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:
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
No need to worry Lisabet...I loved Necessary Madness and I love Quarantine! It will definitely be a re-read for me :)
ReplyDeletemorris.crissy@gmail.com
Thanks, Crissy! I hope you'll help spread the word for me!
DeleteEven though I usually go for lighter fare, this man-love connoisseur (I'm using that from now on!) is intrigued. (Or would I be better off starting with CROSSED HEARTS?)
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Hello, Vita,
DeleteCrossed Hearts is a good deal lighter than Quarantine - but a lot shorter, too!! Or you might like Necessary Madness (paranormal M/M), though it's not exactly sweetness and sunshine, given that the murderous practitioner of black magic who's the villain!
Thanks for the excerpt! Is it just me, or does Rafe come off as a bit of a jerk there? Anyways, I like the occasional darker m/m read, so I can't wait for Quarantine!
ReplyDeletetiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi, Emily,
DeleteThis is very early in the book. Rafe doesn't really trust Dylan, even though he's attracted to the prisoner. Furthermore, Rafe has been indoctrinated to believe that all gay men are 1) perverted and 2) infectious. He's trying to deal with the conflict between his desires and his conditioning.
I doubt it was beginners luck. You've just written so many books, your that good at whatever venture you take. LOL..
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to reading this. ooh~ I want it more and more as I read the blurbs over and read the excerpts. Definitely hot. I don't mind dark, It just makes it that much happier and satisfactory when they get their HEA or HFN. lol..
Thank you for the contest!
Judi
arella3173_loveless(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks, Judi! That's so sweet!
DeleteIf you win the grand prize, you can buy Quarantine and a bunch more titles!
Thanks to you all for following the tour!
ReplyDeleteI've drawn today's winner - it's Crissy! She wins a copy of the BOUND BRITS anthology, which includes my novella GETAWAY GIRL.
And of course, you all get another entry towards the grand prize.