things that he never knew existed. The author is able to make the differences between the two men: speech, station and skin color evident, without making them the center of their relationship. Their differences are what drew them to each other. 4.5 stars 

A Hopeless Mirage by Kevin Caucher 
This story of miscommunication between Guy, Lachlan and Johan was filled with angst at every turn. Guy thinks Lachlan and Johan are lovers. Lachlan doesn't understand why his best friend is becoming so distant. Johan can't seem to get Guy to respond to his advances. I felt so bad for poor Guy at times, He tugged at my heart strings as well, because he truly felt that because he was Asian no one wanted to be with him. I just wanted to hug him. In the end, it all works out. 4 stars 

A Touch of Paradise by Alina Popescu
Another favorite, I couldn't stop reading this until I finished it. Tudor and Radu were a hoot. I loved Radu and his inability to be politically correct. The fact that he cared so much about Tudor as a friend that he went out of his way to push Tudor towards a very handsome Hawaiian named Kahoni, made me love him even more. The differences between Tudor and Kahoni were deeper than the different colors of skin. Tudor was a work alcoholic and Kahoni went where the wind took him. It was wonderful to see Tudor to come around to Kahoni's thinking as the story moved along. And the ending was perfect. 5 stars 

A Surprising Service by A Lusch
Nick Graham thought he'd found the one but he ended up with a broken relationship and had to sell the house they had bought together. The new to be owners needs the boiler serviced before the sell can go through. Enter...Prince. That's right. He's the tradesmen sent to service the boiler. What ensues is texts with hidden meanings, a by accident meet up and love making that proves opposites to attract! 4.5 stars 

   

Belong by Lily Velden
The characters in this story touched my heart from the very beginning. Dr. Dan is a sweet caring man who has given his life to helping the Aboriginal people in the Outback of Australia. Influenza is a real threat to these people and he does everything he can to help them get better. When he meets, Daisy and her son, Tommy, his world is turned upside down. Tommy's fight against the flu is a long battle but he eventually returns to health. During this time Dr. Dan has stayed by his side and the longer the two remain together, it becomes evident that they are falling in love. When Tommy confides that he doesn't feel like he belongs anywhere, it broke my heart for him. 5 stars 

Kiss of the South by Kassandra lea
Slavery was a terrible time in the history of our country. This story takes place during the Civil War and brings that very fact to light. A white Northerner, Joseph and a black slave from a Southern plantation, Ephraim risk their very lives to find a place where they can live in peace and share their love. 4 stars 

Home by Dale Cameron Lowry
What starts out as a simple story about a coffee roasting competition, turns into a story about how two young men were separated for who they were by the religion that they both loved. The story is very well paced. It lets us live in the moment with Jayden and Rawiri as they reunite and also visit what happened to them when they were younger and had first met. Though both young men go through trials, in the end they stay true to themselves and become strong men. The simple fact that they are reunited after being torn apart, gives us hope that love will win in the end. Loved this one too. 5 stars 

Exclusive excerpt from the story 

Home by Dale Cameron Lowry 

Mix 'N' Match 

A Wayward Ink Publishing Anthology

Jayden is here to win. He has to repeat that in his head every time he finds himself flirting with Rawiri throughout the day—it’s definitely flirting, he’s sure of that now. They keep gravitating toward each other amid the din, leaning close to shout over the roar of machines, a hand to the other’s elbow or arm or hip, whatever’s in convenient reach. Rawiri’s eyes rake over him. Jayden blushes constantly and giggles like a teenager. It would be embarrassing if it didn’t feel so good.

“You two must have met before today,” says Alda, the Danish competitor, during an afternoon snack break behind the stage. The other competitors include a South Korean woman and a man from Hong Kong, plus an Argentine who’s wandered somewhere else for his break. All speak English but the man from Hong Kong, who keeps a translator by his side—though both Jayden and Rawiri find it easier to speak Spanish with the Argentine.

They end up telling Alda how they met, finishing each other’s sentences when she asks for more details. As the conversation progresses, Jayden gets this weird sense of déjà vu. He realizes it’s because they sound like one of those old married couples in When Harry Met Sally, recalling the story of when they first fell in love.

Hello everyone, I'm on vacation this week. Right now, I have the door open to the balcony and I'm watching the sunlight sparkle on the water as it rolls along past my room. So warm, and beautiful. Everything is beginning to green up. I've seen daffodils and tulip trees in bloom. I love the mountains in the spring.

I want to tell you about a short and sweet story I recently read. My review is below.

 The Handyman Can by Lily G. Blunt

This is a wonderful  story about a growing relationship. Alex has a new home in a plush neighborhood with a group of mixed residents. He hires a trio of brothers to do work around the house for him. He is attracted to the youngest of the brothers Michael and they soon begin dating. Before the two of them can become as close as Alex would like them to, neighborhood robbery's make some of his neighbors suspicious of the brothers. This story is short but oh so sweet. There is some angst but nothing awful. The ending is very fulfilling and the last scene, well let's just say Ms. Blunt has a way with two men in love, like very few authors out there. One other thing, I have to mention is the editing in this story was excellent. There was nothing that threw you out of the story. Well worth your time to read.

You should definitely check this one out. Especially, if you have never read Lily. You will be glad to add her to your 'authors to read list'. 

I new look for spring! 

There is so much going on right now. I hope to soon be doing the edits on Crashing Waves and a new Pinkerton Man story is hopefully coming your way in June this year.

The two stand alone books I mentioned previously are my first attempt at publishing on my own. Whispers, Rumors and Lies, as well as Island Paradise should be available May 1 in ebook format as well as paperback. I'm so excited to be venturing into this area. 

I am going to be attending four book events this year and hopefully, I will get a chance to meet some of you in person. The first event is the North Iowa Book Bash. Taking place on April 30 in Clear Lake, Iowa at the Best Western Holiday Lodge. Whispers, Rumors and Lies will be available in paperback at this event before it goes live on amazon. 

If you don't see me on social media much or think I've forgotten to blog, don't worry. It's only because I am so busy getting more books out for you to read. 

Thanks so much for visiting me on Facebook and this blog.