Today I am so pleased to welcome A.E. Via to Joyfully Jay. A.E. has come to talk to us about her latest release, Bishop. She has also brought along a great tour wide giveaway. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

 

Hello, hello, hello!!

I can’t believe I’m here presenting to you my twentieth book I’ve written entitled: Bishop: A True Lover’s Story. This book has made a very special place in my heart. Not only because of the subject matter, and not only because it’s an anniversary title, but because I set Bishop’s story in my hometown, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Because of Bishop’s illiteracy challenges I wanted to put him in a place where he would struggle with his problem but where he also had a fighting chance to win his battle. Virginia Beach has some of the best adult literacy programs – and trade schools – in the country and I was proud to have gotten my GED from the Adult Learning Center myself. So, like I said, this book and this subject are near and dear to me. I hope Bishop’s story enlightens someone to these kinds of problems that are still plaguing our society. I hope it makes the reader take a deeper look within their souls. I hope it reaches men and woman who have experienced the same kinds of prejudices that Bishop and Edison both receive and who use their love to combat it.

I hope you’ll enjoy this new one.

xxxxxx

Adrienne V.

I am celebrating my writing anniversary in the best way! Which means showering my readers with gratitude gifts and tons of love letters. Without you all, my words would be unheard. For a chance to be adorned with love and appreciation, join my lively Facebook group and party with me. You can drop in anytime for some mature MM fun. https://bit.ly/2Ku4jAx


Excerpt

“You want a drink?” Edison asked when they were in his house.

“Sure.” Bishop said, leaning against the kitchen island. Edison’s home was cool and most of the lights were off except for the warm glow from the stove light and a small night light in the hall, leading to the bedrooms.

Edison opened his refrigerator. “I have a couple more Guinness left, some tea, Pepsi, or—”

“Beer is good.” Bishop took the offered bottle and they both stood watching each other drink. He’d had a second to cool off after the bookstore, which was a good thing. He really did want to take his time with his unicorn, but he was waiting to see if Edison wanted to do more. Their night had been interesting, and he didn’t want to make any more mistakes so he was waiting… waiting on the green light. Edison had said they could just read, and if they did, Bishop would be fine with that. As long as Edison was in his arms, things seemed right in his world.

“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” Edison asked, walking until he was standing beside him.

Bishop set his beer on the island and turned to face him head-on. “I was thinking I want to be your boyfriend, but wondering if guys even ask that anymore.”

Edison’s smile started slowly before he was soon beaming. “I… I don’t know if they do or not. I think most people just change their Facebook relationship status and that’s that. But, I’m a bit old-fashioned.”

“I noticed… and I like that.” Bishop felt his own lips tugging in the corners as he placed both hands over Edison’s cheeks and lifted his head until he was looking at him. “I wanna be your man, Edison.”

Edison nodded.

“Good,” Bishop murmured against Edison’s lips, then kissed him as thoroughly as he’d wanted to in the bookstore. One of them groaned and Bishop felt Edison’s soft hands on his throat, then along the back of his neck. He grunted against the urge to thrust his hips, and instead hugged Edison’s waist closely, his eyes shut tight as pleasure flooded his body. Pleasure like he’d never known. He felt such a deep connection to Edison that went far beyond his sexual needs, and straight to his hurt soul. Somehow, this remarkable man was all up in his head, and it only made coming together like this that much more powerful and that much more stimulating.


Blurb

At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.

Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.

Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.

Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.

No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. Ends with a very, very HFN.

Warning: This book is a M/M contemporary romance, a hardened man’s struggle to find real love. There are no police chases or doors being kicked in, in this one. But, don’t worry. Bishop is still intense enough to keep you on the edge.


Bio

A.E. Via has been a best-selling author in the beautiful gay romance genre for five years now, but she’s no stranger to MM. She’s been an avid reader of gay lit for over fifteen years before she picked up her laptop to place her own kiss on this genre. She’s also the founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books, having published a couple great new up and coming MM authors.

A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to her. Writing.

A.E.’s writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.

Now that she’s gotten over her 10 books published hump, she’s kind of known now for her hardcore, play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, she does like to push herself to step out of her comfort zone, exploring different tropes, but she won’t push herself into a whole other genre. She’s head over heels for gay romance and she has tons of more hot stories to tell.

Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak at upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.


Giveaway

A.E. has brought a great tour wide giveaway. Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


  • By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
  • By entering you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions set out by Rafflecopter for entries.
  • Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
  • Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize. In order to facilitate prize distribution, the winner name’s and email may be provided to a third party awarding the prize.
  • By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
  • Void where prohibited by law.
FILED UNDER: Excerpt, Giveaway, Guest Post
TAGGED: