We’re so pleased to have author Eli Easton joining us today on the tour for her latest release, Boy Shattered. Eli’s here today to share some of her favorite Angsty Romance recommendations with us, and there’s a giveaway too, so be sure to check out the Rafflecopter widget for details.

Welcome, Eli!

Eli’s Favorite Angsty Romance Books

Welcome to the blog tour to celebrate the release of Boy Shattered! This is my first full-on Young Adult book since Superhero. It’s set in a high school and features a romance between an openly gay valedictorian type student (Landon) and the school quarterback (Brian). When Brian is shot during a shooting at their high school, Landon saves his life and the two become inseparable. It’s an enemies-to friends-to-lovers story.

Clearly, you can tell from the cover and blurb that this will be an angsty book. I’m not known for angst. When I think of angsty m-m romance writers I think of Amy Lane or J.P. Barnaby. But I have written a few angsty things before. Prior to Boy Shattered, my angstiest was Falling Down. It did well with readers, so if you like angst, check it out.

I don’t choose a book to read (or write) based on angst level. To me, it’s about an interesting subject, strong characters, and a good story. If angst is part of the story that’s being told so be it. One thing that I feel strongly about, however, is that even an angsty book must have moments of laughter, love, and light-heartedness. There’s nothing worse than a book that just goes down, down, down in tone with no redeeming moments. It’s like a horror movie – the dark stuff is more moving when it comes after a laugh because you become numb if the story is all bad all the time. The best angst writers know this!

With that in mind, here are my favorite “Angsty” romances—in no particular order.

A Heart for Robbie by J.P. Barnaby 

J.P. is best known for Aaron, which I also love. But this is my favorite of her books. It’s about a man whose baby boy, Robbie, is born with a defective heart, and he is dealing with trying to get the baby a life-saving operation. The other MC is the insurance coordinator for Robbie’s case. If this sounds like a tear-jerker, it definitely is, but there’s so much family love and warmth in it too.

Zero at the Bone by Jane Seville 

This is a dark action/adventure romance taking place between a surgeon and a hitman who is hired to killed him (but obviously doesn’t). There’s a cinematic action movie quality to this book which is fun and engaging and the romance is superb.

The Locker Room by Amy Lane 

My favorite angsty Amy Lane. I wrote in my review that 70% of this book is a forced-to-be-in-the-closet angst. But the writing and flow was so well done, and the characters were so sympathetic, that I kept reading. The ending was perfect—all the ‘in your face’ revenge/redemption you could possibly want. 😊

Nothing Ever Happens by Sue Brown 

I love romances that involve families and family dynamics. In this book, a man who is in a marriage of convenience falls for his younger male neighbor who is married and thinks he’s straight. The two begin an passionate romance, which eventually threatens both marriages. Forbidden romance is one of my favorite tropes. I loved it!

Billy’s Bones by Jamie Fessenden 

This is a wonderful dark romance with a mystery—what happened to Kevin in his childhood that has caused him to be so unable to accept love and intimacy? The story is compelling there’s a lot of love here, some yummy UST and sex, suspense, and some very interesting psychological issues explored. If you like page-turners that are more than just the same-old, same-old romance plot, you will enjoy Billy’s Bones. Another great angsty read from Jamie is Violated.

Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela by Felicia Watson

This is an excellent m/m romance involving a therapist and a man accused of spousal abuse. It’s interesting to enter the therapist’s world and figure out the deep issues that have messed up his client, to watch him fall for the guy despite himself. It’s well-written and compelling. It’s a shame that Felicia Watson has not written anything else.

Love Comes Silently by Andrew Grey 

This is my favorite Andrew Grey. One character is a father whose daughter has cancer. The other is his deaf neighbor who pitches in to help out. If this sounds like a weep-fest you’re right – it is! And it’s glorious and heartfelt and sexy too.

The Tin Box by Kim Fielding 

This book has two stories—the contemporary story of a man who is caretaker at an abandoned mental asylum and the story of a young gay man who was tragically imprisoned there years ago. Gah! The historical story is so heart-breaking and infuriating, more so because it’s based on real cases of men being imprisoned just for being homosexual.

Caregiver by Rick R Reed 

A man volunteers for an AIDS alliance and befriends a man dying of AIDS. I cried so hard during this story, but it’s also powerful, hopeful, and amazing.

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Thanks for reading my post. I hope you give Boy Shattered a chance. Let me know your favorite angsty romances in the comments.

Eli Easton

About Boy Shattered

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 85k words approx.

Cover Design: Tiferet Design

Blurb: Brian

You’ll make it out of here, Brian. I swear.

I had everything—school quarterback, popular with girls, and my dad was proud of me. I told myself it didn’t matter no one knew the real me. And then I nearly died. Landon saved my life. He’s the bravest guy I know. He came out a few years ago, proud and fierce, and he ran into gunfire to help others. Me, I’m a mess. Can’t even stand to be in a room with the curtains open. But here’s the thing about losing it all: You get a chance to start over and be someone new. Only how can I move on when the two shooters who attacked our school were never caught? And why do I feel like I’m still in the crosshairs?

Landon

Will you kiss me?

When I came across Brian Marshall,the hottest guy in school, dying on the cafeteria floor, I did what anyone would do. I tried to save him. His request surprised me, but I figured he needed comfort, so I kissed him on the forehead. When he survived and came back to school, he was broken in body and mind. He still needed me, and soon we were unlikely besties. But what I saw at school that day woke me up. I want to demand action on gun control, lead protests, raise my fist. I’ll tear the world down if I have to. And if I can get the man of my dreams and save the world at the same time? I’ll take it. Only I didn’t understand that the horror at Jefferson Waller High wasn’t over.

 

About the Author

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.

In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

In 2018 Eli hopes to do more of the same, assuming they reschedule the apocalypse.

Connect with Eli: Website || Email

The Giveaway

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Follow the Tour

October 16 – Romantic Ramblings, My Fiction Nook, Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, Gay Book Reviews, Amy’s MM Romance Reviews, Dilyana’s World, Funzee’s Cozy Couch, Lelyana’s Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Boulevard des Passions, October 17 – Love Bytes Reviews, October 18 – The Librarian’s Corner, Xtreme Delusions, Megan’s Media Melange, Urban Smoothie Read, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Reading In Sarah’s Corner, Kaidans Seduction, Dream Love Imagine, October 19 – The Novel Approach, October 20 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Book Corner Reviews, Jim’s Reading Room, We Three Queens, Making It Happen, Wicked Reads, V’s Reads, October 22 – Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, Open Mind For A Different View, MM Good Book Reviews, October 23 – Mirrigold, October 24 – Bonkers About Books, Valerie Ullmer, Sanaa’s Book Blog, BFD Book Blog, Lillian Francis, Jessie G Books, Books Laid Bare Boys, Love, Sawyer, October 25 – Gay Book Reviews, October 26 – Bayou Book Junkie
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