QUARANTINE - LISABET SARAI

Quarantine Blog Tour

18 July 2012 – Blak Rayne

Newbie

By Lisabet Sarai

I'm thrilled to be here today at Blak's blog. Looking around at all the fantastic covers and other assorted eye candy decorating the venue, I feel excited, but also a bit intimidated. Unlike most of the authors who appear here, I'm not a specialist in M/M erotic romance. In fact, I'm not a specialist in any genre, except maybe BDSM – I write all over the map, from steampunk to paranormal, lesbian to historical.

My new release, Quarantine, is only my second full length M/M book, and my fourth published M/M romance. So Lisabet Sarai is not exactly a household name for man-love connoisseurs. Compared to Blak's usual guests, I'm definitely a newbie.

It's true that my first gay romance novel, Necessary Madness, received very favorable reviews. Romance Junkies called it “thrilling”, Blackraven's Reviews gave it five stars and a “Recommended” citation, and Elisa Rolle included it in her Amazon list of favorite M/M paranormals (I'm honored). Still, I sometimes worry that was beginner's luck.

And Quarantine's even darker than Necessary Madness (which featured a handsome, brilliant sorcerer who performed ritual murders on people with psi talent in order to steal their powers!)  The villains are more evil and the stakes are higher. It's sexy (I think) but it's not a piece of fantasy fluff. Maybe readers will hate it...

Oh well. The book's written and published. I'll just have to live with the results. Meanwhile, you'll find the blurb and an excerpt below, and then instructions on how to read more – and win prizes for doing so!

Blurb

When love is forbidden, the whole world's a prison.

Dylan Moore will do anything for freedom. Seven years ago, a gay plague spread to heterosexuals, killing millions and sparking brutal anti-gay riots. The Guardians rounded up men who tested positive for the homogene and imprisoned them in remote quarantine centres like desolate Camp Malheur. Since then, Dylan has hacked the camp's security systems and hoarded spare bits of electronics, seeking some way to escape. He has concluded the human guards are the only weakness in the facility's defences.

Camp guard Rafe Cowell is H-negative. He figures the lust he feels watching prisoner 3218 masturbate on the surveillance cameras must be due to his loneliness and isolation. When he finally meets the young queer, he discovers that Dylan is brilliant, brave, sexy as hell – and claims to be in love with Rafe. Despite his qualms, Rafe finds he can't resist the other man's charm. By the time Dylan asks for his help in escaping, Rafe cares too much for Dylan to refuse.

Dylan's plan goes awry and Rafe comes to his rescue. Soon they're both fugitives, fleeing from militant survivalists, murderous androids, homophobic ideologues and a powerful man who wants Dylan as his sexual toy. Hiding in the Plague-ravaged city of Sanfran, Dylan and Rafe learn there's far more than their own safety at stake. Can they help prevent the deaths of millions more people? And can Rafe trust the love of a man who deliberately seduced him in order to escape from quarantine?

 

Excerpt

You’re a horny little perv.” Rafe almost laughed at Dylan’s unquenchable eagerness for his body.

It’s your fault. I don’t know how I survived before we got together—”

We’re not ‘together’.” Rafe broke out of Dylan’s embrace and sat up, his arms around his knees.

We can’t keep doing this. Someone is going to figure things out before long.”

Nobody will figure it out—”

Don’t be so cocky. Yeah, I know you’re a genius, but do you really think you can fool the Guardians forever? One of these days you’ll make a mistake. I’ll end up in jail, and you… Well, the penalty for infecting someone with the Plague is death.”

You’re not infected and you know it.”

I could be. I wake up sometimes in the middle of the night and wonder if I’m going to die, just because I couldn’t keep my cock in my pants. What an asshole I am, risking my life for a fuck!”

Is that really all I am to you?” Dylan’s customary expression of brash self-confidence melted into a pained frown. “Because you’re much more than that to me…”

Rafe heard the sob Dylan tried to suppress. Guilt tore a hole in his chest. He rose and began pacing barefoot across the concrete warehouse floor. “No,” he murmured finally, coming to a halt in front of Dylan. “That’s the worst of it. I care what happens to you—a fucking little fag who’s going to spend the rest of his life locked away for the good of society.”

If you really care…” Dylan scooted over and sat on the edge of the pile of bags, his shapely legs dangling. “It doesn’t have to be that way.”

What? What way?”

Help me, Rafe. Help me get out of this place.”

Rafe snorted. “Get out? Are you crazy? No one can get out of here!”

I can,” said Dylan, with a hint of a smile. “With your assistance, that is. I have a plan.”

It would be suicide for me.” Rafe crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at the ginger-haired young man. The boy’s eyes were full of hope. “They’d lock me up and throw away the key.”

No—I’ve got it all figured out. You won’t be blamed. And once I’m free, I’ll wait for you, Rafe.” Dylan’s face glowed.

I’m stuck in this shit hole for another six months.” Rafe’s tone was harsh, but he couldn’t quench the flicker of excitement kindled by Dylan’s words.

Six months is nothing compared to seven years. Once I make it to the city, I can disappear. When you arrive, we’ll find a way to be together. I believe we can make it, baby. You just need to believe it too.” Dylan reached out and pulled Rafe closer. He laid his head on Rafe’s chest. His fine hair tickled the guard’s naked skin.

Rafe buried his face in the nest of auburn waves, inhaling deeply. Dylan’s distinctive scent mingled with the yeasty odour of flour. The ache under his breastbone swelled to the point where it was hardly bearable. God, how he wanted this brave, brilliant guy, who was ready to risk everything for freedom! “How can you believe in anything, after what they’ve done to you?” he murmured finally, raising Dylan’s eyes to his.

It’s you,” Dylan said. “It’s because I love you. Anything’s possible.” He tilted his chin up, offering his ripe mouth.

****

I want to thank Blak for having me as her guest. This post today is part of my Quarantine blog tour, which will run  through the 24th of July. I'll be giving away an ebook to one commenter at each stop on the tour. So leave a comment – and don't forget to include your email address so I can contact you!

I'll also be choosing one commenter from the entire tour to win the grand prize – a $50 All Romance Ebooks gift certificate. Meanwhile, all comments at my own blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com) during the tour will also go into the drawing for the gift certificate.

You'll find the schedule for the tour in my July newsletter:

http://www.lisabetsarai.com/news.html

You can check out my sensational trailer here! And if you're interested in getting your own copy of Quarantine, just go to Total-E-Bound (http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?P_ID=1725)!

Bio: More than a decade ago LISABET SARAI experienced a serendipitous fusion of her love of writing and her fascination with sex. Since then she has published four single author short story collections and seven erotic novels, including the BDSM classic Raw Silk. Dozens of her shorter works have been released as ebooks and in print anthologies. She has also edited several acclaimed anthologies and is currently responsible for the altruistic erotica series COMING TOGETHER PRESENTS.

Lisabet holds more degrees than anyone needs from prestigious universities who would no doubt be embarrassed by her chosen genre. She loves to travel and currently lives in Southeast Asia with her highly tolerant husband and two cosmopolitan felines. For more information on Lisabet and her writing visit Lisabet Sarai's Fantasy Factory (http://www.lisabetsarai.com) or her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com). 

Thank you for the awesome post, Lisabet! It was wonderful to have you here. The best of success for the future! Remember everyone to leave a comment with your email address for a chance to win! 

~Blak Rayne